The Devil Does Not Need to Be Defeated

Chapter 425: “Things Won’t Be Boring Anymore.”

The rampaging magic power finally subsided after an unknown amount of time.

In the square in front of the palace on the lake’s heart island, the scattered audience members still looked shocked and uncertain.

Lucy, Lia, Ancil, Aldia, Charl, Wolram, and the nobles hidden in the shadows stared intently at the stage.

There, Shien leaped back, the massive magic blade on his Holy Sword having dissipated.

Upon closer inspection, the stage hadn’t suffered any further damage from that astonishing strike, looking exactly the same as before Shien unleashed his [Demon Sword].

Harvis held his Thunderstorm broadsword defensively, as if he had been prepared to block Shien’s attack at the last moment, his face still tense.

Although Harvis had assumed a defensive stance in a hurry, he didn’t seem confident he could take Shien’s earth-shattering blow unscathed.

The only reason he was still standing there unharmed was that another person had suddenly appeared before him.

“Master Rockto?”

Harvis immediately recognized the figure from behind.

It was Rockto Bigusler, the Empire’s strongest knight, responsible for protecting Harvis.

This strongest existence of the Empire, at level ninety-seven, was holding a massive sword even larger than Harvis’s Thunderstorm, magic power flowing on its blade, shielding Harvis.

This scene made Shien narrow his eyes.

Because just now, it was this person who had suddenly rushed onto the stage, drawn that terrifying greatsword from somewhere, and with a single swing, dispelled his [Demon Sword].

Yes.

Dispelled it.

Shien saw it clearly. The moment his [Demon Sword] descended and made contact with the greatsword, the magic power gathered on the Holy Sword’s blade was dispersed by some mysterious force, vanishing without a trace.

Therefore, the stage wasn’t damaged because Shien’s [Demon Sword] had been dispelled, and only the magic power, like an avalanche, swept outwards, causing the tremors and roaring sounds.

Rockto shouldered the terrifying greatsword, gave Shien a deep look, then turned to Harvis behind him without a word.

“Your Highness, you lost.”

Rockto declared on behalf of his master.

Everyone present finally reacted. Some exchanged glances, some still looked shaken, and some stared at Rockto with serious expressions.

Ancil and Lucy, for instance, both had serious expressions.

Even Aldia’s eyes flickered slightly.

Clearly, these people had all seen Rockto block Shien’s [Demon Sword].

And they all felt threatened by the power Rockto displayed.

Harvis opened his mouth, as if wanting to say something, but then fell silent and exhaled.

The lightning on his Thunderstorm broadsword quietly disappeared.

“Indeed, I lost.” Harvis relaxed his body, looked at Shien, and said frankly, “I didn’t expect you to possess such astonishing magic power and strength. I almost couldn’t react just now. Therefore, I admit defeat wholeheartedly.”

Saying so, Harvis bowed to Shien as a sign of respect.

Seeing this, everyone’s gaze towards Shien changed.

“This guy…”

Wolram’s expression changed continuously.

“He… he’s actually this strong?”

Lia, Charl, and the others also stared at Shien, recalling that earth-shattering sword strike, unable to recover for a long time.

“Damn it…”

Edel’s face turned pale, cursing under his breath, but his eyes revealed genuine fear and apprehension.

Most of the nobles hidden in the shadows were the same, as if they had finally understood Shien’s strength, their gazes and expressions towards Shien different from before.

Until this moment, Shien had finally displayed some of his extraordinary strength in public.

Being able to defeat the Empire’s First Prince would undoubtedly greatly elevate Shien’s status in the eyes of many.

Only Lucy wasn’t surprised by Shien’s performance.

After all, only she knew that the strength Shien displayed now was just the tip of the iceberg.

No, not just Lucy, but there was another person who knew this clearly.

“He hasn’t even used his Holy Sword yet. The strength he displayed now is probably just a small part of it, right?”

Nadue, whose presence was undetectable, stared at Shien, admiring him inwardly.

Witnessing Shien’s strength firsthand, Nadue was quite satisfied.

Therefore, neither Lucy nor Nadue thought Shien’s performance was excessive.

Harvis’s performance, on the other hand, surprised them.

“Is Capeline’s older brother actually this strong?”

Lucy was quite surprised by Harvis’s strength.

Without unleashing the Holy Sword or using her Unique Skill, even Lucy herself wasn’t sure she could win against him.

Of course, the Holy Sword and Unique Skill were a Hero’s true trump cards. If these two factors weren’t considered, then all Heroes weren’t actually terrifyingly strong, at most reaching the level of Aldia and Rockto.

However, Harvis also hadn’t used his Unique Skill yet. Either he didn’t have one, or he was deliberately hiding it. Lucy hadn’t heard of this Imperial Prince using a Unique Skill in public before.

This meant either he didn’t have a Unique Skill, or like Lucy herself, his Unique Skill was too powerful and special, so he didn’t want to reveal it in public.

Lucy thought it was the latter.

Even Nadue thought so.

“Humans are still the same as in the past. Although their population is large, most are just ordinary people, but there will always be some astonishingly talented individuals in every generation.”

Nadue sighed with emotion.

Shien didn’t think so much. He just looked at Rockto, then at Harvis, and smiled slightly.

“Is that all?” Shien said meaningfully. “Your Highness should still have some tricks up your sleeve, right?”

He meant, wasn’t it too early to admit defeat now?

Harvis chuckled.

“I don’t deny that, but this is just a duel, not a fight to the death, and I truly admit defeat wholeheartedly. I can readily accept this result.”

Harvis’s words and his humble and frank demeanor made him seem approachable and gentle, earning him the admiration of many, even making some girls blush and look at him with infatuation.

However, Harvis changed the subject.

“Moreover, I believe Viscount Buztout also has many means he hasn’t revealed yet.” Harvis smiled. “You are much stronger than the rumors say. I already know this, and that’s enough.”

Saying so, Harvis nodded to Rockto beside him, then looked at the royal family on the open-air platform.

“I lost this duel!” Harvis declared loudly. “As expected of a talent valued by the Kingdom. I, Harvis Ragna, believe that only such a hero is worthy of Princess Lucy. Therefore, I willingly withdraw!”

These words caused not only the royal family, but also the surrounding audience, to erupt in an uproar.

Lucy was stunned. She hadn’t expected Harvis to say such a thing.

Shien also raised an eyebrow.

Because he knew that he probably owed this prince a favor.

As a member of the Ragna Empire’s royal family, the rival of the Kingdom of Mitra, and even the first in line to the throne, to admit defeat in front of everyone and declare that Shien was worthy of being Lucy’s husband, those commoners who had been skeptical would probably change their minds and start to accept Shien and Lucy as a couple.

Especially the citizens of the Kingdom. Knowing that Shien made even the Empire’s prince admit defeat, they, who had always regarded the Empire as their imaginary enemy, would definitely feel proud and their resistance towards Shien would decrease significantly.

From now on, public opinion in the Kingdom would definitely favor Shien.

“That damned prince!”

“How dare he do this?”

“Bastard!”

The noble sons’ expressions changed drastically, and they cursed.

If public opinion favored Shien, then their chances as rivals would undoubtedly decrease significantly.

After all, the higher the public’s evaluation, the greater the chance of being recognized. In this kind of competition, this was the basis for improving one’s score in the Kingdom’s eyes, right?

Harvis’s actions directly boosted Shien’s reputation and suppressed the competitiveness and influence of the others.

How could these competitors not curse?

If this were a fair competition, after this incident, Shien’s chances of being chosen as the princess’s husband would undoubtedly greatly increase.

Unfortunately, this competition was rigged…

Shien’s expression turned strange.

Only Lucy seemed unchanged on the surface, but she was overjoyed inwardly.

This was undoubtedly the result she wanted to see.

Although she had already chosen Shien, if the Kingdom’s citizens could also recognize him and consider him a good match for her, she would naturally be even happier.

With this happiness, Lucy also felt that Harvis was much more pleasing to the eye.

If Shien was a hundred points, and other men were zero, then this prince of the Empire could barely get a 0.1.

Ancil also looked at Harvis seriously.

“Lia, you understand, right?”

Ancil said to Lia beside him with a serious expression.

“…Yes.” Lia nodded heavily and whispered, “If he becomes the emperor of the Empire in the future, then the Empire will probably become more troublesome.”

Undoubtedly, Harvis’s strength, character, qualities, and intelligence had earned their recognition.

“So, this is the prince of the Ragna Empire…”

Charl murmured.

Aldia exchanged glances with Rockto, who was standing beside Harvis. One had a calm expression, the other’s eyes filled with fighting spirit.

As for Harvis, he had already come to Shien.

“Good luck, Viscount Buztout.” Harvis extended his hand to Shien and smiled. “I’m very optimistic about you.”

Shien stared at Harvis for a moment, then shrugged, extended his hand, and shook Harvis’s hand.

At this moment, Harvis whispered something to Shien.

Shien’s eyes flickered slightly. Before he could react, Harvis withdrew his hand and returned to Wolram’s side with Rockto.

There, Wolram stared at Shien with a completely different look than before, seemingly wary and gloomy.

Shien, looking at all this, suddenly smiled.

“It seems things won’t be boring anymore.”