Why must the devil be Defeated?

I must say, the fellows from the Old Demon Clan Faction are quite dedicated. Even though they are skulking about, daring not to show their faces, they've still searched every possible location where Shane and Chafne could be.

Shane, with Chafne in tow, used the transcendent stealth of "Inner Destiny" to hide in a forest cave, avoiding the magic detection of those guys. However, even so, there have been several groups who have searched the nearby area, some even entering the cave; if not for the potent effect of "Inner Destiny," Shane and Chafne would have been discovered long ago.

Of course, even if discovered, Shane could use Instant Movement to take Chafne and leave this place, hiding somewhere else.

With Shane's ability of Instant Movement, the barriers set up by the Old Demon Clan Faction, those from the Primordial Demon, had no effect whatsoever; he could pass through whenever he wanted without fear of detection.

However, there was a bit of trouble with the curse on Chafne.

That is, it would erupt with fluctuations from time to time. Although not lethal, it was exceptionally torturous.

On several occasions, Chafne was so tormented that her pretty face turned pale, and she seemed on the verge of collapse. If not for Shane using "Star-Blowing Breath" to stabilize her cursed condition, she might have already fallen.

Furthermore, each outbreak of the curse produced some special negative fluctuations. Even though Shane and Chafne had not been discovered, the number of Old Demon Clan Faction figures appearing in the forest had inevitably started to grow.

This only proved one thing.

"Are we about to be surrounded?" Shane saw the situation clearly.

"It seems they've preliminarily pinpointed our location based on the fluctuations of the curse on me." Chafne's complexion was also not looking too good.

Looking at the Demoness, whose beauty could topple cities, sitting there pale-faced and on the brink of faltering, stirring a pitiable sight, Shane couldn't help but feel a twinge of heartache.

This made Chafne's eyebrows raise, and she began to smile.

"Not bad, finally, you've learned to be concerned about your sister here." Chafne laughed carefreely as though indifferent to the curse afflicting her, her pleasure and happiness unchanged.

"At a time like this, you're still teasing me?" Shane said helplessly: "If I don't think of something soon, I'll really have to go out there and fight my way through a bloody path, you know?"

Otherwise, given the current state of encirclement, even if Shane took Chafne and used Instant Movement to leave, the enemy would quickly detect the cursed aura on Chafne and chase them like sharks smelling blood.

Given that, Shane would rather leave Chafne here and go out to fight himself, first weakening the enemy's forces before seizing the chance to escape.

After all, whether to fight or to run, Shane would prefer to go out and slay first, then make his escape with satisfaction.

Chafne seemed to see what Shane was planning, and after pondering for a while, she spoke.

"There isn't a lack of strategies."

Her words made Shane's spirit perk up.

"What strategy?" Shane straightened up.

"The first strategy is to wait for rescue." Chafne answered seriously.

"..." Shane lost his desire to speak.

"Don't look at me like that, I'm serious." Chafne giggled: "My 'Ripple Heart Demon' naturally has the ability to connect with others. As long as I seek help from Liel or my sisters, they'd immediately get the message and come at the fastest speed."

"Is that so?" Shane was slightly startled, questioning: "Then why don't you do that?"

"You think I don't want to?" Chafne rolled her eyes: "But this time even that person has come, and even if Liel and the others come, it wouldn't help, it would just be sending them to their deaths for nothing. My sisters are after all quite a distance from here, by the time they come for rescue, that person would have already left with his people."

Shane thought it over and nodded in agreement with Chafne's words.

If the enemy planned to use the "Ripple Heart Demon" to curse Chafne, then they definitely anticipated that Chafne could use the "Ripple Heart Demon" to connect with others and call for help.

Hence, their search had to be conducted in secret, aiming not to stir the snake in the grass, and to withdraw swiftly before the rescue arrived.

Now, they were racing against time to see if they could locate Shane and Chafne before the rescue arrived.

If they surpassed a certain time frame, they'd probably give up, right?

Chafne's idea of "waiting for rescue" meant that even without actually calling for help, if the enemy believed that help had been summoned and that reinforcements were nearly upon them, then they would surely retreat in good order.

By then, Shane and Chafne would have broken free from the situation.

But...

"Since you mentioned this is the first strategy, does that mean there's a second one?" Shane asked.

"Indeed." Chafne's eyes sparkled, saying: "The second strategy is much simpler, which is to completely eradicate the curse on me."

Upon hearing this, Shane was momentarily stunned, then quickly caught on.

"Are you suggesting that you actually have a way to completely eradicate the curse on you?" Shane picked up on the implication of Chafne's words.

As long as the curse on Chafne was lifted, Shane and Chafne would no longer need to worry and could go out and fight without restraint.

The issue was clear.

Unfortunately, the curse on Chafne had accumulated for hundreds of years and was transmitted to her through the "Ripple Heart Demon's" connection, rendering even the powerful resistance of Demons useless, which is why Chafne had fallen into such a state.

Yet now, Chafne presented the removal of the curse as the second strategy.

Since that's the case, then it must be proven that this curse can be thoroughly removed now.

Chafne pursed her lips.

"What's the matter?" Shane looked at Chafne's behavior and asked, "Is implementing this method difficult?"

"...Difficult is not the issue." Chafne fell silent for a while, then said softly, "It just depends on whether I am willing to do it or not."

"What do you mean?" Shane didn't understand this time.

Seeing this, Chafne blinked and finally revealed the method.

"If there is someone with an extremely high degree of connection to me, or someone with an extraordinary relationship, then through the ability of the Ripple Heart Demon, I can transfer all the curses on myself onto that person."

Upon hearing this, Shane's eyes widened.

"Your Ripple Heart Demon can even do that?"

Shane was astonished.

"Why not?" Chafne smirked mischievously and said, "My Ripple Heart Demon uses the heart as a medium, determining how much value can be extracted from others based on their inner memories of me, trust, weaknesses, and to the extent of submission and downfall. If the connection is strong enough, I could even steal their abilities and powers. So why couldn't I transfer my injuries and curses onto them, allowing them to bear all harm for me?"

Upon hearing this, Shane felt a chill down his spine.

Could the Ripple Heart Demon actually manage something like this?

Wouldn't that mean, if it really came down to it, Chafne could even make someone else die in her stead?

"It's not that simple," Chafne reined in her smile, glanced at Shane as if seeing through his thoughts, and said, "To go as far as replacing death, that person's heart must harbor the willingness to die for me. Without that level of submission, the Ripple Heart Demon couldn't do such a thing."

This was the limitation of the Ripple Heart Demon. To extract more value from the connected individual, a deeper connection was necessary.

And for a deeper connection, a significant amount of memory, trust, weakness, downfall, and even submission were needed in the other's heart.

If not for this, Milu's Ghost Species wouldn't be considered the most versatile Unique Skill.

The reason why the versatility of Chafne's Ripple Heart Demon doesn't match up to the power of Milu's Ghost Species is that the use of the Ripple Heart Demon comes with necessary conditions and inherent limitations.

Thinking of this, Shane showed understanding.

"Then, if it were you, there ought to be quite a few who can bear the curse in your stead, right?"

That's what Shane thought.

Not to mention others, Chafne's lieutenants were definitely willing to sacrifice their lives for her, one and all.

Even Gray might unhesitatingly take on those curses for Chafne.

Given the charm of an Enchanting Demon, the number of men willing to die for her could likely stretch from the Enchanting Demon Territory to the Moon Demon Territory.

Of course, as previously stated, it has to be something Chafne is willing to do.

"Although I have little interest in those insignificant people, I do not wish to have them die for me without cause."

Chafne stated this without hesitation.

"I don't need their sacrifices, nor do I need their lives."

A lack of interest is just that, a lack of interest; Chafne wouldn't deny her indifference toward those individuals.

But since she had no interest and desired nothing from them, naturally, she had no reason to let those unconnected to her make such sacrifices for her.

Chafne believed she was unable to accept such favor, such a debt of gratitude.

"You indeed live with clear understanding."

Shane understood Chafne's thoughts.

Just like some so-called goddesses in his previous life, who had no interest in the men fawning over them, yet when they needed something, they wouldn't hesitate to boss these men around. When useless, these men were pushed aside, or even kept on standby. That was truly despicable.

Chafne possessed the terrifying ability of the Ripple Heart Demon, combined with her endless allure. Logically, many would be at her disposal, yet she chose not to abuse this power.

"If I really started using this ability without any scruples, I wouldn't even need to fear the elder sister of the night, and might even dare to take on the Goddess of Fate one-on-one."

Chafne was extremely serious.

"But in doing so, my own heart would surely become riddled with holes, filled with weaknesses."

Again, that old saying, the Ripple Heart Demon is a double-edged sword.

If it's used to harm the hearts of others, sooner or later one's heart will also be pierced through.

Chafne firmly believed in this and therefore had her absolute principles.

Given this...

"I'm not very keen on using this method."

Chafne expressed as much.

Shane didn't object.

But he didn't agree either.

Because...

"What if you transfer the curse onto me?"

Shane suddenly made such a proposition.

"..."

Chafne was left at a loss for words.