The Hidden "Old Ghost" and the Collapse of the Demon King's Image

Broken Gold Town, Count Norent's Castle.

As one of the most impregnable fortresses in the North, this castle was built into the mountainside. Its grayish-white megalithic walls exuded a solemn aura beneath the sunlight. Above the castle fluttered a lion-head banner, the symbol of glory for the Mad Lion of the North, Gal Norent.

Inside the castle, however, everything was perfectly organized, perhaps even to the point of rigid precision.

This was all thanks to the old butler who had served the Norent family for three generations—Sebas.

At this moment, Sebas stood on the steps of the castle's main gates. He wore an immaculate black tailcoat and white gloves, his back straight as a ramrod and his graying hair slicked back to a glossy shine.

He was inspecting the servants' welcoming lineup.

Move the carpet three centimeters to the left. That vase over there is crooked, turn it around. Remember, today's arrivals are the Count's esteemed guests and Miss Aria's teacher. No one is to show them any slight.

Sebas's voice was deep and magnetic, every command given with absolute precision.

On the surface, he was the perfect butler admired by all, the loyal guardian of the Norent family.

But in reality.

His true name was Gustav Shadowfang, codenamed Old Ghost.

He was a high-ranking intelligence officer of the demon race who had been lurking in the human heartland for fifty years, belonging to Bureau 13 of the Demon Realm Intelligence Agency.

Heh, foolish humans.

Sebas looked at the bustling servants and sneered inwardly. Fifty years of mundane undercover life... I've almost forgotten the taste of blood. Oh, Demon Lord, when will you finally sound the horn for our counterattack? This old servant's bones are about to rust away in this cozy human nest.

Over these past decades, he had diligently played the role of a butler, digging up every last piece of intelligence on the Norent family. He even knew exactly what color underwear the Count was wearing today.

But he was lonely.

This kind of life without rivals and without the care of his organization was simply too dull.

Until today, when he heard that the Count had invited a mysterious private tutor who would be moving into the castle with his family.

Hmph, probably just another swindling charlatan,

Sebas thought dismissively. Or maybe some down-and-out wandering mage? I hope he can provide some entertainment and not be as easily frightened as the previous court mages.

...

They're here! They're here! Brother Lynch and the others are here!

Just then, a cheer rang out from outside the castle.

Aria rushed out of the castle like a gust of wind, lifting her skirts. She completely ignored Sebas's reminder of Miss, please mind your manners, and bounced excitedly to the main gates.

In the distance, a luxurious carriage bearing the Norent family crest slowly approached.

The wheels rolled over the drawbridge, making a dull rumbling sound.

The carriage came to a steady halt before the castle gates.

Sebas concealed the disdain in his eyes, put on a standard professional fake smile, and stepped forward with elegant strides, preparing to open the door for the guests.

Welcome to Norent Castle, esteemed...

Click.

The carriage door opened.

The first to step down was a young, black-haired man.

Sebas's old eyes, which had read countless people, instantly switched into scanning mode:

Hmm? Magic fluctuations... peak of the third tier? Someone at this level can be Miss Aria's teacher? Looks like just another smooth-talking pretty boy. Though his clothes are well-tailored and his gaze is quite confident... Tsk, boring.

After mentally giving Lynch a failing grade, Sebas still maintained a polite bow:

Welcome, Mr. Lynch.

You're too kind, old sir.

Lynch smiled and nodded, not putting on any airs. Instead, he turned and reached his hand into the carriage. Honey, we're here. Careful now.

Honey?

Sebas raised an eyebrow slightly. He had heard that this Mr. Lynch had brought his family along?

He subconsciously looked inside the carriage.

The next second.

A slender, pale hand, looking as if it had been carved from the finest white jade, gently rested on Lynch's palm.

Immediately after, the woman Lynch had called honey slowly leaned out.

A head of long silver hair cascading down like moonlight.

A pair of purple eyes, as deep as the abyss, seemingly containing an endless starry sky.

And that...

That terrifying bloodline pressure that, even when deliberately suppressed, still felt like a crushing mountain, enough to make the soul of any dark creature tremble!

Boom!!!

In the perception of Sebas (Old Ghost), at this moment, the entire world vanished.

Between heaven and earth, only that suffocating touch of crimson and deep purple remained!

That was...

That was the legend every demon had heard since childhood, carved into their very bones!

That was an existence that even the Abyssal Demonic Dragons would grovel and tremble before!

The Crimson Calamity! The World-Ending Witch! The Supreme Sovereign of the Demon Realm!

Th-This...

Sebas's stoic butler face, which he had maintained for fifty years, completely crumbled in this instant.

His pupils violently shrank to the size of pinpricks, and his heart felt as if it were tightly squeezed by an invisible giant hand, nearly stopping altogether.

L-Lady Witch?!

Why is she here?! Wasn't she missing?!

Could it be... could this be the legendary imperial expedition? Has she come to personally overthrow the human kingdoms?!

Thud.

Due to excessive shock and fear, Sebas's two old legs instantly gave out. His knees bent, and he almost fell to the ground to kowtow to Felsy right then and there.

Fortunately, he was, after all, a veteran agent who had been undercover for fifty years. The moment his knees were about to touch the ground, he forcefully relied on his astonishing core strength (and will to live) to change his kneeling into a massive, almost groveling ninety-degree bow.

W-Welcome... Welcome, Madam, to our humble abode!!!

His voice cracked because he yelled with too much force.

The surrounding servants were all startled, wondering what was wrong with the head butler today. He was never this excited even when receiving a Duke, was he?

Lynch was also taken aback.

Whoa, this butler... is really passionate.

Lynch marveled. Truly worthy of being the butler of a great noble family. Such thorough etiquette.

And opposite him.

Felsy, who had just alighted from the carriage, cast a faint glance at the old man.

She did not recognize him as Old Ghost from the Demon Realm Intelligence Agency. After all, in her eyes, subordinates of this level were no different from weeds by the roadside; she simply couldn't remember their faces.

She merely felt that the aura around this old man was... a bit strange?

It seemed like he was a little afraid of her?

Mhm.

Felsy gave a reserved nod, maintaining her persona as an aloof noble lady.

However.

The ensuing script did not play out as Sebas had anticipated.

In his imagination, since the Lady Witch was traveling incognito, even if she didn't directly order the slaughter of the city, she should at least display an overbearing aura that looked down upon the world and treated all living beings as ants.

But in reality—

He only saw Felsy, having just stepped onto the red carpet, suddenly furrow her brows. Her body swayed, and she let out a delicate, dainty gasp:

Oh my...

"What's wrong, honey?" Lynch quickly supported her.

"My legs are a bit numb from riding in the carriage all the way."

Felsy leaned her entire body weight against Lynch. Those eyes that had once wiped out an entire hero party were now filled with vulnerability and coquettishness:

"I can't walk anymore... Lynch, carry me inside on your back, okay?"

Lynch affectionately tapped her nose. "You're such a baby. Alright, hop on, your hubby will carry you."

Saying that, Lynch turned around and crouched down.

Felsy skillfully hopped onto his back, wrapping her arms around his neck. She even deliberately blew a breath into Lynch's ear, her face beaming with a goofy smile called "happiness."

"Hehe, giddy-up! Let's go!"

Lynch carried his wife and strode briskly toward the castle.

"Aria, lead the way! Let's go see our new home!"

"Alright! Brother Lynch, follow me!"

The group walked further and further away, chatting and laughing cheerfully.

Leaving behind only the butler, Sebas, petrified on the spot.

A cold wind blew past, sweeping up a few dead leaves.

Sebas maintained his ninety-degree bowing posture, motionless, as if he had been struck by lightning.

His worldview shattered.

Shattered into dust.

"Is... is this Lord Witch?"

"That... that delicate woman whining about her 'numb legs,' is she really the True Crimson Calamity who tore through the void with her bare hands?"

"That... that woman riding on the back of a mere Tier-3 human pretty boy, yelling 'giddy-up,' is she really the cold-blooded and ruthless Supreme Sovereign of the Demon Realm?"

"An illusion! This must be an illusion of the highest order!"

Sebas shakily straightened his back and viciously pinched his own thigh.

It hurt.

It wasn't a dream.

"Which means..."

A brilliant light of over-interpretation suddenly burst forth in the old butler's eyes.

"As expected of Lord Witch! Her acting skills are terrifyingly profound!"

"To infiltrate human society, to avoid arousing any suspicion, she would actually sacrifice her dignity to play the role of such a vulgar, fragile human female!"

"What is this called? This is profound wisdom appearing as foolishness! This is deep foresight!"

"And that human named Lynch..."

Sebas stared fixedly at Lynch's retreating back.

"He is definitely no ordinary person! To make Lord Witch condescend to 'serve' him like this (in his eyes, a forced performance), this man must harbor an earth-shattering secret! Or... is he a puppet chosen by Lord Witch? The perfect prop to cover her identity?"

"Too terrifying... She is playing a massive game of chess!"

"I, this old ghost, must be on high alert! I absolutely cannot ruin Lord Witch's plan! I must cooperate with her performance!"

Thinking of this, Sebas adjusted his messy bowtie, took a deep breath, and restored that unfathomable butler expression on his face.

Only this time, a fanaticism akin to a "pilgrimage" was added to his gaze.

"Men!"

Sebas shouted in a deep voice.

"Here! Lord Butler!"

"Pass down my orders! Replace all the facilities in the 'Rose Courtyard' with the highest specifications! The quilts must be velvet! The carpets must be woven from abyssal wool (if we have any)!"

"Also, from now on, when you see Mr. Lynch and... and his wife, you must be even more respectful than when you see the Earl!"

"If anyone dares to upset the Madam, even the slightest bit..."

A cold light flashed in Sebas's eyes. "I will chop them to pieces and feed them to the dogs!"

"Yes, sir!!!"

The servants trembled in fear. Although they didn't know why, they felt the butler's murderous aura was incredibly heavy today!

...

Meanwhile, at the Rose Courtyard.

This was an independent villa located on the east side of the castle. The environment was quiet and secluded, planted with various colors of roses.

"Wow! It's so big! So pretty!"

Kuma burrowed out of Lynch's pile of luggage (she had been packed up and brought along). Looking at the mansion with its fountain and garden in front of her, she was practically drooling.

"Is this where we are going to live? Long live Brother Lynch!"

"Shh! Keep your voice down!"

Lynch pushed Kuma back down. "This is someone else's house, mind your manners. Don't embarrass me."

"Oh..." Kuma obediently shut her mouth, looking aggrieved.

Felsy hopped down from Lynch's back and looked around.

"It's alright,"

she commented indifferently. "Compared to where we used to live, it's a bit small. But it wins in refinement."

"As long as you like it."

Lynch set the luggage down. At this moment, the system prompt in his mind rang out again.

[Ding! Detected that the host has successfully settled into the target area: Norent Castle.] [Phase One of the Main Quest completed.] [Current environment: Safe (tentative).] [Next step: Please install at least three Magic Energy Surveillance Eyes at key nodes in the castle within 48 hours.] [Blueprints have been distributed to your inventory.]

Lynch glanced at the system.

"Magic Energy Surveillance Eye... Sounds pretty high-end, but it's really just a security camera, right?"

He chuckled inwardly.

This system was quite wicked, making him, a private tutor, install surveillance cameras in a lord's home. However, to break through to Tier-4, he could only comply.

"Honey, you rest first, let Kuma unpack your things."

Lynch rolled up his sleeves, striking a pose of "I'm about to start renovations." "I'll go take a look around and see where is suitable for... well, suitable for 'modifications'."

"Go ahead."

Felsy lay on a soft chaise longue, comfortably narrowing her eyes. "Remember to come back for dinner tonight. I want to eat those... those pastries the butler sent."

"As you command."

Lynch walked out of the villa.

As soon as he stepped out, he ran into the elusive old butler Sebas, who had been waiting at the door all along.

"Mr. Lynch."

Sebas bowed slightly, his attitude so respectful it made one's hair stand on end. "May I ask if there is anything this old servant can do for you?"

Lynch sized up the old man.

Although he looked elderly, his gaze was sharp and his footsteps were completely silent. At a glance, one could tell he was a martial artist.

"Umm... Butler Sebas, right?"

Lynch thought for a moment and asked tentatively, "If I wanted to install a few small things in some... uh, more hidden corners of the castle, like 'anti-theft devices' or something... would that be convenient?"

Install things?

Hidden corners?

Sebas's heart skipped a beat.

"It's here! Lord Witch's plan has begun!"

"This human puppet is indeed here to set up a magic array! What anti-theft device? It must be some kind of dark magical artifact used to control the castle's defensive barrier!"

"Convenient! Of course it's convenient!"

Sebas raised his head, revealing an extremely cooperative, even slightly fanatical smile on his face:

"You can install them wherever you want! Whether it's the Earl's study, the underground vault, or even... ahem, in short, the entire castle is completely open to you!"

"If you need manpower or materials, this old servant is on standby at any time!"

"Even if you find certain places to be in the way... this old servant can help you 'clean up' a bit."

Saying that, he also made a subtle throat-slitting gesture.

Lynch: "???"

This butler... isn't he a bit too enthusiastic?

Clean up what? The dust?

"Uh, there's no need to go to all that trouble."

Lynch wiped the sweat from his brow. "I can handle it myself. You get back to work, I'll be taking my leave."

Watching Lynch's retreating back as he walked away carrying a pile of strange metal parts (surveillance cameras), Sebas's hands trembled with excitement.

"Did you see that! That is what you call a professional!"

"Handling it personally! Leaving no traces behind!"

"He truly is the man chosen by the Lady Witch! What incredible hands-on ability!"

"The Norent family... heh heh, your doomsday is upon you!"

In the old butler's wildly overactive imagination, Lynch's seemingly ordinary figure from behind suddenly grew tall, sinister, and brimming with villainous charm.

An absurd farce titled "Turning the Castle into a Demon's Lair" thus raised its curtains, driven by a tacit understanding between two people who were completely on different wavelengths.