The legend of the Crimson Demon clan started from Suqing.

Chapter 581 The Cadres' Tea Party
This is Axel, a remote starting town far from the Demon King's castle, a town where many novice adventurers gather, and an important town for supplying talent to the front lines.

"How peaceful and serene..."

Wiz rested one hand on her head, watching the sun rise in the east, a refreshing smile on her face. She was a lich, not a vampire; she could still bask in the sun.

Although it is said that the Demon King's army has sent a special force to attack Axel, there has been no progress or reaction yet. However, the Adventurers' Guild has taken the initiative to organize adventurers to resist.

Everyone was initially in despair, believing that a mere beginner town couldn't possibly withstand the Demon King's army's attack. But to everyone's surprise, there were actually many powerful individuals at level 30 or higher in the town, which was truly perplexing.

"...Wiz, good morning."

"Oh, it's Miss Warbak and Miss Ernest, good morning."

Good morning, Lord Wiz.

"You're still so polite. As a fellow hot spring enthusiast, just call me Wobak to be more friendly."

Wobak... Formerly a high-ranking officer in the Demon King's army, she regressed into a young girl's form after her power over sloth and violence was absorbed by Zun Zun. Having given up on serving the Demon King's army, she settled in Axel's starting village and became the signboard girl for Wiz's Magic Shop.

"Lord Wiz, please let me take it."

"...Please."

"It should."

Ernest took a fish tank from Wiz's hands. Strangely, the fish tank did not contain aquatic plants or fish, but a knight's helmet that was constantly blowing bubbles.

“You still love taking baths so much, Beldia.”

"Stop joking! I don't like taking baths! You should know why I'm in the fish tank!"

The knight's helmet inside the fish tank vibrated violently.

He looked very angry.

"Oh, is that so?" Wobak was slightly taken aback. "I thought you also liked hot springs, and I was planning to bring you along next time I went to Alcanredia with Wiz."

"What!?... Well... I actually quite like taking baths too!... Hehe... Hehehe..."

"Never mind, it's a bit disgusting."

Wobback rubbed his arms.

As a former colleague, she naturally knew the headless knight's true nature. He used to often put his head in the Demon King's castle bathroom to peep at Wiz while he was taking a bath, or he would throw his head under Wiz's skirt.

"And this guy still has the nerve to call himself a knight..."

"I'll say it again! That was nothing but revenge, it was revenge!"

"Are you very happy?"

"me……"

Beldia was speechless.

At that moment, a man's voice breaking down came from the magic item shop.

"—You little girl who's been taunting her former colleagues and lost her title of 'Evil God' even though it's already past working hours, when are you planning to come in? Please hurry up, the idiot shopkeeper has brought in a lot of weird stuff again, and we're already…!"

"Too many prefixes and titles. I never thought you, Barnier, would be driven to such a breakdown. And Wiz, just how much unsellable merchandise did you buy?"

"Ugh—! That's so mean! I didn't do that! I have a feeling those are going to be bestsellers!"

"You say that every time."

With a sigh, Warbak walked into the magic item shop, followed by a complaining Wiz and an equally helpless Ernes.

A day at the magic item shop is very relaxing.

Because it's a magic item shop in the beginner village, and because it's located in a remote corner, and all the items have subtle effects, it basically has no customers.

Especially now that the Demon King's army has announced a major offensive against Axel, no adventurer has the leisure to buy goods, so they spent the whole morning sorting through the junk that Wiz bought.

"Huh, I'm exhausted."

"Thank you for your hard work, Lord Warbak."

Ernes, like an older sister, wiped the sweat from the cheeks of the young girl, Warbak. Although it was a bit tiring, Warbak didn't find it annoying; she enjoyed this peaceful and fulfilling daily routine.

Wiz brought over some tea.

"Thank you for your hard work. The tea is ready."

“If you hadn’t been bringing in all this random stuff, we wouldn’t be working so hard… But you’ll get the punishment you deserve.”

Looking at the lich girl, who was now covered in black from being severely injured by Barnir's Destruction Ray, Worbak couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.

Black tea is delicious.

It wasn't particularly high-end, and the taste wasn't especially sweet, but the simple, understated feeling it evoked was a huge plus.

Barnier was still sorting the goods.

Of all these people, his job was the most demanding. In addition to preparing the goods every day, he also had to watch out for Wiz's deliveries and work even harder as a salesman than Wabak.

I have absolutely no idea who owns this shop.

"Speaking of which, how are Zun Zun and the others doing?"

Looking at Ernest, who was also busy, Warbak thought of Zun Zun.

Wiz shook his head, somewhat worried, and said, "They suddenly said they were going to the capital to fight the Demon King. They should be in the Demon King's castle now. I wonder how they are doing."

"Definitely no problem, that kid's strength is already comparable to that stupid goddess."

Barnier said it casually.

This caused Wiz to exclaim in surprise, seemingly unable to believe that Zun Zun's strength was so great, and that the leap in power was so significant. After all, when they met in the Crimson Demon Village, Zun Zun hadn't even learned magic yet.

Wobak had anticipated this, after all, his evil god power was being devoured by the celestial spirits of the Venerable One, and there were a total of 6 celestial spirits of that caliber.

At the very least, they should be unafraid of the Demon King.

“Compared to this,” Barnier said, taking a cage from the counter containing something resembling a snake, and looking at the crowd, “what do you all think about the Venerable One becoming the Demon King?”

"what?"

"It's about that brat wanting you to become officers in the Demon King's army."

The Venerable One didn't completely annihilate them, hoping they would continue to serve as officers in the Demon King's army after he became the new Demon King. However, he didn't force them, letting them decide for themselves. But—

"Yes, I was already tired of being a cadre in the Demon King's army, but Zun Zun said he would allow me to open a hot spring hotel in the back mountain of the Demon King's castle, and I am very interested."

"Lord Wobak's choice is my choice, and... I was summoned by Lord Zun Zun."

This is what Warback, who has a particular fondness for hot springs, and Ernest, who follows the crowd.

"Where's the idiot shopkeeper?"

"As for me... Zun Zun said he was willing to let me continue running the magic item shop in Axel, or even in the Demon King's Castle. Most importantly, he also said he would give me funding every year, as well as the right to sell the magic items he made."

"Hmm...this is a rare benefit for you." "Yes! That's why I want to become a Demon King's army officer too!"

Wiz is probably the one who received the best treatment among them, since he didn't have to do anything to get such great benefits.

"Then... what are you thinking, Beldia, the headless knight from the same era, who was trapped in a fish tank and depressed all day, and who was just thinking about going to the hot springs with two beauties to peek at the beautiful scenery?"

"Still the same long prefix as always... I'll say it again: I only pledge allegiance to the Demon King!"

Of course, he doesn't care who the demon king is.

Moreover, Beldia had no room for further demands. After all, he was a villain who had once tried to massacre adventurer towns, and he had no complaints even if he was defeated.

"I see, I see... And then, the magician assassin who coveted the Crimson Demon Village, formerly—"

"I agree too."

"Well!"

Barnier, caught off guard, stammered; he hadn't expected the other to answer so quickly. The answer was... the small snake in the cage on the counter.

Upon closer inspection, it wasn't a small snake, but a miniature version of the former Demon King's military officer, Sylvia.

"That brat said that if I become a cadre in the Demon King's army, I'll be allowed to use the weapons in the underground hangar of the Crimson Demon Village. Those are weapons capable of destroying the world. How could I refuse?"

As the director of the Enhanced Monster Development Bureau, it's impossible for him to disregard the weapons in the Crimson Demon Village.

"...Were you also lured by profit?"

Barnier was speechless.

He discovered that Zun Zun had taken care of these demon army cadres one by one without revealing anything. Who exactly is the demon who is bewitching people and stirring up emotions?
"Speaking of which, what are your plans? You like to play tricks but end up being framed by them, ultimately becoming a Level 1 along with some sadistic man, even losing your power and status as a Demon King's army officer, a perverted dark priest (newbie) who seduces others by showing off your underwear, huh?"

"........."

It was then that they noticed a woman dressed in priest's robes, squatting with her knees drawn up to her chest inside the counter, her eyes filled with gloom and a sense of existential doubt.

Her name is Celestina.

Some time ago, she used the alias Serena and caused quite a commotion in Axel. Originally, Kazuma Sato and the others planned to hand her over to the police and then to the royal family, but Zun Zun kept her and placed her in Wiz's magic item shop, and did not even restrict her movements.

...Although she could hardly move an inch.

"Oh dear, I just remembered!" Barnier slapped his forehead and said, "That brat said that if you're willing to become a new Demon King's army officer, he can give you skill point potions, and he can also let you use the Crimson Demon Clan's unique secret technique, [Gaining Experience]..."

"I want to be one! Please, let me be a cadre in the Demon King's army! I'll do anything you ask, please!"

"...You only think about yourself."

Celestina clung tightly to Banir's leg; having lost her power, she no longer knew why she was alive.

"Please...!"

"You... never mind, you've had it tough too, stuck with that freakish man."

"Woooooooo..."

Barnier's words only reminded Celestina of the fear of being dominated by Kazuma Sato, and she immediately burst into tears of grievance.

Heaven knows what infuriating things she's been through lately. She turned him into a puppet, but in the end, she's the one who got hurt. Where can she find justice?

"And what about Mr. Barnier?"

"Yes, I'm very curious about what benefits Zun Zun promised you, Barnier."

"You can't possibly be helping for free, can you?"

"Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

"After all, he's Barnier, who's obsessed with money."

Several former Demon King's military officers said the same thing.

"—How rude of me!" Barnier's forehead veins bulged, but he admitted, "That brat agreed to let us transform the Demon King's Castle into an underground city. In the end, an underground city should be transformed from the Demon King's Castle to be worthy of it."

This has always been his wish.

Wiz and the others nodded. They were well aware of Banir's extremely malicious desires. Imagine if a hero came to the Demon King's castle to defeat the Demon King, only to encounter Banir and then be toyed with...

It's so pitiful to even think about it.

Let us mourn for the heroes who came after.

"But have you all considered one question?" Barnier continued, "What should the Demon Lord do now?"

"Well..."

"We can only pray that he is safe."

"That old guy has been the Demon King for so long, it's time for him to step down."

"agree."

"I am loyal only to the Demon King."

"—How heartless."

Although Barnier said this, he actually thought the same thing. If the current Demon King could abdicate early, his dungeon plan could be implemented quickly.

"Alright, let's see what that brat is doing right now!"

As he spoke, he activated his telescopic vision skill.

Then I saw the scene of being sucked into the spatial passage, and I immediately gasped.

"Mr. Barnier?"

"...It's nothing, just a minor issue."

He didn't know whether to say that kid was lucky or unlucky, that he'd been teleported away at the crucial moment? Most importantly—

"Wait, Mr. Barnier, what exactly happened?"

"Um……"

Barnier eventually told them what he had seen, and the men looked slightly taken aback. To have something like this happen at the very last minute was incredibly disappointing!
"Wait a minute, Mr. Barnier, didn't you set up that room? The purpose was to trick the Demon King's army! So, where does that orb lead?"

"do not know."

"Eh?"

"The effect of that orb is to randomly send people to a certain world. When I told the Demon King that there was such an item in a room in the Demon King's castle, his mood was quite pleasant, and I still remember it vividly to this day."

"Idiot...Idiot Mr. Barnier—!"

Wiz's scream echoed throughout the magic item shop.

(End of this chapter)