"So, what’s the final result?"
"The re-sult! What did the Lord finally decide? To hire maids or not to hire maids, which one is it?"
"...You really have a twisted sense of humor."
The great demon before him was skilled at reading minds. He already knew the answer, already knew what Adam was thinking, yet he deliberately asked, wanting to make him verbalize the embarrassing answer himself.
He wanted to "taste" his feelings of discomfort. What a malicious great demon.
"Oh my! What a compliment, thank you for your praise, my Lord." Far from reflecting on his actions, Vanir felt honored.
Creating extreme emotional shifts in others had always been his sustenance, and proof of his capabilities as a Duke of Hell.
Being praised (criticized), he was naturally happy.
With his mask showing a mischievous smile at the corners, Adam couldn’t help but get angry.
He grabbed that mask with one hand, then violently shook it up, down, left and right, while pulling downward with such force that it seemed he was trying to tear the mask off.
This forceful and sudden action caused the great demon, whose mask was his true form, to beg for mercy.
"Ah, aaahhh! I was wrong, I admit my mistake! Please let go, my Lord! Please let go, it’s going to break, it’s going to break!"
"No way! This is punishment for making fun of me!" Adam wouldn’t stop. After hearing Vanir’s loud pleas, he applied even more force, "Stop resisting and just accept your punishment!"
Amid Vanir’s pitiful wailing, the mask was forcibly pulled off by Adam. His body made of clay gradually dissolved into ordinary soil, slowly melting into the ground.
Of course, this minor injury couldn’t truly harm him. At most, it was just a joke between the two of them.
"Remember this lesson, you stupid great demon."
Speaking somewhat defiantly, Adam casually tossed the mask onto the pile of clay, then watched as it rebuilt a new body.
"Yes, I was wrong, my Lord."
Vanir actively admitted his mistake after being taught a lesson, but after just three seconds, he couldn’t help himself again.
"...Pfft, because you were afraid you might not be able to resist attacking party members, you refused to hire maids, but you still couldn’t resist the temptation of other girls in the party. The usually composed Lord has been thrown into complete disarray... Ah, these sticky, moist feelings that make one’s heart race, how delicious!"
"Hey, that’s enough!"
Adam was furious and wanted to teach him another lesson, but Vanir perceptively apologized, so he had no choice but to let it go.
"Well then, may I ask what brings my Lord here today? I, Demon Lord Vanir, will do my utmost to serve you!"
"...Stop being so fake."
Looking at Vanir’s affected humble posture, Adam found this demon who excelled at manipulation quite troublesome.
"Wiz spent last night at the lord’s mansion, you know that, right? No, you knew it all along, didn’t you!"
"Yes, of course I know!" Obviously, Vanir had no intention of hiding anything. He even said, "Ah, is my dear friend finally getting married? Oh no, I should prepare red bean rice for this occasion!"
"Let me clarify, we haven’t progressed to that stage yet!"
"So you will in the future?"
Although what Vanir said was highly possible, his expression — which made one grit their teeth in irritation — really made Adam want to punch him in the face.
"Ahem, enough joking around." Vanir cleared his throat, then put on a serious face, "So, my Lord specifically came to escort Wiz back?"
"Well... not just that. By the way, Vanir, how’s the progress on the dungeon renovation?"
To win over this demon and help fulfill his long-held wish, Adam had specifically given him the rights to renovate Keele’s Dungeon, but having been away from Axel recently, he knew nothing about Vanir’s progress.
"Speaking of that, that dungeon is truly exceptional!" When talking about the dungeon, Vanir became very excited, opening his arms and laughing loudly, "That dungeon has hollowed out the entire mountain, with a complex terrain. It’s a perfect adventure treasure!"
"...For adventurers, it’s more like a dungeon with the most twisted sense of humor."
Adam instinctively corrected his statement, making the demon lord laugh even more maliciously.
He thought for a moment and said, "By the way, Vanir, I have a suggestion that I think would suit you."
"What is it?" Vanir seemed very curious.
Adam continued, "How about turning your dungeon into one without danger... what do you think?"
"Hmm? What exactly is..." Vanir grew even more curious.
"Look, your goal is to see those adventurers overcome numerous traps to reach the depths of the maze, only to find a ’Thank You For Your Patronage’ sign in the treasure chest after defeating you with great difficulty. You want to see their frustrated expressions, right?"
"Yes! That’s my wish!" After hearing his words, Vanir became excited.
Because this was his long-cherished wish!
"Well then... we can increase the difficulty, but not to the point of endangering the adventurers’ lives. Vanir, your goal is to see their frustrated expressions, not to kill them, right?"
"Think about it, if they die in an extremely difficult dungeon maze, who else would come to challenge it?"
Vanir thought for a moment, then said, "But... if we advertise that ’This maze contains vast treasures that can fulfill anyone’s wish,’ wouldn’t people still come?"
"How is that possible! Are you an idiot?"
Adam suspected that the shrewd great demon had become stupid after spending too much time with Wiz.
"Vanir, think carefully. Keele’s Dungeon that you’re renovating is actually an ordinary dungeon that has already been looted empty by other adventurers, and the lord of this town is me — the captain of the Hero Party! If even I can’t complete it, how would other adventurers dare to come?"
"Hmm... indeed, that makes sense."
"Right!" Seeing his thoughtful expression, Adam elaborated further, "But if we change our approach, it’s different. We just need to transform this dungeon into an entertainment-focused maze adventure, keeping the difficulty the same but eliminating casualties.
This will continuously encourage them to challenge it again, and with repeated attempts, someone will eventually grasp the pattern and appear before you!
Moreover! After defeating you, they find that ’Thank You For Your Patronage’ note and make those frustrated faces, only to then see me appear before them with generous rewards...
That extreme emotional reversal would be absolutely delicious!"
Vanir drew in a sharp breath, thinking Adam’s idea was excellent!
"My Lord, do you have thoughts of becoming a demon?"
Low EQ: You’re not human.
High EQ: Do you have thoughts of becoming a demon?
"No, please don’t misunderstand, my Lord. I didn’t mean to mock you... it’s just that I truly believe you could go far on the path of demonhood."
"Hey, that’s enough!" Adam couldn’t help but criticize again.
He really wanted to punch Vanir!
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