Diary of Guarding Monster Girls-Chapter 534 - 320 Sorry, Thank You (5K, First Update)_3

How strange this really is.

"Out of forty-two types of mushrooms here, only this one is poisonous, and you managed to pick it."

You’re quite the little glutton, aren’t you?

"Hmm?"

Cyril noticed someone beside him and, after seeing clearly, exclaimed in shock, "Why is it you!!?"

Anyone would have been fine, why did it have to be him!

"Of course, because I’m the one responsible for leading the group, did you think I wanted this?"

Herbert shrugged helplessly and then casually tossed "Cyril’s Book of Hatred" back to him.

Cyril originally had many other questions to ask, but the moment he instinctively caught the Book of Hatred, he forgot them all and asked anxiously, "Did you! Did you read what’s inside?"

How did it end up in his hands!!?

"I did." Herbert nodded with a smile, showing no shame in his actions.

"You!"

Cyril, furious, jumped up from the ground in a flash, ready to grab him by the collar.

But midway, realizing his overreaction, he stopped in his tracks with a grim expression, glaring at Herbert angrily.

Cyril withdrew his hand and clenched it tightly in front of him, angrily asking, "How could you just randomly flip through someone else’s things!!?"

Herbert, still smiling calmly, counted off:

"That’s because you were lying unconscious on the ground, life or death uncertain, and I needed to investigate all clues to determine what exactly happened to you."

"Like, for example, your last words or something."

Cyril calmed down by then, realizing Herbert’s actions were completely justified, and felt it was his own overly emotional behavior that was somewhat rude.

He hesitated for a moment, then bowed his head deeply to Herbert, saying solemnly, "...I’m sorry, my attitude earlier wasn’t good. Thank you for saving me."

Herbert looked at this unusually frank short and stout young man, smiled, and shook his head, saying:

"There’s no need to thank me. I actually didn’t do anything. A kindly mushroom person found and treated you, I just came over to pick you up after being notified."

"Now that you’re alright, I’ll be on my way."

Without further explanation, Herbert waved his hand and was about to turn to leave.

"..."

Cyril didn’t stop him either, silently watching the young man leave, narrowing his eyes.

The gap between the two was already significant, but now, somehow, it seemed to have grown even larger.

He had narrowly escaped death in the Dark Territory, survived multiple battles, looking disheveled and covered in blood, even consuming a toxic mushroom while semi-conscious...

And what about the other?

Not a speck of dirt marred his silvery white armor, not even a strand of hair was out of place, and he walked with a buoyant step through the mushroom land, completely out of place.

Cyril had always been a confident person, believing his talents would make him a destined strongman.

But at this moment, seeing others at their most graceful while he was at his lowest, he couldn’t avoid feelings of inadequacy rising in his heart.

Perhaps he truly wasn’t as good as him...

Yet, just as Herbert was about to leave completely, he suddenly turned back, smiling at the despondent Cyril, "Oh! I almost forgot to mention, your signature is quite nice, you have quite a variety of styles."

"When you become a Legendary Paladin later, you can give these signatures to the ladies who admire you as gifts."

?

Cyril was stunned for a moment, confusedly asking, "...What are you talking about?"

What signatures?

Faced with Cyril’s puzzlement, Herbert immediately expressed an "apology." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"Oh? Do you think it won’t be ladies who admire you? Ah, that’s really impolite, allow me to rephrase—You can give the signatures to the gentlemen who yearn for you."

Herbert nodded with a playfully teasing smile.

Don’t want to give them to women, then give them to men.

Cyril: ???

"That’s not what I meant at all!!!"

In that instant, any feelings of inadequacy or shame were all thrown out the window.

"I! I... I am not!"

"Hahaha, no need to explain, I get it, you have your struggles, I understand." Herbert laughed heartily, waving his hand with an "I understand everything" expression, nodding repeatedly.

Cyril looked at that smiling face, growing even more infuriated, wanting to rush over and clear things up with him.

But after taking a few quick steps, he realized the issue.

The other wasn’t actually mocking him, but adjusting the atmosphere and messing with his emotions...

"Herbert!"

Cyril took a deep breath, lowered his head, and said loudly, "I’m sorry! For saying those harsh words before, I... I truly apologize for that!"

Apologize.

Since it was his mistake, he should admit it early and not use pride as a flimsy excuse to delay it.

"Cyril, please raise your head."

Cyril slowly raised his head and found Herbert quietly watching him.

That angelic-like handsome white-haired youth, easily smiled and said, "What exactly are you referring to? I don’t recall you having done anything that required bowing to me."

"Hmm? It’s just that I..."

Cyril instinctively wanted to explain, but as soon as he started, he saw the smirk in Herbert’s eyes and shut his mouth.

Does he really not remember?

Of course not.

But since he’d chosen to be magnanimous and let the matter slide, insisting further would only make it awkward.

"...Thank you for your generosity, Sir Herbert."

Cyril knelt on one knee, lowered his head deeply, and solemnly said, "You indeed are, as Fao described, a kind lord."

Herbert looked down at Cyril, chuckling softly without deliberately avoiding his kneeling.

Humans are social creatures needing integration into society.

And within this complex society, relationships with others are many and varied, often causing confusion.

But ultimately, they boil down to two types.

Become an enemy, or... become a friend.

Oftentimes, Herbert habitually leaves the choice to the other party, letting them decide the path they’d take.

Of course, if he could choose, Herbert hoped to have more friends around him, fewer enemies.

After all, in such an interesting world, to end up with enemies everywhere—wouldn’t that just be too dull?