Chapter 29

1

A week ago, there were few people in front of the convenience store, and The Chishin Academy, which was already lacking students, was even quieter in a place like the convenience store. The bustling feeling that once existed could only be restored in times of peace.

Next to me was a girl with a gentle demeanor, Shi Xueqi. She had promised that her father would gain legal status so she could work as my maid before we graduated. Of course, I didn't make her wear a maid outfit to school, as perhaps no one would be happy to see the class monitor in a maid costume now. After the succession of the queen, there were three days of public mourning for our fallen soldiers, and after the succession ceremony, the only one excluded from the state banquet to enter the public mourning was Li Liu. The war had spread to all countries across the ocean, and refugees were constantly arriving. The sea was too wide, and even a hint of Magic could be detected by the sensitive god race. Most refugees drowned at sea, making any joyful occasion seem particularly conspicuous.

"How long are you going to stare at this convenience store? Lunch break is almost over."

"Just stand here for a while. Anyway, you will accompany me standing till the end, my dear class monitor."

"Are you not sure what to buy?"

"What do you think?"

"Clearly, otherwise why stand here bored for half a day when you could be doing something else?"

"My little maid! Is this the right attitude towards your master?"

Shi Xueqi closed her mouth, expressing her inner grievance silently.

"Come with me!"

Walking into the convenience store, the bald Tony was serving the last customer at the counter. When I walked in, that classmate's expression suddenly changed. He noticed the glaring murderous intent of the convenience store owner, who was addressing himself as the vice president of the student council, "Saint Demon Dragon."

"When you leave, remember to close the door," I pointed at the classmate who seemed nervous.

The moment the door closed, Tony and I both raised our hands simultaneously, casting a sound-proofing spell. No one could eavesdrop on any sound inside the convenience store.

"You knew we were in school but didn't come looking for us, thinking we weren't a threat anymore, right!"

"You also knew I was in school, yet didn't make a move to continue those things."

"I don't want to do it now," Tony turned around to tidy the shelves.

Leaning against the counter, I said, "After being locked up for eighteen years, when you see me again, the urge to kill me, the obsession you once had, is it difficult to muster now? And all you have in your heart is Pia, who keeps you company cold and sad, day and night."

"Yeah," demons are straightforward, not concealing their thoughts. Tony had indeed become like that.

"I understand what time is like. It's a sword that, without stronger beliefs, you can't withstand its polishing. When cold appears in front of you, you've already developed cracks."

At that moment, Tony's mental state suddenly loosened, and I clandestinely glimpsed into his memories.

Tony had no idea how many years he had been seeing cold at the bottom of the sea, the white dolphin circling his seal. This made it clear how cold's emitted sonar worked back then.

Year after year of companionship, Tony watched the constantly shifting and returning schools of fish at the bottom of the sea. The blade of time slowly wore down his body. The fury of the Leviathan inside the demon sword was useless; the dominance of the demon sword gradually fell into his hands, and the Leviathan became a complete tool in his hands.

"Watching the girl dancing, is it hard to choose between the country and the beauty? The white dolphin was originally a Monster, and seeing the newly transformed cold after meeting Tony, it aspired to become similar to Tony. Turning a Monster into a human requires a lot of time and power, yet cold achieved it. When cold appeared before Tony in human form, Tony's belief had already shattered. Perhaps Tony had given up many things to become a demon king. When he finally had the time to regain control, it turned out to be so wonderful. For some reason, magical energy gathered on the blade suddenly. Was it the loosening of the seal or his stronger desire to leave? With a swish of the blade, the sea poured in, sealing off the cold outside, waiting for him beyond the seal..."

"What do you want to do?" Tony's spirit regained its strength, and my eavesdropping came to an end.

"Recently, a very smart monkey found me. He actually wants to rule his own life. He is a Monster but lacks the ability to control himself. I gave him a chance - to become a demon king!"

Tony sliced open a shelf, looking puzzled, while Shi Xueqi took out her approval wheel. In her eyes, the conversation between me and the bald convenience store owner was inexplicable. They could turn from chatting to confrontation at any moment. She couldn't understand who Tony really was. To others, Tony was just an ordinary snacks and sundries seller.

"So, even letting a monkey become a demon king won't make me a demon king, right?"

"Are you two talking about demon kings?" Shi Xueqi suddenly realized.

"Oh! Did you think we were just chatting?"

I gently pushed the blade aside, facing Tony, and as our eyes met, the entire room shook. Two opposing forces clashed invisibly, but with my combined soul of the Saint Demon Dragon and my ability to partially transform into a dragon, Tony was truly not a threat.

The conflict ceased, with no intention of harming him on my part, and Tony understood that.

"I no longer have the power to harm you, and I have been abandoned by The Divine Realm. Can't you let me live peacefully in The Human Realm?" He knew ever since their defeat by the fire dragon Qisslophi in the island battle, where I had defeated him, that his dream of becoming a demon king had been shattered. He couldn't even seek revenge.

"Tony, I'll give you a chance too! Find out who among the Ten Demon Kings is colluding with the gods in The Demon Realm when unity is most needed. Intentionally create conflicts, provided you have evidence to prove it. You can kill him and take his place. The so-called new Ten Demons can fight for it too! I know more than one demon king is colluding. If you have the ability to find evidence of ten demon kings colluding, I'll accept you all as replacements for me."

"Is this a trap?"

"No need, but you need to seize your chance."

"Why don't you do it yourself?"

"Because time is running out. Marutian is going to fuse the three realms again to create a new Dragon Realm. The old three realms will inevitably shatter for the fusion to occur. Who do you think can survive such a violent act of merging worlds? Peace is never permanent. Even if the war between gods, humans, and demons lasts forever, the world that bears your wars cannot be destroyed. Otherwise, what's the point of fighting to the death? Can you step outside the three realms?"

Tony didn’t fully understand, except for one thing: the world was big, and he could fight to seize his own territory. But someone wanted to shatter everything he could grab. What was the use of the lands and positions he obtained?

"Is there a time limit?"

"No, but act quickly. If I can't find Marutian's world before it collapses, don't blame me. It's because you didn't involve The Demon Realm in the war soon enough and didn't buy enough time."

Tony sheathed his blade. Persuading him in his current state was not difficult, except for the burden he carried.

"Give this to Pia!" I took out two broken dark red dragon cores. "Pass on the words left by her two brothers as well. Let her safeguard the dragon core fragments. They will try to reincarnate. Find them! Remember, they could reincarnate anywhere, including in the god-forsaken Demon Realm."

Tony took the fragments without a word, but I knew he would understand that I meant for him to help Pia find her brothers, making it her life goal. Stirring her will to survive, otherwise the oppressive atmosphere behind that wall would spread all the way to the convenience store and beyond.

In less than five minutes, Tony emerged from the warehouse with Pia and draped a cloak over her. I could clearly see Pia's scattered gaze trying hard to focus, as even the dragon race suffers from depression when losing two heads out of three.

Exiting the convenience store, watching them depart in this summer scenery, I couldn't help but ask, "If everything goes smoothly, would the captain consider marrying me to become the Dragon Empress too?"

"Haha! How did you come up with that twist?"

"If you don't agree, forget I asked."

"Hey! Consider it, okay?"

Being bisexual is such a dilemma, that's how I see it. In such a beautiful world, I can't bear to hand it over to that jerk Marutian.

As I turned around, I noticed a lady looking at us. This lady was none other than Hanya's master.

"Master, you've been wanting to meet me, and I haven't had the time. Never thought you'd come in person."

"It's not that we haven't met, it's about the previous emperor's matter, we couldn't converse."

"What do we need to talk about then?"

"You intend to marry Hanya?" Chen Ming cut straight to the chase.

"Of course."

"Hanya is crucial to our Chen family! Though I can't say the phrase 'If you mistreat her, you'll face consequences,' but I must convey that I won't allow you to hurt her!" Chen Ming now clearly understood that standing before her was a Dragon, a Demon Dragon so powerful that a mere flick of its hand could end her life. Yet she still wanted to assert her stance, aware that becoming the "Dragon Empress" had given Hanya the strength to overcome even the great Angel.

"Then I must ask, what role do you wish to portray?"

"I am her ment..." Chen Ming suddenly understood, she had known this role a long time ago, no need to mention it: "I am her mother."

I tilted my head, looking behind Chen Ming, who also felt something amiss as a pair of eyes bore into her back. When she turned, it was indeed Hanya. I gestured for them to have a private conversation, wondering how this outcome came to be, how she had killed her own monstrous husband back then.

Accompanied by Lilith, Hanya was seen embracing Chen Ming tearfully from a distance, deeply moved by the reunion.

"It's really wonderful to find my mother!"

"What are you envious of? Your Pluto father will soon introduce you to a young and beautiful stepmother."

"Huh? Why do I not know my father is taking a mistress? I'm his daughter!"

I left with a smile, as I had promised to keep it confidential, I wouldn't tell Lilith that her mother was the ageless superstar who had just announced her successor.

Once she completely steps out of the limelight, they can reunite.