Ch.137Demon Realm (3)

# Demon Realm (3)

Between the demon realm and the human world.

There existed a clearly drawn line between them.

Sacred objects installed to prevent the contamination of land that had become similar to hell due to hell’s influence.

These objects, set at regular intervals, were blocking the spreading contamination.

“I’m surprised the demons left these alone.”

Demons rush out from the demon realm to attack the human world.

Conversely, it’s difficult for the human world to launch attacks toward the demon realm.

Because of the harsh environment, humans themselves have difficulty adapting in the demon realm. That’s why sending a large army was impossible, and why a small elite group like the Hero’s Party was necessary.

“If you consider their purpose for invading the human world, it makes sense.”

Eirene, who was pulling Lug’s leash, answered Esmeralda’s question.

Having made the greatest contribution in the fortress city, she had earned the honor of leading Lug for the time being.

“They’re trying to claim uncontaminated land, so why would they contaminate it themselves?”

Originally, only those from the Legion could approach the border area.

If the sacred objects were destroyed due to some unforeseen circumstance, both sides would be in trouble. The only thing that works between two groups engaged in a survival competition?

A common purpose.

“Anyway, beyond this is the demon realm, right? Looking closely, the ground does seem a bit darker…”

“That’s because it’s land infused with demonic energy. It’s practically poison.”

Eirene reached across the line drawn between the sacred objects and grabbed a handful of soil. The crumbly soil could be seen emitting steam as it was being purified in her hand.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes.”

At Eirene’s question, Esmeralda answered, and the Hero’s Party immediately crossed the line and entered the demon realm.

***

“The air here is filthy from the start.”

Extra stared at Esmeralda in shock at her shocking statement, as he was a native of “here” that she mentioned. But what could he do? There was nothing he could do except grumble and glance sideways.

“So people live in a place like this.”

Millia said, covering her mouth with her sleeve.

“But it’s an appropriate place for those fucking demons to live.”

And Eirene with the final word.

Not only Extra but also Garnet and Lug turned to look at her after that remark, but they could only lower their tails before her gentle yet solemn smile. Well, of course.

Thanks to the collaboration between the previous pope and the current demon lord, she should have been walking a smooth path with the position of Saintess, but instead she had become the head of a religious order on the verge of collapse.

Since she normally didn’t hide her hatred for demons, this reaction wasn’t strange.

“…”

The three demons who turned their gaze away from Eirene found their next target.

A person who was a member of the Hero’s Party but hadn’t spoken yet.

It was Tina.

“Huh, what?”

Tina didn’t know why attention suddenly focused on her. She was merely curious about the demon realm environment, not harboring malice like the other party members.

“What? Do you have something to say?”

Esmeralda, a Tina enthusiast who noticed those gazes, asked as she blocked between the three people and Tina.

Clear pressure. Garnet snorted, but Lug and Extra had no choice but to naturally turn their heads away.

“…No, nothing. I’ll guide the way first.”

Extra, after being uncomfortable with the hero’s gaze for a while and looking sympathetically at Lug who was tied with a leash, began guiding the way.

Newly realizing it, but he was having a hard time among these crazy women.

***

The place Extra guided them to was a village in a miserable state comparable to the slums of the Empire.

The streets were piled with collapsed demons, and children were nowhere to be seen. It wouldn’t be strange if someone thought they had been attacked.

“So this is the demon realm… That’s why they…”

Esmeralda could finally understand why demons were trying to invade the human world. Until they reached the first village, there was nothing to see on the streets.

Not even common weeds grew from the ground, and the only animals roaming around were monsters carrying poison and demonic energy.

Then how do demons survive?

If there are no crops or livestock to raise, what on earth can they eat?

The answer was simple.

“They had to wage war to survive… I knew it intellectually, but seeing it directly…”

The premise was wrong.

“How do they live?” They were dying, which is ridiculous.

Bodies abandoned on the streets. The surviving demons don’t even care.

They should be wary of outsiders, but the demons walking around are just focused on their own business.

Demons, a race that had to become heartless to survive.

It was a moment when both their strength and ferocity became understandable.

“Don’t just stand there blankly, follow me. There’s nothing good about staying like that.”

“Ah, yes.”

Esmeralda and the Hero’s Party followed Extra, who was proceeding with an equally indifferent attitude.

Soon, the place he guided them to was one of the hideouts he had prepared while living there, but even that was in a state no different from ruins.

“Now, before we depart, we need to gather information, right? I’ll explain well, so let’s each gather information carefully without causing unnecessary disturbances.”

The current situation of the demon realm.

They needed information to assess the situation, including how the death of Legion Commander Six had been reported.

However, gathering information in the demon realm, where individualistic tendencies are extremely strong, is a difficult task.

Isn’t it so to ask about rumors of others to those who care only for their own safety to the extent that they don’t even name their own children?

Still, they don’t completely close their ears to living.

Yes, things they should know and be cautious about.

“When gathering information, it’s best to ask about the movements of the strong ones. Of course, on the premise that you don’t think demons will willingly hand over information empty-handed.”

“You said it’s hard to get information empty-handed, so what do demons usually like as gifts?”

“It’s simple.”

Extra showed his fist with a grin.

“Life.”

“How barbaric.”

“That’s what demons are, well.”

Extra left the hideout first with a smirk.

The members of the Hero’s Party who were watching him also began to leave one by one. It was time to gather as much information as each could.

So they scattered, but.

“Shall we go? Mr. Lug.”

“Ah, yes…”

Eirene, today’s Lug handler, could lead Lug’s leash.

A smile bloomed on her face, and Lug felt fear.

***

Eirene had undergone a change of heart. After all, it was inevitable after seeing this devastation firsthand.

Although she had harbored consistent hatred toward demons, she could now understand the reason to some extent.

Of course, that doesn’t mean she could forgive the Demon Lord who brought down the celestial deity, but.

Still, she began to question directing that hatred toward all demons.

That’s why she could restrain herself when gathering information.

“Then where is Legion Commander Third now and what is he doing?”

“I-I heard he’s holed up in a mansion with Second.”

“I see.”

The demon caught in Eirene’s hand was feeling the utmost terror.

However, he wasn’t beaten or threatened by Eirene.

That point was also a factor that changed Eirene’s thinking, but…

‘C-crazy bitch…’

He couldn’t help but feel weak in the knees at the sight of a clergy member leading a demon around with a leash around his neck.

What kind of madness was this?

Leading a demon around as if it were a pet.

What was even more frightening was that the demon being led around didn’t seem to have any complaints.

‘Has he… has he been emotionally castrated! What a terrifying…!’

Thanks to this misunderstanding that wasn’t really a misunderstanding, Eirene’s information gathering could be faster than ever.

Unlike Esmeralda, who starts by picking fights and beating people down, or Millia, who demonstrates powerful magic to establish dominance, Eirene was perceived as a clear threat just by walking around.

“Then what about Force? What is he doing now?”

Eirene asked in order what the Legion Commanders from First down were currently doing.

Fortunately, the whereabouts of First through Third were relatively clear, and there didn’t seem to be anything to worry about immediately.

Then what about Force?

The patchwork man, a high-ranking demon who is above Garnet in rank, described by Garnet as a monster whose strength alone cannot be matched.

As a monster who rose to the position of Force through pure strength alone, he is fearsome in a different sense from the other Legion Commanders they’ve met.

After all, the Hero’s Party has won against much stronger opponents by striking at their weaknesses.

But what if the only thing to be cautious about is strength?

The uniqueness of his position stood out too much to think that he could be dealt with in the usual way.

‘A monster who fills in all technical gaps and weaknesses with strength alone.’

That’s why Eirene thought they should avoid that monster.

If he’s a monster who destroys everything with strength alone, it might be even more difficult to deal with him using the Hero’s Party’s improvisation.

“F-Force…”

While Eirene was momentarily lost in thought, the hesitant demon spoke.

“I heard he left to clear out Abaddon’s remnants.”

“…”

Eirene suddenly looked back.

Extra, who had been in a serious mood since arriving at the village.

And the fact that he had scattered the entire Hero’s Party under the pretext of gathering information.

“Well, that’s our party, I guess.”

For some reason, she was certain that he had escaped.