He truly descended in avatar form.

Joanna swallowed hard, bowing her head respectfully.

"So, you are the messengers of the Lady of Snow?"

"..."

A gentle voice rang out in front of her, but Joanna remained silent.

In such moments, clerics like her were not qualified to converse with deities.

Among those present, only the Divine Favorer had the right to communicate with them.

However, that person seemed unwilling to reveal their presence.

She glanced sideways at Yunier and noticed the Divine Favorer, like everyone else, had their eyes lowered, saying nothing.

Helplessly, Joanna took a deep breath, suppressing her unease, and spoke up bravely, "My lord... we come at the behest of the Goddess."

Herbert looked at the Half-Elf Priest, whose whole being exuded unease, and blinked curiously.

"Hmm?"

He took in all the priests' expressions and asked puzzled, "Why are you so nervous? Do I look scary?"

Scary?

Joanna felt her scalp tingle and quickly shook her head to explain, "No, we're just... we're merely expressing our reverence for you."

Reverence?

Isn't that still fear?

Herbert tilted his head, puzzled, and for the first time questioned his own charm.

What kind of reaction is this, do I look like a villain to you?

Could it be that you are discriminating against me?

How bold!

Be careful, or I'll report this to the Ice and Snow Goddess!

["...Tsk."]

Harmonious God asked, speechless, ["I say, before you criticize others, can you take a look at what you look like right now?"]

Herbert glanced down at his current appearance and realized what was off.

It's no wonder others misunderstood him.

He had lost himself in the thrill while rescuing (exterminating) the wolf pack (annihilation).

Displeased by their infighting, he went berserk among the wolves and now looked as if he'd been marinated in a blood pool.

But... would he admit it was his fault?

No, he would not.

"Ha!"

Herbert chuckled, confidently declaring, "Even if I'm ninety-nine percent wrong, don't they bear at least one percent of the blame?"

The ninety-nine-to-one rule, truly handy indeed!

"Moreover, in such scenarios, why doubt oneself? Just blame others directly."

Instead of blaming himself, it's better to blame others.

["You really are…"]

Even Nenasha was speechless at such illogical yet indignant statements, finally choking out an exclamation.

["Shameless."]

Truly a shameless person!

Herbert shrugged, privately chuckling, "Thanks for the compliment."

["I was not complimenting you."]

"Of course I know that, precisely because you didn't, I'm thanking you."

"Had you complimented me, I'd not hold back with you."

["Alright, just shut up."]

"Hehe."

For a second, Herbert argued with the Evil God in his mind, then in reality, he smiled apologetically at Joanna and others.

"Oh, I forgot something important, please wait a moment, I'll go wash up first."

With that, he abandoned the bewildered Priest Order and strode toward the mermaid by the spring.

"Fremay, give me a hand..."

He opened his arms, wanting to give Fremay a long-awaited hug, only to be rudely pushed away by her tail.

"Hmm?"

He blinked, seeing Fremay glaring at him with disdain.

"Ugh—no, don't come any closer!"

The mermaid, who had been eagerly waiting to welcome the hero's return, frowned tightly, covering her nose and gesturing at the dirt-covered Herbert.

Is this really the hero I chose?

Give me back my hero!

"Fremay, you..."

Seeing Fremay's disdainful look, Herbert suddenly felt like a pathetic middle-aged man, despised by family after coming home reeking of smoke and alcohol, after a social gathering.

At that moment, Herbert tasted the agony of a midlife crisis—no way.

Herbert would never be such a fragile person.

"Hahaha, don't be so cold, help me wash up."

He completely ignored Fremay's disdain, reaching out to grab the tail pressed against his chest.

Splash!

Before he could touch it, a stream of water gushed out from the Holy Spring, spraying him like a high-pressure water jet, making him stagger.

"Oh oh, well, this works too."

Shhh—

After stabilizing, Herbert chuckled and opened his arms, letting the refreshing spring water wash over him.

Just rinse away!

Under the high-pressure water stream, the black grime turned into dark red blood, continuously streaming off him.

The bloodstained dirty water didn't seep into the ground; instead, under Fremay's control, it floated upward, coalescing into a large water sphere in mid-air.

As the blood washed away, Herbert's original appearance emerged.

Herbert shook his white hair, shaking off water droplets that sparkled brilliantly under the Holy Light.

To ensure his body was thoroughly cleansed, Herbert casually removed his top, revealing a perfect upper torso.

He looked like an artwork sculpted by the most skilled artist, with every muscle perfectly proportioned, exuding a sense of primal beauty.

At this moment, his skin glowed with a dazzling sheen under the light, as a rainbow-colored radiance seemed to flash beneath it.

That was no illusion.

After hunting numerous Ghost Wolves and consuming their materials, Herbert's Magic Resistance had increased yet another level!

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