Diary of Guarding Monster Girls-Chapter 599 - 344 Do you want to try trusting me? (Please subscribe!)_2

Herbert looked at the Ashen Bishop, seemingly frightened away by his enthusiasm, silently took a step forward, and said, "What will it take for you to believe me?"

"Well..."

As the Ashen Bishop hesitated, Herbert took another step forward and pressed, "Do I need to sign a contract? Or make a vow? Or do you need to look into my soul to know whether I'm telling the truth?"

Do you want to cut open my chest and see my heart?

With each question, Herbert took large strides forward until he stood right in front of the Ashen Bishop.

"..."

After being questioned repeatedly, the Ashen Bishop regained some composure and firmly stated, "No, you don't need to do any of those things."

She did not require Herbert to make any promises.

Even if he didn't mention it, she wouldn't ask for it.

To the Ashen Bishop, no matter how outrageous Herbert's actions might be, his status in her eyes would remain unchanged—a young sapling in need of protection and care.

She gazed into Herbert's eyes and slowly said, "Herbert, you don't have to go to such lengths. Whether or not you divulge secrets, I won't demand anything of you."

"Even if it means there's a possibility I might reveal your secrets?"

"Even so."

The Ashen Bishop nodded calmly, silently watching Herbert.

"..." Herbert fell silent, his expression overshadowed by gloom.

Seeing the young man's disheartened look, the Ashen Bishop's heart softened slightly, and she said gently, "This is not about not trusting you; it's just the principle of the Secret Keeper... We do not ask others to keep secrets, only ourselves."

A strict code for oneself, lenience towards others.

This is how Secret Keepers conduct themselves.

Herbert frowned slightly, staring at the Guardian before him, and slowly said, "What if I were a true Secret Keeper? Would you trust me then?"

"I would, but coincidentally, you aren't." the Ashen Bishop replied calmly.

If Herbert truly were a competent Secret Keeper, this matter would not be so complicated...

Bam!

The sound interrupted the Ashen Bishop's thoughts, and she looked at the boy who had clapped his hands in front of her.

... Hmm?

"Then this is simple."

Herbert clapped his hands strongly, banishing his gloom and smiling easily as he said joyfully, "It's just being a Secret Keeper! I wasn't one before, but I can be in the future."

"Since you believe I haven't passed the test and can't be considered a true Secret Keeper... Then test me!"

He spread his arms wide, smiling widely, and said, "This time, if I can keep a secret, then I can officially become a Secret Keeper."

She understood.

Everything Herbert had done earlier was a performance to elicit that promise from her.

"This... hehehe, haha."

The Ashen Bishop was momentarily stunned before bursting into laughter, shaking her head repeatedly and helplessly saying, "You said all that just for this sentence?"

"Exactly. If I become a Secret Keeper, you'll trust me—no backing out, you said it yourself!" Herbert said with a justified smile.

"Hehe."

Since her biggest secret was already exposed, the Ashen Bishop no longer hid it. She slowly leaned up by the serpent tail, overlooking him from above.

She slowly bowed her head, moving closer to the young man, letting the shadow cast by her hood envelop him.

From within the shadow came an amused query, "You want to pass the test, based on what? By relying on your status as a Paladin? Swearing upon the oath of the Paladin?"

Enveloped in shadow, Herbert appeared exceptionally calm, shaking his head resolutely and saying, "No, I swear in my own name."

"What allows me to keep secrets has never been those doctrines and codes, nor will it ever be."

"Only my own will can truly bind me."

Herbert looked at the Ashen Bishop, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards, and said, "Moreover, Secret Keepers choose to guard secrets, is it because they want to adhere to codes?"

The two exchanged a quiet glance, and the half-plane fell into silence for a while.

"...Very well."

Moments later, the Ashen Bishop was the first to respond.

She slowly nodded at Herbert, sat back down, and tossed him a crystal bottle.

"Take this."

Herbert instinctively caught it, looking curiously at the blood-like liquid in the container.

"What's this?"

"[Silence and Noise], also known by some as [Blood of Lies], a Legendary Level Alchemy Potion," the Ashen Bishop answered softly.

"Since you want a trial, I'll give you a chance."

"At midnight, close your eyes in front of a mirror and drink it. When you open your eyes again, you'll see various phantasmal reflections in the mirror."

"They will interrogate you, using various means to force you to reveal your inner secrets."

"That's the test."

"If you can keep your secrets and not be deceived by them, then you'll pass the test and can become a true Secret Keeper."

Seeing Herbert's thoughtful look, she reminded him, "Don't think it will be easy. Once you open your eyes, you won't remember it's a test, and it's easy to get lost in it."

The Ashen Bishop was not exaggerating.

In fact, the test she gave Herbert was the hardest among all Secret Keeper tests.

This was the initiation ceremony from the early days when the ancient Secret Keeper organization was still a secret society—Silence and Noise.

Back then, to avoid exposing secrets in front of the gods, the Secret Keeper organization demanded extreme confidentiality from new members.

The Ashen Bishop's real purpose was to make Herbert retreat in defeat, discouraging him from becoming a Secret Keeper.

This wasn't something enjoyable.

Unless one is truly prepared to endure solitude, one shouldn't attempt it lightly.

It's best not even to entertain the notion!

"Understood."

The Ashen Bishop had genuinely considered Herbert's well-being, yet he still took it lightly.

Herbert put away the potion, nodding easily, and said with a confident smile, "Don't worry, I'll definitely pass the test."

After speaking, he turned straight around and walked out with big strides.

Difficulty? Danger?

He completely disregarded them!

As the young man walked away with his head held high for a moment, a soft whisper came from behind him.

"Herbert."

"Hmm?"

"What's the hurry? Do you think I've forgotten?"

"..."

Hiss.

Herbert's steps paused, and he took a sharp breath.

Despite distracting himself for so long, he couldn't escape in the end?

Was it just licking your tail once?

Why cling to it so much!?

While Herbert stood there awaiting his fate, the voice behind him sighed helplessly, "Sigh... Let today be an exception."

Eh!!?

"Okay! I'll make sure next time..."

Herbert was overjoyed and was about to turn back to thank her when a tremendous force from behind sent him flying out of the rift.

After Herbert was thrown out, the half-plane fell completely quiet, as it had for the past millennium. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Quiet, and lifeless.

"..."

Rustle, rustle...

A serpent tail covered in mysterious runes slowly emerged from under the skirt, lifting up in front of the Ashen Bishop.

She lowered her head to look at the wet tail tip, particularly focusing on a scale that had been slightly scratched.

There was a trace of crimson blood remaining on it.

For some reason, that bit of blood emitted a fragrance that made her instinctively want to take a deep breath, compelling her to do so in a rush.

An eerie thought of wanting to lick the blood clean even surfaced in her mind.

"..."

The Ashen Bishop remained silent for a while, then forcibly suppressed these impulses and wiped the serpent tail clean with a handkerchief.

"So, is this why he's able to gain the trust of those Demons so quickly?"

"Herbert actually possesses such a gift... a special constitution that's attractive to Demons?"

She murmured to herself, then naturally brought the blood-stained handkerchief to her nose and took a deep breath...

"Inhale—hmm!!?"