Chapter 26: Will my castle survive her?

【Lucifer PoV】

Today, Lilith decided to show me her laboratory.

I should have expected trouble, but I thought, “Hey, how bad can it really be?”

I was wrong. Very, very wrong.

Lilith smiled sweetly, taking my hand gently as she guided me down a hidden staircase beneath the castle.

“Come on, Daddy! You’ll love my laboratory! I’ve been doing all sorts of experiments to help your reign!”

My reign? More like to end my reign!

But her eyes shone so brightly with excitement, I couldn’t say no.

As we walked down the stairs, I could already hear strange sounds coming from below.

Crackles, booms, and weird bubbling noises echoed through the dark corridor.

I felt chills going down my spine.

Lilith turned back towards me, smiling happily.

“Daddy, are you alright? You look pale.”

“Me? Pale? No way! I’m perfectly fine.”

My voice came out shaking slightly, betraying me. Great, now my daughter will think I’m weak.

She tilted her head slightly but then nodded, trusting my word.

“Okay! Then let’s hurry. I’m so excited to show you my latest invention!”

My instincts screamed for me to turn back, but she held my hand tighter and pulled me along cheerfully.

Ah, my lovely daughter is about to kill me…

The laboratory doors were huge and covered in strange, glowing runes.

Lilith cheerfully swung open the massive doors without even touching them.

Oh no, this magic of hers again…

I instantly heard loud crashes and saw sparks flying inside the room.

“Oops! Seems I opened it a bit too strongly… sorry!”

I peeked inside, terrified of what I might see.

The laboratory was… pure chaos.

Tables were flipped over, papers and books scattered everywhere.

Broken glass bottles were leaking colorful liquids all over the floor.

My poor castle!

“Lilith… Is your lab always this… um, lively?”

She laughed cheerfully.

“Oh, Daddy! You’re always so funny! It’s just a little messy. Science is messy!”

No Lilith, this isn’t messy, this is a disaster…

But I kept a fake smile and nodded.

“Right. Messy. Of course…”

She stepped inside, pulling me carefully behind her.

“Come on, Daddy! Be careful where you step! Some things here are kind of explosive…”

Kind of explosive!?

My heart nearly stopped when I heard a loud crash to our left.

One of my poor subordinates stood frozen, holding what used to be a glass flask.

Lilith looked over innocently.

“Ah, Beelz! Did you drop another flask again? Silly!”

Beelz slowly shook his head, clearly trying not to cry.

“I’m… I’m sorry Lilith-sama. I didn’t mean—”

Lilith happily waved her hand.

“Don’t worry! It’s totally safe! That mixture isn’t explosive. I think.”

“You… think?”

Before poor Beelz could react, a huge boom filled the lab.

Smoke and flames appeared instantly, covering the poor guy completely.

Ah! One subordinate down!

I quickly waved my hand secretly and used magic to teleport Beelz to safety. Lilith turned back towards me, smiling.

“See? Completely harmless!”

“Y-yeah… Completely harmless…”

I tried very hard to keep a straight face, but my hands were shaking.

Beelz, my loyal minion, forgive me.

Lilith kept showing me around proudly, while I desperately watched out for any other unfortunate subordinates.

Soon we reached a massive metal cage at the back.

Inside it was… a slime monster?

“Look, Daddy! I made this slime even stronger with my special potion!”

“Lilith… Are you sure this is safe?”

She nodded confidently.

“Absolutely! Look, I’ll prove it!”

She opened the cage.

Wait! No!

The slime instantly shot forward, jumping onto another innocent subordinate walking by.

Poor Azazel didn’t even see it coming.

“Eek! Lilith-sama! Help!”

Lilith smiled brightly.

“Oh Azazel, calm down! It just wants to be your friend.”

Friend!? It’s eating him alive!

I quickly teleported poor Azazel away before he could vanish forever. The slime, now confused, jumped away harmlessly.

Lilith stared around, confused.

“Huh? Where did Azazel go?”

I quickly stepped in front of her, smiling awkwardly.

“He remembered he had something important to do.”

She shrugged innocently.

“Oh, okay! My potion worked though, right?”

I forced a nod.

“Yes, Lilith. Your potion is incredible… truly.”

Incredibly deadly, you mean!?

I felt my stomach turning.

“Come Daddy, I have one more invention!”

She pulled me toward a large metal box. Weird sparks flew from it randomly.

“This machine creates magical lightning! It can power the entire castle forever.”

“Lilith… it looks kind of unstable…”

She blinked innocently.

“Unstable? No way! It just needs a little more testing.”

Just as she said that, one of my subordinates, Belphegor, walked by carrying a pile of scrolls.

“Belphegor, careful! You’re standing too close—!”

Before I could finish my warning, a massive lightning bolt shot out from the machine, hitting Belphegor directly.

“AAAAHHHH!”

Another scream, another subordinate hurt.

I quickly teleported Belphegor away, but Lilith noticed this time.

“Oh! Where did Belphegor go!?”

I desperately smiled again, sweat dripping down my forehead.

“He… suddenly remembered… important duties!”

“Ah, everyone seems very busy today.”

Lilith seemed slightly disappointed, but quickly cheered up.

“Well, at least you’re still here, Daddy!”

Yes, but for how long!?

She happily smiled again, completely unaware of the destruction around us.

“Daddy, let me show you—”

“No, no! Lilith, maybe that’s enough inventions for today…”

She looked at me with big puppy eyes.

“But… I haven’t even shown you the best part yet!”

The best part!? Isn’t this enough damage!?

She sighed quietly.

“Alright, I understand. You’re tired.”

I nodded quickly, relieved.

“Yes, tired… very tired…”

She grabbed my arm gently again.

“Then let’s rest! Tomorrow I’ll show you even more amazing inventions!”

Tomorrow!?

How much more can my castle survive!?

I tried desperately to keep my face calm.

“Sure, Lilith. Tomorrow… I can’t wait…”

She smiled happily and walked with me back upstairs, humming cheerfully as if nothing had happened.

Meanwhile, behind us, the laboratory quietly smoked, explosions still echoing quietly below.

As I walked beside her, forcing a calm smile, my heart sank in terror.

Lilith was innocent, sweet, and cheerful.

But she was also the biggest disaster my castle had ever seen.

At this rate…

Will my castle survive her?