Tarak, located in the northern part of the Tulk Kingdom.
"Huuuh~ Ha— The air in this neighborhood is the best. I never get tired of it."
An ordinary-looking young man with black hair walking down the street took a deep breath and smiled contentedly.
Miyamoto Ken, a demon who had transfigured into his human form.
He enjoyed the bustling city and walked slowly with a pleasant feeling.
'I'm glad I came. I already don't want to go back.'
The environment of the Demon Realm, full of negative energy, was a hardship for him, a human and an Earthling.
Of course, it could be said to be a beneficial condition for his current body, which had become a demon, but...
'Still, I prefer this place's fresh air to that stuffy air.'
He thought he had become quite accustomed to the environment of the Demon Realm after living there for a long time, but as soon as he came out, he felt his dulled senses reviving all at once.
'Has it already been over twenty years since I fell into the Demon Realm?'
And that meant it had been almost thirty years since he was transported to this godforsaken world.
Then, suddenly.
Ken, who had stopped walking, frowned.
His mind was tickled by the topic that suddenly came to mind.
If he had returned properly, he would have been living enviably on Earth by now.
He had that much ability.
But how did he end up like this...
"...Well, it's fine. I found a guy with a useful ability."
But the thoughts that had risen like wildfire disappeared in an instant.
As if a bucket of water had been poured on the embers before they could ignite.
Ken, who had become much more comfortable, recalled yesterday's meeting.
While investigating information on this continent after receiving a certain mission, he learned an amazing fact.
Earth-made goods, which he thought he would never see in Auterica, were being openly distributed.
Of course, it was still only being traded among the upper class, but that alone was amazing.
'It wasn't just one or two.'
It wasn't just a few items from the belongings of transported Earthlings.
Large-scale distribution led by a giant company.
Moreover, the items obtained in the process were not ordinary.
Click— Pssst!
Ken, who had entered a deserted back alley, took out a metal lighter from his pocket and opened the lid to light it.
A small flame burning with a faint smell of oil.
One of the 'Earth-made goods' distributed by an Awakened named Hubert.
"...I never thought he could bring even this. Well, there are all kinds of strange abilities."
It was an item that could be easily seen on Earth, but in this world, it was literally a new artifact from another world.
But to be able to bring such a thing indefinitely.
He recalled the sight of him setting a feast of freshly made Earth food in front of him and his mouth watered.
"...It's too wasteful to just leave him alone."
The reason he had released the information the other party wanted and retreated the day before was not simply out of kindness.
It was just that he wasn't fully prepared yet, so he tried to reassure the other party.
'I can't think of any ability other than a unique skill that could do that.'
The unique skill that he could no longer use after becoming a demon.
It was not an ability that could be taken away.
The best way was to capture him and use him as a slave, but there was a risk that he could escape to Earth using 'Return'.
And he couldn't stay by his side and watch him forever.
'The best way in this case is mind control.'
If he made him serve him completely and use his abilities so that he wouldn't even think of escaping, there would be no need to worry about anything else.
Of course, Hubert would eventually become a settler and his useful ability would disappear, but he said it had been less than ten years since he came to Auterica, so there was still plenty of time left.
'The problem is that I'm not good at that...'
That's why he needed time.
But that problem had just been solved.
"You're here."
Ken's voice spread through the back alley.
"Tsk, I'm busy, but do you really have to call me here and there?"
As if in response to his words, an elderly man's voice flowed from the inside of the alley.
Then, with the sound of footsteps, an old gentleman appeared.
He was wearing a pure white suit and holding a smoothly crafted wooden cane. He tilted his white fedora slightly with his white-gloved hand and glanced at Ken.
"Even for you, there's no free lunch. You know the price, right?"
"Isn't that already settled? I'll do as we agreed, so let's go."
"Tsk, tsk."
Ken wasn't the only one dispatched to this land from the Demon Realm.
Among them was a demon skilled in mental manipulation, and he had the means to request cooperation from the target.
'Well, in return, I have to help this guy with his work. But that's something I can handle.'
After tasting Earth food seasoned with MSG for the first time in thirty years, he was ecstatic.
Naturally, he had no intention of cooperating with Hubert and receiving goods.
He was a Count-level demon of the Demon Realm.
There was no way he could wag his tail at a mere human merchant and beg for food.
'And I don't know when that guy will return to Earth.'
He didn't know, but the amount of karma that guy had accumulated by growing his company like that must be enormous.
His physical abilities were decent, and he was using his unique skill without any delay, so he seemed to have used a considerable amount of points, but it would be best to assume that he had enough points saved up to return to Earth at any time.
"I'll lead the way."
"Do so."
Now was the perfect time, as the other party was off guard due to the previous day's visit, which had been a friendly exchange of information and food.
So, after a short time.
The two demons barged into Hubert's office.
***
The place where a peaceful meeting of information exchange with a meal had taken place the day before.
"...What is the meaning of this?"
A stiff voice flowed out from the space, where documents were scattered on the floor.
Hubert, who had jumped up from his office chair, glared at the uninvited guests who had reappeared before him and ground his teeth.
"Well, it's exactly as it looks."
Ken responded cheerfully to the opponent's reaction, shrugging with a grin.
His expression didn't match, exuding the murderous intent to cut off the opponent's head without hesitation the moment he tried to escape.
The attack was instantaneous.
He was someone who had already secretly infiltrated the office without anyone knowing.
Whether the security had been reorganized after he left, it was a little more difficult than yesterday, but it was all the same to him.
"Ho, this child...? This is very interesting."
Behind him, the pure white old gentleman stroked his beard, carefully examining the girl who had fainted and collapsed on the floor.
Diana, who worked as the company head's secretary, performing minor tasks on the lower floor.
The reason she was here now was because of her sensitive sense of smell.
Unlike yesterday, when she was late to notice the intruder's visit, she, who reacted sensitively to the smell she had remembered once, noticed something was wrong and rushed to warn Hubert, but was caught up in the incident.
"Why? Is there something special about that kid?"
"...Ah, she's a very talented child for a human. If I take her as my disciple and teach her well, she'll become a great asset. Hohoho."
"Tsk, leave that for later. Let's finish this first."
The old gentleman shrugged casually, uttering a blatant lie.
Even if they were in the same boat, he had no intention of sharing information about such a treasure.
'Hmph, to think I would find a child bearing a fragment of a god's power in a place I came to reluctantly. I've unexpectedly hit the jackpot thanks to that fool.'
Unlike Ken, who was only a few decades old and a battle maniac, he had studied mysteries for over a thousand years.
Although he lacked martial prowess and was still only a Viscount-level demon, his discerning eye was naturally different.
Suppressing his excitement with his experience, he pretended to be calm and approached the owner of this office, who was unable to do anything.
'Good, good. If I put this arrogant fellow in debt and get my hands on a god's fragment...'
The old gentleman's lips curled up slightly at the black desire boiling from deep within.
At the same time, he felt a surge of affection for the human who was the head of the company.
Wasn't this all thanks to him?
'Well, I don't intend to go easy on him. At least I won't make it painful.'
That was the greatest kindness he could offer.
The old gentleman, standing in front of Hubert, who seemed frozen in confusion at the sudden situation, lifted his fedora.
And the moment a purple light flashed in his eyes.
"Kugh, what are you...!"
"Hohoho, it'll be over soon, so don't resist. It'll only make it harder for you."
The mental barriers, including 'Clear Mind ', began to collapse helplessly.
Hubert staggered and collapsed weakly onto the office chair behind him.
The evil energy that had penetrated his mind mercilessly crushed everything in its path and infiltrated deep inside.
'Impressive. This mental strength is better than that of an ordinary archmage. If this man had seriously devoted himself to training, he might have reached transcendence someday.'
He had no other martial prowess, but his mental strength alone was at the level of the ultimate.
If the caster hadn't been himself, most would have been unable to break through the solid wall and would have suffered a mental blow from the backlash.
Indeed, it was no coincidence that he had built such a large company. His mental strength was truly extraordinary.
'Pfft— It's a pity. If it weren't for this Frances, if only he had time, he would surely have become a hero. It's a tragedy, a tragedy.'
But contrary to those thoughts, a subtle smile hung on his face, as if he was enjoying the current situation.
He was pretending to be dignified, but he was also a demon who enjoyed the ruin of others.
'Alright, let's start working...'
But that smile didn't last long.
The inner world he had reached by relentlessly crushing the resistance.
There, a magnificent sight unfolded that he had never seen in his life.
"...What is that...?"
A fortress.
No, is it just a wall?
He couldn't understand what he was seeing.
The wall, stretching endlessly to the left and right, reached the sky above.
Like a boundary dividing dimensions.
'How can such a thing exist?'
Frances could tell at a glance the moment he saw the wall.
It wasn't just large in scale.
No matter how many times he hit it, his body would be shattered before he could even make a small scratch.
It was truly an impregnable barrier without a single leak.
Even if this was a mental world without substance, it was something that far exceeded the limits of his imagination.
This couldn't be the inner world of a mere merchant...
'...Retreat.'
He didn't fully understand the situation, but Frances followed his instincts and moved quickly.
An unprecedentedly strong sense of crisis, that something had gone wrong, rang wildly in his mind.
But.
"Huhu, are you leaving already?"
He had already entered too deeply to retreat quickly.
'Something' blocked his path before he could even escape.
The moment he faced it head-on, Frances's soul shook violently.
'Kugh! What is this...!'
This was a world where superiority was determined solely by mental strength, and at the same time, each other's minds were most vulnerable.
As he met the pair of ruby-like eyes, the foundation of the demon Frances was twisted and reassembled.
'Ah, no...!'
He tried his best to resist, but in this space where even time lost its meaning, his struggles scattered without achieving their purpose.
Thus, an eternity-like moment passed.
"You came all the way here, so won't you talk to me for a bit?"
To the sweet voice of the being standing in his way.
"...Gladly."
The old gentleman, who had been blank, replied in an excited tone, as if he was moved.
"...I will follow your command."
As if he were possessed by something.
***
"...Frances?"
Ken's eyes twitched.
And he carefully called out to his companion again.
"What's wrong? Is there a problem? How did the work go?"
It was a question mixed with more irritation than concern, but Frances, who was shaking slightly, showed no reaction even when he was pressed.
No, there was a change.
Sway— Sway—
The pure white old gentleman, now staggering as if he were drunk.
The wooden cane he was holding was already rolling on the floor, and the fedora on his weakly shaking head was precariously hanging, as if it would fall off at any moment.
"...Damn it."
At that point, Ken had no choice but to accept that something was wrong.
Mental abilities were powerful, but they also had significant penalties.
It was hard to believe, but it seemed that the old man had failed in his mind control.
Against a mere merchant who didn't even have any martial prowess.
'I have to kill him.'
Ken's gaze turned to Hubert, who was still bowing his head.
It was a pity, but he couldn't help it.
Since the mind control had failed, he couldn't leave such an uncertain danger.
Just as he was hesitating with regret, about to act.
Frances's body, which had been swaying, stopped abruptly.
The old gentleman froze in place, as if a pause button had been pressed.
"Phew— I apologize for the rudeness."
And the next moment, he began to move smoothly, as if ice were melting, and he straightened his posture with a deep sigh.
He picked up the cane that had fallen on the floor, straightened his crooked fedora, and adjusted his disheveled suit.
"...Frances? Are you really alright?"
"Ah, don't worry. I'm more myself than ever now."
"The mind control? Did you finish it properly?"
"Hohoho, I'm Frances. There's no problem."
Ken stared at the old gentleman, who answered casually as usual.
He didn't feel any particular abnormality from him.
It was as if his constant swaying had been an illusion.
"But what happened? Why were you like that earlier?"
That's why he couldn't help but ask.
What problem had occurred during the mind control process?
What had caused the demon, who handled such dangerous power, to react like that?
"Ah, it's nothing."
That's why.
Ken couldn't help but frown at the answer he received.
"I just paid a visit to my master."
"...What?"
"Ah— Are you perhaps jealous? Hohoho, don't worry. He is our master, so you will soon be able to see his face."
A nonsensical answer.
Ken, feeling a chill at the absurd words, looked at Frances again carefully.
White fedora, white suit, white gloves, white shoes, and a shiny wooden cane.
It was the usual dapper old gentleman's appearance, but.
One thing was different from before.
That foreign element clearly caught his eye.
'His expression...'
It wasn't the usual inscrutable expression that hid something.
The gently curved eyes and the slightly raised corners of his lips.
His flushed face, as if he had met an idol, was overflowing with irrepressible joy and ecstasy.
"...F*ck."
A curse escaped Ken's lips.
No matter how he looked at it, he wasn't normal.
He was completely out of his mind.
And the cause was the head of the company, Hubert, whom he had been trying to mind control until just now.
'If I deal with him now!'
As he turned his head back towards the office chair.
"Huh?"
In that instant, he exhaled a gasp at the sudden change in the world.
The space that had been the company's office until just a moment ago.
It had been replaced by a somehow familiar landscape.
A purple-tinged sky and a blackened earth, a vast wilderness without a single tree, and a dry wind brushing against the skin.
And even the negative energy that filled the atmosphere.
"...The Demon Realm?"
It was like the abandoned land, said to be the most desolate in the Demon Realm.
And—.
"How is it? My 'World of Demonic Heavens'."
With a captivating voice that shook the soul, the being that suddenly appeared in the middle of it.
It was strangely well-suited to this world.
"Welcome. To my world."
It shouldn't fit.
With that peerless beauty who was infinitely beautiful, endlessly noble, and made one want to offer one's heart.
"So, now..."
Like a single flower blooming in the middle of a desert.
A lonely and solitary— the king of the world smiled.
"Kneel while I'm being nice. If you don't want to die."
With a slightly rough tone that didn't match that beautiful voice.