In the afternoon, Lily sat obediently on a stool, blinking her bright, big eyes intently as she waited for her master's teachings.
Faced with his disciple's burning gaze and her fervent eagerness to learn, the Great Demon King felt his scalp tingle with nerves. Unprepared but determined, he gritted his teeth and began his very first lecture.
He tapped his index finger lightly, then rapped firmly on a decent makeshift blackboard—handmade by the Great Demon King himself. Under Lily's questioning look, Ink Ash declared sternly, "Today... ahem... we'll discuss the impact of goals on a person!"
"The impact of goals on a person?" Lily tilted her head in confusion, strands of hair falling across her face unnoticed as she asked adorably.
Staring intently at his disciple, Ink Ash shouted in a voice that shook the room, "Exactly! To grow stronger, you must have a goal to strive for! Like me—to become infamous for... well, I have my own goals too. So Lily, do you have a goal you're pursuing?"
"No... I don't." Her mind blank and unable to think of an answer, Lily lowered her head in disappointment.
He slammed the blackboard again (Damn it, this is for writing, not slapping!), and Ink Ash barked furiously, "Louder! I can't hear you!"
"I'm very sorry, Master, I have no goals!" Lily shot to her feet, bowed deeply, and repeated with full force.
Nodding approvingly, the Great Demon King began to 'enlighten' her tirelessly. "That's the spirit! Remember this—no matter when or what you're doing, your spirit must never falter."
"But... what if you've done something wrong?" Hesitating for a moment, the thoughtful Lily raised a special case.
He slapped the blackboard once more (Still slapping? I'll see you break it and then what will you write on!), and Ink Ash retorted naturally, "So what? Who says you can't shout when apologizing? I'll apologize with righteous indignation. Problem?"
"Oh... that makes so much sense! No wonder you're my master!" Lily clapped her hands in admiration, her eyes sparkling with bright stars.
"Hmph, of course." Puffing out his chest proudly, Ink Ash recalled his head maid rolling her eyes at him last time. Now, his heart swelled with satisfaction. "Disciple, seeing your wisdom, I'll share extra wisdom—when your spirit overwhelms everyone, you become invincible!"
Her eyes shining with yearning, Lily—obsessed with growing stronger—asked excitedly, "Really?"
"Your master has never lost in spirit," Ink Ash sighed with masterly loneliness, flicking his silver hair. "Thus, I've never tasted defeat..."
Seeing his disciple's starry-eyed adoration, his vanity satisfied, he continued, "Alright, we digressed. Back to goals—the source of human motivation. You must have something driving you forward. Am I right?" His finger lightly touched her heart, hitting the nail on the head.
Gritting her teeth, her eyes flickering with conflict, Lily shouted, "I... I'm sorry, Master!"
"It's fine—everyone has secrets, and I won't pry. But Lily, sometimes confusion clouds your eyes. As your master, I guide you out of it." He waved dismissively, patting her head gently with a radiant smile. "Glory, revenge, desire, dreams—all are goals. They can be many or one."
Amid her moved and awed expression, Ink Ash shifted tone leisurely. "But do you know the most noble goal?"
"I don't know." Shaking her head, Lily now believed every word he said without doubt.
Spreading his arms devoutly, Ink Ash patiently guided her. "To seek welfare for all humanity—for every living being on the continent! To benefit society!"
"Wow... that sounds so grand." The disciple, losing her ability to think, deepened her admiration.
"Yet on this bright path lies a chasm to overcome." Sighing helplessly, the Great Demon King dramatically described before she could answer, "That is... the infamous, most heinous overlord of the Demon Realm—the evil archvillain, the Demon King!" His tone turned terrifyingly ominous.
Recalling snippets she'd heard, Lily mumbled confusedly, "Hmm... but the Knight said the Demon King was elected a top ten figure this year..."
"Rumors! Just his schemes." Gripping her hands tightly, Ink Ash's face full of sincerity, he sincerely hoped (digging his own grave), "Lily, as your master, I hope you take vanquishing the evil Demon King as your duty. The continent's hope rests on you!"
"Eh? Is it that serious?" Blinking in surprise, Lily exclaimed incredulously.
His eyebrows knotted, dark eyes seeing through everything, Ink Ash explained gravely, "Extremely serious. The whole continent is deceived—even legendary heroes rot. Only you, my chosen successor, are the last hope!"
"Since it's Master's expectation, no matter how hard, I'll strive!" Feeling his thick hope, Lily's face flushed as she clenched her fists firmly.
Meanwhile, not just on his face but in his heart, the Great Demon King was overjoyed. "Brilliant, I'm a genius... what's more reliable than training~~ an opponent who knows me inside out and detests me utterly? Ahahaha...."
