New Site Selection for the System's "Den of Evil"

Spring in Buena Village always carried a vibrant vitality.

Ever since the "marriage reception incident" that terrified even the Holy Knights of the Royal Capital, life in the village had become increasingly peaceful.

The magic sentry tower operated tirelessly, wiping out all magic beasts within a five-mile radius. Now, let alone magic beasts, even a slightly fierce-looking wild rabbit would take a detour upon seeing that purple light.

Lynch's life had also become extremely regular: enjoying his wife's "detoxification treatment" in the morning (although Felsy would still blush and pretend it was a medical procedure), patrolling the territory and grinding daily quests during the day, and sleeping with his soft wife in his arms at night.

He wouldn't trade this kind of life even to become a god.

However, Lynch had been a bit annoyed lately.

"Still hasn't moved?"

At this moment, he was standing in the woods outside the village. Lying at his feet was a newly spawned Tier 1 [Windwalker Leopard] that had wandered over from who knows where.

Lynch glanced at the system panel on his retina, his brows tightly knitted.

[Host: Lynch] [Tier: Tier 3 (Upper Stage - Peak)] [Experience: 99.99% (Locked)] [Current Status: Bottleneck]

[System Prompt: Detected that the "Fear Value" and "Resource Level" of the host's current area (Buena Village) have reached their limits and cannot support a breakthrough to a higher tier.] [To break through to Tier 4, please find a higher-level resource point and establish a new "Demon Lair" sub-base.] [Recommended Location: Shattered Gold Town (Danger Level: Medium)]

"What kind of garbage setting is this..."

Lynch helplessly sheathed his longsword and sighed, "This is forcing me to change maps to level up."

He had been stuck at the threshold of Tier 3 for half a month. No matter how many monsters he killed, or even when he tried going deep into the mountains to find stronger magic beasts, that experience bar was like a frozen loading bar, refusing to budge.

To survive in this perilous alternate world, especially when he had to protect a "weak and helpless" wife (or so he thought), strength was the absolute truth.

Moreover, apart from the experience point issue, he had also encountered a material bottleneck while recently researching the [Magic Sentry Tower - Modified Type II].

The "Mithril Transmission Shaft" and "High-Precision Magic Lens" required on the blueprint were things the village blacksmith, Rhodes, simply couldn't forge.

"Looks like I need to make a trip to town."

Lynch patted the dust off his body and made a decision. "It just so happens that my wife has been talking about wanting to eat cake from the 'Moonlight Dessert Shop' in town. I'll go stock up on supplies while I'm at it."

...

Early the next morning.

Lynch informed Felsy (of course, he didn't mention going to establish a Demon Lair, only saying he was going to buy materials and cake), then rode the village's old horse, leisurely making his way to Shattered Gold Town.

As a transportation hub in the Northern Frontier, Shattered Gold Town remained bustling and noisy.

Shops lined both sides of the street, with an endless stream of adventurers, merchants, and mercenaries.

Lynch familiarly navigated his way to a high-end alchemy material shop named "Eye of Truth" in the center of town.

"Boss, do you have 'standard magitech components'? The kind with a precision of 0.01 millimeters."

Lynch headed straight for the counter the moment he walked in.

"Oh, isn't this Mr. Lynch?"

The shop owner, a shrewd half-goblin, immediately recognized this ruthless man who had recently gained fame in town (mainly because Miss Aria had been advertising him everywhere). "I do have them, but the Royal Capital has been strictly controlling magic materials lately, so the price..."

"Money is not an issue."

Lynch casually tossed out a bag of gold coins—this was all the extra cash he had earned over the past few months from his "magic beast farming" in the village.

Just as he was selecting lenses, a deep, thunderous sigh suddenly came from behind him.

"Sigh..."

The sound was so loud that it made the glass bottles on the shelves rattle.

Lynch instinctively turned around.

On the other side of the shop, he saw a middle-aged man with a full beard, as tall and massive as an upright-walking brown bear, frowning bitterly at a magic wand in his hand.

He wore a finely crafted set of noble casual clothes that was stretched tight by his muscles, exuding an iron-blooded aura that only battle-hardened veterans possessed.

"What is this piece of junk!"

The middle-aged man irritably slammed the magic wand onto the counter. "I said I wanted a support item that can make someone 'study peacefully'! What use is giving me a 'Sleep Wand'? I want my daughter to study, not sleep!"

"Lord Count, your request is simply too difficult..."

The clerk behind the counter looked like he was about to cry. "Making Miss Aria study peacefully... That's harder than turning a fireball spell into an ice attribute!"

Count? Aria?

Lynch raised an eyebrow.

Could this be the legendary lord of Shattered Gold Town, the head of the Norrent family—Count Gael?

The fierce man known as the "Mad Lion of the North"?

"Damn it!"

Count Gael scratched his messy blond hair (different from Aria's green hair, it seemed Aria took after her mother), wearing the worried expression of an old father. "Ever since that girl came back from that broken village, she's been acting like she's possessed. I hired three court mages; she angered two into leaving and injured one (though it was an accident). She complains every day about 'that old man teaches so poorly' and 'he's not as good as Lynch'..."

Speaking of this, Count Gael suddenly paused.

He abruptly turned his head, his lion-like sharp eyes dead-locked onto Lynch, who was standing not far away.

The air froze for a second.

"Lynch?"

Count Gael called out tentatively.

"Uh... that's me."

Lynch rubbed his nose, feeling a bit awkward. "Greetings, Lord."

"Ha! It really is you!"

The next second, this "Mad Lion of the North" erupted with an enthusiasm completely unbefitting his status. He strode over rapidly, and just before his bear-like paws could crush Lynch's shoulders, he forcibly held back his strength, turning it into a vigorous handshake.

"Good lad! I've finally met you in the flesh!"

Count Gael's eyes shone with excitement. "I'm Gael! That girl Aria's father! I've heard her mention you eight hundred times; my ears are practically growing calluses!"

"Thank you for saving that girl's life during the beast tide! Did you receive those chests of gold coins and supplies? If it's not enough, I'll send more!"

"I received them, I received them."

Lynch felt the terrifying grip strength coming from the hand (if it were an ordinary person, their hand bones would probably be crushed). He secretly channeled his battle aura to resist, maintaining a polite smile on his face. "It was just a small effort, Aria actually helped a lot too."

"Helped my foot! She's just a troublemaking little demon!"

Gael waved his large hand and said heartily, "Let's go, let's go! Stop buying this junk here, come to my castle for a drink! We two men need to have a good chat!"

...

Half an hour later, in the reception hall of the Lord's castle.

Compared to Lynch's cozy little nest, this place was simply a combination of luxury and ruggedness. The walls were covered with mounted heads of magic beasts, and a whole white bear skin was spread across the floor.

"So..."

Count Gael took a huge gulp of strong liquor, slammed his cup heavily onto the table, and looked at Lynch with an expression of absolute despair.

"Brother Lynch, you have to help your old bro out!"

Good heavens, he was even messing up their forms of address. It seemed he was truly desperate.

"That girl Aria is completely stubborn and refuses to listen to anyone right now. That so-called grand magus sent from the royal capital gives incredibly rigid lectures, just chanting like a monk every day. Aria falls asleep within ten minutes of listening and throws a tantrum the moment she wakes up."

"Now she just stays at home shouting slogans every day, saying things like 'I want to study abroad in Buena Village' and 'Only Brother Lynch and Sister Felsy understand education'."

Count Gael had a bitter look on his face. "As her father, my hands are tied. I can't possibly send her back to that remote mountain village again, can I? Besides, the royal capital's assessment is about to begin. If she fails, I'll lose face too."

At this point, Count Gael suddenly leaned forward, staring at Lynch with burning eyes.

"Brother, I don't think you should stay cooped up in that village anymore."

"Come and be a private tutor for me!"

"I will hire you as Aria's exclusive mentor! And incidentally, you can act as a... special consultant for your village!"

"Name your terms!"

Gael held up three fingers. "Three hundred gold coins a month! You can use the castle's library and alchemy laboratory however you want! Furthermore, I can arrange a separate, most luxurious private courtyard in the castle for you and your wife!"

"How about it? That's a generous offer, right?"

Lynch was stunned.

This... this offer was indeed very tempting.

Not only did it solve his money problems, but more importantly, there were the alchemy laboratory and the library.

He was currently stuck in a bottleneck and happened to need a massive reserve of knowledge and advanced equipment to research Arcane Constructology.

Moreover, living in a castle would definitely be safer than the village, and his wife could live more comfortably.

Just as Lynch was still weighing the pros and cons...

Ding!

A crisp notification sound rang out in his mind.

The system, which had been silent for a long time, suddenly sprang back to life.

Triggered Main Quest: The Demon King's Territorial Expansion

Quest Description: As the future Demon King (Host), how can you be content with a small corner of the world? A true demon lair should be established in the core hinterland of human power!

Quest Objective: Accept the lord's invitation, move into Nolent Castle, and secretly transform it into the Second Outpost Demon Lair.

Specific Requirements:

Obtain residence rights in the castle (Prerequisite met).

Install at least three Demon Eye Surveillance or Environment Modification Devices within the castle.

Gradually encroach (physically/mentally) upon the will of the humans in the castle, establishing the Host's behind-the-scenes rule.

Quest Rewards:

Break through the Tier 3 bottleneck and advance to Tier 4 (Initial Stage).

Unlock new building blueprint: Void Portal (Miniature).

Obtain title: The Lurking Shadow.

Looking at this series of incredibly edgy, villainous quest descriptions, Lynch almost couldn't hold back his laughter.

What the heck was this "encroaching upon the will" and "behind-the-scenes rule"?

Wasn't it just being a private tutor and doing some infrastructure building on the side?

This system always wanted to lead him down the path of a great Demon King, but unfortunately, he was a law-abiding good citizen (even though he occasionally built some illegal structures).

However...

The words "break through the bottleneck" accurately hit Lynch's weak spot.

And there was that Void Portal! With this thing, wouldn't traveling back and forth between the village and the town be instantaneous? He would never have to ride that bumpy old horse that made his butt ache again!

"Deal."

Lynch put down his cup, a brilliant smile appearing on his face.

"Since the Lord Count thinks so highly of me, it would be disrespectful of me to decline."

"However, I have a small request."

"Tell me! Don't just say one, ten is fine too!" Gael was overjoyed.

"My wife... she is not in very good health and is rather delicate."

Lynch said with a straight face, "So the place we live in must be quiet and comfortable. It would be best if you could let me slightly... well, modify it. Like installing some heating or something."

"No problem!"

Gael waved his big hand. "The Rose Courtyard on the east side of the castle is yours! You can modify it however you want! Even tearing down the walls is fine! As long as you can get that girl Aria into the academy, you are my own blood brother!"

...

At dusk, Buena Village.

When Lynch brought this news home, Felsy was lying lazily on a chaise lounge, holding a cat-teaser wand and teasing the snow rabbit left behind by Aria (which had already been fed into a round ball by Kuma).

"Moving to the castle?"

Felsy sat up, a trace of surprise flashing through her purple eyes. "You mean, we are leaving here to live in the home of that big foolish lord?"

"Yes."

Lynch sat beside her and took her hand. "It's mainly for my cultivation... and also, I want you to live a better life. Although the village is peaceful, the conditions are limited after all. The castle has servants, better ingredients, and a large bathtub."

"Furthermore, that lord promised that we can modify our residence however we like, and absolutely no one will disturb us."

Lynch looked at her with some apprehension.

He knew Felsy was a person who "liked quietness" (or so he thought), and she seemed to have some aversion to human society.

"Wife, if you don't want to go..."

"Who said I don't want to go?"

Felsy suddenly interrupted him, a playful smile curving the corners of her mouth.

Actually, after staying in the village for a few months, she was indeed getting a bit bored.

Although she was happy having Lynch's company, as a witch who once looked down upon the world, she was... actually quite curious about the life of human nobles.

Especially when she thought of the "castle balls" and "noble banquets" described in romance novels, as well as the "domineering duke falls in love with me" tropes...

Since they were going to the castle, didn't that mean she could play some more interesting "role-playing" games with Lynch?

For instance... "The Private Tutor and the Aloof Madam"?

"It wouldn't hurt to go take a look."

Felsy stood up gracefully. The temperament she exuded in that instant was even more noble than a true queen. "It's perfect. I also want to see exactly how big that green-haired girl's house is to have raised her into such a lawless character."

"Also..."

She leaned close to Lynch and whispered softly in his ear:

"That large bathtub you mentioned... is it big enough for two people to bathe together?"

Lynch felt a tingling sensation all over his body, feeling as if his bones had grown lighter.

"It's big enough! Absolutely big enough! If it's not, I'll build one right on the spot!"

"Hmph, then what are we waiting for?"

Felsy waved her hand, and that decisive, vigorous witch attitude of hers flared up again.

"Kuma! Stop sleeping! Get up and pack our things!"

"We are moving!"

"To conquer... oh no, to experience the life of human nobles!"

Up on the roof beams, Kuma, who had been having a sweet dream, was startled awake and fell straight down.

"Moving? Where to? Will there be chicken legs to eat?"

"Yes! As much as you want!"

...

And so.

On this warm spring day with flowers blooming.

The "Lurking Demon King" Lynch, along with his "delicate" wife, and a fold-eared fox maid who knew how to do nothing but eat.

They set out in a mighty procession, embarking on the journey to Norlent Castle in Shattered Gold Town.

Meanwhile, at this very moment.

Deep within Norlent Castle, an old butler who was polishing the silver tableware suddenly shuddered for no apparent reason.

He raised his head and looked toward the direction of Buena Village. A hint of confusion and... an inexplicable dread flashed through his cloudy old eyes.

"This feeling..."

"Why does it feel like... some terrifyingly powerful figure is approaching?"

"Is it just my imagination? This damn rheumatism..."

The old butler shook his head and lowered his eyes, continuing to polish the silverware.

But little did he know.

His peaceful undercover life was about to face an epic collapse.