The Demon King's Sweet Conquest (GL) - Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Continuing the Bluff

From atop the branch, Floria nodded. Gripping the trunk with both hands, she began to scoot down bit by bit like a koala. She had barely moved a few paces when Viola reached out and lifted her directly down.

Under the gaze of those pure golden eyes, the “koala” huddled helplessly. She looks incredibly strong; will she see through my disguise?

“Don’t be afraid, I am no bandit. Next time you see suspicious people, hide better.” The consolation was somewhat stiff, but fortunately, this refined female knight was a far cry from the image of a brigand; no one would mistake her for a mountain thief.

“Thank you,” Floria whispered, not being stupid enough to reveal her wings. She used the corner of her eye to size up these fully armed knights.

They certainly weren’t here for hunting, or they wouldn’t be without a family crest.

But if they were fugitive knights or wandering knights, the leader felt far too “magnificent.” Viola wore no flashy jewelry, and the weapon at her waist was plain, yet she herself was like a brilliant, radiant treasure sword—the blade unsheathed within those gold-red eyes.

“Child, wild beasts roam the edges of the forest. I will take you back first.” Without waiting for Floria to agree, Viola picked her up and placed her on the horse. That right hand, devoid of a gauntlet, possessed staggering strength; there was no discernible difference between her carrying a person and carrying a briefcase.

Floria grumbled inwardly: What do you mean “take me back”? You clearly just want to find a local and head to the nearest village!

“In which direction?” There was no threat in Viola’s tone, yet it held a natural majesty. Seeing the fiery red tips of her hair hanging down, Floria felt a slight itch in her heart to touch it.

“This way.” The guide lost her backbone in a second and pointed toward the location of the disguised village, not daring to actually grab the other’s hair.

Xin Lian, I’m counting on you. You’re a reliable Dream Demon, after all!

Her shifting gaze suddenly collided with Cynthia’s deep blue eyes. Floria lowered her head, using the basket of apples to shield her face.

It also shielded a friendly and gentle smile.

Neither of them knew just how deep a mark they would leave on each other’s lives.

Floria’s directions were effective. Before long, a tiny village appeared before the knights.

Viola glanced over and felt a strange sensation: the village had only five small cottages, and the fence was merely sparse wooden stakes. How exactly did they maintain security?

The only person who could be seen as a guard was a lazy youth leaning against a large tree at the village entrance.

Floria knew the flaws Viola might spot. There was no helping it; she had only been here a week and had very few resources. If she had arrived a few years later, she’d have a whole city built.

“Sister Lianlian! Strange people are coming!” Floria used a preemptive strike, shouting toward the village.

“Oh my~ who are you?” The Dream Demon made her grand entrance. From the outermost cottage stepped a girl who looked very similar to Floria, her orange hair wrapped in a headscarf, her face full of distress.

“We are not ‘strange people.’ May I ask if there are any shops here? I wish to purchase some dried meat or blankets.” Viola pushed the sense of abnormality aside. Intelligent beings subconsciously discard unimportant information.

Thanks to Duke Francis, they had been forced to take a long detour, and many supplies were inadequate. Specialized hunting would waste too much time. She could go long periods without eating, but the others in the squad could not.

Xin Lian warily snatched Floria from her hands and held her close: “Apologies, milady. The village just moved here; we have nothing to entertain you with…”

Just moved here? The phrase flickered through Viola’s mind but left no trace.

“Then, is there a place to rest? I will pay a fair price.” Viola’s subordinates did not interrupt or take it upon themselves to shout orders. Each of them understood their lord’s personality and allowed her to negotiate as she pleased. A lieutenant handed some silver coins to Viola.

“Highness, she seems very strong. It would be very dangerous to rob her, wouldn’t it?” Xin Lian’s voice echoed in Floria’s heart, tinged with a bit of cowardice.

Dream Demons are suspicious devils accustomed to reading faces and gauging power. One look at the other’s stance and special aura, and she was terrified.

“Who told you we were going to rob her?! Calm down, entertain them, and then send her on her way!” Floria hurried to stop her. She didn’t believe for a second that a single Dream Demon and one Devil could do anything to this fully armed cavalry squad. If they actually tried to rob them, the entire village would likely be leveled in minutes, turning into a demon-themed BBQ party.

This was a Demon King’s intuition! Before becoming a true monarch, one must not be killed off like a common mob.

Giving in—now that was easy. Just as long as she didn’t get dragged somewhere and killed by these people.

Xin Lian’s expression brightened instantly: “Well then, I’ll go ask who happens to have prepared food. There are no extra blankets in the village. There are so many of you and not enough stools; why don’t you go lie down and rest in the haystacks over there after eating?”

The number of knights wasn’t large for a squad, but since the entire population of this little village was so small, they felt a bit like villains after entering, becoming even more restrained.

Viola sat on a stool inside the cottage with her lieutenant and Cynthia. The rest of the personnel dispersed naturally, finding spots to keep watch or resting on the haystacks.

The reaction of the other “villagers” wasn’t significant. Though they were wary and didn’t initiate conversation, they didn’t run around in a panic either.

Once Cynthia sat down, Floria’s gaze remained fixed on her.

It’s difficult to get information from adults, but this child’s eyes were so clear; getting her to talk would be simple, right? With that in mind, Floria approached Cynthia openly, carrying the cat.

Viola and the lieutenant kept their hands near their sword hilts, but neither stepped forward to stop her. They weren’t so paranoid as to see enemies everywhere, especially with Viola right there.

“Did you come from very far away?” As Floria approached, Cynthia instinctively moved over, leaving a spot on the long bench.

Floria sat directly beside her, stroking the black cat in the basket.

“It is quite far. We had to ride horses for a very long time.”

“What’s your name? I’m Lili~” Floria broke into a smile and even pulled the black cat out, wanting Cynthia to pet it.

However, Barbatos was not appreciative. She gave a light leap, jumping onto a cupboard, staring down intently.

“Highness, this cat I am portraying does not like children.”

“Am I not also a child?”

“No, Highness. Both the cat and I believe you are merely “petite.””

“Okay, I’ve remembered it.” Cynthia knew she couldn’t reveal her identity and smiled: “If we meet again next time, I will tell Lili my name.”

“Barbatos, learn from that.”

“Highness? Learn what?” Barbatos’s paw moved toward a vase on the cabinet, as if wondering if she should learn how to be a cat.

“Never mind.” Even a kid is more romantic than you, hmph. Wait, why do I want my subordinate to be romantic with me? Cough, cough.

“We have to wait until next time?” Floria let out an exaggerated sigh.

While she and Cynthia exchanged childhood topics, Xin Lian pushed open the door with food: “This is all the good food left. Pay whatever you think is right. I’ve sent bread to the gentlemen on the meadow too.”

This food was all exchanged by Floria using her consciousness to click the screen, spawned directly into the cupboards of other rooms; Xin Lian was merely a transporter of system-exchanged goods.

Except for one thing: hot milk tea.

A drop of cold sweat slid down Floria’s temple: I should have made it clear to Xin Lian earlier!

Bread, fruit, dried meat, and hot milk tea were placed on the table. The die was cast.

Viola, who had absolutely no fear of toxins, tasted a piece of multi-grain bread. The texture was excellent, comparable to some high-end shops. The fruit and dried meat were nothing special.

Just as Viola’s hand reached for the milk tea, she saw the orange-haired girl grab the cup with maximum speed and pour it directly into her “sister’s” mouth!

“I… I won’t let anyone else drink our family’s secret milk tea! If someone tastes the recipe, I’ll lose big time!” Floria declared with a flushed face, full of shamelessly feigned indignation.

These knights left very early. Perhaps it was to make time on their journey, or perhaps they saw that this small village had no special intel worth digging for.

“Xin Lian, you were wrong.”

“Highness Demon King, I was wrong!” Xin Lian looked miserable, slumping before the stool that served as a throne.

“Tell me, where did you go wrong?” Floria frowned, looking straight ahead. Candlelight flickered beside her face.

“This subordinate was wrong… I shouldn’t have hidden the dungeon entrance in the pigpen. It is a crime of great disrespect!” Xin Lian’s attitude was good, but she hadn’t recognized the real mistake.

“No, you are completely wrong. You did a good job with that.” The Demon King raised her hand: “The dungeon isn’t open yet; where the entrance is doesn’t matter at all. Using a pigpen as a cover is a fine idea.”

“Then… may I ask where I went wrong?” Xin Lian tilted her head, cautious.

“You shouldn’t have served that knight milk tea.” Her tone was resolute, accompanied by a light pat on the stool.

“Eh?!” The Dream Demon felt very wronged. “Highness, you know that besides the milk tea and the food you temporarily exchanged, I have fresh wild berries, well water, and horse trough grass. Everything else is mimicked energy—it’s not edible!” It would be too strange if the “hospitable villagers” only served plain water to a group of obviously extraordinary knights.

“Succu… Dream Demon milk and cow milk are completely different, aren’t they? The taste and composition must have a discrepancy!” Floria held up a finger. “What if among those uninvited guests there was truly someone who had tasted Dream Demon milk before? What would you do then?”

“This… I… This subordinate knows her mistake.” Xin Lian lowered her head; she realized her error. The reason she hadn’t noticed such a massive flaw was simply that she looked down on the humans of this world. To proudly serve Dream Demon milk just because it was a high-tier beverage was truly reckless.

“You made another mistake, even bigger than that one.” Floria stood up from her low, temporary throne and stood beside the Dream Demon. “You underestimate my subordinates too much, Xin Lian.”

“Highness?” Xin Lian looked up again, seeing the intoxicating seriousness brewing in those purple eyes.

“This King’s subordinates are all upright warriors. There is no need to use any part of your body to please others.” Floria placed her hand on Xin Lian’s shoulder. “I do not need you to sell anything—be it dairy, eggs, or offspring. That is not where your true value lies.”

“Highness, please tell me—where does my true value lie!” Ripples formed in Xin Lian’s pink eyes. She was a Dream Demon, an underage, inexperienced Dream Demon at the bottom of her clan. Her peers mocked her for having no experience or charm, saying she only knew how to build and have dreams but didn’t know how to use her own advantages. She had always been lost: Is it really because I am a piece of trash?

So, when the summoning circle lit up, she had responded with the determination to experience anything and use any means to climb up.

“Is that even a question? Follow behind this King and build a powerful commercial network across the entire world!” At this moment, the clearly tiny Demon King seemed spirited and towering.

Grand confidence masked her innocence, deeply moving Xin Lian.

“Yes! I will learn from Your Highness and follow you forever!” She gripped Floria’s extended hand, feeling a special warmth.

As it turned out, the Demon King’s palm was also warm—neither the scorching heat of hell nor the freezing cold of ice.

However, amidst the emotion, there was still a question.

“Highness, why are we building a commercial network?” The one who asked this for Xin Lian was Barbatos, who had turned back into a devil.

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