Chapter 36

Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW

This chapter is edited by Rain. Thank you for your contribution!

Chapter 36: Choosing a Territory Is a Profound Learning Experience

Lolth indeed did not forget to lift her Curse of Weakness.

Instead, she simply forgot that this set of shackles had the Curse of Weakness attached to it.

The anti-magic shackles were securely stored in the Detention Department. Although the Interrogation Department and the Detention Department were housed within the same tower and officially operated under Lolth’s leadership, the latter had a separate demon race assisting with its management.

The true chief warder of the Torture Tower, a member of the second demon race, was even more enigmatic than Lolth herself. Despite sharing responsibilities for over two years, Lolth had never once met her deputy in the Detention Department. All communications from the other side were relayed to her via a Golem Puppet delivering messages.

The arrangement of these anti-magic shackles is made by the elusive overseer of the Detention Department, a figure known as the godly dragon, and Lolth naturally doesn’t inquire further. After all, this lazy fish’s approach to work is to do as little as possible and earn the most money. It is the purest lazy bug in the Demon Army, the most corpse-like among those who hold their positions without doing any work.

Right now, after finishing Isabella’s tasks, she wandered back to the kitchen to start baking.

This time, Lolth was attempting to recreate the special winter festival bread of the Ryman Empire. Made with a fermented dough, the bread boasted a dense texture and a slightly tangy flavor. It was the perfect companion to juicy, seared meat or a hearty braised meat soup.

It’s a perfect opportunity to reward Isabella—even though she swears loyalty to her, Lolth doesn’t plan to make her work for nothing.

Although she is lazy, she is not a slave driver who exploits others.

Even when Tina calls her “master,” she still generously feeds her with fresh fruits and vegetables.

Even Lolth is considering whether to give these two unlucky creatures some Abyssal Crystals as wages, even though they may not be the brightest.

It’s uncertain whether the demon race at the Trading Square would sell anything to these two “captives”.

If possible, maybe they could use this as a way to get approval from the king to allocate some funds as “salaries” for the captives.

Then she will get a discount, which is like having a full pocket!

As Lolth kneaded the dough, she couldn’t help but smile.

“Indeed, I am a genius at taking advantage!”

Quietly noting down this idea, the voice of the little devil messenger came from the door at that moment.

“Miss Rose!”

The Little Devil flew into the kitchen with a warm and friendly tone, her smiling face appearing even more enthusiastic than usual.

This always reminded Lolth of the eunuchs on ancient Earth before her time traveling—perhaps they would look like this in front of the Emperor’s most powerful officials.

However, Lolth, realizing she was valued by the Demon King, couldn’t feel happy about it.

It meant her leisure days were probably a thing of the past.

As the war dragged on, the Demon Army captured increasingly valuable prisoners for interrogation. The good old days of the Interrogation Department seemed unlikely to return.

Still, Lolth hoped the pace would slow down a bit.

At least, she didn’t expect the Demon King to respond quickly this time…

But within only a few hours, the approval was sent back!

Even though the speed had changed, the response remained the same as before: the returned original document with the Demon King’s handwritten annotations at the end.

With flour smudging her apron, she opened the sealed mithril tube and unfurled the familiar piece of parchment.

Lolth could even decipher the Demon King’s terribly messy notes. Considering the general cultural level of the demon race, it was already an achievement for the Demon King to write legibly.

What more could one ask for in terms of neatness and style?

No matter how ugly the handwriting was, if it could be exchanged for Abyssal Crystals, it was more than enough.

However, this time, the envelope from Demon Tower contained something extra.

It was another map.

Clearly seized from the Holy Alliance, the map was exquisite, precise, and crafted from waterproof, durable grass paper—all hallmarks of human craftsmanship.

It detailed the territory beyond the Western Front.

Stretching inward from the Moon Rising Mountains and Dragonspine Mountain, it included territories of several Elf Tribes, Dwarf Tribes, and two bordering human kingdoms.

At first glance, the map made Lolth think trouble was brewing again.

However, the little devil messenger delivering the letter calmed her suspicions.

“Master Lolthlinda, the Holy Alliance has established a new defense line approximately 140 kilometers south of the original Western Front,” the little devil messenger explained. “It starts from the Golden Forest in the Moon Rising Mountains and the Loess Plateau, extending to the ancient Grand Canyon along the upper Larech River in the Republic of Seychelles… Legionnaire Leader Shelldor has deemed it unwise to advance further and has decided to clear out any remnants within the currently occupied area. The designated range is essentially what is marked on this map.”

As she spoke, the little devil messenger used her tiny hands to measure the marked occupied areas on the map.

These included the Moon Rising Mountains, half of the Dragonspine Mountain, the entire fertile Vera Plain, and a portion of the Zigzag southern hills.

Even though the Moon Rising Mountains missed their core area, causing the Elf Tribe to nearly abandon it, leaving only scattered treehouses behind, the tribe inhabiting Dragonspine Mountain had largely fallen under the Demon Army’s jurisdiction.

Most importantly, on Vera Plain, there were two small principalities that once belonged to the Republic of Seychelles. Now, they boasted seven large human cities and several towns and villages where humans and dwarves coexisted.

This marked the first time the Demon Army had occupied the “living areas” of other races!

After all, the Demon King Castle in the northern territory was built atop the Mercury Ruins.

The last time creatures other than the demon race settled here was over fourteen thousand years ago, during the fall of the Insaesya human civilization.

“The Demon King has ordered that except for Palgauro City and its surrounding areas in Lauren Duchy—designated by Commander Shelldor as the territory of the second legion and the demon dragon tribe—you may choose from the remaining places!”

“Should I choose first? Uh, let me see…”

Lolth looked surprisingly at the map.

Despite the limited size of the area conquered on the Western Front this time, it wasn’t insignificant. In fact, it was comparable in size to Isabella’s estate and represented only a tiny first step toward the Demon Army’s ambition of conquering the entire continent.

For Lolth, however, it still required careful consideration.

She had no desire to involve herself in any human uprisings!

Ideally, she wanted a stable estate in the rear, with a favorable climate, fertile soil, abundant water sources, and convenient conditions for planting and farming.

With these criteria in mind, Lolth quickly identified several suitable location.