Lolis raised her snow-white neck, her icy gaze sweeping over the crowd. If not for searching the Dark Lord, she wouldn’t have set foot here for anything.

The air reeked of sweat and sour stench, making her stomach churn. The stares from surrounding men disgusted her even more—raw, unashamed desire oozing from those lowly creatures. Their lustful, aggressive gazes made them seem like beasts thinking only with their lower halves.

"Insects..."

Lolis tapped her toe lightly on the ground. Bone-chilling cold seeped out like a wind from frozen tundra, unnerving everyone. The freezing aura spreading outward made the crowd shiver uncontrollably, their bodies stiffening as if encased in ice.

Her crimson eyes swept the area. Seeing the receptionist frozen in place, she shook her head in irritation. She gathered her jet-black hair into a high ponytail. Suppressing her deep disgust for humans, Lolis strode toward the desk in her boots.

No matter how much she hated them, she had to bury all negative emotions deep inside. Finding the Dark Lord was all that mattered. Humans held blood-deep hatred for the Demon Kin. If her identity slipped, her search would end. Until she found him, she must stay hidden, blending quietly into human society.

"Move aside."

As Lolis approached the reception, a black-haired youth in dark clothes stood with his back to her, studying the bulletin board and blocking her path. He wasn’t burly, but not frail either—just average. Yet, strangely, Lolis felt little disgust toward him. Compared to the stifling stench around her, he smelled clean, his faint, comforting scent oddly familiar, like a past encounter.

"Ah! I’m so sorry, miss! I’ll take this gentleman elsewhere to fill forms!!!" Yuseni trembled under Lolis’s aura, bowing hastily with a pale face. She grabbed the youth’s arm and dashed to another reception point.

*Sob... this gorgeous sister is so fierce. Why’s such a beauty so short-tempered? Is that just how lovely girls are?*

...

The adventurers crowded at the desk froze at the sight. They exchanged glances, then reached a silent agreement. Within seconds, they all retreated dozens of steps to both sides, clearing a wide path for Lolis.

No choice—her aura screamed she wasn’t ordinary, a top-tier powerhouse. That black-haired youth who’d casually shattered a second-tier spell had already fled. Lingering here would be foolish. If this icy beauty snapped and beat them all, it’d be beyond awkward.

"Receptionist. I want to register as an adventurer. Prepare the paperwork."

Lolis loomed over the trembling boy at the desk. The Dark Lord’s presence lingered faintly in the City of Loran—she was certain he was here. But why had he moved from the Yersas Empire to the Kaiabylon Kingdom? After descending, he hadn’t returned to Demon Kin territory but operated among humans. What was his purpose?

No... wait... hold on... could it be...

Lolis’s eyes widened in disbelief as she murmured. A terrifying yet brilliant plan formed in her mind. If true, all the Dark Lord’s actions made sense.

He’d descended in the human empire to display his majesty, ensuring the world knew of his arrival. To normal minds, this was a warning, a declaration of war. Humans would tighten searches, watching Demon Kin movements closely. The Church wouldn’t ignore it; human nerves would snap taut.

But precisely because of this, they’d never believe the Demon King would dare enter human lands alone to face their strongest. The Hero, Holy Maiden, and Church alliance threatened him—they’d think he wouldn’t risk it again.

Yet they’d overlooked his divinely sharp mind. He’d used their vigilance against them, hiding where "the most dangerous place is the safest." His grand descent in Kaya shattered centuries of Demon Kin silence, cementing the Demon King’s name and dulling human pride. Those human fools never dreamed he was already inside the kingdom. Undermining from within was far easier than invasion.

"Huh..."

Lolis closed her eyes, exhaling deeply. She could only grasp this much. The Dark Lord’s scheme ran deeper, beyond her dull mind. His wisdom likely saw decades ahead.

"Um... miss... are you still... handling the paperwork?" The receptionist’s ashen face trembled as he stared at the icy beauty radiating killing intent before him.

*Holy Maiden above... I just want to go home...*