Chapter 92
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Chapter 92: The Top-Level Brains of the Demon Army Were Not Functioning Well
Under Zakavido’s gaze and Isabella’s nonchalant attitude, Lolth suppressed the chaotic memories surging through her mind and casually took Isabella’s hand, using her help to mount the horse and sit in front of her.
However, after mounting, Lolth noticed that Isabella wasn’t as composed as she appeared. Though Isabella’s arms were wrapped around her waist, hands gently holding the Skeleton Warhorse’s reins, her movements were notably stiff.
As a highly trained legendary Grand Knight, Isabella typically rode a wolf, and her riding skills were excellent. Such sudden stiffness in her movements was unusual.
Moreover, Lolth could sense the other woman’s unnaturally quick breathing. Though they deliberately maintained several inches of space between them with no direct skin contact while sitting together on the horse, this distance was still close enough for Lolth to feel Isabella’s gradually rising body temperature.
Isabella guided the Skeleton Warhorse forward, following Zakavido at a steady pace. The two continued sitting in silence, understanding each other without words, though the awkwardness between them intensified.
Just as Lolth felt she was reaching the peak of discomfort, Zakavido’s voice rang out: “Lord Lolth, this area is where the disease outbreak is most severe!”
They had arrived at the center of Port Vancouver!
This place had once been the most luxurious area outside the Ducal Residence. Wealthy merchants, lower nobles, officials, and some Superoperators had originally lived here. Most hadn’t had time to escape and had surrendered after the Demon Army’s invasion.
Standalone courtyard buildings stood everywhere, with spacious, neatly paved roads lined with flower beds. The exquisite buildings bore either fluttering flags or carved reliefs on their outer walls—all very elegant.
However, the streets were now nearly deserted. The occasional passerby appeared sickly pale, unable to walk far before vomiting in a corner.
“Master Lolth, the epidemic is most severe throughout this area,” Zakavido said gravely. “Most of the human officials, nobles, and merchants living here… except for those with extraordinary powers, have been experiencing frequent nausea and vomiting.”
Lolth glanced at a passing resident, then surveyed the street, her expression growing peculiar. From her perch on the Skeleton Warhorse, she turned to Zakavido and said seriously, “Zakavido, you should know that if I hadn’t come, these symptoms of vomiting and nausea would have become more frequent. Within a week, nearly every human in the city would be suffering—even Superoperators below Elite Level might not have escaped unharmed.”
“What?! Lord Lolth, is that true?” Zakavido exclaimed in horror.
“Do I look like I’m joking?” Lolth responded pointedly.
Isabella silently nodded. “She… is not lying to you.”
The seemingly imposing and arrogant Evil Spirit Knight immediately panicked atop his Skeleton Warhorse, the soul-fire in his eye sockets flickering like a candle in the wind.
“Lord Lolth, please help me! Doyle Candice arrives the day after tomorrow. If she sees what I’ve done to the human residents of Port Vancouver and reports it to the Demon King… the Demon King will dismantle my leg bones and grind them into tooth powder!”
“Don’t worry, the Demon King isn’t that cruel,” Lolth said, waving her hand. “When solving a problem, you must first understand where the root of the problem lies…”
“I wish I knew where the problem was, Master Lolth!” A sorrowful expression resembling tears appeared on Zakavido’s skeletal face.
Lolth sighed and pointed to the roadside flower bed. Within it grew many half-opened grayish-white flowers and numerous grayish-white buds waiting to bloom. Though their petals and leaves were dull in color, their shapes were dramatic—stacked petals like foam and large diamond-shaped leaves. Each flower bud leaf was roughly the size of a human palm.
“Zakavido, can you tell me how many of these Withered Spirit Roses and other special plants from your ghost territory you’ve planted throughout the city?”
“Um, not many,” Zakavido scratched his head, recalling. “I planted some in this flower bed here… They look better than the original flowers, and they’re even edible. Then I planted some Withered Spirit Roses in the western and southern parts of the city, and I was planning to replace the woodland near the western residential area with Deathcaller Trees…”
His voice suddenly trailed off as realization struck.
“Wait… why are the areas with these plantings the same ones with the highest ‘disease’ rates… Could there be a connection?”
Zakavido looked uncertainly at Lolth.
“Of course there’s a massive connection! Zakavido, you’re truly a genius. Who told you that Abyssal plants could be planted in human cities? The Withered Spirit Rose’s blooming scent is practically a poisonous gas bomb! So when you fill the entire city with them, are you planning to suffocate everyone alive?” Lolth said exasperatedly. “You even added undead power-infused soil to ensure the Withered Spirit Roses would survive… But that’s not even the worst part. The Withered Spirit Rose only smells terrible when blooming—you’re even planning to plant Death Screamer Trees in residential areas! When those things start howling at exactly midnight, do you intend to drive the residents away in their sleep?! How will anyone get any rest?!”
Remembering her own torment from the Abyss’s magical ecosystem, Lolth felt deeply sympathetic toward the local residents!
Zakavido, thoroughly chastised, was shocked into silence.
“Th-this… Master Lolth! Why haven’t the common folk spoken up about their vomiting when asked?”
“No need to ask—I can guess how you would have done it,” Lolth sighed. “Summoning people to the Lord’s Mansion, intimidating them with your frightening skull head, opening your mouth to ask, ‘What is causing your vomiting’… Since the Withered Spirit Roses were planted under direct orders from you, an Abyssal Sovereign of legendary status, did you really expect these common people to dare point out that their illness was your fault? They probably think you’re intentionally torturing them!”
Hearing this, Zakavido shamefully rubbed his hands together, producing a creaking sound.
“So… what should we do now, Master Lolth?”
“Do I really need to explain this to you?” Lolth sighed again. “Clear out this area and plant your Second Legion’s snacks near the cemetery outside the city—that environment is suitable… As for creating a livable environment for humans, read more books on municipal governance, study hard, and select some trustworthy and reputable human municipal officials to help… Don’t try to figure it out all by yourself, understand?”
DevilWithoutDetails
I wonder how her “prisoners” will react as they meet more and more demons. I’d like to believe they’ll come to understand Loth’s kindness but given that this stories humor comes from their lack of understanding that seems unlikely. Don’t get me wrong I love that part about the story and it’s what drew me to it as well, but there’s a part of me that wishes for understanding between Loth and her companions.