Chapter 36: Shh! Don't Wake My Wife!
With the goodnight kiss finished, Asmodeus lay down with satisfaction.
As his fiancée turned her back to him in shy indignation, Asmodeus reached out and easily pulled Lilith into his arms—his large hand dominantly circling her waist, palm naturally resting on her soft lower abdomen, while his chin lightly pressed against the crook of her neck, letting his warm breath puff rhythmically against her cute ear.
In this way, Asmodeus held this small creature—Lilith Augusta, the Demon Lord of the Abyss's exclusive large hug pillow—perfectly close. She was soft and warm, and holding her felt incredibly comfortable.
[Bullshit!]
Although Asmodeus was very comfortable holding his fiancée, a blue vein was faintly visible on Lilith's forehead!
[I am a Great Demon at the Ninth Rank Peak, not some Demon Lord's pillow!]
[I must... I must break free... Huh? Why am I locked in! Dammit!]
She gritted her teeth, her face full of disgust, as her fair and delicate little hands constantly pulled at the Demon Lord's arm, trying to move his hand away from her belly.
In response, the Demon Lord only let out a low, lazy sleep-mutter.
"Mm... don't be naughty..."
Just like dealing with a naughty kitten that didn't want to sleep with its owner, Asmodeus not only didn't let go but tightened his grip—it was the reassuring absolute strength of a powerful male, and his scorching body heat continuously seeped through the fabric, nearly melting Lilith.
Then, as if coaxing a child, he actually patted Lilith's belly with his hand!
"Wha—?!"
Clearly... clearly her mind was still screaming "Don't touch me," but her body seemed to have a mind of its own.
In that warm embrace, her spine slowly relaxed, and the original disgust and indignation on her face gradually subsided, replaced by a conflicted pout.
That expression seemed to say:
[Hmph, even though I hate this, considering he saved me twice before, I'll put up with it for now.]
[I'll get my revenge sooner or later anyway. Everything right now is just an act to please Asmodeus, enduring humiliation for the greater good, tsk.]
Thinking of this, the last trace of awkwardness on Lilith's face vanished! It turned into a comfortable, squinty-eyed expression as she found a better position to snuggle into and continued to huddle there.
[Phew... so warm...]
Her flexible black heart-tipped tail gently wound around Asmodeus's arm, loop after loop.
Only after her tail confirmed that he wouldn't leave did Lilith dizzily close her eyes and fall into a peaceful sleep... However, at the same time.
In contrast to the warm and cozy atmosphere in the bedroom, a murderous aura was spreading in the shadows outside the curiosity shop.
Relying on the faint light of the magic crystals in the Underground Labyrinth, a group of figures dressed in gray cloaks with their faces hidden by hoods were silently gathering.
Judging by their exposed chins and palms, these seemed to be humans?
"Finally, this day has come..."
The man leading them stared intently at the closed window on the second floor, the flames of hatred burning in his eyes.
"Because of this irresponsible Demon Lord... for that illusory grand cause... several generations of our people have been imprisoned in this dark dungeon! Living like rats! Without a shred of dignity! But today... we have finally waited long enough!"
"Captain, are we really going to do this?"
Hearing the captain's near-manic whisper, a young team member nearby seemed somewhat hesitant.
"If he really is the Demon Lord... if our ancestors really were his subjects... then he should... he should be able to take us out, right?"
"Are you joking?!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the captain's gaze turned cold, interrupting the team member.
"We are humans! We are citizens of the Holy Kingdom! Our ancestors must have been deceived by that Demon Lord's sorcery to become his servants!"
"Only by personally ending this culprit can we wash away our shame! Only then can we return to the embrace of the Holy Kingdom!"
"Are you willing to live with these disgusting Naga and beastmen for the rest of your life? Are you willing to live in a dungeon forever?"
The captain's words frightened the hesitant member, who could only shake his head quickly. Consequently, the other members who wanted to speak up also fell silent.
At the same time, the captain pulled a black stone emitting an eerie light from his robe.
"Captain? This is?!"
"The demon sealing stone bestowed by the Grand Duke of Greed!"
The captain grinned hideously, a sinister malice showing in his cloudy eyes.
"It can re-condense the magic of 'Ragnarok' scattered in nature, sealing that newly awakened and still weak Demon Lord for another hundred years! Once this mission is complete, the Grand Duke will fulfill his promise and let us return to the surface!"
"Brothers, for freedom! To return to the beautiful Holy Kingdom!"
"For freedom!!!"
As the captain raised his arm, the group gave a low shout and drew their weapons, preparing to force their way in.
But just then, the shop door swung open.
"Stop right there!!"
The old shopkeeper, leaning on his cane, came out with Nia and several strong demon shop assistants, blocking the entrance.
"Ryan, what exactly do you think you're doing!"
Tayako looked at the leading man, his brow furrowed, as he shouted in a pained tone:
"Everyone, stand down! Lord Asmodeus has returned!"
Nia, standing beside him, also explained:
"Yes! There's no need to fight anymore. We are all descendants of the Demon Lord's subjects. His Majesty will surely take us all out of here! Don't do something so foolish that only hurts your own and pleases the enemy!"
"Take us away? Hahahaha!"
The other members remained silent, but the human captain named Ryan let out a bitter laugh as if he'd heard a joke.
"You idiots, haven't you woken up yet? If he really had the ability, he wouldn't have lost three hundred years ago! If he really wanted to save us, we wouldn't have been waiting here in misery for three hundred years!"
Saying this, Ryan gripped his dagger, practically gritting his teeth as he spoke each word:
"I will never forget the despair of the previous clan leader before he died—the unwillingness, helplessness, and regret in his eyes! And don't forget... we are humans!"
Swish—
Ryan swung his dagger forcefully, as if venting the anger in his heart.
"Those who are not of our kin are sure to have a different heart! As the King of the Demons, how could he possibly tolerate the existence of us humans? Just like the current Demon Lord who imprisoned us here! Only by completing the Grand Duke of Greed's mission do we have a way to live!"
"Move out!"
With Ryan's command, all the humans charged forward together!
Seeing this, Tayako had no choice but to wave his hand.
"Stubborn fools! Nia! Stop them!"
"Yes!"
Thus, with the glint of blades and the shadow of swords, the two sides instantly clashed.
As a family that had always wanted to assist the Demon Lord in breaking the seal, Tayako indeed had many experts under him. In just one exchange, the humans before them were beaten back, with several falling.
However, Ryan had clearly come prepared.
"Use that!"
Ryan shouted loudly.
Several humans suddenly threw out several dark-gold scrolls—the scrolls exploded in the air, turning into golden chains. Those chains were like venomous snakes that could autonomously seek out enemies, instantly binding Nia and the other demon shop assistants tightly.
"Ugh! I... I can't break free!"
Nia fell to the ground, tied up firmly, crying out in disbelief as she struggled.
Tayako was also shocked by the sight:
"This... this is power from 'Ragnarok'? How do you have such a thing?"
"That's why I said, this mission was personally issued by the Grand Duke of Greed! The tools were also given by the Grand Duke! As long as we wipe you out and seal the Demon Lord, endless wealth and glory await us! Die!"
Saying this, while the others were unable to break free from the chains, Ryan and another human charged directly at Tayako in a pincer attack—as long as they killed this aged clan leader, the remaining demons and Dark Elves would be nothing to fear!
"Grandpa!"
Nia shouted in terror. She was still struggling desperately, but she couldn't break the chains no matter what, and could only watch helplessly as the enemies rushed toward her relative.
But, it was at this most critical moment.
Hummm——
The air suddenly froze.
An indescribable, soul-shuddering terror pressure descended from the sky like the collapse of ten thousand mountains!
"Ah!"
Someone screamed, and then everyone, including the humans who came to assassinate Asmodeus and the shop assistants, all knelt to the ground.
Thump! Thump!
Even breathing became extremely difficult.
It was as if their hearts were being gripped tightly by someone!
Nia, tied to the ground, raised her head with difficulty. In mid-air, a figure clad in a black nightgown with wildly fluttering black hair slowly drifted down.
He was barefoot, his lazy expression hiding an extreme coldness, as he looked down at the 'ants' below with a pair of crimson eyes.
"It's! It's the Demon Lord! Lord Asmodeus has returned!"
One of the humans cried out almost instinctively.
But from the tone, that cry didn't seem to be full of hatred; instead, it carried a bit of... worship?
Ryan's entire face turned pale upon hearing this, and he could only grit his teeth and glare at the Demon Lord above.
In contrast, Asmodeus wasn't angry about being assassinated. He simply extended a finger to his lips, making a shushing gesture.
"Shh—"
"My fiancée has just fallen asleep. You pieces of trash, making such a racket... do you want to die?!"
Gasp—
He had clearly only spoken one sentence in a low voice.
But that matchless magic power and overwhelming pressure weighed on everyone's chests like a mountain, making even breathing abnormaly difficult!
[Too!]
[Too terrifying!]
At this moment, everyone present couldn't help but have this thought—they had never seen a demon who could intimidate everyone just by their aura.
And the reason he assumed such a domineering posture was actually just because he was afraid his fiancée would be woken up!
Nia, lying on the ground, opened her mouth wide.
Looking at the man who had descended like a god or demon, Nia's heart beat violently, and a faint blush even unconsciously appeared on her face—perhaps at this moment, she finally understood why her grandfather and the others worshipped this man so crazily.
[So... so strong!]
However.
Just when everyone was scared out of their wits.
The captain named Ryan, for some reason, found the courage to snap up from the ground, roaring with veins bulging all over his face:
"Asmodeus! Don't look down on me!"
With that, he used all his strength to throw the black-glowing [demon sealing stone] in his hand!
"Get back underground!"