Chapter 52: A Hot Spring After Social Death? The Demon King’s Twisted Reward!

Central Plaza of Magic City Yasra.

The bustling heart of the world of Erya had fallen into dead silence.

Tens of thousands of eyes were fixed on the teleportation array.

Fixed on the Demon King who stepped out from the light.

And—

On the silver-haired, cat-eared loli behind her, dressed in semi-transparent gauze, led by a black rope.

Lilia’s legs went weak.

She could hear the sound of those around her sucking in cold breaths.

“—Hiss—”

“Hiss—hiss—”

Those gazes peeled away her gauze.

They wandered over the straps and lace on her body, exposing every inch of skin.

Her face burned so hot it was about to explode.

Blood rushed to her head, and her ears roared.

It was over.

This time, it was really over.

Not just socially dead in the Evernight Palace.

The entire Demon King Empire knew.

They knew the Demon King kept a silver-haired catgirl pet dressed like this.

“Thud.”

The Minotaur closest to the teleportation array.

His battle axe slammed to the ground as both knees hit the floor, his head bowing into his chest.

The movement detonated.

“Thud, thud, thud—”

All across the plaza, creatures knelt in unison, falling like a field of wheat.

No one dared look up.

No one dared speak.

Only the howling of wind past the Demon King Statue remained.

And the bell on Lilia’s neck.

A faint “ding-ling” as her trembling body made it ring.

“The air here is a bit stuffy.”

Lucia spoke, her voice not loud, but echoing across the plaza.

Lazy, with a hint of displeasure.

“Lilith.”

“Present.”

Lilith emerged from the shadows, kneeling on one knee.

“Clear the area.”

“As you command.”

Lilith rose and snapped her fingers.

An invisible wave of mental power erupted, sweeping across the plaza.

The kneeling demons shuddered, then scrambled to their feet and fled at full speed.

Rolling and crawling.

In less than a minute, the once-crowded Central Plaza was empty.

Only the three of them and the towering Demon King Statue remained.

“Much better.”

Lucia nodded in satisfaction and began to “stroll” across the empty plaza, tugging the rope.

Lilia was dragged forward, her mind still blank.

Those stares just now.

The kneeling figures.

And her own appearance—

She wished she could dig a hole and bury herself on the spot.

“Why aren’t you talking? Meow?”

Lucia stopped and turned to look at her.

“You were so noisy in the study just now. Meow?”

“I…”

Lilia opened her mouth but couldn’t squeeze out a single word.

Her throat was tight, her eyes stinging.

“Oh, I understand.”

Lucia walked back and crouched down, their eyes level.

“Did the whole world see you?”

She reached out, lifting the gauze at Lilia’s chest, her fingertip sliding along the two crossed leather straps.

“Standing in the middle of the plaza dressed like this, watched by so many creatures… It’s thrilling, isn’t it?”

“I did not! Meow!”

Lilia exploded, smacking her hand away.

“You pervert! Meow! You did this on purpose! Meow!”

“Mm, you found me out.”

Lucia admitted cheerfully, her blood-red eyes full of amusement.

“Seeing you about to cry made me feel great.”

Lilia trembled in anger at her words.

She had seen shameless people before.

But never one so utterly shameless!

“So—”

She bit out each word, trembling.

“You brought me here just to humiliate me? Meow?”

“Humiliate?”

Lucia straightened, looking down at her.

“You’ve got it wrong.”

“You’re my pet.”

“When I take you outside, it’s to announce to the world—”

She tugged the rope in her hand, and Lilia staggered forward.

“This is mine.”

“No one is allowed to even think about it.”

Lilia was stunned.

Announcing ownership?

In this way?

“And besides—”

Lucia leaned down, her lips close to her ear.

“Weren’t you thinking about how to escape just now?”

Lilia’s heart jumped violently.

“The whole city knows what you look like now.”

Lucia’s voice dropped lower, a smile in her tone.

“Where do you think you can run?”

A bucket of cold water poured from head to toe.

Right.

She had just been thinking how great it would be if she could escape in the confusion.

But now—

Everyone in the city had seen her.

A silver-haired, cat-eared loli dressed like this, led by the Demon King, appearing in the Central Plaza.

That level of recognizability.

Even if she escaped the Evernight Palace, she’d be recognized immediately.

And dragged back.

Maybe even delivered personally by those wanting to curry favor with the Demon King.

“Y-you planned this all along… meow…”

Lilia’s voice shook.

This woman.

She’d calculated everything from the start.

“Of course.”

Lucia straightened, tugging the rope again.

“Alright, appetizer’s over.”

“Let’s head to the real destination.”

She led Lilia back to the teleportation array.

“Lilith, coordinates, ‘Fog-Hidden Spring’.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Lilith activated the array again.

A flash of purple light, and the three vanished from the empty plaza.

When Lilia opened her eyes again, everything had changed.

No longer a grand city, but a valley shrouded in thick mist.

The air was filled with the scent of sulfur and grass.

Underfoot, blue stone tiles.

Along the road, rows of antique wooden buildings with red lanterns hanging.

This place—

“‘Fog-Hidden Spring’.”

Lucia spoke.

“The empire’s most exclusive private hot spring inn.”

“Not open to the public—only to me and those I permit.”

Private hot spring inn?

Lilia’s heart tightened.

Two women alone in one room.

And in a hot spring inn.

What was this perverted Demon King planning!

They entered the largest courtyard.

Inside was an open-air hot spring pool built from natural rock.

Steam rose from the water, with red flower petals floating on the surface.

“Go.”

Lucia released the leash.

“Clean yourself up, my little pet.”

She pointed to the hot spring pool.

“I’ll come personally in a bit to check how well you’ve washed.”

Lilia’s face went up in flames.

Personally check?

Didn’t that mean… bathing together?

With this perverted Demon King?

“I—I can wash myself! Meow!”

She waved her hands frantically.

“I promise to get every speck of dirt off! Not a single hair will be out of place! Meow!”

“That won’t do.”

Lucia stepped up to her and unfastened the collar at her neck.

“Ding-ling.”

The bell fell to the floor with a clear ring.

It was the first time since her capture that Lilia’s neck had been free of any restraints.

But she didn’t feel relieved at all.

Because Lucia’s next words chilled her to the bone.

Lucia leaned in, her fingers hooking the buckle at Lilia’s waist.

She gave a gentle pull.

“Tonight, let your master properly ‘serve’ her dearest little pet.”

“I’ll personally help you scrub your back, wash your hair, wipe your body—”

She paused, her fingertip gliding across the lace at Lilia’s belly.

“And check every corner of your body to see if it’s truly clean.”