Diary of Guarding Monster Girls

In the Knight Commander's room.

The white-haired youth winked at the stern-faced Knight Commander, subtly conveying his intent.

Cough cough!

Well, leader, even though I won't intentionally tell the big boss that you're giving me a hard time, will he think that... hahaha, I'm not so sure.

Leader, you get what I mean, right?

You don't want to be misunderstood by the big boss either, do you?

"..."

After Herbert had been winking and making faces for a while, the Rusted Nail Bishop averted his gaze, shook his head slowly, and sighed.

"No, you don't need to tell him."

Herbert felt a burst of joy in his heart.

Great!

So you're also afraid of Old Deng!

Is there anyone in the entire monastery who isn't afraid of Old Deng?

Why is everyone bowing down under his tyrannical power?

Stand up, everyone.

Let's create an anti-Old Deng alliance!

Let's overthrow the reign of terror by Old Deng and create our own utopia!

As he thought this, the Rusted Nail Bishop shook his head, took out a box, and said helplessly:

"The Archbishop had already instructed in advance, if you request this kind of application, it's all approved."

Herbert: ?

"Huh?"

He blinked rapidly, somewhat uncertainly asking: "Did the Archbishop really say that?"

The Rusted Nail Bishop nodded with a heavy expression and sighed powerlessly.

"...Alas!"

Recalling the instructions given to him back then, his expression became unusually conflicted, even pained.

In his mind, even though Valentina obeyed Herbert's orders, she was an exception and couldn't be taken as a reference.

Just because she obeyed didn't mean that other demon prisoners would be equally obedient.

The risk of doing this was too high, and he couldn't accept letting Herbert take such an uncertain risk.

So the Rusted Nail Bishop previously did not intentionally mention any information about this matter, but Herbert ultimately found the loophole.

"...Alas!"

He solemnly handed the wooden box to Herbert, lamenting: "The Archbishop said that after you see what's inside, you'll know what to do."

He now felt like he had tried hard to educate a child, only for the elders to spoil him carelessly.

Unable to resist, he could only watch helplessly.

The agony—

After handing the item to Herbert, the Rusted Nail Bishop closed his eyes in torment and waved Herbert away.

Go quickly, go quickly, I don't care where you go, just don't let me see you.

"Um, sir, may I take my leave now?"

"Go."

"And about entering the Misty Mountains?"

The Rusted Nail Bishop's brows twitched, but he still didn't open his eyes, speaking with eyes closed: "In any case, take responsibility for your own safety, I don't want to hear news of your death."

"Yes, I understand."

Having finally obtained permission to enter the Misty Mountains, Herbert quietly left, no longer aggravating the Knight Commander.

Once outside, Herbert looked at the wooden box in his hand with a peculiar expression.

What could be inside?

Moreover, the Archbishop had already anticipated this step...

Feeling a touch of emotion, Herbert opened the wooden box and saw the item hidden inside—it was a ring.

"Just as expected."

Inside the box were still the silver-white rings made from his hair—two of them.

They were taken during his last conversation with the Archbishop.

Moreover, compared to the rings from last time, these two looked even more unstable, as if they could undergo one more transformation.

"Can they still change shape one more time?"

["Hmm, you guessed right, this ring hasn't stabilized and has one more opportunity to change shape."]

Nenasha remarked and then smiled mischievously:

["That guy really is considerate, heh! I think he's worried you won't have a good explanation for others~"]

Herbert blinked, touched his chin thoughtfully.

"Is he really that considerate?"

Was he concerned that the monster girl would get jealous seeing the same ring?

This Old Deng...

He's such a good person!

But, you old fellow... are you perhaps a bit too adept at this!!?

To even think of such details?

Herbert had already suspected something when the Archbishop helped him craft the rings last time.

Why not other forms of jewelry?

Why insist on rings?

Was it intentional, or accidental?

Herbert seriously suspected, with reason, that Old Deng was perhaps enjoying it!!?

Admit it!

You, Old Deng, are enjoying this secretly, aren't you?

Herbert wanted to confront the Archbishop face-to-face, but after considering his own abilities, he silently decided to pretend nothing happened.

Alas.

After all, you're an elder, enjoy your amusement, it's up to you.

At any rate, until now, the Archbishop had never harmed him and had provided quite a lot of help.

Although this wouldn't sway Herbert's ultimate goal of overthrowing the Archbishop, it left him feeling complicated.

How should I defeat this invincible Old Deng in the future... It feels difficult to win on every front.

"...Let's take it one step at a time." Herbert shook his head, putting the question aside.

Future matters can be considered in the future; there's no point in agonizing over them now.

Well... now, a new problem arises.

Whom should I choose to go out with me?

Herbert looked at the two rings, sighed with a sense of contemplation.

"This is really a headache!"

.

.

Deep Water Prison.

Fremay continued to walk.

Her movements had become quite adept compared to at the beginning, with virtually no awkwardness visible.

For a legendary being, this control wasn't difficult once the technique was mastered.

Waves surged up, shaping a massive water mirror reflecting her appearance at the moment.

She walked lightly on the water, elegantly among the waves, leaping gently and with the aid of water elements, floated, landing slowly from mid-air.

Fremay looked at herself in the mirror, nodded in satisfaction.

"Very well, the training is almost complete! After this, I can go out with him anytime..."

She wasn't sure how long 'after this' was either.

Anyway, for her, waiting a year or two wasn't a problem.

Of course, if the time could come sooner, she'd prefer it sooner.

"Fremay!"

Hearing Herbert's voice, Fremay turned her head eagerly, impatient to show him the results of her training.

"Hmm? You're here, look at my legs! I'm already quite skilled! Later we... huh?"

The mermaid lady paused midway and blinked blankly.

"Eh, what is that?"

In that moment, out of instinct or intuition, her sharp eyes saw what Herbert held in his palm.

A silver-white ring.

That was... a ring?

"!!!"

Plop.

She fell into the water again.

Glug glug glug—