CHAPTER 595: CHAPTER 596: LANDMINE

There was no need for her to be so difficult. He came here, didn’t he? Why was she even angry?

"I truly can’t understand women..."

Lilith sighed, glancing at him where he sat across from her in the carriage.

"I’m not even angry that you didn’t keep your promise to stay in touch..."

"I lost my pager," Damon replied.

Lilith frowned, then spoke through gritted teeth.

"You gave it to some orcs..."

Damon smiled. Right. She had his pager. Lilith reached into her cleavage and pulled out a device—specifically, Damon’s pager.

His eyes narrowed, but Lilith didn’t even look at him.

"One word about my cleavage, and I will continue to hold a grudge..."

Damon nodded slowly.

"Yeah... probably would be a bad idea to ask why you decided to put my pager in your cleavage. I’ve been curious though... do women have a secret pocket in there? ...Just asking for a friend..."

Lilith gasped, holding back a desire to facepalm.

"You really don’t give a damn, do you?"

Damon smiled teasingly.

"It’s fine. You’ll forgive me... you always do..."

She smiled, shaking her head.

"Good to know I’m the problem..."

Leaning back on the carriage seat, she narrowed her eyes.

"What have you been up to, anyway? Don’t you dare tell me you fought a dragon... or the second coming of Ashcroft..."

Damon was quiet for a moment, recalling how Ashcroft had killed him twice before he’d even managed to win—and even then, barely.

"You would not believe how close to home your words are..."

Her eyes narrowed with suspicion.

"You really fought a dragon? Must have been some battle... seeing how close to third class you are..."

Damon gave her a look that said try again.

Lilith frowned, her beautiful brows creasing. Her eyes widened, the soft glow of sunlight reflecting the shock in her green gaze.

"You fought..."

"Yes."

"How?"

"I have no idea."

"And you won?"

"I’m here, aren’t I?"

The exchange was so clipped—question, answer, question, answer—that if they hadn’t known each other so well, neither might have understood what the other was saying.

Damon let out a deep breath.

"Ooh, and get this... I also had a conversation with the Unknown God. But it wasn’t really that big of a deal..."

Lilith glanced at him. He was clearly bragging about talking to the Unknown God.

"Big deal. I’m his priestess."

She shook her head, not letting him distract her.

"Tell me everything."

Damon smiled, touching his throat.

"I’m a little parched. How about buying a drink first?"

She glared at him.

"Damon!"

He raised his hand, realizing he had subconsciously rage-baited her.

"Sorry about that... bad habit I picked up."

He sighed, his expression turning serious.

"We can talk later. But the short of it is... I’m the Dominator now. I didn’t just steal... no, I usurped Ashcroft’s power."

Lilith couldn’t help but gulp slightly. She understood what that meant.

"That means... you are now..."

Damon nodded with a soft smile.

"The greatest enemy of the goddess races."

A long silence followed as Lilith tried to process the implications. Should Damon go into hiding? Should their plans shift? Biting her lips, she glanced at him.

"Who else knows of this?"

"Just you. Who else would know? ...Well, maybe Matia, but she’s my shadow, so she doesn’t count."

Lilith bit her lips, troubled.

"If this gets out..."

"I know..."

Damon moved his hand, gently lifting her chin.

"Don’t worry. For now... we can talk later."

Lilith nodded slowly, moving closer to his seat and leaning her head against his shoulder.

Damon glanced at her.

"Aren’t you suspicious of me?"

Lilith’s eyes widened as if the thought had never even crossed her mind.

"Suspicious? Of what?"

Damon leaned his head slightly against hers.

"That maybe... I’ve been taken over by Ashcroft."

Lilith smiled, chuckling lightly as the carriage rolled down the road.

"Why would I be? You are you. All I need is a single look... no matter how perfect an imitation, I’ll always be able to tell you apart."

Damon felt the tension in his chest ease. He had worried, just slightly, that she might be suspicious—but even then, he had chosen to tell her the truth.

Her arms curled around his own, her nose brushing against him with a faint sniff. Her brows furrowed.

He tilted his head curiously.

"Right. What about my orcs?"

Her frown didn’t ease.

"They’re all settled in. I used an Oath Scroll to swear them into secrecy. Any attempt to reveal what they know would cause them to die."

After a pause, she raised her head with the same frown, as if confirming something.

"I gave them a place to settle and began training them into a proper army. However... I’ve kept them busy by having them expand our influence in the Tomb of Lazarak."

She squeezed his arm hard, making him wince from the pain.

"So far they’ve made steady progress. But reaching the next chamber is troublesome."

Damon nodded. He had foreseen that possibility. The likelihood of the orcs conquering the tomb was slim.

"Wait. What about that fourth-rank monster?"

Lilith’s frown deepened, though for a different reason.

"It’s still there. Their exploration is still contained within our sphere of influence... and the chamber ahead of it."

He nodded with understanding, inhaling her fragrance with a soft breath. He couldn’t help but compare it to Abellona’s.

Lilith continued, now visibly irritated.

"As for our plan to create a guild—the leprechaun has made steady progress. We’ve caused some degree of chaos in the capital’s potion market."

Damon could feel her nails digging into his flesh now. Something was definitely not right with her. She was making it obvious, except his danger sense screamed at him not to ask.

Lilith bit her lips, gritting her teeth, then snapped at him.

"I’m sorry. I tried my best but I can’t help it..."

She glared coldly at him, sending a chill down his spine.

"Why do you smell like another woman?"

"...."

Damon was left speechless. Another woman? It had been a few days—he had washed himself clean just to avoid this exact question. He thought he was safe.

He definitely didn’t want to talk about what happened between him and Abellona.

So he did what he did best... Horribly this time.

"Whatttt... what woman? You mean Matia?"

If looks could kill, he would be dead. The coldness in her green eyes was the deepest shade he had ever seen.