In the early morning, faint light filtered through the sheer curtains, gently awakening the slumbering dreams.
Outside the window, the rising sun was diligently climbing, dispelling the lingering afterglow of the night, and the horizon gradually tinged with a delicate orange-red.
'This is truly reckless...'
Bai Luo opened his eyes. He looked at the two delicate figures nestled in his arms, one on his left and one on his right, feeling quite helpless.
Originally, Bai Luo hadn't planned to act so quickly.
No matter what, he should have cultivated their feelings a bit more.
Unfortunately, he had misjudged the habits of monsters.
Monsters were not humans; they didn't have so much playing hard to get.
More often, it was adoration for the strong.
Bai Luo was Zhu Cai and Shion's liege, and he possessed a rare gentleness among monsters.
How could they not fall in love with him?
Thus, taking advantage of the hot spring visit yesterday, the two girls successfully achieved the accomplishment of sleeping under the same blanket.
Throughout the entire process, what left the deepest impression on Bai Luo was Shion's stubbornness and Zhu Cai's fragility.
Of course, Shion wasn't much better.
In front of Bai Luo, the Oni race's recovery ability was completely useless.
With a single seal, the two girls immediately became delicate young ladies.
And Bai Luo didn't even need to use any special methods; purely relying on the stamina of a normal person, he managed to tame them completely.
"Shion?"
"Zhu Cai?"
"Mmm~~"
"Let me sleep a little longer..."
Zhu Cai didn't react much, but Shion let out a soft murmur like a kitten.
"Rest well."
Bai Luo lovingly smoothed the loose hair of the two girls before getting up and starting to get dressed.
Descending from upstairs to the living room, the first person Bai Luo saw was Ice Empress waiting there, which surprised him.
"Why are you here so early today?"
"What are you talking about!"
Ice Empress knew what Bai Luo had done last night, but she didn't care about that: "You make it sound like I'm very lazy."
Among Bai Luo's dependents, Shion, Ice Empress, and Peng Peng were the most idle, not having to do anything.
You might ask, doesn't Shion have the Zike Crowd?
The Zike Crowd, to put it plainly, was a suicide squad created by Shion.
They played among themselves and didn't have any formal positions.
As for Peng Peng.
She liked farming and was very interested in cultivating various fruits and vegetables, showing a tendency to develop into the agricultural sector.
As for the remaining Ice Empress, Bai Luo had no demands on her and just let her be.
"That's not what I meant."
Bai Luo sat in front of Ice Empress and smiled: "I just thought you should be with Peng Peng, playing with monsters in the forest at this time."
Though he said 'play,' it actually meant clearing out the monsters in the forest.
Monsters are a sustainable resource.
As long as the magic essence in the Jura Great Forest continues to circulate, monsters will be born continuously.
Bai Luo and his dependents lived in the forest.
The magic essence alone that dissipated from their bodies daily was an incredibly vast amount, which could easily breed all sorts of monsters.
Additionally, monsters are treasures from head to toe.
Various materials could be extracted, and the flesh could be eaten directly.
The remaining parts could also be sold to human merchants through the Oni race's existing trade channels.
"Ah, that."
Ice Empress knew she was somewhat idle on weekdays: "I found two good helpers and wanted you to name them."
"Helpers?"
Bai Luo took a sip of tea and asked in confusion: "What kind of helpers?"
Naming wasn't an issue.
All the monsters under Bai Luo's command had been named by him.
Even for newly joined members, Bai Luo wouldn't be stingy with this magic essence.
Anyway, it was like an early investment.
"I found two little guys in the forest."
Ice Empress: "They are like me, also of the Insect Demon Race."
"Insect Demon Race?"
Bai Luo's brows furrowed slightly. As far as he knew, the Insect Demon Race rarely appeared in the material world.
Considering this was the Jura Great Forest, Bai Luo immediately thought of Rimuru's Beetle and Bee.
"It wouldn't be the Beetle and the Bee, would it?"
"You already know?"
Ice Empress didn't delve into it much.
On his own territory, anything Bai Luo wanted to know couldn't be hidden from him.
"Just consider it as me having foreseen it."
Bai Luo: "These are two very promising Insect Demon Race members. What do you plan to do, Ice Empress?"
"Of course, I'll lead them!"
Ice Empress: "So you won't always say I'm neglecting my duties."
"Alright then."
Bai Luo said: "Where are they? Take me there."
...
"How could I make you go through the trouble?"
"I'll summon them right now."
After saying that, Ice Empress directly used 'Subordinate Summon' to transfer the Beetle and the Bee from the forest into the living room.
Here, 'subordinates' can be understood as fellow creatures or monsters of the same race.
Like the Red King and ordinary Oni race, Lan Ya and the wind-attributed wolf race.
The two little guys were saved by Ice Empress and recognized her as their leader.
A special connection of the Insect Demon Race, with Ice Empress as the head, was formed between the three.
Thus, in the next moment, as the magic essence fluctuation subsided, two figures appeared between Bai Luo and Ice Empress.
"!!"
"Buzz buzz~~"
The two little guys were startled by the sudden transfer.
Fortunately, they quickly saw Ice Empress sitting there, which made them sigh in relief.
"Let me introduce you."
Ice Empress stood up: "This is my master, and also the lord of this place, Bai Luo!"
"Hello there."
Bai Luo acted very approachable, but what he received was the two little guys' trembling and respectful bows.
"Well..."
Bai Luo shook his head helplessly: "According to the rules, I will now name you."
"???"
The two little guys, being new arrivals, didn't understand the value of monsters here.
All monsters being named—how terrifying that was could not be described.
"C-can we?"
A weak voice, from the Bee, entered Lord Bai Luo's ears.
"Of course!"
"Ah!"
The Bee was surprised: "Bai Luo, can you understand what I'm saying?"
"Yes, I can."
Bai Luo said while stroking the little Bee's head.
He found that the fur of this female Bee felt nice, and she didn't have the usual fierce appearance of ordinary Bees; overall, she looked very cute.
"Thank you very much!"
"We shall pledge our eternal loyalty to you!"
After receiving Bai Luo's affirmation, the Beetle, along with the little Bee, offered their highest respect to Bai Luo and pledged their allegiance.
They were childhood sweethearts who grew up together, and their relationship was no different from human siblings.
Now, to be appreciated by Bai Luo and serve under his command together, made them truly happy.
Their sense of belonging to Bai Luo and the Demon Country also greatly increased fourfold.