The Demon King is unfathomable

Chapter 418 The Demon King Returns to His Old Haunts

The Voyager flew smoothly for a whole day, but eventually reached its limit.

Luo Yan's joke that "this airship is just an experiment" unfortunately came true.

At first, it was just a groan coming from inside the airbag, but as no one paid attention, the sound quickly grew louder and louder, turning into the panting of an old man.

Finally, with a tooth-grinding "crunch," the keel supporting the entire airbag snapped under structural stress!
"boom--!"

The entire airship tilted violently to one side, and the tables, chairs, books, and tea sets inside the cabin slid to one side instantly. Just before they were about to shatter into a pile, Luo Yan slightly raised his hand and calmly put them into his spatial ring.

A violent gust of air rushed into the cracked cabin, and Taf, who was looking out the window, was the first to be hit. The entire dragon was swept away.

"Oh no! I'm going to fall! I'm going to die! I knew this damn 'walnut' was unreliable!"

With its lips flapping wildly in the wind, Taf, who had rolled to a corner of the cabin, let out a terrified scream that pierced the sky. It clung tightly to a seemingly sturdy support pillar with all four limbs, while its two little wings and tail thrashed wildly behind it as if it were having an epileptic seizure.

There is probably no dragon on this continent more disgraceful than her.

In stark contrast to Taff's panic, Sarah, the moment the airship tilted, simply adjusted her center of gravity to steady herself, and then moved silently to Luo Yan's side like a ghost.

She showed no sign of panic; her bright, vertical pupils remained as calm as ever.

It was as if even if the world were to end in the next second, as long as His Majesty the Demon King was still by her side, there was still hope for everything.

Even though she's a little afraid of heights.

Like Sarah, Luo Yan's expression could also be described as relaxed and at ease, showing no concern whatsoever for the "plane crash" in front of him.

He even had the leisure to comment on Alberto's designs.

"...It seems that a simple wooden structure is indeed not good enough; its strength and toughness are far too lacking. After all, an airship is not a galleon. Next time, we must replace it with a lighter and stronger aluminum alloy."

Thinking this, Luo Yan extended his right hand, which was holding the magic wand.

"Quiet down, Taff, it's not time to write your will yet."

With a casual reassurance, a surge of magic erupted from the tip of his staff, silently seeping into the shaky cabin.

Countless invisible, transparent streams of air converged out of thin air, gradually compressing into a milky-white substance. Like outstretched giant hands, they precisely wrapped around sixteen fractures in the airship's keel structure!
"Awe-inspiring grip!"

The creaking and disintegrating sounds suddenly stopped, and the ship, which was on the verge of falling apart, was actually stabilized!
Taff was stunned by what she saw.

Although she had seen magic before, she clearly did not expect that this guy's magic power had become so strong!

Compared to killing or destroying a giant beast with magic, it is obviously more incredible to use magic to mend a disintegrating giant beast!

Luo Yan's hands did not stop moving; the wand in his hand was like a nimble conductor's baton.

Under his methodical command, the turbulent air currents, like instruments in an ensemble, intertwined to create a symphony that transitioned from fervor to tranquility a thousand meters above the ground.

The teetering airship tore through the broken clouds, like a whale sinking to the bottom of the sea, making an emergency landing on a relatively flat snowfield below.

After a violent jolt, the colossal beast, on the verge of disintegration, finally landed safely on the border between the Academy and the Kingdom of Rhodes.

The massive hull carved a deep trench tens of meters long into the thick snow before finally coming to a stop with a teeth-grinding creak.

At the same time, the stove below the airbag was also extinguished, eliminating the possibility of a fire.

"Yes, I'm saved..."

Still shaken, Taf collapsed to the ground, her face changing again as she turned and vomited violently.

Sarah glanced at her calmly, and seeing that the little one was alright, she turned her gaze back to His Majesty the Demon King, awaiting his command.

"My Lord Demon King, what do we do now?"

"I don't know, let's go out and take a look first."

Retracting the magic that had been binding the airship, Luo Yan gazed at the vast, uninhabited area outside the cabin, and couldn't help but feel a sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a complex emotion encompassing both admiration and reflection).

Fortunately, they did not choose to take a straight route south, otherwise they would either have crashed in the treacherous Wanren Mountains or made an emergency landing in the perilous dimensional desert.

He pushed open the hatch and went out.

The biting wind howled in, but it was not as cold as it had been a few months ago. This vast snowfield was gradually welcoming its spring.

Looking at the familiar mountain outline in the distance and the peaks that resembled an eagle spreading its wings, Luo Yan couldn't help but reveal a playful smile.

What a coincidence!

Six months ago, he participated in the winter recruitment assessment hosted by Professor Hector right here, and now, after going around in circles, he has returned here again.

What a coincidence.

Wrapped in a thick cotton-padded coat, Taff stumbled out of the airship wreckage, her tail tucked under her robe, and spoke with a pale face.

"I swear, I will never ride this thing again!"

Seeing his disheveled appearance, Luo Yan chuckled and teased him.

"Stop complaining about your surroundings. If you had learned to fly earlier, would you be in such a panic?"

Taf cursed and swore.

"Are you %￥@#?! I'm not even a year old yet, how can I fly?!"

Huh?
It seems so.

Ignoring the comment, Luo Yan looked at Sarah, who was following Taff out of the cabin, and gave her instructions.

"Sarah, pack your bags, we're about to set off. Eagle Rock Territory should be over there; we need to find a carriage there."

Sarah's expression was somewhat subtle, and she coughed lightly as she spoke.

"My Lord Demon King, our luggage has been blown away..."

The Demon King was so busy steering the ship that he didn't pay attention to anything else.

Fortunately, all the valuables were in the storage ring; what was lost were just some valuable or worthless clothes and miscellaneous items.

For the Demon King, anything that can be bought with money is worthless.

Luo Yan smiled and said nonchalantly.

"Really? Then let's forget about them and buy them when we get to Eagle Rock Territory."

"Hey! Are you even listening to me?!" Taf protested, ignoring her. She took small, quick steps to catch up with the two, but she fell into a snowdrift as soon as she took one step.

The biting cold made her shiver, but a warm current enveloped her, pulling her up from the snow and placing her in Sarah's arms.

"Isn't there another one? Don't forget about this little thing."

"%￥#@!"

Taff used some really nasty language.

Unfortunately, it was in Zeta language, which only she could understand.

……

The border checkpoints between the Kingdom of Rhodes and the Academy were as deserted as ever, especially after the "enrollment season" was over, even the symbolic guards had been removed.

Although the two countries often quarrel, it's really just for show. The king of the Kingdom of Rhodes doesn't consider the Academy a country at all, and as for the Academy's great sages...

Previously, Luo Yan thought that Doryuk probably just looked down on secular royal power, but now it seems that the guy probably didn't even consider the Rhodesians to be human.

Arrogance treats the contempt beneath the tower equally; the warm smile of the sun has nothing to do with dignity, it's simply because the insects aren't worth his frown.

Luo Yan and his two companions crossed the nominal border without being questioned and entered the traveler's camp again.

However, the scene before them surprised them.

The temporary camp that once looked desolate and dilapidated in the wind and snow has now been completely transformed!
The streets were spotless, and newly built shops and tents lined both sides, displaying a variety of signs.

Adventurers, merchants, and all sorts of travelers thronged the streets, creating a bustling and prosperous scene.

Good guy.

Is spring finally here in Eagle Rock Territory?
"Wow, this place seems much more lively now." Taff looked around curiously, her gloomy mood vanished, and her curious eyes searched the street.

No need to ask—

Luo Yan could guess with his toes what this arrogant little devil was looking for, but unfortunately, it was still too inexperienced, as its scales hadn't even fully grown.

The women who wore thick sheepskin coats and heavy makeup were gone, replaced by nuns in black robes.

With compassionate smiles on their faces and hands clasped together, they whispered prayers for the passing travelers, creating a stark contrast to the noisy and restless environment around them.

Occasionally, passing adventurers or mercenaries would stop beside them, laughing either boldly or shyly, and making the sign of the cross on their chests.

“By Saint Sith…I wish to repent.”

The nun responded with a smile and made the sign of the cross on her chest, as if exchanging a secret code.

"Come in quickly, poor child."

"Are there any candles?"

"Yes, but there is an extra charge."

Money is not a problem!!!

The two walked into the tent together, chatting and laughing, as if they were truly praying for the gospel of the Holy Lord.

Taf looked completely bewildered.

"What are they doing?"

She could understand every single word they said, but she couldn't understand how they put them together.

and also--

Were they really talking about the benevolent and loving Saint Sith she knew?
"Children shouldn't pry into adults' affairs." Luo Yan didn't answer her question, but just smiled knowingly and gave her a perfunctory reply.

As the Demon King of Hell, what storms hasn't he seen? Only a brat like Taf would be so surprised, as if he's just arrived in this world for the first time.

The only thing that surprised him was what had happened in the past six months that caused the people here to have such a rapid decline in their thinking.

In his mind, the Rhodes were very devout, even to the point of being stubborn, which is why they were often teased by the Empire as dwarfs among humans.

After leaving the place of trouble with a deeply shocked Taff, Luo Yan entered a hotel that looked fairly clean.

"Boss, two glasses of ale and one cup of hot barley tea."

After handing his luggage to a waitress in the shop, Luo Yan sat down at the counter, tapped the table skillfully, and pushed five silver coins over.

"Another order of your signature roasted pig's trotters, and two servings of beef stew with beans and bread."

"Alright! Please wait a moment, sir!" The bartender quickly accepted the silver coins, his smile becoming even warmer, and hurried off to the kitchen to attend to the guests.

Soon, the drinks and food were served.

When the sizzling, golden-brown roasted pig's trotters were placed on the table, Taf's eyes lit up instantly. She cheered and, disregarding any semblance of a noble Zeta, grabbed them with her paws and began to devour them with gusto, her mouth dripping with oil.

The waiter next to them stared in disbelief, clearly seeing a "lizardman cub" eating at the table for the first time.

Even goblins...aren't this savage!
However, considering that the school was right next door, and that magicians' familiars and pets were always incredibly diverse, he didn't say anything more.

He didn't even realize that the creature swishing its tail in front of him wasn't a lizardman at all, but a noble dragon.

Sarah held the warm beer in her hand and sipped it slowly.

The spicy liquor slid down her throat, bringing a touch of warmth to her icy body and a barely perceptible blush to her fair cheeks.

Luo Yan smiled slightly at his two satisfied companions before turning to the bartender and casually chatting with him.

"Business is good, buddy. I remember the last time I passed by here was during Xuebang's winter recruitment. This street wasn't nearly as lively as it is now back then."

Although the bartender did not recognize the gentleman in front of him, he recognized the silver coins in the generous man's hand, so he was happy to chat with him.

“Of course! Eagle Rock Territory is not like it used to be. It’s not just young men and women going to the Academy for the exams who pass through here. Adventurers from Dragon Vision City are all flocking here. They are the ones who are truly rich and willing to spend money... By Saint Sith, our business has never been so booming!”

"It seems your lord governs well," Luo Yan said with a smile, taking a sip of ale.

"Lord? Haha, you mean Sir Richter? That gentleman... he's quite the clever fellow." The bartender's eyes held a hint of ambiguity.

This statement sounds like a compliment, but there's always a hint of sarcasm in it.

Luo Yan couldn't help but be curious, so he asked another question.

"Oh? In what specific ways is it manifested?"

For the sake of a silver coin, the bartender's hesitation vanished, and he began to speak freely.

"In every way! That gentleman is good at ruining everything he wants to do. For example, if he wants to control the undead, they will proliferate. If he wants his tenants to be well-fed, they will all go hungry along with the stray dogs at his door. Of course... occasionally his eccentric brain will do something decent. For example, he thought the girls in the camp were immoral and worried that they would offend His Highness's eyes, so he took his soldiers and kidnapped them all to the dungeon for a lesson."

"That does sound like a good thing."

"A good thing? If he were to take full responsibility, that would be a fantastic thing! But he clearly hadn't figured out how to clean up the mess, and in the end, it all fizzled out. When his men saw that the master had lost interest, they released the girls again."

“Keeping her locked up all the time isn’t a solution; we still need to support her.” Luo Yan wanted to say that this was a good thing, but seeing Taff trying to suppress her laughter, he decided it was better not to let her choke.

The bartender grinned, agreeing with his statement.

"Yes, even if you kill them, you still have to find a place to bury them. Besides, who would kill someone over such a trivial matter? They also have their own families. Maybe some drunkard and his hungry baby are still counting on them to send money home. He just waved his hand and chopped off their heads, and the survivors have to go to Longshi City to mourn. He may be a fool, but his servants are not. They just want to live, and at most they want money. Only he would do something like murder."

"But what does this have to do with your booming business?"

“It’s a big deal!”

The bartender's words carried a barely perceptible hint of sarcasm.

"Didn't I say? He's good at messing up everything he wants to get involved in, and coincidentally... this time he messed it up perfectly."

He lowered his voice, and the smile on his face became mysterious.

"After being trained by the soldiers, the girls' business not only didn't decline, but it became even more popular under the guise of 'confessions'! 'Confessions' only cost 390 copper coins, while 'explaining doctrines' was a bit more expensive, but 10 silver coins were enough. Ordinary people wouldn't dare to spend that much, but for those mercenaries who ate fish and meat every day, it was just the cost of a few meals! And once they were willing to spend even this much money, they wouldn't be stingy in other matters!"

This time, the "Dragon God" finally understood. The pig's trotter he was holding in his mouth fell into the plate, and he looked utterly shocked.

Former allies have degenerated to this extent!
This is... such blasphemy!
Of course, she wasn't lamenting her former ally, but rather pleasantly surprised that in this world where everyone is trying to outdo each other in terms of how bad they are, she wasn't the most abstract one.

Luo Yan didn't find anything strange about it. He simply took a sip of the beer and, in a casual tone, spoke for Taf in her heart.

"This is utterly blasphemous... Doesn't the church care?"

The bartender's smile became even more blatant.

"The church? This place? Haha... Sir, you must be joking. When have the priests of the Holy City ever been here? As for the lord's own priests, it's not easy to bribe these money-grubbing fellows. They might even come here to pray themselves."

"That sounds a bit unbelievable. The priests I know are all quite good." Luo Yan smiled noncommittally, and couldn't help but think of the Pope, whom he had met a few times in the Holy City.

To be fair, the old man was very noble, even somewhat naive; at least, he hadn't yet seen his worldly side.

In contrast, Pope Gregory of Hell was a bit more troublesome for him.

"Hey, don't you believe me? I'll tell you a secret: this deal is actually backed by the lord's newly appointed captain of the guard, Lord Cabin. Without his approval, who would dare to do such a big business?" The bartender's voice was full of envy, but it was unclear whether he was envying the lord or Lord Cabin.

Those were all unattainable figures for him; in front of these "big shots," he was like an ant.

"Everyone envies Lady Lina, saying she's the richest person within a ten-mile radius, and a woman at that, but nobody knows she's just Lord Carbin's glove. Nobody knows exactly how many gold coins Lord Carbin has, but I reckon he could buy several mansions in the Holy City, something even Sir Richter might not be able to do!"

Watching the bartender recount the tales of the castle with great relish, Luo Yan took a sip of ale and asked softly.

"So, do you like your current life?"

This question instantly wiped the bartender's mercenary enthusiasm from his face.

He remained silent for a long time, his fervent enthusiasm finally turning into a long sigh.

"I have no idea."

He picked up an empty wine glass and wiped it repeatedly, trying to keep himself busy, but he couldn't hide the anxiety in his busyness.

“I will make money here, and I will be buried here, but I will never let my children stay here. If they are capable, they can go to the school to become magicians. If they are not capable, Dragon's Eye City is also a good option. I heard that the duke there is quite kind... Of course, the New World is also an option, but I don't want them to be too far from home, as it is too difficult for them to come back.”

Luo Yan did not comment on his thoughts, but simply spoke in a calm tone.

“People who are forced to leave their hometown will not be happy. I have seen many young men with no way out. When faced with choices, they are like rats cornered against a wall. Taking a step back is hell, and taking a step forward is an abyss. In the end, they can only go down one path to the end.”

They might even go astray.

"maybe."

The bartender looked dejected, forcing a smile. He looked at his tired face reflected in the glass, his voice becoming hoarse.

“To be honest, sir, I love my hometown and I want my children to live here for generations to come, but I don’t think that’s a good solution.”

Although he knew that the traveler in front of him was neither a priest nor a nun, he still couldn't help but pour out his troubles to him.

Just like confession.

“Sometimes I miss the old days… Although back then business was only good in winter and we were mostly idle, at least our lives weren’t a complete mess.”

The bartender had been talking for a while, and only after he finished speaking did he realize that the customer in front of him was no ordinary person in terms of his manner of speaking and demeanor.

Thinking of the simple yet spotless clothes and the distinguished-looking attendant beside him, he immediately became alert.

“Sir,” he asked tentatively, a hint of nervousness in his voice, “you speak so politely…you wouldn’t happen to be someone sent by the lord, would you?”

Luo Yan smiled upon hearing this, his smile gentle and harmless: "How could that be? I'm just an ordinary traveler."

He paused, finished the last sip of ale in his glass, and added a sentence while looking at the uneasy bartender.

"Besides, would a lord's guest condescend to stay in such an inn? Give me a double room, the kind with two beds."

The bartender breathed a sigh of relief; this time, he seemed to truly believe it.

However, Taf, who was sitting on the side watching the commotion, was not happy. She threw down the pig's trotter she was holding in her mouth, raised her head, pointed to herself, and asked silently with her eyes.

'What about me?'

Luo Yan smiled and answered with his eyes.

The pig was sleeping on the ground.

"%￥#@!"

Ignoring Taf's grumbling in dragon language, Luo Yan left another silver coin on the bar as a tip, and leisurely went upstairs to rest with the dragon and cat, who were both full and satisfied.

Despite their bickering, he would never actually let Taff sleep on the floor. Usually, either Sarah would hold her, or she would use him as a pillow.

The meat-producing lizards are cold-blooded animals that prefer warm places, which is one of the reasons why she likes the "hairless monkeys".

This affection is somewhat similar to people's fondness for cats and dogs, except that because she is so small, she is in a position of being rubbed on the belly.

Night falls quickly.

The hotel at night is not as "simple and rustic" as it is during the day.

The sounds of the bed creaking and shaking violently from next door and upstairs, along with the suppressed breathing of the man and woman, made the atmosphere in the room somewhat awkward.

Luo Yan understood immediately, of course.

No wonder the bartender didn't want his kids to stay here; he could imagine what those brats would become under his influence.

To become a magician requires being a genius one in ten thousand.

Most kids would probably look down on their poor, honest father while idolizing mercenaries and nuns.

A rare blush appeared on Sarah's usually icy and aloof face.

She seemed unsure of where to stay, sometimes walking to the window, like a loyal sentinel, meticulously inspecting the street outside. Other times, she went to her single bed, repeatedly tidying up the already perfectly smooth bedding.

Taf seemed unusually excited. She sneakily approached Luo Yan and gently poked his arm with the tip of her tail as he leaned against the headboard and quietly read a book.

"Hey……"

She lowered her voice, a malicious glint in her golden vertical pupils. "I'm just a simple and harmless little lizard. You can pretend I don't exist."

Yo?
Is it admitting it's a lizard now?
Luo Yan, who was quietly reading, didn't even lift his eyelids, and simply said, "Sarah, make me a midnight snack."

"Okay sir!"

Sarah, who was just feeling bored, suddenly seemed to realize the meaning of her existence and looked intently at Taff.

When the stinky cat stared at her, Taf's face changed instantly. She hurriedly covered her tail and shrank back in fear.

"Wait, wait a minute—!"

Before she could finish speaking, Sarah's figure appeared behind her like a ghost and grabbed the tender little tail.

The little female dragon's "wolf-like howls" echoed from the hotel room.

Hearing this powerful shout, even the nun and mercenary who were doing their business next door were stunned for a moment, and the bed stopped shaking.

"The guy next door is pretty capable..."

"Then why don't you stand up straight?"

Feeling the gentle embrace and whispers around his shoulders, the man sitting on the edge of the bed touched his nose sheepishly and gave an embarrassed smile.

"Hehe, wait a bit, let's chat a little longer, the medicine hasn't taken effect yet..."

"..."

Spring is here, and it's the season when everything comes back to life.

However, the nights in the northern wastelands remained as long as winter, and it was unknown when dawn would break...

(End of this chapter)