Diary of the Improper Monster Girl Transformation.

Chapter 554 "Rogue" Behavior (Bonus Chapter 317 for 6K Views!)
"So, what do you think I should do?"

The feeble wails sounded particularly jarring in the quiet space, carrying an almost whiny tone that broke the slow-flowing stillness in the air.

The owner of the voice, a young knight with striking white hair, was slumped undignifiedly in a rather old-looking armchair.

However, his sitting posture was more like "sliding down," with his whole body slowly sliding down, almost shrinking under the chair.

His brows were furrowed tightly, his face was full of distress, and his usually shrewd gray eyes had lost their luster.

What should I do?

"do not ask me."

Ophelia responded to him with a calm and even slightly displeased tone, as if she had been disturbed.

She didn't even lift her eyelids; her gaze remained steadily fixed on the thick book in her hands, as if it contained a captivating story.

Her slender, pale fingers rested gently on the slightly yellowed pages of the book, her posture elegant, like a meticulously sculpted statue.

Her wide, red bishop's robe spread out like a quietly blooming flower, with a long, colorful snake tail emerging from below.

“You should tell the old man what you did and how you did it yourself.”

In this tranquil "library," Ophidia enjoyed her reading time as usual.

Yes, just like usual.

—If there wasn't a lazy fellow lounging rudely in front of her skirt.

Herbert, who had been slowly sliding down the stool, had now completely slid to the ground and, quite "coincidentally" and quite unceremoniously, rested his head on the smooth, delicate snake tail.

He savored the cool, smooth touch of the snake's tail, secretly appreciating its suppleness and perfect, unman-made texture.

Not bad!
Herbert seemed completely oblivious to the inappropriateness of his actions, even shifting his body to a more comfortable position and letting out a satisfied sigh.

"what……"

This kind of life is so fulfilling; I wish it could continue forever.

He thought to himself, then sighed softly, "I really don't want to write a work report, I don't want to present my results..."

Not long ago, Herbert, unable to figure out how to explain his "god-killing feat" to the archbishop, gave up thinking and chose to temporarily escape.

While escaping is shameful, it can also be genuinely effective.

When faced with a problem that cannot be solved immediately, burying your head in the sand, or like now, in the cool and comfortable snake tail of the bishop, often leads to a turning point.

there's always a solution to any problem.

It's okay to delay for a while; I'll always find a way in the future.

So, after arranging all the matters for Elda to welcome Miss Squirrel, he slipped back to the monastery and went straight to Ophidia's side.

What should I do if I encounter difficulties?
Rather than being troubled alone, it's better to let everyone be troubled together.

But Ophidia easily saw through his little scheme and didn't fall for it at all, offering no help whatsoever in his thinking.

She knew exactly what this guy was thinking.

Beneath Herbert's seemingly distressed and helpless innocent expression lay a sinister intention: "I'm going to pass the trouble to you."

She wouldn't let him succeed so easily.

However, although she refused to help Herbert, she did not drive him away, but let him brazenly rest the back of his head on her snake tail.

This might be a form of silent indulgence, one that she herself may not even be fully aware of.

The snake's senses were keen, and it could clearly feel the weight of the boy's head, as well as the aura and temperature emanating from him.

This level of intimacy was a peculiar experience for her, both unfamiliar and... not unpleasant.

Of course, she will never admit to this for the time being.

But it is clear that humans are greedy.

This god-slayer was the embodiment of greed, and his greatest skill was taking advantage of others.

Herbert was like a cat that tentatively stretched out its paw, and when it wasn't immediately swatted away, it boldly tried to squeeze its whole body into the room.

"Hey, Miss Ophidia, don't be so heartless!"

Herbert enjoyed the smooth, cool touch of the snake tail at the back of his head, humming happily as he muttered, "How can I not ask you? You have to help me! Have you forgotten? We're accomplices!"

Wow.

Ophelia paused in turning the pages, her gaze silently shifting downwards to Herbert, who was smiling brightly at her with his head tilted back.

"Accomplices? I don't remember us being accomplices."

Her voice remained steady, but upon closer listening, one could still detect a hint of coldness, as if she had been offended.

Ok?
Herbert paused for a moment, then quickly shook his head, feigning grievance, looking utterly disappointed.

"Oh dear, don't you remember? Woman, are you really that heartless?"

"I don't remember?"

Ophelia's icy gaze, peering through the shadow of the hood, precisely locked onto that handsome face, which was etched with both "innocence" and "shamelessness."

Her words slowed, each syllable seeming to be encased in ice, as she softly said, "In my memory, it was clearly me who wanted to help you, but you refused, wasn't that right?"

Herbert forgot, but she wouldn't.

Hmph, I got rejected!
Back then, after realizing that Herbert had been prophesied and located, she took the initiative to request to go into battle.

Then Herbert rejected it with a high-sounding argument, saying that he had to solve it himself.

What did this guy say back then?

I forgot the beginning, I forgot the end, but in short, they didn't need my help.

Oh man.

Now, you actually have the nerve to call me an accomplice?
Do you want face?

Although she didn't say it aloud, her eyes conveyed it all.

They didn't say anything, but it's as if they said everything.

"Eh?"

Ophidia's words made Herbert blink. He had originally wanted to argue back, but after thinking about it, he felt awkward.

You know what, this, uh, seems to actually be true!
"That's amazing! I never thought such a thing could happen."

"Ah."

Ophidia snorted and shook her snake tail in dissatisfaction, trying to pull it away, but Herbert innocently hugged her.

She tried to break free twice without success, and then gave up on the tug-of-war with Herbert and continued reading the book she had finished writing.

The other party wasn't going to pay attention to him anymore, but Herbert simply flipped over and buried his face in the snake's tail, making intimate contact with it with his cheek.

Friction, friction!
Rub it on this smooth surface!

Discuss it, discuss it, discuss it!
After basking in the sun for a while, Herbert turned his head and asked with a smile, "So, you really don't want to be my accomplice? You despise me that much?"

When he asked this question, the boy's eyes were smiling, showing no embarrassment at being exposed for talking nonsense.

He looked up at the face above, which was mostly shrouded in shadow, yet whose delicate features were still discernible.

"...I despise you?"

Ophidia raised an eyebrow, looking at the white-haired boy with a snake tail coiled around his cheek, and really felt like punching him.

You're already lying on my tail, what are you still saying?

wrong.

I've let you rub your face all over me, and you still complain about me?
If I disliked you, I would have thrown you out long ago!

Perhaps... perhaps we should consider throwing him out again? To teach him a lesson?
The thought crossed Ophidia's mind, but looking at Herbert's nonchalant attitude as he refused to leave, she felt that arguing with this guy would only lead to her losing.

Will this guy really learn his lesson?
No, definitely not.

Once this guy is sure he's not in any danger, he might even become more aggressive!
"Humph!"

In the end, all the complex emotions turned into a soft groan of dissatisfaction.

The snake's tail thrashed about indignantly, tossing the head that was stuck to it back and forth like a tossing a ladle.

Herbert was dizzy from being jostled around, but he still clung to her tightly, making unintelligible protests.

Seeing that Herbert was still shamelessly persistent even now, Ophidia finally sighed helplessly.

A fleeting feeling of indulgence and... perhaps what could be called "pampering" crossed her mind, even though she herself was unaware of it.

I'm really defeated by this guy.

"Ugh……"

She sighed and shook her head, the sigh echoing clearly in the quiet library.

She closed the book in her hands with a soft "snap," as if she had finally decided to temporarily end this one-sided "reading" and focus all her attention on this troublesome "problem."

Ophelia glared at Herbert and said irritably, "I don't understand what you're agonizing over. What's there to explain?"

Seeing that she had finally relented, or at least relented in her attitude, Herbert quickly said, "Uh, just explain what happened in the North. I don't know how to... um."

Before he could finish speaking, a cold, serpentine tail tip, like a nimble tentacle, gently but undeniably sealed his lips.

?

The sensation silenced Herbert instantly; he could only open his eyes wide and utter muffled nasal sounds.

Eh?
A gag?
Why did you suddenly go all out?
The snake's tail slowly coiled around, completely blocking the source of the noise and restoring tranquility to the space.

"So, I said... what's there to explain?"

Ophidia looked at Herbert with considerable puzzlement, not understanding why he was so slow to react to this matter.

Why is someone who is usually very smart suddenly unable to think straight at this moment?
“You’re not some child who can’t make judgments anymore, and you don’t need anyone to take care of you.”

Her tone carried a teaching quality; although her words were not polite, the core message was to enlighten him.

Wake up!
What pointless things are you worrying about?
"You are a legend now, and you may even become an epic in the future... Someone like you, if there are things you don't want to say, who can expect you to report everything to them?"

Herbert paused, staring blankly at the disappointed look in her eyes.

Eh?
What did she say?
"Don't you understand yet?"

Seeing that he seemed genuinely still in a daze, Ophelia sighed and said earnestly:

"Since the old man didn't specifically ask you to report to him, then you don't need to report."

She looked at Herbert with exasperation and scoffed, "Do you really think I reported anything to him after I left and came back?"

"Of course not."

Prior to this, Ophelia had written a resignation letter under Herbert's inducement, which she not only actually handed to the archbishop who was giving her a huge headache, but also attacked his age in it.

Logically speaking, after launching such an attack on the leader, it would be very difficult to stay in the company.

But after returning, Ophidia showed no intention of apologizing to the archbishop, nor of reconciliation whatsoever.

The archbishop, too, did not bother to come and complain about this unwelcome situation.

"What kind of good child are you? Do you really think he's some blind old man?" Ophidia sneered and scoffed.
"If he really wanted to know the details, he would have countless ways to do so. Why would he wait for you to ask him? The fact that he didn't ask you is itself a statement."

"I don't know what kind of tacit understanding exists between you two, but this time he clearly condoned your use of those underhanded tactics, didn't he?"

! ! ?

"what!"

Herbert, finally regaining his senses, stared in astonishment, a flash of brilliance crossing his mind.

"That's right!"

Ophidia was right; she had completely fallen into habitual thinking.

Because in the past, I always had to report to the archbishop after doing something important—mainly because I needed to clean up the mess and explain things after I caused trouble.

After doing this several times, Herbert had developed the habit.

So this time, without thinking, he subconsciously felt that he needed to give the archbishop a detailed report, and began to worry about how much to say.

Now that I've been reminded and think about it again... hey, it seems like I really don't need to worry about it too much.

It's enough to say some things and keep others hidden.

If you don't want to talk about it, you can simply pretend you forgot.

Upon closer reflection, the real reason for this blunder lies with myself.

I don't think I really have much of a sense of being a strong person.

Herbert had indeed acquired power far exceeding that of most mortals, and was even able to converse on equal footing with the gods.

What exactly can this power achieve? And how should it be respected?

He lacked that awareness.

Because the power came too easily, it wasn't taken seriously.

Herbert saw himself as a rising star, a promising genius.

But actually?
From other people's perspective, he had already become a strongman.

In the eyes of mortals, he was a true legendary figure, the youngest godslayer of this era, a paladin riding a crimson dragon, a saint under the blazing sun...

He has already made a great name for himself.

In some wicked places where the people are fierce and ruthless, his reputation can even stop children from crying at night and strike fear into the hearts of enemies.

It's good enough that he doesn't force others to report to him; there's no reason for him to be forced to report by others.

Oh hoo!

A new, slightly smug sense of pride, mixed with a sense of sudden enlightenment, began to grow in Herbert's heart.

I'm pretty strong now!
Once Herbert understood this, he immediately perked up and prepared to stop the will-o'-the-wisp in front of the archbishop.

He even started to consider whether he should actually try out the mannerisms of a strongman.

For example, when you meet the archbishop next time, could you greet him in a more casual, even slightly lazy, manner?
Just imagine that scene, it seems... kind of exciting?
But Herbert quickly snapped out of his unrealistic fantasies and shook his head vigorously.

"No no no..."

Then he remembered something else, and all his enthusiasm and ambition instantly vanished, leaving him dejected on the spot.

The excited blush on her face quickly faded, replaced by a hint of lingering fear and embarrassment. She scratched her head awkwardly and smiled.

wrong.

its not right!
I didn't drink any alcohol, so how could I be so tipsy?
Admittedly, one can certainly act arrogantly and assert one's dominance in front of others.

But, in front of the archbishop... it seems I'm not really qualified right now.

Is it epic enough?
Perhaps it's about time.

But as for legends... they're not quite there yet.

It's best to keep a low profile.

If you're too arrogant, you'll get beaten up.

"Being reckless is reckless, but don't be so suicidal."

After recognizing reality, Herbert finally came to this very cowardly conclusion.

So, silently and carefully, he rested his head back on that cool and comfortable snake tail, as if it were his only and eternal haven.

That's it for now, let's go to bed first.

"……What are you doing?"

"Uh, going to sleep? Goodnight—oh!"

Herbert, who had been peacefully closing his eyes, was lifted up by the snake's tail and forced to stand on the ground.

"Herbert, are you afraid of him?"

Ophelia looked at Herbert and asked, somewhat puzzled, "He shouldn't be a scary person to you, right?"

Why are you so resistant?

The archbishop does indeed possess terrifyingly powerful strength, but that is only in the eyes of outsiders.

Over the years, although he has always lived a secluded life, he has always been very kind and approachable to his fellow monks in the monastery.

She didn't understand why Herbert was so uncomfortable when the archbishop was mentioned.

Herbert blinked after hearing the question, shook his head helplessly, and sighed softly.

why?
That's because I considered him my ultimate goal!

But at this moment, he certainly couldn't tell the whole truth. Herbert hesitated for a moment and said softly, "It's not that I'm afraid. If I had to say, I actually respect him quite a lot."

This is the truth.

Herbert actually respected the archbishop's character very much.

The more you understand how much the archbishop longs to go out and about, the more you can comprehend how much he has suffered while confined to the monastery for so many years.

He kept looking for reasons to go out, but in the end he trapped himself in the cage he had built himself.

If placed in the same position, Herbert certainly wouldn't be able to do the same thing as him.

“I respect His Excellency the Archbishop, so I try my best not to deceive him, but at the same time, there are some matters involving the divine... which I really cannot fully tell him.”

Herbert's explanation was immediately accepted by Ophidia, who nodded in understanding and sighed softly, "Since it is related to the gods, I can understand your predicament."

She understood better than anyone else just how troublesome it was to get involved with deities.

Contact with the divine is like dancing on a knife's edge; one wrong step and you'll fall into an abyss of no return. It's perfectly understandable that Herbert didn't want to cause any unnecessary trouble.

"In that case... I can give you a suggestion."

Ophidia looked at Herbert and nodded slowly, then said seriously, "Just like before, don't say anything."

"Instead of saying half of what you mean and making him worry, it's better not to say anything at all from the beginning."

"Don't tell him unless he asks."

"And if he insists on asking... then you should say nothing."

Her method was simple, and it boiled down to one sentence: "I'm not going to tell you anything!!!"

Chair, Kyoto, Electric Shock.GIF
Herbert put up a tough fight!

Herbert blinked, surprised by Ophidia's straightforward and blunt approach. He hesitated for a moment before saying, "Isn't this... uh, a bit shameless?"

"So what if he's a scoundrel? Otherwise, would he force you to talk?"

Ophidia snorted and said nonchalantly, "If he really wants to force you to say it, then just say that I told you to do it, and let him ask me any questions."

Herbert nodded reluctantly and accepted her suggestion.

Okay, if you need anything, just ask Sister Ao.

With the assurance of the Ashen Bishop, a meritorious figure in the monastery, this minor trouble was indeed resolved satisfactorily.

After resolving this troublesome matter, Herbert instinctively wanted to go to the archbishop and get it over with as soon as possible.

However, before he could lift his foot, he instinctively sensed danger.

Then, he heard a seemingly calm and cold voice.

"So, you came to see me just for this?"

!!!

"No, of course not!"

Herbert immediately realized he had almost forgotten something and said seriously, "I came to see you. The title of archbishop is actually irrelevant."

"What old thing? It's not important at all!"

"You must be tired from reading, your shoulders must be sore! Let me give you a good massage."

He strode up behind Ophidia, gently placed his hands on her shoulders, and began to knead them carefully.

???

"you……"

Ophidia instinctively wanted to resist and dodge, but when a warm hand landed on her shoulder, she was speechless.

Under that seemingly magical kneading, she silently closed her eyes and quietly enjoyed the warmth.

Then, of course, she also felt those two hands subtly moving downwards during the massage—it was impossible not to notice; the other party's probing was so blatant and undisguised.

She slightly opened her eyes, then, as if thinking of something, silently closed them again.

"It's just a massage."

"Yeah, it's just a massage."

“I’ve helped him so much, this is the reward I deserve… um.”

……

……

While Herbert and Ophidia were receiving a special massage that might lead to their being taken away, a completely different scene unfolded in the underground sanctuary.

The archbishop had his eyes closed and brows furrowed, looking serious, as if he were pondering something important.

After a long while, he slowly opened his eyes and muttered in a low voice:

"Why isn't that kid here yet?"

"I've prepared thirty stories to tell him... Where is he?"

An elderly person living alone cried out in grief and indignation:
"Humans?!"

You promised to come chat with me!
No cheating allowed!

(End of this chapter)