The Smiling Death

Chapter 481: Molveth

The people walking along the streets glanced toward the convoy of students with curiosity and interest.

Some looked fascinated. Some looked slightly uncomfortable. Others appeared worried.

After all, not every demon was used to seeing humans in their capital city. Humans and demons had been enemies for generations. Even though peace now existed between the two nations, old memories did not disappear overnight.

Many demons paused in their daily activities to watch the passing students.

Some children pointed excitedly. A few adults whispered among themselves. Yet no one acted hostile.

Instead, most simply observed with cautious curiosity.

At the front, Professor Jolene raised her voice.

"Everyone, enter the vehicles. We will head to the place where we are staying for the next few days. First, we will settle there. After that, we can begin exploring the city."

"Yes, Professor!"

The students answered together.

"Okay then," Jolene continued. "Enter one by one and stay in line."

Soon all eighty-eight students boarded the vehicles.

The interior was far more luxurious than Amon had expected.

The seats were soft and spacious, covered in dark crimson leather embroidered with silver patterns.

Large crystal lamps hung from the ceiling, illuminating the cabin with a warm glow.

The windows were enormous, allowing passengers to admire the city outside.

Amon immediately claimed a window seat.

Beside him sat Seraphina.

Since Eliana also wanted a window seat, she had chosen another row.

Marcus ended up sitting beside her. Meanwhile, Aisha deliberately selected a seat farther away.

Three vehicles were needed to transport all the students.

Professor Adelia happened to be inside Amon’s vehicle. Standing near the front, she clapped her hands to draw everyone’s attention.

"Everyone, remain seated properly. We will depart shortly."

The students nodded.

A few moments later, the vehicle began moving.

Amon immediately pressed closer to the window.

His eyes sparkled. He loved traveling. Seeing new places always filled him with excitement.

Outside, the streets of Molveth unfolded before them. The city looked completely different from Elarith.

Massive buildings made from dark gray and black stone lined the roads.

Elegant towers rose high into the sky.

Many structures possessed sharp spires, curved arches, and glowing crimson crystals embedded within the walls.

Ancient and mysterious. Yet somehow beautiful.

Magic lanterns floated above the streets. Decorative banners carrying the emblem of the Demon Kingdom fluttered in the wind.

The roads themselves were incredibly wide.

Even with countless people moving about, they never felt crowded.

Demons filled every corner of the city. Most looked nearly identical to humans.

The primary differences were their horns, tails, and unusual eyes.

Some possessed small elegant horns.

Others had large curved horns. Many had slit pupils similar to reptiles.

Hair colors ranged from ordinary shades to bright crimson, silver, violet, blue, and even pure white.

"Hey, Sera! Look at that building!"

Amon pointed excitedly through the window.

"That one! It’s huge!"

Seraphina leaned slightly closer. Her shoulder almost touched his. She followed his finger and looked outside.

Her face was beside him. More Close.

A beautiful smile appeared on her face.

"It’s really amazing."

"Right?!"

Amon grinned.

The building resembled a massive cathedral made entirely from black stone.

Golden decorations covered its exterior.

Numerous stained-glass windows reflected sunlight in dazzling colors.

The two remained near the window, admiring the scenery together.

On the opposite side of the vehicle, Eliana behaved almost exactly like Amon.

"Marcus! Look!"

"Marcus! Look over there!"

"Marcus! Did you see that tower?"

"Marcus! Did you see those floating lanterns?"

Marcus felt his head beginning to ache.

The elf princess seemed to possess unlimited energy.

"Hah..."

He sighed heavily.

His ears were suffering.

Meanwhile, Aisha enjoyed her peace.

Sitting quietly by herself, she gazed outside while occasionally flicking her tail.

Compared to Amon and Eliana’s endless excitement, her behavior seemed remarkably mature.

Professor Adelia watched everyone and chuckled softly.

Seeing the students enjoying themselves made her smile.

For once, they were acting like ordinary teenagers instead of academy students constantly training for dangerous battles.

After nearly fifteen minutes of travel, the vehicles finally slowed down.

Then they stopped.

The students immediately began looking outside.

Amon’s eyes widened.

"Wow!"

In front of them stood an enormous manor.

It was easily one of the most impressive residences he had ever seen.

The structure was built from dark gray stone polished until it almost reflected light.

Tall towers rose from each corner.

Elegant balconies decorated the upper floors. Large glass windows covered the exterior. Beautiful gardens surrounded the estate.

Colorful flowers bloomed everywhere.

Stone pathways wound through the grounds. At the center of a fountain stood a statue of a majestic winged demon.

The manor looked less like a residence and more like a small palace.

Students began murmuring among themselves.

"This place is huge."

"Seriously."

"Are we actually staying here?"

"It looks expensive."

Jolene smiled proudly.

"This manor belongs to the royal family."

Immediately everyone’s attention focused on her.

"The Demon Empress herself, Nyxariel Noctyra, has allowed us to stay here during our visit."

A wave of surprise spread through the students.

"That’s amazing."

"The Empress herself?"

"So generous."

"It seems the Demon Kingdom is taking this seriously."

Amon nodded.

"The Empress is actually kind."

Soon everyone exited the vehicles. Waiting near the entrance stood rows of servants.

Male butlers and female maids. All of them were demons. The butlers wore elegant black uniforms.

The maids wore beautiful dark crimson dresses. As the students approached, every servant bowed respectfully.

"Welcome to the Royal Moonstone Manor."

"We hope your stay will be pleasant."

The students looked surprised by such treatment.

Even many noble students were impressed. The servants then guided everyone inside.

The moment Amon entered, he froze.

The interior was breathtaking.

Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling. White marble floors reflected the lights above. Elegant staircases curved upward toward higher floors.

Paintings decorated the walls. Luxurious carpets stretched across long hallways.

Everything screamed wealth.

"This place is insane..."

Amon muttered.

Soon the professors gathered everyone. Their first task was distributing rooms.

The manor contained over one hundred rooms. Far more than necessary.

Since only eighty-eight students were present, everyone received their own private room.

When Amon learned this, he was genuinely shocked.

A private room. In a royal manor. For a simple academy trip. The luxury felt unreal.

The manor possessed five floors. Each floor contained more than twenty rooms.

After some time, everyone finally received their room assignments.

Students carried their belongings upstairs.

Amon’s room alone was larger than his dormitory room at the academy. A comfortable bed occupied one side.

A fireplace stood near a sitting area. There was even a private bathroom.

"Okay... this is ridiculousm. It’s similar level to royal palace of our kingdom."

He laughed.

After settling in and unpacking their things, all students gathered outside once again.

The professors had another destination planned. Soon everyone boarded the vehicles again.

This time they would begin sightseeing. The city of Molveth possessed numerous famous locations worth visiting.

As the convoy traveled through the capital, students excitedly pressed against windows.

----

Far above the bustling streets of Molveth, overlooking the vast capital city, stood the royal palace of the Demon Kingdom.

It was a colossal structure built atop a massive elevated plateau at the heart of the city.

Dark obsidian-colored walls rose toward the sky like towering mountains. Crimson banners fluttered from countless spires and battlements.

Ancient magic flowed through the palace itself. Runes glowed faintly along the walls.

Hundreds of elite guards stood watch throughout the grounds.

The palace radiated authority.

At its highest point lay the royal throne room. A chamber so vast that it could easily fit several mansions inside it.

Massive black pillars lined both sides.

Their surfaces were carved with ancient symbols and depictions of legendary battles fought by demons throughout history.

The ceiling stretched dozens of meters overhead.

Grand crystal chandeliers hung above, casting a warm crimson glow throughout the chamber.

At the far end of the hall stood a wide staircase.

Dozens of steps ascended toward platform. And upon that platform rested a majestic throne.

The throne itself was crafted from black stone and crimson crystal. Its design resembled countless wings spreading outward behind it.

An overwhelming presence filled the room. Not because of the throne. But because of the woman sitting upon it.

She possessed a beauty that could leave entire nations speechless. Long light rose-pink hair cascaded freely down her back like a flowing river of silk.

Her skin carried a light caramel complexion, kissed gently by sunlight. Unlike the pale skin common among nobles, hers possessed a healthy warmth that only enhanced her appearance.

Two magnificent crimson horns curved upward from her head.

Her eyes matched her hair. Soft pink irises with vertical slits that revealed her demonic heritage.

Those eyes held immense intelligence and power. She stood nearly six and a half feet tall.

Even while sitting, her presence dominated the entire room. A black suit of armor covered her athletic figure.

Unlike ceremonial armor designed merely for appearance, hers looked practical.

Battle-ready.

The armor hugged her toned physique while emphasizing her powerful frame. Even beneath the metal, the strength of her body was obvious.

And particularly her legs. By years of combat and training had forged a physique that radiated both beauty and strength. They were thick and muscular, hidden beneath the armor.

Her heavy breasts were covered by those black breastplate.

This woman was none other than the ruler of the Demon Kingdom.

The Demon Empress.