"How's everyone? Are you all okay?"
In the already damaged small inn, Shane asked the people of the Sand Scale Clan.
Led by Shajina, the people of the Sand Scale Clan still looked somewhat unwell, but their condition had already improved significantly.
Shajina bowed deeply, filled with gratitude toward Shane on behalf of everyone.
"Thank you very much, Lord, for saving us once again.",
But Shane shook his head.
"This time, it was because of me that you encountered this situation; if anything, I should be the one held responsible for involving you."
Shane's attitude towards the people of the Sand Scale Clan had become much better than before.
Although they were affected by his involvement, the performance of Shajina and the others had left Shane quite satisfied.
After all, when their lives were threatened, these Sand Scale people did not choose to cooperate with the perpetrators against him but had refused, which undeniably made Shane have a great deal of fondness for them.
Of course, Shane knew that the decision of Shajina and the others not to comply was not entirely because of him, and even more so because of the objective reality.
If they had collaborated with the people of the Old Demon Clan Faction against him, the Sand Scale Clan would have no place to stay in the Enchanting Demon Territory, let alone the entire Demon Realm. That was the real reason behind Shajina's refusal to comply.
Even so, Shane was satisfied.
At the very least, they would rather lose their lives than go against him, and that was a fact.
Therefore, Shane naturally would not put himself on a pedestal as a savior.
However, Shajina clearly didn't think this way.
"It doesn't matter about the involvement; the fact that you saved our lives remains." Shajina said with a bitter smile, "Ultimately, it's because we are too weak. Otherwise, similar situations could happen again in the future."
Shajina's words made all the Sand Scale people fall silent, their eyes revealing a tinge of sadness.
Shane looked at this and didn't know what to say.
In some ways, what Shajina said was not without merit.
The Demon Realm is a world where the strong feed on the weak; weakness is the original sin. Without sufficient strength to protect oneself, today's crisis may be overcome, but perhaps another one will arrive tomorrow.
The previous invasion by the Horned Monster Clan had proven this point. If Shane hadn't shown up suddenly and lent a hand to the Sand Scale Clan, they might have been annihilated.
There were many such incidents in the Demon Realm.
Thus, Shajina saw the truth very clearly: all talk of involvement was false. In the end, it was their own weakness that could not withstand all the malice that came their way, leading to everything that had happened.
Shajina, having a clear understanding of this, naturally would not blame Shane.
But her thoughts, while understandable to Shane, were not accepted by him.
"Here's what we'll do," Shane pondered for a moment and then said to Shajina, "I'll see if I can help you find a way to live in the Enchanting Demon City."
His words caused a stir among the Sand Scale people.
"Live... Live in the Enchanting Demon City...!?"
Shajina couldn't help covering her mouth.
There was no helping it.
Living in the Enchanting Demon City was something all the clans within the Enchanting Demon Territory hoped for.
"Enchanting Demon City prohibits private fights and is the only safe haven in the Enchanting Demon Territory, isn't that what you told me?" Shane said with a smile to Shajina, "If you can live in the Enchanting Demon City, then the Sand Scale Clan shouldn't have to live in constant fear anymore."
This was the only way Shane could help them.
"But... to live in the Enchanting Demon City..."
Shajina wanted to say something, but she was too excited to speak coherently.
Shane knew what Shajina wanted to say.
"I know, to live in the Enchanting Demon City, one of the three conditions you mentioned must be met, right?"
To reside in the Enchanting Demon City, Shajina had said there were three conditions.
One: Obtain permission from the Enchanting Demon Lord, who was the ruler.
Two: Get the recommendation from more than three major clans within the Enchanting Demon City.
Three: Have a hundred Upper-level Demon Clan members in the clan, which would allow them to settle in on their own accord.
Any one of these three conditions, if fulfilled, would allow any clan to move into the Enchanting Demon City.
Shane could not help the Sand Scale people meet the latter two conditions.
But if it was the first condition, Shane still could think of a way.
"I will request permission from Xiefuni on your behalf."
Shane planned to do so.
Shajina opened her mouth as if to refuse, but the appeal of this offer to the Sand Scale Clan was so great that the words of refusal rolled to the tip of her tongue several times but couldn't make it out.
In the end, Shajina could only voice her worries.
"Can a marginal and weak group like us really get a permit to reside in Enchanting Demon City from the Enchanting Demon Lord?"
Shajina dared not hold out too much hope.
To this day, the number of clans granted permission by the Enchanting Demon herself to settle in Enchanting Demon City could be counted on one hand.
To Shajina's knowledge, since the establishment of Enchanting Demon City, fewer than three clans had been personally granted residency by Enchanting Demon Xiefuni.
And those fewer than three, each one had won her favor and recognition before they were given places.
The Stone Woman Clan was one of those lucky clans.
At that time, the Demon Realm had just formed, and Enchanting Demon Xiefuni had just obtained her own territory, founding Enchanting Demon City, before inviting the entire Stone Woman Clan to settle within its walls, making them the first clan to take up residence.
Years later, about several hundred years ago, Xiefuni invited another clan to settle in Enchanting Demon City.
That clan was none other than the Rock Giant Clan, which ranks fifth in strength within the city.
There was once a Clan Leader of the Rock Giant Clan who served as an officer under Xiefuni, leading his entire clan into the fray at the frontline in the ultimate battle a thousand years ago. Unfortunately, they all perished, leaving only a handful of descendants struggling to survive.
Hundreds of years ago, Xiefuni located these descendants, and in remembrance of the past, brought them into Enchanting Demon City. With hundreds of years to recover and grow, they developed rapidly and now boast two Legendary figures, making them the powerful fifth-ranked clan in Enchanting Demon City.
Those two Rock Giants guarding the gates of Enchanting Demon Castle are exactly those two Legendary figures.
They are grateful to Xiefuni for her remembrance and the chance she gave them to return to their former glory; willingly, they serve as gatekeepers, proud to be the castle's staunchest defensive force.
Aside from the Stone Woman Clan and the Rock Giant Clan, Xiefuni had never again granted permission for any other clan to settle in Enchanting Demon City.
It was only natural for Shajina to feel uneasy about it.
Shane, on the other hand, didn't make any definite promises, to avoid any backtracking later.
What he said was this.
"I'll do my best to negotiate for you. Trust me, she'll want to give me, her future brother-in-law, a little face, right?"
Shane was comforting Shajina, but he felt somewhat unnatural inside.
It couldn't be helped.
"Just don't know how that witch is going to torment me when I plead before her..."
Shane's mouth twitched at the thought.
Watching Shane , Shajina also felt a pang of emotion.
She had truly not expected the mysterious human who had appeared out of nowhere and saved the Sand Scale Clan from the onslaught of the Horned Monster Clan to be the legendary Hero.
The news of the Hero's return had only recently been causing a stir in the Demon Realm, and Shajina would never have imagined that in the end, she would meet him herself.
Moreover, despite being the natural foe of the Demon Clan, he was about to enter into a marriage engagement with one of the apex figures of the Demon Clan, the Dragon Demon Lord, becoming an engaged Demon Prince and the brother-in-law of the other Demon Lords. Learning this had made Shajina feel disoriented more than once, struggling to believe that she wasn't dreaming.
For a small and weak clan like the Sand Scale Clan, just the identity of a Legendary warrior was astonishing enough, and now the man's status seemed even more legendary than that of a Legendary warrior. No wonder Shajina found it surreal.
It was fair to say that whether as the Hero or as the fiancé to a Demon, both identities were far more daunting than that of a mere Legendary warrior.
The events of the past few days had made Shajina realize that encountering such an entity was both a fortune and a misfortune for her clan.
But now, the misfortunes seemed to have passed.
If he really was highly favored by the Enchanting Demon Lord and was her future brother-in-law, then perhaps they could still obtain a permit to reside in Enchanting Demon City.
Thinking this, even if Shajina wanted to refuse, she found she could not bring herself to do so.
"...If you truly can secure a residence permit in Enchanting Demon City for us, then from now on, the Sand Scale Clan will follow your lead, sir."
Shajina seriously made such a promise, knowing that someone like him wouldn't team up with a weak tribe for such a permit.
Apart from this, Shajina couldn't think of anything else she could offer in thanks.
If offering herself were an option, Shajina would have done so without a second thought, dedicating her entire being to serve Shane.
Sadly, being a Hero and engaged to the Dragon Demon Lord, he would likely have little interest in someone like her, steeped in ordinary flaws.
Thinking this, Shajina didn't realize that at that moment, Shane felt as though he had somehow missed out on something very desirable.
"What is this feeling of missing out on a fortune about...?"
Shane blinked in confusion.
But soon enough, he dismissed it.
"I'll ask the people from the Stone Woman Clan to look out for you. You shouldn't have to face the same troubles again," Shane reassured them, "Just find a new place to stay, and leave the rest to me."
"Yes," Shajina naturally agreed.
Thus, with Shane's aid, the Sand Scale Clan moved out of the small inn and into a different place to stay.
Shane did indeed ask Liel to keep an eye out for them.
Liel didn't refuse, probably because it was Xiefuni's instruction to take good care of Shane and fulfill his requests.
With that, the matter was put on hold for the time being.
But, the undercurrents in Enchanting Demon City did not cease.
Malice was still closing in.