The Strange Adventures of Hearn the Believer

And this righteous man lying beside my bed now is more than just a thief in mind and in spirit...

Salome had no idea when he would lean in for a kiss, nor was she sure if she was ready to push him away!

He's a seasoned and cunning womanizer! A habitual heartbreaker who sneaks into women's bedrooms at night! A lecherous man who knows nothing of male virtue! A trendsetter at the forefront of fashion!

Which link in the chain went wrong?!

Does the Emerald Dream, after being touched by holy light, still have this effect?

Give back that righteous man who was a bit flirtatious but reassuring!

"Ahem, Lord Hern, what happened to you in the Emerald Dream?"

Salome asked tentatively, trying to find the root cause of Lord Hern's drastic change in personality.

"A dream within a curtain feels like a lifetime ago, a thousand years have passed in a daze. Who can know the nectar in the dream? I still remember when I woke up... I only remember that after waking up, I must thank Your Highness Salome."

"Thank you?" Salome's expression remained calm, but she was slightly surprised.

"Yes, thank you." The believer held her hand affectionately, her pale eyes sparkling with starlight.

"What...what is it?" Salome's lips began to tremble.

"To be honest, when I first met Your Highness, I had been stuck at a crossroads in my life for more than half a year, unable to make any progress. It wasn't until I was trapped in Your Highness's Midsummer Night's Dream that I suddenly woke up and realized my mistake. As the saying goes, 'Where does enlightenment come from?' Only today do I know who I am... Even if I have forgotten the nectar in the dream, I dare not forget my wish to express my gratitude to Your Highness when I woke up."

The believer recounted their past relationship with great emotion, and as he finished speaking, he gently kissed the back of her hand.

"So...I see!" Salome smiled with relief, her voice trembling.

No, no, no, Your Excellency, how can you suddenly realize your mistakes and turn back from the wrong path? No matter how you look at it, this is the result of taking the wrong turn at the crossroads of life and going straight into a world of cosmetics and being thoroughly cleansed!

Your Excellency, Salome has failed you!

Although I really like it...

The princess from the Far East was filled with conflicting emotions.

“However,” the believer changed the subject.

"!" Salome trembled upon hearing this.

“Your Highness’s methods are indeed remarkable. Now the Northern Journey Group has only a handful of members left. Although I can understand Your Highness’s good intentions, Your Highness must give the rest of them an explanation.” The believer’s expression turned solemn.

“You’re right…” Salome’s expression darkened.

She made a colossal lie behind the backs of the northbound travel group, and both morally and logically, she should give the remaining people an answer that is convincing enough.

Even if her initial intention was to avoid causing further casualties.

"hehe."

Why is Your Excellency Hearn laughing?

"I just feel that Your Highness's choice of words is also deeply influenced by the people of the Far East."

"Having grown up in it, it's inevitable."

"It's alright, it's alright. This place is within the magical artifact I created, and no one will disturb Your Highness's cultivation. Before everything is ready, Your Highness can rest and recuperate in peace."

"Lord Hern, you once saved thousands from disaster at sea, and have since shown me great kindness on our journey north. I will rely on your many abilities in the future. I am deeply grateful for your immense kindness and virtue, which I can never repay in this lifetime..."

"I am not the kind of person who would take advantage of someone's kindness."

“Your Excellency is of noble character and would never seek to repay kindness with favors, but Salome finds this difficult to accept.”

"If Your Highness insists on this, you may consider repaying with your body."

What is the meaning of "paying with one's body"?

"It means to sell one's labor with one's own flesh and blood to repay debts during one's lifetime."

"I see. Your words are truly profound and concise. If this matter is resolved and Salome survives, she will follow you, sir, to the ends of the earth, serving you faithfully, going through fire and water, risking her life without hesitation."

"It's not that exaggerated. My family just needs a versatile maid who can manage housework and garden. I originally planned to recruit one this time, and I thought I had found one, but I didn't find one in the middle. In short, I found one, but not completely, so I have to reconsider the candidate."

"?"

"...Forget it, it was just a joke. I won't keep you going on and on about what you're saying. I'm going out to take care of some chores."

"Please wait, Your Excellency. Please wait a moment, Lord Hern. There is something else I do not understand."

"What's the matter?"

"Were you taking my pulse just now? But judging from your technique, it doesn't seem to be a Far Eastern medical tradition," Salome asked, puzzled.

"I'm not Yonglin, how could I possibly know any pulse diagnosis skills—I was just using you as a telegraph." The believer couldn't help but smile upon hearing this.

"Send a telegram?"

"There must have been a period in Yale's civilizational development when radio was used."

"Of course."

"This makes it simple and clear. You and Joshua are both from the Holy Light Realm, walking on the land of Thranheim. You are like a lighthouse to him, and I happen to be able to shield myself from the Holy Light and external perception. That's why I frequently tap your palm, using the flashing of the Holy Light to send a message in Morse code to Joshua and the others, whose whereabouts are unknown, just to let your loyal protector know that I am safe."

"I see, so Lord Hern was using me as a telegraph machine..."

"Ah, that's right. Your Highness is so intelligent, it's a pleasure to talk to you. Well then, I'll take my leave now."

"Mr. Joshua! Mr. Joshua! Why are you standing here?"

Eirin and his new underlings hadn't gone far from the dungeon where they were imprisoned when they encountered the Black Panther Paladin, who was standing alone, on the main passage of another dungeon.

Where the paladins stood, there was a mountain of corpses. The limbs and flesh left behind by a large number of dark creatures were torn into pieces by the scorching holy light and piled up like mountains. The high temperature scorched the dismembered corpses and they emitted a nauseating stench.

However, none of this could disturb the paladin with his steely will. He simply stood there, gazing out into the deep cave.

Following its gaze, Yonglin saw the prosperous underground city-state through a narrow opening and behind a rock crevice blocked by stalactites.

"This……"

The Grey Elves not only did not become extinct, nor did they regress to a primitive era, but they even built such a magnificent city deep underground!

The sight before him left Yonglin, a Rosetta fox, speechless for a moment, but his reason told him that Joshua was not marveling at the grandeur of the underground city.

"Mr. Joshua, Mr. Joshua, Salome, is Princess Salome not with you?"

Unlike Eirin, whose focus was different, his new underlings didn't even glance at the dungeon after encountering the Black Panther Paladin.

"Your Highness's beacon of holy light shines as brightly as ever, still as clear as a lighthouse in the night in my eyes, however..."

Aran's urgent words snapped Joshua out of his reverie. The black panther's brows furrowed, and his words brought a moment of relief to the two of them, but then his tone shifted, making them tense again.

"But what?" Alan asked curiously.

"However, I have never seen such holy light before. Although Your Highness's beacon of holy light is still bright, it flickers and dims in a certain pattern. I have never seen such a thing before."

"Flashes? Patterns? Mr. Joshua, could you carve the length of a single flash on the ground with your sword?" Eirin tentatively joined the conversation.

"Oh? Could it be that you can solve this puzzle?" Black Panther turned his head.

"I can try... To be honest, I don't know why I know, but I just know I might know, anyway, I just..."

Under the intense gaze of two eyes, Yonglin felt extremely embarrassed; he was, after all, an introverted fox.

In his embarrassment, he couldn't help but start repeating himself.

Black Panther ignored his rambling words, raised his sword and pointed it at the ground. A golden flash streaked across the ground, leaving a record of the flickering holy light.

“Emmmmmmm…”

Yonglin squatted on the ground and pondered for a moment, then spoke loudly, muttering the recorded words without thinking.

"...Salome Reinhardt will be sacrificed as a human offering to the evil god in three days...The remnants of the northward journey should hurry to the underground city of Spadokia...That's all. Oh, where is Mr. Joshua? Aran, wait for me—"

"Mr. Hearn is indeed a wicked man."

In a corner of the ivory-white palace, Pandora, draped in a cloak, gazed at the half-closed-eye believer and commented as follows.

Which side are you referring to?

Having finished his business with Salome, the believer was clearly in high spirits. He casually brushed the magical ring between his left thumb and created a barrier between the inside and outside of the ring.

"Both sides."

"Hmph, this is the most efficient way to gather the remnants. Those who can reach the [Northern Continent] through the Emerald Dream are no ordinary people. There is no need to worry about them not being able to stay hidden in the city."

"I see."

"Speaking of which, Pandora, have you successfully crafted your own magical artifact?" The believer looked her student up and down and asked deliberately.

Little Red... Little Gray Hat slightly lifted a corner of his cloak, showing the believer a delicate twilight blue lantern hanging from his belt at his waist.

"Good child, you learn so quickly." The believer nodded approvingly.

"Miss Qingzi, what should we do?" Pandora looked at the center of the palace, where Miss Tian Lanlan was surrounded by many gray elf priestesses, enjoying a life of luxury on her throne.

"It's alright." The believer shook her head with a mischievous smile.

“Miss Aoko has no idea that in three days, she will be sacrificed to their god by those fanatical gray elves.”

"I already said she's just a seemingly thoughtful but actually naive girl. Anyway, let her enjoy her goddess-like life for a few more days. I'll cover for her when the time comes."

“Mr. Hearn, you are so kind.”

"I'm not a kind person."

“Mr. Hearn, you are so kind.”

"Hmm, I like this word. 'Good' is much more endearing than 'kind'."

The believer happily touched the top of the little gray hat's head, her fingertips tracing the soft gray hair.

The latter approached him docilely like a puppy, but then impatiently slapped his hand away like a wolf cub.

"Mr. Hearn, please have some self-respect."

Looking at the hand that had been slapped away and the little gray hat whose expression held a hint of displeasure, the believer felt both saddened and gratified.

The child has grown up and entered a rebellious phase.

Overwhelmed with longing, the believer wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and then brought up a necessary interlude.

"Pandora."

"Mr. Hearn, what is it?"

"Come up with a new name yourself and tell me before Salome Reinhardt leaves the artifact that we're getting too close to her now and that the name Pandora Reinhardt will cause unnecessary trouble."

The woman had this idea when she led a group on a solo journey earlier.

Salome Reinhardt was neither a pretty face nor a mere ornament, but rather the kind of person you could communicate with.

But Joshua, that black panther, was different.

The reason could be that they are followers of the White God and have inherited the Holy Light, or it could be due to their seemingly rival relationship with Miss Jiang Xue. Of course, it is more likely that Mr. Hern previously labeled Mr. Joshua as a suspected pedophile.

In short, Mr. Hearn's credibility with Mr. Joshua is now extremely low, so low that if there were evidence, he would probably have already been labeled a "follower of the Black God" and drawn his sword to shout, "Holy Light, that enemy is worth fighting!"

If the black panther were to discover that a silicon-based life form bearing an uncanny resemblance to Salome Reinhardt, perhaps even surpassing her in appearance, and sharing the same name as the Rhine Dynasty's ancestor known as the Red-Blooded Princess, had been following Mr. Hearn from beginning to end.

The reasons for starting a war are too numerous to even imagine how far things might escalate.

Chloe Hearn.

"Ok?"

"New name, Chloe Hearn."

"Chloe, hmm... a beautiful name, it reminds me of blooming flowers, I like it very much, because I'm a gardener... but why is her last name Hern?"

"Didn't I mention when I explained to Miss Deedlit and Mr. Eirin that Mr. Hearn, Miss Sky Blue, and I are all country rats from the edge of the Sea of ​​Trees? If that's the case, then it's only natural that we share the same surname."

“Actually, I didn’t go to school much either… wait, why am I bringing this up? Anyway, the reason is very good, and you’ve convinced me, Miss Chloe Hearn.”

The believer extended her right hand, making a perfunctory grasping gesture, with a slight smile on her face.

In his view, it was a small, albeit insignificant, ritual about getting to know each other again.

"You're welcome, Mr. Hern."

Little Red Riding Hood reached out and shook his hand in return. Her face, which had been cold and lifeless since they met, surprisingly showed a faint smile.

A beautiful woman with a cheerful smile appeared on her face, and onlookers only commented on her beauty.

A cold and beautiful iceberg suddenly melted away. The believer was amazed and terrified, yet she was also genuinely attracted by that faint smile. So she stayed where she was and did not move forward.

What made him linger was not only that faint smile, but also his right hand.