Mohe's invitation to Doro was not the first, nor would it be the last.
Doro was unable to oppose herself.
If he were still that spirited man from before, perhaps he could steadfastly refute himself, perhaps he could bring out so-called "righteous arguments" to refute her, or there would be no need to refute at all; that man named A·Gedora would show a smile resembling a saint's and then say, "It doesn't matter, because I am here."
Even if someone sought allegiance with the Demon King, it wouldn't matter; even if someone wasn't loyal to their alliance, it was irrelevant. He would forgive them because he was confident he would defeat the Demon King.
The person he was then and the person he is now—cannot be viewed as the same.
The present Doro couldn't possibly refute Mohe's words, yet…
He would not truly submit.
He only remained silent.
Mohe's expression turned pitying: "Look at yourself. I really find it such a shame, Mr. Doro, you've become so cowardly to the point where you can't even take responsibility for a woman?"
"What are you trying to say?"
"I mean, as long as you make her your woman, make her feel she's important to you too, won't she stop this self-destructive behavior? She's doing this now to avoid dragging you down, right? But as long as you rely on her, tell her you need her, she'll definitely stay by your side."
Doro suddenly lifted his head, he gazed into the girl's eyes, and the girl matched his gaze without backing down.
"This is your last solution, the only thing an old man like you can use—even this only works on Lisidorwei, girls nowadays wouldn't be interested in someone like you."
Mohe spread her hands: "That means this old thing, Lisidorwei, doesn't mind your age."
Having said that, she began to usher him away: "Alright, if you have nothing else, just leave! Whatever you do is not my concern. It's just a leisure activity for me, I have things to handle."
She directly started to send him off.
Doro also left.
Mohe knew, the hero A·Gedora was already destined to become hers, this was a predetermined fate.
"Ah~ Is there no more interesting development?"
Mohe shook her head: "Interesting is not necessarily a good thing, to rule this world, there are more important matters."
...
"Lisidorwei!"
Lisidorwei used her power to create a blood coffin, sealing Frodonick, ensuring his life aura wouldn't be exposed. Even though Doro decided to forgive this person, Lisidorwei did not intend to, so she planned to handle him quietly.
Besides…
This man harbored the Demon King's eternal power.
She didn't desire this eternal power for its own sake, but rather—using this eternal power could kill herself. Just like when she consumed the Demon King's drop of blood… This was her material for suicide.
However, Doro caught up.
Lisidorwei came to a stop, she turned around and looked at Doro: "Why did you chase after me?"
"I feel that if I didn't come after you, I would regret it."
Hearing his words, Lisidorwei couldn't help feeling a bit disappointed, she slowly approached Doro. Unlike Mohe, Lisidorwei was tall enough, she seriously stared at Doro, carefully examining the man's features.
The lines on his face were actually quite hard, the unkempt stubble gave a sense of his despondency and age. The former hero A·Gedora was not the same as the man before her, this man's face even had some wrinkles, though barely in his thirties, any slightly lively person would be different, let alone he was so strong.
She extended her hand, brushing against Doro's cheek: "Doro, you've aged."
Her fingers rubbed across his face, along his nose bridge, around his slightly rugged edges, across his eye sockets, over his lips.
"You shouldn't continue like this."
Shouldn't continue like this?
No one had ever said that to Doro before. In the first twenty years of his life, he was exceptionally brilliant, everyone would declare this as "correct." And in the ensuing ten-plus years, no one would advise him like this.
"I love you, Doro." Lisidorwei looked at Doro so affectionately, expressing her feelings, "I am a foolish person. I once thought I was escaping the Demon King's rule. I told myself, I was merely using you… But when you appeared before me again, Gedora, I was so thrilled and joyful, I longed to spend my remaining life with you, but… for someone like me…"
She was not human.
She was a tool created by the Demon King: "Gedora, no, Doro, you should choose your own life, your life should not be bound. From the start, this was a mistake, the life of a hero was not your own choice; you are always fighting for others—you should not choose to help the Demon King for my sake, you should not fight for others. If one day you decide to cooperate with the Demon King, then it should be for yourself. You should let your own choices lead the way."
"I am nothing more than… merely a tool for the Demon King to manipulate you."
Lisidorwei's crimson-like-snow pupils wept tears, repeatedly caressing Doro's face, as if to imprint this face entirely in her mind. She loved him, so she must disappear from this world.
Doro should choose his own life.
"So… go back, Doro."
She no longer addressed him by the name Gedora, she realized that he should have been reborn long ago, A·Gedora's name should have been buried; that name was merely a painful shackle for the man in front of her, a sorrow of the past.
"To embark on the new life you should have."
Reluctantly, she let go of his hand, then turned around: "You must learn to love yourself, Doro, when you truly love yourself, happiness will undoubtedly come your way."
However…
Doro held her hand.
Lisidorwei's body softened, yet she stubbornly refused to turn back: "Doro! You should let go!"
However, Doro gave her no response, instead, he used greater force, pulling her into his embrace.
"You! What do you want to do, Doro!"
"Now in this world, only you love me, Lisidorwei. Are you going to leave me?"
"I…" Lisidorwei was flustered, Doro's words made her heart tremble, "But, I said, you should love yourself…"
"Then you should tell me how to love myself!"
Lisidorwei was taken aback, she dared not delve into the secrets hidden in Doro's words.
She only felt the strength of Doro's embrace.
"Doro…"
"Lisidorwei, I am currently very despicable, very shameless, I do not love you, but I want you to love me, I want to… to find happiness. Stay by my side."
He did not love her, merely wanted her love…
This too…
is fine.