Chapter 485: I Need to Keep a Closer Eye on This

“…Um…”

Just as Shien was feeling a little awkward, Melika spoke softly.

“Do you really want to go to the Elven Homeland, Mr. Shien?”

Melika asked, her face flushed red, her voice barely a whisper. If it weren’t for [Outer Awareness of Heaven’s Decree] enhancing his senses, Shien wouldn’t have been able to hear her.

Seeing Melika’s shy and nervous appearance, Shien sighed.

“I do want to go.” Shien said to Melika, “On the one hand, I’m quite curious about the legendary Elven Homeland. On the other hand, I was planning to take Lucy out for a trip recently, but I didn’t know where to go. Now, this is perfect.”

Shien wanted to take Lucy to the Elven Homeland and participate in this so-called Peace Festival.

After all, Shien had promised Lucy that he would take her out to play.

And what could be more fun than a festival?

That’s why Shien asked Melika this question.

However, hearing Shien’s words, Melika’s flushed face turned pale.

“With Princess Lucy…”

Melika pouted again.

Clearly, she was reluctant to bring Lucy along.

No, it should be said that Melika was unhappy that Shien was doing this for Lucy.

Vivian and Lumia, on the other hand, looked stunned by Shien’s words.

“Taking… taking the princess out?”

Lumia hesitated.

“Are you sure?” Vivian asked directly, “Princess Lucy can’t just leave the capital.”

“Really?” Shien asked Vivian in return, “Why?”

“Why?” Vivian was taken aback, then she realized.

Yes.

Why?

Why couldn’t Lucy just leave the capital?

She was now engaged to Shien and no longer needed to make her daily public appearances. Moreover, with Shien’s current status, if he wanted to take Lucy out, even the royal family wouldn’t have any reason to object, right? Ｒ𝖆ƝοꞖĘș

Although they weren’t married yet, as his fiancée, going on a trip with her future husband, was there a problem with that?

No!

“Alright.” Vivian’s expression softened, and she couldn’t help but smile. “This might be a good thing for Princess Lucy.”

It seemed Vivian also understood that Lucy had rarely left the capital and realized how significant it was for her to be able to leave openly now.

However, those young masters in the capital would probably be upset.

The princess, who had always been within their sight, was now being taken away by a man, leaving the capital. Many would surely feel conflicted.

Vivian was well aware of Lucy’s influence.

But Vivian had no reason to object.

“With you and Her Highness accompanying you back to the Elven Homeland, we can rest assured.”

Vivian said to Melika.

“Yes, yes!”

Lumia nodded repeatedly at the side.

If they let Melika go back alone, Vivian and Lumia would truly be worried.

Especially with Diere already gone, and Melika also leaving alone, Vivian and Lumia would be even more worried.

Now, with Shien and Lucy as company, at least they could look out for each other.

“Is that okay with you, Melika?”

Vivian confirmed.

Melika nodded.

“Although bringing a man from another race back is a bit inappropriate…” Melika glanced at Shien, then murmured uncertainly, “But it should be fine with Mr. Shien, right?”

This murmur was even softer than before, making it difficult for Shien to hear clearly.

“What did you say, Melika?”

Shien asked.

“N-nothing!” Melika quickly shook her head, then after hesitating for a moment, she said decisively, “Th-then please come back to the Elven Homeland with me, Mr. Shien and Princess Lucy.”

Shien’s eyes lit up, and he smiled expectantly.

At the same time, Nadue, merged with nature, witnessed all of this.

“The Peace Festival… huh?”

Nadue was lost in thought.

As the highest deity of the Elven Race, Nadue naturally knew about the Peace Festival.

She also knew that the Elven Race was somewhat exclusive, especially wary of men from other races, to the point of prejudice.

As the Goddess of Nature, the highest deity of the Elven Race, Nadue wasn’t very willing to see men with ulterior motives enter the Elven Homeland.

Of course, Mitra, the Hero from a thousand years ago, was an exception.

He was the only man who had ever entered the Elven Homeland.

But even he, after entering the Elven Homeland, was met with coldness. If it weren’t for Nadue appearing and introducing him, even a Hero would have had difficulty staying there.

Under such circumstances, Shien entering the Elven Homeland wasn’t something to be encouraged.

However…

“…If it’s him, he’ll probably become the only man in history welcomed by the Elven Race, right?”

Feeling the sense of familiarity emanating from Shien, Nadue had a strange expression.

“I have a feeling things will develop in unexpected ways…”

Nadue felt a little uneasy.

Therefore…

“I need to keep a closer eye on this.”

At this moment, Shien had no idea that the highest deity of the Elven Race was secretly watching over him.

This treatment was probably unprecedented, something even Mitra, the Hero, didn’t receive.

…

After deciding to go to the Elven Homeland, Shien also informed the people around him.

Airi, Lilith, and Lasha.

Shien told these girls and asked if they wanted to come along.

The outcome was obvious.

“The Elven Homeland?” Airi pondered for a moment, then said meaningfully, “Alright, it’s not bad to visit some acquaintances.”

Meaning, she would go with him.

“Since the person I’m currently serving is leaving, as a maid, there’s no reason for me to stay.”

Lasha also said readily, clearly indicating that she would also go, making the maids and servants in the mansion wail again.

As for Lilith, after seeing Shien return, this little goddess, who almost tore down the Buztout mansion last night because she couldn’t find him, clung to his leg, refusing to let go.

This told Shien that if he didn’t take this girl with him, when he returned, not only the Buztout mansion and the noble district, but even the entire capital might be gone.

“Alright, three more people then.”

Shien could already imagine the scene of him traveling with a large group.

Shien naturally went to the palace after this and told Lucy, who was still in bed.

“Go to the Elven Homeland to participate in the Peace Festival!?”

Upon hearing this from Shien, the sleepy princess was jolted awake and jumped out of bed.

The room was instantly filled with pink.

Because this beautiful princess, having been “tossed and turned” by Shien all night, still wasn’t wearing any clothes.

As a result, the blanket slipped off as she jumped, naturally blinding Shien’s eyes.

Lucy, however, was completely oblivious, dancing with joy.

“I’ve long heard that the Elven Race’s Peace Festival invites some recognized friends from other races. I’ve always fantasized about going, and I didn’t expect to actually have the chance…!”

Lucy was excited for a long time and even pounced on Shien, giving him a big kiss.

It was obvious how happy she was.

“Poor child, you must have been so bored.”

Shien looked at this silly girl with sympathy.

Seeing Lucy so happy, Shien felt glad he had done this.

However, when this matter reached the ears of the royal family and the Kingdom’s higher-ups, many of them overreacted.

They believed that with Lucy’s noble status and special position, casually leaving the capital would put her at risk.

Moreover, Lucy had never left the capital like this before, so many people were overly worried, either disapproving or simply not used to it, causing quite a commotion.

Even Ancil seemed a bit worried.

Fortunately, in the end, Lia persuaded everyone.

“Lucy’s fiancé is the newly rising strongest human, who even defeated Commander Aldia. Moreover, he has Princess Airi, the Dragon Demon, and Lilith, the evil god, by his side. Who can harm Lucy?”

Lia’s words left everyone speechless.

In the end, the royal family and the Kingdom could only acquiesce.

This was also a significant milestone.

This time, Lucy could finally leave the capital and go somewhere else.

Many people finally realized that the Kingdom’s treasure was about to be married off, feeling melancholic.

Lildas, after learning about this, also caused a scene.

“No! I won’t allow it!”

This extremely doting goddess personally came to Shien to object.

“I won’t allow your head!”

Shien unceremoniously suppressed the goddess.

This almost made Lildas fight him desperately.

“Anyway, I won’t let you, this bad guy, take my Lucy away!”

Lildas declared loudly and went straight to Lucy’s side, clinging to her and refusing to let her go.

Seeing this, Shien immediately sought out Anima.

“I think the Goddess might have too much free time, no work to do. What do you think, Goddess Anima?”

Shien said to Anima meaningfully.

Anima was almost at her limit.

How could a goddess have too much free time?

Just like Sara, the apex of the Demon Race, who was always busy, the Three Goddesses also had their own work.

They needed to use their powers to maintain the world’s operation.

They needed to arrange for the members of the Divine Race to bestow blessings upon the human race’s children.

They also had to handle political affairs with the Demon Race and communicate with the various temples in the human world.

All of this required the personal attention of the Three Goddesses, the pinnacle of the Divine Race.

Now, the Three Goddesses were all in the human world, having neglected their work for half a month.

If this continued, something bad might happen.

Anima could no longer tolerate Lildas’s willfulness.

“I say, it’s time for us to go back, Lildas.”

“I don’t want to! I don’t want to!”

“Don’t be willful! You’re the true apex of the Divine Race! How can you neglect your duties and work as a goddess?”

“Isn’t… isn’t Nadue still there?”

“The problem is she’s not here either!”

𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

“What? Nadue is also gone? Where did she go?”

“…It’s none of your business. She has important work to do, so we have to take care of her work as well.”

“How cunning!”

“Alright, stop it. Be good and listen. I know you’re a responsible person and definitely won’t neglect your work, right?”

“Waaah…”

Just like that, Lildas was taken away by Anima, sobbing.

This unreliable goddess, who had stayed in the human world for half a month, achieving nothing but pestering Shien, finally returned to the Divine Realm.

“I… I’ll be back! Just you wait—!”

Lildas shouted, then was dragged by Anima into the portal deep within the temple.

It was a touching story.

Seeing Lildas leave, Lucy breathed a sigh of relief.

After this, Shien learned something.

“During the half month you were gone, Goddess Lildas stayed with me, trying to persuade me not to stray from the right path, even trying to convince the Kingdom to cancel our engagement, causing quite a commotion in the palace.”

What Lucy said, sighing, made Shien speechless.

So, that goddess had been doing this for the past half month?

Unbelievable.

Fortunately, that troublemaker had returned to the Divine Realm, finally giving them some peace.

And the matter of going to the Elven Homeland was quickly settled.

“There are only ten days left before the Peace Festival. If we don’t leave now, we might be delayed.”

Melika told Shien.

The Tegor Forest, where the Elven Homeland was located, was on the outskirts of the Kingdom, beyond the border.

In terms of distance, it was even further than Cosmos.

Shien estimated that even riding Yulin at full speed, considering the time wasted on resting and sleeping, it would still take about two days to reach the Elven Homeland.

If they traveled by carriage, they might not make it in time.

This was also Melika’s fault. She had completely forgotten about it until she recently received a letter from her fellow elves, making things a bit rushed.

After learning about this, Shien immediately decided.

“Prepare yourselves. We’ll leave for the Elven Homeland tomorrow.”

This impromptu trip was thus decided.

Shien also found Harvis and told him about his situation, asking him to go to the Empire first in half a month and wait for him in Cosmos.

After attending the Peace Festival, Shien would go there directly and meet up with Harvis.

At that time, they would set off for the Imperial Capital.