I love time travel the most!

Succubi are not suitable for the battlefield, so asking them to fight giant wolves is asking too much of them; therefore, we have no choice but to rely on them.

After engaging in intense battles with powerful enemies, Kazuma Sato's fighting prowess has improved significantly. With the help of Duster and Melissa, the three of them quickly subdued the terrifying giant wolf.

But their goal is not to conquer it, but to subdue it.

Melissa licked her rosy lips.

"—Alright, it's time to give in."

Chapter 431 I Died Myself

"Please have some premium black tea."

"Thank you, Wiz."

He took the warm tea from the lich woman, slowly sipped it, then placed the teacup on the table and asked the Grand Duke of Hell, who was still deep in thought, across from him:

"Haven't made up your mind yet, Mr. Barnier? This is a rare opportunity, and it would be very beneficial for you as well."

"Hmm...that's precisely why I feel a little uneasy. After all, that idiot shopkeeper is always causing all sorts of trouble."

Barnier put down the proposal and sighed heavily. Ignoring the lich girl's aggrieved cries of "That's so unfair!", he tapped his fingers on the table and began to weigh the pros and cons.

This morning, Xiaolin came to see them specifically and expressed his hope to open a store together.

——Prank Toy Store.

Although he didn't care at first, after gaining a deeper understanding and making long-term plans, he was certain that this novel toy would sell very well in the future.

Moreover, it requires no money, no land purchase, and even permission from the lord. The only requirement is manpower, making it essentially a zero-cost operation.

Such a huge windfall fell on Barnier's hands, but he only felt it was burning hot.

First, he has already formed a strategic partnership with Kazuma Sato. In addition to raising the 1 billion Eris buyout fee and other sales channels, he has also done a lot of work and put in a lot of effort behind the scenes.

At this point, you might be wondering, "Why do you think it's difficult when all you need is manpower?"

Then let's bring up Wiz, who is not up to the task.

There were only him and Wiz in the shop. They were already overwhelmed with work because of the new magical items that Kazuma Sato was developing. If another person were to take over, it would be a huge burden.

More importantly, this idiot shopkeeper is extremely obsessed with bizarre... no, prank props! If they can't make a profit and instead incur losses, then it will be a huge loss.

"Opening a shop is not an easy thing."

"...I don't know what's troubling you. You can leave the magical artifacts to Wiz and Kazuma Sato, and just focus on running your prank toy shop, right?"

"Mr. Sato? Is that alright?"

"Of course. He's the one who sold the new magical items, so he should contribute. And if you pay him a little salary, he'll definitely be happy to agree."

"Hmm... okay, let's do it this way!"

How could Barnier possibly miss such a lucrative opportunity? Moreover, he would prefer to open a prank toy store. As for why... don't forget, he is the Grand Duke of Hell who lives by consuming human emotions.

“That’s wonderful, Mr. Barnier!”

Wiz cheered and jumped for joy, his broad chest bobbing up and down, a truly pleasing sight.

Seeing her like this, red angry patterns appeared on Barnier's mask. He grabbed the lich girl's head and threatened her fiercely:

“Listen up, you idiot shopkeeper. It’s good that your interests are being liberated, and the new shop will bring in a considerable amount of income, but the premise is that you can’t do anything reckless, understand? And the shop is only allowed to stock goods from one store. If you do anything you shouldn’t… you should understand, right?”

"I know, I know! Honestly, Mr. Barnier thinks far too badly of me!"

"It is precisely because we know your despicable nature that we feel uneasy!"

"Eeeeeeeeeee!!!"

The lich girl screamed in pain as her head was pinned down.

However, there's not much to worry about with the new store, since the supplies are all purchased from Mr. Hyōzaburō, the magic item maker that Wiz admires—Megumin's father. There shouldn't be any major problems.

"By the way, there's one more thing."

As if struck by a sudden thought, Kobayashi slapped his forehead and said, "The prank toy store in the proposal isn't just one. Although it's currently in trial operation in Axel's starting village, I also plan to open another store in the Water City of Alcanredia. Mr. Barnier, are you interested?"

"Water City... Could it be?!"

“That’s right, it’s the headquarters of the Axis Cult.”

"Are you a demon?!"

"You've got it wrong, Mr. Barnier, you're the devil."

Although I know he doesn't get along with Aqua and hates the Axis Cult as a result, why is he so flustered, as if he's trying to harm someone?

Where is Wiz?

"I... well... a little..."

She understood, but she still didn't want to go.

After all, she had suffered greatly at the hands of the Axis Cult in Alcanredia just a few days ago, and given that she was already a cadre in the Demon King's army and a lich girl, it was indeed a bit of a stretch for her to go to the goddess's stronghold.

"There was no other way but to ask someone else for help."

"...You wouldn't be doing this on purpose, would you? Putting aside the fact that we are demons, and with the idiot shopkeeper, there are only two of us. Even if we wanted to go, we wouldn't be able to."

"Yes."

Xiaolin's words were perfectly reasonable.

He could directly hand over the management rights of the branch to Jesta (the highest leader of the Axis Order), but since he and Banir were partners, it would be easy to cause suspicion and unpleasantness in their business cooperation if he did not inform them in advance.

But once it was spoken out, the stance changed.

I was planning to give up the operating rights, but you can't accept it, so you can't blame anyone else.

"Besides, don't you have futuristic vision? You should have seen it, right?"

"No. We cannot see your future."

"Has my strength caught up with yours?"

"It's the divine power of that useless goddess protecting you. By the way, have you been entangled with that useless goddess too much? You smell bad."

"Haha, sorry."

Kobayashi could only smile and brush off the disdain from the Grand Duke of Hell.

What smells bad to demons must smell good to others. Besides, Aqua is my true love, and who is the Grand Duke of Hell? I don't know him at all.

Xiaolin pulled out a strangely shaped object and said, "Alright, now let's go to the outskirts and try out this prank prop."

"Huh, aren't you planning to try it here?" Wiz asked instinctively.

"Although I also think going to the suburbs is troublesome, there's no other way. Even I don't know if it will cause any strange effects, so it's better to stay away from towns just in case."

"Then I'll go too!"

"Rejected! You idiot shopkeeper, you're not allowed to leave!"

"how come--"

Wiz, who was rejected by Barnier, cried, but the two of them had no intention of comforting him and headed straight out of the city.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Honestly, this puts me in a difficult position... Is punishment really necessary?... Hmph!"

On the plains outside the city, four adventurers—two men and two women—had gathered. One of the female adventurers was repeatedly stomping on the head of a giant wolf that had been knocked down, and each time she did so with great force.

"Miss Melissa! Even though it's a monster, it's so pitiful to be trampled like this!" said another petite female adventurer, unable to bear it.

“Wait, Rosalind. Look closely…”

"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu..."

"Huh?...You seem...very happy?"

The petite female adventurer stared in disbelief at everything that was happening before her eyes.

The defeated, ferocious giant wolf was now lying beneath the mature female adventurer, unable to stop groaning in pleasure even as she trampled it mercilessly.

Just how much of a masochist is this monster?

These four people are none other than Sato Kazuma and his companions, who are helping the loli succubus learn how to become a queen.

Melissa chuckled, exuding queenly arrogance, as she stepped on the giant wolf while imparting her experience: "Take good care of this now, this is how you make people obey... Hmph!"

"Thank you, Miss Melissa! I will definitely make good use of what I have seen and heard today!"

The loli succubus was deeply moved.

the next day.

At the request of the loli succubus, Kazuma Sato and Duster returned to the succubus shop.

"That girl, Rosali, said she wanted us to see the results... It's only been a day, is it really okay?"

"Who knows? Oh well, as long as I get the reward, I'm fine with anything."

Both of them simultaneously revealed scumbag smiles.

"Looks like you two are both here."

At this moment, Rosalis saw the two of them and walked up to them, wearing a strong smile similar to Melissa's.

"Oh," Duster greeted, "Then hurry up and show us the results. As for Lolisa's Queen series... to be honest, I'm not really looking forward to it—"

"I forgot to add the adult."

Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Rosalind.

Huh, it's already starting?

"And also, when you open that unpleasant mouth of yours, add 'Long live Lady Rosali' to my name."

"Oh, oh... Long live Lady Rosali. Tsk, why do such a thing..."

Duster instinctively went along with her. He felt it was beneath his dignity as a man, even though others might have long since lost all dignity in their eyes.

Kazuma Sato exclaimed excitedly, "Oh, that's excellent! The results of your studies are in, aren't they?"

"Long live Lady Rosalind? Or are you doing this on purpose to get punished?"