Experiment

Word that a Demon child had been brought into the castle soon reached the Earl. At dinner, Earl Father sipped expensive red wine reserved for nobles and casually reminded him, "A Yan, Demons are ungrateful wolves that can never be tamed. Don't let her hurt you."

"That's right, Yan. Demons are monsters that eat people."

His mother offered gentle advice as well.

"I understand. It's just a tool for my experiments. I'll keep her chained up, and she won't hurt me."

Li Yan calmly finished dinner, laid his chopsticks down neatly, and hurried from the table.

In his room, Xiao Wu and Xiao Xue looked curiously at the Demon child bound in chains and fed her bread. The Demon child ate obediently, because if she refused to eat, Li Yan's Holy Sword would come down on her neck.

"Xiao Wu, Xiao Xue, your task from now on is to teach her to read and write. Start with one plus one equals two. Since Demons don't understand the meaning of human language, teach her until she does."

Li Yan gave his instructions while reading a magic tome. That afternoon, he had already called on the butler to prepare a series of books called From Fool to Proper Noble.

Li Yan intended to raise this Demon into a true Demon noble, teach her every meaning in human language, make her understand the meaning of life, and turn her completely into a human.

As for the possibility that she might refuse to obey or study, Li Yan had plenty of ways to make her learn. Holding the Holy Sword to her neck was already the crudest method. He could find out what she liked and then tempt her with it. A Demon so young and inexperienced was the easiest to tame.

Three months passed quietly, and Li Yan's fame spread beyond the Earl's territory, bringing him to the attention of more people. Even the Demons had learned that the Earl's eldest son was an exceptionally powerful warrior.

"Father!"

Li Yan wore a respectable noble's formal attire, adorned with many gold medals. They were the fruits of his efforts during this time: every Demon that had attempted to enter a human town within the Earl's territory had been wiped out.

"A Yan, you've become an outstanding warrior, and it's time for you to start a family. Lately, many nobles have approached me about marriage alliances. I'll be holding a celebratory banquet for the nobles soon, and as the guest of honor, you can naturally choose a girl you like at the banquet."

Li Yan, who had always maintained a noble's solemn composure, could no longer keep it up. Were warriors really so single-minded? Was he really old enough to get married?

"Um... Father, I think it's still a little early."

Li Yan coughed as he declined.

"Sigh, it's not early anymore. I was already engaged to your mother at your age. Besides, you're only meeting them. If you find someone suitable, you can get engaged. The wedding can wait until you're both old enough."

Earl Father sighed as he spoke.

Li Yan listened expressionlessly to his father's persistent talk. No matter how Earl Father tried to persuade him, Li Yan simply shook his head and refused. Even if it was only a meeting, only an engagement, he really couldn't accept it.

This other world was far too ahead of its time: people married early and had children early. The only thing left was to die early.

Heh, being pressured to marry. I never expected nobles in another world to have this kind of hobby, bringing their life of noble pleasures to an early end.

Li Yan fled Earl Father's study. Recently, the Demons within the territory had seemingly vanished. In the past, he could catch a few to kill for fun every time he went out, but now he couldn't catch a single one.

Back in his room, Li Yan sprawled lazily in a recliner. He had been slacking off a little in his study of magic lately, but his physical training and every aspect of his combat had improved greatly. By his reckoning, his physique had already reached the level of a level seventy-nine warrior.

Perhaps it was thanks to his Innate Warrior Holy Physique, but he could learn combat techniques with a little practice and master them just by watching. He had never possessed such talent before, and Li Yan had a theory: perhaps the Holy Sword could increase his talent for combat.

"Xiao Wu, Xiao Xue, how much has this Little Fool learned lately?"

Li Yan asked as he looked at the Demon child, who was chained up in his room and reading a book.

"Young master, the Little Fool has learned to speak recently, and she's also very good at simple arithmetic. Lately, she's liked reading the magic tomes you've read, young master, and she likes banana-flavored candy."

Xiao Wu and Xiao Xue each reported on the Little Fool's recent progress in her studies.

A flicker of interest appeared on Li Yan's face. He walked over to the little idiot Demon child sitting on a cushion and looked down at her as she stared, engrossed, at a magic tome.

"Hey, Little Fool."

Li Yan's voice suddenly rang out. The Demon child looked up, somewhat confused. Seeing Li Yan watching her with interest, she put down the magic tome in some alarm, lowered her head, and called softly, "Young master."

"Mm-hm, Demons really are good at imitation. You captured seventy percent of the essence with that 'young master.'"

Li Yan poked the Demon child's little head, and the corners of his mouth rose slightly as he looked at her pitiful expression.

"From now on, you'll follow me and learn how to be a maid from Xiao Xue and Xiao Wu. If you can't learn, you won't be allowed to eat or read for a day."

Li Yan spoke with a smile, gently resting his hand on the Demon child's head.