The Devil Does Not Need to Be Defeated

”We were completely fine.” Lucy seemed to have realized what Shien meant and, with a mental ”youʼve got some decency at least given that you knew to be worried for me”, she continued on, ”Although I wasnʼt anywhere near this strong back then, I still had the Holy Sword and my unique skill. Even if I did get attacked, Iʼd at least be able to deal with it. Diere was even less likely to be in danger over in the Arbin home. After all, the strongest knight was there. The Latrard home had Vivian protecting it, so it was completely fine too.”

There was a lot of information to unpack in that statement.

For one, it told Shien that a merely 7 years old Lucy would already be able to fend off an Old Demon Faction assault. She really is strong.

For two, it also told Shien that the similarly 7 years old Vivian could protect the entire Latrard family and keep them completely safe.

Arenʼt those two girls a bit too much of a cheat there?

Lucyʼs one thing. With the Holy Sword in hand, even if she was only level 20 back then, sheʼd in actuality be level 70 with the buff from the Holy Sword. Adding in her unique skill, itʼs not all that unusual if she could fend off the Old Demon Faction attack.

But the fact that Vivian could do the same, and even have enough strength left over to protect others? Thatʼs something that Shien just couldnʼt imagine.

Could it be that it had something to do with the ”Protector God Of the Kingdom” that Airi mentioned?

Shien considered it.

At the same time, Shien finally had an inkling on why this audience ended up becoming such a huge deal.

”It looks like you understand now.” Lucy nodded, ”For well over half the nobility of the Mitra Kingdom, the matter ten years ago was something very personal.”

”Right now, two of the masterminds behind it fell by your hands, and you had contact with the final person as well. The rest of the Old Demon Faction were also purged by your hands. Therefore, thereʼs no way that they wouldnʼt come listen in on such a huge matter.”

”Plus, they absolutely have to confirm that their hated enemy really had died. Otherwise, itʼd be a load within the hearts all the nobles. Itʼd even be a stain upon over half the nobility of the Mitra Kingdom.”

”Add in the fact that one of those masterminds used to serve under the Dragon Demon as the subordinate of one of her direct commanders, the demons are also treating this matter quite seriously. Thus, that direct commander of the Dragon Demon will also be showing up in this audience.”

In that case, the whole thing would only end up getting blown even bigger.

Thus, Shien finally understood just why this particular audience actually took a full week to prepare for.

Likely itʼs to contact all the various related people and then wait for them to show up.

And given all the people involved and the fact that each have their own agendas and ideas, itʼs only obvious just how complicated things are going to get when the time comes.

”Some people had their families killed, so theyʼve been looking for the culprit all this time in hopes of vengeance. However, they havenʼt made any progress in the past 10 ears, but then it gets dealt with by a completely new adventurer like you? Of course theyʼd be suspicious. They might even be angry.”

”Some people might want to use this opportunity to put pressure on the demons and make them take responsibility. When the time comes, you, as the central figure who resolved this matter, will definitely also be dragged in.”

”There will also be those who might believe you to be on the demonsʼ side. That they orchestrated this whole thing in order to lower the influence the whole matter had on the demons. Thus, theyʼd believe that the news of the main culprits having been subjugated to likely be lies.

”There will even be those who are simply watching and waiting in the hopes of finding some advantage for themselves throughout this whole matter.”

”With all those threads tangled up together here, how could it not turn complicated?”

”And given that youʼre the central figure in this matter, can you really avoid being affected?”

After hearing Lucyʼs explanation, Shienʼs mouth twitched. He had a very unhappy expression on his face.

Back then, he ended up running wild exactly because he disliked Balon and companyʼs actions. Yet, now that heʼs in the capital, heʼs still getting dragged into those noble intrigue?

Those people are seriously bored here.