CHAPTER 31: 31 HOLY LIGHT AND POLLUTION (REQUEST FOLLOW-UP!)

Herbert’s sword was incredibly sharp, capable of easily slicing through wrought iron.

Not to mention his fragile flesh.

A firm grip with his palm, and the flesh was directly cut open, with the flowing blood quickly running along the blade into the coffin.

Hiss!

Herbert’s expression changed slightly, clenching his molars tightly.

This bunch of scoundrels, none of them are easy to deal with.

If they’re not trying to take a bite out of me, they’re trying to drown me, and now they want to suck my blood.

Not a single good person among them!

This is too much; you all forced me into this!

Since you’re heartless, don’t blame me for being unjust.

"Blood, I’ve given it to you!"

Herbert’s expression twisted slightly from the intense pain in his palm, but he didn’t scream. Instead, he forced a grin while gritting his teeth and said:

"Please, don’t, hold back with me..."

Hold back?

Eliza found it hard to understand this young man’s thinking.

What exactly are you saying?

You give me blood, why would I hold back?

"..."

Honestly, she couldn’t quite grasp the current situation, uncertain if Herbert had broken through the hypnosis.

Or perhaps he was only half-hypnotized, aware of the problem yet still compelled to follow the hypnotic commands?

The thought lasted only a few seconds before Eliza lost her rationality.

Blood.

Long-lost blood!

She had been thirsty for a thousand years and could finally smell the scent of blood once more.

Sip~ Ha!

She was simply incapable of further thought, her mind fixated on one thing—get that taste!

"Whatever, let’s eat first!"

Lick—

"Mm!!!"

At the instant her tongue touched the blood, Eliza let out an involuntary cry, wishing she could bite off her own tongue.

Sugary, fresh, rich... the blood seemed to have a hundred flavors exploding all at once in her mouth.

Eliza had never tasted such blood before, never ever!

She never imagined that after being parched for so long, the first sip of blood she would have would be of such high quality!

She couldn’t help but tremble slightly and let out a moaning sigh: "Ah~"

It was just too wonderful.

This taste was just too... hmm!!?

"Mm!?"

Suddenly, Eliza felt an odd stinging sensation on her tongue, like it was burning...

No!

This was indeed being burnt!!?

Zzz—

Eliza suddenly opened her mouth with a scream.

"Ah!"

"Damn it! What’s with your blood!!? My tongue!"

It wasn’t just her tongue; her entire mouth, swallowing throat, and stomach all felt a fierce burning at this moment.

She even thought what she had drunk just now wasn’t blood, but highly concentrated Holy Water!

Wait...

"Is this Holy Water!?"

"Aha, you guessed it right!"

Herbert couldn’t hold back his laughter any longer upon hearing the scream, chuckling as he bandaged his left hand with a torn-off sleeve.

Eliza rolled in pain, roaring: "But I didn’t smell the scent of Holy Water... you’re a Paladin!?"

"Congratulations, you’ve even learned to respond quickly."

At this moment, the Holy Mark shone on the back of Herbert’s hand, proving what he had just done—transforming Holy Water.

For a Holy Professional, Holy Water is an essential item in the battle against dark creatures.

The sources of Holy Water are typically of two kinds—the Divine Spirit Church’s unified production and some Holy Professionals’ self-made.

Holy Water produced by the Divine Hall boasts advantages such as large production volume, stable effectiveness, and low cost, also being sold to ordinary adventurers.

Whereas Holy Water made by Holy Professionals varies considerably with the quality of materials used.

Herbert didn’t always carry Holy Water, nor did he have materials to make it, but he had an advantage others couldn’t.

He was a Paladin sworn to the Purity Oath; his blood was equivalent to the highest-standard "Pure Blood," a very rare magic material.

Holy Water made with "Pure Blood" as the base material is of the topmost high-concentration quality.

That’s why Herbert would say—make yourself at home!

Didn’t you want my blood?

Here’s some!

Poisoning!

Herbert’s lips curved upward as he leaned close to the coffin, whispering maliciously: "Miss Eliza, please feel the Baptism from Holy Light."

Go ahead and thoroughly experience the Holy Light’s purification!

"Damn you—ah!!!"

Were it Eliza in her prime, this amount of Holy Water would have meant nothing, easily resolved.

But regretfully, Eliza now wasn’t the Bloodfaller who could kill another Prince back then.

She was now very weak.

Extremely weak!

Zzzzz—

The blood she gulped down from Herbert was like lethal poison, swiftly contaminating the remaining blood in her body!

Eliza realized she couldn’t continue like this; measures were necessary.

"Damn it..."

In desperate urgency, she could only sacrifice to survive, pounding her chest to forcefully expel a mouthful of blood arrows onto the coffin wall.

Zzz—

Though this blood exuded Holy Light, it dissolved rapidly, emitting a scent she loathed.

"..."

Although Eliza forcefully expelled that blood, her overall aura diminished further, much weaker than before.

This time, Eliza had completely failed.

Not only didn’t she gain anything, but she also lost a great deal of her remaining resources.

A complete loss rather than gain.

Shh—

Hearing a sound, Eliza cautiously shifted back, trying to evade the next attack.

But she was overthinking it this time.

After successfully surprising Eliza once, Herbert didn’t attempt the trick again.

He withdrew his sword with his right hand and even tried a pry along the way, widening the gap to two fingers wide.

Hmm?

Looking at the widened gap, Eliza hesitated for a moment but eventually leaned close to peek outside the coffin.

In the darkness, a young white-haired boy radiating a faint glow was smiling and winking at her with a blood-stained longsword in hand, cheerfully saying: "Miss Eliza, we’re finally meeting."

"Huh?"

Eliza squinted, scrutinizing Herbert, wary of his next move.

However, Herbert didn’t attack.

He gazed softly at the red eyes revealed through the gap, smiled elegantly, sheathed his sword behind him, and gave a slight bow toward the coffin.

"We’ve chatted happily for quite a while, yet haven’t had the chance for introductions."

His face full of warmth and eyes gentle, as if nothing had happened, he lightly laughed to Eliza:

"Pleased to meet you; I am Herbert, an insignificant Paladin."

"I hope we can get along~ really~ well later!"

.

.

Twilight.

In a secluded corner, a frail black-robed figure was hunched, body trembling continuously, arm shaking rapidly, panting heavily.

"Ha, ha... ha!"

Alongside a certain slick sound, his actions got faster and rougher.

But just as soul and flesh were about to reach a peak, an untimely voice sounded.

"...hmm? Is someone there?"