Did something about his answer annoy her?
Grimm wasn’t stupid enough to miss the obvious drop in the numerical value; the problem definitely lay in their recent conversation.
To look into Dolores’s face, he had to kneel on one knee, given his 2-meter height.
He did exactly that, using the movement to catch a glimpse of Dolores’s profile and the shifting emotions in her emerald eyes.
He had expected to see anger, panic, or even a look of disgust.
However, the familiar, youthful face presented him with an expression that resembled helplessness or a form of sorrow.
“Did my answer make you sad?” Grimm asked.
They had already left the vicinity of the Hollow. There were no monsters nearby, and for the moment, there were no urgent matters to attend to.
“No, it didn’t. If I were in your position, my answer would likely be the same… So, I can understand,” Dolores said, shaking her head and releasing her bitten lip.
She could understand, of course. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have thought the path of self-destruction was viable from the start, and Grimm’s answer just now had confirmed it.
“Someone must pay the price for the injuries suffered. Only the victim has the right to wipe the slate clean or offer forgiveness.”
“If one forgives too easily, only to find when the time comes that revenge cannot be completed, then wouldn’t all the efforts made until then seem utterly ridiculous and empty?”
Dolores murmured as if compromising with herself, but her words struck right at the core of Grimm’s heart.
Grimm tightened his grip, stimulated by her words. Since his rebirth, he had been driven largely by hatred.
Perhaps that hatred had been diluted by their past bond when facing Dolores, but it remained his primary motivation.
He had hidden and deceived Dolores about too much. The option to simply turn back and find peace was long gone.
Dolores glanced at Grimm. Her words hadn’t been unintentional; she had expected them to provoke him to some extent.
“Princess, do you have a friend who is struggling with the issue of revenge?”
Grimm was starting to suspect Dolores. These questions were too abrupt and carried too much a sense of deja vu.
It made him feel as if Dolores was talking about him—subtly pointing at him.
“I’m just feeling a bit emotional. In these past twenty-four hours, I’ve seen and experienced more than in the rest of my life combined.”
Even including her previous life, the experiences of this one day were thrilling enough for Dolores, filled with scenes of smoke and blood, dragons and magic, the undead, and more.
The significance didn’t lie in the “abundance” of events, but in the “intensity” and “change.”
“I thought of the many stories I’ve read, where a few strokes of a pen outline an enviable tale. The power of a dragon soaring through the sky is something people long for.”
“But the first time I saw one, it destroyed my home and brought hell before my eyes.”
“I’ve also read many romantic stories, where a noble Saintess bows to save the world and is praised by all…”
“But in the hellish landscape brought by the dragon, I realized that if I only focused on a few injured individuals, I might be as romantic as the Saintess in the stories, but I would save far fewer people than I could by exercising my secular power a few times.”
“Even if that is less romantic than the act of saving only those right in front of me.”
Dolores paused for a moment.
Her abrupt words had raised Grimm’s suspicions, and she had a fair idea of what kind of answer would dispel them.
“The dragon brought hell here. I will not forget the casualties and sacrifices. If one day I am able to do it, I will definitely take my revenge and make it pay for its actions with its life.”
Grimm agreed with her on this point. Because he had bathed in dragon blood, he was already in a life-and-death struggle with the dragon, Zug, in this life.
However, even this was not enough to explain Dolores’s erratic words.
“The King of Suclan, currently fighting the dragon, often makes me forget he is undead. And those skeleton knights who emerged from the Hollow are helping us resist the calamity, refusing to slaughter living beings just to survive.”
“The undead who slaughter the living come from underground, and those who protect us also come from underground. I am certain that one day, the monsters from below will pay the price for today’s events.”
“I’m just a little worried. When we take our revenge on the depths, is it possible we might encounter monsters who claim to be one of them? Perhaps it will be a disguise, perhaps the truth… and will we be able to strike?”
Dolores spoke as she placed her hand on Grimm’s shoulder, turning her head to look at him.
“We cannot forget our hatred. If such a situation truly occurs, I hope neither of us regrets it.”
Grimm could take Dolores’s words as the idle thoughts of a young girl, moved by the scene to think of distant or irrelevant matters.
Questions about the past, the future, or death often required no specific reason.
When a thought occurred, it simply occurred. If a friend was nearby, it was only natural to voice it.
Thinking about the “world after death” didn’t necessarily require seeing a death scene; one might think about it upon waking up in the middle of the night or in a quiet moment.
Erratic thoughts didn’t need clear logical lines to connect them.
However, the “regret” Dolores spoke of seemed to imply something specific, making Grimm feel she was talking about him.
As for the word regret, Grimm felt he was already used to it. Having experienced so much, he didn’t think he would feel any more turbulence.
At the same time, he felt moved.
Faced with revenge and harm, Dolores still gave him this kind of response.
In Grimm’s memory, the always-gentle Dolores possessed a rare stubbornness on this one point.
It was as if she were grieving on his behalf.
She said Grimm was good, and good people shouldn’t be treated this way. Therefore, she would be angry and suggest that he demand an eye for an eye.
“Next, I want to go over to Mercury Street,” Dolores said, determining their next destination.
At that moment, the battle between the dragon and the aging king at Mercury Street entered its final stage.
Across thousands of meters, both Dolores and Grimm clearly saw the heavily injured dragon’s figure as it fled. Although there were a few obstacles, everything seemed to be coming to an end.
With the dragon’s departure, Grimm’s Main Quest ended prematurely. The system, which had been silent for some time, finally gave him a new notification.
He scanned the rewards he received and fell silent. Regarding Dolores, everything was exactly as it should be.
At this time, they arrived near Ulgrich University and encountered Albeck, who was clearing out monsters with Silverbell.
Grimm walked at the end of the group, lost in thought.
Albeck greeted them warmly, her eyes flickering slightly when she saw Grimm.
From her perspective, Grimm’s Main Quest had changed.
**[Dragon Calamity’s Mortals (2)]** was shown as completed, followed by **[Curse of the Former Kingdom (3)]**.
Grimm must have received many rewards. Although in Albeck’s memory, Main Quest rewards were mostly Affection Level bonuses, regional items and equipment would be given starting from the third stage.
In other words, Grimm’s growth was about to accelerate.
Dolores suddenly paused, then nudged Grimm, telling him to head to Mercury Street first.
Grimm seemed hesitant, but he followed her instructions and moved ahead.
Albeck watched this, feeling somewhat confused.
Only after Grimm left did Dolores walk over to Albeck. Albeck felt that the girl’s expression was terrible, as if she had suffered some kind of blow.
It was strange; she hadn’t looked like this when she first arrived.
“Albeck, take me to rest for a bit…”
She spoke to Albeck with a sob in her voice. The latter looked up to seek Silverbell’s opinion and received a nod.
“I can handle the remaining monsters. Take the Princess to rest first,” Silverbell said to Albeck.
Albeck didn’t know what had happened during the time Dolores was away, but she supported the girl, who looked like she was about to collapse.
Veserian, who should have been responsible for this, followed silently to the side after Dolores spoke.
“Grimm… what exactly does he… want to turn me into…”
“Modified love… does he really want it that badly…”
Dolores murmured softly, causing Albeck’s hand to twitch in shock. She stared at the white-haired girl she was supporting, realizing something terrifying.
Unfortunately, she was not Dolores and could not see the Affection Level panel.
A moment ago, what Dolores had seen on Grimm’s interface was:
[Status Window]
Name: Dolores
Affection Level: 70 (Trust)