As the most loyal subordinate, Baph naturally had to help His Majesty solve his problems. He stepped forward, positioning himself slightly behind the Demon King. “Your Majesty, they have only spent a few days with the Little Prince. Before the Little Prince hatched, you spent the most time with him. The Prince will surely grow closer to you later on.”

Eris silently stared at the cub, saying nothing.

Baph then relayed his earlier discovery to the Demon King, arguing that these four demons couldn’t be killed just yet. Not only was Nick the only one with clues, but if other forces were truly targeting the Little Prince, they would need more powerful demons to protect the young and defenseless Prince.

Only then did Eris temporarily abandon the idea of killing the four bothersome demons. Setting aside the fact that the cub couldn’t leave them right now, the other potential forces Baph mentioned were still hidden in the shadows; the cub indeed needed more protection.

Although these four demons seemed extremely concerned about the cub, who knew if it was just an act to save their own lives? Eris ultimately demanded they sign a slave contract with the cub, requiring them to protect him until adulthood, after which they would be pardoned and set free.

Initially, upon hearing “slave contract,” the four demons were unwilling.

As Greater Demons, they had their pride!

How could they become slaves to another demon!

Not even the Demon King!

They’d rather die!

But upon hearing the contract was with the cub, the four demons immediately agreed.

Signing the contract required writing the terms on a scroll and adding drops of blood from both parties. The four demons readily provided their blood, but when it came to the little demon’s turn, they encountered a problem.

The Demon King refused to harm his own child. The four demons held a tiny needle, hovering over the cub for a long time.

Prick his finger? His fingers were so tiny, no, no.

Prick his foot? But the cub’s foot was only the size of their thumb, so pale and tender, they couldn’t bring themselves to do it.

Prick his bottom? No way, it would hurt when the cub sat down.

The four demons declared they couldn’t do it.

In the end, Baph took over the difficult task, quickly pricking a tiny spot on the cub’s arm. The cub barely even felt it.

However, just for doing this, he endured the four demons’ indirect curses and the Demon King’s intense stare.

Baph: “…”

After signing the contract, the demons’ status became official—they were now Baobao’s attendants.

Temporarily pardoned, the four demons were brought to the Demon King’s Palace. The cub was still carried by them, mainly because the little guy was very wary now.

Whenever Eris came close, he would quickly hide in the arms of one of the four demons, leaving only the back of his head visible to his father, afraid of being snatched away again.

“I never thought I’d see the day I could swagger into the Demon King’s Palace.”

Nick sighed. Just moments ago, they were in mortal danger, and now they were walking through the main gate of the Demon King’s Palace.

No one expected such a turn of events. It was all thanks to Baobao; otherwise, they’d be dead.

“Why does this place look so shabby?” Bazel actually started complaining.

The previous Demon King’s palace had been filled with his collection of demon corpses. It was later burned down.

The current Demon King’s Palace was rebuilt a thousand years ago. Because the Demon King had minimal requirements, its scale and magnificence were worlds apart from the previous one.

Seeing the demons acting like tourists on a sightseeing trip, Baph really wanted to pry open their heads and see if they were stuffed with straw.

Setting aside their overly familiar behavior with the Little Prince right in front of the Demon King, just their utter lack of respect was enough reason for His Majesty to kill them a hundred times over.

Although Baph held a general’s rank in the Demon King’s army, during peacetime, he acted as the steward in the Demon King’s Palace, managing various daily affairs.

“The Little Prince’s palace was prepared long ago, right next to Your Majesty’s bedchamber. I have already ordered the necessary supplies for the cub; they should be ready soon. Would Your Majesty like to take the Little Prince to see it first?”

Eris walked at the forefront. He turned his head, glanced at the little demon currently hiding in Lance’s arms, curiously observing the surroundings, and said to Baph, “Go to Gorgon’s place first.”

Gorgon was the physician of the Demon King’s Palace, renowned throughout the Demon Realm for his medical skills. Eris was concerned about the cub’s physical condition and wanted to take him for a check-up first.

“Yes, Your Majesty. However, seeing how lively the Little Prince is, he seems quite healthy.”

The little demon did indeed look lively, and his cries were full of vigor.

The four demons carried the cub. When they learned they were first going to Gorgon’s for a check-up, Bazel immediately looked astonished. “Gorgon? That old geezer isn’t dead yet?”

The dragon race was considered a long-lived demon species. Bazel himself was already over six thousand years old. He had heard of Gorgon’s fame even as a child and had once sought treatment from him for a toothache.

Although his medical skills were indeed excellent—his tooth never hurt again—that visit had left Bazel with deep psychological trauma.

Just thinking of the other’s terrifying face made Bazel feel phantom pain in his cheek.

Lance and Nick also seemed to recall something, their expressions twisting.

Bode, the youngest among the four demons, at less than two thousand years old, looked curiously at the others’ drastic change in expression. “Who’s Gorgon? Do you all know him? What’s wrong with him?”

The demons hemmed and hawed, all saying he would understand when he saw him later.

Gorgon lived in the most remote corner of the Demon King’s Palace. When they arrived, Bazel, Nick, and Lance were unwilling to enter, shoving the cub into Bode’s arms and quickly saying they would just wait outside.

Completely bewildered, Bode held the cub and followed the Demon King and Baph into the eerie-looking palace.

The little demon gnawed on Bode’s head while observing the place with wide, curious eyes.

The small courtyard inside the palace was filled with all sorts of strange demonic plants. There were also many demonic beast hooves, toes, eyes, and other things scattered around, looking extremely bizarre.

Recalling his companions’ attitudes, Bode felt increasingly strange, but holding the cub now, he could only bite the bullet and walk inside.

Baph stepped forward and knocked on the door. “Gorgon, are you in today?”

With a creak, the door opened from the inside. The first thing they heard was an old man’s laughter, raspy like nails scraping stone, quite unpleasant.

Then, a snake-race demon emerged. His lower body was a green snake tail, his upper body humanoid. Similarly, green, messy hair covered his eyes, making his features unclear, but the wrinkles on his skin suggested great age.

“Hehe, what brings Your Majesty to my humble abode today?”

As he asked, his gaze suddenly shot directly towards the cub behind them. Bode, holding the cub, couldn’t see his eyes clearly but could feel the intense, invasive stare examining both him and Baobao from head to toe.

“So this is the child? Didn’t expect him to actually survive. You brought him here for me to examine?”

The little demon stared at this strange demon. Everything outside the underground palace was novel to him.

“Alright, give me the child. Be careful when you come in; don’t break my things.”

Gorgon stepped forward and took the little demon. Bode felt his arms suddenly empty as the cub was taken away.

Just as he was about to say the cub didn’t like being held by other demons, he saw the little one grinning at Gorgon, one small hand already grabbing a lock of green hair.

When the cub lifted the hair from Gorgon’s forehead, Bode saw his face from below. It was deeply lined, indeed very old.

But most importantly, his snake-like eyes were fixed intently on the cub, looking as if he were about to do something terrible any second.

Could this be the legendary villain’s face?

No wonder he covered it with hair; otherwise, he’d always look like he was plotting something evil. Other demons grew kinder and more amiable with age; why did this guy look like he had extensive experience in doing bad things?

So weird.

The cub also saw Gorgon’s face, but currently had no concept of a “villain face.” He just found the hair color peculiar and held onto it tightly.

Even though his eyes were still a bit red and swollen, he smiled at Gorgon. “Papa!”

Eris: Stare~

Baph: “Ahem, Little Prince, you’ve mistaken him. Your father is His Majesty the Demon King.”

Gorgon showed no reaction, carrying the cub inside and placing him on a bed.

The Demon King, Baph, and Bode followed. The room was indeed messy. The Demon King and Baph, accustomed to it, expertly avoided the clutter and stood beside Gorgon.

“Come now, let’s first see if you’re a healthy little fellow.”

Gorgon grabbed the cub’s small hands and lifted him high into the air.

The cub dangling with feet off the ground: ?

Then he let go of one hand, leaving the little one dangling by the other.

Next, he lifted the cub upside down.

Cub hanging head down: ?

Then he pinched his wings, checked his tail, and even rolled the cub into a ball.

Cub gnawing on his own foot: ?

The Demon King behind them twitched several times. Each time Gorgon maneuvered the cub into a difficult pose like some kind of acrobat, he couldn’t restrain himself from stepping forward, wanting to take the cub back, but ultimately forced himself to endure it.

Gorgon seemed unreliable, but his medical skills were superb. And the cub didn’t look uncomfortable; in fact, he seemed to think it was a game and looked quite happy.

Bode wasn’t thinking so much. Seeing the cub being lifted by his wings, he immediately rushed forward to snatch him back, only to be held back by the other’s tail.

“Do not disturb the doctor’s work.”

“How can you lift such a small cub by his wings! And his tail! Don’t pull his tail! Hey hey hey, the cub’s back is going to break!” Bode was terrified.

Baph glanced sympathetically at Bode and whispered, “No use shouting. Doctor Gorgon is hard of hearing; he can’t hear what you’re saying at all.”

Gorgon finished his examination, completely absorbed. “Alright, his body is very healthy. And his tail and wings appear to belong to the Succubus/Incubus race. Let’s proceed to the next check.”

The cub, having been maneuvered around, had learned a new skill during the process. He was now lying on the bed sucking his fingers, stuffing one finger into his mouth, then two, then three…

Gag~

Having poked his own throat, the cub gave up on his fingers and started gnawing on his chubby foot instead.

A bright speck of light appeared at Gorgon’s fingertip. He then pointed it towards the cub.

The other demons could all feel it was magic condensed into a solid form. Though small, its power was immense, capable of piercing walls.

If it hit the cub…

The speck of light was extinguished by a hand grabbing it.

Eris didn’t hold back this time.

“This is the best way to test if he inherited your abilities,” Gorgon said.

Seeing Eris’s unyielding expression, he shrugged. “Then you do it. After all, you are his father. Demon eggs only accept magic from the same source as their parents; only after hatching do they form their own magic system. He just hatched not long ago, and his system isn’t complete. It is indeed safer for you to do it.”

Eris looked at the little demon lying innocently on the bed, gnawing his foot, nodded, and then a tiny, tiny speck of light appeared at his fingertip. The speck, like a firefly, floated from his finger towards the cub.

The little demon was happily gnawing his foot when he saw a small bright spot flying around in front of him. He immediately reached out, caught it, and popped it into his mouth, smacking his lips as if he’d eaten something delicious.

The demons watched nervously. After eating the speck of light, the little demon went back to gnawing his foot, completely unaffected.

Bode tilted his head, looking around. “Speaking of which, when Baobao cries, he can absorb magic elements from the air. That should also be his racial ability, right?”

Eris and Baph both looked towards Bode.

Bode scratched his head with a tentacle. “Didn’t you notice? When Baobao was crying in your arms earlier, he should have been passively absorbing magic elements too.”

Eris indeed hadn’t noticed. Because he absorbed magic elements constantly, Hilaire’s crying likely drew elements that Eris himself absorbed.

It seemed the child truly had inherited his abilities.

“Although the test wasn’t perfect, he can still absorb your magic now, so the possibility of inheriting your abilities is high,” Gorgon, being hard of hearing and having missed Bode’s comment, continued his analysis.

Bode gloated, “This deaf old man really seems unreliable! Is he really a doctor? Not some kind of spy?”

The next second, Bode was swatted by the snake’s tail and smacked against the wall with immense force.

“I’m not deaf! Did you just call me cheap/worthless? I’ve never met a demon who dared say that to me before.” Gorgon’s snake eyes stared sinisterly at the slime plastered on the wall, looking extremely angry.

Bode: “I didn’t say that!”

“What? You dare say it again?”

“Ah, you old geezer, you must be doing this on purpose! I clearly didn’t say anything!”

“You want to kill me too?”

“Da!” The cub, gnawing his foot on the bed, immediately rolled over onto his stomach, tilting his head up to watch Bode get smacked flying, laughing happily.

Back in the underground palace, watching the demons fight had already become a form of entertainment for the cub.

The Demon King and Baph stood silently to the side. This was why they rarely spoke much when visiting Gorgon; the guy wasn’t just hard of hearing, he sometimes “misheard” things, too. Very difficult to deal with.

–

“He is a very healthy cub. Although he inherited your abilities, I’m unsure to what extent he can utilize them. By the way, different demon races have different childhood stages. His appearance is very similar to his mother’s, both Succubus/Incubus type. He’ll reach adulthood at twenty, but before that, he’ll be very fragile, with tender skin and basically no defensive capabilities. You must protect him carefully.”

After enduring a conversation akin to a chicken talking to a duck, Gorgon finished the other checks, gave his verdict on the cub, and then told them to leave quickly and not disturb his work.

Eris tentatively stepped forward, wanting to hold the cub. The little demon looked up at the slime still plastered on the wall nearby, then at the other completely unfamiliar black goat demon, and finally decisively reached out his hands towards Eris.

Successfully holding the cub again, Eris visibly relaxed, then carried him out of there.

Baph followed closely behind. Bode slid down from the wall, intending to leave too, but was blocked by the snake’s tail.

Bode looked at him warily, shouting loudly, “What do you want? Don’t tell me you still want to argue!”

“Didn’t I just say I had work? Slimes like to eat, so they often have indigestion. I haven’t seen you before; I’ll treat your illness for free.”

He was a Greater Demon-level entity; anything he ate was digested instantly!

How could he possibly have indigestion!

Bode watched the Demon King and Baph leave without looking back and immediately realized something was wrong, launching himself towards the door.

But just a second before he reached it, the door closed by itself, untouched by wind.

Bazel, Lance, and Nick waited outside the palace. Lance felt a twinge of conscience. “Is it really okay for us to just leave Bode in there?”

Nick: “Then you go swap with him?”

Lance: “On second thought, never mind. As companions, Bode should share our hardships. It’s time he tasted the suffering we endured.”

Seeing the Demon King and Baph emerge with Baobao, but without Bode, didn’t surprise them in the slightest.

When the cub saw Lance and the other demons, he immediately reached out for Lance to hold him.

“Aahhhhh!”

Just then, Bode’s miserable scream echoed from inside.

Everyone was unfazed by the strangeness, only the cub jumped in fright, turning his head towards the palace. He knew it was Bode’s voice and looked questioningly at Lance: “Bobo?”

“Bode is seeing the doctor. It’s okay, he’ll be out soon.”

The little demon didn’t understand, but since Lance was explaining seriously, he pretended to understand and nodded solemnly.

Bode was eventually carried out. Not only had his round body’s edges become wavy, but he had also faded in color, the entire slime turning from blue to grey. He truly looked like he had suffered greatly.

However, Gorgon’s medical skills were indeed excellent; the slight discomfort Bode originally felt was completely gone. But he swore never to go back to that place again and picked a fight with the other three demons who knew the truth but hadn’t warned him.

After the check-up, they headed to the palace prepared for the cub. Upon entering, the cub was immediately captivated, his eyes sparkling brightly.

Colorful palace wall decorations, a luxurious crib, various baby clothes, unseen toys, food, and more—it was simply countless.