Chapter 748 – Demons of the Hell Dimension

000

Hell dimension.

That place is the home of strange monsters called demons that were once connected to this world due to a chance encounter.

The reason why that place, seething with fire and brimstone and teeming with creatures beyond human common sense, is called hell is because it is very similar to the hell that humans imagined in the past.

The only person who is thought to have ever entered such hell bare-handed and came out alive is a man called the Poet Hero.

He too made a lot of preparations and received the help of a guide spirit who could guide him through hell, and instead of returning from dealing with demons there, he simply observed the scenery there and returned without being detected by demons.

Such a poet-warrior said – He who entered this place, let all hope be abandoned.

A few days after leaving those words, the hero who returned from the hell dimension disappeared with all his personal affairs in order.

Someone guessed that the price he paid for guiding the way that allowed him to enter hell and come out safely was to give up his all.

However, thanks to that, humans became well aware of how dangerous the dimension where demons live was and that no one in their right mind could imagine going there.

Of course, to say that it was simply because they were afraid of demons left out too many things.

The dark magic that overflowed in the hell dimension had the characteristic of slowly corrupting the human soul just by being within it, polluting the mind and soon turning it into a devil.

It was a famous story, as the origins of the succubi were said to be that type of sex slaves taken to hell by demons.

“So, Lila. Going to the hell dimension is absolutely not possible!”

Kuon was trying to break Lyla’s will by preaching to her all the information about demons he had learned so far in the church.

Lila quietly listened to her Kuon’s entire story, nodded her head, and then answered her.

“But, if we don’t do that, there’s no way to treat the injured woman Cleon is with.”

“Well, that is… If Amelia and I go inside and neutralize the dark magic area with a large amount of holy magic…”

She tries to persuade her with a method she barely came up with, but Lila dismisses her answer by shaking her head.

“No. If you pour in enough magic power to turn the dark magic area into a sanctuary, who will do the healing?”

＂Ugh…＂

Seeing Kuon’s reaction to her own answer as if she hadn’t thought about it, she shrugged her shoulders and smiled as if it was okay.

“Don’t worry. The only people sent to the hell dimension are me, my familiar who became the material for this book, and the minds of both of us. It was okay when I did it before.”

She looks at Lila talking with a smile, and Kuon still fidgets as if he is worried, but Lillim frowns slightly and points out when he hears her.

＂… Before?＂

“Oh. Seup…”

And, seeing her react as if acknowledging that her words had come out in vain, Kuon once again looked dumbfounded and appalled.

＂Before!? Are you saying she’s already been there once?”

“Well… That… Actually, once when I was making this wand and book…”

When asked by Kuon, Laila pointed to her cane and book as if she had no choice but to tell the truth. She smiled and broke into a cold sweat, but Kuon put her hand on her forehead as if she was dizzy.

“Ha, but thanks to this book, I was able to win the fight against the Exiled Church? And since you’re using the power of hell, you haven’t become a follower of the devil, so don’t worry!”

Kuon glared at Lila for a moment as she spoke while waving her arms as if making excuses, but then she sighed and placed her hands on her head.

＂Hi.＂

When Lila flinched at Kuon’s hand, her body trembled, and her voice sounded frightened, Sasha raised her voice as if she was embarrassed when she saw the two people.

＂Ku, Mr. Kuon!? No matter how dangerous Lila did without saying a word, holding onto her head and putting pressure on her skull with her hands!”

＂Eh!? Well, isn’t that what it is!?”

Kuon raised her voice in confusion as if she was talking to Sasha, but then she cleared her throat and started flowing her divine magic from her body towards Lila.

And, a film of blessing that emits a soft light covers Lila’s body.

Previously, it was a priest’s blessing that had been given to Cleon at the academy and was effective in preventing misfortune from coming upon his body.

Lyla looked down at her own body and then up at her Kuon, feeling a warm sensation envelop her entire body.

“… No matter what I say, I don’t think I can stop Lila… Sigh. In the end, I have to wait again.”

When Kuon sighs as if she can’t help it as she says that, Lila plays with the ends of her hair a little and answers her.

“Are you okay. Because I’ll be back soon. It won’t take more than 5 minutes this way.”

＂… You may be a little late, so you must arrive safely.＂

When Kuon said that to Lila, who was somewhat anxious, Sasha nodded and helped her.

“That’s right. Because she might have to go all the way to hell to save her.”

“Hey, you’re coming to save me.”

“Of course!” Perhaps Mr. Cleon will be the first to ask you to go rescue him?”

As if what she said was correct, when Laila nodded her head, she slowly closed her eyes in her cross-legged position and began to flow the magic power within her body into her magic book. 〉

Then, her magic book opened on its own, and her voice, which had been intentionally blocked until now, slowly flowed into Lila.

[… No, it’s really too much, even though I’ve given you so much information, you’re still modifying people… No, devils, like this…]

Hmm… It’s been a while since I heard this voice full of complaints, but it still irritated me.

What Camilla, in the form of her book, can usually do is spew out harsh words that don’t reach Lila.

Because of the effects of the oath and transformation, you must absolutely obey Laila’s words.

[Can you hear everything? Long time no see, Camilla.]

[I know! I don’t have ears, but I can hear everything!? You turned my cute appearance into something so hideous, and you even thought about talking to me again!?]

When her grumbling voice hits her ears, Lila speaks to her while frowning as if she is being loud.

[Oh, I don’t know. Open the passage to hell like last time. Because I have something to ask the devils.]

[Yes, I understand~! Should I say…!? I guess you’ve forgotten that you’ve gotten a little stronger these days, but hell is not a place where people like you can just go in and out without permission! The proud home of us devils, and to you~]

[It’s noisy… They tell me to open it?]

When Lila increases her magical powers and does things that are not her bidding, Camilla, through her pact with her, has no choice but to open a passage to Hell for her spirit to pass through for Lila’s sake.

Her head was cut off and stored away, and under the influence of the strange book she read, she was transformed into the form of a magic book. All she could do was to make a small protest by voicing her voice.

[Oh, I don’t know! Why should I worry about a guy like you! Sister Lilim has also become strange, and if you die, the oath will be completed, and I can return to hell!]

As if everything went well, Kuon and other members of her group in the material world could not know that she, too, was heading to hell, following Lila’s spirit passing through her passage.

However, as she saw her magic slowly subside and her breathing become more regular as if she was falling asleep, she could vaguely feel that her consciousness had gone somewhere other than here.

＂… It became quiet.＂

When Sasha says that, Kuo nods her head.

“It seems like my mind left my body safely. As long as we return safely from the hell dimension like this, I will give you three applause.”

At Lilim’s strange words, Kuon silences her for a moment, then turns to her and asks a question.

＂Lilim, back when she was a demon, did she ever go to hell?＂

“No. But because she has summoned so many demons, each time she opens a gate to a hellish dimension. Therefore, I know very well what it is like beyond that.”

Lilim adds, “It’s not something to be proud of.

Then, as if Sasha was concerned, he asked her what kind of place her hell was.

“… I see, to put it simply… A place where the ‘desire’ and ‘fear’ of all humans in this world are mixed and seem to have become reality. Should I say that?”

“Is it desire or fear?”

When two keywords that, at first glance, seemed like they could not coexist, appeared together, Sasha tilted her head as if she had no idea.

Even Sasha didn’t think that all humans had healthy desires.

“Someone’s desire can be someone else’s fear. People who touch people because they want to satisfy their sexual desires. The act of touching someone else’s property in order to satisfy one’s own material desires. Demons achieve such things without any sense of guilt – rather, they are born from such desires and are hell-bent on satisfying only those desires.”

Black magic is a magic power that is deeply related to the dark desires of humans, and demons also form their own nature and body based on such dark desires, gaining a shape and name.

There was no other reason for their strong connection with dark magic.

They seem to have been created by removing only the dark side of humans, and do not care about the safety of others in order to satisfy their own desires.

Therefore, from the perspective of human morality, they are defined as ‘evil’ and that is why they are called devils.

“… It’s an incredibly dangerous place, after all.”

“You’re right. But… Maybe it’s not that dangerous for Lila.”

Lilim agrees with Sasha’s words, but talks about Lila as if she isn’t that worried.

When Sasha and Kuon looked at her at the same time as if asking what that meant, Lilim answered with her expressionless expression.

“She knows how to make a deal with the devil. Just like demon summoners like me. In the end, the most important thing for the devil is to satisfy his desires. If Lilah knew how to fulfill the desires of other demons with her own abilities – she would be a welcome guest to the demons.”

“… I don’t think being liked by demons is a very good thing…”

Kuon says so.

“Maybe reincarnating as a demon would suit her?”

Lilim added that her magic power was overflowing and her affinity for fire was high, but Kuon gave Lillim a sharper look than before and cautioned her.

“… Don’t say such ominous things.”

But Sasha listens to Lilim’s words and quietly thinks about them in her head.

Flaming red pigtails, spreading bat-like wings, and whip-like tail.

The appearance of the great devil Laila, with red horns and fangs growing.

When I thought of her smiling with her red flames as the background and saying ‘Waha haha!’, She burst out laughing as if she couldn’t help it because it suited her so much.

＂Sa~sha~?＂

＂S-sorry~!?＂

001

The two arrived in Hell through the dimensional passage that Camilla opened, and as soon as they came down, they checked to see if there was any damage to each other’s bodies.

Then, seeing that Camilla was not in the shape of a book, which is her current physical body, but in the shape of her mental body, which was worn from head to toe, Lila let out a half-admiring laugh and looked at her. It was a matter of looking.

Be that as it may, Camilla seemed to be thrilled by the mere fact that she had both arms and legs, and was hopping, stepping, and jumping in place, opening and closing her hands.

＂Black, dark, arms after a month, legs after a month… And home dimension after a month…!”

It reminds me of how happy she is to be able to move her body freely and how grateful she is, but looking at her like that is what speaks to her Lila.

“Okay then. Guide me to the devil who might be helpful.”

“… Wait a minute, is it okay to do one thing before that?”

Looking at Lila, who gave the order as if it were natural, Camilla spoke while raising her hand.

Because her attitude was quite serious, Lila put her hand on her waist and nodded her head as if she wanted to hear what she had to say, even though she looked a bit perverse.

＂… Can I say hello to my mom that I’m home? It’s been a month since I came…”

“Ah, indeed. Even demons go to say hello to their parents when they return home. There’s nothing we can do about that.”

Lila laughs at her words and makes an OK shape with her right hand, as if telling her to go.

Then Camilla’s eyes light up, and she tries to fly away somewhere.

As Lila squeezed her hand that had made her OK, it was as if something invisible had grabbed her and held her in that position in the air, preventing her from moving.

“There’s no way you would be fooled by such foolish words. Do you think I don’t know how vague the concept of parents and children is for true devils like you?”

＂Je, jeenjaang~!＂

When she raised her voice as if pessimizing her situation, where she was unable to move even though she was half in tears, Lila walked up to her and placed her hand on her shoulder. Bring your face to her ear and talk to her.

“If you wanted to run away from me so much, you shouldn’t have been caught by me in the first place… I’m the type of person who, once I get my hands on a tool, uses it until it breaks. Do you understand?”

＂Hiik…＂

With a terrified sound coming out of her mouth as if she was getting goosebumps, she soon hears Lila’s next story.

＂If I leave it to you roughly, it seems like it will try to run away. I will give you proper orders. Last time I came here, there was a devil who taught me this and that, right? What was your name?”

＂B-Are you talking about Bell?＂

When I asked her again, as if answering Lila’s question, with her body stiff and only her mouth moving, Lila nodded her head, saying, “Oh, that’s right.”

“Yes, that’s right. He may seem strange in many ways, but he also taught me how to turn you into a book, right?”

“Oh, you idiot! Mr. Bell is a very high-ranking devil even in hell – a level higher than that of an overlord! Just because I liked that devil a little, I did whatever I wanted in hell-“

＂Move＂

When Lila’s command rings out with her magic once again, Camilla’s body begins to move.

Additionally, because the voice was very loud, I also turned the volume to 0.

Thanks to this, her voice was no longer heard from Laila like in reality.

Whether she knew it or not, she kept opening her mouth while moving.

But this place is hell, the den and home of the devils.

Naturally, the moment something as desirable and delicious as a human soul came across, a signal was sent to the nearby demons.

Whether she knew it or not, the first to arrive were small demons like hyenas, attacking Lila from the sky.

＂Tch, being such a bother…!＂

As Lila said that, the moment she was about to shoot down the demon that was coming in proportion-

Suddenly, the bodies of those demons burned as if spontaneously combusting, and they scattered and disappeared, turning into a heap of ashes.

A situation that happened without any warning – Lila looked surprised, but she soon turned her head and walked forward, breaking out in a cold sweat from the pressure of her magical powers in her memories, pressing down on her own body. It was looking in the direction I was trying to go.

Then, there was a being standing there who looked exactly like Lila.

However, unlike Lila, who had her hair down in two parts, her cumbersome headdress was not worn, but rather left loose in one piece, and her body was clad in a noblewoman’s outfit based on white with red highlights.

Also – the burning halo hovering above her head, as if to signify the ‘demon of primal fear’ (Halo).

It was her act that immediately burned and destroyed the evil demons from before.

“… That still stinks.”

When Lila said that, Belle laughed and spoke to Lila as if it was fun.

＂That’s right, I’m glad she’s still so reckless. I was thinking you would come back here. Laila Flame Watch.”

Feeling that even her voice was the same as hers, Lila flinched slightly as goosebumps ran through her body, but then she shook her head and remembered that she had to be confident in front of her too. 〉

Demon of flame, ‘Bell’.

An incarnation that imitates the instinctive fear that living things have of ‘fire’ and at the same time the desire to light something and burn it.

The fear of the primal phenomenon of destruction that all living things have – was telling how powerful her power was.

Her original form is a burning flame, but upon observing Lyla, she appears to Lyla, taking her demonic form as her own human form.

And it was to treat Lila kindly, as her comrade and candidate for her contractor who could best handle her own powers.

“So? Did you come back this time with the intention of becoming a devil?”

“… That can’t be possible. I have no intention of becoming a devil.”

Lila answered Belle’s question by shaking her head, but Belle was not disappointed and nodded her head and smiled as if she would wait patiently.

“I came to ask about a way to remove the stigma of sacrifice.”

And when Belle heard her words, she closed her mouth for a moment, and then her expression suddenly became uninterested.

“Lila. Do you think I’m not that interesting and that I’ll answer questions that might be helpful to someone?”

“… Of course, I prepared it. A new fire magic you might like”

So, as if Lila knew this, she took out a card that she could use in her dealings and placed it on her table.

When Belle heard this, she flinched and shook her shoulders, but then she reached out her hand to Camilla, who was speechless under her control, and placed a bucket on her head, causing her to turn toward her.

＂What, what? It suddenly got dark…”

Belle is talking to Camilla, who is struggling with a panicked voice, without paying any attention to her.

“I’ve prepared a price, so as a devil, I can’t help but be interested in the contract.”

She admired the magic of her incarnations that Lila had shown her before, so she entered into a contract with her to help her transform Camilla’s true name.

If she could see the new and beautiful form of ‘flame’ created by humans, she was willing to do her best to help human wizards like Laila.

“… Why did you take Camilla?”

“Well, if she’s going to use magic, she better have a target. This child is connected to you by a life link, so even if your mental body burns down, you can be resurrected as long as you are intact. And that too, while still belonging to your family.”

To her, her compatriot Camilla seemed to have no value, and was treated as nothing more than a scarecrow to help Lyla demonstrate her magic.

After all, her devil-her attitude is that it doesn’t matter if she’s a member of her own race or not, as long as she can fulfill her own desires.

However, Lila was willing to use any mask of her mind to get what she wanted from such a devil.

＂Good. Then I’ll show you. A new form of flame magic that even you devils don’t know about!”

With that declaration, she placed Camilla in her sights, drew an invisible target mark in her mind, and slowly began her chant.