The maid squad is too strong, what use is there for me, the Demon King?

boom!

The thorny fang's head exploded from the inside like a rotten watermelon, scattering broken thorns and slime everywhere.

The remaining few thorny fangs seemed to know nothing of fear, still howling and lunging forward, but were immediately killed by other low-ranking servants with daggers and shadow needles, or easily dealt with by Sita after being casually restrained again.

The battle began and ended in just a few seconds.

Seven or eight thorny fangs, their remains quickly withered and turned into blackish-purple slime, were left on the grass, along with a few small patches of baldness caused by corrosion.

The unpleasant odor was quickly neutralized and dissipated by the rich life energy surrounding it.

The team's formation remained perfectly intact, with not a single person moving more than three steps. The entire process was efficient and ruthless, as if it had been rehearsed countless times.

"Low-level monsters act solely on their killing instincts, posing little threat. Their magical reactions are chaotic and murky, but they should be local creatures."

Sita quickly made an assessment, speaking in a flat tone, as if she had just casually swatted a few flies.

Aita flicked the slime off her paws, looking disgusted. "It stinks, meow! This stuff really ruins my mood!"

Gray's gaze swept over the withered remains.

They hadn't gone far when they encountered magical beasts and monsters, which showed how abundant the magic power was in this world.

So, are there other creatures?

Creatures other than monsters and monsters, such as humans and elves.

"Stay alert. The stream is near; watch out for the water source." Gray gave the order calmly, and the group slowly set off again, crossing the rapidly disappearing monster remains as if it were just a trivial interlude.

However, all the waiters were on edge even more.

This hidden realm is home to both gentle creatures fleeing in terror and ferocious monsters whose minds are consumed by nothing but slaughter. The unknown is always accompanied by risk.

The team remained highly vigilant, slowly advancing towards the stream, following the increasingly clear sound of water. This emerald plain was far from the tranquil and peaceful place it appeared to be. Since "Thorn Fang," they had encountered several more waves of monsters of various shapes, all of which were filled with aggression.

Sometimes they are “malignant zombies” that suddenly emerge from fertile soil, entangled with rotten roots and pale mycelium, spewing out a dizzying mist of spores, staggering toward the nearest living thing, and then being precisely pierced through the core by the shadow needles of low-ranking servants, turning into limp filth.

Sometimes, it's the "Weeping Giant Claw Crab," its shell covered in painful human face patterns, lurking under the wet pebbles on the stream bank. It suddenly attacks, brandishing its claws powerful enough to cut through steel, only to be neatly sliced ​​in two by Sita's magic, claws and all, the foul-smelling crab roe spilling onto the ground.

On another occasion, several "Phantom Bats," with wings as thin as smoke and flying silently, emerged from a giant flower exuding a sweet fragrance. Their shrieks could directly disturb the mind, but Aita took off at an even faster speed, her dark purple claws weaving a net that tore them to shreds in mid-air, like tearing apart several dim lanterns.

Most of these monsters were weak and charged forward with only numbers and a chaotic killing instinct, posing no real threat to this well-trained and well-coordinated team.

The process of cleaning them is tedious yet efficient, much like mowing the lawn.

A herd of "Moonlight Deer," with fur as white as flowing silver and horns that shimmered on their heads, were strolling gracefully on the distant hills. Sensing the danger emanating from the herd, the lead deer let out a clear alarm cry, and the herd instantly transformed into a silver stream, disappearing silently into the edge of the blue-purple forest.

A massive, elephant-sized "Crystal Moss Mammoth," covered in moss and shimmering crystals yet moving with remarkable agility, strolled further away. It used its glowing trunk to nibble on the luminous fruit in the treetops, merely glancing indifferently at the group's small, intelligent eyes that seemed completely disproportionate to its size, before continuing its meal as if these uninvited guests were nothing more than insignificant flying insects.

These magical beasts were clearly more intelligent and had a sharper sense of danger. They either fled far away or ignored it, showing no intention of approaching or provoking.

Their magical reactions are pure and powerful, blending perfectly with their surroundings, making them one of the true masters of this secret realm.

After a fierce battle and careful observation, the team finally arrived at the winding stream.

The stream was crystal clear, and the riverbed was covered with colorful pebbles. Some small fish, shimmering with light, swam nimbly in the water.

The terrain on the opposite bank gradually rises, the vegetation becomes denser, and the characteristics of that strange forest become more obvious—the trees are taller, the blue-purple and silver-white leaves shimmer like jewels in the sunlight, and the mist swirling in the forest is thicker.

Just as Sita was cautiously testing the composition of the stream water, and Aita couldn't resist crouching down to scoop up water to wash the blood off her claws, while the lower-ranking servants continued to maintain their circular vigilance—

Grena's mental energy, which had been in a highly focused and contracted state, detected a very faint, regular fluctuation deep within the dense forest on the opposite bank, which was distinct from the natural flow of energy.

The fluctuation was extremely faint, almost drowned out by the rich life energy and the forest's own restlessness, but its orderly, repetitive rhythm, like a firefly in the night, caught the Shadow Master's attention.

It was not formed naturally; it was more like... a low-power energy device, or a ripple generated by a small barrier.

His heavy hood suddenly turned in the direction from which the vibration was coming.

Almost simultaneously, a faint yet distinct, rhythmic tapping sound, carried by the wind, pierced through the rustling of the leaves and the babbling of the stream, and drifted over.

Thump...thump thump...thump...

That's the sound of a wooden mallet striking a hard object! Regular, steady, with a deliberate, artificial quality!

All the waiters tensed up instantly, their weapons pointing in unison towards the dense forest on the opposite bank.

Aita immediately abandoned playing in the water, abruptly stood up, her claws reappeared, and her orange-gold vertical pupils sharply stared at the source of the sound.

Sita straightened up as well, his gaze beneath his hood filled with scrutiny.

"Something's up," Sita whispered.

Gray raised his hand, signaling to calm down. His mental energy struggled to penetrate the thick energy barrier, reaching towards the source of the sound.

The knocking sounds were intermittent, seemingly mixed with some indistinct, unintelligible shouts, sounding like some kind of work chant.

He focused his gaze and, through the gaps in the trees, vaguely saw in the far distance, something that seemed to be an unnaturally formed, irregularly shaped edge flashing by amidst the trees! It seemed to be... a corner of a building's roof? The material was not wood or stone, but a soft, light yellow material with a wood-like texture, completely different from the blue, purple, silver, and white tones of the forest.

Further details are difficult to obtain due to limited perception, but considering the regular knocking sounds, the indistinct shouts, the regular architectural angles, and the faint, regular energy fluctuations...

A conclusion is already obvious.

"Ahead... there is a settlement. Not naturally formed." Gray's deep voice sounded, carrying a hint of confirmation.