"Are you saying that you just took a nap, and when you woke up, you suddenly had the special ability to spiritualize?"

"Yes."

"And then you want to venture alone into the depths of the Misty Mountains to explore?"

"That's right."

The mermaid lady squinted her eyes, looking at the earnest young man lying on her tail.

"...Do you think I'll agree to you doing something so dangerous?"

"Hmm."

Herbert smiled, grinning as he said, "You might be angry at first, but you'll definitely agree in the end."

"...Sigh."

Fremay held her forehead in some distress, feeling not quite well overall.

The hero she had chosen was perfect in every way.

His talent and personality were both top-notch choices, but his bravery was just a bit too much.

Choosing his domain here was already outrageous enough, and he said he wanted to liberate the place... Now he plans to wander around randomly, exploring the deep on his own.

Are you really not worried about getting into trouble?

You're not worried, but I am!

"Herbert, can you tell me the truth?"

After some silence, Fremay didn't actually refuse but asked somewhat helplessly: "What's your connection with this place?"

She really wanted to know.

Who gave Herbert such confidence?

Was it destiny?

Could it be divine guidance?

If possible, Fremay really wanted an answer, but Herbert couldn't satisfy her—for this question alone.

"Fremay, I'm very sorry."

Herbert shook his head with a bit of helplessness, raising his hand to gently stroke Fremay's cheek.

"Principally, I can't tell you the truth. You also know, some things, once spoken, may cause changes."

Herbert wasn't intentionally hiding anything, and Fremay knew it too.

Destiny is the most mysterious and unpredictable.

Destiny is full of variables, like an ever-flowing river, where every rock, sandbank, or ripple caused by a breeze might become a crucial factor in changing its direction.

Any seemingly insignificant change is like a stone thrown into a tranquil lake, causing ripples that spread, reaching afar and potentially leading to significant changes in the future.

This change might be a complete reroute of a destiny track, a shift from peak to trough, or a major transition from darkness to light.

But Herbert's words suggested he indeed knew something yet bore a special destiny.

This destiny has great potential reach, possibly pointing to those existences above the heavens.

"Involving deities?"

"You could interpret it that way."

"..."

Fremay continued to remain silent.

Herbert's destiny is related to the gods, and his words might attract the deities' attention.

"Really?"

"Really."

"Hmm..."

To be honest, Fremay was a little skeptical of Herbert's explanation at the moment.

It wasn't that Fremay doubted Herbert's qualifications; with his talent, he would eventually become a coveted target for the divine spirits.

But at present, on his person, Fremay indeed didn't sense the aura typical of those Divine Favorers.

Fremay had seen a Divine Favorer before.

She had once seen the God of the Sea's Divine Favorer from afar, an ancient Abyssal Giant Whale with terrifying power.

Though she fled before getting close, that fleeting glance left a lasting impression.

Powerful!

Irresistibly powerful!

And... that dense aura of divine presence.

Divine Favorers are almost equivalent to the Divine Spirit's embodiment in the Mortal Realm or vessels carrying the deity's temporary descent, having long been transformed by the Divine Spirit.

Yet Herbert barely exuded that lofty divinity.

By Divine Favorer standards, his humanity was somewhat overly pronounced.

Seeing the doubt in her heart, Herbert pinched her cheek, smiling as he explained, "Judging by your expression, I'd say you're probably mistaken."

"I am indeed under the gaze of the divine."

"But I am neither the gods' pawn, nor their devotee, nor will I become their weapon."

Herbert confidently smiled, declaring what seemed quite blasphemous: "If I must say, I'd be more like the deities'... ally?"

["Enough, don't say more."]

Nenasha softly interjected: ["Don't cause trouble for yourself, nor for her."]

He thought Herbert was getting too overconfident, daring to say even such things.

Is this something you should say?

But Herbert just waved his hand subtly, expressing, "Relax, I have a sense of proportion."

It's true, this can indeed be spoken!

While soothing Nenasha, Fremay, on the other hand, kept blinking over there.

"Eh?"

???

No kidding, the mermaid lady was genuinely startled.

What kind of existence could qualify to become an ally of the divine?

At least a Saint, right?

Moreover, it would have to be a relatively powerful Saint to be treated equally by the deities.

Wait... a Saint?

"Oh!"

Fremay suddenly thought of something, nodding with understanding as she said, "So that's how it is."

While she sorted out her own thoughts, it was Herbert's turn to be dumbfounded.

So what exactly?

No, I haven't explained anything, how did you figure it out yourself?

And you figured it out... what did you figure out?

There's no need for you to make your own assumptions at this time!

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