Imp to Demon King: A Journey of Conquest-Chapter 325: Whispers of the Fairy Wood

As Adam’s words echoed, the emotional atmosphere shifted. Focused frowns and solemn eyes met his gaze as he explained the threat looming over the city and the necessity to relocate it, even if unsure. After all, he’d be left with his eyes to cry, and a deep pit of regret pierced through his heart if his inaction led to its destruction.

A tense silence engulfed the tent as the generals paled—the unexpected news a horrifying blow to the wonderful mood set up by their reunion.

Garduck’s frown deepened, the sceneries of the realms they had conquered flashing through his mind. Yet, he shook his head with a sigh. "I’m controlling around fourteen realms in your name, none safe from the gods’ eyes."

’Fourteen?’ Adam raised a brow in astonishment.

Bart slammed his fist on the table, scaring the children and prompting them to scramble away with a yelp. "When are those divine fools going to leave you alone?! I’m done with their disgusting schemes."

Shihan nodded, her reaction softer but her smile as icy as Jotunheim’s eternal permafrost. "We can’t continue to endure. One of their pompous heads must roll on the floor. Maybe they’d understand we’re no pushovers by then."

Adam sipped from his glass. "Too early. We’re too weak and poorly equipped to face them. Rallying the other generals and protecting the citizens takes priority."

Garduck nodded. "The army isn’t in its best shape. But I can round the numbers up if I recall the soldiers stationed in those fourteen realms."

He pointed at a long list of realm names engraved on the war table. "Even then, I doubt realms we can access through the Gate are safe." freёweɓnovel.com

"Indeed." Adam’s face darkened. His fingers drummed on the table as he searched for a solution. Yet, none came to mind. Only his Abyssal Wayfinder could veil his presence, and only from the demon kings. To find an entire realm hidden from the gods’ scrutiny sounded like a utopian dream more than a proper goal.

As he pondered, the kids standing at the side suddenly gasped.

"Do you see that, Noah?"

"Wow! It’s the first time I’ve seen something like that!"

Distracted but used to the imps’ shenanigans, he refocused on his task before something knocked on his forehead.

"What?" He raised his hand to his hair, the sensation of touching soft flesh registering under his fingers.

A shudder ran down his spine. What lurked on his head?

Instantly, his eyes narrowed, his focus shifting to battle mod as plasma roared through his skin’s crevices. He shot to his feet, his chair crashing to the ground with a loud groan.

But before he could launch a preempting strike, a woman’s voice, amused yet mocking, filled his ears.

"My, my. You’re full of energy, aren’t you, dragonling?"

A miniature dress mirroring dark leaves’ patterns swayed before his eyes. Purple wings followed, each flap scattering mesmerising dust particles.

His eyes widened, dread tightening around his heart as the most terrifying fairy planted her fists on her tights and laughed.

"What is this miniature being?!" The kids rushed to the table, their eyes full of innocent curiosity before Bart and Shihan blurred to catch them in horror. After all, no one knew how this fickle fairy would react, and the last thing they wanted was to see their children frozen to death.

Meanwhile, Adam picked up his seat, any notion of fighting vanishing. "Why did you follow a pathetic mortal to another realm, Mab?"

Mab placed her hand before her coquettish smile and winked. "You almost hurt my heart when you didn’t try to see me yesterday, you know?"

Adam rolled his eyes, but she snapped her fingers. A layer of frost sealed his opening lips as she continued.

"I almost believed I didn’t matter to you, darling. So, you can imagine how my spirit quickened when I saw you take that block of Yggdrasil out. Truly a delightful surprise that almost melted my frozen heart."

Her lavender eyes narrowed into threatening slits as Adam began to sweat, knowing where this was going.

"But it froze again when I learned you punched my son." Her voice grew somber, her dark hair fluttering upwards like serpents. "Are you ready to shoulder the consequences?"

As the generals shuddered, Adam’s nose scrunched, his blue and scarlet eyes igniting with devilish flames. ’I won’t let you accuse me when I did nothing wrong, witch!’

"Oh? Do you believe you can endure winter’s breath after your little scales thickened? Amusing!" She slapped her legs, then rolled on the war table, exploding into laughter. "Hahaha! I can’t anymore. You should see your face!"

Adam froze while the generals’ mouths dropped open. W-Was she playing with them?

She delivered the answer the next second, her speech sounding strangely modern. "I’ll rate your reactions ten out of ten, Adam. But that’s not why I came. True. You hurt Merlin." She swung her fists and winked. "But I would have punched him a few more times in your stead, so who cares?"

She flew to his lips and gently patted them. The ice melted under her slender fingers as she spun and chuckled. "How is the body we made from the Yggdrasil block?"

Then, she landed on a seat and returned to her human size with a delighted grin, the spectacle causing the children’s eyes to bulge. "A show of gratitude is in order, is it not?"

With a sigh, Adam picked his chair up and sank against its back in defeat. He just couldn’t fight her with words... Probably no one could. "I received your gratitude, but we’re in the middle of a critical discussion. So, could you leave, please?"

"Of course... not." Mab retrieved a white stone from her dress and placed it on the table. "I revealed myself the moment you stumbled against a wall. Do you know why?"

She watched his constricting pupils in amusement. "Exactly. A goddess as classy as the queen of magic knows when her entrance is the most impactful, and it so happens that I know of a hidden realm, one existing between dream and reality and over-saturated with mana: the fairies’ woods—my realm."

Adam took a few seconds to process the much-needed solution before a doubtful frown creased his brows. "Didn’t Oberon claim it after chasing you out?"

Yet, Mab just shrugged and pointed at Shihan. "She and the six troublemakers are coming with me. It’s time to teach that boorish son of mine that the love I once had for him froze." Her eyes narrowed as she gripped the stone. "Leave Oberon to me. Now that you helped me recreate my body, we’ll reclaim the fairies’ ancestral lands!"