Shami no longer expected the brain circuits of this elf to match her own, and with one hand, she yanked the necklace from around her slender neck.
"What is this thing? I saw your gaze fixed on it several times just now. This necklace must be very important to you, right?"
[Name: Elf Forest Necklace]
[Type: Item]
[Quality: Supreme]
[Attribute: Elf Spirit Qi]
[Note: The identity of elves is recorded using the secret technique of the Elf Race. Only the elf and the Elf Forest Necklace can match, allowing entry to and protection by the Elf Forest. The necklace also contains a substantial amount of the elf's energy, equivalent to a second life, and is extremely important to the Elf Race.]
"No, no, it's just a cheap necklace picked up tossing circles on the street. Please, please give it back to me, Mr. Villager..."
Lureya blinked uneasily, suppressing the impulse and anxiety within her, but in reality, a hand reached uncontrollably towards the necklace.
That was her key to home and lifeline; without it, she couldn't enter the Elf Forest.
"Is that so? Then give it to me as a gift."
The tablet spirit uttered not a single truth.
Already aware of the necklace's information, Shami directly placed the necklace into his own Spatial Ring.
"Eh?!"
The gold-haired elf's voice raised several pitches, as she dropped to her knees, grabbed Shami's legs with both hands, her small face on the verge of tears without relief.
"Mr. Villager, what are you doing?"
"Accepting your homage?"
"No, it's my necklace! You put it directly into your Spatial Ring, it's terrible!" Lureya lamented.
No way, why does a villager have a Spatial Ring? He's definitely the new Demon King Heir!
The elf internally sighed for the umpteenth time.
Shami squatted down, looked at Lureya, and managed to squeeze a wicked grin at the corner of his mouth.
"Ms. Elf, this necklace is very important to you, right? Tell the truth, or I won't play with you anymore."
Lureya could only painfully nod to admit.
"My key home… Without it, I can't enter the Elf Forest… I'll have to wander outside… Please, give it back to me…"
"I see." Shami nodded as if realizing it for the first time.
From the elf's reaction, this object's importance was greater than he imagined.
Now, either kill off the witness to leave no hidden danger, or use this item to bind the tablet spirit's lips, ensuring she won't dare divulge the matter.
"Ms. Elf, you don't want to be unable to return home forever, do you?"
Lureya nodded, then shook her head like a wobble drum.
"No, I don't want."
"Good. Then obediently listen to me. First, absolutely do not disclose what you've seen today to anyone. Second, I'm just an ordinary villager, not a Demon King. My sole purpose here was tourism."
In Lureya's eyes, Shami's words were practically a roundabout confession of identity.
"I, I understand…"
"Then, endure living outside for five years. After that, come to Eden City, and I'll return the necklace to you intact. If you can't do this, you'll never return to the Elf Forest for a lifetime. If there's any gossip about me being a Demon King outside, I'll immediately destroy it with magic power."
Five years is enough to do many things; even if his identity is exposed then, Shami would have enough strength to protect himself.
Moreover, elves live long lives, typically around five hundred years. Five years is merely a snap of the fingers to them.
Upon hearing this, Lureya paused slightly, her small mouth ajar: "That's all…"
"What else do you want?" Shami rather frowned.
The gold-haired elf's pointed ears flushed faintly red.
She thought they'd at least have to use seven or eight Recording Crystals to capture videos of them wrestling from every angle, switching hundreds of postures, wrestling for four to five hours, recording it all as the second layer of threat.
Turns out it's just this.
Clearly she overthought it. Well, what can she do, she's an elf! She has to think deeper and at a higher level than others.
"I promise!" The gold-haired elf's expression turned strange as she stood up and promised.
"Great. Deal!"
Shami stood up and patted the dust off himself.
To the gold-haired elf, the necklace was invaluable; he's not afraid she'll renege.
"Now from this moment, we have cleared all accounts."
After hesitating a while, to show some basic trust to the elf: "My name is Shami."
"I, I am the Elf Race's Lureya Youze Aigal."
Lureya stood up too, using the time when Shami wasn't observing, hurriedly hugged her sword.
She couldn't let the sword go to him for free.
Shami surveyed the surroundings, ensuring no other demon relics remained, prepared to leave the Demon King Castle.
"Then this is where we part ways. On this day five years later, come find me in Fess Kingdom's Eden City. I live there. Five years is quite short for you. Remember to keep our secret."
"I, I understand."
Lureya wanted to say more, but Shami already walked past her towards the dark exit door, without a trace of reluctance.
Watching Shami's silhouette disappear, the gold-haired elf finally regained herself from the life and death contract, blinking.
This is it?
Nothing else to say?
Just this?
[Main quest completed successfully. 'Heart of the Demon King's Castle', Demons Atlas, Demon King Ring recovered.]
Shami walked out of the Demon King Castle while rubbing its walls.
[Name: Severely damaged Demon King Castle]
[Attribute: Ordinary Castle]
[Lifespan: 30 Days]
[After losing the Heart of the Demon King's Castle, this castle will become a lifeless ruined castle. In thirty days, it will automatically collapse, completely turning into a pile of wasteland.]
This way, the symbols of the former Demon King will completely disappear.
However, with the Heart of the Demon King's Castle in his possession, he has the capital to rebuild his own Demon King Castle.
Now, he needs to return to Yili Village to think carefully and plan the next step.
It's Shami's first time leaving the Newbie Village. Coming to the Demon King's Castle this time doesn't count as truly seeing the world's customs, real appearances. Yet the crowds from various kingdoms and villages, along with the occasional sight of goblin dwarves, and that flat tablet gold-haired elf, all seemed quite amusing to him.
[Demon King's Teleportation]cooldown complete, found a spot in the woods where no one noticed. Shami chose to teleport to Yili Village.
"Is this jerk part rabbit, running so fast!"
Outside the Demon King Castle, the gold-haired elf bent down, hands on her knees, gasping for air while surveying the surroundings.
Shortly after Shami left, she hurriedly followed his steps, but he was nowhere to be found.
The sunlight was warm, almost tanning her snowy skin. She sheltered in a shaded area, gradually realizing the situation.
She, Lureya, had now become an orphan.
——
[Next chapter: Tomorrow at 12 PM]