Why must the devil be Defeated?
Chapter 404 - 397 The legendary path to self-destruction?

Chapter 404: 397 The legendary path to self-destruction?

"Gahhh..."

"Wahhh..."

In a series of low growls, led by Barry, all members of the Sterling Family had turned into red-eyed, ferocious-looking evil creatures consumed by madness.

However, these evil creatures didn’t start fighting on the spot, but instead, like ants before a deity, they lowered their heads toward Lilith.

But Lilith ignored these evil creatures and instead plunged into Shane’s arms, her amethyst eyes filled with concern.

Shane caught Lilith and chuckled.

"Don’t worry, I’m fine."

Shane then patted Lilith’s head, comforting her as if she’d been scared.

Though he felt Lilith’s reaction was a bit excessive, even if she hadn’t intervened, Shane could have handled the situation himself; her intervention and concern were somewhat superfluous, but it was a display of the little girl’s excessive care for him, and Shane wasn’t about to complain about that.

In contrast, Ai Yi had been standing there from the beginning to end, motionless, without even a change in expression.

"What are you playing at here?" Ai Yi accused Shane, saying, "You shouldn’t have been caught off guard by such a level of sneak attack, right?"

Clearly, Ai Yi also felt that, with Shane’s abilities, such a threat wasn’t worth mentioning.

"I just wanted to see what this guy would become when pushed to the edge," Shane shrugged, adding, "Actually, you guys didn’t need to come out."

Handling such minor nuisances by invoking Demons and an Evil God capable of matching them was indeed making a mountain out of a molehill.

Originally, Shane had wanted to handle it himself, but unexpectedly, after he was attacked, these two little girls immediately woke up and came out without hesitation, standing up for him.

It was understandable in Lilith’s case, as being a small Goddess bound by fate with him, holding his True Seal meant she would be affected by any harm that came to him. Plus, she was particularly clingy and would unhesitatingly stand up for him.

But it was quite surprising that Ai Yi also woke up without hesitation and appeared for him.

Did this girl care about him that much?

Shane really wanted to ask her.

Unfortunately, Ai Yi didn’t give him the chance.

"Humans really are getting bolder, daring to lay hands on him openly, knowing he’s mine. It seems I haven’t shown up for too long, and few remember I’m a Dragon Demon."

Ai Yi looked at Barry, who had turned into a frantic evil creature, and her face was full of displeasure.

If it had been some ignorant fool who knew nothing of Shane and Ai Yi’s circumstances, she wouldn’t have bothered, but given that they knew the connections and still dared to strike against Shane, Ai Yi saw it clearly as a deliberate taunt.

Shane rolled his eyes.

"Are you still not giving up that ’you are mine’ setting?"

Shane said disdainfully.

"It’s just a fact." Ai Yi nonchalantly replied, "At least, many people see it that way now."

With Ai Yi’s words, Shane felt that too.

Whether it was the Kingdom, Demon Clan, or Anima and others, it seemed that they all now saw him as one of Ai Yi’s people, which is why he could enjoy Ai Yi’s protection.

So... had he unknowingly been leeching off her this whole time?

A hero, actually living off a Demon?

"Well, why not enjoy it?"

Not only did Shane not feel ashamed, but he also relished the feeling.

It wasn’t because he liked freeloading, but rather, having someone to rely on was truly exhilarating.

Mainly, it was a way to avoid a lot of trouble, which was what Shane valued.

Of course, Shane’s relationship with Ai Yi wasn’t based on such intentions, but since things had naturally developed this way, he didn’t see anything wrong with it.

After all, Shane was quite adaptable; this was merely child’s play to him.

Back to the issue at hand...

"I had already decided to return to the Royal Capital, but then this guy came looking for me; isn’t this what they call seeking one’s own doom?"

Shane looked at Barry again, his gaze becoming more suggestive.

Originally, his visit to Duke Sterling’s Domain was not only to subdue the trouble caused by the Old Demon Clan Faction but also to teach the Sterling Family a lesson.

But, because of issues with Lilith, Shane hadn’t really been in the mood to trouble the Sterling Family, to the extent that he had forgotten all about it.

And now, even though he had forgotten, they had willingly thrown themselves in his path?

"Good people."

Shane remarked sarcastically, his tone filled with schadenfreude.

Especially seeing Ai Yi’s disgruntled expression, Shane felt he could already foresee the dire future of the Sterling Family.

As expected...

"This matter isn’t over."

Ai Yi had no intention of letting things settle.

"What do you plan on doing?"

Shane asked, curious.

"To pay a visit to this so-called stronghold of the Sterling Family."

Ai Yi said emotionlessly, then turned to leave.

"So impulsive?" Shane quickly pulled the person back and said, "You’re not thinking about eradicating an entire clan, are you?"

"How so?" Ai Yi looked at Shane suspiciously and asked, "Is there a problem?"

"Is there a problem?" Shane was speechless and said, "You don’t think there’s a problem?"

"I don’t think there’s a problem." Ai Yi watched Shane and said, "Or do you think this is too cruel?"

If it were someone else, they would probably think Ai Yi was too cruel, right?

When it was clearly the fault of a few, yet resulting in wiping out their entire family, what was that if not cruelty?

Such cruel actions, as a hero, people would stop Ai Yi, which seemed quite natural.

But Ai Yi knew that this hero was different.

"Do I look like the kind of person who sympathizes with the world and is a good person?"

As expected, Shane said this.

"Not at all."

Ai Yi responded without hesitation, her expression saying as much.

However, towards such an unhesitating response from Ai Yi, Shane somewhat wanted to hit her.

I’m indeed not a nice person, but you could be a bit more subtle in your response, not so blunt.

"Never mind." Shane picked up Ai Yi and leisurely said, "Just deal with these few main culprits, and don’t bother with the rest of the Sterling Family."

"Why?" Ai Yi asked in confusion, "They all troubled you, and you’re not going to bother with them?"

"I just feel there is no need to deliberately make a trip." Shane said indifferently, "If all of them were here, then solving it would have solved it."

Like initially with the Galuo Li Family, didn’t Shane also wipe them out with one use of the ’Aurora Meteor Shower’?

But for the remnants in the Royal Capital, Shane had no interest in cleaning them up.

It wasn’t because he adhered to separate issues or the philosophy that misfortune should not extend to family members, but because in his past life he had seen too much of the clichéd narratives about "If the grass is not removed by the roots, it will grow again in the spring" and the heroes frequently wiping out entire families of their enemies, so he lacked interest in such matters.

If Lymco were in the Sterling Family, Shane might have been motivated to make the trip, but Lymco had already disappeared, and Barry had been left here. The two from the Sterling Family who directly offended him had already faced bitter consequences, and Shane really had no interest in looking for trouble anymore.

Besides...

"You’re a Dragon Demon, a simple command to the Demon Realm or a complaint to the Kingdom would end the Sterling Family; there’s no need for a special trip."

While Shane said this, he shifted his attention to the exquisitely tender body of the girl in his arms.

Hmm, still so fragrant and soft—truly fitting for the first legitimate loli I met in this world.

Apparently, thinking this, Ai Yi seemed to calm down.

"Then let’s drop it."

Ai Yi briskly shifted her focus away from that matter, her gaze only flicking towards Barry and the others, suddenly exhaling.

That breath, extremely fine, yet it turned into blazing Dragon Breath, blasting towards Barry and the others.

"Boom!"

Without any surprise, Barry and the others were all instantly vaporized by the scorching Dragon Breath, leaving nothing behind.

The room’s temperature suddenly soared, making everyone sweat heavily.

"Holy shit!"

Shocked by the sudden attack, Shane exclaimed with a curse.

"What... what happened!?"

"..."

Laischa and Lasha just came back at the right time, not sure if they had timed it or not, but they were startled by the high temperature and rampant Magic Power in the room.

On the other hand, Lilith was completely calm, as if saying, "That’s how it should be done."

You can imagine that even if Ai Yi hadn’t acted, the little Evil God would not have let such obstructive creatures remain.

Ai Yi’s expression then eased a lot as she wriggled out of Shane’s embrace.

"Really..."

Watching the corner of the hall that was charred by the little Dragon Breath, Shane chuckled bitterly.

It was him who was troubled, yet why did these two little girls seem like they had deep-seated grudges?

Shane grumbled to himself.

In fact, he was quite touched.

Because, both Ai Yi and Lilith weren’t the type to dig deep into people they were uninterested in.

That is to say, both Ai Yi and Lilith did this to vent on his behalf.

Thus, Shane discarded the existence of Barry and his group from his mind, turning to the women.

"Since everyone is here, let’s just set off now and head back to the Royal Capital."

Upon hearing this, the women had no objections and nodded one after the other.

Shane then blew a loud whistle, letting it carry on the Magic Power, resonating through the sky.

"Roar!"

A pitch-black giant dragon immediately descended from the sky.

Before long, amid the panic and turmoil of the entire town, the dragon took flight, winging toward the direction of the Royal Capital.