I didn't expect it to still be that Cao scoundrel... oh, it's Pri Minister Cao!
Philia's mother, Lady Aisst, Herbert had t before. She was indeed a beautiful woman with irresistible charm.
But, isn't there sothing off about this?
Herbert looked at Philia, hesitating to speak for quite so ti.
"I know what you want to ask."
Philia's face was expressionless, and she spoke lightly:
"He knew my mother first. Even when Grand Mage Finn was still just a Wizard Apprentice, he was already pursuing my mother. In terms of sequence... my father ca later."
"...Oh! Well, he was quite persistent, um, no, quite dedicated? Um, that doesn't seem right either."
Seeing Philia's expression grow colder, Herbert raised his hands helplessly and asked, "Does His Majesty know about this?"
Does Reinhardt know he has such a powerful rival?
"He should know... right?"
Philia was also sowhat uncertain about this. She didn't really want to involve herself in her parents' private matters.
They both fell silent once again.
A mont later, Philia took the initiative to speak, "Is your vengeance enough?"
"In less than a month, you weakened the royal power, led to the deaths of nurous nobles, allowed the Divine Spirit Church to ddle in the kingdom's affairs, and nearly plunged the Kingdom into turmoil."
"Is this revenge enough?"
Herbert thought for a mont, then blinked at her and smiled, "Hmm... maybe just one little thing left?"
"?"
Philia seed to understand sothing, frowned, and said, "I have already killed my brother with my own hands."
And helped you send false ssages to the outside world in his na, isn't that enough?
"Funny, I did the sa."
Herbert recalled the sensation of his blade slicing through Kordi's neck and shook his head, "I really didn't want to do it, it would have been better if he hadn't made that choice."
Unfortunately, there are no ifs.
After a mont of silence, Philia shook her head and said, "I still don't think what I did was wrong. It was the best solution I thought of in the most rational state."
And at this mont, Herbert put away his smile, sighed lightly, and said slowly:
"Philia, do you know?"
"I understand your difficulties. I never thought you could fall out with them at all costs. I never wished for you to be in danger because of it."
"But at that ti, rather than you helping with the attitude of a powerful benefactor, telling nothing, I actually would have preferred if you could trust and then tell the truth."
What he craved was only the respect between friends.
"But you didn't."
Philia's explanations to Valentina seed to portray her as innocent and pure, but in fact... it was all just her wishful thinking.
The truth was, if he hadn't awakened his past life's mory, Herbert would have already been lured by the Harmonious God to risk everything and commit transgressions, and would not have survived until today.
Her so-called 'protection' for Herbert actually did not serve any substantial purpose.
To Herbert at the ti, Philia was certainly not a villain, but also not a good person.
"I..."
He raised his hand to stop Philia's words, speaking softly:
"Philia, people have mouths, and it's possible to speak."
"You could have written a letter, asked soone to tell , notified in various ways—instead of covering your arrogance with reasons like 'it's all for your own good.'"
"Allowing them to use your na to fra and not speaking up to clarify, in itself, is a form of acquiescence."
"Philia, that is a form of harm to —you were an accomplice."
Valentina could accept Philia's explanations because she wasn't directly involved and found the reasons to seem sowhat sensible.
But not for Herbert.
He was the one directly involved, and he knew best how suffocatingly arrogant that kind of 'help' was.
Philia fell silent, then squinted her eyes and asked: "...Then what do you want? In your view, how can I ever repay for my sins?"
Herbert smiled, a very aningful smile.
"Do you really want to know?"
Philia nodded.
"I want to know what exactly you want to do... cough!?"
Shh.
Without any warning, the cold blade plunged into Philia's chest.
It happened so suddenly that she couldn't even react, not even having ti to transform her body with Elent.
"You!?"
She raised her head, looking in confusion at Herbert, who was holding the sword hilt.
"What I want to do... is like this."
The blade was pushed forward again, thoroughly piercing through the flesh, the red blade protruding directly from behind.
Shh!
"Cough!"
Why?
And to the confusion in her eyes, Herbert just shook his head with a smile, speaking softly:
"Don't be nervous, I'm helping you."
"I don't know what has happened to you, don't know what that Snow Witch's blood has brought to you."
"But I do know one thing, your current state is very wrong. Your heart is, honestly, too cold..."
After returning to Royal City, upon reunifying with this old friend, Herbert had been feeling an intense sense of incongruity.
He felt as though he was facing a delicate puppet, where all the displayed emotions were performances shown after careful consideration.
Standing opposite each other, yet a pitifully thick barrier lay between them.
Her state was not right, she was too deeply affected by the Snow Witch's blood.
This might gain her more power, but eventually, she would lose herself, ultimately turning into an emotionless block of ice.
And just as Philia once wished for Herbert's safety, he too hoped she would return to normal, not wanting to watch her head toward self-destruction.
Herbert looked into the Princess's eyes, thinking of what he was about to do next, and, with a hint of regret, he softly said:
"I want... to help you regain so humanity in my own way."
As a forr friend.
I want... to tear apart your rationality.
To achieve this goal, Herbert made many efforts.
During their interactions in this period, he constantly tried to stir her emotions, hoping she would return to normal.
But all the efforts ca to nothing.
Although there were slight changes on the surface, they ultimately returned to calm.
Her illness was too severe.
And serious illness requires potent redies.
So Herbert made his move.
He turned her into a tool for avenging others, making her personally kill the Eldest Prince, letting her experience the long-lost fear, pain... this was also a part of it.
Effective, but still not enough.
And finally, the most important part—right now.
He took action himself.
"Don't worry, you won't die."
"Such severe injuries might be serious, but for you, they won't be life-threatening, and afterwards, you will also gain significant benefits."
He gently supported Philia's body, letting her lean against the small pavilion in the garden, sitting securely.
"This sword once carried the will of a Saint, now this last weak remnant is entrusted to you."
"For you, this will be a transformational experience... once your wounds are fully healed."
The remnant will of the Archbishop is enough to completely destroy the icy part, after which he can take the opportunity to inject a long-lasting emotion.
Among all emotions, none is more enduring than hatred.
"Haha, trust , just like you said before, this gain will far exceed the harm you are suffering now."
"So, you will certainly forgive , right? You won't continue to be angry, right?"
Herbert chuckled softly and winked at her.
"By then, I hope you will understand one thing—that scars and recompense, these two are actually not equivalent."
After joking, Herbert shook his head with great emotion.
"I sincerely hope you can reclaim the part of your humanity that was lost... even if it's only hatred."
"If this can let you maintain your humanity, then that's enough."
"So, resent ."
How to put it?
Just think of it as being for your own good... haha!
Herbert thought these things and shook his head, pulling out the blade, blood gushing from the chest, he poured the prepared high-concentration Holy Water on the wound.
Hiss hiss hiss.
The Holy Water made a piercing sound upon contact with the blood, and then quickly froze at an astonishing speed.
The rising ice and snow quickly climbed from under Philia's feet, then gradually enveloped her whole person.
The bloodline of the Snow Witch was completely activated, triggering the self-protection chanism of her race, encasing her whole person in ice.
"Herbert, you..." Philia wanted to say sothing, but finally closed her eyes slowly, turning into a beautiful ice sculpture.
Quietly watching the Ice and Snow Princess gradually lose consciousness, Herbert's eyes lowered, and he said softly:
"Goodbye, Philia."
My prideful and misunderstood friend, goodbye.
May you find that part of your humanity again.
As for the rest, let it be.
If you wish to hate , then hate.
After this...
Just as we said when we t again.
I will forget you.
And you, will never be able to forget .
Even if the only thing rembered is anger.
...
["Herbert."]
"Hmm?"
["Will you bla for helping to stab the second ti?"]
Nenasha's voice was gentle, with a hint of unease.
She had just intervened forcefully.
The first stab was indeed by Herbert, but the second pierce, which directly ran Philia through, was Nenasha helping him.
Even a God deed as lacking emotional understanding can understand how suffocating her imposed arrogance onto others can be.
Herbert looked down at the blood on his hands, shook his head.
"No..."
"Honestly, that second stab, it was quite satisfying."
I still enjoy stabbing people...
To stab and to help.
The mind reaches clarity.
From now on, whether it's gratitude or resentnt, let's call it even.
Herbert brought the bloodstained hand to his mouth, gently licked it, and began to laugh.
"See, your blood isn't that cold after all."
Feeling the energy from Philia's Snow Witch bloodline, he laughed softly.
"Although the whole process was sowhat wrong, the material at least is in hand."
[Snow Witch's Blood]acquired!
.
.
The day after the failed assassination attempt on the Princess.
Herbert left Sister Kaplan and the Paladins behind, departed alone on the Giant Dragon Rider from the Frost Crystal Royal City.
But Herbert and Valentina did not return directly to Mist Monastery, instead, they headed towards the core of the Mist Mountain Range.
Although he had not yet formally received the King's proof of handing over the Mist Mountain Range, Herbert couldn't wait to personally inspect it.
After all, if all goes accordingly...
This would be a key part of Herbert's future ambition to establish his own power.
To establish the Divine Spirit Church, venue, personnel, and finances... these three are indispensable.
And now, he had acquired the venue!
As for personnel... does one even need to ask?
Monster Girls! Monster Girls! Damn it, they're still Monster Girls!
"Exactly, what is being arrogant and oppressive in the Frost Crystal Kingdom?"
"I will build my own Kingdom—"
Herbert stood on the back of the Giant Dragon Rider, waving his fist, gesturing here and there, envisioning the future plans.
"I want to na this great concept—'Monster Girl Kingdom' Project!"
"Or maybe the 'Monster Girl's Paradise Lost' Project?"
"Or, since it's in the Mist Mountain Range, let's call it 'Monster Girl Mountain Range'? Wait... no, that na sounds a bit dangerous."
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