Chapter 27: He Bullied Me! Kill Him Mercilessly!
The moment she was pulled into Asmodeus's embrace, Lilith felt a powerful, majestic aura wash over her, instantly dispelling all her fear and the cold.
But he was holding her too tightly!
His hand was clamped firmly around her waist, his rough fingertips sinking deep into her tender flesh. Even through her clothes, the forceful grip caused a twinge of pain—as if he were confirming her safety, or perhaps asserting his sovereignty, declaring to the world that this woman belonged to him alone.
Due to the height difference, Lilith's legs were left dangling in mid-air.
With no footing, she could only wrap her arms tightly around Asmodeus's neck like a small child.
"So... so embarrassing!"
Lilith buried her face in the Demon Lord's neck, her face as red as a ripe tomato.
"This posture... it's like I'm begging for a hug... Why does he keep making me do these weird things! Dammit!"
Though Lilith's heart was protesting wildly, she thought back to the critical moment when she was nearly violated by the Collector, and how Asmodeus had descended from the sky like a god to save her... Her small mouth twitched involuntarily, and a conflicted feeling welled up inside her:
"Hmph, I suppose you came just in time..."
"I'll reluctantly let you hold me this once! Of course, I'm doing this against my will, it's strictly a reluctant concession!"
"It's fine now."
Asmodeus's deep voice rumbled in her ear.
Then, he freed one hand and gently patted Lilith's back. His movements were surprisingly tender, as if he were soothing a frightened kitten.
"Awoo..."
Lilith let out a soft cry and then slumped completely into the Demon Lord's embrace.
The next second.
When Asmodeus looked up at the bandaged freak who was reforming across from them, the tenderness in his eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a chilling killing intent that could freeze the soul!
"Hehe... hehehe..."
The Pure White Collector climbed up from a pile of rubble.
Though its body was in tatters, it continued to laugh with arrogant confidence:
"Asmodeus... Asmodeus... you've finally come!"
"But even you cannot kill me—I am one with the array that seals you! As long as this labyrinth exists, I am immortal!"
"Heeheeheeheehee!"
As the Collector let out a bizarre, shrill laugh, Asmodeus narrowed his eyes, thoughtfully sizing up the monster before him.
A moment later, he seemed to recognize something and suddenly said coldly:
"I see... You are Duke Augustine?"
"Eh?"
The Collector was stunned, while Asmodeus continued:
"Back then, I beat you until you were gravely injured. I didn't expect that after several centuries, you would turn yourself into an Undead just to survive... This nauseating appearance actually suits your past hobbies quite well."
"Eh? They know each other?"
Hearing their conversation, Lilith poked her small head out from the Demon Lord's arms and blinked curiously.
On the other side, the Collector's body trembled slightly at the mention of the name 'Augustine,' as if a sore spot had been poked.
Its cloudy, solitary eye gradually became bloodshot, radiating a deep-seated, bone-deep hatred!
Then, the Collector growled hysterically:
"Asmodeus... you damned Demon Lord..."
"You... how dare you even mention my name! It was because of you, you fool! Because of your detestable tyranny, I was forced to become this wretched thing that is neither human nor ghost!"
"I'm going to skin you alive! I'll turn you into the lowliest footstool! Even cutting you into a thousand pieces wouldn't satisfy my hatred! Asmodeus!"
"Uh..."
Seeing the Collector's breakdown, Lilith couldn't contain her curiosity. She weakly raised her small hand and chimed in:
"Um... are you two acquaintances by any chance?"
"...Yes."
Asmodeus curled his lip and gave a dismissive response, clearly not wanting to discuss old history.
Instead, the Collector ground its teeth and blurted out an answer with extreme fury:
"So that's how it is? You didn't know? No wonder you're willing to be his servant!"
Whoosh—
With that, the Collector raised its right arm and pointed forcefully at Asmodeus:
"This Demon Lord! This former Demon Lord! Do you know what atrocities he committed? You're actually willing to be his slave! You are a disgrace to the demon race!"
"What did he do? Tell me everything!"
Lilith's gossip soul burned brightly; this was the most excited she had been since her reincarnation.
The Collector continued its frantic accusations:
"Asmodeus is the scum of the demons! He used his overwhelming strength to become the Demon Lord, and then he started implementing policies that insulted our ancestors!"
"First! He implemented a six-hour workday!"
"He actually changed the slavery system for the humans and elves in the regions ruled by demons from sixteen hours a day to only six hours a day! He even paid those lowly races wages! He even gave them grain to eat! Just thinking about it makes me sick!"
"Huh?"
The Collector was cursing with total sincerity, but a drop of sweat rolled down Lilith's forehead.
"And then! He established schools in the Demon Realm! He forcibly implemented something called universal education!"
"He made demon children study the pathetic science and history of other races! He even made them learn that 'all beings are equal'! Is this a joke? Making the noble demon race learn human knowledge!"
"Huh???"
The more the Collector cursed, the more bewildered Lilith's expression became.
"Finally! And most unforgivably!"
The Collector was so agitated that the bandages all over its body were trembling:
"He actually... he actually abolished the privileges of the demon nobility!"
"He suppressed us nobles who had refined tastes! He confiscated, burned, and buried all the collections I worked so hard to gather! He took everything from me and destroyed it all! Tell me, does he not deserve to die!"
"Uh, can I ask something..."
Hearing this, Lilith raised her small hand and asked the Collector cautiously:
"What exactly... were your collections?"
"Heh."
Hearing the question, the corner of the Collector's mouth curled into a twisted, proud smile:
"They were all exquisite works of art! Haven't you seen them?"
"These biological specimens! Though before I became an Undead, I preferred using preservatives... Especially elf children, they were such fresh and pure materials! Freezing their expressions of despair in the moment before death is so exhilarating, heeheeheeheehee!"
"..."
Lilith fell into a complete silence after hearing this.
"Holy crap..."
She finally understood something.
She understood why Asmodeus had been betrayed by his own people and sealed by a coalition of races... "It's because demons are all creeps! And this Collector is a total psychopathic serial killer!"
"On the contrary, Asmodeus... is an upstanding youth with progressive ideas. He's like a breath of fresh air in this alternate world!"
"Cracking down on creeps, liberating slaves, spreading education... and as a result, he was sealed by a coalition of perverted nobles from all over. Why do I suddenly feel like Asmodeus is a great person? Is it just my imagination?!"
Lilith blinked in bewilderment at the thought, while the Collector continued to ramble:
"Asmodeus isn't a normal demon at all. Normal demons love to slaughter, bully, and torture! That is our nature!"
"Yet he actually believed that all humanoid races on the continent are brothers and sisters! He even thought there should be no hierarchy between races! It's simply preposterous!"
"A fellow like him doesn't deserve to be the leader of the Demon Realm! That's why the Current Demon Lord sealed him here!"
"So, do you understand now, cute little kitten?"
The Collector clutched its chest to steady its emotions and put on a "this is for your own good" expression:
"Your master is a freak with a broken brain. There's no future in following him!"
"It's not too late to turn back! Join me!"
"Seeing your potential, I can spare you from being made into a specimen! As long as you're willing to join hands with me to oppose this tyrant, I promise to send you out of the labyrinth! What do you say!"
Having finished its speech, the Collector confidently extended its bandage-wrapped hand toward Lilith.
In its view, any normal demon would surely abandon the darkness for the light after hearing about Asmodeus's "heretical" actions.
However.
It was obvious.
What greeted it was a face twisted with utter disdain and extreme disgust!
Lilith looked at the Collector like it was garbage, even shrinking further into Asmodeus's arms for fear of being contaminated by something filthy.
"Idiot..."
"Ah?"
The Collector was confused by the insult, while Lilith ground her teeth and cursed fiercely:
"I already said you're a total pervert! A creep is a creep! And you don't even realize it!"
"Who would want to associate with a creep like you? People like you deserve to die!"
With that, Lilith turned her head and hugged Asmodeus's arm tightly. She looked at the Demon Lord with watery eyes, her voice sweet and aggrieved, like a child complaining to a parent:
"Lord Demon Lord!!!"
"He bullied me just now! He even wanted to touch my legs! It's absolutely disgusting!"
"Teach him a lesson for me! Kill him mercilessly!"