Chapter 683: A Rapidly Deteriorating Atmosphere

“It’s you?”

While Shien Buztout was surprised, Liel frowned deeply, looking at the two overly handsome men.

She was especially surprised to see the more beautiful of the two, who wasn’t a demon, but a human.

“Graykveil? You’re here too?”

Liel’s attitude showed that she valued this human man named Graykveil.

Shien also took a closer look at him. This human man, like Liel, was a top-tier Legendary-level expert at level ninety-nine, only one step away from Limit Level.

“When did such a high-level expert appear among humans?”

Shien was truly surprised.

Until now, the highest level human he’d seen was ninety-eight, Aldia, hailed as the strongest human.

Shien thought there was no human stronger than Aldia. Unexpectedly, a level ninety-nine human appeared in the Demon Realm today.

Gray, the human expert, smiled politely at Liel.

“Excuse me, Clan Chief Liel,” Gray nodded at Liel, “Please don’t mind me. I just heard that the Succubus is personally entertaining a powerful human expert, so as a fellow human, I came to take a look.”

Saying this, Gray turned to Shien.

“You must be the human expert who has earned the Succubus’s personal invitation,” Gray looked Shien over, then exclaimed in genuine surprise, “You’re so young.”

Hearing this, Shien felt a sense of awkwardness again.

“You’re also quite young, aren’t you?” Shien glanced at Gray’s face and smiled, “You seem to be around my age.”

Before Gray could answer, the androgynous demon man beside him chuckled.

“You’re mistaken,” he said with a smirk, “Although Gray looks like this, he’s quite old, old enough to be your father. It’s just that he consumed our Bi’an Clan’s special ‘Ageless Elixir’ and his appearance is fixed at his youthful prime.”

“Ageless Elixir?” Shien raised an eyebrow.

“It’s a magic potion that can fix the user’s body. It was originally intended for the deceased, to preserve their bodies,” Gray said helplessly, “When I was young, I was tricked into drinking it, and my body has been fixed at that age ever since.”

Hearing this, the androgynous demon man beside him became displeased.

“How can you call it a trick?” he said with dissatisfaction, “I clearly told you that the potion was very precious, and drinking it would, in a sense, grant you immortality.”

“Isn’t that still a trick?” Gray glanced at him, “If I had known it was meant for the dead, I would never have drunk it. Besides, it doesn’t grant immortality, only eternal youth. So, Hart, you’re a liar.”

“I…” Hart seemed to want to argue.

But before he could speak, Liel interrupted impatiently.

“Enough, everyone in Succubus City knows you two have a good relationship. There’s no need to put on a show in front of me,” Liel walked over, her spear on her shoulder, glancing at Gray and Hart with disdain, “You’re just curious about what kind of man could earn Master Shafney’s favor, so you came to investigate, right?”

Hearing this, Shien had a realization.

So these two were here because of him?

𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Gray and Hart didn’t seem embarrassed.

“Don’t be so harsh, Liel,” Hart said, feigning innocence, “Everyone in Succubus City is talking about this. It’s normal for us to be curious.”

“Indeed,” Gray nodded, “We’re just here to take a look, nothing else.”

Saying this, Gray and Hart looked at Shien again, their scrutiny and observation undisguised.

Especially Gray, whose gaze briefly landed on the sealed Holy Sword in Shien’s hand, his eyes flickering as if he had seen through something.

Under such circumstances, Shien didn’t hold back either.

“I don’t know your names yet,” he said to Gray and Hart with a smile.

His nonchalant attitude towards the pressure from these two top-tier Legendary-level experts made Gray and Hart exchange glances.

Then, Hart spoke first.

“I’m Hart, the current Clan Chief of the Bi’an Clan, and the second executive under the Succubus,” he introduced himself with a smile.

“Bi’an Clan?”

*Bì’àn (狴犴) is a mythical creature from Chinese mythology and is one of the nine sons of the dragon in Chinese folklore.*

Shien had been curious about this term, and hearing it again, he couldn’t help but glance at Liel.

Liel, seemingly sensing Shien’s meaning, snorted softly, looking a bit reluctant.

But after a moment of hesitation, she explained sullenly,

“The Bi’an Clan is the second strongest tribe in Succubus City, second only to the Stone Woman Clan. Although they only have one Legendary-level expert, this guy called Hart, his level isn’t low, at ninety-seven, even among the top Legendary-level experts in the entire Demon Realm. Plus, he recruited a super expert from the Human Race, making the Bi’an Clan the second-ranked tribe in the Succubus Territory.”

Liel emphasized the word “second.”

Clearly, as the strongest in the Succubus Territory, and the Clan Chief of the Stone Woman Clan, the strongest in Succubus City, Liel had frequently clashed with Hart and the Bi’an Clan.

“This woman…” Hart muttered, also displeased, “Sooner or later, I’ll pull you down and make you second.”

“Heh.” Liel sneered disdainfully, almost infuriating Hart.

Fortunately, Gray intervened.

“As for me, my name is Graykveil, just call me Gray,” he said, his tone gentle and calm, like a hermit who had cultivated himself for many years, “As Clan Chief Liel said, I’m the human recruited by the Bi’an Clan, currently a retainer of theirs, helping them with some matters in exchange for their hospitality.”

“Really?” Shien was still quite surprised, “I’ve never heard of such a powerful expert among humans.”

Hart seemed to want to answer this question.

Unfortunately, Gray stopped him.

“I don’t think many humans would want to mention me,” Gray said, “After all, in a sense, I betrayed the Human Race and joined the Demon Race. Plus, it’s been almost twenty years since I came to the Demon Realm. I’ve probably been forgotten.”

This time, Gray’s tone was very calm, even unusually so.

Shien was basically certain that this person’s background wasn’t as simple as he claimed.

There were probably many secrets he didn’t know.

However, that had nothing to do with him.

Of course, Shien still introduced himself.

“I’m Shien, nice to meet you,” he said simply.

However, this name made both Gray and Hart reveal a “just as I thought” expression.

“Shien Buztout, honorary Earl of the Mitra Kingdom, fiancé of the Kingdom’s Treasure, the second princess Roselucia Mitra, and the current Hero after a thousand years. It really is you.”

Hart finally confirmed this.

Gray didn’t react much, just looking at Shien with an unreadable expression, a mix of emotions like nostalgia, remembrance, and a faint sadness.

Liel, however, seemed to remember something and glanced at Gray.

Gray’s expression became blank, as if he hadn’t seen her.

Shien didn’t notice this change.

He only realized that his identity had been seen through.

“You already guessed my identity?” he asked Gray and Hart.

Hart chuckled.

“In this current situation, a human coming to the Demon Realm and being personally invited by the Succubus, besides the Hero who’s been causing such a commotion, we really can’t think of anyone else who could do it.”

Hart’s tone was meaningful.

“However, even we didn’t expect the Succubus to invite you to stay on the top floor of the Succubus Fortress. To be honest, we’re quite surprised, even a little envious.”

Hearing this, Shien couldn’t possibly misunderstand their intentions.

“…Don’t tell me you’re here to drive me out of the Succubus Fortress’s top floor, like that crazy woman?” Shien asked after a moment of silence, his lips twitching as he looked at Gray and Hart.

His forced smile and slightly indignant expression stunned Gray and Hart.

What was wrong with this Hero? Why did he look like he wanted to die?

This thought flashed through their minds, but before they could ask, Liel interrupted impatiently.

“If that’s why you’re here, then you can leave,” she said, waving her hand dismissively at Gray and Hart, as if shooing away flies, “There’s no need for you to interfere. I’ll drive him away from Master Shafney myself.”

“Oh?” Hart looked at Liel, unconvinced, “You really want to drive him away?”

“What?” Liel’s face darkened, “Are you doubting me?”

“Not really,” Hart said, his expression showing his distrust.

The reason was simple.

“If you really wanted to drive him away, why is he still here?”

Hart was suspicious.

Liel was speechless, then said angrily, “Do you think this is easy? Even you are no match for him.”

“I’m no match for him?” Hart narrowed his eyes.

Even Gray looked at Liel in surprise.

These words carried a lot of information.

At least, that’s what Hart thought.

“Then I’d like to try.”

With these words, the atmosphere in the training room turned tense.

A brief silence filled the training room, the four Legendary-level experts speechless.

Liel frowned, but said nothing.

Gray glanced at Hart thoughtfully.

Hart stared at Shien with a smile, as if he hadn’t just spoken those challenging words.

As for Shien, his face was blank.

(Here we go again, another cliché love rivalry.)

Shien wasn’t angry, just exasperated. Women were troublesome creatures, and the more beautiful they were, the more trouble they attracted. He learned this early on in this world, even wanting to distance himself from Vivian’s team and Lucy.

Now, being entertained by the most beautiful woman in the three realms, it was only natural for him to attract unwanted attention.

However…

“This is really too troublesome. Forgive me for not playing along,” Shien said to Hart, his face filled with annoyance.

“What?” Hart asked with a meaningful smile, “Could it be that…”

He couldn’t finish his sentence.

Shien interrupted him.

“Are you trying to say that I’m afraid?” He suddenly laughed, a mirthless laugh.

“Although it’s a low-level provocation, I really don’t want to fall for it,” Shien said casually, “But I do have a bit of a temper. If things go too far, I might not be able to hold back.”

Saying this, Shien tightened his grip on his sword, channeling magic power into it.

He used [Outer Manifestation of Heaven’s Decree] to activate a portion of the Holy Sword’s sealed power.

A holy fluctuation, accompanied by a brilliant light, emanated from the sealed Holy Sword.

“…!” Hart’s expression changed slightly, a strong sense of danger he’d never felt before surging in his heart.

Not just Hart, but even Liel felt a tightness in her chest, as if the brilliant light before her wasn’t from the Holy Sword, but some terrifying poison, making her instinctively take a step back.

As demons, both Hart and Liel were instantly intimidated by the power emanating from the Holy Sword.

This was the power that was the nemesis of the Demon Race.

No demon, no matter how strong, could ignore it.

Even Gray’s eyes narrowed as he looked at the Holy Sword in Shien’s hand.

But Shien had already withdrawn his magic power, calming the Holy Sword.

“Better not try it,” he said, looking at Hart with a smirk, “What do you think, Clan Chief Hart?”

Hart opened his mouth, but couldn’t speak.

He was clearly apprehensive.

That holy power made him feel like he was facing a formidable enemy, a terrifying feeling as if his very soul would be annihilated.

(Is that the Hero’s Holy Sword?) Hart’s gaze towards Shien was no longer as casual as before.

Although he was the Clan Chief of the Bi’an Clan, a top-tier Legendary-level expert at level ninety-seven, his seniority wasn’t very high.

Among the Demon Race, Hart was considered a rising star.

The other demon executives who reached Legendary Level were mostly those who participated in the final battle between the three races a thousand years ago. They had lived for a long time, accumulating experience and strength before finally reaching Legendary Level, and thus knew the terror of the Hero and the Holy Sword.

Hart, however, was different.

Although he had also lived for several hundred years, he didn’t participate in the final battle a thousand years ago, hadn’t faced a Hero, and hadn’t seen the might of the Holy Sword.

In the Demon Race, Hart was a renowned genius, becoming a Legendary-level expert in just a few hundred years, even hailed as the number one prodigy of the Demon Race.

That’s why Hart was so carefree and unrestrained, ignoring his clan’s objections and wandering around in his youth, as if he didn’t take anyone seriously.

It wasn’t until he went to the Human Realm and met Gray that Hart realized there were always those stronger and more talented than him.

Thus, Hart became friends with Gray after their initial conflict, adventuring together before finally returning to the Demon Realm, taking over as Clan Chief, and leading the Bi’an Clan to rapid development in the Succubus Territory, quickly becoming the second strongest tribe.

Such a Hart wasn’t as wary of Heroes as other demons.

Moreover, Shien was so young, even if he had become a Legendary-level expert and wielded the legendary Holy Sword, how strong could he be?

With this preconceived notion, Hart couldn’t help but provoke him.

Unexpectedly, this single provocation made him realize the true terror of the legendary Hero.

That holy power was etched into Hart’s heart, unforgettable.

Gray, on the other hand, seemed somewhat envious.

(If only I could be recognized by the Holy Sword…) He thought, then quickly shook his head, dismissing such an unrealistic thought.

What he couldn’t obtain, he couldn’t obtain. Gray wasn’t one to dwell on it.

The Mitra royal family had produced countless geniuses in the past thousand years, many more outstanding than him, yet none were recognized by the Holy Sword. It was normal for him to fail as well.

Besides, if he did succeed and inherited the Holy Sword, it would be troublesome.

After all, the Mitra royal family wouldn’t allow a Holy Sword inheritor to join the Demon Race, and the Demon Race wouldn’t accept such a threat either.

Thinking of this, he should be grateful, not regretful.

(That Ancil fellow seems to have a good daughter…)

Thinking of this, Gray’s gaze towards Shien softened slightly.

Shien didn’t know the thoughts that flashed through the minds of these two uninvited guests.

He simply looked at the apprehension in Hart’s eyes, seeing him speechless, and sheathed his sword with satisfaction.

Then, he said,

“By the way, I have no interest in your Succubus. You can rest assured,” Shien said, spreading his hands, “If possible, I’d rather stay far away from her.”

These words made the other three present change their expressions.

“Are you still telling such a ridiculous lie?” Liel looked at Shien with disdain.

“Earl Buztout is quite the joker,” Hart said, no longer apprehensive, curling his lip.

Even Gray shook his head, amused.

“We already know your strength, you don’t need to fool us,” Gray said, “Everyone who meets the Succubus falls for her beauty. It’s normal. Don’t tell such lies that no one will believe.”

The three top-tier Legendary experts’ matter-of-fact statements made Shien’s expression freeze, and he was dumbfounded.

What did they mean? No one believed him when he was telling the truth?

Were they truly simps?

May they all be forever alone!

As Shien cursed inwardly, a laugh suddenly echoed.

“So you’re a gentleman, huh? My dear Hero?”

As this sweet and seductive laughter echoed, Liel, Gray, and Hart all reacted strongly.

“Master Shafney!” The disdain on Liel’s face vanished, replaced by adoration.

“Master Shafney!” Hart’s frivolous demeanor disappeared, his face filled with fanaticism.

“Your Highness…” Even Gray looked excited, as if seeing his dream lover.

“Holy crap!”

Only Shien’s face changed drastically, as if seeing a terrifying demon, turning and running without hesitation.

Unfortunately, in the next second, a figure, as exquisite as a divine creation, appeared before Shien.

“You’re the first man to run away from me upon seeing me,” the newcomer said, blocking Shien’s path, a displeased look on their face.

Shien stopped abruptly, then, as if electrocuted, jumped back, putting distance between himself and the person before him.

But the figure moved like a ghost, instantly appearing before Shien again.

“Slap!” With a crisp sound, Shien’s hand was grabbed.

“Hmph, where do you think you’re going?” Shafney said, her tone cheerful.

Shien’s lips twitched, feeling an incredibly pleasant sensation from his captured hand, making him reluctant to pull it away.

However, the more he felt this, the more afraid he became, wanting to run away.

“What… what do you want?” His voice was filled with fear.

“Heh heh,” Shafney chuckled, making his heart flutter, then said in a sweet voice, “Guess?”

Shien almost spat in her face.

Guess?

Guess your sister!

No, wait, her sister was his wife…?

Guess your older sister!

“Come with me.”

Ignoring Shien’s exasperated expression, Shafney pulled his hand and led him away, showing no reservation at all.

Seeing this, Gray and Hart’s hearts pounded, and Liel, her face filled with jealousy, wanted to charge forward.

But before she could, Shafney casually said,

“Don’t follow.”

These words stopped Liel.

Shafney, taking the reluctant Shien with her, left.

Only Liel, Hart, and Gray remained, silent.

“…Just as the rumors say, Master Shafney seems to favor him quite a bit,” Hart said softly, a hint of jealousy in his voice.

“…” Gray remained completely silent, clenching his hand discreetly.

Shafney had completely ignored him.

This caused ripples in his usually calm heart.

And Liel made a decision.

“I’m going to kill him!”

One could imagine that Shien would soon be facing at least a thousand more challenges.