Chapter 33: Miss Marble Slab
Following the orc's directions, the trio passed through the bustling market and turned into a dark alleyway.
At the end of the alley, they saw a shop with a worn-out sign—[Dawn Antique Shop].
The shop looked quite old; the wooden door frame was rotting, giving off a stale, musty smell that was completely out of place with the bustling commercial street outside.
The three exchanged glances and said nothing. Asmodeus stepped forward and knocked politely on the door.
"Excuse me, is the shopkeeper in?"
*Creak—*
The door opened.
What emerged was not some kindly old man, but a Dark Elf girl with wheat-colored skin and a lithe, athletic build.
She had short silver hair, metal rings hanging from her pointed ears, and an exquisitely beautiful face with a wild, cold aesthetic.
However... Lilith subconsciously glanced at the girl's chest: [Pfft! So flat.]
Completely flat, a vast plain! It was as if two thumbtacks had been pinned to a door.
Seeing this, Lilith puffed out her chest a bit smugly;
But soon, she frowned again, thinking to herself reflectively:
[Wait? Why am I proud? I don't need these two lumps of baggage at all!]
"Not here."
While Lilith was still conflicted, the Dark Elf girl sized up Asmodeus, then looked at Lilith and Hill behind him. She then gave Lilith's large cannons a massive eye-roll and said with a face full of displeasure:
"Sorry, we only do business with regulars and don't receive strangers. Please leave."
With that, she moved to close the door.
"Wait."
Asmodeus reached out to stop the door, his tone remaining calm:
"We have important matters to inquire about, specifically regarding the Grand Duke of Greed's Triple Trials. The orc brother who sells meat referred us here."
"Huh? That guy who sells dead lizards?"
Hearing this, the girl sneered. It seemed the orc's reputation in the City That Never Sleeps wasn't very good.
Then, the elf girl crossed her arms, blocking the doorway. With her chin tilted up in an arrogant posture, she said haughtily:
"So what if he referred you? Who does he think he is? I'm the Acting Manager of this shop. If I say you can't enter, you can't enter!"
As she spoke, she turned her gaze toward Lilith, a flash of jealousy and disdain in her eyes:
"Especially... bringing along a Succubus who only knows how to seduce men! Stinking of filth, one look and I can tell you're up to no good! We don't welcome big-breasted, brainless cows here. Please leave!"
"Huh??!"
She could tolerate the poor attitude toward Asmodeus earlier, but the girl just had to drag her into it at the end!
[Big-breasted and brainless?]
[Who are you calling a brat, kid!]
Lilith, who had been in a calm sage mode, felt her temper flare up instantly upon hearing those words. The veins on her forehead throbbed.
Her cold expression gradually crumbled, replaced by a slightly hooked, kindly smile.
Thus, Lilith took a step forward:
"Cow?"
Lilith intentionally puffed out her proud assets!
With her movement, a surge of waves beneath the fabric made Hill's head spin. Then, Lilith looked at the elf girl's flat figure with a gaze bordering on pity:
"Still better than some people, right? One might mistake you for an undeveloped Goblin—what, did the meat you were supposed to grow go to your temper instead? Miss Marble Slab?"
"You! YOU!!!"
At those words, the Dark Elf girl instantly bristled!
Marble slab?
Marble slab!
What a bizarre and damnable adjective! In all her life, no one had ever described her with such malicious words!
"Damned Succubus! Die!"
Saying so, the Dark Elf girl gathered her magic and reached out to grab Lilith.
Lilith, of course, wasn't afraid. She also gathered magic and grabbed back—so the two girls' hands met, fingers interlocking as they seized each other's hands, pushing forward with all their might in a contest of strength!
But obviously, as a Ninth Rank Peak and the strongest Succubus, how could Lilith lose to her?
After just a moment, the Dark Elf girl began to lose her strength, being forced back step by step by Lilith.
"You! You Succubus! You cow! Let go!"
"Still cursing? If you say those two words again, I'll pin you to the ground and give you a good spanking! You pathetic marble slab!"
"I am not a slab! Aaaaaah!"
The Dark Elf girl was gradually breaking down from the insults. Lacking the strength to match Lilith, she could only rely on screaming to boost her momentum.
Fortunately, at that moment, an old and authoritative roar came from deep within the shop:
"Stop! Who dares to act so wildly here!"
"Eh?"
Hearing the shout, Lilith finally let go of the girl. Asmodeus and Hill also looked into the room curiously.
An old man leaning on a cane, his face covered in wrinkles and wearing tattered noble attire, walked out tremblingly.
"Grandpa! They're trespassing!"
The Dark Elf girl, with tears in her eyes, pointed at Lilith with a look of grievance, wanting to complain.
However...
When the old man's gaze fell upon Asmodeus's face, his entire body froze.
In his cloudy old eyes, his original anger instantly solidified;
It then transformed into shock, confusion, and disbelief, until finally... hot tears gushed from his eyes!
"This... this aura... this face..."
The old man was completely stunned.
He threw away his cane as if he had seen a miracle and flopped to his knees, crawling toward Asmodeus regardless of his dignity! Then he cried out in a shrill voice:
"Lord Demon Lord! You are the Demon Lord! It's you!"
"The Demon Lord has returned! Your Majesty! You've finally returned! Waaaah! This is wonderful!"
Having said that, the old man couldn't help but burst into loud sobs.
The Dark Elf girl, who had hoped her grandfather would back her up, was completely dumbfounded, standing frozen in place.
"Eh?"
"Demon Lord? Who?"
She looked around in confusion.
But who else here besides the'suspicious trio' from earlier could be the Demon Lord?
Meanwhile, Hill, standing behind Asmodeus, also realized something. His eyes widened gradually, and he covered his mouth in shock:
"Uncle? Uncle Tayako! You're still alive?!"
"Hill?!"
The old man looked up, tears streaming down his face as he looked at the doll-like boy. His gaze became three times more excited than before:
"You're alive too... you're still alive! Thank goodness... the Valen Family has not ended!"
"Hey, hey, what's going on? Can someone explain?"
Lilith watched this massive family reunion scene and could only spread her hands in confusion, asking the others.
Thus, the old shopkeeper named Tayako knelt on the ground, wiping away his tears while explaining sorrowfully.
"Wooo... it's like this..."
As it turned out, this old man was Hill's biological uncle and the current head of the Valen Family.
Ever since Asmodeus was sealed, the loyalists of various races who followed the Demon Lord were collectively exiled to this The Seventh Layer, naturally including the Valen Family.
"For these three hundred years, we have been researching how to break the seal and rescue the Demon Lord... but our strength was insufficient, and we simply couldn't do it."
"Many races are not as long-lived as we demons or elves. After several generations, many have already died in despair."
"And their descendants... the children born in this prison, don't understand our loyalty at all. They only know they were born as prisoners, and so they blame everything on the Demon Lord..."
"There are even... even those who have developed the terrifying idea that 'as long as they kill Asmodeus, they can gain privileges and be released'!"
At this point, the old man kowtowed heavily, scraping the skin on his forehead:
"But I have always believed! I always believed that the Demon Lord did not abandon us! Your Majesty would surely return—Your Majesty! This old servant... this old servant has finally lived to see this day! Woooo..."
After speaking, Tayako continued to weep bitterly. The scene was quite touching.
As for the Dark Elf girl... she stood to the side, her face full of disbelief, only able to stare at the young and handsome Asmodeus with wide eyes:
"How... how is that possible? Shouldn't the legendary Demon Lord be as old as Grandpa? Grandpa, have you gone senile?"
"Impudence!!!"
Hearing this, Tayako snapped his head around and roared in an extremely stern voice:
"Nia! What insolence! Kneel before the Demon Lord at once!"
"I... I..."
The Dark Elf girl named Nia flinched in fright.
Although she was still a bit defiant in her heart, under her grandfather's murderous gaze, she could only bite her lip in displeasure and kneel down reluctantly.
"I'm... I'm sorry, Lord Demon Lord."
"Oh?"
Just then, a playful voice came from above.
Lilith walked up to Nia with glowing eyes, looking down at her. She crossed her arms and smugly puffed out her proud chest:
"Who was it just now that said... I was just a big-breasted, brainless Succubus? Why are you kneeling now? Hmm?"
"Ugh!"
Nia's face turned red with anger.
Such humiliation, it was too much! But she could only grit her teeth, tears welling in her eyes, looking utterly aggrieved.
She couldn't win a fight, and she didn't dare talk back. To be mocked for her figure by this big-breasted woman... it was a complete disgrace!
"Alright, that's enough."
Seeing Lilith being so arrogant, Asmodeus had no choice but to reach out and pull her back.
Like disciplining a naughty kitten, he gently pinched Lilith's soft cheek and gave it a light tug:
"You should say less too. We're all on the same side; don't bully her."
"Ouch! That hurts!"
Lilith clutched her face and glared at Asmodeus with a fierce expression:
[You actually dare to bully me? Once we're out, I'll finish you off, hmph!]
Her heart was gnashing its teeth, but her body unconsciously leaned closer to the Demon Lord.
On the other side, Asmodeus turned to the old man, his expression becoming gentle yet serious:
"Rise, Tayako. You've all worked hard these years. Since it's a misunderstanding, let's not make a fuss. First, arrange a place for us to rest. Later, I wish to discuss the matter of the Grand Duke of Greed with you in detail."
"By your command, Your Majesty!"
Tayako trembled with excitement;
He then quickly scrambled up from the ground and shouted at his granddaughter, who was still kneeling:
"Nia! What are you standing around for? Go and get the best guest room ready!"
"Ugh, yes..."
Nia stood up pitifully, just about to go tidy the room.
Just then, Lilith remembered something. She sniffed her arm and turned to call out:
"Wait."
"What is it? Co—... Lady Succubus."
[What the heck is 'Lady Succubus'? Whatever.]
Lilith ignored the strange title and scratched her cheek a bit sheepishly:
"Can I take a bath here?"