Xia Mi no longer expected this elf's thoughts to align with his own. With a swift movement, he grabbed and pulled off the necklace she wore around her slender neck.
"What is this? I noticed you glancing at it several times. This necklace must be quite important to you."
[Name: Forest Spirit Necklace]
[Type: Item]
[Quality: Supreme]
[Attribute: Elf Essence]
[Description: A token crafted using the secret techniques of the elves, recording the identity of the elf. Only the elf and the necklace that matches can enter the Elven Forest and receive its protection. The necklace also contains a large amount of the elf′s energy, equivalent to a second life for the elf. It is of utmost importance to the elven race.]
"It's... It's nothing. Just a cheap necklace I won in a street game. Please, give it back to me, kind villager..."
Lureia blinked nervously, trying to suppress her urge and anxiety. Yet, her hand involuntarily reached out for the necklace. It was her key to return home; without it, she couldn't enter the Forest of Elves.
"Oh? Then gift it to me."
Trust an elf to never speak the truth.
Having already known the necklace's information, Xia Mi directly placed it into his spatial ring.
"Eh?!"
The blonde elf's voice rose in pitch, and she quickly knelt, clutching Xia Mi's legs. Her face was on the verge of tears.
"Mr. Villager, what are you doing?"
"As of this moment, accepting your admiration?"
"No! It's my necklace! You placed it directly into your spatial ring. Why would you do such a thing?" Lureia asked, distraught.
Wait, why does a villager have a spatial ring? He must indeed be the new heir to the Demon King!
Such thoughts echoed sarcastically in the elf's mind.
Xia Mi squatted down, looking at Lureia, and forced a sly smile on his face.
"Miss Elf, this necklace is quite important to you, isn't it? Speak the truth, or I'll no longer entertain you."
Lureia had no choice but to nod in agreement.
"It's... It's my key to return home. Without it, I can't enter the Elven Forest... I'd be left to wander outside... Please, return it to me..."
"I see." Xia Mi nodded, feigning realization.
From the elf's reaction, this item seemed even more significant than he had imagined.
Now, he had two choices: either eliminate the threat entirely or use the necklace to ensure the elf's silence about their encounter.
"Miss Elf, you don't want to be forever stranded from your home, do you?"
Lureia nodded and then shook her head vigorously.
"No, I don't."
"Good. Listen to me carefully. First, never speak of what you saw today to anyone. Second, I'm just an ordinary villager, not a Demon King. I came here merely for sightseeing."
In Lureia's eyes, this was an indirect admission from Xia Mi.
"I... I understand..."
"Then, endure staying outside for five years. After that, come to Eden City in the Kingdom of Phis. I will return your necklace unharmed. If you fail, you'll never return to the Forest of Elves. If there's any rumor about me being the Demon King, I'll immediately destroy it using my magic."
Five years would allow him to achieve a lot. By then, even if his identity were revealed, Xia Mi would have the strength to protect himself.
Furthermore, elves have long lifespans, typically around 500 years. Five years was just a blink of an eye for them.
Lureia hesitated for a moment, her lips slightly parted, "That's it?"
"What more do you want?" Xia Mi frowned.
The blonde elf's pointy ears reddened imperceptibly. She had thought there might be more conditions, perhaps even having to capture their entire encounter on crystal recordings as a second layer of threat. But that wasn't the case.
It seems she had overthought things. It couldn't be helped; being an elf meant thinking deeper and at a higher level than others.
"I agree!" The blonde elf said, her expression odd, as she puffed out her chest.
"Good. Deal!"
Xia Mi stood, brushing off the dust from his clothes. The necklace was vital to the blonde elf; he wasn't worried about her reneging on the agreement.
"For now, we're square."
After a moment's hesitation, he decided to extend some basic trust, "My name is Xia Mi."
"I am Lureia Yuzer Elga of the elves."
Lureia stood up and, when Xia Mi wasn't looking, quickly grabbed her sword.
She couldn't afford to lose that too.
Xia Mi scanned the surroundings, ensuring there were no other demon relics, and then prepared to leave the Demon King's castle.
"We shall part ways here. Come find me in Eden City, Kingdom of Phis, five years from today. I live there. Five years will pass quickly for you. Remember, keep our secret."
"I... I understand."
Lureia wanted to say more, but Xia Mi had already passed her, heading straight for the exit without a backward glance.
Watching his departing figure, the blonde elf blinked in surprise.
Is that all? Nothing else to say? Just this?
[Main Quest Completed. Successfully retrieved Heart of the Demon King's Fortress, Monster Codex, and Demon King's Ring.]
As Xia Mi walked out of the Demon King's castle, he caressed its walls.
[Name: Severely Damaged Demon King Castle]
[Attribute: Ordinary Castle]
[Lifespan: 30days]
[Description: After losing its core, this structure will become a lifeless, damaged castle. In thirty days, it will collapse and turn into rubble.]
Thus, all remnants of the previous Demon King were erased. But now, with the Heart of the Demon King's Fortress in his possession, Xia Mi had the means to rebuild a new castle for himself.
Now, he needed to return to the village of Illy and contemplate his next moves.
It was Xia Mi's first time leaving the beginner's village. His trip to the Demon King's castle didn't truly expose him to the world's customs and true nature. Still, the diverse crowd from various kingdoms and villages, the occasional sightings of dwarves, and the peculiar blonde elf made the experience quite intriguing.
[Demon King's Warp]'s cooldown was over. As such, upon locating a secluded spot in the forest, he then chose to teleport back to the village of Illy.
"Does this jerk have rabbit legs? He runs so fast!"
Outside the Demon King's castle, the blonde elf bent over, hands on her knees, panting heavily while scanning the surroundings.
Xia Mi had left only moments ago, and she had tried to follow, but he had vanished from sight.
The warm sun threatened to make her pale skin glisten with sweat. She sought shade and started to assess her situation.
She, Lureia, was now an orphan.