The Devil Does Not Need to Be Defeated

T/N: I’m going to use “Hartley” instead of “Hertleyd” for 赫特雅黛 (Hè tè yǎ dài). It looks like “Hartley” is related to the Irish name Ó hArtghaile, which means “descendant of Artghal.”….

Chapter 731: “This Older Sister is Poisonous”

“—Halt!”

Seeing the terrifying evil aura rushing towards them, Liel, Hart, and Gray finally couldn’t help but act. They released their magic power and flew into the air, attempting to intercept the incoming evil aura.

However, their actions were a perfect display of overestimating themselves.

“Boom!”

The surging evil aura, like black smoke, crashed into them, sending Liel, Hart, and Gray flying, creating a powerful shockwave.

“What—!?” Their expressions changed drastically. Three top-tier Legendary experts, close to Limit Level, couldn’t even stop the incoming evil aura, easily blown away.

Moreover, the evil aura clung to them like a shadow, instantly invading their bodies and assaulting their minds, making them feel dazed and confused. A powerful wave of negative emotions surged within them.

Their faces paled as they realized the terrifying truth.

The newcomer was far more powerful than the three of them combined.

That wasn’t the power of a mere Limit Level being.

It was undoubtedly—Transcendent Level.

“Master Shafney!”

“Watch out, Master!”

“Your Highness!”

Liel, Hart, and Gray cried out.

However, Shafney ignored their warnings, staring intently at the approaching evil aura. The evil aura, without changing its course, wasn’t aimed at her, but at Shien. Everyone watched as it crashed into his arms.

Shien instinctively reached out and embraced the mass of evil aura, a familiar fragrance filling his nose. He held the evil aura in his arms before everyone’s eyes.

Then, the evil aura slowly dissipated, revealing the figure within.

She was petite, her appearance young and adorable, like a delicate porcelain doll. She had twelve black wings on her back and wore a black robe, like a goddess born from darkness. The evil aura was her servant, swirling around her without harming a single hair on Shien’s head.

The little Evil God descended from the sky, making her official return.

“Lilith!” Shien cried out joyfully.

The little goddess who crashed into his arms, who else could it be but Lilith?

“…” Lilith clung tightly to Shien, her small head buried in his chest, her expression hidden, but her small arms wrapped around him with force, as if holding onto something precious, perfectly conveying her longing and affection.

Shien felt her pure emotions and gently said, “Sorry for making you worry. I won’t be separated from you so easily again.”

To comfort the little goddess in his arms, he even used some sweet words.

Lilith seemed satisfied, raising her small head from his chest, her big, bright eyes staring intently at him, as if he was the only person in her world.

“Silly girl,” Shien said, kissing her forehead.

The onlookers’ eyes twitched. This Transcendent Level being, who made their hearts pound, was kissed by Shien. It was a shocking sight.

But Lilith seemed to finally relax, her body softening, a smile appearing on her face, innocent, sweet, and adorable.

Only then did the fluctuating evil aura around her recede, the terrifying pressure slowly dissipating.

“Master Shafney!”

“Master!”

“Your Highness!”

Liel, Hart, and Gray finally reacted, rushing to Shafney’s side, but their bodies suddenly went limp, and they knelt on the ground. Traces of evil aura appeared on them, their eyes gradually filling with madness. Lilith’s evil aura had invaded them, trying to turn them into mindless monsters.

“Such terrifying evil aura,” Shafney said, frowning as she watched this scene, “Is this the power of the strongest Evil God, the one who governs evil and chaos?”

No wonder even her ruthless fourth sister, Kamina, struggled so much, taking several days to dispel the evil aura.

“Lilith,” Shien also noticed Liel and the others’ condition, glancing at them, then calling out to Lilith in his arms. Although these people were mindless before Shafney, which he found disdainful, they were still brought here by her, and Liel had been quite helpful to him in the Succubus Fortress, so he wouldn’t just stand by and watch.

Lilith, naturally understanding his thoughts, extended a hand towards them without hesitation.

“Weng!” With a trembling sound, wisps of evil aura, like black smoke, emerged from their bodies and hovered around them. With a wave of Lilith’s hand, the black smoke flew towards her and disappeared into her palm.

The madness in their eyes receded.

“Just now…?”

The three of them were stunned, then, remembering everything, they stood up abruptly, looking at each other, then at Lilith with a mix of shock, uncertainty, and fear.

Shafney, however, wasn’t afraid, but rather intrigued.

“You’re Lilith, the Evil God, right?” she asked, looking at Lilith, her eyes twinkling, then she smiled sweetly, “I’ve heard so much about you.”

Lilith, as if just noticing Shafney, turned to look at her. Even Lilith’s eyes couldn’t help but show a hint of surprise at Shafney’s beauty.

However, as she felt this, a hand suddenly covered her eyes.

“Don’t look,” Shien’s serious voice reached her ears, “This older sister is poisonous, don’t look at her too much, understand?”

His serious warning made Lilith tilt her head.

“?” The familiar question mark appeared on her forehead, her expression puzzled.

Shafney, however, was displeased.

“Why are you doing this?” she asked, complaining to Shien.

“What did I do?” Shien asked, unconcerned.

“I just wanted to say hello to this child, is that too much to ask?” Shafney continued to complain.

“Come on, you witch, just don’t trick my Lilith, and I’ll be grateful,” Shien said, looking at Shafney like she was a scheming older sister.

“You’re discriminating against me!” Shafney accused.

“Don’t slander me!” Shien retorted.

They bickered, turning the previously tense atmosphere noisy.

“…” Liel, Hart, and Gray were speechless.

Chapter 732: “Let Me Handle This.”

“Hmm?”

As Shien Buztout and Shafney bickered, and Liel, Hart, and Gray watched speechlessly, their argument abruptly stopped.

The temperature in the air suddenly dropped several degrees, and a white mist appeared.

Everyone turned their heads, looking in a certain direction.

There, a figure approached, her back to the Supreme Castle.

It was a cold-looking woman, entwined with vines, with long, willow-like hair, two flowers on her head, barefoot, and wearing a thin, dress-like garment that revealed her back.

“Hartley…!?”

Liel, Hart, and even Gray’s expressions changed upon seeing this icy demon woman.

“It’s you?” Shien also raised an eyebrow.

The newcomer was Hartley, the Limit Level expert who had gone to the Human Realm and, along with other demons, surrounded the Imperial Capital, forcing Shien to reveal his identity.

The icy woman glanced at Shien, then looked at Shafney.

“I’ve come to escort you, Master Shafney,” she said, bowing to Shafney.

Shafney naturally recognized Hartley. After all, she was one of the three executives under Sara, the Moon Demon, and one of the only three Limit Level experts in the Demon Realm, her strength and popularity ranking among the top ten in the entire Demon Race, even a contender for the top spot if the Demon Lords were excluded. She was a formidable figure.

Shafney looked at Hartley, showing a hint of interest, unlike her usual indifference towards others.

“So it’s you who came to escort me, Hartley,” she said, surprised, “I thought you disliked such tasks, interacting with others.”

Hartley’s expression remained cold.

“This is indeed a task I rarely perform,” she said indifferently, “But that doesn’t mean I won’t do it.”

“Really?” Although Shafney was still suspicious, she didn’t pursue it.

Liel, however, glared at Hartleywith hostility, not her usual hostility towards anyone approaching Shafney, but the hostility of a rival, a lifelong enemy.

“Hartley…!” Liel called out.

But Hartley ignored her, as well as Hart and Gray, her eyes only on Shafney.

However, Shien vaguely felt her gaze occasionally flicker towards him, just like in the Imperial Capital.

(This person…) He frowned slightly.

“?” Lilith, having returned to Shien’s side, seemed to have regained her usual carefree demeanor, tilting her head in confusion, her hands still clinging tightly to Shien.

Hartley then looked at the unconscious Gorud.

“Is this the Old Demon Faction remnant that Master Shafney mentioned when she contacted Lady Sara using [Ripple Heart Demon]?” she asked coldly, “Please leave him to me. I’ll have someone take care of him.”

Saying this, Hartley waved her hand, and cold air and ice emerged from the ground, enveloping Gorud.

“Wait!” Shien immediately said, looking directly at Hartley, “He’s my captive!”

“I know,” Hartley replied, as if stating a matter of fact, “Lady Sara also guessed that Master Shien wouldn’t be at ease entrusting him to others, so she intends to keep him in custody for you. If you want to interrogate him, you can see him anytime.”

Hearing this, Shien’s frown didn’t disappear. He wasn’t at ease leaving Gorud to the Demon Race. He didn’t know if something might happen to him.

Members of the Old Demon Faction operated in secret, often concealing their identities and infiltrating the Demon Race, some even becoming individuals of high status.

Like Kilian, who was an executive under Airi, a subordinate of Giacinta, yet betrayed him and joined the Assassination Branch, recruited by Bedo.

And Ses and Sheen, one a Succubus executive, the other a Legendary-level expert of the Heterogeneous Spirit Clan, having lived in Succubus City for many years, ultimately helped the Original Demon set up a centuries-long plan, almost causing Shafney’s downfall.

There were likely many such Old Demon Faction members.

Shien couldn’t guarantee that there weren’t any in Central City, or even the Supreme Castle.

If there were, handing Gorud over would be the same as returning him to the Original Demon.

Even if there weren’t, who could guarantee Gorud’s safety?

That Half-Demon’s Unique Skill could completely conceal himself and even others. Even Nadue, the Goddess of Nature, who could merge with nature and observe the entire world, couldn’t sense his presence. What if he snuck in and rescued Gorud?

Therefore, Shien didn’t want to entrust Gorud to anyone. He had many questions for this valuable source of information. Before extracting his value, he didn’t want anything to happen to him.

Sara had clearly considered this and anticipated Shien’s thoughts.

“I will use my Unique Skill, [Ice Prison], to completely freeze this Old Demon Faction remnant and seal him a thousand meters underground,” Hartley said, looking at Shien.

“With this, even if the leader of the Original Demon comes personally, he won’t be able to rescue him without causing a commotion.”

Naturally, any commotion would instantly alert the countless experts in Central City. It would be almost impossible to rescue Gorud silently under such circumstances.

On the premise that…

“Master Shien can trust me,” Hartley said calmly, silencing everyone.

Shien looked at Hartley, meeting her gaze, and noticed a strange fluctuation in her eyes. He was slightly startled, but now wasn’t the time to dwell on it.

After a moment of thought, Shien relaxed.

“Alright,” he agreed, “I’ll leave him in your custody for now, but I also need to take some precautions.”

Saying this, he whispered a few words to Lilith.

Lilith nodded obediently and extended her small hand towards Gorud, releasing a wisp of evil aura. The evil aura, like black smoke, entered Gorud’s body, lurking within like a venomous snake.

“This way, if he escapes, the evil aura will erupt instantly, driving him mad,” Shien said, satisfied.

“You’re truly cautious,” Shafney chuckled, watching this.

“…” Hart and Gray watched silently, while Liel, for some reason, glared at Hartley with resentment.

Hartley glanced at Lilith, then nodded silently, waving her hand and instantly turning Gorud into a pillar of ice.

The ice pillar then burrowed into the ground and disappeared.

Having done this, Hartley turned to Shafney.

“Lady Sara and the other Demon Lords have arrived at the Supreme Castle. Do you want to see them now?”

Shafney simply nodded with a smile.

“Let’s go,” she said playfully, as if thinking of something amusing, “If I don’t send my little Airi’s fiancé to her soon, she might truly burn down my Succubus City with her dragon breath.”

Shien looked at her speechlessly.

Hartley’s expression remained unchanged.

“In that case, please follow me.”

Saying this, she turned and led the way.

“This girl, even after thousands of years, is still so cold and aloof,” Shafney chuckled, naturally taking Shien’s hand and following Hartley.

“Hmph!” Liel’s mood seemed to worsen, and she followed, glaring at them.

Only Hart and Gray remained, glancing at Shafney’s hand holding Shien’s before silently following.

They headed towards the Supreme Castle.

Soon, they arrived at the castle gate.

…

At the same time, in a luxurious and magnificent room in the Supreme Castle, a female demon executive with purple skin reported respectfully to her master,

“Hartley has brought Master Shafney and her companions here, Master Kamina.”

The female demon’s report made Kamina raise her head.

At this moment, the Poison Demon stood by the window, looking outside, a sinister glint in her purple eyes.

“They’re finally here?” she said, a cold smile appearing on her lips, making the female executive tremble, “Then let’s greet them.”

Saying this, a terrifying aura erupted from the Poison Demon, instantly sweeping out like a storm.

…

“This is…!?”

Just as Shien and his companions arrived at the gate of the Supreme Castle, everyone, including Shien and Hartley, suddenly stopped and looked up.

At this moment, a terrifying aura, like a storm, erupted from the Supreme Castle.

It was like an invisible shockwave, a transparent swamp, instantly enveloping not only Shien and his companions at the gate, but also the entire Central City.

“Aaah—”

“Uwaaaah—”

“What—”

“Ughgaaah—”

Cries and screams echoed from every corner of the city.

All the demons, suppressed by the terrifying aura, either knelt with pale faces or collapsed unconscious, some even coughing up blood.

Liel, Hart, and Gray were also affected, kneeling on the ground, drenched in sweat, their faces contorted.

“Master Kamina…” Hartley also knelt on one knee, whispering the name of the aura’s owner.

Within the Supreme Castle, amidst the unavoidable chaos, the other Demon Lords reacted.

“That girl…” Sara smiled wryly.

“She couldn’t hold back, huh?” Lid sighed, seemingly having expected this.

“Kamina?” Millu looked surprised, as if unaware of what was happening.

“I knew it…” Airi’s face darkened, her magic power surging as she protected the three dragon girls beside her, who patted their chests in relief.

“Is this Master Kamina’s aura?” the horned dragon girl asked, surprised.

“What is Master Kamina doing?” the haughty dragon girl also asked, stunned.

“Master…” The Limit Level dragon girl seemed worried and wanted to act.

However, Airi stopped her.

“Don’t act rashly yet,” she said calmly, “This level of power can’t harm him. Let my sister experience his strength first, it will save us trouble later.”

The dragon girl, although still worried, stopped.

At this moment, many gazes and eyes fell on the group at the Supreme Castle gate.

“Oh my, it seems it’s not so easy to be ignored,” Shafney said, standing there calmly amidst the terrifying pressure that could crush the entire Central City, seemingly amused and ready to watch the show.

“Phew…” Shien, holding Lilith, felt as if a heavy mountain was pressing down on him.

This feeling told him that most of this sudden, terrifying pressure was directed at him.

No, not just him, but also Lilith.

Clearly, the other party wasn’t just targeting him, but also Lilith.

“Weng…” Lilith’s evil aura surged. Seeing Shien struggling, the little goddess’s face was filled with anger. She didn’t care about being targeted herself, but she wouldn’t tolerate anyone bullying Shien. Evil aura churned behind her, and she seemed ready to unleash her twelve black wings.

However, Shien stopped her.

“Let me handle this,” he said to Lilith with a smile, staring at the oppressive pressure.

“…Okay!” Lilith was startled for a moment, then nodded firmly. She would never disobey Shien, even if she was truly angry.

Shien smiled and patted her head, putting her down.

In the next second, he looked up at a window.

There, a figure stood, her aura surging, her gaze seemingly mocking and disdainful.

“Interesting…” Shien muttered.

“Boom—!”

An incredibly terrifying magic power suddenly erupted.