Imp to Demon King: A Journey of Conquest

Fists trembling in excitement, Adam pressed yes.

Ten units vanished in front of the subject's confused eyes before a spectacle of sparks followed.

Animated by an unnatural power, light condensed into a spacious building a hundred meters square before the campfire.

It solidified a moment later, glistening with a polished wooden glow that caused his heart to beat faster.

Unable to contain himself, he rushed back to his territory's entrance and gripped the hobgoblin's carcass.

Instantly, it disappeared in a sea of brilliant particles, and a notification rang in his mind.

[Hobgoblin dismantled.]

[Obtained: unit of food x5, tier one core x1, goblin's rough wall blueprints.]

"It works! It even ignores the body's charred condition!"

Exhilarated by the mechanic, his fists cut through the air in a triumphant pose.

With the warehouse, life would become so much easier for everyone.

Without wasting time, he turned to his subjects and called for the last two who guarded the place during their expedition.

"Return to the goblin camp and bring all the logs we left there. Kill any beast on the way and bring back their carcasses. Today, no one will sleep on the ground!"

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However, his subjects shook their heads, tapping their legs on the ground and far from pleased by the excellent news.

Garduck stepped forward, rolling his eyes at his lord's flushed face and the wide grin splitting his face.

"You can't do that. Focus on building more facilities and improving your own house first. Look at it! It'll collapse if any of us blow on it!"

Before he could ask, Luna snickered.

"The lord's house is our territory's pride. No demon will serve a beggar. Show them riches and power. Make them dream of what they can get by serving you. No one will take you seriously if you don't."

'Says the one who wants me to build her a castle.'

His lips stretched into a wry smile as he gazed at them.

"Everyone will have his own house in my territory. You can sleep outside if you don't like it, but I'll never let my citizens suffer from the cold or aching backs. Worse case, consider it an investment to make you wake up each day in perfect condition and ready to fight!"

Pensive frowns reaching their horns creased the seven demons' brows as they considered his words. Even if they didn't mind sleeping on the forest's soft soil, they wouldn't refuse a soft bed and a warm home.

Still, they didn't agree with Adam's management. They needed defenses, war facilities and an imposing demon lord's mansion more than comfort.

Fortunately, Adam eased their worries by assigning new tasks.

"After you retrieve the materials, you'll split into two groups. One will hunt while the other chops wood. We'll have enough resources to build everything that way."

After begrudgingly agreeing, they moved to work with heavy steps, leaving him and Luna alone.

Neck reddening, his eyes slipped away from the lethal beauty's gaze, and he focused on his work.

Excitement returned as each time he touched a log, it disappeared in a flash of light, and a notification rang.

[Obtained: unit of wood x40.]

He focused on the twenty goblins carcasses next, heart pounding at the potential rewards.

[Obtained: unit of food x40, core x6, goblin's hut blueprint x2.]

Yet, disappointment froze his heart, and he clasped the back of his neck as he discovered the terrible drop rate.

'Only six cores? What a scam! I already have those blueprints, too!'

Lips twitching, his heavy steps echoed as he walked to the territory's center and took out the market's blueprint.

[Consume twenty units of wood to construct the market?]

Hoping to sell those blueprints and the meat, he smashed the yes option.

Despite their rough appearance, they were still usable houses after all. He also doubted mere forest beasts could drop them or that another lord would be foolish enough to raid a camp on day two.

As he strategised, light danced again and formed a beautiful building emblazoned with a pouch spilling gold coins.

However, he saw no door, understanding he had to manage it through his interface's market tab.

But first, he wanted to check the chat to see how the other lords fared and if they still tried to buy food.

The familiar fiery window wafting green flames appeared before his eyes as he leaned against the market's smooth wall.

[Greatest imp: This damn place! I set my territory, but even the insects inside are trying to kill me! Fortunately, the demons I summoned are strong... too strong. Each time I cross their eyes, I can't help but shudder. And why don't I have a warehouse when everyone does?

Please help me leave the demon realm.]

A pang of sadness hit him as he read about the poor lord's situation. After all, he could have shared it.

[Lord 6369: Bro, are you for real? What demon would trust others and put his resources in a warehouse? I think you rolled the wrong number on fate's dice when reincarnating. Good luck, though! You are the last demon lord.]

[Behemoth: I think another one said he had no warehouse yesterday. He might be a demon, too.]

[Adam: Yup. I got the blueprint today. Who needs meat?]

The chat blurred after his answer, spammed by curious but mostly hungry lords.

[Hamburger lover: Man, food management is so hard. I don't know how you can stock it. The more I summon, the more I have to feed these good-for-nothing subjects. They can't even catch a chicken!]

Upon reading the last message, he grinned. Compared to humans or other races, his demons were violent and ruthless.

'I believe my regular citizens are much stronger than their fighters.'

He chuckled, his back colliding with the wall behind him.

Then, he checked the exchange rates on the market tab, ready to make a killing.

[Wood to food 5:1]

[Stone to food 5:1]

[Iron ore to food 2:1]

"Hehehe. They snatch any food the second it appears, leaving the demand shot through the roof, but no offer."