Why must the devil be Defeated?
Chapter 417 - 410 ’Kick you hard.

Chapter 417: 410 ’Kick you hard.

Upon hearing Aridia’s words, Shane was quite surprised.

"I didn’t expect to hold such high esteem in the heart of the Captain of the Royal Guard."

With an expression of astonishment, Shane turned his gaze towards Aridia.

"You deserve such an evaluation," Aridia said evenly, "You are the only young man besides Princess Luoqi who can take a strike from me without a scratch. Before you and Princess Luoqi appeared, the person who could achieve this feat was at least thirty-three years old."

Because of this, Aridia’s high opinion of Shane was justified.

"Originally, I thought that except for Princess Luoqi, only the Valkyrie of the Empire could take a strike from me unscathed in their teens or twenties. The fact that you can do the same proves that even if you’re not quite their match, you’re not far behind."

"And you have managed to get along with the Dragon Demon among the Six Great Demons, have formed a connection with the Moon Demon, and even tamed Artlu’s Black Dragon, I don’t think that’s just luck."

"Therefore, I once boldly speculated that you might possess a strength no less than that of Princess Luoqi, even if she wields the Holy Sword and her Unique Skill."

"Because, it is only in the presence of such a Princess that I feel a similar threat."

"Am I right?"

Aridia made so many remarks in one breath, completely unlike his usual silence.

From this, it was evident that Aridia did indeed place great importance on Shane.

However, this did not cause Shane any pleasure.

"Are you sure that, apart from me and Luoqi, there is no one else who poses a threat to you?" Shane finally retorted sarcastically, "Have you forgotten the power within your daughter, Captain?"

At these words, Aridia’s eyes suddenly sharpened.

"...You’ve seen it?"

Aridia’s tone suddenly grew icy.

"I’ve seen it." Shane said mockingly, "What? Are you afraid this will get out? Worried that others will find out that the Elbein family has produced a ’monster’?"

Aridia didn’t answer; he just kept his gaze fixed on Shane.

"It seems you are more of a threat than I imagined, managing to still be alive after seeing that." Aridia said indifferently, "It’s just a pity, that power is cursed, and I will not acknowledge it."

"So?" Shane sneered, "Without the power you recognize, you can pretend that daughter doesn’t exist, is that it?"

In that instant, Shane made a decision.

If Aridia dared to reply ’yes,’ he would attack without saying another word.

Although, without unleashing the Holy Sword, Shane wasn’t a hundred percent confident he could overcome this Level 98 person – the strongest of the Human Race – but even if he couldn’t win, he would still fiercely skin him.

Perhaps his thoughts leaked out, as Aridia fell silent for a long while.

"I haven’t treated her as if she didn’t exist."

After a while, Aridia spoke.

"No matter what, she has the blood of the Elbeins flowing through her veins, in the past, now, and in the future."

After leaving these perplexing words behind, Aridia turned and continued leading the way.

Shane frowned, watching Aridia’s back until his figure was almost out of sight, then finally curled his lips in disdain.

"If I get the chance, I’ll kick you hard to see if you can maintain that impassive face of yours."

With that, Shane followed Aridia.

Unbeknownst to Shane, in a corner, a frail-looking noble accompanied by two guard knights was watching him.

"Is that Viscount Beizut?"

Edel asked a knight beside him.

"Yes." The knight glanced at Shane and nodded, replying, "He is the First Priority Candidate chosen by Princess Luoqi and Lusti."

"Is that so?" Edel turned his gaze back on Shane, with an extremely thick layer of envy and whispered, "Such a lucky fellow, even though he’s just a viscount."

Edel was truly envious.

Ever since he’d seen Luoqi, Edel had been utterly fascinated by her.

She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his life, surpassing even the holy Goddess and the pure Elves, leaving Edel, a son of a Duke who lusted for women, restless and covetous through the night.

Unfortunately, Luoqi was not someone a mere son of a duke could touch lightly. His covetousness had once resulted in a very painful punishment.

Even now, Edel clearly remembered that day when, after confessing his deep feelings in front of the Princess’s chamber, he received a merciless beating.

As a duke’s son, it was the first time Edel had been chastised, and although it was also the first time his family, known for their arrogance throughout the kingdom, could only choose to quell the matter, even pressing him to apologize – a humiliating memory indeed.

Because of that incident, Edel, who had always thought he could act unbridled and unruly, was genuinely frightened.

Without his family’s support, without the backing of his father, the duke, he was just a worthless nobody. He was terrified out of his wits and could only sneak away with his tail between his legs.

Yet despite this, Edel’s obsession with Luoqi continued unabated.

Simply because, the Princess was too beautiful, so much so that even Edel, with his narrow heart, couldn’t bring himself to hate her, even after being chastised.

After that, Edel even fell into a strange state for a while, finding no woman tasted quite right, with only the sister of Princess Luoqi, his betrothed, able to stir his heart.

After all, though not as reputed as Luoqi, known as the first among the Human Race, Liya was equally a stunning Princess, not at all inferior to the Goddesses of the Divine Race or the Elves of the Elf Clan.

Therefore, Edel scurried back to continue fawning over Liya, but she thoroughly despised him because of his disgusting behavior.

Liya didn’t realize that after returning to Lucica Territory, Edel has actually done far fewer dirty deeds than before.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t do it anymore, but after seeing Luoqi, Edel found himself only attracted to women of exceptional beauty.

Besides women of great beauty, there was only one type of woman Edel craved.

That is, women who bore any resemblance to Luoqi.

Whether it was the temperament or body shape, or even just similar eyes, nose, mouth, or ears, as long as there was even a slight similarity to Luoqi, Edel couldn’t control himself.

Because of this, Edel once became infatuated with a very unattractive, middle-aged woman simply because she was wearing something a bit like Luoqi’s attire, and he forced himself upon her.

This meant, Edel had developed a disturbing and strange fixation.

This showed just how obsessed Edel was with Luoqi.

And the reason he used violence against his wives, causing their deaths, was because they did not resemble Luoqi, nor were they of stunning beauty, which angered Edel, made him reject them, and eventually, he couldn’t help but kill them all.

Knowing this, it was easy to understand how much Edel envied and even hated Shane, who had the greatest chance of becoming Luoqi’s husband.

"Is there any way to break his arms and legs so that he can’t participate in the competition?"

Edel spoke such a malicious sentence to the knight by his side.

But the two knights didn’t hesitate to shake their heads.

"No, we can’t do it."

"That’s someone who can take down the Slaughterer Faction on his own, with a dragon by his side; not to mention us, even if the three Great Knight Orders of Lucica Territory came, they probably wouldn’t be able to do anything to him."

The two knights were plainly resigned.

"What a waste!"

Edel was instantly filled with rage.

In reality, he knew he was asking for the impossible.

Because of becoming the First Priority Candidate, Shane had suddenly come into the view of the Human Race’s various kingdoms and major nobles, and his life story was thoroughly investigated.

So, many already knew of Shane’s respectable strength and that he had a Level ninety dragon by his side, along with what appeared to be connections with Demons, making him not someone to be trifled with.

Had it not been for these facts, Shane would be facing assassination, murder, and framing instead of challenges.

It was because many people feared the power behind Shane that the nobles dared not act rashly, opting to prove themselves through public challenges and to compete with Shane openly and honorably.

Although Edel was scum, he was no fool and just as afraid to provoke Shane, who had Demons in his corner.

Otherwise, not just his family, but the Kingdom, the Human Race, or even the Divine Race would not be able to save him.

"Forget it, I’ll just keep my eyes on Liyadella."

Edel murmured unwillingly to himself.

"Though she is not on the same level as Princess Luoqi, she still moves my heart, much better than those ugly freaks anyway."

Edel dared not entertain thoughts about Luoqi again.

The lesson from the past had left him with a psychological scar, and with no confidence in being noticed by Luoqi, he could only settle for Liyadella, pressuring her to give in.

...

Meanwhile, Shane, led by Aridia, came to see Anxi in the king’s quarters.

"Your Majesty."

Seeing Anxi painting by the window overlooking the lake, Shane curled his lip and managed to offer a noble’s courtesy.

"Have you arrived?" Anxi put down his brush, looked at Shane with what seemed to be satisfaction, and smiled, "Don’t look at me like that; I’m just doodling because Luoqi likes painting too."

Anxi’s words reminded Shane of the first time he had seen Luoqi, who was indeed painting.

Even now, Shane remembered that picturesque scene at that time.

"Come, take a seat."

Anxi then gestured for Shane to sit.

"Thank you."

Shane didn’t hesitate and sat down opposite Anxi.

Aridia, on the other hand, returned to standing behind Anxi like a dedicated knight.

And Anxi continued to look at Shane sitting across from him, smiling more and more contentedly.

"As expected of the First Priority Candidate in Luoqi’s heart, Lord Beizut, you seem much stronger than before."

Anxi appeared to notice some growth in Shane.

But Shane just found it odd.

Was this father-in-law supposed to flatter someone so openly upon meeting them? Was it really that pleasing?

He wasn’t about to pull out a check and slap it on his own face, testing whether Shane’s feelings for Luoqi were genuine, right?

Emmmmmmmmmm...