Why must the devil be Defeated?
Chapter 440 - 430 What should I do?

Chapter 440: 430 What should I do?

On the other side, while Shane was caught by Tielle and became a "plaything," Lu Muya and Merica were on their own outside, strolling around.

"Sigh..."

On the way, Merica held onto her magic wand and couldn’t help but sigh deeply upon hearing the discussions from all directions.

Beside her, Lu Muya, who was following Merica with a trembling fear, showed a look of concern.

"Are you okay, Merica?" Lu Muya asked with worry, "If you’re not feeling well, you can go back and rest. I can handle the shopping for the recovery items by myself."

The two had ventured out so late just to buy recovery items needed for their adventure activities, which included various magic potions.

Since the incident at Artlu Canyon, Vivian had realized how crucial a sufficient supply of recovery potions was for a small team during emergencies. It was not only necessary for sustaining prolonged battles but was also essential for safety and maintaining combat effectiveness. Hence, Vivian’s Team had formed a habit of always having a certain level of recovery items prepared to cope with emergencies.

Usually, the task fell on Lu Muya and Merica because, as team leader, Vivian needed to coordinate and negotiate with the Guild, which didn’t leave her much time. Tielle, who had no clue about these things, definitely couldn’t handle it. So, Lu Muya and Merica barely managed to take on this role, making them the logistics officers of the team specialized in purchasing.

Now, Vivian was still at the Guild, busy preparing for tomorrow’s assigned commission and investigating the movements of noble families. Tielle had returned home early, leaving only the two to purchase the somewhat insufficient recovery items outside.

Under these circumstances, it wasn’t possible for Merica to go back alone.

No choice.

"If Lu Muya goes alone and meets a strange shopkeeper, she would definitely be too nervous to even talk properly, wouldn’t she?"

Merica forced a smile.

"Ugh..." Lu Muya whispered with a self-pitying tone, "If... if the shopkeeper is an easy-going sister, I... I might manage..."

In other words, if it wasn’t an easy-going sister, then Lu Muya would have trouble coping.

On the other hand, although Merica also got easily nervous, she at least had the ability to hold a normal conversation with others. Therefore, if she went back, Lu Muya might end up hesitating to enter the store and could be found hiding around the doorway, probably anxious enough to end up in tears.

Thinking of this, Merica felt a bit amused, yet the thought didn’t bring a smile to her face.

"Sigh..."

Before she knew it, Merica let out another sigh.

The situation had been going on for a long while.

And it wasn’t just today.

"Merica." Lu Muya glanced at Merica’s expression and hesitated for a moment before mustering the courage to ask, "What’s been going on with you lately? You’ve been looking quite out of spirits all the time, even Sister Vivian is worried."

"Really?" Merica seemed aware, thus guiltily responded, "Sister Vivian has noticed, huh?"

"Yeah." Lu Muya nodded, but appeared puzzled as she said, "But Sister Vivian seems to know why you’re like this. When I asked her if she could talk to you to make you feel better, she said that it’s something you have to come to terms with on your own, even Tielle said it’s up to you, and she won’t interfere with your thoughts."

"Ugh..." Merica’s face instantly flushed red as she murmured, "So Sister Vivian and Tielle understand my feelings?"

How embarrassing!

"What’s really going on?" Lu Muya seemed a bit petulant as she spoke, "Everyone knows about your issue, but I’m completely in the dark. It feels like I’m being shut out."

"No... not at all!" Merica hurriedly replied, "There’s no intention of shunning Lu Muya!"

"Then what is it, Merica?" Lu Muya pouted and said, "If there’s something bothering you, you can talk to me too, though I might not be able to help..."

At this point, Lu Muya’s petulant demeanor softened slightly into a demoralized and downhearted attitude.

"Alright, alright." Merica could only comfort Lu Muya and after hesitating a bit, her face flushed as she said, "Then I’ll tell you, but don’t tell anyone else, okay?"

"Mhmm mhmm mhmm." Lu Muya nodded eagerly, promising, "I won’t tell anyone."

Upon hearing this, Merica hesitantly leaned over and whispered something into Lu Muya’s ear.

"What... what!?" Lu Muya suddenly widened her eyes in surprise, exclaiming, "You have fallen for Shan... ugh ugh!"

Before she could finish her sentence, Lu Muya’s mouth was forcefully covered by an extremely flustered Merica.

"Don’t say it out loud!" Merica, seeing the passersby who turned to look in surprise, whispered in embarrassment, "They heard you! Lu Muya, you dummy!"

"Ugh ugh ugh!" Lu Muya quickly shook her head with tears in her eyes, pleading for mercy.

It had to be said, two pretty young girls playfully interacting on the street was already an eye-catching sight. The passersby might not have turned their heads simply because of Lu Muya’s exclamation.

Thankfully, having become accustomed to the public gaze, they no longer felt as jittery and intensely nervous as when they first arrived in the Royal Capital, and were quite immune to it now.

Only sometime later did Merica finally let go, allowing Lu Muya to catch her breath.

And at that moment, Lu Muya finally understood Merica’s troubles.

"Are you troubled because Mr. Shane has become the first priority candidate as Princess Luoqi’s husband?"

Lu Muya finally felt relief.

"It’s not exactly troubling," Merica said hesitantly. "I know this is a great thing for Mr. Shane, and I am surprised yet feel it’s exactly like him to be able to become the princess’s consort."

"That’s right," Lu Muya agreed deeply. "It is Princess Luosilusti we are talking about. For ordinary people, having a good relationship with her is already something to be proud of. Mr. Shane was initially so close to the princess which was surprising enough, but now he has become even the first priority candidate for the princess’s husband—it’s really astonishing."

It was because of this that Lu Muya actually held quite a bit of admiration for Shane.

After all, not long ago, Shane had just become an Adventurer—a junior that needed looking after by everyone in Vivian’s Team, and even because of some unpleasant incidents that happened within Vivian’s Team, he was guarded by a group of girls for a while. Yet now, he had suddenly become a highly sought-after figure in the Kingdom, not only being knighted and becoming a noble but also making a series of jaw-dropping battle achievements and contributions.

And adding to that, becoming the first priority candidate for the husband of the Kingdom Treasure, everybody in Vivian’s Team watched him rise to fame, and admiring him was inevitable.

Of course, aside from admiration, Lu Muya also had some questions about Shane.

Recalling the time back in Artlu Canyon, facing Tielle who had lost control and gone berserk, Shane unleashed and used that dazzling Holy Sword, Lu Muya unconsciously murmured.

"Indeed, Mr. Shane is actually a He...uuhh...!"

Without any surprise, Lu Muya’s mouth was covered by Merica once again.

"You can’t speak about this," Merica announced seriously while covering Lu Muya’s mouth. "Sister Vivian already mentioned that it’s a very important matter, related to the future of the Three Realms and the Three Races. We must not pursue this, nor can we speak recklessly—have you forgotten?"

Only then did Lu Muya react, casting a regretful, apologetic look at Merica.

"Can’t casually talk about this anymore, okay?" Merica released Lu Muya but still couldn’t help but worryingly instruct, "Not even at home, okay?"

"I understand," Lu Muya replied with a pained expression. "I won’t talk about it or ask again."

"That’s good," Merica was finally relieved.

Compared to the half-knowing Lu Muya, Merica had long been convinced that Shane was indeed the Hero.

Although she did not know why a Hero would suddenly appear, recalling Shane’s various mysterious aspects and his lack of common knowledge about this world, Merica was almost certain that Shane was the Hero from Otherworld.

But within this fact, there certainly were very deep secrets.

A thousand years had passed, and the Hero Summoning Secret Ceremony had already been sealed—why would a Hero suddenly appear?

With just a little thought, Merica knew there were very serious hidden issues at play.

And with Shane being caught in such a whirlpool, his situation might not be all too good.

Therefore, Merica had made up her mind early on to help Shane keep his secret no matter what.

But...

(Only an outstanding person like Princess Luosilusti is worthy to be the Hero’s partner, right?)

Merica thought such things and unconsciously sighed again.

"Oh, you sighed again." Lu Muya was puzzled. "What is Merica really thinking?"

"I... I wasn’t really thinking about anything," Merica faltered, seeming a bit lost. "I just didn’t know what to do next."

Indeed, Merica was just contemplating such matters.

Regarding the marriage between Shane and Luoqi, although Merica felt envious and surprised, she didn’t think there was anything inappropriate.

Just as she thought, since Shane was the Hero, it seemed quite normal for him to get married to Luoqi, who was also a Hero candidate.

The problem was, Shane, the person she admired, was getting married—what should she do then?

Should she continue interacting with him as in the past while hiding her feelings?

Or should she dismiss these unrealistic fantasies and face reality?

After all, she was just a very ordinary Elf. In people’s eyes, Elves might be noble and pure, but with her being so ordinary, what right did she have to stand beside a Hero?

What should she do?

Merica pondered these things and unknowingly drifted off into a trance.

She completely failed to notice, amid the crowd around her, a pair of eyes fixating on her.

In those eyes were filled with surprise, amazement, and... sinister desire.