Published: September 10, 2025
This is Satou. People sometimes experience rapid growth triggered by various reasons—new perspectives, sudden insights, encounters with workplaces or mentors that suit them. These opportunities can appear anywhere.
Not only in daily life, but even in another world――.
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“...Th-this is the Demon World!”
The companions, led by Miss Karina, murmured in awe at the sight before them.
“A typical Demon World, huh.”
“Yeah, I almost want to say something like that,” said Arisa and Hikaru.
Indeed, the Demon World before them was a barren land with purplish soil, jagged mountains soaring high, and heavy clouds billowing from erupting volcanoes that filled the sky.
Suspicious shadows that looked like members of the demon race prowled the land and sky.
I barely glanced around before opening the map, but just like the divine realm, it showed: “This is a space without a map.”
To be sure, I also used the full map exploration spell, but since the Demon World has no leylines, no information was obtained.
Still, the terrain within visible range and data from the large void ships were automatically integrated into the map. It seemed I could avoid getting lost.
“Mr. Satou, look at the sky!”
“It’s a blue moon!”
Looking where Ms. Zena and Pochi pointed, I saw a blue moon—a blue planet like Earth—through a break in the clouds.
“Earth?”
“No, Arisa-chan. Tina, do you recognize it?”
“Yes, Lord Hikaru. That looks just like the continent shown in the land map from the Restricted Library.”
I realized then.
Indeed, the shape of the continent in the center matched the land of the human realm where we had been.
“Can we return to our original world from there?”
“No, I think it’s probably just an image.”
There’s the demon world corridor between the realms; it doesn’t seem like they’re connected like that.
“Master, I report a warning.”
“The miasma concentration of the Demon World seems higher than that of the corridor.”
“Yes, Sera. I estimate the current anti-miasma barrier can only last about 30,000 seconds.”
Nana and Sera reported.
Thirty thousand seconds—that’s just over eight hours, right?
Well, I don’t intend to stay that long.
“Nyu~?”
“Satou, ahead.”
Tama and Mia pointed forward.
Mia probably noticed first with her unique skill, Sanctuary Guard, but Tama was almost simultaneous. Tama’s enemy detection ability is said to rival divine authority.
A black mass floated above the sea of clouds—a huge rock block wrapped in pitch-black cumulonimbus clouds tore through the clouds and revealed itself.
More like an island or continent than just a rock.
“――A floating island?”
“Yes, it’s similar to the floating islands of the larakie dynasty.”
Princess Sistina muttered, and I nodded in agreement.
It looked exactly like the flying floating island Larakie from the divine punishment incident.
Looking closely, structures resembling the shadow castle of the Rumork Kingdom also floated around.
“More like a fortress than an island.”
“Yes, Arisa. I report numerous black dots launching like swarms of clouds.”
“Emerge~n~cy?”
“It’s an emergency! Pochi and the others have to scramble!”
Seeing the swarm of demons launching from the floating island, the party’s sense of crisis heightened.
Pochi was so flustered that he mixed up "scramble launch" with "scrambled eggs."
“Master, the enemy seems to have spotted us. May we intercept?”
Liza looked at me for confirmation.
From the movement of the black dots, it was certain they noticed us. I wondered how Sera’s stealth hermit concealment was discovered.
Could it be――?
I glanced back at the purple maiden sitting beside Koatsu.
“I don’t think so.”
Hikaru noticed my gaze and denied my suspicion.
“Anti-miasma barrier.”
“Yeah, I think so too.”
Mia murmured quietly, and Hikaru nodded as if relieved to hear it.
“――Ah.”
If we deployed an anti-miasma barrier or a Saint of Exorcising Evil that pushes back or purifies miasma within such high-density miasma, it would be like marching while ringing a bell.