After being forced to step down, the once-annoying nun eloped with me.

The most typical regret is that if demons want to use tools, they must abandon their existing bodies. If they want to use various tools like humans, they must evolve into humanoid bodies.

However, the mother nest believes that they do not need to give up their physical advantages for the sake of tool advantages.

Moreover, if the tools were not used with both hands, but rather attached to the limbs, the efficiency would likely be even higher.

...

Let's produce a batch of juvenile demons specifically for experimentation during this period.

However, we cannot let our guard down regarding the world above.

Traps must be set up in the upward passage, the ground entrances and exits must be camouflaged, and most importantly, the larvae must be prevented from being detected during their movements...

Human knowledge is truly fascinating.

The Mother Nest makes no secret of its affection for humans.

It was at this moment that it suddenly had an idea.

If only we could gain knowledge of the Regent, whom his own people called their "great enemy"...

Would that allow the demon race to advance further?

The Demon Mother Nest fell into deep thought.

Meanwhile, the larval demons were expanding the size of the mother nest while also constantly transporting fresh food down from the surface.

They need to dig a special "farm" not far from the ground for observing humans. When they move, they begin to cover up the traces they leave behind, and even cunningly evolve their lower legs to look like those of wild beasts.

However, there is still much for the demon to learn.

In Issugard.

There has never been a case where wolves and tigers simultaneously traveled the same route and launched attacks on a village at the same time.

…………

Elena found traces of the Demon Mother's Nest's activities. This was undoubtedly a great achievement, but Yang Hao couldn't find a way to reward her, so he could only pat her on the head and say, "I owe you this time. I'll make it up to you later."

The synthetic doll merely flashed Yang Hao another smile. But the smile was quickly replaced by a serious expression.

According to Elena's calculations, the longer the demonic lair spends on the ground, the more offspring it will produce. Without knowing the current production capacity of the lair, they must find a way to the lair as soon as possible and then fight the demons to the death before they grow in size.

But in this way...

"Caution: We may also need to capture demon samples from the Isgard region for experiments... But, are there suitable testing grounds in Isgard?"

"I don't know. But if possible, I'd like to see if our research on demons can help us make progress... After all, the difference between demons in different regions is greater than the difference between apples and strawberries."

Yang Hao patted Elena's forehead again.

This time, he seemed to see a glimmer of hope in finishing his work early.

Chapter Nine: [The Price of the Chosen One] - 8K

.....

The end of December is the time when residents prepare for the new year as it approaches.

The weather had already turned cold. Although the blazing natural gas in the mines added a lot of warmth to Ysgard, it was still not a suitable time for most people to go out.

Even the residents of Wes rarely leave their homes. But for those living in the forested areas surrounding the mines, they must continue to work hard to earn enough to support their families.

Although the Margarita government has never neglected aid to impoverished areas, and those in poverty have expressed gratitude for the president's actions, ultimately, not everyone is entitled to government subsidies, and not everyone can live comfortably through the winter.

This is especially true for orphans with unknown identities or those who are unregistered.

The Margarita government couldn't possibly provide food and money to this "unknown person" who wasn't even listed on the household registration list, nor had they ever personally appeared at the registration office. The residents living around this unregistered individual were already struggling to survive, let alone receive any assistance.

Left with no other choice, the undocumented immigrants had to venture into the forest to hunt in the cold winter winds.

It was during this difficult period that the undocumented immigrants encountered a terrifying enemy they had never seen before.

That is the devil.

"...Although the demons have tried to conceal their tracks...in the end, their efficiency in hiding their tracks is still too slow."

"Those who venture deep into the forest will be closely observed by demons, eventually being lured to secluded corners and ambushed... To achieve this, some demons have even grown antlers to confuse hunters..."

"Besides, what's the chance that tigers, deer, and wolves would all attack a village's livestock pens at the same time?!"

Although they felt sorry for the unfortunate undocumented immigrants, Yang Hao and his group did not immediately provide them with protection in order to find the location of the demon's lair.

Under Elena's arrangement, a large number of small magical devices, after being filled with magic, began patrolling the forest. These monitoring devices, especially targeting undocumented individuals and hunters who entered the forest to hunt, conducted continuous surveillance for several days.

In a sense, Elena even knew how many grains of rice they ate each day and where in the forest they would defecate each morning—but thanks to such close surveillance, Elena finally found conclusive evidence of the existence of the demon.

Unlike the demons that once appeared in the Land of Eden, on the continent of Elusia, the demon larvae of Ysgard exhibit a high degree of intelligence. Although they still appear primitive, their individual strength is already considerably greater than that of their counterparts in Elusia.

At least in Elena's eyes, the original carapace thickness of these juvenile demons already exceeded that of their counterparts in Eden. This was not good news.

She frowned, and after Yang Hao finished speaking, she took the opportunity to show him the screen, encouraged by Lalumia, and snuggled into his arms. Although the elves' gaze always made her feel a strange sense of danger, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Elena chose to accept the elf's challenge head-on... but the elf seemed to be just watching?

...

Let's focus our energy on the demons instead.

Elena showed the surveillance footage. As the magical machine moved, Yang Hao could clearly see that deep in the mining forest, the demon larva that had captured the living humans was concealing its tracks as it walked towards a seemingly ordinary flat area.

Then, the demon larva dug up the grass on the ground, revealing a steep tunnel leading underground.

"...It's narrow enough for three people to pass through, but you can't walk straight through it...it's very narrow."

Yang Hao murmured subconsciously, and when he noticed that Fen had squeezed next to him at some point, he raised his left hand slightly so that the petite elf could sit on his lap.

"Can't the size of the channel be increased?"

"I think the devil will have already run away by the time we do this... Let's wait and see."

Everyone crowded around. Elena slightly enlarged the screen, then deliberately ignored Naruja's dizzy remark, "Can't this be enlarged..." before continuing to control the magical machine as it flew deeper into the passage.

The tunnels dug by the demons were filled with various man-made side passages.

On some of the side paths, you can see many demon larvae seemingly setting up traps, while on other side paths leading to the true bottom, you can see some demon larvae that are specifically hiding and lying in ambush, waiting for their chance to strike.

...The number of offspring produced by this mother nest seems far too small—Elena muttered to herself. After flying the magical machine forward a short distance, they saw a strange, large void.

This appears to be a special area specifically used for the "breeding" of humans or other organisms.

The cave ceiling is illuminated by glowing mushrooms, and there is a height difference of several meters between the bottom and the top of the cave. The most conspicuous part is the several areas that have been divided up by the demons.

Humans were kept in solitary captivity in the largest area, where the captives were forced to sleep on the ground. Some demonic larvae with eyes were constantly observing their every move, seemingly engaged in deep learning and contemplation.

In some places where grass grows for some unknown reason, captured wild animals are living under the devil's care. Just like domesticated chickens and ducks, they provide the devil with a constant supply of food—if they can actually survive.

...This is really not good news.

[Prison], [Animal husbandry], [Observational learning]...

All of Yang Hao's biggest fears were revealed during this investigation. The demons of Isgard were far more intelligent than those of other places, and this superior intelligence gave Yang Hao a pervasive sense of foreboding...

Watching the demon larvae meticulously tend to the "livestock," Yang Hao sighed and said, "They might have to be prepared for the demons to also use tools and weapons."

He meant that it was similar to the demons that evolved into gun-like structures in the later stages of Eden—but the demons here seemed more intelligent, and perhaps their evolutionary direction was more mature.

So... could this turn into a protracted war?

Watching the magical machinery continue to penetrate deeper into the tunnel, Yang Hao sighed again.

At that moment, the magical machine stopped. Elena said that to proceed further, they would have to establish a magic network node or have the magical puppet stand by nearby.

After all, the lack of magic power in Ysgard has severely affected the operation of all equipment that relies on magic power... However, finding a tunnel that may lead to the Demon Mother's Nest is a breakthrough.

"...Fen, take Elena to report our findings to Miss Margarita—Lalumia, Naruja, we'll remain where we are. Also, have someone inform Miss Nia and the others to come over. We need them."

"Given the mental link with the demons, our actions will undoubtedly attract their attention... We need to devise a good plan. At the very least, we should be able to limit the escape route of the demon lair as much as possible during our operation..."

"Oh, right, we also need to notify the family... to confirm whether anything has happened in the Roman Demon Realm and the Frozen Demon Realm..."

Yang Hao issued orders methodically. Along with the actions of the United Nations' garrison, Margarita in Wes City faced the second political crisis triggered by Yang Hao's actions.

It's less a "political crisis" and more a "clash between tradition and reality."

It's already the end of the year. Traditional pressures are forcing Margarita to produce tangible results—after all, while everyone supports searching for possible survivors, life must go on.

Not to mention the New Year, which is of paramount importance to the people of Isgard. Margarita understands that the people of Isgard want a peaceful New Year—but can you please consider that the wildfires are still raging and the demons are still wreaking havoc underground?

Oh, I forgot.

To avoid public chaos, I haven't even had time to prepare the people for the demon's attack...

"Who made this unexpected incident so awkward?"

The vampire president lay on the bed, muttering to herself. At this moment, in order to better release the pressure, she had already transformed her body from that of a mature woman for work into that of a girl of about ten years old.

Because of her physical changes, Margarita can secretly run to the children's playground and ravage real children to release her stress—although she knows that her behavior is especially shameful, but as president, if she doesn't release her stress, wouldn't that be the biggest problem for the whole of Isgard?

Ugh!

"...It's similar to what happened over there...right? But speaking of which...what's it like back home?"

Margarita muttered to herself.

She probably recalled the importance that people on Earth place on tradition, and gradually connected the images of her hometown with the current outrage among the people of Isugard.

Even during times of major disasters, there are still many people on Earth who risk their lives to return home for the Lunar New Year.

Moreover, this is especially true in Ysgard.

Margarita thought to herself that this certainly wasn't something that could be solved simply by issuing a formal prohibition—after all, even many soldiers in Isgard hoped to go home for the New Year. Even the colonial armies on the continent of Elusia considered the important matter of going home in batches to rest and recuperate as the New Year approached...

...well.

What can I do?

Margarita calmly considered a political solution. After all, it seemed that she had no other option but to confess the existence of the demon.

Unless His Majesty Yang Hao can reduce the disaster to a tolerable level before the New Year, Margarita simply cannot afford to gamble with her people...

Especially considering the chaos that will follow the New Year's wave, and the possibility that demons lurking underground could cause huge casualties at any time.

But... if the existence of demons is made public, can the people accept their existence? Can they really calm down and prevent greater harm?

Margarita did not distrust her people.