The one who is impure is you!

The sealing array had ceased functioning, and the silence domain no longer held sway, yet the second zone remained engulfed in an unbearable stillness.

The sealing array indeed restrained Freme, causing her considerable discomfort, but even with prolonged operation, it could not kill her.

Thus, rather than fear, what filled her heart now was more a burning anger provoked by the challenge.

And a faint sense of bewilderment.

What was his confidence rooted in?

What purpose could this serve, other than to provoke her?

“...”

Freme fixed her gaze on the overly young paladin, searching for any flaw.

In terms of strength, he was weak—riddled with vulnerabilities.

Even in her current weakened state, she could easily kill him.

But in spirit, she detected no cracks.

His soul bore a faint protective blessing, shielding him from corruption and preserving the purity of his thoughts.

She knew what it was—that damned purity blessing was precisely why she could not seize his mind.

Yet, no—that wasn’t all.

Even without that blessing, there was no flicker of fear in his eyes toward her.

“...”

When they first met, although he appeared composed, there had been a trace of fear, following that cursed old man cautiously and silently.

But now... it was as if he were a different person.

Valentina’s somewhat simple-minded dragon couldn’t see through Herbert’s disguise, but Freme was different.

As a legendary siren skilled in manipulating emotions, she could keenly perceive the changes within Herbert.

Ignoring the façade of friendliness and gentleness, she sensed a calm, hypocritical, and arrogant soul.

What had transformed him?

His environment? His experiences?

Or perhaps, nothing had changed at all.

Had his previous demeanor been nothing but a performance for the archbishop’s eyes?

Freme found herself unable to comprehend.

After a long silence, she fixed her eyes on Herbert and spoke slowly, “Mortal, do you know what your actions just now signify?”

“Of course.”

Herbert smiled calmly and nodded. “From your perspective, it’s merely provocation, declaration of war, or a threat... no matter how you look at it, it’s hardly a friendly gesture.”

Freme frowned. “Then you—”

“But is that a problem?” Herbert interrupted with a smile, raising his brow in retort. “Must I be kind to you?”

“Miss Freme, think carefully—if I didn’t act this way, would you be friendly toward me?”

“You wouldn’t.”

“You’re a prisoner, and I am your warden. No matter what I do, you will resent the archbishop and the monastery that imprisoned you, and surely you will resent me as well.”

The young man stood with hands behind his back, tilting his head slightly to look at the strikingly beautiful mermaid, speaking softly:

“You were the first to hate me, weren’t you?”

“Isn’t that so?”

Freme fell silent, unable to refute this.

She was not the only one who had been seen through.

Because of her arrogance, she had few disguises; the other had seen her heart plainly.

Then Herbert shifted his tone unexpectedly.

“But, having said that, I don’t want to keep opposing you like this—it’s exhausting.”

“Instead of both wearing false masks and feigning cordiality here, why not be straightforward and show our true selves?”

Herbert extended his hands, revealing the stigmata, and smiled as he explained:

“So, this time I showed you my trump card. Though I can briefly control the sealing array, my current strength isn’t enough to maintain it long-term.”

“So, you needn’t worry about me torturing or threatening you with it intermittently.”

He openly confessed his own shortcomings to the prisoner who ought to hate him.

Was he offering his enemy a knife?

No.

Because that knife was merely symbolic, with little actual lethality.

Better to lay everything bare, rather than hiding and scheming.

This both clarified his stance and served as a deterrent.

After revealing this, Herbert sighed wistfully:

“After all, it would be such a pity if I could never get along well with a beautiful lady like you.”

Freme: ?

“After all, you’re so lovely, and your voice is so enchanting. I still wish to chat with you more.”

“Let’s be friends!”

Freme: ??

“No, you—”

Her brow twitched; this was the second time she heard Herbert unabashedly praise her.

The first time, she dismissed it as idle nonsense, but this time—she felt he might truly mean it!?

“Wait! Are you saying you—”

Does he harbor impure intentions toward me!?

Instinctively, she withdrew into her water bubble, leaving only half her head outside, staring at Herbert strangely.

“Hm? What’s wrong? I’ve always admired you!”

Herbert seemed momentarily taken aback, tilting his head in confusion, speaking matter-of-factly:

“No matter what, beauty is beauty, and your identity as a monster doesn’t change that.”

Principles follow features?

Not that complicated.

I’m just plainly lustful.

“Y-you-you... aren’t you afraid of breaking your oath?”

Herbert blinked, tilting his head with a puzzled expression:

“Why would that break my oath? Oh, I see what you mean...”

“Miss Freme, you misunderstand. My admiration for you is purely innocent!”

He shook his head earnestly:

“The one with impure thoughts is you!”

Freme: ???

A legend still pleading innocence!

But she was left dumbfounded, lips pressed tight, cheeks faintly flushed, blowing bubbles continuously underwater.

Glug glug.

This guy... he’s not right!

Why do I feel so happy hearing this?

Yet, he is a paladin who cannot lie, so... does that mean he truly believes it?

That he really finds me beautiful!?

Her tail whipped through the water, lifting her upper body higher, exposing most of it.

Herbert: Eh?

This mermaid princess is indeed high offense and high HP, but it seems her defense is paper-thin?

You deliberately try to charm me with your song, but I’m not allowed to lust after you?

Double standards!

Pure double standards!

“Miss Freme, please explain this to me clearly!”

Glug glug... (I’m not! I didn’t!)

.

.

Meanwhile, as Herbert relied on his pure paladin identity to “naively” and straightforwardly court the mermaid princess,

a cold voice echoed from the darkness of the third zone.

“The mana has been drained...”

“Finally, the opportunity we awaited has come.”