Why must the devil be Defeated?
Chapter 533 - 500 Hurry up and wash up, then go to sleep.

Chapter 533: 500 Hurry up and wash up, then go to sleep.

Carol had long realized that she was being monitored.

Her perception ability provided by "Outer Destiny" was much stronger than that of the past Shane. It was no longer limited to hostility and magic power; she could feel various malice and life forces. Along with her enhanced six senses, Shane could see through all deceptions. If Shane couldn’t detect someone snooping around him, then having such a powerful skill would be a waste.

However, Shane had no intention of dealing with Carol.

He knew that Carol was just worried about having a man like him walking around the Elf Country, not that she wanted to do anything to him.

So, Shane let her be.

Now, the fact that she had come out into the open like this and even told him about it, was this confidence or had this person really become incapable of disguising her thoughts?

Shane didn’t know, nor was he interested in finding out.

All he knew was that he did not get along at all with this old-fashioned girl.

Thus, Shane spoke to Carol without any pretense.

"Since you’ve shown up, tell me where the bathroom is."

Shane asked Carol directly, not wanting to bother... ah spit, disturb the surrounding Elf girls.

But Carol’s answer was exceptionally straightforward.

"None."

Carol responded in just 0.1 seconds with such a statement.

"What did you say?"

Shane was stunned.

"I said none," Carol said expressionlessly, "In the Elf Country, we don’t have anything like bathrooms. Otherwise, do you think we wouldn’t set them up in our treehouses?"

So, it’s not that I can’t find a bathroom, it’s that there is no such thing as a bathroom at all?

...Are you kidding me?

"Then how do you bathe?" Shane retorted, "Don’t tell me the Elf Clan doesn’t need to bathe or use the restroom."

Hearing the phrase "use the restroom," even Carol couldn’t help but glare at Shane.

Doesn’t this man know what to say and what not to?

"We never use a bathroom to bathe," Carol said rigidly, "As parts of nature, we Elves always clean our bodies directly in rivers or lakes."

Shane understood.

Is that what it means?

"Do all Elves bathe out in the open in rivers or lakes?"

Shane’s imagination started running wild.

Could it be that right now in the Elf Country, there were rivers or lakes full of naked Elf girls?

Shane felt like he could see those beautiful Elves frolicking and giggling in the waters in their pristine state.

...Should I use "Inner Destiny" or something to sneak a peek?

No, not to peek, why would I be that kind of person?

I just want to test the effect of "Inner Destiny," definitely not having any dirty thoughts.

This Heavenly Destiny Skill, which I gained by merging countless skills, I should properly verify its power and effects.

That’s what I think, very innocent, indeed.

Unfortunately...

"You better not do anything inappropriate," Carol, as if guessing what was on Shane’s mind, coldly said, "To prevent you from committing any vile acts, I have been monitoring you. Even if I didn’t, the Queen’s Palace would know about everything happening in the Elf Country. I advise you to dismiss any thoughts you might have."

"Cough, cough, don’t unjustly accuse people," Shane immediately coughed twice and then said solemnly, "Do you think you’re some peeping Goddess who can read minds? What makes you think I have dirty thoughts?"

Upon hearing this, confusion arose.

"Peeping Goddess?"

Carol paused.

"Was... was I discovered?"

A certain Nature Goddess who had been following closely beside Shane jumped in shock.

This Goddess didn’t realize that Shane was not referring to her, but another individual named Nien.

Carol, however, after a moment of shock, didn’t seem to care much about what Shane said.

Perhaps she thought that Shane was referring to Lilith.

Carol’s indifferent voice broke the silence.

"I can’t read minds, but I know. Whenever this topic comes up, all you men react the same way, just like the Hero Mitra did in the past."

Carol’s words made Shane feel a sense of lament.

That is, whether or not he was a hero, actually all are pitiful men.

He was like this, and so was the Hero Mitra a thousand years ago.

But Shane still wanted to say,

"Predecessor, you’ve completely ruined the reputation of heroes."

It seemed that ever since he arrived in the Elf Country, the grand image of the hero who had defeated the Demon King was gradually collapsing.

Of course, outwardly, Shane still had to retort a few more words.

"Since you can’t read minds, don’t just make random accusations. Is our reaction necessarily indicative of having dirty thoughts? Couldn’t it just be concern about whether you, young Elf girls, might get too cold in the rivers or lakes?"

Hearing this, Carol was left speechless.

"Elves are the darlings of nature and are not affected by the natural temperature; as long as it’s not due to human factors or magic power, elves feel neither hot nor cold."

Carol’s gaze toward Shane then took on a somewhat disdainful look.

It was the look one gives a man caught red-handed in misconduct, clumsily trying to defend himself.

But heavens! Shane truly didn’t know such trivial knowledge.

Elves are unaffected by natural temperatures?

Well, it’s no wonder—born of the magical race and favored by nature, they are indeed a living proof of this unscientific claim.

"So, there really are no bathrooms in Elf Country?"

Shane was still a bit unconvinced.

"No," Carol said straightforwardly, "We love and are close to nature. For us, bathing in rivers and lakes as a matter of habit and instinct is normal; we do so even in the village, and so does the Queen. There are no so-called bathrooms in Elf Country."

Shane somewhat understood now.

He understood why Luoqi had just rushed off to find Merica alone.

"She must have already known about this and didn’t want to bring me along, fearing that I might sneakily peek at elf girls bathing and act all sneaky, right?"

Shane’s mouth twitched.

This was entirely possible.

Otherwise, why wouldn’t the Slacking Princess bring him along?

If it were just about meeting Merica or playing around in Elf Country, that girl definitely wouldn’t leave him out; she would surely drag him all over the place.

"That poor kid..."

Shane resolved that he must properly deal with that princess tonight.

As for how the princess came to know about this, Shane suspected Lasha was behind it.

That maid was elusive, always mysteriously gathering all sorts of travel information, such as the whereabouts of hotels, restaurant locations, and cuisine ingredients—she was more informed than anyone else.

Thus, it was quite likely that the maid had already arranged for the girls’ bathing in advance.

Otherwise, it would hardly be routine for Ai Yi, much less for Lilith to be cajoled into sleeping without taking a bath.

"That stoic maid..."

Shane gritted his teeth.

At that moment, Shane felt like the whole world was against him.

Here in Elf Country, he felt utterly insignificant.

No, he had to find a way to regain his dignity.

While considering these things, Shane asked Carol,

"What am I supposed to do then?" Shane said, "You can’t just tell me not to bathe, can you?"

If that elf dared to say, "Aren’t all men smelly anyway?" Shane wouldn’t hesitate to punch her in the chest hard and retort with "Aren’t all women soft?"

Luckily, Carol wasn’t that extreme.

"The Queen has said your treatment is of the highest scale. Naturally, we’ll make preparations for you."

Carol turned around.

"Come with me."

With that, Carol walked ahead.

"Preparations?"

Shane muttered to himself and then, rather reluctantly, followed her.

Along the way, Shane encountered many elf girls.

All of them reacted the same—first startled, quickly stepping aside, then sneakily watching Shane, exhibiting a mix of fear and curiosity.

Shane felt as if he had come to the wrong place and didn’t want to complain anymore.

"Just quickly wash up and go to sleep."

That was Shane’s only thought right then.

...

Led by Carol, Shane arrived at a secluded spot.

It was deep within a forest a good distance from Elf Country.

Not far ahead was the edge of Elf Country’s barrier, beyond which were said to be continuous mountains.

"This is where you can bathe."

Carol had prepared a bathing spot for Shane under these circumstances.

And seeing the scene before him, Shane’s eyes widened in astonishment.

"Is this really a hot spring?"

Yes.

Before Shane lay a large hot spring.

It was about twenty to thirty meters in diameter and about ten meters wide, resembling a small lake. It could soak not just one person but even a hundred.

Seeing the hot steam rising from the spring, Shane was both surprised and in awe.

"This is what you meant by preparations?" Shane blinked and asked, "Freshly dug?"

"Of course not." Carol said calmly, "This hot spring has existed for a long time, so long in fact that it was here when Her Majesty was born. The Queen often used it when she was younger, and occasionally afterwards, but few others know of its existence. Now, letting you use it is just perfect."