Why must the devil be Defeated?
Chapter 562 - 522 "For instance, I want to eat you up.

Chapter 562: 522 "For instance, I want to eat you up.

Elf Country, near the edge of the Barrier.

Here, the hot spring that Shane used yesterday is still emitting steam, allowing Magic Power to continually rise from the spring.

Unicorns drink from the spring water here, and some other docile Demons come to draw Magic Power from this hot-spring-like Magic Power Source.

If it had been outside, for the water of a Magic Power Source, Demons would have undoubtedly fought each other fiercely, with the victor earning the right to enjoy it.

But here, the Demons did not interfere with each other, as if by agreement, getting along very harmoniously, jointly enjoying this Magic Power Source and making everything seem so peaceful, warm, and tranquil.

Just this scene alone made it look like a hidden paradise.

It has to be said that Elf Country really resembled a dreamland, with incredible sights rarely seen in the outside world, which were all visible here.

Until a certain moment, the tranquility here was shattered.

"Whoosh!"

With a swooshing sound, Shane, carrying Merica, flickered like a fading shadow and landed in front of this hot spring.

"Splash!"

The Demons here were immediately startled; some, timid, scattered in all directions, and others, bolder, seemed curious and watched without apparent suspicion toward these sudden intruders.

Shane didn’t pay attention to these Demons, and set down Merica from his arms.

"We’re safe here, right?"

Shane didn’t know if he was talking to Merica or muttering to himself, and after a murmur, he exhaled.

"This... Where is this?"

Merica, holding her Magic Wand, stood red-faced to one side, feeling relieved to be out of Shane’s arms yet also seeming regretful and reluctant; finally distracted by the surroundings, she gazed at the creatures around her and the hot-spring-like Magic Power Source, and was struck with wonder.

"What? You don’t know this place?"

Shane looked at Merica, smiling wryly.

"Yes, I don’t know," Merica said, shaking her head while speaking with curiosity: "I didn’t even know Elf Country had such a place, let alone that there’s a Magic Power Source here. But why is this Magic Power Source hot?"

Merica hadn’t thought of the Magic Power Source in terms of a hot spring.

If it had been someone else, like Shane, they would have first recognized it as a hot spring, then recognized it as a Magic Power Source, and been amazed by it immediately.

But because Merica was an Elf, she first sensed the Magic Power coming from Nature, realizing it was a Magic Power Source, and consequently didn’t think in the direction of a hot spring, thus overlooking the fact that this Magic Power Source had transformed into a Magic Power hot spring.

As for Merica’s ignorance of this place’s existence, that was even easier to understand.

"According to a certain Vice Division Commander, only the Elf Queen and her two Legendary confidants know of this place; the rest of the clan members are unaware of its existence," Shane said outright, revealing everything.

"Really?"

Merica nodded, somewhat puzzled, seemingly unaware that this was the Queen’s personal bath; otherwise, she wouldn’t have been so calm.

"We won’t be caught here, right?" Shane first said this and then couldn’t help but criticize, "I mean, Merica, your childhood friend is quite crazy. To cast wide-area lethal Magic like that in the streets, aren’t you afraid of affecting the village and its people?"

"This..." Merica seemed to realize this for the first time and hastily said, "Geno... Genom was just a bit impulsive, she’s not usually like this!"

The well-intentioned Elf girl was again speaking for someone else.

"Fine, it’s not my village, and I can’t be bothered," Shane rolled his eyes, somewhat irritatedly, "But it’s clear, she cares a lot about you."

"Um..." Merica seemed a bit embarrassed but still said forthrightly, "We’ve always had a good relationship, aside from these past two years. We really have never been apart, truly inseparable. Before I learned Magic, it was Genom who always protected and took care of me."

"Oh?" Shane raised his eyebrows, curious, "Always, from childhood?"

"Yes." Merica nodded emphatically, as if reminiscing, and spoke nostalgi,cally, "Ever since I was young, I tended to get nervous, even seeing people of my own race would sometimes make me stutter so much that I couldn’t speak. It was Genom who was always with me, running around the village, talking and chatting with everyone, that I was able to fit in and be accepted."

It appeared that the roles Merica and Genom played were as a clumsier, shyer younger sister and a bolder, more impulsive older sister.

"It might be that I’m too useless. From childhood, I’ve always encountered some rather troubling things, like when learning Magic, I lost control of my powers and accidentally burned down the Light Tree, or angered the Demons in the village and got bullied by them."

Merica recounted her past.

"Whenever I run into trouble, Genom always comes to my aid, protecting me, taking care of me, just like family," she said.

In such a case, it would be entirely understandable why Genom would be so sensitive and anxious about Merica’s affairs.

"Perhaps, in her eyes, you are still the Merica who needs her protection. That’s why she remains so vigilant about the things happening around you; any issue would immediately prompt her to act."

Shane then understood this.

On the other hand, Merica, with a firm grip on her magic wand, showed a resolute expression.

"But I can’t always be protected by Genom, living under her wings," Merica stated firmly. "That’s why I wanted to leave the village, to venture out and strengthen myself, to prove to Genom that I can stand on my own."

Perhaps that was the true reason why Merica wanted to leave the village and venture outside to improve herself?

Living always under Genom’s protection, even Merica must have felt a sense of guilt, believing she shouldn’t depend so much on her childhood friend. This ultimately hardened her resolve to seek progress on her own path outside the village.

From Merica’s attitude, Shane could glimpse something of her feelings towards Genom, as well as the nature of their past relationship.

"I hadn’t realized you harbored such determination. Vivian and the rest of us may have underestimated you."

Shane spoke, moved by the realization.

In the past, the members of Vivian’s Team had never truly understood why Merica left Elf Country to gain experience, nor what goals she held in her heart.

They thought Merica simply wanted to improve herself through experience, completely unaware that for an Elf, venturing out was not a necessity.

Only after arriving in Elf Country did Shane learn that Merica’s desire to gain experience was not just dissatisfaction with her own pace of growth, but also involved such internal motives.

Thus, Shane felt quite emotional.

"No... That’s not true!" Merica quickly waved her hand and shook her head. "It’s nothing remarkable, even a bit embarrassing; that’s why I’ve never talked about it."

Merica’s voice then took on an undertone of dejection.

"Besides, I haven’t reached my goal, and I’ve only made Genom worry more about my affairs. I can’t yet say I can stand on my own; without Mr. Shane and everyone from Vivian’s Team looking after me, I don’t know what kind of state I’d be in now..."

Merica appeared somewhat discouraged.

Thinking back on the events of the past two years, it was only natural for Merica to feel this way.

After leaving the village, it was with the help of her fellow Lamijion Elves and the protection from Vivian and others that she hadn’t been harmed by any males of alien races with ulterior motives, enabling her to embark on a series of close calls and adventures up to this point.

Once in the Royal Capital, Merica also received care from Shane; not only did she live at his place, with meals and lodging provided, but she also received his support during incidents like those involving Magre and Edel.

Reflecting on this, Merica realized she had never truly stood on her own; she had always been protected and cherished by others.

This occasionally made Merica feel very fortunate, and at other times, totally useless. Feelings of dejection and depression were not surprising at all.

"This Peace Festival, I originally intended to invite everyone to express my gratitude for the care you’ve all shown me. Who would have thought that Sister Vivian and the others wouldn’t be able to come, and Mr. Shane nearly faced unfair treatment, almost not being allowed in. I really am useless..."

Merica’s voice trailed off as she began to feel self-reproach, guilt, and sadness.

Watching Merica in this state, Shane scratched his head, feeling helpless.

Then, all of a sudden, Shane began to smile.

"You’re wrong, Merica," Shane said. "Even though we’ve been helping you, we actually have our own motives, you know?"

"Motives?" Merica was taken aback.

"That’s right," Shane said nonchalantly. "For instance, Vivian and her team surely wanted an excellent mage to join and provide support from behind; they protect you not only because you’re a teammate but also because you have intrinsic value."

This was the truth.

If Merica wasn’t an Elf, a skilled mage, then Vivian and the others might still have offered help, but it would have been within their capacity and not just anyone would be invited into their team, continuously assisted.

"I’m the same," Shane looked directly at Merica with an implied meaning. "Actually, I’m not that good a person; I, too, have my own schemes."

"Schemes?" Merica blinked.

"Yes," Shane grinned.

A wicked smile.

"Like wanting to devour you."