In Herbert's eyes, the way the other side set things up was crude. Every move carried arrogance. Anyone with sharp eyes could see it.
Who planned it? Did the princess know? Was anyone from the Albert family involved?
Herbert had no doubt that if he returned to the royal capital, he could find answers through small clues.
Because the other side didn't even seem to bother hiding.
But… why go back?
He wasn't in a hurry to return and clear his name.
Those things that once meant everything to a naive boy no longer meant anything to him now.
He didn't care.
He had already come to a world of magic and gods. Was he really going to get stuck in some bloody noble family drama?
That would be… too pathetic.
Revenge didn't need some complicated Western-style duel of honor.
Cultivate. Grow stronger. Go back and give everyone involved a loud slap in the face. Problem solved.
That simple.
There's nothing in this world a slap can't fix.
If one isn't enough, then two.
If still not enough, hit until it is.
You act crude and arrogant? I'll be more brutal and more arrogant than you.
The Mist Monastery had existed for over a thousand years. It was the oldest monastery on the southern continent and preserved a complete Holy Knight inheritance.
Not just anyone could come here, let alone become one of them.
Since Herbert had arrived, he would never let this chance go. He had to obtain that inheritance.
"It's easy to say… but actually getting it won't be simple."
Maybe they wanted to make a noble back off. Maybe someone was meddling. The higher-ups of the monastery gave Herbert a very troublesome task—reforming the prisoners.
The Mist Monastery had a special status. It didn't imprison ordinary human heretics. Those locked here were all extremely dangerous non-human powerhouses.
Sea demons who destroyed several harbors. Dragons who burned down cities. Fallen elves who slaughtered thousands. Demons who stirred slave rebellions. Devils who plotted royal massacres… each one a rare "talent."
For beings like them, normal torture meant nothing. Only long years could grind down their will. That was why the warden position had stayed vacant until Herbert arrived.
Yesterday, under the archbishop's personal guidance, Herbert had already made a round and formed first impressions.
Their tempers varied. Most ignored him. Some were willing to talk, but casually, like they were just killing time.
A few expressed their "enthusiasm" toward this long-awaited warden. Their words were sharp enough to cut.
Thinking back on yesterday, Herbert couldn't help sighing. Reforming this group to earn the inheritance would take real effort.
"Hey! Kid, you've been sighing for half a day. Are you done yet?"
A mocking voice rang out behind him. The evil being in the cage laughed freely at his weakness.
"It's only been one day and you're already scared? Want to cry and run home to your mommy? Hahaha!"
"If you're scared, then get the hell out!"
To be fair, the woman's voice wasn't unpleasant. It was hoarse and magnetic, even charming.
But the constant crude words used like commas ruined it completely.
Herbert clicked his tongue and turned back.
Behind messy red hair like dry straw stood a tall woman. She looked like some random homeless person from a western street corner, but that was only disguise.
Her true identity was the evil dragon who once destroyed four cities of ten thousand people each with dragon breath, before being personally suppressed by the Archbishop of Mist.
[The Berserker], [Ashen Calamity], [Demon Flame]—Valentina Demon Flame.
Seeing that Herbert didn't run and even dared meet her eyes, Valentina seemed amused. She grinned and whistled at him.
"Kid, want to reconsider my offer?"
"Let me out. I won't kill you. I'll even help you take revenge. How about it? Heh. We'll kill them all. All of them."
Her lava-like crimson eyes lit up. Killing intent burned inside her slit pupils.
She kept stirring him with provocative words, trying to drag up his anger and humiliation.
"Kill everyone who tricked you. Everyone who insulted you."
"You don't want to stay in this dark place forever, right?"
Herbert stayed silent the whole time, sometimes lowering his head as if thinking.
Just when Valentina thought she had moved him, he suddenly said,
"Hey. Have you not eaten for a long time?"
"Hmm?"
The dragon lady froze for a moment, then sneered.
"What, trying to tempt me with food? You think I care about that?"
That's it?
You're using that to tempt me?
Who would fall for that?
But Herbert smiled seriously.
"No. I just wanted to tell you I'm going to eat. Hot food."
"...What?"
Then, without giving her a chance to speak, Herbert lifted his lantern and strode away, muttering:
"Steamed bear paw, steamed deer tail, roast duck, roast chicken, roast young goose…"
"...What?!"
Realizing she had been played, Valentina shot up in fury and roared at his back.
"You! What the hell do you mean! Get back here—"
At the corner, a heavy prison door appeared out of nowhere. Herbert pushed it open and stepped through.
Bang.
The massive door closed. All sound and presence inside were instantly cut off.
Herbert staggered a little and let out a long breath, shaking his head.
He wasn't afraid of her attitude. He had seen worse in his old job. It almost felt familiar.
But the pressure she gave off was hard to bear.
"So this is dragon's might… ridiculous."
Yesterday, under the archbishop's protection, he felt nothing. Today was different.
Even with her power sealed again and again, the aura leaking from her was terrifying. Just talking to her made it hard to breathe.
He had taken quite a while to adapt before he could speak calmly. If he stayed longer, he might have exposed himself.
Herbert shook his head. The road ahead felt heavy.
Valentina was placed near the outer area. Among all the non-human prisoners, she was considered the least threatening.
He didn't even want to imagine how terrifying the deeper ones were.
So how exactly was he supposed to reform monsters like this?
Move them with emotion? Persuade them with reason?
Tempt them with benefits? Pressure them with authority?
Or threaten them first, then show kindness?
…Yeah.
None of those sounded very reliable.