Chapter 1306 - 593: Gratitude and Affection! (First Update)

Chapter 1306: Chapter 593: Gratitude and Affection! (First Update)

"Your mighty power fills me with admiration, as radiant as the brightest beacon in the night!"

The Legion Commander’s eyes blazed with soul fire, passionately singing praises aloud.

His voice echoed across the barren ruins, reaching far into the silent forest.

"Though it was but a fleeting moment, your figure is etched deeply into my mind!"

"Please forgive my absence just now; it wasn’t that I didn’t step forward to help, but rather your gallant posture compelled me to bow my head!"

His words flowed with rehearsed precision, accompanied by a gesture of placing his right hand upon his chest and slightly bowing, a suite of actions performed seamlessly, clearly honed through countless occasions in some past setting.

?

Herbert’s eyes widened slightly, staring in shock at the Legion Commander, who was spouting elegant compliments as if his tongue was conjuring lotus blossoms, feeling like he was meeting him for the first time.

Not long ago, this Legion Commander was a stoic figure with a somber gaze, emanating an aura of tragic heroism and resolute determination.

How did the style change so drastically in the blink of an eye?

"You, uh... Wait, stop!"

Herbert watched as the Legion Commander took a deep breath, the soul fire in his chest burning even stronger, clearly preparing for another wave of praise, quickly raising his hand to stop the barrage of compliments, feeling a bit of a headache.

Something’s off.

This guy is nine-tenths, if not completely off.

Herbert looked at the Legion Commander, whose eyes burned with fervor, feeling like he was witnessing a fanatic.

Gratitude! Affection!

Loyalty! Devotion!

Hold on, is this really your character profile?

Is this style even right?

After leaving behind his past sufferings, the Legion Commander seemed to Herbert like a completely different person.

It felt like leaping from the gravity of solemn literature to the whimsical realms of gratitude literature.

Not that it’s inappropriate.

But, isn’t this leap a bit too much? A bit too abrupt?

Shouldn’t there be some transitional buffer in between?

Can’t we be a bit more reserved?

"You, this..."

Herbert looked at the Legion Commander, his mouth continuously twitching, momentarily unsure what to say.

Should he praise him?

But then, the Holy Grail isn’t dead yet.

Herbert wasn’t one to put on airs and pretend something that wasn’t true.

You want him to acknowledge something that never happened, he’s somewhat resistant to that.

Should he criticize the Legion Commander?

Logically, yes, but Herbert couldn’t bear it.

Just look!

Look at the Legion Commander’s eyes full of sincere emotion; can he be faking it?

Of course not!

Is he speaking nonsense with his eyes closed?

Definitely not!

He’s a good lad!

Asking him to criticize such a bright (literally) good comrade, he couldn’t bring himself to do it!

Herbert kind of grasped why leaders find some flattering portrayals quite pleasant despite knowing they’re sucking up.

This feeling... is indeed nice.

After a moment of wrestling, Herbert decided to pass this "pressure" onto someone else to handle.

Yes, pressure doesn’t vanish into thin air, but can be entirely shifted.

Reject internal consumption, advocate external consumption.

"Nenasha."

["Hmm? What’s up?"]Miss Harmonious God’s voice carried a hint of laziness and amusement, clearly watching from the sidelines.

Herbert complained to Miss Harmonious God with a serious expression: "Look at your devotees; why are they behaving like this?"

Look at the soldiers Nenasha has led!

The Legion Commander turning out this way is certainly all your fault!

Definitely, it’s the atmosphere of your past Divine Kingdom that influenced him like this!

["Who knows~"]

Nenasha naturally knew what Herbert was up to, sneering with disdain: ["Don’t ask me; they’re following you now, so if anything, I should be asking you!"]

Miss Harmonious God snorted disdainfully, instantly seeing through Herbert’s little mind.

Oh dear, now you’re blaming me?

Ha, everyone knows what you’re thinking!

You just want his compliment but are too shy to accept it directly.

Hypocritical man!

However, despite Herbert’s hypocrisy over this matter, it did not affect his image in Nenasha’s eyes.

Because she cherished him, a little hypocrisy was alright, even adding a bit of charm.

Anyway, the world is so dangerous; without a little hypocrisy, wouldn’t one be lured away by that wicked sun?

Herbert is a good comrade!

Birds of a feather, flock together.

Herbert and Nenasha have always shared a common understanding on "double standards" and "flexible moral standards".

"Ahem."

Herbert and Nenasha exchanged quick mental blows (passing the buck) back and forth, but on the surface, showed no signs.

He lightly coughed, deliberately making his expression appear calm and serious, and nodded at the Legion Commander.

"Alright, alright, enough talk."

"What you said was... ahem, emotionally charged,"

Herbert carefully considered his words and said seriously, "But it’s still a bit exaggerated. I’m not the kind of person who likes to hear excessive flattery."

He nodded at the Legion Commander and said, "Let me tell you, I’m not that kind of person! Don’t praise me randomly, or else I’ll have to criticize you too!"

"Really not!"

Legion Commander: ?

He stared blankly at Lord Herbert, who was solemnly "criticizing" him, while a big question mark floated over his head. Even the Soul Fire flickered with confusion.

...Huh?

To be honest, he’s a bit confused now.

Your words, do they mean you like it... or not?

After shaking off the heavy shackles of the past, the Legion Commander’s suppressed personality, held down for thousands of years, finally found release, and he began to think of starting anew.

This time, he decided to closely follow in the footsteps of Lord Herbert.

The Legion Commander really wanted to improve.

So, he tried to use the way he had progressed in the Divine Kingdom back in the day, attempting to replicate the successful path of the past.

Who said inside the Divine Kingdom there are no human affairs?

There are, brother, there are.

Where there are people, there is competition.

Even within the Divine Kingdom, there are various levels.

The Legion Commander had once gained the favor of a Lord Angel, which allowed him to successfully sit in the position of Heroic Spirit Legion Commander.

This wasn’t a particularly high position, and at the peak of the Divine Kingdom, he wasn’t the only Legion Commander.

But his Epic-level strength certainly couldn’t be considered low, already surpassing the majority of heroic spirits.

However, this time, the Legion Commander found that the current situation seemed a bit off after his attempts.

This Lord Herbert seems to either fall for it or not fall for it?

Do you fall for it or not?

Like falling for it.

"Pfft, cough cough..."

While the Legion Commander was internally conflicted and confused, conducting "workplace behavior analysis," Sofia was next to him, turning her head, trying hard to suppress a laugh, her shoulders slightly shaking.

She had been watching the Legion Commander openly flattering Herbert with interest, enjoying the close-up show.

Sofia lowered her head, not daring to look into Herbert’s eyes, afraid she’d burst into laughter.

She guessed what the Legion Commander was doing. This guy clearly treated Lord Herbert as an ordinary powerhouse.

But the more you interact with Herbert, the more you realize he’s not a stern and cold person at all.

He’s always been witty and humorous, with a bit of a mischievous streak. When he’s gentle, he can be enchanting; when he’s playful, he can be irresistible...

She recalled some private "teaching" moments earlier, Herbert’s exquisite "technique" and gentle guidance, and her cheeks couldn’t help but heat up.

So gentle, speaks so nicely, and with good technique...

Thud.

"Ouch."

Lost in thought, Miss Centaur’s pretty forehead was gently tapped by Herbert’s finger, making a short and cute little exclamation.

Herbert glanced at Miss Centaur, whose face was slightly red and whose eyes were wandering, and his lips curled into a knowing yet helpless smile, lightly shaking his head.

You rascal, with a face so red, you must be thinking of something inappropriate, right?

Obviously repressed.

However, now is not the time for galloping, Herbert decided to leave her be for a while.

He looked at the still shocked Legion Commander and began to laugh, no longer pretending to put on airs.

"It was just a joke."

"Relax in my presence, there’s no need to be tense, nor to go out of your way to utter flattering words."

Herbert winked at the Legion Commander with a smile and said, "I don’t mind you complimenting me a bit if there’s reason behind it, but that kind of exaggerated praise, spare me. It makes me uncomfortable."

Having said this, Herbert stretched lazily, then without any airs, patted the Legion Commander’s shoulder and laughed, "Besides, there’s something more important for you to do now than complimenting me."

"Like, for example..."

"You should think about how to explain to the others behind them, the unknown side of their beloved, esteemed Legion Commander?"

What?

What unknown... huh?

The Legion Commander hadn’t realized what this meant... until the next moment, he understood.

He suddenly sensed several new presences behind him, including two familiar ones.

This is!!?

"..."

He turned his head extremely slowly and stiffly, like a rusty puppet, and immediately saw two familiar faces among the crowd.

A complex-looking Julia, and a mini, heavy-armored warrior Gall, only a tenth of his original size.

Gall, who had already "died" after the sneak attack on Elda, was now wide-eyed in bewilderment, looking as if his worldview had been shattered.

The mini version of Gall raised his tiny hand as if to scratch his helmet but froze in mid-air.

"Legion Commander..."

"You..."

Their hesitant looks plunged the Legion Commander into silence.

Time seemed frozen.

In the mind of the Legion Commander, memories of his long hero’s life flashed by like a revolving lantern:

The solemn oath upon entering the Divine Kingdom, the fierce battles against external enemies, the desperate stand after the Kingdom’s fall... finally pausing on that "emotionally charged" praise he just gave.

At this moment, a serious thought crossed his mind.

——Should I just, you know, drop dead?