“—!”

That incredibly pleasant voice startled everyone present, Shien, Lucy, and even the captivated passersby, sending shivers down their spines. The voice was so ethereal.

Shien and Lucy turned towards the source.

Shafney, who had been walking away, had returned, still holding the snack she bought, licking it and looking at them with a smirk. Her expression and demeanor were incredibly seductive, leaving both Shien and Lucy speechless.

And if even they were like this, one could imagine the reactions of the surrounding people. They could only continue staring blankly, captivated.

Of course, seeing the goddess of their hearts suddenly appear before Shien and Lucy, they finally noticed the two of them.

Exclamations arose.

“Isn’t that Princess Lucy?”

“And Shien, the Hero!”

“What are they doing here?”

“Is… is my goddess acquainted with them?”

The crowd was filled with surprise and confusion.

This made Shien and Lucy feel helpless. Usually, the moment they appeared in public, they would be recognized and become the center of attention. Who knew that this time, in their own Royal Capital, they would be ignored? Shien being ignored was one thing, but Lucy, the Kingdom’s Treasure, being ignored was truly absurd.

For seventeen years, she had been the most dazzling presence in the Kingdom, admired and adored by countless people.

In the past, the Royal Palace even held numerous public appearances for her, scenes Shien still remembered vividly. The citizens’ adoration for her back then was no less than now.

However, because of Shafney’s appearance, the attention that should have belonged to Lucy was now completely shifted to another person. If it were someone more jealous, this wouldn’t end well. Fortunately, Lucy wasn’t ordinary and didn’t crave attention.

Rather, she preferred being ignored.

That way, she could freely walk the streets without worrying about causing a commotion. Thinking of this, she looked at Shafney.

This renowned Demon Lord, whose every appearance caused a huge sensation, was casually strolling down the street.

While Lucy thought this, Shafney was also observing her with interest. She had heard about this talented princess, whose fame wasn’t limited to the Human Realm and the Divine Realm, but also reached the Demon Realm. The Demon Lords had been paying attention to this princess who inherited Mitra’s Holy Sword and was blessed by the Goddess of Fate, favored by the God Race.

So, Shafney said with interest,

“You’re Lucy, right? You’re very beautiful, not inferior to my sisters.” She actually complimented someone. This was rare. After all, Shafney was known for her indifference towards anything she wasn’t interested in. For her to compliment a human princess surprised even Shien.

Lucy took a deep breath, looked at Shafney’s breathtakingly beautiful, angelic face, and said,

“You flatter me, Your Highness. When it comes to beauty, everyone knows you are the most beautiful, and the other Demon Lords are also stunning. Compared to you all, I’m just ordinary.” Lucy bowed to Shafney as she spoke, her tone neither humble nor arrogant.

“Oh?” The interest in Shafney’s eyes intensified. This little girl was interesting. (Not only can she resist my charm, but she also has a faint divine aura. Interesting, truly interesting.) She wanted to see if this renowned princess was truly as outstanding as the rumors said.

Shafney finished her snack and was about to approach Lucy when she was stopped.

“Now now,” Shafney said, her expression amused as she looked at the familiar figure.

The others looked at this scene, puzzled.

Shien suddenly stepped in front of Lucy, shielding her and glaring at Shafney.

“What do you want?” he asked, his tone unfriendly, “Are you planning something again?”

His blunt words surprised many, some even glaring at him as if blaming him for being disrespectful to Shafney.

Shafney, however, looked innocent. “I didn’t do anything,” she said, blinking her large eyes, seemingly trying to gain Shien’s trust.

“Heh heh,” Shien chuckled, clearly not believing her.

“So protective, huh?” Shafney’s innocent look disappeared, replaced by a hint of resentment, “We’re practically family now, and you’re still worried that I’ll harm your little wife?” Her resentful tone made Shien feel countless angry and murderous gazes on him.

But he wasn’t one to back down. Sensing those gazes, he glanced around, his eyes sharp and cold, intimidating many.

Then, he looked at Shafney again.

“It’s precisely because I know you that I’m wary of you,” he said with a sneer, “Who knows if you’re planning something because you’re interested in Lucy? Like wanting to see how excellent she is?”

Shafney was speechless.

“See? I was right,” Shien said, pointing at her as if she were a caught criminal.

This made Shafney displeased.

“I’m not!” she insisted.

“Yes, you are,” Shien retorted bluntly.

“I’m really not!” Shafney argued.

“No, you definitely are,” Shien didn’t believe her at all.

“I…” Shafney wanted to say something more.

Just then, Shien suddenly asked,

“Then how many points would you give Lucy?”

These words made Shafney blurt out her true thoughts,

“Ninety points.” Then she realized what she had just said.

“Ninety…” Shien was speechless. This was definitely a score given out of interest. Such strong interest upon first meeting, if she said she wasn’t planning anything, who would believe her?

Only Lucy looked confused, “What do you mean ‘give points’? What’s ninety?” She didn’t understand.

Shien didn’t explain, but said to Shafney, as if advising her,

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you. How did you fail last time when you were this interested in someone?”

These words made thousands of images flash through Shafney’s mind.

“I…” Shafney’s lips twitched, and she didn’t know what to say, only glaring at Shien angrily.

“Hmph.” Shien crossed his arms, looking smug, as if he had won something.

Lucy, unable to understand their cryptic conversation, seized the opportunity to speak.

“Your Highness, why did you come to the Royal Capital so early?” she asked, finally getting to the point.

“Yes,” Shien also remembered this, asking curiously, “Did you sneak here alone?”

“Me, sneaking here?” Shafney glanced at Shien and said with a smile, “I wasn’t the one who snuck here, but someone else, wasn’t it?”

Shien felt awkward. He knew she was referring to him.

“…I left a note, didn’t I?” he said weakly.

“You mean leaving a note is the right way to treat us?” Shafney asked, staring at Shien, her smile dangerous, “Not even saying goodbye, not even bothering to speak to us, do you really think you’re in the right?”

“…Alright,” Shien admitted defeat and lowered his head. He had indeed acted improperly, and there was no denying it. After all, the Demon Lords had treated him quite well, even Kamina, who initially disliked him. Their attitudes towards him were completely different from their attitudes towards others. Moreover, during his time in the Demon Realm, it was them who took care of him, and he was able to reach Limit Level thanks to their generosity. Leaving a note and disappearing like that wasn’t proper behavior.

However…

“Did you come after me because I left?” Shien asked, a strange look on his face.

Lucy also looked at Shafney, startled.

The surrounding people were also shocked, staring at Shafney.

Shafney, under everyone’s gaze, rolled her eyes, then said with a smile,

“That’s right, I came for you.” Her straightforward words stunned everyone.

Shien and Lucy were silent.

“Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!” … The hearts of the surrounding people shattered.

So the goddess came to the Royal Capital to chase after a man? And it’s the Hero? The Hero who already has two fiancées, one the Kingdom’s Treasure, the other Airi, the Dragon Demon?…

There is no justice in this world!

At this moment, Shien clearly felt countless gazes filled with killing intent directed at him. Even those he had intimidated before now glared at him resentfully, as if having forgotten their fear. This made Shien sigh inwardly.

Simps truly were hopeless creatures, so weak, yet so full of hostility. If he were more short-tempered, these people wouldn’t live to see tomorrow.

No wonder the Succubus was said to be able to topple nations and destroy cities with her charm. It wasn’t an exaggeration, but her charm could truly captivate all beings.

This thought made Shien feel annoyed.

“Alright, regardless of why you’re here, come with me,” he said, grabbing Shafney’s hand and turning to leave, not wanting to be stared at like a monkey any longer.

“This…” Lucy, seeing this, was startled, then hurriedly followed.

“Wait…” The surrounding onlookers, seeing Shien holding the goddess’s hand, were enraged, about to swarm them.

“[Bestowal: Nightmare].”

Shien, ignoring these irrational fools, cast his magic. It was an advanced Bestowal Magic, a stronger version of “Sleep,” not only putting people to sleep but also making them experience their worst nightmares. He had lost all patience with these fools and decided to punish them.

Instantly, an irresistible drowsiness overcame the onlookers.

“Thud! Thud! Thud!” … They collapsed one after another, losing consciousness.

Ironically, even some Royal Knights, who were supposed to be maintaining order, were among them.

“You’re quite ruthless, attacking ordinary civilians like this,” Shafney said, having watched the entire scene.

“Whose fault do you think this is?” Shien retorted, looking at her with an unfriendly gaze, “Don’t you know the consequences of appearing in public like this? Can’t you restrain yourself a little?” He was displeased with her casual stroll through the streets.

But Shafney seemed unfazed.

“I didn’t cause this chaos. What they do is their business. I have no reason to sacrifice my own freedom and happiness just because they might cause trouble,” she said, her self-centered words typical of a Succubus.

She always disdained and ignored those easily captivated by her charm.

If this chaos was caused by some unavoidable force of hers, she might reconsider, like Kamina, whose presence in a human city would inevitably cause problems due to her poisonous nature, so she had to restrain herself.

Lid was the same. If she unleashed even a fraction of her power, she would have to expand her size, her every move causing destruction, so she could only maintain her harmless, small beast form, not daring to fight.

But Shafney was different. Although a Succubus, her power wasn’t related to charm. People were captivated by her beauty, not because of her power, but because of her innate charm. She was a natural-born masterpiece, the embodiment of beauty itself, her every move alluring, even without any deliberate effort.

For others, such a Succubus was an unattainable goddess, but for Shafney herself, she was simply being herself, and people were naturally drawn to her. This, instead of making her feel accomplished, only annoyed her. No one liked being surrounded by flies.

Therefore, it was already good that she didn’t get angry, let alone restrain herself and avoid going out in public to prevent commotion.

These insignificant humans weren’t worth her consideration! Therefore, she did as she pleased, not caring about others.

What they did was none of her business!

Shien naturally understood her thoughts.

“Fine, you’re the best, no one can control you, happy now?” he said, “Then are you coming back with me?”

Shafney blinked, then smiled sweetly.

“Yes!”

So, Shien led her away, leaving Lucy standing there, silently watching them leave hand-in-hand.

“…Should I mention that I was here first?” she murmured.

Unfortunately, Shien and Shafney were already gone, making Lucy grit her teeth, her feelings complex.

Soon, under Lucy’s orders, the Royal Knights returned to the commercial street and took away those who had fallen asleep, still trapped in their nightmares. The Royal Palace also sent people to deal with the aftermath and temporarily closed off the street. Having done this, Lucy returned to the palace and reported the incident to Ancil and Lia.

Learning that Shafney was taken away by Shien, they were first relieved, then worried.

“I didn’t expect that Succubus to suddenly come to the Royal Capital, and so openly,” Lia said, worried.

“Now, there will be even more people in the Royal Capital driven mad by their unrequited love for her,” Ancil said, also worried.

He remembered his cousin, that once brilliant and promising individual, ruined after meeting the Succubus. “Shafney, the Succubus, a captivating demoness whose beauty alone is enough to enthrall the world, how should we even entertain such a being?”

Ancil was incredibly worried. Shafney’s arrival was no less than a disaster for the Kingdom.

If their nobles and talented individuals were all captivated by her and left the Kingdom, wouldn’t the Kingdom be doomed? Even if they didn’t leave, constantly longing for her and their mental state deteriorating, it would still greatly impact the Kingdom’s operations.

There was even a king in history who willingly offered his kingdom to Shafney just to please her. If this happened in the Mitra Kingdom, wouldn’t they be doomed? Therefore, this wasn’t an exaggeration, but a matter that could truly threaten the Kingdom’s survival.

Because of this, Ancil didn’t dare to meet Shafney, afraid of being captivated by her charm and becoming one of her admirers. If that happened, he would be a sinner of the Mitra Kingdom.

But the three-race meeting was approaching, and he would have to meet her then, right? This thought made him even more worried.

“By the way,” he suddenly remembered something and asked Lucy, “How is Earl Buztout getting along with the Succubus?”

Hearing this, Lia also looked at Lucy.

Lucy’s expression was a mix of subtle emotions and displeasure.

Seeing her expression, Ancil and Lia’s hearts sank.

“Could it be that even he…” Lia said, her voice filled with worry, the implication clear.

Lucy, however, shook her head.

“No, he doesn’t seem captivated by that Succubus. Rather, he acts very naturally before her, as if he’s used to it,” she said.

Her words relieved Ancil and Lia.

“That’s good,” Lia said, relieved.

“It seems sending him there was the right decision,” Ancil nodded. He thought that since Shien had been to the Demon Realm, he must have met the Six Demon Lords, including Shafney. And since he returned, it meant he wasn’t captivated by her like most people. At least, he hadn’t lost his mind. Considering this, that’s why Ancil sent someone to summon Shien, asking him to meet Shafney.

Ancil, thinking this, didn’t notice the displeasure on Lucy’s face. Seeing her father and sister relieved, she really wanted to say,

“Although he doesn’t seem captivated, I think they’re up to something.”

After all, they casually held hands and left together right before her eyes.

Whenever she thought of this, Lucy felt an urge.

“I should sharpen my Holy Sword.”

It was time to use it, wasn’t it?

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