Death.

I'm dead?

Have I wrapped up filming?

Is the grand adventure in the Otherworld just finished like this, tossing flowers?

So now I have to start fighting the resurrection match?

Who's the opponent?

The contemporary strongest with only half their body? Or descending from the sky... huh?

No, that's not right.

After a moment of disorientation, Herbert came to his senses and raised an eyebrow at the Harmonious God beside him, asking, "So, is this the world after death?"

He glanced sideways at the Divine next to him, twitching the corner of his mouth.

Are you joking with me here?

["Exactly~"]

Nenasha nodded, smiling, and asked: ["How is it? Disappointed?"]

The Harmonious God spread his arms wide, making a welcoming gesture.

Ta-da!

["Welcome to the world after death!"]

But the young man who had just entered the land of the dead looked indifferent, quietly watching Him.

That indifferent look... hmm, as if he were looking at an idiot.

Hey, have you had enough?

Childish ghost!

Low-grade, really too low-grade!

["Tsk, why aren't you cooperating at all!?"]

Nenasha was stared at by Herbert for quite a while, finally cleared his throat, and retracted his arms, muttering to himself.

He puffed out his cheeks, rolled his eyes at Herbert unhappily, and grunted: ["I'm saying, you really are no fun at all~"]

["I was cooperating with you before, wasn't I?"]

Unfair!

I've played along with you so many times, why can't you play along with me just once?

Stingy ghost!

"Heh."

In response, the stingy ghost Herbert also rolled his eyes—haven't I played along with you enough?

Swear on your conscience!

Did Valentina eat your conscience?

Your... your conscience is really quite big.

Herbert quietly withdrew his gaze, pretending nothing happened, silently giving up arguing.

Your, conscience, is big.

Fine!

Since your conscience is so big, then... I'll just bow my head.

["Talk! Why suddenly so honest?"]

Nenasha pouted, glaring at the overly honest Herbert, angrily huffed: ["Aren't you quite talkative in front of others? Why are you a mute in front of me? Come on, persuade me!"]

Oh?

After listening to Nenasha's grumbling, Herbert unexpectedly raised an eyebrow, hearing dissatisfaction in her words.

A bit of jealousy, huh.

Jealous?

Herbert blinked, almost allowing the corners of his mouth to lift, barely restraining the impulse.

Nope.

Can't laugh yet.

He thought for a moment, explaining: "The reason I found what you said boring is actually quite simple."

"Because..."

The young man looked at the Divine, suddenly smiled, and softly said, "Where you are, doesn't count as Hell."

["You!!?"]

Nenasha's expression changed, her eyes widened, and she directly bounced up from the ground, jumping far to one side.

He pointed at Herbert on the ground, his lips moved, but he couldn't say a complete sentence.

The Harmonious God remained silent, merely pointing.

You!

You actually!

You actually said such sweet nothings to me!

Do you think it will work?

Will it work!!?

Ah!!?

"Hehe~"

Herbert looked at the shocked expression of the Goddess with a smile, leisurely stretching out his legs, lying down lazily.

Whether it works or not, you know better than I do.

Moreover, he wasn't deliberately trying to sweet-talk Nenasha.

The moment he saw Nenasha, he relaxed, no longer feeling any panic.

Hell?

This place doesn't count as Hell at all.

With Nenasha there, Herbert knew he wouldn't die.

At least, for now, there was still a chance for rescue.

After a while, Nenasha felt her reaction was too embarrassing, so she coughed twice, maintaining a stern face, and coldly snorted: ["Hmph, are you trying to flatter me?"]

"Think whatever you want."

Herbert casually waved his hand, unwilling to squabble with this high-offense, paper-defense fellow. He lifted his legs, then suddenly brought them down, bouncing up from the ground through inertia.

Hey!

Even though he knew he was in a soul state now, once he stood up, he habitually moved his body a bit.

Just as expected, everything was normal, nothing felt uncomfortable.

The soul, intact.

The God of Assassination's plot hadn't succeeded, and he hadn't stolen his soul.

With squinted eyes, Herbert quietly felt for a moment, then asked Nenasha, who had silently returned to his side: "So, what's my current state?"

Dead, he surely wasn't dead.

But he didn't seem very alive either.

It's as if being squeezed endlessly at work like a corporate drone; not entirely dead but not quite alive either, just slightly dead.

Gone, but not completely gone.

["Heh heh~"]

Nenasha knew Herbert would definitely ask this and had prepared an answer long ago. If it weren't for Herbert's sudden teasing, she would have already explained.

Luckily, Herbert didn't press, giving her some time to breathe, allowing her to adjust her emotions.

Nenasha coughed lightly twice, returning to her usual leisurely manner, teasingly said: ["Are you curious?"]

"I'm pretty curious."

Herbert admitted straightforwardly, then "threatened": "If you keep hemming and hawing, don't blame me for being rude!"

Rude?

You, here?

Nenasha almost instinctively wanted to mock, but realized Herbert's "nuclear deterrent" halfway through.

Sweet talk.

Deceptive lines.

Those words, Nenasha could say to Herbert for three days and nights, but she couldn't bear to hear a bit herself.

She felt completely uncomfortable upon hearing them, unable to endure.