The Wandering Devil
Chapter: 41
Disclaimer: I don't own High School DxD or any other universe used in this story.
Pa/ t reon details below the chapter if you're interested in seeing some content in advance.
(The Kingdom Of Re-Estize)
Where was I?
It was the main question followed closely by how this happened. With no one around, all I could do was guess.
Perhaps my family had finally found a way to summon me? Unlikely and this wasn't the underworld. It wasn't a contract. Since that allowed me to choose if I was summoned or not.
The only beings I could think of that would summon specifically me were my Devil Family.
In truth, if that had been the case I wouldn't have been that bothered. I had been trying to make it back to them in any case. With the resources I had now the old surface dreams of my devil side were coming up.
Dreams he hadn't been able to chase because he lacked the strength back then.
Unfortunately, that wasn't the case.
The town in the distance looked medieval, which meant if this was Earth it wasn't the right time period. And since it clearly wasn't the Underworld, that ruled out another option.
So why was I summoned?
I squinted at the settlement, trying to make out more details. The walls were thick and well-maintained, suggesting this wasn't some backwater village.
The architecture had a distinctly different feel from anything I'd seen in the world I'd just left, more angular, more militaristic.
In fact. It wasn't a village.
It was just really far away.
I was taken off guard… I didn't have anything besides my wand and Basilisk with me. At least I wasn't alone here.
"Where are we?" My Basilisk hissed.
"I'm not sure," I replied.
It tilted its scaled head. "You're not sure?"
"No. It seems we've somehow been summoned by an outside force." I responded, still alert.
"We are no longer in the same world?" She asked.
That gave me pause.
"I'm not sure…"
"I don't believe I've ever seen you so unsure Master." The snake did what I assumed was a giggle.
I rubbed the Basilisk's head in amusement.
Her communication skills had gotten better. I am not sure how she improved it, but certain shticks definitely suggested that she was observing me and others around me.
"It's not every day this happens," I replied, still looking around.
"Mm, should we kill them?" She suggested.
"Probably not," I said.
"What's the plan then?" She hissed curiously.
"I think we will start with that town or city over there. If I recognise its name then hopefully we are still in Hestia's world." I decided.
"Shall I stay hidden?" She questioned.
"I think for a good first impression and everyone's mental health, you should stay put," I replied dryly.
Her tongue flickered out against my neck.
With that, I began walking towards the town in the distance. I could fly, but I didn't know if that was normal here. I didn't need someone blasting me out of the sky on sight.
As I got closer, I could make out guards patrolling the ramparts. They wore what looked like standardised armour and carried proper weapons.
A large banner hung from the main gate, displaying some kind of symbol I didn't recognise. The gates themselves were massive. They were made of some sort of iron-reinforced wood, the kind you'd see protecting something important.
This wasn't just a town. This was a fortress city. It was also pretty big.
I could see people moving along the roads leading to and from the gates, merchants with carts, travellers on foot, and what looked like groups of armed adventurers.
The traffic suggested that either this was a major hub of some kind or people really needed to practice birth control around here.
As I approached the main road, a weathered wooden sign came into view.
"Re-Estrize, City of the Re-Estize Kingdom"
Re-Estrize.
The name meant nothing to me, but the activity around the city suggested it was significant. Re-Estize Kingdom... another name I didn't recognise.
So this was a different world or somehow such a place had gone unnoticed by the people of Orario.
I watched the massive line being checked and interrogated by the guards at the gate.
I was going to need some documentation.
This brought me back. When I first came to Orario.
The question was how I want to go about this. Naturally, I wanted to enter the city. I didn't know my way around and it looked like the best way to collect information about this world.
While I could just wait for Hestia to find one of my demonic summoning scrolls, I wanted to find out how I was summoned. Was it the magic in this world or a group?
Either way, waiting around didn't feel like an option.
I approached the line of travellers waiting at the gate, observing how the guards handled each person. Merchants showed trade permits and cargo manifests. Adventurers flashed what looked like metal plates.
Everyone had something.
I had nothing.
When my turn came, I put on my most convincing expression and approached the guard, a middle-aged man with a bored expression and armour that had seen better days.
"Purpose of visit?" he asked without looking up from his ledger.
"Temporary refuge," I said, keeping my voice steady.
"Refuge?" He asked boredly.
"My caravan was attacked by bandits on the road. I'm the only survivor." I replied with a sigh and a false limp. "I've got contacts inside Re-Estrize so I'll be able to pick myself back up again."
That made him look up. My clothes were too clean, I had no wounds, and I wasn't carrying any goods. It didn't match the story I'd told.
Yeah, that was just lazy on my part. Still, I had an excuse on the edge of my tongue.
"Documentation?" He said.
"Lost in the attack." I sighed. "Everything was destroyed or well, better said, it was taken."
"No documentation, no entry." His tone was final.
"Not even for a merchant who was attacked?" I pressed. "I need to report the incident and resupply."
"No."
"Really? Is there not even a chance I can get an audience with your boss? This needs to be reported." I said.
"No." He said. "Next time you should hire some adventurers to protect you. Your oversight isn't my problem. If you wish to get your documentation you'll have to go to one of the nearby villages with a merchant post."
I had to admit, it was kind of clever and surprisingly secure.
I stared at him flatly. The man didn't even blink.
"Okay."
I turned and walked away, ignoring the basilisk's amused hiss against my neck.
The guard had already moved on to the next person in line.
I could try joining up with someone else, but nobody looked friendly enough to bother with.
I circled around the city walls, staying far enough away to avoid suspicion while studying the fortifications. The walls were high, maybe thirty feet and lined with guards at regular intervals.
Too many witnesses for a simple jump over.
"Master, why didn't you simply force your way in from the beginning?" my basilisk asked.
"Because I don't want to cause problems," I replied, still examining the wall structure. "I'll get a bad reputation among the multiversal travellers if I keep it up."
"They didn't seem powerful." She hissed at me.
"That's not the point. Solving all my problems with violence would make sure that eventually I die after meeting someone I can't handle. Anyway, I just need a distraction to get in." I said, watching the guards on the wall.
"Why do we need to enter the human settlement?" She asked.
"Information and a gauge to scale the power in this world," I replied easily.
"Can't we sneak in with your potent magic?" She asked next.
"No. While light magic isn't impossible, controlling it as a devil is hard. And light magic is needed to make an illusion. Which I haven't trained myself to do properly yet." I replied with some thought.
"Can't you use that smoke screen to simply enter through the front gate?" My Familiar asked.
"I could, but then they would know someone entered. And that'd cause a whole thing." I responded with some thought.
"So what is your course of action?"
Finding a position where I could see both the gates and a stretch of empty road in the distance, I pulled out my wand.
"A distraction, loud. Noticeable. One that would put them on high alert. Which should allow me to slip over the wall." I said, thinking it over.
"Hardly subtle."
"Yeah, well. Killing the dozens of guards at the entrance isn't either." I replied dryly. "Besides, I could definitely find a better way in, I just don't want to waste my time doing so."
I pointed it toward an empty section of the road that was now far in the distance, far enough from any travellers to avoid casualties.
"Bombarda."
The spell erupted from my wand in a rather muted flash, streaking across the distance before detonating in a massive explosion that sent dirt and debris flying skyward.
The sound echoed off the city walls like thunder.
Shouts immediately erupted from the ramparts. Guards rushed toward the site of the explosion, pointing and shouting orders. The organised patrol lines dissolved into controlled chaos as everyone tried to get a look at what had happened, but still maintaining decorum.
Some people even stayed behind to guard the walls, but they were few and spread too thin.
I was subtle enough to avoid their detection. Definitely more subtle than the explosion that happened behind their backs. I wasn't walking all the way to some merchant post. They sounded far away and I didn't know my way around.
If I had my invisibility cloak this would have been a whole lot smoother.
For now, I felt this was the quickest way. The blast was far enough and away from anyone that while it would no doubt be investigated, nothing would come out of it. Who knows maybe I would get lucky, and there's a gas pipeline there?
I waited until most of the remaining guards on my section of wall had moved away to some other sections, then I sprinted forward and launched myself upward. My enhanced strength carried me easily over the wall, landing silently on the other side in a narrow alley between two buildings.
What greeted me was a city that was larger than I'd expected from the outside.
The streets were wide and paved with stone. Buildings rose three and four stories high, built from grey stone with timber frames. The roofs were covered in dark tiles.
The royal palace sat at the city's centre, a large castle complex with multiple towers. Guards patrolled the walls and banners flew from the highest points.
Merchants moved through the streets with carts and wagons. People went about their business between shops and residences.
Though, my distraction had them moving around frantically.
"Why didn't you do that from the start?" my basilisk asked, sounding genuinely curious.
"Because I prefer not to blow things up when I can avoid it," I muttered, brushing dust off my clothes.
"Wizarding magic really is useful," I murmured, stepping over their bodies.
Just like that, I was inside the foreign city of Re-Estrize.
Now, where was the nearest library?
-{Gazef Stronoff}-
Gazef Stronoff frowned slightly.
He couldn't focus.
Too much was happening too quickly.
Life had always been strange, but his warrior senses felt intimidated. As if something was coming.
He shook his head.
Perhaps it was just due to how much had happened as of late.
First the mysterious defence against the Imperial knights, then its growth afterwards. Even the King had heard whispers of strange powers at work there.
Carne Village had already become an oddity.
The two powerful women who had defended the village in his stead had also been a point of interest. Most beings like that were well-known, but he suspected they wished for anonymity and he didn't want to dishonour them by prying.
And then there was Momon.
The woman in black armour who had appeared out of nowhere and carved through threats no ordinary adventurer could face.
She had already saved Re-Estrize once. People were calling her a hero.
Gazef didn't know what to make of her. Strength like that didn't appear without reason, and her sudden rise left him wary.
Along with the annual clash with the Baharuth Empire, it was safe to say he was feeling a certain way about the entire thing.
His eyes flickered back to the patrol reports when the explosion shook the very stones of Re-Estrize's walls.
"Captain!" A guard burst through the door, still breathing heavily from his sprint up the tower stairs. "There's been an explosion on the eastern approach road!"
Gazef was already reaching for his sword before the man finished speaking.
In his experience, explosions near border cities rarely meant anything good, especially with tensions between Re-Estize and Baharuth running as high as they were.
"Casualties?" he asked, buckling his weapon belt.
"None reported, sir. But the blast... It was massive. Visible from the walls."
"A magic user then, any idea what tier of magic was used?" He questioned seriously.
"No sir, but speculation is a powerful 2nd or even 3rd tier spell." The guard replied.
"Is there any damage to the wall?" He questioned next.
"No, sir."
That gave Gazef pause.
A magical explosion with no apparent target, no victims, no advancing army.
Either someone had made a serious mistake with their magic, or…
"Gather a squad. I want you to investigate immediately. Search for any unfamiliar faces, and arrest them for questioning."
As he strode toward the stairs, Gazef's mind was already working through possibilities. Baharuth saboteurs? Someone testing new magic? A rogue caster? Or something else entirely?
Powerful third-tier magic wasn't to be ignored.
Whatever it was, he intended to find out.
-{Demiurge}-
Demiurge adjusted his glasses, the faint glint hiding the sharp precision of his gaze.
Reports were spread across the desk.
Whispers of unrest in the Re-Estize Kingdom, the rot within Eight Fingers and the strange survival of Carne Village despite overwhelming odds. Each detail fed into the greater picture he was constructing for Nazarick.
The picture was incomplete.
His failure was unacceptable.
Progress had been steady outside of summoning Lord Zephyrion. Lady Ainzara had been most focused on that particular task. Even without her focus, the way she was able to direct him with a few words always filled him with a sense of awe.
Their top priority was finding their Lord. And his Lady had tied that in all her seemingly unrelated directions, what with all the necessary resources he had been picking up along his tasks.
It truly was an astonishing show of wisdom.
It made focusing easier. The constant unfamiliar worry of his lost Lord and the obsessive desire to find him was a rather tedious thought that clung to his very being.
Still…
Lord Zephyrion was still missing.
The search so far had yielded nothing. With so many kingdoms and such a vast land, it was expected.
Demiurge's claws pressed into the arm of his chair as he thought.
Nazarick was unmatched in strength, but strength alone was not enough. To cover a world this vast, they needed chaos. Disorder would force hidden players into the open, where he can then rip them apart for everything they were worth.
Through that disorder, Nazarick could shape events and create figures that would naturally draw Lord Zephyrion's eye.
That was why the plan had to be moved ahead. It was dangerous to accelerate, but time was no longer on their side. The Supreme one had already given her blessing. And no doubt worked on plans that far outmatched his own.
Demiurge allowed himself a small smile.
The stage was almost set. Kingdoms would burn, alliances would shift and out of that chaos, they'd find their Lord while this world bent to its knees at their might and the glory of their Lord.
He gazed over Re-Estrize.
Jaldabaoth was truly a fitting name. As expected of Ainzara-sama.
-{Zephyrion Gremory}-
So there was no library. What a savage place.
I stared at the city streets with a flat expression. Not even a dusty archive, not even a collection of records kept by some noble or merchant house. Instead, everywhere I looked were signs.
Adventurer discounts. Adventurer tavern nights. Adventurer equipment. Fucking Adventure Brothel.
It was ridiculous. It was as if the entire economy of the city was tilted around the existence of this so-called guild. I mean, Orario was basically the same but it had a huge dungeon in the middle of its city.
My Basilisk shifted lazily around my shoulders, flicking her tongue.
"They worship killers-for-hire," she observed dryly. "I like them."
"We don't know what they are used for yet, they could be glorified maids for all we know," I muttered.
My eyes lingered on a particularly gaudy sign: Adventurers Guild, New Registrations Welcome!
The thought had crossed my mind, of course. If information was stored anywhere in this city, it was either in the Lord's keep or the guild. And the guild was apparently where all of society's paperwork and infrastructure gravitated.
But… becoming an adventurer sounded like a hassle I didn't want to put myself through again.
Which was why I kept strolling through the city.
It was relatively similar to Orario.
As I casually worked down the street, I watched armoured guards strolling around. Some of them were very alert, probably due to the little distraction I left to gain entry here.
My eyes casually looked at the boards that hung above shops and buildings, trying to make an educated guess of where I was.
When I finally landed on a board that caught my undivided interest.
"Arcane Association."
So they had magic? I found my curiosity spiking immensely.
Adding to my Magic repertoire sounds like a brilliant idea. Since I was here, making the most of it and learning this world's magic alongside how I came here was a suitable goal.
I pushed the door open, stepping into the Arcane Association.
Shelves lined with neatly catalogued tomes filled the main hall, though I quickly realised they weren't for public browsing. Behind a heavy oak desk sat a robed man with thinning grey hair and half-moon spectacles, quietly scratching away at a ledger.
When he looked up, his eyes flicked to me in quick appraisal.
"Good afternoon. You've reached the Re-Estrize branch of the Arcane Association. What is your business here, traveller?" He said pleasantly.
"Information and perhaps… education," I said smoothly.
That drew a faint smile from him, though it carried more patience than warmth.
"Education in magic is not offered to just anyone. Magic talent is rare, you see. In truth, most who come here discover they possess none at all. It is a gift few are born with. The vast majority of citizens leave disappointed." He said humbly, and in such a practised manner that I was sure he repeated it in front of mirrors.
"I'm fairly certain I have it," I said calmly, meeting his sceptical gaze.
That made him chuckle under his breath, quill tapping against the ledger.
"Confident, are we? Then perhaps we shall make a little wager."
Suddenly the humble man had a decidedly unhumble smirk on his face.
"I will test you. If you fail, you will pay me a silver piece for wasting my time. If you succeed… then I will pay you."
He leaned back, studying me as if expecting hesitation.
I pretended to think it over, my brow creasing faintly. "…Fine. I'll accept your terms."
"Good. Then place your hand on this."
From beneath the desk he drew out a crystal orb, faintly translucent with a milky glow at its heart. He placed it between us, his fingers lingering on it as if handling something sacred.
"This will measure the presence of mana in your body. A mere flicker is enough to qualify you. A brighter glow will show the strength of your gift. Do not strain yourself, it requires only a simple focus." He instructed.
I smiled innocently.
I could have performed some sort of contract, but I wanted to see what I was working with before I did that. Perhaps some souls to boost my own demonic power were in order.
I rested my hand on the orb, allowing a thin stream of demonic power to seep into it. Not enough to be suspicious, but more than enough to surpass average standards.
The orb flared to life instantly, its glow sharp and steady.
The man's eyes widened.
"…Impressive. Slightly above the average for an apprentice. Most who come here cannot even manage a spark, yet yours holds consistent brightness." He said, briefly surprised before he sighed.
I smirked faintly, pulling my hand away as though it were nothing.
The man's jaw tightened, annoyance flashing before he forced a professional smile. He slid a single silver coin across the desk with visible reluctance.
"Congratulations. It seems you do indeed possess magical talent. Now… the question is what you wish to do with it?" He asked, his demeanour shifting completely.
"Ah." He seemed to come to a realisation. "You're not from around here are you?"
I chuckled, going along with it. "How did you know?"
"Let me guess, you're from a rather secluded noble family ay? That's why you're so confident you have magic." He nodded.
I laughed. "I didn't realise you knew Divination Magic."
He puffed up slightly. "I'm afraid not, it's a mere educated guess. It's rare but it happens."
"I'm in good hands then," I replied cheerfully.
"Indeed! So what do you wish to continue with?"
"Mind telling me a bit more about what the arcane guild does? Do you work with the adventurer guild?" I questioned.
His face darkened. "Alas, the adventurer guild is far too large. We don't work with them if we can help it. As for your question…"
He lightened up. "If you join you'll receive access to our tier one section. Allowing you to learn tier one spells, that should be relatively straightforward."
Tier one? Was that how they measured magic here? Interesting.
"I'm guessing there's another option?" I questioned.
"If you've joined, you'll have the option to get a paid tutorship which will cost you a hefty sum, but I can assure you of its worth. You'll be tested to see if you can learn certain spells with the potential to even reach the third tier in ranking. Only if you're lucky of course." He
"What are the obligations?" I questioned.
That was the biggest part.
"There are none."
I blinked.
He smiled. "We merely ask you to take a look at any request, which would be paid for, in the future."
Clever.
Creating bonds with magical users.
"Sign me up."
His quill froze above the ledger, as if he hadn't expected such a casual response. He cleared his throat, then began writing swiftly.
"Very well. Your name?"
"Zephyrion."
"Zephyrion… no family name?"
I allowed a small pause. "…Not one I'll be using here."
He frowned faintly, but inked it down regardless.
"ID?"
"Lost…"
He sighed. "I suspected so, a runaway?"
"Will that be a problem?" I questioned.
"No, just don't get caught."
I think I like him.
"Very well. Then welcome to the Arcane Association, Zephyrion. You may access the introductory materials in the Association library. One of the apprentices will guide you. Should you seek the second tier, you may arrange the payment at any time."
I gave him a polite nod, though my Basilisk hissed amusement against my neck.
A Library. At last.
Even if their knowledge was primitive compared to my own, it would give me the foundation I needed to understand this world's rules.
This was a start I can work with.
-Scene Break-
I woke up the next morning in a cramped inn room that cost exactly one silver piece.
The bed was lumpy, and before I used a simple spell to make it more comfortable and the walls were thin enough that I'd heard every conversation in the adjacent rooms. Some of them gave me a basic idea about what this place's lifestyle was like.
I even learned a few interesting bits of information like the trending topic of a supposed hero named Momon.
It was still not the best night. Better than sleeping in an alley, I suppose.
The previous day at the Arcane Association library had been enlightening, if somewhat disappointing. Their magic system was rigid, everything was tied to specific spell formulas with no room for modification.
The first-tier spells were basic but surprisingly useful in their own way.
Acid Splash created a tiny blob of acid. Create Flame gave me a small controllable flame. Create water-generated clean drinking water. Shield Wall produced a weak magical barrier. Shockwave delivered a weak concussive blast. Magic Arrow fired a basic magical projectile.
And most importantly, Cure Minor Wounds, my first real healing spell besides Episkey.
The healing magic was crucial. For some reason, imagination magic couldn't replicate healing effects, making actual healers rare even in my original world.
I do think the fact that we can heal people by sleeping naked with them, decreased the incentive for real healers. Also the Phenez bastards. Can't forget them.
Anyway, learning this world's healing spells would prove invaluable for me.
What annoyed me the most was my complete inability to modify these spells.
They were locked formulas, take it or leave it. It was strange, the magical system felt familiar in a way. But I couldn't place my finger on what it was similar to.
Still, with my imagination magic, learning them had been relatively easy. It seemed my imagination magic allowed me to almost copy other magic systems… which was weird, since in my world Devils couldn't really do that.
Another thing to research.
The real question was whether higher tiers would offer more flexibility.
I had come to know that everything above 5th 5th-tier magic was mostly theory with some legendary 6th-tier spells heard of in legends. I was curious to see if I could learn more of this magic.
My goal for this world wasn't long-term, I did not doubt that Hestia would summon me back any day or even in an hour. But I was definitely curious and eager as always to add more to my own power.
I sighed.
My next destination was more of a necessity though.
The Adventurer's Guild. Don't get me wrong, I didn't plan on suddenly doing quests or whatnot. But I did need an ID and this would be the fastest way.
After that, I wanted to look into physical enhancement magic. It was mainly used by knights and warriors. Learning that there was a type of magic like that had instantly made it a priority for me.
After using a minor spell to clean my clothes, I headed towards the Adventurer's Guild.
The streets were already busy with morning traffic and I could see more armoured guards than yesterday patrolling in pairs. I think my little explosion had clearly put them on edge.
As I strolled towards the Adventurer's Guild building. I thought about what I had learned about this world.
For a basic explanation.
The political landscape was dominated by three major powers, the Re-Estize Kingdom, where I was currently at. The Baharuth Empire to the east. And finally, the Slane Theocracy to the south.
These nations existed in a constant state of tension, with border skirmishes and political manoeuvring being a common thing.
Next was about what I expected.
Monsters roamed the wilderness between settlements, making travel dangerous without a proper escort.
This created the economic foundation for the Adventurer's Guild, which had grown powerful enough to operate across national boundaries. Adventurers were ranked from copper to adamantite, with higher ranks commanding significant respect and resources.
Then there were the Magic users, who were rare and generally fell into three categories, arcane casters who studied theoretical magic, divine casters who channelled power through religious faith and a handful of individuals who used what they called spiritual magic.
Most people would never encounter anything above second-tier magic in their lifetime.
This was the basic outline of the few books on history that had been available to me. I read them just to get a better grasp of the competition I should expect.
It was enlightening. While I didn't intend to stay here, it gave me a better grasp of what I was working with.
My thoughts came to a halt as the Adventurer's Guild building appeared in my sight.
The Adventurer's Guild building was impossible to miss, a massive three-story structure that dominated an entire city block.
People streamed in and out constantly, armed groups heading out for jobs, solo adventurers checking the quest boards and what looked like administrative staff hurrying between meetings.
I needed proper identification and with all these guards around, I wasn't risking another illegal entry.
Time to do this the legitimate way.
The main hall was large, with quest boards lining the walls and a long reception counter staffed by several clerks.
I approached the least busy clerk, a young woman with brown hair tied back.
"Good morning. I'd like to register as an adventurer." I said bluntly.
She looked up. "Ah, wonderful. Is this your first time?"
"Yes," I replied.
"I'll need to see some identification and we'll go through the registration process."
"I'm afraid my documentation was lost when bandits attacked my caravan," I said smoothly. "I'm the sole survivor and I'm afraid being an adventurer is the only role left for me."
Her expression shifted to sympathetic professionalism. "I'm sorry to hear that. It's unusual but we can work with that, but there will be additional verification steps. Name?"
I'm sure it only didn't matter since I was within the walls of the city.
"Zephyrion."
"Any family name?"
"Not one I'm using currently."
She noted that down. "Previous occupation?"
"Independent scholar, Familia Captain and a merchant."
My Basilisk hissed in what sounded like a laugh.
She paused but decidedly moved on.
"Combat experience?"
"Well seasoned, I am primarily a magic caster," I replied, deciding not to tell her about my experience of being a dark lord and fighting monsters down in a dungeon.
"A magic caster?" She said, looking at me as if I had just materialised into her reality. She handed me a form. "Fill this out completely. We'll need to conduct a basic combat assessment and magical aptitude test. The fee is two silver pieces."
I frowned. "I don't have that right now."
"Then you'll need to come back when you have the full amount." She replied politely.
"Is there any other way? Perhaps I could take a simple job to earn the difference?" I suggested.
She shook her head. "Guild regulations. No exceptions."
What was it with these people?
"I'll be back," I replied dryly.
Time to engage in some aggressive negotiation tactics with the local economy.
I had learned to tone down my… masterful techniques. But I'm sure someone had money that needed to be liberated… right? It was this line of thought that led to a wild goose chase.
A few hours later, I came to a revelation.
Turns out that common thugs weren't really a massive thing and if there was crime, it was being done extremely well. On the bright side, I now knew the city's layout.
Perhaps I should just go steal from the palace? I wasn't planning on staying in this world long anyway.
"We heard a fellow member has joined the Arcane Association," came a voice from behind me.
I kept walking, not bothering to turn around.
Whoever it was could wait.
I needed to get my hands on some money.
It was weird being so poor. In Orario we had a big stream of income coming in and in the wizarding world, I had safely liberated a lot of Galleons.
Which was basically just gold.
"Hey, you with the crimson hair," the voice persisted. "We're talking to you."
Having multiple worlds to think about was tricky.
In truth, for now, I wanted to focus on the worlds I had to deal with already. While the powers I was finding had improved to be invaluable to my growth, I didn't want to spread too far.
But I did want to find a way back to my home world and I do feel like I've made progress on that frontier.
I had felt a semblance of control the last time I travelled worlds.
Two older men in robes had approached the guild counter area, clearly looking for someone.
"Rude, isn't he?" a second voice said.
"Obviously he's grown a big head." The other sighed.
"I mean, does it even matter? It doesn't change what this low-born filth has come to him."
I finally glanced over.
Two men in worn robes stood there, wearing the kind of superior expressions that immediately annoyed me.
"Finally noticed that huh?"
"We know you registered with the Association yesterday," the first voice said, now directly beside me. "New members need proper... orientation and especially ones who have lucked into magic."
"Are you seriously doing this?"
Was this my luck? To be harassed by some self-proclaimed Young Masters? What's next? Do I need to save some jade beauties?
"Don't act so surprised." One of them grouched. "The Arcane Guild is meant to be exclusive to noble families. You should have expected this."
"I'm busy," I said simply.
It was a way out for them.
"You'll be busier if you don't come with us," the second one replied. "There are protocols to follow."
They didn't take it.
"You do this to everyone who joins?" I questioned.
"There you go." One smiled. "You get it. We won't hurt you too badly, but there's going to be some rules in place for you."
Really?
I didn't reply, merely walking to the nearest alleyway.
They followed.
"Finally showing some sense," the first mage said as we stepped into the alley. "Now then, here's how this works. New Association members pay a... registration fee to the senior practitioners."
"Protection money, really," the second added. "Wouldn't want any accidents to happen during your studies."
I judged them for a moment and decided they were definitely malicious.
Which made them fair game.
I pulled out a piece of parchment and began writing quickly. "How about you both sign this instead?"
They exchanged glances.
"What is it?" the first one asked.
"Just an agreement. Sign it and we can all move on." I replied happily.
They slapped it out of my hand and one of them raised their hand, a magical circle coming on display.
"We're not signing anything," the second mage said, raising his hand. "You'll pay the fee or face the consequences. In fact, I don't even want you to pay."
My devil instincts reacted hungrily.
It would be interesting to see what a soul belonging to this world has to offer. While I didn't make a habit out of it, I did need to continue growing my demonic power beyond the Falna.
It seems trouble had found me after all.
I moved even before either could react.
My enhanced speed caught them completely off guard.
He stumbled backwards, eyes wide with shock. The second mage tried to cast another spell, but I was already there, driving my fist into his solar plexus. He doubled over, gasping.
The other one raised his hand.
"Fireball."
A decent-sized fireball fired out.
My hand raised and the fireball was distorted, streaming into my hand.
"W-what?"
Second-tier magic? Not too bad.
"Still want to play with magic?" I asked, grabbing the first mage by his collar.
"What are you?" he wheezed.
"A Demon!" The other shouted. "That's why he's using contracts!"
Once more, I found my curiosity peak.
Demons exist? Or was this one of those situations where everything evil was a 'Demon's' doing?
Fear replaced their earlier arrogance.
The fire was still swirling in my hand, and I tossed the contract and aimed my hand. Allowing the heat that was only growing in strength to wash over them so they didn't focus.
"N-no!"
Ugh, damn it.
Both of them formed a magical circle and jets of water fired out, barely doing anything as they tried to escape the alley.
"Help!"
I appeared behind him, grabbing his neck and stopping his ability to speak.
The other one paused as a bolt of fire washed over the area in front of him.
"Sign and you get to live."
They looked defiant.
"I'll be taking all of your money on hand and this contract will prevent you from reporting it," I said, lying effortlessly.
If they saw the contents of the contract then they wouldn't sign it. So making an excuse worked.
"There's no need for that! We won't say anything." One of them tried to bargain.
"I can't trust you, sign," I replied.
"Fuck. Fine!"
The first mage took the parchment with trembling hands and scrawled his name. Then I snatched the contract and forced the second one who was still in my grasp to follow.
The second followed suit without argument.
The moment both signatures appeared, demonic power flowed through the contract.
Their names reappeared in blood as the binding activated.
I released them.
"We can go now, righ-" The first mage started, then stopped as his soul began separating.
Carefully, I looked at his soul and let out a sigh of relief as I saw the corruption in it. My instincts had been correct.
"Soul contract," I explained. "You really need to start checking things before signing them."
"D-demon!"
"Yes, we've gone through this already," I replied dryly. "In any case, you'll be helping a better cause with your rather rotten lives."
There weren't murderers but they had done a lot worse than this.
They collapsed as their life force drained away, leaving empty husks that soon dissolved into their own shadows.
Two orbs of spiritual energy floated toward me.
I absorbed them and immediately felt a surge of power.
Information flooded through my brain, making me grimace. I'd have to wait a while before doing that again.
My demonic energy increased by what felt like three per cent.
I blinked in surprise. That was massive for someone at my level. Most soul absorptions had come to give fractions of a per cent at best. Which was awesome for basically nothing. Still, it was a slow process.
"Interesting," my basilisk hissed. "They were magically stronger than they appeared."
"Much stronger," I agreed, examining the lingering energy traces.
The power boost was considerable enough that I could feel the difference in my overall capabilities. Whatever those two had been involved in, it was more significant than simple extortion.
With that, I had gained the ability to perform a couple of second-tier spells and I found the magic system even more accepting of me. The soul absorbing seemingly does more than just give me a boost in power.
I picked up their pouches and whistled.
"That was an easy steal," my Basilisk hissed approvingly.
"Not a steal! A liberation! I wouldn't want to waste their hard-earned money by letting it rot away." I replied.
Footsteps echoed from the alley entrance. I turned to see an armoured figure approaching.
A young man in simple chainmail rushed into the alley, sword already half-drawn. He had earnest brown eyes and short brown hair, with the determined look of someone who'd heard sounds of trouble and come running.
"Is everything alright? I heard shouting and..." He trailed off, looking around the empty alley with confusion.
I straightened my clothes casually. "Just some troublemakers who decided to move along when I mentioned I wasn't interested in their business proposition."
The young knight, probably around seventeen, looked sceptical but sheathed his sword. "You're sure? There were reports of a disturbance."
"Nothing that couldn't be handled with words," I replied smoothly.
"I-I see."
"I'm Zephyrion, by the way," I said, watching him walk out of the alley with me.
"Climb," he responded, still scanning the alley.
"I'm guessing you're some sort of knight?" I questioned.
He flushed slightly. "I'm training to be a royal guard. Part of my duties includes responding to incidents in the city."
"Royal guard? That sounds impressive." I responded.
Climb chuckled. "Yeah, well. It would be nice if I could get in."
He reminded me of Bell in some aspects.
"Oh? I'm sure you'll get in." I replied casually. "You've obviously got the attitude for it."
He looked bashful.
"I'm afraid it may be a bit harder than that." He replied with a sigh. "Enough about me, what's your line of work?"
"I'm a magic user, a part of the Arcane Guild," I replied.
His eyes widened. "A magic user?"
By now we were walking alongside each other, it seemed almost subconsciously he was going to his destination while I merely followed him.
"A not half-bad one if I do say so myself." Was my amused reply.
In this world's standards, in pure destructive power, I was probably well above a tier 6 mage. My power of destruction was probably ranked extremely high and maybe at the peak of what this world's magical system could even accomplish.
I'd have to see more to confirm that though.
"That's amazing, I haven't met many magic users," Climb replied.
"No? I thought knights use enhancement magic?"
"Only the rare few who have magic," Climb replied. "It's also difficult to learn."
"I can imagine," I replied.
I really couldn't.
"So are you heading somewhere specific?
Climb jumped, realising he was walking. "Ah! I apologise, I didn't realise- I was heading to the training grounds actually. Captain Gazef sometimes oversees practice sessions there and allows people to watch as a boost of morale for the people."
"Oh sweet, I'll tag along," I said.
I could sort out the adventure guild later.
"Are you sure?" Climb asked. "I mean I don't mind in the slightest."
"I'm new to the city and wouldn't mind the company," I replied easily and he nodded.
We made our way through the city streets, Climb pointing out various landmarks as we walked. The training grounds were located near the castle district, a large open area with practice dummies, weapon racks, and marked sparring circles.
About a dozen knights were engaged in various exercises when we arrived.
I watched them with interest, noting their techniques and stance work.
"They're not particularly impressive," I commented after observing for a few minutes.
"You think?" Climb asked with surprise.
"I mean, no offence to them but as a magic caster even I have a higher level of mastery over the physical arts than that," I replied interestedly.
A chuckle came from behind us. "Is that so?"
We turned to see a man approaching, clearly the most skilled fighter present.
"Captain Gazef," Climb said with obvious respect.
"Climb." He greeted Climb fondly, turning to me. "And who might you be, newcomer? With such opinions about our training methods?" Gazef said, though his tone was more amused than offended.
"Just making observations," I replied casually. "Not to say they aren't well-trained."
He chuckled.
"I'm Zephyrion."
"And I am Gazef, it's nice to meet you." He replied. "It's not normal that I meet someone who can stare me in the eye."
"No? You do have a stern gaze, I suppose." I replied.
"That must be why I have yet to find myself a woman." He joked.
I liked him already.
"So what brings you to watch our practice, Zephyrion? Looking to join the ranks?" He asked, looking over at me.
"Mostly curiosity. I wanted to see some swordplay and perhaps some physical enhancement magic in action. I'm primarily a magic user myself." I replied truthfully.
Gazef raised an eyebrow. "How can you judge the quality of our swordwork if you've never picked up a blade?"
"Who said I've never used a sword?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Ah, one of those types," Gazef grinned.
"It's good to be trained in all aspects." I shrugged. "Many times has a monster gotten too close for my liking."
"Tell you what, since you're confident in your abilities, why don't you show me what you think proper swordwork looks like?" He challenged.
"You want to spar?" I asked with intrigue.
"Unless you're all talk." He replied with a friendly grin.
I could feel the other knights stopping their exercises to watch.
Climb looked between us nervously.
"Why not?" I smiled
-{Hestia}-
Hestia wrung her hands nervously.
She paced across the small room for what felt like the hundredth time, her bare feet making soft sounds against the wooden floor.
She already had the rest of her Familia barring the newcomers searching around.
One main question played on her mind on repeat.
Had Zephyrion known that was going to happen?
She replayed the moment in her mind, analysing his expression, his body language. No, she was certain he hadn't expected it. The surprise on his face had been genuine, which somehow made the whole situation worse.
If he'd planned this, at least she'd know he was prepared. And he would never pull something like this without telling her.
This? This felt like an ambush.
The portal had been unmistakably dark magic. She could almost taste it, bitter and wrong on her tongue. There had been souls put into that, souls powering the portal.
Whatever force had pulled him through had used dreadfully dark magic for it.
Her hands clenched into fists as anxiety gnawed at her stomach.
They should have been prepared for something like this.
Zephyrion had stopped distributing his demonic summoning contracts after the Apollo incident, when it became clear someone was orchestrating events from the shadows.
Smart of him, really, but it left them without their usual safety net.
She felt like she had torn through every drawer, every shelf, every corner of their modest home looking for one of the old contracts.
Somewhere in his mess of belongings, there had to be one tucked away. But finding it was proving harder than expected, and time felt like it was slipping away from her fingers.
How much time should she give him?
The question plagued her as she resumed searching. Was he in immediate danger, fighting for his life in some hostile realm? Or was this just another situation where Zephyrion would somehow turn everything to his advantage?
She paused, remembering his stories about his first journey to another world.
Somehow, her cute devil had managed to become a dark lord within months.
The thought brought a small smile to her lips despite her worry.
That was just like him, wasn't it?
Drop him anywhere and he'd find a way to not just survive, but thrive.
Still, knowing Zephyrion's capabilities didn't make the wait any easier.
Every minute that passed felt like an eternity and she didn't like this uncertainty.
She resumed her search with renewed determination.
Contract or no contract, she wasn't going to sit here helplessly while her Familia member was potentially in danger. There had to be another way to reach him.
She knew for certain it was around here somewhere.
'Hang in there! I am close to rescuing you…'
Wait, what if some harlot is seducing him?
That thought increased her search efforts by a lot of folds.
-{Zephyrion}-
Armoured guards cheered around us, throwing their hands up and watching with massive boyish grins.
His blue sword cut through the air and I jumped back, avoiding the slash.
He was good.
His sword was magical too.
My golden sword retaliated and sparks exploded out as he was sent back, blocking the blow but forced to deal with the strength put behind it.
Gazef's jaw tightened, his stance lowering as he adjusted his footing, no longer testing, but fighting in earnest. His blade moved faster now, striking with speed that outclassed many Adventurers in Orario.
Each swing was clean, and deadly, he was definitely above a human in capability.
Yet to me, it was as though the world had slowed. His strikes met my guard and slid off as if pressed against a mountain.
I deflected another furious blow and leaned in slightly, just enough for him to see the faintest smile tug at my lips.
That small reaction made him falter for the briefest second.
"You're… holding back?" he muttered, disbelief flashing in his eyes as he drove his sword forward again with everything he had.
In swordsmanship, he outclassed me in levels that surprised me. But in power, I was still heavily above him.
Steel clashed, sparks showered, and I let the edge of my power slip free. His knees buckled under the pressure, his sword arm trembling as he struggled to hold against the force.
"Very well, let me not dishonour you by holding back. Prepare."
His sword glowed.
I could see him wind up, clearly giving me time which made me wonder just what he was planning.
"Fourfold Slash of Light."
Four tears in reality exploded out and I found myself pulling away.
Behind me four small cuts formed on the ground, making me pause. I thought that attack would be a lot deadlier.
"You dodged? Amazing." He commented.
"I thought they would pack more of a punch," I replied.
"They would have, but I thought you would be hit so I didn't go through with it." He replied, lowering his blade.
"Maybe you should have gone for it."
Gazef grinned.
"Maybe you're right," he said, raising his sword again. "Let's see how well you handle the real thing."
The air around us grew tense. Even the cheering guards fell silent, sensing the shift in the atmosphere. Gazef's stance changed, becoming more fluid, more dangerous.
"I have to ask though," he said, circling me slowly, "that's quite the blade you're carrying. Magical too, if I'm not mistaken."
I glanced down at my golden sword. "You could say that."
"Thought so. The weight, the balance, the way it moves through the air. That's no ordinary weapon." He nodded approvingly. "A warrior should know his tools."
"Shall we continue?" I asked.
"Absolutely."
This time when he moved, it was with the full weight of his skill behind it.
His blade came at me in a complex pattern, each strike flowing into the next with practised precision. I could see why he was considered the kingdom's strongest warrior.
But as impressive as his technique was, I could still read every movement. I parried each attack, my responses growing more confident as I began to understand his fighting style.
Sounds of awe could barely be heard over the clang of metal, sparks showering off and lightning up the area.
Gazef pushed back and gained some distance.
"Tell me, is this sword of yours magical? To stand up to my blade so easily…" Gazef questioned.
"Yes, it is," I replied. "As is yours."
He swung and I deflected it with only a bit of effort.
"Indeed, it's one of the five treasures of the kingdom. In truth, I had expected it to slice through your blade, which was why I insisted on a training sword." Gazef admitted with a chuckle.
One I rejected.
"Oh? It's that good huh?"
"It's perhaps the sharpest sword in the kingdom," Gazef replied, swinging his sword masterfully and deflecting my strike.
I could sense that.
It'd probably cut right through me.
Pushing him, I raised the level and to my surprise, he kept up. Rapid strikes are blurring around us.
He was pushed back.
I had to wonder just what a beast this man could become with a Falna. This was a supernatural level and he was just a human.
I swung and he backed away.
Excited cheers rang out.
I raised my sword and he shook his head.
"I'm afraid I must admit defeat." Gazef relented. "You truly do know what you're talking about, even if your sword work could use some work. You are truly talented."
I chuckled. "I guess you can't win it all."
I came to walk alongside him.
"Yet another anomaly ay?" He said with a tired chuckle.
"Hm?"
"A powerful warrior such as yourself should be well-known and highly sought after. I have to wonder where you came from." Gazef questioned.
"You think? I mean, I'm not one to display my current training. But I am a part of the arcane Guild." I replied easily.
He was slightly suspicious.
That was fine.
"The Arcane guild? So you truly are a magic caster?" Gazef asked with a hint of shock.
"Of course," I replied amusedly. "Why did you think I was joking?"
"I did think you were pulling my leg, such a powerful sword wielder takes a lot of practice," Gazef replied friendly. "Are you sure you don't want to join? You'd rise through the ranks quickly."
"Tempting, but I'm not looking to commit to anything at the moment."
"A shame. This kingdom and mostly I could use help such as yours." Gazef sighed.
"I don't mind helping if I'm around," I replied.
He patted my shoulder.
"I appreciate your words." He replied. "Too many strange things have been happening around the kingdom of Re-Estize."
"Really? How so?"
There was a small chance it could link to what happened to me.
"Things seem to be escalating, with powerful figures springing out of the woods. Attacks are growing larger. Strange magical attacks with no purpose or reason." Gazef replied. "Something is coming."
"I'm sure Re-Estrize will survive it. Especially with all this training you're doing."
He rolled his eyes. "My men will be suitably prepared when the time comes."
"At this level?"
Gazef let out an indignant sound. "I'll have you know my men are considered well-trained."
"Well-trained for what they usually face, certainly," I replied diplomatically. "But if something truly dangerous shows up, you might want to consider raising the bar."
I was mostly just speaking idly, but Gazef seemed to take my words seriously for whatever reason.
"Easy for you to say," Gazef grumbled, though his tone remained good-natured. "Not everyone can swing around that level of power."
"Fair point."
We watched as his men continued their exercises, most still stealing glances our way.
The demonstration had clearly left an impression.
"Still," Gazef continued, "your point about preparation isn't wrong. With everything that's been happening lately, perhaps it's time to push them harder."
Shame I wouldn't be around to help.
I spent a bit more time hanging out with them, watching them train.
Before heading back as the night grew darker.
Why was Hestia taking so long?
-Scene Break-
I was jolted slightly as an explosion rang out.
I had been thinking about why Hestia was taking a while and realised I didn't have a lot of contracts left. She was probably struggling to find them but still, an entire day?
Surely there was something more at play.
That didn't matter now though as another blast rang out in what sounded like the far distance and yet shook the entire building, rattling the windows.
Conversations stopped mid-sentence as everyone looked around in confusion.
Then came the screaming.
I blinked.
An attack?
I stood up, moving toward the window.
There, surrounding us in a massive frame were green and orange flames. A massive part of the city had been sectioned off and I watched as people were burned as they attempted to cross.
I had merely been waiting and studying magic for the most part. My adventure ID had been retrieved earlier. I had hung out with Climb a bit longer, wondering if it was worth bringing him back for my Familia.
But he was too loyal for his own good.
Outside, people were running down the street in panic. In the distance, toward the warehouse district, black smoke was rising into the afternoon sky.
Mass amounts of fire littered the area and it didn't take a genius to know something big was going down.
"What's happening?" someone behind me asked.
Before anyone could answer, another explosion echoed through the city, closer this time. The inn's patrons began moving toward the exits, their earlier calm replaced by fear.
I could feel it now, a presence that made my demonic heritage stir uneasily. Something powerful was loose in Re-Estrize, something that radiated…. Demonic energy?
"Demons!" someone shouted from the street.
That got everyone moving.
The inn emptied quickly as people fled toward what they hoped were safer parts of the city. I watched them go, then looked back toward the chaos.
Naturally, I did what anyone would do.
I began my path towards the chaos.
-END-
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