Diary of Guarding Monster Girls

"What did you say?"

Herbert, however, remained unchanged in tone, seemingly not understanding, and continued: "Anyway, there’s no outsider here, so just take it off."

???

Ophidia frowned angrily and said, "Take off my clothes? Herbert, what do you take me for?"

"Do you still respect me?"

Also, what is our relationship? You ask me to undress?

"Hmm? What respect?"

Herbert seemed to finally notice Ophidia’s unusual tone, turned back in confusion, blinked his eyes innocently, and said, "What are you talking about? I just asked you to take off your jacket?"

Jacket?

Ophidia immediately sensed something was off, her instincts sharp, feeling that Herbert had dug a big hole for her.

Not good!

And since the prey had already fallen into the trap, Herbert certainly wouldn’t give her the chance to escape at this time.

Herbert stood at the front, gesturing up and down at Ophidia, puckering his lips: "Look at you now, do you look like someone out on a tour?"

"It’s fine if you know, but if you don’t, you’d think you’re some Evil God Cultist on a secret mission."

To be fair, Herbert’s comment wasn’t baseless, at most it was a malicious comment, but it had some grounds.

During this excursion, Ophidia naturally took off her eye-catching bright red robe and changed into a black hooded cloak, covering her face, hands, legs, and any exposed skin.

From an outsider’s perspective, except for the lack of a giant scythe, it looked as if the Death God from stories had walked into reality.

"..."

Ophidia actually knew this point in her heart and knew her current attire was a bit odd.

But at this time, she definitely couldn’t admit it!

Can’t retreat.

She knows well that once she retreats in her confrontation with Herbert, there would really be no chance to resist anymore!

"What’s wrong with my appearance?"

So, Ophidia could only retort stubbornly: "There’s nothing wrong with my attire, if anyone overthinks because of that, it’s surely their problem."

"Besides, didn’t you tell me to be selfish once? Why should I change my attire for others’ thoughts?"

After saying this, Ophidia secretly breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a bit proud of her quick wit, being able to come up with such a strong rebuttal in such a short time.

However, Herbert didn’t argue with her on this issue at all, and after hearing this, he just looked at her helplessly and sighed.

"It’s fine if you don’t consider others, not considering your fellow traveler is okay too, I understand."

"But what I’m asking is... shouldn’t you consider your own feelings?"

In Herbert’s gentle gray eyes, a faint pity flashed, and he softly said: "Think back, how long has it been since you walked outside like this?"

!!!

The young man looked at the hooded figure seemingly frozen stiff, and softly said:

"I know the mission you carry, and I am willing to share it with you, but I also know you won’t easily accept that, the pressure still falls solely on you."

"I don’t want you to be so strained, so exhausted, so alone."

"Besides the possible daily companionship I can offer, I hope there’s a place where you can completely unload your burden and completely forget those tricky matters."

"That’s why I brought you away from the monastery, away from this prison that has confined you for millennia."

"But I also know, all these efforts are merely temporary."

Herbert lowered his gaze, paused momentarily, and softly said: "Ophidia, despite leaving a resignation letter for the Archbishop, you’re ultimately going back, aren’t you?"

To this question, Ophidia could only remain silent.

And silence itself is a wordless answer.

She surely couldn’t leave the monastery behind entirely, unable to live selfishly just like that.

Ophidia isn’t of that character, and Herbert was... impressively aware of this from the start.

"You need not answer, I understand it all."

He spoke this only to make her understand just how precious the current opportunity is.

"I’m not urging you to abandon everything you’ve been carrying, just hope you can temporarily forget all in this moment and enjoy everything you deserve."

He raised his head, looked at the thick fog above almost concealing the sky and the Sun, and slowly said: "Here is the Mist Mountain Range, beyond the gaze of the Divine Spirits."

"You needn’t worry about them noticing you, needn’t deliberately hide your aura, needn’t play hide and seek with them like a mouse."

"Be a bit more selfish, consider nothing but your own feelings."

"Do you wish to walk under the sunlight once more?"

After sincerely encouraging, Herbert thoughtfully added: "Rest assured, I’ve scouted the surroundings well, there’s no outsider here."

Trust my handling!

"..."

After Herbert began speaking, Ophidia seemed to enter a certain state of stiffness.

She remained silent, unsure how to express her thoughts, or rather, didn’t know what she wanted to say in her heart at this moment.

Was she touched?

Maybe a bit, after all, he did consider her.

Was she excited?

There was some excitement, indeed, she hadn’t felt this free for years.

But compared to these emotions, what filled her heart more was chaos.

Because Ophidia could taste the implications behind Herbert’s words — in my presence, you no longer need to hide.

She didn’t know how to respond to this emotion.

This most veteran of Cardinals couldn’t even figure out how she truly felt about Herbert.

Is it admiration? Anticipation? Or something else?

It’s unfeasible, having never experienced such feelings before, there’s no reference at all.

Besides... what does "there’s no outsider here" mean?

You yourself!

There is still you, the outsider, here!!?

"Alas!"

Ultimately, Ophidia didn’t speak words that might be hurtful, only let out a long sigh and mumbled to herself.

"Really, always bullying me..."

Shaking her head, she didn’t glance at Herbert again and turned around.

When Herbert was unsure whether she might directly turn around and leave, he heard a faint noise.

Clack.

It was the sound of a button being released.

In Herbert’s gradually widening eyes, the black robe draped upon Ophidia fell silently, revealing the beautiful body beneath that hadn’t seen daylight for long.

Beneath the robe, Ophidia wore a fitted nun’s attire that showed off her pale arms, and beneath the long skirt was a long, colorful snake tail.

The snake tail picked up the robe that fell to the ground and casually tossed it into the storage space.

After finishing this, Ophidia slowly turned around, came to Herbert’s side, looked straight ahead, and calmly said: "Let’s go."

Eh?

So easygoing?

No, you’re so calm?

Herbert blinked and asked somewhat uncertainly.

"Ophidia, um, you..."

But before he could finish, he was directly interrupted.

Ophidia glanced sideways, coolly said: "I already said, hurry up, don’t waste any more time here!"

"Oh, okay, no problem, let’s head out!"

Herbert immediately raised his hand, his smile radiant.

He could finally tell what Ophidia’s state was now.

Seemingly calm as an old dog, but actually panic-stricken inside.

Simply a facade of calm.

He thought for a moment, turned around, and jokingly extended his hand forward, asking: "Then, my beautiful lady, to prevent you from falling in the woods, please hold my hand."

He truly just asked casually, without any expectations, simply teasing as usual.

Result.

After Ophidia hesitated for a moment...

She actually gently placed her hand in Herbert’s palm.

Tentatively touching it before lightly gripping it.

!!?

.

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"I’m leaving."

"To a world without you."