Chapter 33: The Demon

At the manor, shortly after Lucia left, a few of the girls gathered and sat in a circle.

Su Yue and Du Lin seemed to know everything, but in reality, they knew nothing at all.

Lucoco knew everything but was pretending to know nothing.

Yinuo knew something, but she didn’t know if she truly knew it.

In the middle of the group sat three crystals and five pieces of equipment.

The Magic Skill [**Lightning Whip — C**] was given to Du Lin.

The Warrior Skill [**Infusion — C**] and the Universal Skill [**Insight — B**] were given to Su Yue.

Grateful, the two of them hugged Lucoco’s head and “cried” for another 1 minute.

Yinuo refused to take anything.

Currently, she couldn’t tell if Lucoco was a being sent to guide her, or a Believer of a god as Du Lin and Su Yue claimed.

However, Lucoco had whispered to her that she could ask for a treasure chest whenever she wanted.

As for Luti?

She didn’t need them, she couldn’t learn them, and she didn’t care at all.

Regarding the equipment, Du Lin and Su Yue initially refused because their levels were too low to wear them.

They understood Lucoco’s intentions, so they stated they would wait until they reached Level 18 to open chests and at least gather a decent set of gear.

After hearing them, Lucoco puffed out her cheeks and huffed, “Aren’t you Players? Sell them! You can exchange them for several pieces of low-level gear! Do you still want to hang out with me or not?”

Seeing that Lucoco was unhappy, the two stopped being polite.

Besides, Lucoco made a lot of sense!

It would be truly embarrassing to hang out with the little Saint while wearing rags.

Su Yue took the Level 24 Heavy Armor Chestpiece (Blue), the Level 28 Leather Leggings (Gold), and the Level 20 Leather Belt (Purple).

Du Lin took the Level 37 Cloth Headpiece (Purple) and the Level 22 Cloth Gloves (Blue).

With the gifts finished, Lucoco was just about to get up and leave when Du Lin suddenly slapped her thigh, as if remembering something important.

Reaching out, she pulled a bracelet from her Player Bag and handed it to Lucoco with a smile.

“Lucoco, you definitely need this.”

“What is this?”

Lucoco examined the simple, ancient-looking bracelet.

She felt as though she had seen it somewhere before.

“This is a Storage Bracelet!”

Du Lin explained as she pressed the bracelet into Lucoco’s hand.

“It’s completely useless for us. It came out of that chest where the octopus was hiding.”

Lucoco looked surprised and instinctively reached out to take it.

‘A Storage Bracelet? No wonder it looks so familiar.’

For her current identity, a Storage Bracelet was indeed a good thing!

The feeling of having a Player Bag but being unable to use it freely was far too frustrating.

With this bracelet, she could pretend to pull items from it and would never have to worry about being suspected again.

However, she immediately thought of something.

Could she actually take items that others had obtained from chests created by the [**Demon King’s Treasury**]?

Apparently, she could not.

The bracelet simply would not land in her hand.

“Huh?”

“Huh? Why?”

Du Lin looked incredulous.

“Clearly other NP… clearly other people can take things.”

She tried to place it in Lucoco’s hand again, but it still wouldn’t work.

Lucoco’s body stiffened, and her heart hammered against her ribs.

‘Damn! This is a flaw! I might expose my identity!’

She immediately tried to pull her hand back, her mind racing to fabricate an excuse.

But at that moment, a system prompt appeared:

[**Unsealable item detected. Spend 100 gold coins to acquire?**]

[**Yes/No**]

‘Yes!’

Lucoco confirmed without hesitation.

[**Gold Coins -100**]

The obstruction vanished, and the Storage Bracelet settled firmly into her hand.

The cool sensation of the metal made her sigh in relief.

“Eh? It works now?”

Du Lin frowned, unable to figure it out.

Then she stopped thinking about it! She smiled brightly at Lucoco.

“With this, it’ll be much more convenient when you travel in the future.”

“Mhm. Thank you, Sister Du Lin. I like it very much.”

Lucoco rubbed the bracelet.

The scare from a moment ago had left her face flushed like a ripe apple.

Looking at her like this, Du Lin wanted to pounce and take a bite out of her!

But she managed to restrain herself.

Su Yue didn’t have such strong self-control.

Laughing, she leaned in and kissed her.

*Mwah! Mwah!*

Seeing this, Du Lin couldn’t stay back.

She immediately joined in, showering the other cheek with kisses.

Yinuo licked her lips, but unfortunately, her wolf muzzle wasn’t suited for such an operation, so she helplessly gave up.

After making a symbolic show of resistance, Lucoco began to enjoy herself.

Who wouldn’t love being “pampered” by beautiful girls?

A few minutes later, Lucoco returned slowly to the tree with both cheeks glowing red.

She quietly watched the four of them as they started their ruckus again.

It lasted until the setting sun dyed the clouds with the colors of evening.

Two figures appeared outside the manor’s barrier.

Lucia entered the barrier followed by a handsome, middle-aged man who walked with a bit of a limp.

Yinuo recognized the newcomer at a glance.

“Uncle Sebas! Why are you here?”

She joyfully rushed to meet him, then looked at the man in confusion.

“Are you injured?”

“Haha… It’s nothing. My old problem just flared up.”

Sebas quickly straightened his posture and reached out to rub Yinuo’s head, laughing heartily.

“The Lady Witch hired me to work here. In the future, I can roast sweet potatoes for little Yinuo again.”

“Really!? That’s wonderful!”

Yinuo jumped up in excitement and hugged Sebas around the waist.

“Ooh… Little Yinuo… your uncle’s old problem is a bit serious this time. Please, hold me more gently…”

Sebas bared his teeth in pain, his voice straining.

Hearing that, Yinuo quickly let go and scratched her head with a silly grin.

“Sorry, Uncle. I was just too happy.”

She looked toward Lucia, her eyes shimmering with countless emotions.

Just as she was about to bow and thank her, Lucia gently stopped her.

Lucia looked at her tenderly, as if looking at her own kin.

“Yinuo, family doesn’t need to do that. I will help you fulfill your wish. That was also Marisa’s wish.”

Hearing her mother’s name, Yinuo fell quiet.

She lowered her head and whispered, “…Thank you, thank you, Aunt Lucia.”

She seemed to want to step forward but didn’t quite dare.

Lucia chuckled and walked forward, pulling the girl into a tight hug.

“If you don’t mind, you can call me Mother Lucia from now on. I would be very happy for Yinuo to become my daughter.”

Happy tears finally flowed from the girl’s deep blue eyes.

She reached out and slowly hugged Lucia back.

“Mhm.”

“Good girl.”

Lucia held her, feeling a slight sting in her own nose.

She looked up at the twilight sky.

‘Sister Marisa, I will take good care of Yinuo. Don’t worry…’

Sebas had moved several yards away at some point.

He pretended to look down at the crickets chirping in the grass, occasionally sniffing to hide his emotions.

Sitting on a stool, Lucoco rested her chin in her hands and watched from afar, looking as if she had just realized something.

She had seen this uncle before!

She had seen him once at the blacksmith shop in town, but she hadn’t seen him since the great chaos.

She had thought he had been killed along with the shop, but she hadn’t expected him to have such a significant background!

Yinuo had mentioned this uncle many times on their journey, but Lucoco had never dared to tell her that she thought the man was dead…

It was a good thing she hadn’t!

—

Late at night, Yinuo went back to her earthen house, and Luti submerged herself in her favorite pond.

Du Lin and Su Yue returned to their room; it was unclear if they had logged out or truly fallen asleep.

The two Starfire Falcons, having returned from hunting, huddled in the new nest Lucia had built for them, blowing snot bubbles as they slept.

On the ship’s deck, Lucia, Lucoco, and Sebas sat together.

“You will be proud of your choice, Sebas.”

“To be able to work here while Yinuo is safe and sound is already enough for me to be proud, Lady Witch.”

Sebas’s gaze fell on Yinuo’s earthen house, which was now covered in vines and flowers.

His face was full of sincerity and satisfaction.

“Is that so? Well, in a moment, you will be even prouder.” A meaningful smile curled the corners of Lucia’s mouth.

“Oh?” Sebas looked at the dazed Lucoco and then back to Lucia. “Is your daughter even more outstanding than you?”

In truth, he was dying of curiosity!

He had already tried his [**Appraisal Art**], but his A-rank skill couldn’t identify Lucoco at all; it was directly blocked.

“Your [**Appraisal Art**] failed, didn’t it?”

Lucia teased, as if she had seen through him long ago.

“Ah… Hahaha.”

Sebas scratched his head awkwardly and admitted, “…That’s right, it failed.”

Lucoco blinked her eyes, looking between the two of them.

Finally, she stared at Lucia.

“I hate it when people talk in riddles, Mother.”

“Fine, fine. No more riddles.”

Lucia’s eyes crinkled with laughter as she took Lucoco’s small hand.

“You should sign a Familiar Contract with Uncle Sebas.”

“Huh?”

Lucoco was stunned. She looked at Sebas in disbelief, then at Lucia, and finally pointed at herself, her mind a complete mess.

“Come, Lucoco. Let me be your Familiar.”

Sebas laughed heartily.

Then, he pressed both palms over his heart and slowly pushed outward.

A dark red contract array drifted out from his chest.

It was a voluntary Familiar Contract.

Lucoco stared at the dark red array and swallowed.

“Is… is it really okay?”

She still couldn’t quite believe it.

“Everything is to prepare for the journey. Accept it.”

Lucia reached out and tucked a lock of hair behind Lucoco’s ear, her voice soft.

“Sebas’s familiar legacy skill can shield an Imprint. No one will be able to detect it. You understand what that means, right?”

“I understand…”

Lucoco realized the significance.

No longer hesitating, she pressed her palm against the contract array.

No wonder Sebas had been able to live peacefully in a human town for so long without being discovered.

If he hadn’t drunk too much that night and accidentally reverted to his true form before he could teleport home, only to be spotted by a passing Bishop, he might still be living a quiet life in that town.

The contract process didn’t involve any world-shaking commotion or flashy special effects.

[**Notification: Obtained Familiar: Level 65 [Lord-rank Ram-horned Demon — Sebas]**]

[**Notification: Obtained Active Skill [Unprinted]. When activated, it can selectively shield Imprints.**]

[**Notification: Level too low to obtain other familiar legacy skills.**]

With several messages popping up, the contract was complete.

Lucoco stared unblinkingly at the familiar rune on her left palm, her face turning red with excitement.

Level 65!

Lord rank! She actually possessed a Lord-rank familiar!

But the one who was even more shocked was Sebas.

From the moment the contract was signed, his body wouldn’t stop shivering.

He stared at the little girl before him with wide, incredulous eyes, looking as if he had seen a ghost.

‘My god! The Demon King! She is actually the Demon King!?’

‘When did the new Demon King wake up?

How come I haven’t heard a single rumor?’

‘And why does the Demon King look like this? Not only is there not a trace of the Dark Camp, but she feels like she’s bathing in Holy Light!’

‘Wait! Holy Light??’

Sebas tried to sense it again carefully…

“Holy crap!”

He was so terrified he nearly jumped out of his skin.

Losing his balance, he fell hard onto the deck.

*Thud!*

A sharp pain shot through his injured rear again.

“Sss! Ow, ow, ow…”

Clutching himself, he looked up and met Lucoco’s burning gaze.

Sebas’s mouth opened and closed, but for a moment, he couldn’t squeeze out a single word.

Finally, he could only turn a complex gaze toward Lucia, filled with deep questioning, as if seeking confirmation.

Lucia maintained her smile and said nothing more.

She picked up the dazed Lucoco and stood up.

“Go inside and turn left, then follow the stairs down to the second floor. Pick any room you like. The first floor is already full of ladies,” she said as she walked into the ship.

It took several minutes for Sebas to move.

The shock was simply too great; his brain couldn’t process it.

When he finally came back to his senses, he took a deep breath and muttered to himself, “Forget it. I still prefer sleeping under the stars.”

With a flash of his silhouette, he left the deck, found a place to lie down, and bit onto a few blades of grass as he began to contemplate his life as a demon.

On the other side, after Lucia placed Lucoco onto the large bed, she departed.

Left alone, Lucoco was too excited to sleep.

She tossed and turned, staring at the rune on her palm and giggling.

‘Lord rank! Hahaha! Level 65!’

‘With a familiar like this, many things will be much easier to handle in the future.’

‘Then again, is the name Sebas a bit too common?’

A familiar was a being far more difficult to sign than a contract partner.

Besides coming with a long-distance summoning spell, every familiar could grant the contractor at least one legacy skill.

The number of legacy skills depended on the contractor’s level.

However, familiars were magical creatures.

And most magical creatures came from the Chaos Faction or the Dark Camp.

Taming a monster from those two camps to submit to one’s side?

One could only imagine how difficult that was.

If one awakened the [**Mage — B**] Imprint, they might not need to venture into the territories of those two camps.

But if a Mage wanted a high-ranking familiar, they first had to raise their own rank.

Without a familiar, a Mage’s combat power was reduced by at least 40%.

Therefore, even for those in the Mage class, most of the familiars they contracted were either mentally immature or younglings trying to escape dangerous areas to survive.

Not only did their growth depend entirely on luck, but they also required a very long time to mature.

Of course, if one was incredibly wealthy, they could feed them certain materials to accelerate their growth.

‘Even though they aren’t related by blood, he is still Yinuo’s uncle.’

After her excitement faded, a calm Lucoco began to seriously consider other issues.

After thinking for a long time, she decided.

‘I’ll wait until I actually need him!’

‘Unless I have no other choice, I won’t summon him.’

‘Anyway, with the [**Unprinted**] skill, there’s basically no risk of being exposed.’