Alas, if only Fremay were not here...

"What are you thinking about right now?"

The mermaid's cold, emotionless voice echoed, making Herbert feel even more regret.

"Haha, of course, nothing!"

"Then what are you hesitating about?"

Can you guess what I'm hesitating about?

Herbert didn't answer, gesturing behind him to tell her to stay calm.

"Shh!"

Don't rush.

Just watch me handle it.

Herbert looked at Sofia, and instead of rushing to refuse, he asked in return, "Why do you think I'm your master?"

Why?

Sofia was stunned by the question, tilting her head uncertainly as she answered:

"I... I don't know either."

Yeah, why is that?

Why do I feel this way?

Sofia stared intently at Herbert's face.

This face—no recollection.

She sniffed lightly at his scent.

The scent—no recollection either.

Appearance, scent, aura... nothing could awaken her lost memories.

Yet, there was something about this young man in front of her that made her want to kneel and worship.

"You have a very familiar aura about you, making me want to bow down before you."

As she said this, Sofia's body actually moved in that direction.

She staggered to stand up and then knelt with her front legs in front of Herbert, bowing her head respectfully.

It was as if she was respectfully serving a Divine Spirit.

And observing the Centaur lady's humble demeanor, Herbert was lost in thought.

"Nenasha, is it because of you?"

["Perhaps? Though, it might also be your aura that's drawing her to follow."]Miss Xie Shen responded indifferently.

"Hmm, it's really hard to say."

["Ha!"]

Nenasha snorted, speechless, unwilling to engage with him.

You, lately, have become quite full of yourself.

Are you really that clueless?

If not me, then who else could it be because of you?

Hearing this, Herbert chuckled without arguing with Her.

Perhaps I really do have the aura of a king haha!

He looked at the Centaur lady, who, even kneeling, wasn't much shorter than him.

Legendary Power, Heroic Spirit Body, Centaur Race...

No matter how one looks at it, Sofia is a Monster Girl that's perfect to recruit under one's command.

And she really is suitable for riding!

Valentina's true form is too big; even when shrunk, it's not very convenient to ride.

Fremay is a Sea Siren, so even if I wanted to ride her, it would have to be in the sea.

Among all the Monster Girls I've encountered, this Centaur is the most suitable as a mount.

Just not sure where to place my hands when riding... but that's not really a big problem.

Once I'm actually riding, I'll naturally find out.

And now that her memory has been washed clean, she is like a blank slate, ready for me to color and paint.

Right now, a seemingly perfect opportunity lays before me.

If at this time I admit to being her master, Sofia would become a loyal servant, mount, and warrior.

The Monastery hasn't been fully conquered yet, and taking prisoners without others knowing and consent is quite inconvenient.

Since Sofia is a native of the Misty Mountains, she's well-suited to guard my camp.

The opportunity is really rare!

But...

Herbert pondered for a moment, shook his head, and softly said, "Sofia, although it's regrettable, I am not your master."

!!!

Sofia, who had been full of confidence, raised her head confused, looking at the young man before her.

"What did you say?"

Herbert looked at Sofia and firmly said, "I said, I am not your master."

After a brief moment of confusion, Sofia began to feel puzzled.

"W-why?"

Why reject me?

Sofia is a Heroic Spirit.

Her purpose of existence, her nature, is to serve her master.

And now, she couldn't find her master.

Especially when she thought she found one, but was rejected, her heart felt empty.

"Herbert, wait! Are you really going to reject her?" Fremay spoke up to persuade him.

"Do you care about my thoughts? I don't actually dislike her."

Initially, she was somewhat hostile towards Sofia, thinking she might pose a threat.

But realizing Sofia could be Herbert's bodyguard, Fremay's attitude changed immediately.

She knew very well that even though she was traveling with him, she couldn't always be by Herbert's side.

But if someone else could, even if it made her feel a bit uneasy, she wouldn't stop it intentionally.

This person could be Valentina or another prisoner, or even this blank-slate-like Centaur Heroic Spirit in front of them.

Noticing that Fremay was persuading him not to miss out on such an opportunity, Herbert smiled gratefully.

The mermaid, although more sensitive and emotionally complex than Miss Hungry Dragon, with more temperament, was not the jealous type.

On the contrary, she was very understanding.

As long as it benefited Herbert, even if she didn't necessarily like it, she wouldn't refuse.

This was good.

If Fremay was petty, Herbert likely couldn't handle it... he wouldn't have gone for her in the first place.

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