Chapter 10: What a Powerful Curse
It was a magnificent palace built from obsidian and red agate, with a dome soaring into the clouds, and countless magic crystal chandeliers radiating extravagant light.
Lilith wore an extremely gorgeous yet sparsely fabricated black lace dress, its hem dragging across the scarlet carpet.
Like a docile kitten, she affectionately held the arm of the tall man beside her. Her eyes, which usually held a desire to mock, were now brimming with overflowing adoration and worship.
"My dear Lord Demon King~"
Her voice was delicate and sickly sweet:
"You were truly heroic today! You cut off the head of that annoying Dragon Race with a single sword, successfully recapturing the Dragon Mountain Range! We are one step closer to our great goal of conquering the world and enslaving all races~"
As she spoke, she rubbed her cheek against the man's shoulder, her eyes seductive, her tone carrying a hint of cautious probing and anticipation:
"But speaking of that... if I may be so bold, Your Majesty... do you still remember our original promise? When do you plan to make me your Queen Consort~"
"Heh, what are you talking about?"
Hearing this, the man beside her turned his head. It was Asmodeus's face, as cold and stern as an ice sculpture.
His gaze was indifferent, filled with the look of a superior viewing an ant.
A long, powerful hand reached out and mercilessly pinched Lilith's chin, forcing her to look up.
"Woman, do not presume upon my favor."
Asmodeus's voice was low and cruel, as if he were evaluating a piece of disposable trash:
"Who do you think you are? You are merely a toy for my amusement in my leisure time, just a tool to handle my excess desires and propagate offspring."
"You want status? Don't dream about it!"
"Foolish woman, you are only fit to stay obediently in the deep palace and breed children for the rest of your life!"
"Mmmph!"
How cold!
How heartless!
What a scumbag!
Hearing these words, Lilith's pupils trembled violently.
But strangely, a pathological flush appeared on her cheeks, and her body trembled slightly from excitement, emitting a cry from the depths of her soul:
"So... so handsome..."
"Being scolded... I'm so happy!"
"As expected of His Highness the Demon King! His Highness the Demon King is the strongest! I love it!"
—
"Like hell I do!"
The scene abruptly ended!
Lilith suddenly woke up!
As a curse exploded in her heart, she sprang directly out of her sleep.
"Hoo... hoo... hoo..."
She gasped heavily, her forehead covered in cold sweat, her heart still pounding fiercely.
Darkness, rock walls, confined space.
This was still that damned Underground Nine-Layered Labyrinth, and beneath her was still that hard coffin lid.
"Holy crap... that scared the shit out of me..."
Lilith patted her chest nervously, cold sweat dripping heavily from her forehead.
"What was that dream just now? Why would I have such a strange dream!"
"And why was the me in the dream so pathetic! Being scolded like that and actually feeling good? Is something seriously wrong with me?!"
"Wait a minute... could it be..."
"Not just my body, but is my mind starting to be affected by this body too, becoming strange?"
Thinking of this, Lilith felt a chill.
"What should I do now... If I really turn into an idiot whose mind is only focused on clinging to a man, I might as well smash my head against this coffin and die!"
"Hmm?"
Just as she was frantically complaining internally, she suddenly noticed something was off.
The feeling... was a bit strange.
Lilith lowered her head, and using the faint ghostly light, she discovered in horror—
Before sleeping last night, she was clearly facing away from Asmodeus, curled up in his arms like a punching bag.
But now, she had somehow shifted into a position facing the Demon King!
Moreover, she was wrapped around Asmodeus like an octopus, using both her hands and feet. One thigh was pressed extremely indecently against the Demon King's waist, and both hands were tightly clasped around his neck, her face nearly touching his pectoral muscle!
This position... couldn't be more proactive!
...
Lilith swallowed, her gaze slowly moving upwards.
At close range, Asmodeus's sleeping face came into view, utterly defenseless.
She had to admit, this guy was damn handsome.
The lines that were originally sharp and cold had softened considerably in his sleep. His nose bridge was high like a mountain peak, his eyelashes were thick like two small fans, his thin lips were pressed into a line, and his skin was so flawless that not a single pore was visible.
In that instant, Lilith's heart unexpectedly skipped a beat.
Thump, thump, thump.
Her heartbeat grew louder, and her cheeks began to burn.
But quickly! She belatedly drew a sharp breath!
"Wait? Not right!"
Lilith suddenly snapped awake!
Like being electrocuted, she retracted her hands and feet, then vigorously shook her head, tossing those terrifying thoughts out of her mind.
"Snap out of it, Old Duan! You're a man! How could you possibly think the Demon King is handsome!"
"And why was I hugging him! Was this an instinctive reaction of the body while sleeping?!"
"Bastard—!"
Lilith roared silently in her heart, so ashamed she wanted to crawl into a crack in the ground.
"If this continues, I won't even need Asmodeus to make a move; I'll fall for him myself first!"
"Why did it turn out like this!"
...
Just as her internal drama was in full swing.
Perhaps because Lilith's action of pulling back her arm was too sudden, the eyelids of the previously sleeping Asmodeus twitched slightly.
Swoosh.
His scarlet eyes suddenly snapped open.
There was no post-sleep confusion, only cold alertness, instantly locking onto Lilith in front of him.
"Eek!"
Lilith froze in terror, quickly retracting her hands like a child who had done something wrong—she lay flat obediently, blinking her large eyes, looking weakly at him.
"Wh-what is it, Lord Demon King..."
She asked cautiously, afraid that he had noticed her frantic behavior and would become displeased.
However.
Asmodeus did not respond indifferently as usual.
He stared at Lilith, his brows gradually furrowing, his expression growing more serious, and his gaze becoming increasingly stern and profound.
That look was not like viewing a maid or a fiancée; it was more like scrutinizing a lurking assassin.
The surrounding air temperature began to drop rapidly.
Lilith was so scared her breathing became shallow, and her heart jumped into her throat.
"W-what's wrong? Why so serious?"
"Did he hear me cursing him in my sleep?"
"Or do I grind my teeth or snore when I sleep? I shouldn't, right?"
Thinking this, Lilith felt a surge of panic.
Fortunately, Asmodeus finally spoke, his voice low and hoarse:
"Little Meow, what magic did you use?"
"Huh?"
At his words, Lilith looked confused and tilted her head:
"Magic? What are you referring to?"
Seeing that Lilith's confused expression did not seem feigned, Asmodeus narrowed his eyes, leaning slightly forward, closing in on her with a powerful sense of oppression:
"Don't play dumb. If you didn't use magic, why would I feel that something is wrong?"
"Did you manipulate my mind? Or is it a curse ability unique to the Succubus Race?"
He stared intently at Lilith's pink lips, his Adam's apple bobbing, seemingly trying hard to suppress something:
"The moment I woke up just now, I suddenly felt a strange impulse... a thought I've never had before."
"Uh... what exactly are you referring to?"
Lilith continued to blink innocently, completely unaware of the impending danger.
Asmodeus did not answer this.
His eyes became dark and unclear; his reason seemed to be engaged in a fierce struggle with that desire.
But ultimately, as the self-proclaimed Demon King, he decided to follow his own will—if he wanted to do it, he would do it! Why should he explain himself to a servant?
The next second.
Without any warning.
Asmodeus suddenly leaned down, one hand gripping the back of Lilith's head, and in the shadow cast by his enlarged handsome face, he fiercely kissed her!
"Mmm!!!"
In just an instant, Lilith's eyes widened to the extreme.
A warm and soft sensation came from her lips, followed immediately by a storm-like invasion.
It was absolutely not a gentle morning kiss.
It was plunder! It was conquest! It was a tyrannical, savage, and unreasonable assault!
"?????"
Lilith's mind instantly went blank.
"I... was forcibly kissed?!"
"My first kiss!! The first kiss I saved for two lifetimes! Ugh!"
Subconsciously, she wanted to struggle, wanted to push away this crazy Demon King.
However, when Asmodeus's scent completely enveloped her, her body instantly went soft like a puddle of water, and then blah blah blah blah... Five seconds.
Ten seconds... Asmodeus finally let go of her.
"Hoo..."
The Demon King breathed lightly, pulling back the distance.
Lilith was sprawled limply in the coffin, her face flushed red, her lips swollen, her eyes hazy, clearly not yet recovered from the attack.
Asmodeus reached out a finger, gently stroking her messy silver hair. A hint of confusion flashed in his eyes, but he quickly returned to his rational, analytical demeanor.
"Strange..."
He muttered to himself thoughtfully:
"This doesn't seem to be your magic."
"No shit!!!"
Lilith gritted her teeth upon hearing this, while Asmodeus stroked his chin and murmured:
"I am the Lord of the Demon Realm. A mere Charm Spell cannot shake my will. But that uncontrollable impulse just now was real..."
He raised his head, looking at the pitch-black ceiling of the dungeon, narrowing his eyes as if he had found the culprit:
"Could it be the power of 'Ragnarok'? To think it could influence my mind through the seal and shake my will..."
"Heh, it seems those ants from three hundred years ago weren't completely useless, managing to develop such a despicable curse targeted at me."
He said this earnestly, dumping all the blame for his sudden "animalistic outburst" onto the seal.
Looking at the other side.
Lilith was currently curled up in the corner, covering her mouth in disbelief with both hands, looking utterly wronged and on the verge of tears.
"Curse... Curse my ass!"
"That was just pure lust, okay! You beast!"
"Damn... so disgusting... I can't take it anymore! Maybe I really should just smash my head and die!"
Feeling the lingering warmth on her lips, Lilith was filled with grief, indignation, and extreme humiliation!
But at the same time, an unprecedented sense of crisis arose.
"Yesterday it was just holding hands while sleeping..."
"This morning I woke up and we were kissing directly..."
"Then what about tomorrow? The day after tomorrow?"
Remembering the message Old Song sent last night—"The fastest I can get there to save you is next year."
Lilith felt that the future was pitch black, and she could only close her eyes in despair.
"A year? Don't be ridiculous."
"At this rate, forget a year, maybe a week at most..."
"No! Within three days! My chastity will be lost!"