After walking out of that morgue, Bululu seemed to calm down slightly, regaining some of her composure as a maid.
The two of them walked one after the other through the corridor. On both sides stood rows of Knight Golems in perfect formation, making one feel as if they might all suddenly spring into action and attack an intruder at the slightest mistake.
As the developer of this game, Ai Yue naturally knew that these things were the real deal.
This was the Demon King Castle, after all. It was only normal to design some treacherous traps and defenses, right?
Well, as the master of this place, she obviously wouldn’t be attacked… probably?
“By the way, Bululu, what is the current date?”
“Lady Ai Yue, it is currently the year 1132 of the Revelation Era.”
“I didn’t mean that… Wait, what did you just say?”
“The year 1132. Lady Ai Yue, you have been asleep for ten years.”
Ai Yue froze for a moment at Bululu’s answer.
She could understand the part about being asleep. As the Final Boss, she had originally set some time-delay restrictions. Otherwise, with her level of power, she probably could have conquered the entire damn world by herself in just a few days. Although, right now, she was just a little weakling no better than a Slime.
However, the current year bothered her. She remembered that during the Closed Beta, the game’s date was 1130. Why had it jumped two years later for the Open Beta?
Could it be that a temporary adjustment was made to prevent Closed Beta players from using their prior knowledge to become Beaters?
It was possible—very possible.
“Then, during the ten years I was asleep, what happened in this world?”
“Uh… as for that…”
Bululu wore a troubled expression. It was clear she wanted to say something but didn’t know what to say.
She was just a little maid, after all. Asking her questions about the global political landscape was indeed asking too much of her.
“Never mind. You don’t have to answer.”
“I am so sorry! I am useless to Lady Ai Yue!”
Suddenly, Bululu stopped in her tracks and bowed her head to apologize.
“Even though I am Lady Ai Yue’s maid and should be clearing all obstacles for you…”
As she reached the end of her sentence, Bululu’s voice grew smaller and smaller. Her pitiful appearance made Ai Yue’s heart ache. She wanted to hug her… and then bully her relentlessly.
Wait! What was she just thinking?
“… There is no need to feel ashamed. Everyone makes mistakes or has shortcomings. You only need to think about how to improve.”
Ai Yue tossed the dark thoughts that had just surfaced out of her mind and comforted Bululu before continuing forward.
Hearing these words, Bululu snapped her head up. What met her eyes was the snow-white silhouette of Ai Yue’s back.
‘So gentle…’ Bululu thought.
Even though she had failed in her duties as a servant, Ai Yue hadn’t blamed her. Instead, she had offered words of comfort.
When she first heard the rumors circulating outside about Great Demon King Ai Yue’s terrifying power and tyrannical behavior, she thought she would be a horrific person. As it turned out, she was actually this kind?
If only to repay her, she would definitely work hard to be of use to Lady Ai Yue!
“Bululu.”
“Yes! What are your orders, Lady Ai Yue?”
“I’m a bit hungry. Take me to eat first.”
For some reason, Ai Yue had felt starving ever since she woke up. Although she could endure it based on her experience working high-intensity shifts for over ten hours without eating or drinking, she was no longer a game developer. At the very least, she should eat and drink when she could.
But there was another reason. This hunger felt different from just having an empty stomach. It was as if her body was craving something specific, to the point where it was even making her thoughts feel sluggish.
“Ah, right away. This way, please.”
Bululu reacted instantly and hurried to the front to lead the way.
Soon, they left the underground area where Ai Yue had been sleeping and arrived at the palace proper.
Compared to the basement, the ground floor could only be described as magnificent. Not only was the corridor several times wider, but even the decorations were of a level where Ai Yue knew that, in the real world, she could never afford to pay for even a single chipped corner.
Well, duh. She designed it. How could it be bad?
She just didn’t know how good the food would taste now that it had become reality. She hadn’t eaten much good food in the past, so she hadn’t been able to replicate many gourmet delicacies in the game based on her own experience alone.
“Great Demon King, you are awake.”
Just then, several patrolling knights spawned in front of Ai Yue.
Judging by their appearance, one was a burly man with bulging muscles, one was a plain-looking person, and the one speaking was a handsome man.
Tch. Just looking at him was annoying. Get out of the way.
“Why do you not salute in the presence of Lady Ai Yue?”
Before Ai Yue could speak, Bululu spoke up first.
Even though she looked like a little girl, she possessed a certain special aura that even made Ai Yue feel a bit of pressure.
“Ah, please forgive us!”
Hearing Bululu’s words, the knights reacted immediately and hurried to bow… except for one person.
“This is the Great Demon King? That legendary tyrannical and peerlessly powerful existence? Isn’t this just a flat little girl?”
The Burly Knight looked down at Ai Yue, who was nearly half his height, and looked toward the already bowing knights in confusion.
Hey, who are you calling small? Even though she had customized this appearance herself, it didn’t mean this guy was allowed to mouth off like that.
Believe it or not, I’ll make you just as tall as her… once I get my power back.
There was no helping it. Her current strength was barely enough to fight a Slime, let alone the elite knights of the Demon King Castle. She would probably be flattened in a single encounter.
But staying silent wasn’t good either. If her persona crumbled, things would get messy. A bunch of people would start trying to overthrow their superior…
Thinking this, Ai Yue raised her head. Her blue-and-white eyes stared intensely at the burly man.
In an instant, the Burly Knight felt as if he had been dropped into an ice cellar. Ai Yue’s naturally haughty gaze made him feel as if he were being watched by some terrifying entity, as if he would be crushed in the most brutal way possible in the next second.
No, someone this powerful didn’t even need to give him a second look. Was she planning to slice off his big mouth for speaking those arrogant words, his eyes for failing to see her true strength, and his entire head all at once!?
Strength beyond comprehension, pressure so intense that a single glance could kill… This was someone who must never be defied!!
“I am terribly sorry!! It was I who was blind and spoke such arrogant words to belittle you! I am willing to spend the rest of my life atoning to you!!”
The burly man let out a loud shout and dropped into a near 180-degree bow, his head almost touching the floor.
Looking at the burly man whose attitude had shifted as sharply as his waist, the knights beside him were stunned. They had already been preparing to cut ties with him immediately, yet this man had pulled a move like this.
As for Ai Yue herself, she remained calm on the surface, but her mind was in turmoil.
‘If you’re going to apologize, then apologize. Why the hell are you shouting so loud?’
“… Fine. Get lost. Don’t block the path.”
“Yes!!”