Daniel thought of the Holy Maiden. Even Holy Maiden Martha's Submission Value was higher than Naya's, simply because he had leverage over her.
But Naya in front of him? She didn't believe for a second that he'd actually take her to Coruna Heights.
A man, after all—how could he resist playing with a succubus like her and instead hand her over for some merit or fame?
Fine, fine!
Daniel was feeling drained.
On the battlefield, he could effortlessly cut down his enemies, yet here he was, struggling against a single succubus.
But with Naya's Evil Value sitting high at 99, he wasn't about to give up.
Jolene, with an Evil Value under fifty, had already submitted to him, granting him Lightning Arcane Energy Affinity. If he could make a succubus with an Evil Value of 99 submit, who knew what rewards awaited?
He couldn't wait to find out!
Enough for today, though.
"Jolene, keep an eye on Naya. Don't let her escape," Daniel instructed as he left the tent.
There was no rush—he just needed to plan.
Naya covered her lower body with mock embarrassment, calling after him, "Why would I ever run, Daniel, my master? I'm waiting for you to truly conquer me!"
Daniel glanced at his system panel, where Naya's Submission Value remained a pitiful 3 points, and ignored the succubus's flirtation.
He'd heard that some succubi even had sharp fangs down there!
Maybe this particular one did—especially given how snake-like she seemed.
If, in the middle of intimacy, fangs were to pierce him, it might leave a psychological scar for life.
Daniel pushed the tent flap aside.
Anna saw him come out and said, "Daniel, everything's ready for the return."
Daniel nodded.
The demons had completely retreated to their hiding spot in the extinct volcano, probably waiting for their next commander.
The Rose Wilderness would enjoy a period of peace.
Daniel decided to head back to Coruna Heights early.
His reasoning was sound: if they delayed further, what if the remaining two Demon Clan commanders fled as well?
He would leave a few hundred knights at Post 22—the ones who hadn't joined the attack last night. If they wanted to return, they'd have to wait out the full seven days.
Daniel sighed.
Life at the post was anything but comfortable.
The bars and inns of Coruna Heights were far more inviting.
As of today, Daniel held no official position, but in practice, he already commanded most of the personnel at Post 22.
First, most of the knights at Position 22 had been classmates and teachers from the same school before coming to this Otherworld. This shared background naturally strengthened their bond.Second, his own abilities and reputation commanded respect.
Third, there was the added advantage of his Fire Arcane Energy Affinity, as well as the historical influence of Coruna Heights' former "commoner king."
This situation might well ruffle the feathers of certain elites, but compared to the benefits of Fire Arcane Energy Affinity, that seemed relatively unimportant.
The legacy of the commoner king was both an advantage and a potential burden for him.
…
Afternoon.
A long line of troops wound its way forward, moving toward Coruna Heights.
In the middle of the procession, the Avian Demon and Bull Demon were shackled with iron chains, tossed into a caged cart.
Daniel sipped rum, passing the time chatting with Jolene and Anna beside him, while Naya—now in human form—was slumped on a nearby warhorse, eyes half-closed, quietly following along.
The continuous electrical interrogation had drained Naya's energy, leaving her no choice but to rest like this.
Days passed: two, three, four…
Daniel was busy strategizing, running through possible scenarios he might face at Coruna Heights and calculating his next moves.
Pushing past the barriers imposed by the powerful elites to rise through the ranks would be anything but easy.
Difficult, indeed.
Hmm?
Daniel raised an eyebrow, spotting clusters of Evil Values in the distant forest.
This was human territory—there shouldn't be any Demon Clan presence here.
Moreover, no ordinary human gathering would show such a dense concentration of Evil Values.
Refreshing the system notifications, Daniel understood.
Bandits!
But where had these bandits come from, and how bold were they to try and ambush his convoy?
Didn't they see they were facing fully armed military troops?
Insanity!
Daniel frowned, noticing that, when it came to humanity, even with high Evil Values, it was challenging to see certain critical details.
On the other hand, the Evil Woman System could easily provide detailed information on demons.
Without enough information, it was harder to make accurate assessments.
"Alert the others, stay vigilant, but act normal," Daniel instructed Jolene.
"Norn, come over here," he called, gesturing with a wave.
Norn maneuvered his horse forward, leaning in, while Anna, who'd been laughing moments before, straightened up.
"Daniel, what's going on?" Norn asked.
Daniel directed his gaze toward the direction of the bandits. "There might be bandits over there—it seems they're coming for us."
Norn's eyes widened. "That's impossible! Bandits wouldn't dare…"
He didn't finish. If it had been anyone else, he might've dismissed it, but if Daniel suspected something, there had to be reason for caution.
As the knights drew nearer to the ambush point, Daniel saw nothing unusual with the naked eye, but his system clearly marked the Evil Values, splitting into two groups creeping toward either side of the convoy.
The dense forest concealed the bandits' movements.
It seemed certain now—they were hostile.
Daniel waved his hand, and the entire unit came to an abrupt halt.
The two Demon Clan commanders looked around, confused and uncertain.
An ominous tension filled the forest, amplified by the fallen leaves swirling in the wind.
A faint rustling of wind.
An eerie silence settled over the area.
Daniel's lips curved into a smile. "Everyone, take a rest."
The knights, unbothered and unfazed, set about their tasks as if nothing unusual were happening.
Some began setting up tents, others started gathering firewood and lighting fires, as if they were planning to cook a meal right there in the woods.
The bandits watching from a distance were baffled.
This wasn't a wide, paved road, nor was there a stream nearby—just an ordinary, well-worn path, slightly wider from years of cavalry use.
What was their leader thinking?
The bandits had intended to wait for the knights to move closer to their trap before springing into action, but now…
they had no choice but to wait.
One hour passed…
Three hours…
Five hours passed…
The bandits were thoroughly exhausted by this point, standing guard under the pale moonlight.
Meanwhile, Daniel's camp was brightly lit by torches, while the bandits stood motionless in the shadows, swatting at mosquitos that left their skin covered in welts.
At that moment.
In a distant palace in Coruna Heights…
The room was bathed in warm candlelight.
A middle-aged man, round-bellied and dressed in opulent robes, sat heavily on a chair, his body sinking into the soft cushions.
In each hand, he held a leash, each one leading to a young boy and girl.
Both were crawling in a humiliating dog-like posture, entirely unclothed.
The boy's genitals were visibly locked in a metal device.
As for the girl, her body was bound, with certain indescribable objects inserted—a display of humanity's primal desires.
Their eyes no longer held any trace of humanity's spark, more akin to animals lost in the abyss, willing to do anything just to survive.
They crawled before him, each with a wooden dog bowl filled with a sticky, barely edible substance.
Nearby, the candlelight flickered, casting shadows across the man's face, alternating between brightness and shadow.
"By now, they should have encountered them," the man murmured, almost to himself.
"Yes."
The reply came as if the speaker had only just materialized in the room—a figure cloaked in black, standing shrouded in shadows.
"Excellent," the middle-aged man nodded slowly, a twisted gleam flashing across his face. "Those lowly slaves are meant to be used up on the battlefield and die there, not to pollute the splendor of the High City! Coruna Heights is our world! Ha-ha-ha!"
He ranted on, suddenly yanking the leashes with renewed force. "Make sure that Daniel—or whatever his name is—doesn't die too quickly. Ha! Letting the Demon Clan suffer a bit is a fine idea as well."
"Remember, I want obedient dogs, not dead ones!" he barked, planting each of his feet on the heads of the boy and girl beneath him.
They barked in forced enthusiasm, voices strained with eager servility, "Woof, woof! Woof, woof!"
"Yes, a lesson will be delivered," the voice from the shadows replied, gradually fading away.
"Ha-ha-ha!" The middle-aged man's manic laughter echoed through the opulent palace.
With a swift motion, he tore open his robes, revealing his grotesque, twisted lower body.
Immediately, the boy and girl on all fours crawled over, extending their tongues with greedy anticipation.
The man closed his eyes, his expression one of complete satisfaction.
"Oh, yes. Wonderful, my loyal little dogs."