As soon as Zealot joined the party, everyone promptly dumped their belongings on him, leaving him to carry everything.

“Hey, new guy! What’s your name?” one of them asked.

“I’m Zealot Dragonite, but you can simply call me Zealot,” Zealot replied politely.

“Alright, Zealot, could you carry these for me?” a handsome young male demon asked, unloading his backpack onto Zealot's shoulders.

“And don't forget these too,” another chimed in, piling her bags onto the growing heap.

“Thanks, Zealot. You're the best,” added another, adding his gear to the pile.

Zealot seethed with anger at their blatant inconsideration, yet in their presence, he masked his emotions behind a forced smile. ‘Since it has come to this, I have no choice but to lure them into the small world and let Demon Queen Terasia and her twelve knights deal with them,’ he thought.

He did consider releasing Queen Terasia from her imprisonment in the small world. However, doing so would result in him forfeiting sole ownership of the castle. After all, Demon Queen Terasia would undoubtedly seize control of the castle and reign over Zealot Kingdom. In such circumstances, he would lose his freedom, compelled to serve under Demon Queen Terasia for the rest of his life.

Besides that, he did entertain thoughts of leaving this castle and going elsewhere. However, he was reluctant to do so because of the luxurious lifestyle this castle could offer. If he were to leave, he would need to start earning gold to cover his expenses, which wasn't the life he wanted – at least not now. His plan was to get stronger here first before embarking on an adventure.

"Alright, everyone, we'll split up to search the entire castle. If anyone discovers the Demon King’s treasure room first, please use the communication stone to notify us all, and we'll regroup," Sasha instructed her party.

“Yes, boss!!” came the enthusiastic reply from everyone.

"Before you go, Zealot, please take this with you," Sasha said as she handed over a communication stone to Zealot for contact. Much like a walkie-talkie used for communication, this communication stone functions similarly.

"Hmm, a walkie-talkie?" Having read the novel, Zealot was aware of the purpose of this communication stone.

“Walkie-talkie? What’s that?” Sasha asked, unfamiliar with the term.

“Ah, it’s nothing, just my way of referring to a communication stone,” Zealot clarified. “Anyways, I’ll just have to contact you all when I find the Demon King’s treasure room, right?”

“That’s correct. Do you know how to use the communication stone?” Sasha inquired.

“Of course, I do. Just insert mana and simply start talking into it,” Zealot assured.

“Excellent. Alright, you may go now. We'll inform you of the regrouping time. Therefore, ensure your communication stone remains activated at all times,” Sasha instructed.

"Understood. If that’s the case, I’ll take my leave now," Zealot replied before proceeding with his assigned task.

Without wasting any time, Zealot headed straight to the underground prison where the portal to the small world was located. Approximately fifteen minutes later, he arrived right outside the portal’s entrance. With this, it was time to inform others.

However, at the last moment, he hesitated to use his communication stone. While his initial goal was to lure them into the portal, he suddenly realized that they might turn the tables and force him to enter with them. This thought filled him with dread because he had no desire to step into the portal and meet Demon Queen Terasia.

‘Hmm, this seems too risky…’ he pondered, stroking his chin.

He knew Demon Queen Teresia wouldn’t spare him, especially since she had warned him not to bring outsiders to her realm. The only way for him to ensure his safety was to somehow convince Sasha’s party to enter first while he followed behind. If he were the last to enter, he could seize the opportunity to escape and flee. This way, he wouldn’t have to meet Queen Teresia.

Zealot pondered his next move carefully, weighing the risks and potential consequences. While he had initially planned to lure Sasha's party into the small world and let Demon Queen Terasia deal with them, he now realized the danger he faced if he were forced to enter the portal with them.

With a furrowed brow, Zealot considered his options. He knew he needed to convince Sasha's party to enter the portal first while he followed behind, allowing him the opportunity to escape if things turned sour.

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Thirty minutes later…

Zealot was ready, taking a deep breath to steady his nerves, he activated his communication stone and spoke into it, addressing Sasha's party. "Hello, everyone. I've arrived at the underground prison where the Demon King’s treasure room is rumored to be located. While I can't be certain if this is indeed the treasure room, please come and inspect it first."

As Zealot awaited their response, he braced himself for whatever reaction Sasha and her party might have. Would they heed his suggestion and enter the portal first, or would they suspect his motives and refuse?

After a moment of tense silence, Sasha's voice crackled through the communication stone. "Understood, Zealot. We'll head to your location right away to assess the situation."

Relief flooded through Zealot as he listened to Sasha's response. It seemed that, for now at least, his plan was working. But he knew he couldn't let his guard down just yet.

As Zealot waited for Sasha's party to arrive, he remained vigilant, keeping an eye out for any signs of danger. He couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the back of his mind, knowing that the situation could escalate at any moment.

‘Ugh, this is making me extremely nervous... Let's hope everything goes according to plan,’ he thought.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he heard the sound of footsteps echoing through the underground prison. Sasha and her party had arrived.

"Zealot, where are you?!" Sasha called out, her voice echoing off the cold stone walls.

"Over here," Zealot replied, stepping out from the shadows to greet them. "Follow me, and I'll show you what I've found."

As Sasha and her party approached, Zealot led them deeper into the underground prison, his heart pounding in his chest. He prayed that his plan would continue to unfold without a hitch.

Eventually, they arrived at the portal. With a sense of anticipation, Zealot gestured towards it. "This is it," he announced, "the entrance to the Demon King's treasure room."

Sasha and her party exchanged excited glances, their eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"This is incredible!" exclaimed one of the adventurers, her voice tinged with excitement. "I can't believe we're finally going to see the Demon King's treasure room!"

"I bet there are mountains of gold and jewels waiting for us on the other side," another added eagerly, a gleam of anticipation in his eyes.

Zealot watched with a mix of apprehension and relief as Sasha’s party prepared to enter the portal. Despite the risks involved, he couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction knowing that his plan was proceeding according to his calculations.

Sasha herself couldn't contain her excitement as she stepped closer to the portal. "Imagine the power and riches we'll gain from this treasure," she mused aloud, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "This could be the opportunity of a lifetime."

Initially, Sasha and her party were thrilled, but at the last moment, they sensed something was amiss. Suddenly, the rumor about Demon King Zealot creating this small world for his wife flooded their minds. It was at this precise moment that they realized this portal wasn't the Demon King's treasure room.

As realization dawned on Sasha and her party, their expressions shifted from excitement to suspicion. They exchanged wary glances, sensing that something was amiss. The knowledge that the small world created by Demon King Zealot was meant for his wife, Demon Queen Terasia, cast doubt on Zealot's claims about the portal leading to the treasure room.

Sasha, the leader of the party, narrowed her eyes as she regarded Zealot with newfound scrutiny. "Hold on a moment," she said, her voice tinged with suspicion. "Are you certain this is the entrance to the Demon King's treasure room? This seems... unusual."

Zealot's heart raced as he struggled to maintain his composure in the face of their skepticism. He knew that any misstep could spell disaster for him, and he needed to tread carefully to salvage the situation.

He took a moment to gather his thoughts, careful to choose his words wisely. "I understand your doubts," he began, his voice steady despite the turmoil swirling within him. "To be honest, I can't say with absolute certainty that this portal leads directly to the Demon King's treasure room. That's why I suggested we inspect it first to confirm."

Sasha's gaze remained fixed on Zealot, her expression unreadable as she considered his response. "And what makes you believe this portal is even worth investigating?" she pressed, her tone skeptical.

Zealot met her gaze with unwavering resolve. "I stumbled upon this portal while exploring the underground prison," he explained. "There have been rumors circulating for years about hidden chambers and secret passageways leading to the Demon King's treasure. This portal seemed to fit the description."

Of course, everything turned out to be a fabrication; Zealot had merely concocted a tale, hoping to persuade them.

As Zealot finished explaining, Sasha's skepticism seemed to wane slightly, though her gaze remained guarded. She mulled over his words for a moment before responding.

"I appreciate your explanation, Zealot," Sasha said, her tone less skeptical than before. "And while your reasoning seems plausible, we cannot overlook the fact that rumors are just that—rumors. They are not necessarily grounded in truth or fact."

Zealot nodded in understanding, recognizing the validity of Sasha's point. "Of course, Sasha," he replied, his tone respectful. "I understand your caution. It's always wise to approach such matters with skepticism."

Sasha's expression softened as she regarded Zealot. "Thank you for your understanding," she said, a hint of gratitude in her voice. "However, I'm afraid we cannot take the risk of entering this portal based on mere speculation. Without concrete evidence to support its legitimacy, it would be unwise to proceed."

Zealot nodded in agreement, accepting Sasha's decision without protest. "I respect your decision, Sasha," he said, his tone gracious. "Perhaps it's best that we continue our search elsewhere for now."

With that, Sasha and her party turned away from the portal, their excitement tempered by the realization that their quest for the Demon King's treasure would require more than just rumors to uncover its secrets. And as they departed the underground prison, Zealot couldn't shake off the relief of narrowly evading Sasha's suspicion, yet he couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment at the failure of his plan.

‘It seems like my opponents this time should not be underestimated,’ he thought, a smile spreading across his face as he realized he was facing a group of highly intelligent demons. At this juncture, it became a contest to determine who could outsmart the other.