Chapter 34: Your Granddaddy Will Always Be Your Granddaddy
A quarter of an hour later.
"Hoo..."
Splash—
In the small room lit by Lapis Lazuli, accompanied by a contented sigh, Lilith submerged her entire body into the large wooden tub.
A few flower petals floated on the steaming water, and beneath the shimmering surface, the maiden's skin, as smooth and delicate as mutton-fat jade, was faintly visible.
The warm water enveloped her entire body, washing away the fatigue and dust accumulated from days in the dungeon.
"Finally... finally a hot bath! So comfortable!"
Thinking this, Lilith narrowed her eyes and gracefully lifted a slender, beautiful leg—watching the water droplets gently slide down its perfect curve, making her already fair skin appear even more lustrous, like ethereal porcelain.
Yet, for such a stunning beauty, she could only lament with regret:
"It's a pity, these smooth, fair, and tender feet are my own; touching them feels like nothing at all."
"Is it because of the Sage Potion? Or because I'm a woman now?"
"Tsk tsk, if my little brother were still here... wait? I've got it!"
At this thought, Lilith had a flash of inspiration!
She reached out with her wet hand, retrieved her mobile phone from the pile of clothes nearby, and snapped a highly alluring 'Beauty Bathing' photo of her exposed beautiful legs and delicate collarbone.
Sent picture.
[How's it, Old Song? These legs are top-notch, right? Isn't my figure invincible now?]
[After transmigrating for so long, how could we both forget that when you turn into a girl, you should show your brother first! Come on! Send me one of yours quickly; don't let anyone else benefit!]
After sending the message, Lilith happily waited for a reply.
However.
Ten seconds passed;
A minute passed;
Three minutes passed... the chat box remained silent, with no activity.
"Where is he? Why isn't he saying anything? Doesn't he usually reply instantly?"
Muttering to herself, Lilith suspiciously glanced at the top right corner of her mobile phone:
[AM 02:13]
"Ah? Two in the morning?!"
Lilith was dumbfounded;
It turned out that the outside world was already deep night, while she, in the Underground Labyrinth, had thought it was afternoon.
Having stayed in the sunless underground for too long, her biological clock was completely messed up.
"Oh my... this counts as staying up late, right?"
"Will I get pimples? Will I have dark circles under my eyes? No!"
Lilith worriedly touched her delicate, flawless cheek, her face filled with horror.
But the next second.
Her gaze suddenly sharpened again; she narrowed her eyes, and with a smooth little hand extended from beneath the water, she stroked her chin, deep in thought:
"Hmm? No, that's not right?"
"Why am I so concerned about my appearance? I don't rely on my looks to make a living."
"This granddaddy... is a Ninth-Tier Supreme, unrivaled by anyone except the Demon Lord! With my strength and this connection, won't I be able to strut across this continent after I get out?!"
"Heh, a bunch of ants."
Thinking this, Lilith sneered.
She lifted her chin and puffed out her chest, water droplets slowly sliding down her proud curves—her eyes filled with disdain and arrogance for the mundane world, a cold, scornful gaze, like an Ice Fairy who had abstained for a thousand years and reigned over the world, making one almost want to kneel and worship.
However... the coolness lasted less than three seconds... at the very moment Lilith was most triumphant and arrogant!
Thump-thump—!
Her heart suddenly pounded twice violently.
Immediately after, an unnatural flush, like a prairie fire, instantly burned from her neck to her earlobes, then spread across her entire face.
"Ugh?!"
Lilith suddenly felt her legs go weak and could only slump back into the water powerlessly.
"Wha... what's going on?!"
"My body suddenly... so hot! Ugh!"
Just a second ago, she felt calm, intelligent, arrogant, and inviolable;
But at this very moment, everything was like a balloon that had been pricked, disappearing with a 'pop' without a trace!
She couldn't think at all!
Her mind was filled with the sensation of being held in Asmodeus's arms today, his chin gently rubbing against her forehead, and the feeling of him dotingly caressing her head!
His body temperature, his scent, everything about him! It rushed back like a tsunami! Turning Lilith's brain into a mush!
"Awoo!"
After letting out a cute whimper, Lilith curled up completely in the water.
"Has the potion worn off...?"
"It must be that the potion has worn off!"
"I didn't expect such a strong backlash after the potion's effect disappeared... Damn, I really want to see Asmodeus... I really want him to gently pat my head..."
"But I can't... I can't... I am... I am a man... I am a fierce... who wants to rule the world..."
"Ugh! I can't think straight anymore! Help me—"
...Meanwhile, in the shop's front hall.
Asmodeus, at this moment, was unaware of the 'tragedy' unfolding in the bathroom.
He was sitting on the worn-out sofa, listening intently to Tayako's report.
"Your Majesty, that's the situation."
Tayako spread out a piece of parchment, on which a complex magic array was drawn:
"The Grand Duke of Greed, Mammon, has set up three trials, corresponding to strength, wisdom, and luck respectively—the strength trial, with Your Majesty's divine power, will naturally be easily overcome. But the remaining two trials..."
Tayako looked troubled:
"The wisdom trial randomly draws three riddles, all of which must be answered correctly; and the luck trial requires a gambling game with the Grand Duke of Greed that relies entirely on luck."
"Can't we just kill him and take the key?"
Hearing this, Hill couldn't help but interject from the side.
"Absolutely not! Absolutely not!"
Tayako quickly explained:
"The source of the seal on The Seventh Layer is the book of divine covenant in the hands of the Grand Duke of Greed."
"The content of the trials is written in the book, forming an absolute covenant. One must win through fair competition to properly open the door to the next layer."
"If it is forcibly destroyed or the rules are violated, the book of divine covenant will self-destruct, and then the entire Underground Labyrinth will collapse, and everyone here... including us, will die without a burial place!"
"Moreover, if the trial fails, the loser's memories of the trial content will also be erased by the treasure, so no one knows the specific questions or gambling content to this day."
Hearing this, Hill and Nia both showed solemn expressions, only Asmodeus smiled and nodded:
"I see, that's somewhat interesting."
As a Demon Lord, Asmodeus never feared anything; on the contrary, he looked forward to someone challenging him;
Even if this Grand Duke of Greed possessed a mysterious and powerful treasure, and even if he had no idea what riddles and gambling games awaited him, in Asmodeus's eyes, all of it was merely an interesting challenge.
"Are there any other requirements for the trial?"
After a moment of thought, Asmodeus asked curiously.
"The trial allows a team of three to participate..."
Tayako explained respectfully;
But soon, he thought of something else and quickly reminded the young Demon Lord:
"Your Majesty, to ensure absolute success, you need to bring the smartest and most agile-minded person in your team. My granddaughter Nia, though a bit quick-tempered, has diligently practiced magic, studied ancient texts, and is exceptionally intelligent from a young age, making her the best candidate to assist you! To be precise, we specifically groomed Nia in preparation for this very day."
"Ugh?!"
Nia, who had been standing by, first blinked in surprise when she heard her grandfather mention her;
But soon, she forcibly suppressed this joy, replacing it with a haughty demeanor, crossing her arms and letting out a snort:
"Hmph, His Majesty the Demon Lord is so 'noble,' does he even need my help?"
"Nia, no disrespect!"
Tayako frowned and reprimanded her, and only then did Nia stand properly, but from her constantly peeking glances, it was clear that she was actually very much looking forward to this trial.
But precisely at this moment, Hill spoke again:
"Nia is not needed."
The little shota looked at this flat-chested girl who had started arguing with Her Royal Highness the Queen the moment they met, feeling no goodwill whatsoever, and thus said expressionlessly:
"Your Majesty, the Queen, and I make exactly three people, no outsiders are needed."
"What?!"
At these words, Nia instantly panicked!
She had always been raised as the 'hope of the entire village,' and her greatest dream was to one day help the Demon Lord, break the seal, and lead all her kin and companions out of here!
As for earlier... that was just a casual retort due to her tsundere nature. If they really didn't let her participate, then what was the point of all those years of diligent study and Trained!
"Why... why not?! Who are you? How dare you make decisions for His Majesty the Demon Lord! What does a little brat like you know?"
Nia's face turned red with anxiety, her defiant, gritting teeth a stark contrast to the arrogant and conceited girl they had first met.
But to this, Hill merely glanced at her and calmly replied:
"Who am I? I am your Grand Uncle!"
"Huh???"