"Rather than that, I am more concerned about saving the world," Aya tried to move her neck, but found the metal collar still tightly secured. "Is it related to this thing?"

Naturally, "this thing" referred to the Ural Oil Lamp inside her body.

...

In fact, since the end of the mythological era, there have always been people in the Devildom who inherited the ancient demon bloodline and searched for it. However, the era when the Ural Oil Lamp was lost was too distant, and there were no clues in both the Main Dimension, Devildom, and Heaven.

It was clearly a lost seal, but the family somehow obtained it. Unfortunately, this precious seal became the beginning of everything.

Even for demons, the existence of ancient demons is not in the normal sense of "the same kind," but a monster that is revered and even feared. Even during the Age of Legendary War, the decision to allow demons to enter the battlefield was fiercely debated and only agreed upon when the pro-war faction gained the upper hand.

In today's peace between the two realms, this seal, symbolizing a painful history, became the hammer that shattered tranquility.

The news spread quickly, causing a huge uproar in the capital city of the Devildom. The man's family was in the eye of the storm.

Should the demon within the seal be released? While doing so would undoubtedly enhance the power of the Devildom, the hard-earned peace could also be destroyed. On the other hand, some demons who inherited the demon bloodline became more aggressive, declaring their intent to seize the seal and release their ancestors who had been silent for thousands of years, reigniting the flames of war.

In such a high-pressure situation, a war within the Devildom was on the verge of breaking out. Every negotiation was like walking on a knife's edge, and no one knew when the war would come.

As for the consequences, whether it would ignite a war between the Devildom and the Main Dimension like in the mythological era, at the very least, the hard-won peace of the Devildom would be doomed to destruction.

Although the man's family was one of the foremost families in the Devildom, they also felt the pressure from both the pro-war and pro-peace factions when holding such an important seal. Even within the family, there was controversy over how to deal with the seal.

"Since you all can't make up your minds, I will take care of this thing. Whether it's war or hatred, I will shoulder it. Noble demons who want this thing, come find me."

On a dark moonlit night, the man, who had returned to the Devildom as a defector, stormed into the forbidden territory of the family, where the seal was kept, relying on his Holy Rank strength. He snatched the oil lamp and left with a swagger, making such a declaration.

It was rumored that the family head, who also possessed Holy Rank strength, was present at the time but did not intervene. He only watched as the man defeated the guards and disappeared into the night.

"Old man, let this irresponsible guy, who is still a member of the family, fulfill his duty for the last time. It's also a way to protect this world... Haha, it doesn't sound like something I would say."

"Is that so? Then... I'm counting on you."

There was allegedly a conversation like this, but it was never verified. The fact remains that the man did indeed snatch the oil lamp and successfully disrupt the delicate balance between the pro-war and pro-peace factions.

Subsequently, the pro-war faction's demons closed off the passage between the two realms and pursued the man, but to no avail. One year later, under pressure from the Main Dimension and the pro-peace faction, the passage reopened.

...

"While I don't want to boast, if my father hadn't done this, the war would definitely have happened. The power of the ancient demons, if not for deities like the Goddess of the Light, almost no one would be able to stand against it," Lucius sighed deeply.

"Single-handedly... indeed impressive," Aya agreed wholeheartedly, "And what about him now?"

Lucius shook his head bitterly, "Naturally... he no longer exists in this world. Although my father was a Holy Rank, there were others in our bloodline who inherited the power of the demon race and were stronger than him. It wouldn't have been easy to escape for a whole year in such circumstances, don't you think?"

"In one of the battles during his escape, my father was hit by a curse triggered by the power of the demon bloodline. Although he managed to escape, that power began relentlessly corroding his body and soul."

Taking off his glasses, Lucius lowered his head and seemed lost in his memories, "He endured immense pain for ten years, which is why he desperately wanted me to become stronger, strong enough to protect the seal in his place."

"Unfortunately, before my father left... even now, I still haven't been able to break through the boundaries of Holy Rank. In that regard, I truly envy Prince Tiran," Lucius looked up and glanced at Tiran.

Indeed, breaking through to Holy Rank and comprehending the laws of the world is not solely dependent on one's strength. Otherwise, the world would have long been ruled by Holy Rank beasts, if we are to put it in terms of charlatanism, this... really depends a lot on chance.

As for the princess, let's not even mention her transcendent powers and divine bargains.

"Without the strength of Holy Rank, it would be almost impossible to protect the seal from the pursuers of the demon race, or even... to escape. So, in the end, I gave up and left someone else to protect it."

Reminiscing about the rainy night when he first arrived at Milt Academy City, Lucius felt a touch of sentimentality. He must have looked quite pathetic back then, right? With his frail and tiny body, tightly clutching the old lantern, his hair clinging together in clumps due to the rain, he was like a little stray dog...

Later on, he naturally progressed in Milt, became stronger, and gradually transformed from a stubborn child into the present headmaster, capable of shouldering responsibilities.

"That's the reason you haven't been home in decades?"

"No... um, after that, I actually went to see my mother and Feilin, but when I went back, the house was empty... Huh? Fei, Feilin?!"

Still lost in his memories, Lucius suddenly realized that the person he had been answering to just now didn't seem to be Aya or Tiran. As he turned his head, he found a girl with light pink short hair leaning against the door, staring at him coldly.

When did she arrive?!

"Headmistress Ciella sent me," Feilin stepped away from the door frame and walked towards Lucius step by step, "Said there was something she needed help with, but all I heard when I came in was you here, lost in your own thoughts."

"Well..." Lucius stumbled for once, his mind filled with the mischievous smile of that Ciella person. That person! They actually sold him out just for revenge! They must have expected him to reminisce about the past!

But when he locked eyes with Feilin, the excuses Lucius had prepared couldn't come out no matter what.

"Do you know how much pain your dear old mother went through after you and that smelly old man left?"

Knowing that they had lost their loved ones and the man they had relied on had inexplicably disappeared, raising a baby who couldn't even speak at the time was an extremely difficult task.

"Do you know that every night, Mom prayed for you to come back safely, even if she became weak to the point where it was difficult for her to sit up... Feilin's voice trembled slightly.

Knowing that, whether it was for me or Father, Mom always had a gentle smile, even for Father... When Dad disappeared in Devildom for a year, she believed that he would come back to see her.

"Do you know how much I wished for you to come back when I could only watch Mom get sick, watch her slowly lose weight and feel powerless? Even if I couldn't save her, I just wanted her to see you again... even if it was just once."

And to the end, that former girl never knew that the man who had saved her and loved her was not human. She didn't understand what the man hoped for, the wish to protect her and the world he was in. She could only hope to see him one more time before her last breath.

When Feilin walked up to Lucius, the girl's neckline was already wet with tears. She couldn't stop sobbing, but she bit her lip to prevent herself from completely breaking down.

"I..." Lucius moved his lips and finally managed to squeeze out three words.

"I'm sorry."

"Who needs your apology!" The girl swatted away Lucius' hand that tried to embrace her, raised her head defiantly, and said loudly, "I want that guy to apologize to Mom himself!"

As if struck, Lucius staggered back a step, and his shoulder trembled slightly.

"What world protection, what responsibility... Mom just wanted to see you both, to see that you were safe and sound..."

Lucius fell silent. He suddenly remembered a sentence he had read in a book or heard somewhere.

If even human emotions are abandoned, what's the point of talking about the responsibility of being a hero?

Would that man have wholeheartedly agreed with this sentence at first? But when did he gradually become the "hero" who protected the world that he had once scoffed at?

Where does the responsibility of a hero come from? Perhaps it's just a small touch derived from some emotion at the beginning?

But if that's the case, why do emotions and responsibilities conflict with each other? I can't understand...

At least for now, he could give a response.

Lucius once again opened his arms and embraced Feilin, but this time, Feilin didn't push him away.

From this older brother whom she had never acknowledged, she seemed to have found that long-lost warmth.

Unable to control her tears any longer, they flowed like a flood. The girl leaned against her brother's chest and cried in pain.

...

"Uh... speaking of which, is it appropriate for us to continue staying here like this?"

The princess who had already retreated to the corner of the laboratory looked at Feilin, who was venting her emotions, and whispered in the contract.

"That makes sense, let's go... Wait, what the hell! I'm still locked up! You let me out first. Let's leave together!"

Aya rolled her eyes. It was touching, no doubt, but it's too awkward for me, an outsider, to just lie here next to you!

"Hey! Young Miss! Tiran! Master! Are you leaving me behind? Master, don't leave me alone here!"

Aya looked despairingly as her master slipped away.