Marquis Craig sent more people into the rift to get more information. And Gremory, who heard all the news, was just at peace.
"If I get caught, there's nothing I can do."
And she only scratched her philtrum.
Isolene's clothes were about to burst.
"What on earth makes you so relaxed?"
"I'm not particularly relaxed. I just accept the situation."
"You're just going to accept this situation? The empire might fall into chaos?"
"I guess there's nothing we can do about it. There's no other way, right?"
"Oh my."
The meeting ended without a sharp solution. After leaving the conference room, Chession was busy packing his things in the study. Then Alice approached him and asked.
"Your Highness, shall we move? Hoho."
"I have to go. I have to go..."
"Where to?"
"Let's just go to the Demon World and live there. It's better than seeing you guys living in the chaotic human world while being hunted as witches."
"Ohhoho, are you ready for that already? Don't worry. That won't happen."
Chession, who was organizing books in a box, glanced up and looked at Alice.
"How can you be sure of that?"
"Because the humans who passed through the crack to confirm the truth will not be able to return to the human world. When Mori and I passed through, the space-time was considerably distorted. It's been quite some time since then, so it must have been distorted even more by now."
"The Marquis of Craig's servant returned to the human world. He may have become more stable as time passed."
"If you're really anxious, there's another solution."
"What is it?"
"I'll go to the Demon Realm and guard the rift. Then I'll kill all the humans who come through the rift! That way, I can make Marquis Craig's servants into braggarts."
"This."
Chession started to pack up his books again. Alice chattered brightly.
"If you don't want to kill them, there's a brainwashing method! We can make them testify in the human world that they didn't see anything!"
"Fine. Why bother doing something like that? Let's just move."
"Isn't moving a job several times more tiring? Hoho. Let's just brainwash them and get it over with!"
At that moment, the adjutant burst into the study with new news.
"Your Highness! I have news!"
"What Is It?"
"Anna has gone missing. She left behind this note."
The adjutant handed him a piece of paper. Chession quickly snatched it away and read it. It read.
[ I heard that people are gathering in Kendren to reveal the truth about the rift. I will go into the rift with them. I will try to change the situation there. It doesn't matter if I never return. I was given precious days in the Grand Duke's Residence, so I will repay the favor.
Thank you for treating me so well. It was an honor to be able to live as Grand Duke Ethel's maid. ]
"Oh, shit! Anna!"
Chession groaned, holding his head in his hands.
"Alice, come find her."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Alice immediately spread her wings and flew out the window. The adjutant who saw this sight became slightly dizzy.
"...I'll go get some fresh air for a bit."
The adjutant, who had been confirmed with all the truth at the meeting, still couldn't believe it all. As he trudged down the long hallway, he muttered, "What kind of witch is that?" Everything felt like a dream that would be forgotten as soon as he turned around.
And then. Suddenly, the hallway became dark. The adjutant raised his head and saw through the window. A witch with her huge wings spread out was knocking on the window of the Grand Duke's study.
"...I can't tell if I'm crazy or if the world is crazy."
The witch who knocked on the study window was Lace. Alice opened the window wide.
"Hoho, now you're flying so openly."
"The existence of witches has already been revealed in the empire, so what is there to hide? Then why are you all packing your bags?"
"Let's all escape to the Demon World and live in peace. You, get ready to escape too."
"Haha! I don't think that's necessary."
Lace sat on the windowsill and hid her wings. Chession sat on a box full of books and sighed deeply as he asked.
"What did you want to say that made you come all the way here?"
"I came to see you because I thought you might be like this. I wanted to tell you that it's okay."
"Can I live in the Demon World with peace of mind?"
"No. You can live in the human world with peace of mind."
"The existence of the Demon World has been revealed. Is that possible?"
Lace smiled leisurely and crossed her legs.
"I was worried when I heard about the cracks, so I went straight to the Demon World. But the Demon World had changed a lot."
***
People discovered the crack at the location written on the leaflet that Marquis Craigan had scattered. People who had gathered in the cave out of simple curiosity were terrified. Overwhelmed by the ominous energy leaking out of the black crack, people hurriedly left the cave.
However, those wearing black robes stopped them and offered a deal.
"Go and bring me solid evidence that the Demon World exists. If you do so, I will give you enough compensation to last you a lifetime."
Most refused, but five people who had a hard life jumped into the crack after receiving a certain promise. Among them was Anna, disguised in dirty clothes.
Passing through the dark space-time gap, they finally reached the Demon Realm. They stood there for a while, dumbfounded by the sight before their eyes.
A high, clear sky, and a blue nature with mysterious little beasts running around. A village with beautiful scenery spread out in the distance.
A slightly more natural and overly beautiful human world. That was the Demon World they saw.
A black-haired witch with her fangs bared approached them as they stood there.
"It's been a long time since I've seen a human? Did you come here through the crack?"
People flinched and cowered. Among them, a handsome lumberjack stepped forward and asked quietly.
"I think that's true... but is this really the Demon World?"
"However."
"Are you a witch?"
"That's right."
"...Then are you going to harass us and eat us?"
"What? Ahahaha! If that was the case, I would have done it already!"
The witch with long black hair, Oppencia, laughed heartily. People blinked in bewilderment.
"Then you won't eat me?"
"Why do I have to eat you? There's plenty to eat in the Demon World."
"I heard from rumors that witches love human souls the most."
"It's all just rumors."
"Well, that's fortunate."
"But, you weren't affected by time when you came? It seems like the time in the gap has stabilized."
The woodcutter still didn't relax.
Oppencia glanced up and down at her prey, then smiled sinisterly.
"It looks like you got lost and came in the wrong direction. I'll show you the way back."
"Excuse me?"
"Ues."
"You wouldn't ask for something like my soul in return for telling me, would you?"
"Wow, you really know a lot about the Demon World."
"You know exactly what I mean?"
"Oh, no. You're completely mistaken. Anyway, you've all come this far, so wouldn't it be a shame to just go back? Should I show you around the Demon World?"
People exchanged glances and rolled their eyes among themselves. They concluded that they should stay here longer, since they had to bring back definitive proof that the Demon World existed.
"Yes, great. We really appreciate it."
"Then follow me."
Oppencia was taken to various places in the Demon Realm. She laughed heartily as she watched the humans absentmindedly looking around the commercial district.
After Halpas came to power, the Demon World changed considerably. The air became clearer, and the Demons' personalities became gentler. They also stopped harassing other creatures for fun.
As plants and animals grew in abundance, the environment became more pleasant. The air was filled with magical power, and there were many plants and animals to use as food, so there was no need to covet human souls. Taking advantage of this, Halpas officially prohibited the plundering of human souls.
'It looks like the existence of the rift leading to the Demon World has been revealed, so it would be good to send it back with a good impression.'
Oppencia chuckled as she looked at the humans following her. Among them, there was a little kid who stood out.
'She looks like a maid who was in the palace of the Grand Duke Ethel.'
For a moment, Anna and Oppencia's eyes met. Anna flinched, and Ofppencia responded with a comfortable smile. As if she had guessed the situation.
As they passed through the market, the demons looked at their old prey and whetted their appetites.
"Aren't they human? How did they end up here?"
"Hey, it's been a long time since I've seen a human."
The approaching demons put their arms around the frightened humans and asked them in a sarcastic tone.
"You all look so skinny. Are you hungry?"
"Want to grab something to eat? There are a lot of new restaurants here. I'll take you to the best one."
"Hehehe. We just want to fill you up. Don't be scared. We won't feed you anything weird."
They felt like something big was going to happen if they didn't eat it.
In this way, humans were led by the hands of demons and witches and were forced into the Demon World restaurant.
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