Saint Ansuo City.
With the morning birdsong filling the air, Viya opened her eyes.
What greeted her sight was Saint Cecilia’s half-exposed, soft, and pale bosom, and the saint’s sweet, peaceful sleeping face.
Hiss…
“Who exactly is the succubus here…”
As the Succubus Lord, Viya let out a heartfelt sigh, then quietly slipped out of bed, planning to search the kitchen for something to eat.
Ever since returning from the Demon King’s Castle a few days ago, the saint’s mental state had clearly been off.
Although the saint still had no intention of becoming Via’s familiar, recently, she had been coming over noticeably more often.
For someone who was forced to seek refuge with her, this behavior made Via raise her guard.
It wasn’t that she feared Cecilia would stab her in the back, but she worried the saint might now harbor some abnormal feelings toward her.
“…Hmm~ What time is it…?”
Just as Via finished dressing on the bed, she heard the saint’s drowsy murmuring from behind.
“It’s still early. Next time, stay in your own room. I don’t even know when you sneaked in.”
Via said coldly.
She had to make the other party understand that the saint was her toy, and as a toy, she needed to know her place—not to act as she pleased.
“As you command, Senior.”
The saint’s voice was calm, almost as if she hadn’t cared at all.
Via frowned and turned to look at her, but Cecilia had buried her face under the covers, making her expression unreadable.
“…Even if you’re coming over, at least tell me in advance, got it?”
In the end, Via didn’t say it too harshly.
She couldn’t not cherish the toy in her hands at all.
That was how she justified her behavior.
“Got it.”
***
Since Saint Ansuo City fell to the demon race, there had been many things to handle.
This human holy city housed a large number of ordinary humans and church believers.
When the demons besieged the city, although the vast majority fled, some humans still remained inside.
Via had not allowed the demons to disturb them, or rather, she did not intend for the demons to fully oppose the humans.
The demons had never been a stagnant race; their inclusiveness was remarkably high.
Originally, the demon race consisted only of the “Devils,” and most of the internal rules came from the Devil tribe.
But with later external expansion and mixing with other races, various tribes such as the Bloodline, Dark Elves, Nightmares, and Succubi gradually emerged.
Over long years, this formed the large demon race structure.
Saint Ansuo City still held many clergy, archbishop believers, and human civilians.
Her goal of revenge targeted only those original traitors, not the majority of innocents uninvolved.
Moreover, these people possessed valuable intelligence crucial to humans, making it important to win them over.
Sitting before her now was one such person she wanted to recruit.
The elderly man was advanced in years, his posture stooped, and his expensive silk robes could not hide his frailty.
Still, Via did not relax even a bit because of his age.
He was the former vice president of the Saint Ansuo City Merchants’ Guild and also served as a logistics officer for the Saint City Archbishop Church.
When the city was attacked, the guild president fled at the speed of light, while he stayed behind.
According to him, it was to try to secure a path to survival for the city’s people despite his limited remaining years.
Of course, Via clearly understood his intentions.
This man had risked so much to stay, gambling that the Demon King’s army entering the city would not act as violently as other demon armies.
If this gamble paid off, he could gain far greater benefits and influence than the previous guild president.
“Mr. Burt, since we took control of Saint Ansuo City, this is the first time we’ve met directly like this, isn’t it?”
Via smiled sitting opposite the old merchant with courage braver than the sky, “I remember when we took the city, you were the first to lead people to greet us. That must have been quite a pressure back then.”
“It was only to give the people of the city a way out, Demon Lord. After all, we are merchants. To do business, there must be people — with people, there’s demand, and then there’s business. You probably already know that I do all this mostly for myself.”
“Straightforward words, I like dealing with honest people.”
Via lightly pushed the tray of pastries between them, inviting him to help himself.
But the old man waved his hand.
“I can’t eat these things anymore; my teeth aren’t good.”
“They were just made, and they’re soft.”
“Soft maybe, but pastries like these are sweet enough to rot your teeth,” the old man’s eyes flickered with shrewdness.
“I’m old and can’t handle it like before. When I was young, I’d take big bites of these pastries until I was full. Besides, these are better suited for young people, like you, a beautiful young lady.”
“Pfft.”
A succubus attending nearby couldn’t hold back a laugh.
Calling the Demon Lord a young person was unexpected.
Via was indeed the youngest new Demon Lord, but considering the age she was when still human plus the years she spent in the grave, Via wasn’t really young at all.
“Hahaha, my mistake, Demon Lord. Of course, I know you’re extraordinary, but at least to this human, you’re a beautiful young lady. Sometimes, what the eyes see is worth believing.”
“You have a point.”
Facing his flattery, Via didn’t feign modesty and accepted it.
“If these pastries don’t suit your taste, then let me bring you something else. Take this tray back for your grandson to try. I heard he’s preparing to become a traveling merchant, so he should experience some fresh things.”
“Thank you for your concern.”
The old man stroked his beard.
“Demon Lord, lately it seems the city is gradually returning to normal, and the demons on the streets are starting to prepare for regular life?”
“Yes. I invited you here today partly for that,” Via said, her gaze drifting to the window.
“Life in the city is stabilizing. Many parts of Saint Ansuo City need repair and reconstruction. I need to consult you on some commercial matters.”