Chapter 30: Have You Ever Heard of Transmigrators?
Despite her inner conflict, leaving the eighth layer was clearly the priority for now.
After dealing with the Pure White Collector, a staircase leading to the upper floors appeared before them. The three of them slowly ascended the long stone steps.
At this moment, Lilith's mind was incredibly clear. As long as she didn't have that worldly desire to cling to the Demon Lord whenever she saw him, her IQ could reclaim the high ground.
As she walked, she scrutinized the man beside her with a calm, observant gaze. After hesitating for a moment, she finally asked the question that had been bothering her for a long time:
"Um... speaking of which, Lord Demon Lord, do you happen to know anything about 'Transmigrators'?"
Lilith had thought it through.
Since the Demon Lord could propose advanced concepts like 'racial equality' and 'compulsory education' three hundred years ago, he shouldn't be a tyrannical monarch.
If he really was a fellow countryman from Earth, everything would be much easier to handle. Maybe she could even explain clearly that she was a real man with a handle, and they could even sit down for a barbecue and chat about home.
[To be honest, I really hope Asmodeus is a Transmigrator...]
[If he's a fellow countryman, he'd definitely understand my pain, right? Then he wouldn't make me continue being his wife!]
With such thoughts, Lilith looked expectantly into the Demon Lord's eyes.
However.
Faced with Lilith's question, Asmodeus tilted his head in confusion—there wasn't a hint of panic from having a secret exposed in his crimson eyes, only pure incomprehension:
"Transmigrator? What is that?"
He stopped walking, thought seriously for a moment, and then asked back:
"Is it some kind of profession? Or the name of some remote race? I have never heard of it."
"Eh? How can that be?"
Lilith blinked, and the heart-shaped tail behind her swayed back and forth along with her:
"You... you've really never heard of it?"
"Is the profession of Transmigrator very famous?"
The Demon Lord was still confused and had no choice but to turn to look at Hill on the other side.
Hill also spread her hands with a blank expression and shook her head.
[Hmm? Looking at them... it doesn't feel like they're acting. So, did I overthink it?]
[Asmodeus isn't a Transmigrator? Then why would... it doesn't make sense?]
Thinking it over, Lilith felt something was off, and even had a strange feeling that all of this was part of that Goddess's calculations.
So she still hadn't quite given up, and tugged on the Demon Lord's arm to continue questioning him:
"Then! Then why did you promote racial equality and universal education? Who... told you about these ideas?"
"Who told me?"
Asmodeus raised an eyebrow, his tone matter-of-fact:
"Naturally, I thought of them myself. Why, do you not like it?"
"Uh, it's not that I don't like it..."
Lilith scratched her head guiltily:
"It's just that I find it... quite novel."
In this other world where the weak are prey to the strong and which is full of racial discrimination, how could someone come up with the core values of modern civilization without a teacher?
But looking back at the Demon Lord himself, seeing Lilith's conflicted look, Asmodeus simply curled his lips slightly and smiled as he rubbed the girl's head.
Then, he cast his gaze toward the deep staircase ahead and explained calmly, as if narrating a trivial matter:
"This is no profound truth; it is merely based on the consideration of 'efficiency'."
"The various races fight and slaughter each other for a so-called sense of superiority, wasting too much manpower and resources. Elves excel at magic, dwarves excel at forging, humans excel at creation and reproduction... Every race has its own unique wisdom."
"If they remain hostile, this knowledge will perish in the flames of war. That is a great waste. Only by integrating them, learning from each other's strengths to offset weaknesses, can we create a more powerful and prosperous civilization, and allow the Demon Realm to remain invincible."
At this point, Asmodeus paused, his gaze deep:
"Equality is for the better utilization of resources. Is that so hard to understand?"
"This..."
After hearing this, Lilith opened her mouth hesitantly.
But before she could continue, Hill, who was beside them, interrupted with tears in her eyes and an expression of utmost admiration:
"Exactly!"
"Lord Demon Lord's policies have saved countless mixed-bloods like those of the Valen Family! I have the blood of demons and elves flowing through me; in the old era, I was an existence despised by both sides. Only under Lord Demon Lord's rule did I have the chance to learn magic, become a powerful demon, and serve my Lord!"
"Lord Demon Lord is great and visionary! No matter what happens in the future, we will always be loyal to Lord Demon Lord!"
[Fine...]
Looking at this master and servant duo performing in harmony, Lilith felt slightly speechless and could only curl her lip and drop the subject.
"What's wrong, Lilith?"
Asmodeus turned back, looking at his somewhat unhappy fiancée:
"Could it be that those so-called 'Transmigrators' also did the same things as I did?"
"No... no."
Lilith waved her hand helplessly and sighed:
"I was just asking casually, don't take it to heart."
That's what she said.
In reality, Lilith couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed:
[It seems Asmodeus really isn't a Transmigrator...]
[Come to think of it, he doesn't even know what a mobile phone, instant noodles, or ice cream are, and he can't even speak Mandarin. How could he be a Transmigrator?]
[But... I just feel like something is wrong... I can't put my finger on it... What could it be...]
[Forget it, I'm too lazy to think that much. I'll deal with it later~]
...And so, the three of them continued forward.
The staircase on this floor was quite long. In the distance, the solemn and majestic iron gates of The Seventh Layer could be seen, appearing particularly eerie in the darkness, making the atmosphere somewhat chilling.
"No matter what kind of monster the guardian of The Seventh Layer is, no matter what traps lie ahead."
"As long as I am here, I will absolutely not let them harm Lord Demon Lord! This subordinate will give her all! My Lord!"
Hill was still beside them, vigorously expressing her loyalty.
On the other side, Lilith's lips curled slightly, and she couldn't help but laugh to herself:
[Hehe, I wonder which little dummy was just tied up like a turtle and hung among the exhibits.]
[But... with Asmodeus here, any opponent can be easily dealt with, right? And I'm very calm now; my strength is definitely much greater than before. I won't go limp just because my foot gets touched anymore!]
Thinking this, Lilith puffed out her ample chest and wore a confident, haughty, and smug smile.
Before long, the three of them reached the end of the stairs. Before them was a massive steel gate carved with intricate patterns.
"We've arrived."
Asmodeus stepped forward, pressed one hand against the gate, and applied a little force.
Rumble—
The heavy gate slowly opened inward.
[What will it be?]
[Will it be flowing lava, or a freezing ice plain? Or perhaps a terrifying colosseum filled with the roars of monsters?]
[No matter what it is, this time, I won't be captured by the enemy and trigger a defeat CG! Hehe!]
However, just as Lilith was thinking this.
The gate swung wide open.
It was completely different from what she had imagined!
A wave of heat mixed with the aroma of roasted meat, cheap perfume, and the noisy clamor of human voices surged out overwhelmingly!
"Come take a look! Freshly roasted giant lizard legs!"
"Only two copper coins! Only two copper coins!"
"Succubus Bathhouse grand opening special! Don't you want to come in and have some fun, sir~"
"Huh?"
Lilith was dumbfounded.
Hill's mouth hung wide open.
Even Asmodeus frowned slightly.
What appeared before them was not some eerie and terrifying Underground Labyrinth at all.
Instead, it was a dungeon commercial street as bustling as a market!
The massive underground cavern was lit as bright as day by some kind of glowing crystal street lamps.
Both sides of the wide street were packed with all kinds of shops and stalls.
Countless demons, dark elves, horned beastmen, and even hot succubi and Nagas with long tails were weaving through the street, bargaining, laughing, and playing.
The entire Seventh Layer was like a prosperous underground black market, full of the bustle of life!
"This... what is going on?!"
—
Meanwhile.
Rodel Holy Kingdom · Hero's Palace
The night was deep.
Outside the window, the moonlight was cold, but inside the room, candlelight flickered.
Having finished a day of "special training," Alicia had just washed away the grease and fatigue, and was now wearing a somewhat thin silk camisole nightgown.
Because she had just bathed, her originally heroic blonde hair was now draped wetly over her shoulders. A few strands of hair clung to her cheeks, and droplets of water from the tips of her hair slid down her long swan-like neck, tracing across her exquisite collarbones, and finally disappearing into the deep, looming cleavage of her neckline.
Under the glow of the candlelight, the thin silk fabric clung tightly to her skin, which was still radiating heat, perfectly outlining her mature and full curves—her full, pert breasts rose and fell slightly with her breath, and beneath her slender yet explosive waist were a pair of long, fair, and completely bare legs, her bare feet stepping on the red carpet, glowing with a beautiful, fleshy luster in the candlelight.
She clearly possessed such a moving body, enough to make any man, or even woman, have their blood boiling!
And yet, she wore an extremely serious expression, as if she were commanding a battle to kill enemies on the battlefield.
Her azure eyes stared fixedly at the map on the table, her brow furrowed—on it, at the location of the "Far North · Entrance to the Demon Realm," she had drawn a prominent circle with a red pen, and beside it were written several large characters:
[Save My Brother!]
"Old Duan..."
Looking at the location of the Demon Realm, a firm light flashed in Alicia's eyes, and her fists clenched tightly:
[You must be in the midst of dire suffering right now. You must be wishing you were dead under the torture of that perverted Demon Lord, and maybe even having some unspeakable things done to you...]
[But don't worry! I, your brother, will never give up on you!]
[Even if I have to climb mountains of blades or cross seas of fire, even if I have to face thousands upon thousands of troops, I will definitely defeat the Demon Lord and rescue you from that hell!]
Thinking this, she took a deep breath, and her gaze slowly turned toward the south of the map, to the plain closest to the Holy Kingdom.
The first step of the journey.
[It starts from the Goblin Plains!