Chapter 4: An Unlikely Master, A Scheming Disciple

Driven by an unwavering conviction to resolve the crisis at its very source, the white-haired mage, Lulu, remained crouched before Alexius, her eyes fixed on the little demon king with an expectant gaze.

Alexius yearned to retort. ‘Miss Lulu, your expression can barely conceal your fervent desire to abduct a child right now.’

However… a thoughtful pause settled over him.

Alexius pondered for a moment. Wouldn’t a sudden refusal seem rather illogical? After all, he had just survived a perilous ordeal. Declining the protection offered by a powerful mage at this juncture hardly seemed rational.

The intelligence of this genius girl was likely considerable. If he were to act too abnormally, it might very well arouse her suspicion.

‘Oh dear, what’s wrong with this child? The Demon Army cadres will be here to retrieve him any moment now. I must quickly take the little demon king away before then! Speak up, child!’

As Alexius was still deep in thought, Lulu’s increasingly anxious inner voice reached him, making him nearly lose his composure.

‘Well, well,’ he thought. So that was the underlying truth. Indeed, if he were to delay until the Demon Army cadres arrived, he would likely walk the same path as in his previous life.

He might even leverage the power of the Demon Army cadres to prematurely eliminate Lulu, the very person who had thwarted his ultimate ambition in his last existence.

But then…

Alexius suddenly found himself reluctant to proceed with that plan, or at least, not so soon.

Since Miss Lulu was willing to take him in as her disciple, Alexius was equally willing to try a new path.

In his previous life, although he had become the new Demon King, surrounded by the Demon Army cadres, he had never again experienced the joys of the human world.

Constantly striving to increase his power and conquer all four directions—such a life had, to some extent, grown tiresome.

His ultimate failure, falling short at the last moment, had only deepened his weariness.

To follow the Demon Army cadres once more? No, thank you. In his previous life, he hadn’t known how to enhance his strength, which was why he had been forced to follow those monsters. Now, seeking out the Demon Army cadres or not made no difference.

He was too weary to endure such a monotonous life again. Perhaps following Lulu would lead to some pleasant new experiences?

At the very least, he could observe the lives of ordinary people.

To possess the emotions of ordinary people?

Alexius shook his head, deeming it merely wishful thinking. His dream of conquering the world would not change, thus all emotions and a peaceful life were ultimately illusory, destined to be shattered.

Of course, to repay Miss Lulu’s ‘kindness’ in taking him in and potentially spoiling him uselessly from a young age, the little demon king secretly made a firm resolution in his heart.

He would lie in wait by this genius mage’s side, earn her trust, and once his strength recovered, he would defeat Lulu. Then, in her astonishment and despair, he would thoroughly corrupt her with demonic power!

‘Hmph, can’t let the tiger return to the mountain? I’ll have you invite the wolf into your home!’

****

‘Oh dear, is this child… stunned? Has he been without the care of a kind sister like me for so long that he’s too moved to speak?’

Lulu gazed at the little demon king before her, reveling in her self-praise and inner delight, completely oblivious to the conspiracy brewing in the little fellow’s mind.

A moment later, Alexius suddenly lifted his head, then nodded, addressing Lulu.

“Yes! I wish to become your disciple, Miss Lulu. Please accept me as your student.”

“Oh, of course you can! Don’t worry, I’ll protect you. From now on, just call me Teacher! And… may I call you Xiu’er?”

Lulu lowered her head, asking softly. The little demon king before her nodded as well. “Then… Teacher?”

“Yes, that’s right! Xiu’er is such a good boy!”

This tender scene momentarily sent Alexius, who hadn’t been called by such an intimate name in a long time, into a reverie. Xiu’er…

His mother had once called him by that very name.

‘Oh ho ho ho~ This is fantastic! Not only have I taken the little demon king as my disciple, but I can treat him like a son too~ Thoroughly taking advantage of the generational seniority. This feeling of satisfaction makes revenge seem utterly meaningless. Truly, raising a demon king as a pet is the only real joy!’

Lulu couldn’t help but let her lips curl into a cat-like smile for quite some time. After a long moment, her gaze drifted to her newly acquired disciple, and she tilted her head.

‘Huh? Why has this child’s smile frozen? Uh… could my smile just now have been too lewd? No way, I’ve practiced my expression management for so long!’

‘Adopted… son…’

Alexius felt as though his mouth would spew blood. His dignity as a demon king had been trampled by this despicable woman!

He yearned to draw his Demon King’s Sword the next second and send her to the afterlife with a single strike!

Alas, he could not. His strength was not yet sufficient.

Endure!

‘Endure for half a year, and I’ll make this old hag meow for me!’

Alexius thought with a dark expression. The girl remained silent for a moment, then cleared her throat twice before speaking.

“Let me tell you in advance, there are rules for studying under me. If you don’t follow your teacher’s rules, you will face corporal punishment, little… little Xiu’er, do you understand?”

‘Oh my goodness, that was close! I almost said ‘little demon king’. Good, good. It seems I need to pay more attention to my verbal tics! What if I blurt out my inner thoughts one day? What would happen if the little demon king heard that?’

As Lulu ranted wildly in her mind, Alexius listened, each thought more exasperating than the last. He sighed, then spoke.

“Please, Teacher Lulu, state any requirements you have early. I have nowhere to go right now, and I only seek to be taken in. Whatever you ask, I am willing to do my utmost to fulfill!”

“Hmm… that’s excellent.”

Lulu nodded, then declared, “Actually, it’s nothing major, but you must remember! No matter what, you must always listen to your teacher. Do whatever I tell you to do. You must not disobey or talk back to your teacher. Do you understand?”

“Understood! I promise!”

Alexius nodded with a serious expression, but in his heart, he thought…

‘Once I recover my strength, won’t I be able to talk back however I please?’

Tsk…

‘Oh ho? The little rascal is quite obedient.’

Lulu pinched her chin, nodding contentedly in her mind. This was truly wonderful. She had both resolved the future demon king crisis and gained an obedient little disciple. Lulu felt that starting over didn’t seem so bad after all.

It was certainly better than being dead!

However, this was no place to linger. According to her memories from her previous life, the Demon Army cadres would be arriving soon!

Lulu took the little demon king’s hand, then said, “Xiu’er, let’s go. I’m taking you home!”

“Where are we… going?”

Alexius inquired. Lulu didn’t even have to think, answering directly, “Kafa City, of course! My home is in Kafa City, and it’s quite a spacious house, you know~”

****

A moment later, the mage used her magic to fly away from the forest with her little disciple, heading towards Kafa City.

It was precisely in that short interval, just as they left, that a colossal Goblin King, leading a horde of goblins, arrived at the exact spot where the two had been.

The Goblin King, one of the Demon Army cadres, looked at the scene before him with confusion, his brow furrowed.

‘Strange…’

‘The power of the reincarnated Demon King clearly manifested here… why is there no one to be seen now?’