Diary of the Improper Monster Girl Transformation.

Chapter 473 Raising a Loli? (4.4K views, thanks to yrmtnbe for the two patrons!)
After avenging his great grudge, Crimson Thorn departed.

All the love and hate that had been carried on the crimson thorns had vanished, all kindness and enmity were gone.

It left nothing behind for this world.

It doesn't want to leave any trace in this world anymore.

It asked Herbert's name, but did not leave its own.

It erased all traces of its existence with its own hands, no longer wanting to linger here for even a moment longer, and rushed towards death without hesitation.

But perhaps, in the very end, it still holds a sliver of hope for this world.

Then, the scarlet thorn left behind a seed and entrusted it to the merciful being who had saved it.

It's like wanting to prove that you once existed.

Erase the past, leave the future.

Having achieved this, it was content and embraced death peacefully.

It didn't care about the future of that seed.

Scarlet Thorn has no opinion on how it will be treated.

Whether it's nurtured or used as material, it doesn't matter; it's all Herbert's freedom.

Those things are no longer relevant to it.

Even if there really is a problem, Herbert should be left to worry about it.

"This really has left me with a difficult problem..."

Herbert gently twirled the seed, sensing the faint aura and vague will emanating from within, and raised an eyebrow: "Nenesha, are you sure now?"

"That's fine."

Miss Harmony withdrew her senses and stated confidently, "Your worries have not come true. This is a completely new and pure will, unpolluted and without any trace of others."

It can be confirmed that this is not a method for the regeneration of the Crimson Thorn, and even if it were to be cultivated, it would not be a second one.

For plant-type monsters, asexual reproduction is not difficult, but that does not mean they can split or live forever.

Seeds are their offspring, that much is certain.

"Then I understand."

Herbert nodded slowly, lowering his eyes, his thick, long eyelashes obscuring the emotions in them.

It's not that...

well.

This is not a story of repaying kindness with enmity, which is quite good.

Herbert did not accept the final gift from the Crimson Thorn immediately, but instead carefully had Nenasha examine it repeatedly.

Harmfulness is not allowed, and defensiveness is indispensable.

If Scarlet Thorn is ungrateful and tries to use itself as a shell to be reborn, Herbert will make it understand what true darkness is.

Fortunately, the story's development did not discourage him.

Nenasha didn't care that much. Even if Crimson Thorn really intended to betray them, she would teach it a lesson.

He was more concerned with how Herbert intended to handle the seed: ["So, what do you plan to do with it? Grow it? Trade it? Or... eat it?"]

"..."

Of the three options, Herbert immediately ruled out the trade.

If it were to be sold, it would definitely fetch a good price.

Imagine how valuable a seed that can guarantee becoming an epic-level plant monster would be?
Although cultivating it will inevitably require a lot of resources, the future benefits will definitely outweigh the investment.

An epic-level plant companion who is completely obedient and loyal is something even a saint would find irresistible.

Moreover, they don't have to worry about finding buyers.

Not many people can afford this, but the Druid Order is certainly one of them, and they would definitely be willing to take it back and save it.

This is a good suggestion, but Herbert is not short of money right now.

As a lord, developing one's territory naturally requires a significant amount of funds.

But Herbert's territory was different.

His subjects were very proactive—they did the work themselves without the lord paying them.

For a secluded territory that is self-sufficient and capable of sustainable development, wealth has little significance.

Compared to money, he still lacked power.

Only two options remain, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.

Raise and nurture epic plant monsters.

The advantage is that you gain a powerful monster with great strength and many uses.

The downside is that it requires time and a lot of resources, and by the time the training is complete, Herbert may no longer need its protection.

Eating it in exchange for protection is not bad.

The advantage is that it can be obtained on the spot, and strength can be improved in a short time.

The downside is that it's a one-off deal, essentially sacrificing the future.

After a moment, Herbert made up his mind.

"Let's keep it for a while."

While consuming it would certainly grant epic-level abilities, Herbert isn't that desperate for a simple blessing right now.

As for the resources needed for cultivation, the Misty Mountains are not lacking; with a little more effort, they can be obtained.

In addition...

"There's no rule saying you can't eat them after they've grown up."

Herbert pursed his lips, thought for a moment, and added, "Besides, after we plant it, maybe some interesting things will happen."

For example, raising a little loli or something... cough.

Herbert remembered.

I'm not interested in other things, but I'm very interested in cultivating.

Yes, I've always been a big fan of simulation games.

I love raising them!
【"Um?"】

Miss Harmony keenly noticed Herbert's emotional fluctuation and immediately asked, "What were you thinking about just now?"

"nothing."

Herbert, of course, wouldn't admit it and remained quite calm.

"It's still a seed!"

"I already said I wasn't thinking about anything, don't slander me."

But Nena didn't believe him, convinced he was thinking nonsense, and warned him: "Also, let me remind you, even when it grows up, it'll still be thorns...it'll hurt a lot."

"Cough cough!"

Herbert's lips twitched slightly as he said with difficulty, "...You mean hug it? Well, that's nothing."

"Ha, you know what I'm talking about."

"...That's enough, you've gone too far."

"Hehe~ I guessed right! This time, I won~"

Nenasha, who had won the argument, gave a smug hum, then quietly tampered with the seeds.

He wasn't doing anything malicious.

They are doing good deeds!

This is fantastic news!
He gave the seed a little intervention, so that the little thing would grow up to meet Herbert's expectations.

—He ensures that the self-awareness of its birth is female.

Many plant-type monsters are hermaphroditic, possessing abilities of both sexes...

Nenasha was unfamiliar with the growth habits of the thorn, could not discern its condition, and was unsure whether it was dioecious.

But after His intervention, it has to be.

In other words, He is protecting Herbert's beautiful fantasy!
【"Nenesha, you're so great, you're so good to him~"】Miss Harmony praised herself with satisfaction after finishing.

His current actions hardly resemble those of an evil god.

Herbert was unaware that Nenesha was silently protecting her dream. He carefully examined the seed and determined the most important matter.

Replenish.

Although it was the seed of an epic-level magical plant, the Crimson Thorn was too weak at the time, so it needed to replenish a large amount of life force to repair the damage. But this didn't deter him.

Herbert has no shortage of vitality now.

He collected the seeds and placed them together with the leaves he had obtained from Freya, allowing them to absorb some of the latter's powerful life force.

Once it has filled in all the gaps, it will surely be able to reveal its true power.

After dealing with these matters, Herbert glanced down at the mummified corpse on the ground, but made no attempt to collect the body of the withered one.

With a stomp of his foot, the already shriveled corpse shattered completely, turning into dust on the ground.

Dust to dust, dust to dust.

He was originally a druid, who came from the forest and eventually merged into it, becoming a source of nourishment for nature.

Just as Herbert was about to leave, he suddenly noticed a whole, inconspicuous piece of wood remaining in the dust.

Those were fragments of the idol that the Withered One served, the corrupt divinity contained within them completely consumed, leaving only some special aura that could not be consumed.

"This is... um?"

As Herbert sensed the eerie, corrupt aura emanating from the fragments of the statue, his expression suddenly changed, and he lowered his eyes in a very subtle way.

This aura... it feels like I've sensed it somewhere before.
"Nenesha".

【"Um?"】

He narrowed his eyes and asked softly, "Why... does it have the aura of the Misty Mountains on it?"

Although it was very faint, Herbert recognized the aura; he had experienced it firsthand.

He had only sensed this decadent aura deep within the Misty Mountains.

What is the Misty Mountains?
It is the ruins of the divine kingdom of the evil goddess Nenasha.

Why does this statue have that aura from there?

Did it originally come from there? From Nenasha?

Or did it become tainted by His aura for some other reason?

Herbert wanted an answer, but Nenasa didn't explain. Instead, she casually said, "Eh? I don't know~"

"..."

Herbert frowned upon hearing this flippant response; this answer, of course, failed to convince him.

He's playing dumb.

After a long silence, Herbert hesitated for a moment, then asked softly, "Nenesha, who exactly are you?"

【"I?"】

Nenasha responded to him in a relaxed and gentle voice: "I'm your favorite Nenasha sister~"

"...Okay, I understand."

Just as Herbert was about to skip the topic and decide not to delve any deeper, Miss Harmony chuckled twice and asked in return:
"Heh, you're not going to ask anymore? If you want to know something, keep asking!"

"Ok?"

Nenasha's attitude was unusually serious, yet she said with a hint of coquettishness, "If you have any questions, you don't need to be so careful anymore. You can just ask me directly."

"I won't answer what I can't say, but I'll definitely tell you what I can say!"

"Fear? Concern? What do you have to worry about!"

Nenasha, somewhat annoyed by Herbert's cautious attitude, muttered irritably, "You've offended me before, no, haven't you been offending me all along?"

He was a little dissatisfied with Herbert's "aloofness".

You were so careful before, I didn't hold it against you.

But what time is it now?

You're still probing and dragging your feet. What are you even probing for?!

Why weren't you hesitant when you were being so indecisive with me before?

Ask away!
"Tsk, I was just worried about you." Herbert snorted irritably after being scolded by Him.

Bah!
You clown, you really don't know a good heart!

I was clearly worried about you, it was a thoughtful gesture of care, but you didn't appreciate it at all!
Since you've put it that way, then I won't hold back!
Having received permission, Herbert stopped with his roundabout probing and asked directly, "So, Nenasa, is this your aura?"

"Yes, that's how it should be!"

Miss Harmony was quite satisfied with this, and leisurely replied: ["Yes, this is my aura—or rather, my former aura."]

He smiled gently and said something that made Herbert's eyes narrow.

"However, this aura was not given by me voluntarily, nor was it acquired during combat. Rather, it was a sacrifice made by someone with lofty ideals who willingly used their own body to absorb my aura in order to save others..."

Nenasha paused here, and after a long while, she spoke softly in a tone that was hard to decipher—whether it was praise or teasing:
"What a great sacrifice indeed."

……

……

"Let's go."

Herbert encountered the three monster girls who had hidden themselves after "Cassie" made her move in the empty beast-eared clan camp.

Meeting Freyme and the others' astonished gazes, he smiled and asked, "Did you three beautiful ladies have a good time tonight?"

Herbert was actually prepared to accept the praise, but to his surprise, the three people gave three seemingly different, but actually the same, answers to the question.

"Hmph, if you hadn't jumped out and caused trouble, I would have already taken it down! You have to make it up to me!"

—This is a stubborn vampire; she's planning to stage an accident.

"Hehe~ It's been a long time since I've made such a big scene, my dear hero. I'm very happy and I will repay you properly later."

—This is the candid mermaid princess, who intends to use this opportunity to her advantage.

"Yes, I'm looking forward to the reward you'll give me later. Please don't run away again, or I'll be heartbroken."

—This, well, this is a dark elf who has been ravenously thirsty for more, and she intends to take advantage of her kindness.

"Uh, you guys..."

Herbert stared dumbfounded at the three monster girls who had already prepared their explanations, and nodded helplessly: "Okay, okay, I understand."

Okay.

Herbert understood; he understood all the subtext.

None of them intended to let me go.

"Since you've agreed, let's talk about it when we get back~ Don't even think about touching me with someone else's body, not a woman's either."

Freyme strolled around "Casey" with a smile, following behind Eliza and the other two, before diving into the water mirror.

Upon entering the Mirror Space, she immediately saw Herbert's true form, which was being used for multitasking.

“I will keep my promise and lead you to Eldar.”

The white-haired paladin stood calmly before all the apprehensive beastmen, and softly proclaimed:

"That place will become your... new home."

……

……

And shortly after Herbert and his group had completely left.

At the edge of the Forgotten Forest, an inconspicuous earthen mound slowly rose, from which emerged a massive rock formation.

He never really intended to keep the promise.

They said they would come back tomorrow, but actually they planned to make a surprise return tonight and keep a close eye on their every move.

"You never expected me to come back, did you? Haha! How dare you insult me... Hmm? Where did you hide?"

The rock avatar of the "mastermind" sensed everything but couldn't detect any presence in the beast-eared clan camp.

gone?

impossible!

Unwilling to give up, He searched diligently again, and then... sure enough, He found the traces of the beastman's departure.

"Haha, so this is where it is!"

He gazed at the beastman group that had escaped a greater distance than He had anticipated, and sneered coldly, "Didn't I find you? Heh, still trying to escape? Where do you think you can run to?"

"I told you..."

"You can't escape!!!"

(End of this chapter)