I transformed into a demonic spider lily.

That was all Lang Yegan could think of.

Honestly, what's there to worry about? Why are you questioning her decisions?

Watching Wolf Wild and a group of demon wolves and other monsters leave in a grand procession, Higanbana crossed her arms, still wearing that faint smile. Indeed, for monsters, intimidation is more effective than kind words.

As for Wolf's worries? In Higanbana's opinion, they were completely unnecessary, because she had been there before. When Kikyo asked her to exorcise a demon, one of the demons was killed there. No demon knew the overall combat strength of that forest better than Higanbana.

In other words, the Red Spider Lily had already ruled that forest a long time ago. This time, she was just letting Wolfy take over the territory. If there were any real trouble, she would have gone there herself long ago and gained some experience along the way.

It's because there's no experience to gain...

After sending Wolf Wild Dry away, Higanbana reopened her map. There were still many dungeons to be completed, but she did not assign any other monsters to attack those places.

Although she expressed her grand ambitions last night, as the old saying goes, haste makes waste; some developments take time.

That is, proceed step by step.

There are three main problems at present.

First, how could they gather a million yokai? The total number of yokai in the entire Musashi Kingdom might not even be that many; they would probably have to include those from the nine surrounding countries as well.

Secondly, regarding the size of her territory, the Red Spider Lily knows that her domain can only accommodate a maximum of 20,000 demons. If the number exceeds this limit, the living space will be too narrow, and the consequences will be severe.

Thirdly, the power to rule them can only be the Red Spider Lily; otherwise, the creation of the Demon Realm would be meaningless and would only bring greater disaster.

The first two questions are currently underway. We need to clear the nearest forest first, and then connect the two unrelated areas together.

As for solutions? There are plenty.

As Mr. Tree Man once said, there were originally no roads in the world, but as more people walk on them, they become roads. Therefore, the other shore flower only needs to do the opposite, block up those roads, and fill the gaps in the map with flowers, grass and trees.

To put it simply, it's about planting trees, expanding the forest to the size of a mountain range, and then connecting it with the mountains. The area in between would naturally belong to the monsters.

The red spider lily feels that she should have the title of "President of the Environmental Protection Association during the Warring States Period" on her head. This is something that benefits all living beings, effectively balancing the Earth's carbon dioxide, mitigating the greenhouse effect, preventing wind erosion and fixing sand, but in the future, humans will need to take a detour.

But it's better than encountering a monster, right?

This single step alone is quite time-consuming. Even with the help of a group of plant monsters, it would take at least half a year to fill the gap. However, compared to the lifespan of the monsters, this time is negligible.

The other shore flower believes that reducing something that would take fifty, one hundred, or even two hundred years to complete to three, five, or ten years is fast enough.

It's impossible to shorten the time, because the power of the spider lily itself is insufficient. To rule over a million monsters, one needs at least SSR-level demonic power. Reaching that level might not even take ten years, even with the help of the system.

Although she can absorb the power of other monsters, which is the so-called leveling up by killing monsters, she still needs to have that many "experience points" in the first place.

If one were to cultivate like an ordinary yokai, it would take at least a hundred years. Not every yokai is like Tamamo-no-Mae, a great yokai born with nine tails.

There is a long way to go.

Don't rush things.

Putting the map into her bosom, Higanbana looked at the Tubi standing beside her. The latter, as always, stared at the stone wall in the mountains with a silly expression. She suddenly remembered that she had drawn a Tubi in the last gacha draw, so she asked, "Tubi, Tubi, your master is in a good mood today, how about I find you a companion? You can tell me which mountain stone wall you like, and I promise to get it for you to guard the mountain gate together."

"Boom, boom—"

However, Tu Bi shook his head.

"Oh my~ I didn't expect you to have such high standards. You didn't even like any of them. Well then, I won't rush you into marriage. You can come to me again when you find someone, or I can save them for you to make you even harder in the future. Don't forget to take the beating for me then." The other shore flower covered her mouth and chuckled, but Tu Bi trembled all over, feeling that his master was becoming more and more like a demon.

Then, Higanbana gave all the useless cards she had drawn last time to Nurikabe, allowing him to level up to level seven, leaving her with only one each of Broom God, Nurikabe, and Boy.

This is the only R card...

【Boy (R): Young bird, eldest brother, orphan.】

To be honest, this card is a bit useless.

How can a baby bird survive after becoming an orphan?

...Never mind, I'll just keep it for now.

Then, the other shore flower looked at the white wolf on the other side. She had arranged for the latter's residence to be halfway up the mountain, in other words, within her sight.

As for why she paid so much attention to him, it was because of the white wolf's extraordinary talent. The other shore flower discovered that this guy's age, converted to human years, was no more than ten years old, but he already possessed the cultivation of an ordinary demon of one or two hundred years.

This shows what?

Given time, the white wolf might become the first SR-rank monster to emerge from the forest under her rule, so she needs to protect and educate it in any case.

Don't follow other monsters in the future.

At this moment, the white wolf was sitting on the ground fiddling with the longbow that Kikyo had given her, but dared not touch the bowstring, for fear that the sharp claws on his fingertips would cut it.

Just then, the spider lily came over and asked, "What are you poking around with over there?"

"Lady Higanbana, why?"

The white wolf raised her longbow.

How would I know what you mean by "why"?

With her arms crossed, the spider lily seemed puzzled.

"Why didn't it shoot out a white light with a 'whoosh' like Kikyo did?" the white wolf asked, tilting his head.

"That's a demon-slaying arrow; a monster like you can't use that." This is what the spider lily thought was the "white light."

"So, I can't learn archery?"

White Wolf's expression suddenly turned dejected.

“No, if you really want to practice, I think you should at least have a few arrows,” said the spider lily.

"what!!!"

The white wolf suddenly realized.

"I don't think I said anything strange, do you really need to look at me like I'm talking about the universe? Besides, I remember you clearly told Kikyo last night that you wanted to learn archery, so why do I have to remind you of that now?"

The other shore flower countered with a question.

"But Lady Kikyo didn't give me any arrows~ I thought a bow would be enough," the white wolf said, looking aggrieved.

"...Sorry, I should take back what I said yesterday. The IQ drop between you and Wolf Wild is probably not just three percent, but four percent."

The other shore flower couldn't help but put her hand to her forehead, feeling that if she stayed with this group of idiots for too long, her IQ would drop sooner or later.

After a moment, the other shore flower said, "Alright, I'm going to Kikyo's place anyway, so I'll ask you for a few arrows while I'm at it. I don't think she needs any."

"I want to go too! Higanbana-sama, take me with you!" Upon hearing Kikyo's name, Hakuro jumped up excitedly. Is this what a die-hard Kikyo fan is like? I love it!

"It's daytime now, I'll definitely take you next time."

The red spider lily rubbed the white wolf's head.

"……Really?"

"Okay, I'll definitely do it next time."

Chapter 55 Young Feng was unaware of the seriousness of the problem.

Boom, boom——

"Is Kikyo here? Is Kikyo here?" Higanbana asked as she knocked on the door of Kikyo's house.

Less than three seconds later, the door opened, and Feng rubbed his eyes, clearly still half asleep. He said irritably, "Don't you ever sleep, you monster? You're bothering us so early in the morning."

"Hey~ You little rascal, you're not afraid of me anymore? Looks like I need to reflect on myself. As a monster, I can't even scare a child to tears." Crouching down, Higanbana pinched Maple's cheek hard.

To be honest, while your mischievous nature does frighten me, your lovable goofiness on a deeper level completely overshadows it. I can have all sorts of feelings for you, except for fear...

That will probably be a bit difficult.

Feng had a lot to say, but for a moment he didn't know where to start. He even felt confused and could only show an indescribable expression.

Just then, Kikyo passed by the door carrying a bowl and chopsticks. Her reaction was remarkably natural. She invited the spider lily, "Oh, it's you, flowers! Why are you still standing at the door? I just made breakfast. Come and eat with us."

"Since you want me to have dinner with you so much, I'll reluctantly agree, considering that you're not feeling very well."

Upon hearing this, the red spider lily immediately raised its head.

You could have refused.

Feng, who has a lot on her mind, really wanted to say those words in front of the spider lily, but then she remembered the etiquette her sister had "taught" her the night before...

Oh well, life isn't worth it.

Before the meal, after washing their hands and taking their seats, Higanbana was tapping the table with chopsticks in each hand. Kikyo served her a bowl of rice, and then another. Just as Kaede was about to reach out to take it, Kikyo sat down directly opposite Higanbana.

"???"

Feng's face was filled with question marks, his features radiating confusion. Was something wrong? Something was definitely wrong!

Shouldn't that bowl have been given to her?

Why did you just sit there?

Feng felt that she was a walking meme at that moment.

I'd rather not have this older sister!

After personally serving himself a bowl of rice, Feng sat at the table looking at the bellflowers and spider lilies on either side. The latter seemed no different from before, but the former, while smiling slightly, served food to the latter and said, "If you don't mind, you can eat more."

Sister, what's wrong?

Could it be that he is possessed by an evil spirit?

Feng felt that something inside him was being disillusioned.

"Kikyo, are you possessed today?"

Even the spider lily couldn't help but ask.

"No, I just suddenly remembered that this is the first time Hana has come to visit me, so I'm just a little happy." Kikyo maintained that faint smile.

"Yes, that's true."

Although she would stay at Kikyo's house in the past, it was always at Kikyo's invitation. Higanbana also noticed that something was wrong, so she added, "I'm just... I'm worried that you might get killed by other yokai while I'm not around, and that would be a serious loss for me."

"Don't worry, I will guard what is meant for you until the very end and will never let any other monster take it. My life will definitely be entrusted to you."

Recalling the curse that Tsubaki had placed on her yesterday, Kikyo felt that it wasn't a big deal. In any case, she had already decided to let the spider lily take away her spiritual power in the future. Since the ending was destined, there was nothing to worry about.

"Are you out of your mind, you witch?"

However, the red spider lily was completely confused about the situation.