NOVPUBOf course, if they desperately need to become stronger or have ambitious goals, even those from the Long-lived Species might choose to enter the Shadow World mode.
Lanci couldn’t help but think of a senior from the Demon Race.
Even the new generation of the Demon Race is almost stronger than this old-timer.
"...?"
Talia immediately responded to him without using words.
Even without speaking, she could hear Lanci’s intensely persistent thoughts—
We’re all from the Demon Race, so why is there such a big difference?
True, the higher the level, the harder it is to train.
But you can’t just be treading water for a hundred years.
Among the living members of the Great Demon Clan, you’re just a bit stronger than Antanas, but setting aside the fact that Antanas was suppressed in Prison for a hundred years, she’s a noble Shield healer, and even if she’s one level lower than you, she’s still more useful.
"Isatia is definitely not as strong as me."
Suppressing her anger, Talia said with certainty.
She kept thinking that for the sake of the painting Lanci had done for her today, she would spare him for now.
In the past, the high-ranking officials of the Demon World said that once Isatia became a member of the Great Demon Clan, she wouldn’t bother with princess-like behavior, responsibilities, or such matters.
So Isatia reached the Eighth-order and smoothly advanced to the Great Demon Clan, and she stopped training ever since.
So, by Lanci’s logic, it was likely that after a hundred years, Isatia was still an 80th-level gatekeeper and definitely not as strong as her older sister.
"But what if she suddenly feels like training again one day?"
Lanci raised a skeptical point.
"..."
Talia thought about it and did feel a bit of a crisis.
It seemed that unnoticed, she was about to become the weakest of the Great Demon Clan.
"Impossible, Rosalinda has said it: ever since Isatia came to the human realm, she has become even lazier. She definitely can’t be stronger than me."
Although Talia admitted that her year and more in Ichrite had been somewhat decadent.
But she was convinced that Isatia, who was already quite decadent in the Demon World, could only become more so, especially since she even got married and started a family; she probably wouldn’t train ever again in this lifetime.
Just thinking about this allayed the guilt in Talia’s heart.
"Stop it, Tata, in a way your sister has already won too much."
"What do you mean?"
"Tata, Hutton Kingdom’s recommended applicant, unmarried, age 25."
"Go to hell, Lanci!"
Lanci, aside from communicating mentally with Talia, was also walking and talking with Nigel, about to reach the entrance to the Poseen Demon World.
"Our teacher was not part of the Demon World’s military a hundred years ago; he was a Demon Race scholar from the Northern Continent. When the war between the Demon World and the human realms began, he was anti-war, seeking to research and pursue peaceful coexistence between humans and the Demon Race, so after the Demon Race lost the war, he was also treated favorably by the Poseen Kingdom," Nigel replied to Lanci, his voice barely concealing his hidden respect.
A long time ago, the teacher was a surviving scholar of the Demon Race from the era of war, and he was an orphan adopted by said teacher.
Although the mentor and pupil were somewhat estranged now, he didn’t deny that many of his ideas had been influenced by the teacher.
They passed through narrow alleys on the edge, arriving at the side of an old church.
Through a door made of weathered oak, pushing aside the overgrowth of fine vines, their field of view instantly brightened.
Here the two entered the spacious hall of the railway station’s entrance, and just past the checkpoint was the Poseen Demon World.
"That makes sense," Lanci felt he could sort of understand why Nigel was different from most of the Demon Race.
Nigel could be said to treat both humans and the Demon Race with equal regard, always maintaining a lucid and steadfast demeanor.
This was because of the guidance of such a teacher since childhood.
"It seems that after building the Demon World, Perlman and the Poseen Kingdom have achieved mutual success. He not only reached the Eighth-order over a hundred years but is also among the stronger ones there, and the current prosperity of the Poseen Demon World must owe much to Perlman," Talia assessed in Lanci’s mind.
The sight of humans and Demon Race living together in harmony, even to Talia, was an incredible ideal.
Yet, with a century’s worth of effort, Perlman had indeed achieved this to a certain degree.
"Yes, the conviction to hold onto one’s goals for long years and to carry them through is truly impressive, whereas..."
Lanci sighed as if unwilling to continue.
"Whereas what?"
Talia’s voice became increasingly cold.
"Sometimes learning to let go is also a form of wisdom. The more obsessed a person is, the more terrifying and extreme they become once their obsession shatters. So when I say ’whereas,’ I’m referring to a certain princess with a mature outlook on life. Her wisdom is worth our learning," Lanci earnestly suggested to Talia.
"Are you mocking me?"
Talia was now able to understand the cryptic talk of Lanci, the seasoned oblique critic.
"How could that be?"
Lanci transmitted his thoughts, feigning innocence.
"...When the day comes that the Demon Race truly regains its nation, I shall at least make you a duke and see how the history books of humanity will judge you then."
Talia scoffed and lapsed into silence, no longer addressing him.
"You’re truly an optimistic girl, Tata."
Lanci let out a cheerful laugh.
And honestly, Tata’s optimism always brought him endless joy, making him laugh heartily.
