Chapter 117: Nox’s New Village...
Nox emerged from the vast dark forest accompanied by the three Little Ones, who bounced around him with little hops of joy.
The moment he crossed the final line of trees, the sight before him left him completely speechless.
"..."
The land where the abandoned church stood no longer looked the same.
During the few hours he had been away, the Little Ones had worked without rest.
Surrounding the church were dozens of small buildings, each standing a little over a meter tall.
Every one of them had been built from the strange whitish material the little creatures produced from their mouths.
The walls still had the same rough texture as before, but now they were perfectly aligned.
There were pathways, tiny bridges, and even a few structures that looked like storage buildings or workshops.
And the church itself...
"...What the hell?"
Nox slowly lifted his head.
The church no longer had only two stories.
It clearly had a third one now.
The Little Ones had expanded the entire building using the same material while preserving the style of the original structure.
They had even repaired the damaged exterior walls.
The old abandoned church no longer looked like a ruin.
It looked like the central building of a small city.
Or rather...
The perfect headquarters for a Demon Lord in his new empire.
The demon let out a laugh.
"You all worked really hard."
The three Little Ones accompanying him immediately began making excited little noises.
"AUDE."
"AUDE."
"AUDE."
Then they leaped out from the bushes beside Nox.
They ran at full speed toward the rest of the Little Ones.
The little creatures instantly surrounded them.
They all shouted, jumped, and hugged one another.
As though heroes had just returned from war.
Nox watched the scene with a smile.
"...Good work."
he said, raising one hand.
The Little Ones started jumping even higher.
They clearly understood his tone...
Even if they probably didn’t understand the words.
◇◆◇
The massive church doors swung open.
Misty stepped outside.
The dancer was completely covered in that white construction material.
Hardened patches clung to her hair, clothes, arms, and legs.
There was even some on the tip of her nose.
The moment Nox saw her, he burst into laughter.
"What happened to you?"
Misty looked down at her own clothes.
Then smiled.
"You could say I was helping them."
She pointed at herself.
"It turns out these little architects needed an assistant."
Nox looked over the new settlement once more.
"I have to admit..."
"...they did an incredible job."
"Right?"
Misty looked proud.
"Besides..."
She wiped some of the material off her cheek.
"...I was the one who improved the statue."
"The statue?"
The dancer pointed toward the center of the new settlement.
There, surrounded by rows of tiny houses...
Stood a massive statue made from the same white material.
It depicted Nox.
His horns.
His coat.
Every one of his weapons had been carefully recreated—a dagger in one hand, his rifle in another, chains coiled around him, his shield equipped, and the Marauder Mask covering his face.
Nox’s eyes widened.
"No way."
Misty laughed.
"The Little Ones insisted."
The demon slowly shook his head.
"That... I definitely wasn’t expecting."
◇◆◇
At that moment...
Nox felt the temperature behind him drop sharply.
The ground became covered in ice.
A thin white layer spread all the way to his feet.
The demon immediately turned around.
Dawn stood behind him.
Her katana, coated in a blade of ice, was pointed directly at someone.
Nox followed the direction of her sword.
Yuri.
The swamp woman stood completely frozen in place.
Ice encased both of her legs.
Even so...
She was still smiling.
Without taking her eyes off the woman, Dawn spoke.
"Do you want me to cut off her head?"
she asked calmly.
Nox laughed.
"That won’t be necessary."
The swordswoman raised an eyebrow.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
He walked over to Yuri.
"I knew you were following us."
Yuri’s eyes went wide.
"...What?"
"Ever since we left the village."
She looked genuinely shocked.
"You knew?"
Nox nodded.
"I just wanted to see how far you’d go."
Dawn watched the demon for a few seconds.
Then slowly lowered her katana.
The ice immediately began to melt.
Yuri recovered her freedom of movement.
"You’re lucky."
Dawn commented.
Misty chuckled.
"Honestly..."
She looked Yuri up and down.
"...this girl desperately needs a bath."
Nox slowly turned toward the dancer.
He looked at her for a few moments.
Then pointed at the white material still covering nearly her entire body.
"You shouldn’t talk so soon. Looks like you need one too."
Misty blinked.
Then looked down at herself before laughing.
"Fair point."
Nox turned back toward Yuri.
"Want Misty to teach you what a bath is?"
The woman smiled immediately.
"Is that what I need before you’ll get me pregnant?"
Dawn closed her eyes and covered her face with one hand.
The secondhand embarrassment was overwhelming.
Misty nearly collapsed from laughing.
Nox let out a long sigh.
"Yes."
He raised both hands.
"Yes, yes. Bath first."
Yuri smiled and gave him a thumbs-up.
"Perfect!"
◇◆◇
Nox looked around once more.
"Where’s everyone else?"
Dawn finally sheathed her katana.
"I was the first one to come back."
Then she pointed toward the church.
"Audrey’s inside."
"With Claws?"
"Yeah."
"I’m guessing, judging by the time..."
"...she’s cooking."
The swordswoman nodded.
"They’re making dinner."
Nox looked toward the forest.
"What about Tessa?"
Dawn slowly shook her head.
"She hasn’t come back."
"Catherine?"
"Neither has she."
Nox remained silent for a few moments.
Then he smiled.
"I’m not worried."
Dawn raised an eyebrow.
"You’re not?"
"No."
He looked back toward the forest.
"They’re probably just busy with something."
The demon smiled.
"I’m sure they’ll be back before dinner."
◇◆◇
A little while later...
Nox entered the large improvised kitchen the Little Ones had built inside the church.
There was now a massive clay oven, long counters, and several cooking stations.
Audrey worked quietly.
Beside her, the chubby Little One seemed to be supervising everything.
Claws rested beside the oven, carefully watching every movement.
"What are you making?"
Nox asked.
Audrey looked up and smiled when she saw him.
"A nice stew."
She pointed toward a huge pot.
"Made from a giant rodent we hunted."
Then she gestured toward several skewers roasting over the fire.
"And some lizards we found nearby."
Nox looked at the little reptiles impaled on sticks.
Their skins sparkled as though coated in sugar.
"What happened to them?"
Audrey smiled.
"That’s exactly what I asked."
She pointed toward the chubby Little One.
"It was his idea."
The little fellow proudly puffed out his chest.
The huntress continued.
"He says they’re called Sugar Lizards."
Nox picked one up and examined it closely.
Its scales shimmered with colorful reflections depending on the angle.
"The name fits perfectly."
Audrey smiled.
"Try one."
Nox hesitated for a moment before biting into one of its legs.
The skin was unbelievably crispy.
And the flavor...
"..."
Nox slowly opened his eyes.
It immediately reminded him of candy from his previous world.
The meat was tender.
The skin was sweet.
The contrast was perfect.
The demon smiled.
"This..."
He took another bite.
"...is incredible."
Audrey chuckled.
"I knew you’d like it."
Nox held up the lizard.
"This isn’t a meal."
He looked back at the chubby Little One.
"This could make an amazing dessert."
The little creature immediately started jumping with excitement.
"AUDE."
"Make sure to save them."
Nox requested.
"I want them after dinner."
Audrey nodded.
"As you command, Lord Nox."
◇◆◇
Just then, footsteps echoed through the room.
Misty entered first.
And behind her...
Yuri.
It took Nox a few seconds to recognize her.
The swamp woman was no longer covered in mud.
Her long green hair shone now that it was clean.
She wore clothes Misty had lent her.
Black leather pants.
A fitted blouse with a deep neckline.
The outfit highlighted her curves perfectly.
Though she was still completely barefoot.
"I can’t stand wearing anything on my feet."
she commented as soon as she noticed Nox looking at them.
The demon chuckled.
"Honestly..."
He looked her over once again.
"...now you actually look like a respectable person."
Yuri smiled from ear to ear before opening her arms.
"So..."
"...are you going to get me pregnant now?"
Misty exploded with laughter.
Dawn covered her face once more.
Nox placed a hand against his forehead.
"...Later."
he answered with resignation.
"Right now we have much more important things to do."
"Like dinner."
Yuri nodded in complete agreement.
"Okay."
Then she looked around the new settlement.
The houses.
The Little Ones.
The rebuilt church.
Finally, she looked back at Nox.
"Demon Lord."
"What?"
"What’s the name of this village?"
Nox opened his mouth...
Then closed it again.
Without an answer.
He looked around.
The massive church.
The tiny houses.
The Little Ones running from one place to another.
The gigantic statue of himself.
And completely froze.
"..."
Misty smiled.
Audrey stopped stirring the pot.
Even Dawn raised an eyebrow.
Everyone waited for his answer.
Nox slowly scratched the back of his head.
"...Honestly..."
He looked over the settlement once more.
"...I still haven’t come up with a name."
And the silence that followed was so complete...
That even the Little Ones stopped making noise for a few seconds.