I must say, Gray's encounter is truly a pitiful one.
He was originally meant to be a favored child of heaven, a legend turning the impossible to possible, possessing talents and gifts even greater than those of Aridia, so exceptional that he could have become the legitimate prince from a collateral line. At that time, he was undoubtedly the most complacent and proud, brimming with vitality.
If things had continued on that path, he may even have surpassed Anxi from the collateral line to win the crown and replace Anxi as the king of Mitra Kingdom.
By then, his future and status would have been envied by most in this world, something many yearned for but could never attain.
Unfortunately, he met Chafne and was utterly captivated by the Enchanting Demon, resigning himself to a complete downfall, willing to forsake everything to settle in Demon Realm.
If the outcome of all this had been good, it could not be called a tragedy.
At that time, Gray must have been full of confidence in himself, believing that as the top genius of the Human Race, the true favored child of heaven, he could successfully win over the most beautiful woman of the Three Realms.
Not to mention, Gray was naturally handsome, even more princely than a knight in shining armor, an absolute embodiment of a dream lover for any woman.
This is precisely why Gray, having had such a smooth first half of his life, thought he could surpass his predecessors and achieve success, making the indifferent Enchanting Demon choose him.
However, reality is cruel.
The Enchanting Demon didn't even spare that favored son of heaven more than a few lukewarm glances.
That once spirited prince ended up spending more than twenty years in Enchanting Demon City, unable to win even a glance from the object of his affection, a nightmare that was enough to crumble Gray's entire world.
"These years, I often ponder whether that decision was right or wrong,"
Gray murmured to himself.
"But I've realized that I reminisce, I hesitate, I sigh, yet I distinctly feel no regret."
This told Gray that even if given another chance, he would still make the same choice.
"The only ones I owe an apology to are probably those who had hopes for me, who wished I could make Mitra Kingdom stronger and better, right?"
Shane didn't know what to say.
It wasn't his place to do so.
Since the man himself expressed no regrets, then all consequences must be accepted by him alone, not for others to worry about unnecessarily.
Besides, while sympathy was due, Shane didn't feel obliged to do anything for the former prince.
After all, he had abandoned his country, his blood relatives, even his race for a woman; if he was being punished, it was nothing but just deserts.
Anyway, when dealing with such matters oneself, Shane certainly wouldn't want someone preaching to him about right or wrong in his decisions.
The only emotion Shane harbored was relief.
"Thank goodness I wasn't ensnared by that Enchanting Demon's terrible charm."
Shane sincerely felt that all the hardships he had endured before were worthwhile.
If he had been unable to resist and had truly fallen for that Enchanting Demon's unlimited allure, his fate might not have been much better than Gray's.
He had discerned that Chafne was uninterested in those who easily fell for her charm.
Goddess, of course, would never truly favor a bootlicker; only those who could conquer her were attractive.
And no man capable of conquering Chafne had been born yet.
Thus, that woman disdained everyone.
Had Shane, like others, succumbed to her extraordinary charm, then regardless of being a hero, that Enchanting Demon would likely not spare him a second glance, possibly even thwarting his engagement with Ai Yi.
Fortunately, Shane resisted, his perseverance sparked interest in that woman, and he didn't end up like Gray, ultimately left with nothing.
Of course, Gray didn't see it that way.
"Really?" Gray squinted his eyes, gazing at Shane as if trying to see through to his deepest emotions, and said, "Do you really think you weren't ensnared?"
Clearly, Gray still couldn't believe that someone could resist Chafne's allure.
But how would he know?
"Believe me, the daughter of your half-brother the king is prettier and more outstanding than you can imagine, certainly no less than that so-called Enchanting Demon," Shane asserted: "Besides, although I can be impulsive, I'm also a realist. I don't hope for things I can't have, avoiding the proverbial dropping of the watermelon while picking up sesame seeds."
As a young man living in the twenty-first century, Shane knew well that goddesses are meant to be seen, not chased.
One should know their limits, not genuinely chasing after something far beyond reach, because doing so would lead to utter downfall.
Perhaps some may have grand dreams or noble ideals, even as underdogs, they might want to strive and struggle to achieve them.
But they aren't the only ones on that path.
At the end, how many will fall on that path, become stepping stones for others?
At the end, how many will be defeated by reality, become mere sacrifices?
Shane's capacity for acceptance was unusual, understanding all this from the beginning, thus never harboring vain hopes.
Some might say, he is content with mediocrity.
Some might say, he lacks ambition, bereft of foresight.
But Shane wants to say…
"What you like isn't necessarily what I like, don't use your way of thinking to decide what I should or shouldn't do."
What if I'm content with mediocrity?
Being able to live carefree all my life, would I lose to those who devote their entire lives to striving and struggling?
So, after Shane transmigrated into this world, he immediately accepted the situation, but never thought of himself as a savior, nor did he aspire to achieve anything in this world.
Even though he had become one of the foremost powerful figures in Omni Potanssen, possessing strength that everyone envied, he never took pride in it, nor did he feel himself to be anything special.
For Shane , being able to have Luoqi, Tielle, and Merica, as well as a few close female friends that he wouldn't have dared to dream of in his previous life, was already an unexpected joy.
"I am quite satisfied with the current situation, never wishing for more."
Shane's calm words were met with Gray's silence.
Looking at Shane's eyes, which were not exactly clear but clearer than anyone else's, Gray felt a surge of emotions.
After a long while...
"You are right," Gray murmured, "If I had been as rational as you back then..."
Gray shook his head, leaving his sentence unfinished.
Still, it was that old statement; he did not feel regret, only a sense of pity.
"I didn't come here in vain." Gray sincerely said, "Having a conversation with you was indeed the right choice."
"Likewise." Shane spread his hands and said, "Knowing that the Kingdom still has such an outstanding person alive, I might also feel happy?"
"Don't say things you don't mean." Gray smiled slightly, saying, "Looking at you, Anxi and the Kingdom must be doing very well, even with new Heroes joining, and the future will inherit new Hero bloodlines. This reassures me."
Having said that, Gray turned away.
"Do you need me to keep a secret for you?"
Shane looked at Gray's back and suddenly said this.
He knew that Shane's mention of secrecy meant keeping it from the people of the Mitra Kingdom.
That is, not to tell the people of the Mitra Kingdom about Gray.
Including members of the Royal Family.
Gray thought for a moment and finally sighed deeply.
"Please do," Gray spoke softly, "An existence as disgraceful as mine shouldn't be known to more people, nor should they be reminded of it."
Leaving these words behind, Gray slowly walked away.
Shane, left alone, watched Gray's receding figure and only after a long time sighed.
"Being a lackey surely has no future."
After that, Shane also departed.
Not long after, two figures quietly appeared there.
These were two figures all too familiar to both Shane and Gray.
One of them was indeed Liel.
Liel watched the direction Shane had gone, her eyes filled with complexity.
As for the other figure, she was much more enchanting and explosive than Liel, even radiant under the moonlight, exceptionally beautiful.
Who could it be but Chafne?
"I didn't expect that just coming to take a look, I would hear such an interesting conversation."
Chafne also watched Shane's departing figure, her lips curling up slightly.
Clearly, Chafne was in a good mood.
"Do you like what you may not necessarily like?"
"Satisfied with the status quo, never desiring more?"
"It's really the first time I've heard someone view me this way."
Chafne looked quite pleased.
Seeing Chafne , Liel vaguely felt regret.
Because it was she who had told Chafne about it, sparking her interest to come here and eavesdrop.
She was just following Chafne's instructions, particularly keeping an eye on Shane's matters, which is why she reported everything that happened today, including Shane's words, to Chafne afterward.
Who knew it would turn out this way?
"This Hero is really special," Chafne couldn't stop praising as she spoke to Liel, "Don't you think so, Liel?"
"...Just noisy appears to attract attention," Liel responded, clearly somewhat insincere.
Her thoughts were already filled with every word Shane had just said.
"I want to see if he really can be indifferent towards me."
A mysterious spark gradually appeared in Chafne's eyes.
If Ai Yi were here, seeing this, he would surely feel anxious, right?
Because whenever Chafne showed such a look, it meant she had set her eyes on.
She had set her eyes on a prey she found amusing.