"Huh, you have a disciple? What's going on? Finally getting old?"
"I won't deny my age, but there are only a few years between us. Anyway, where should I put this?"
"Put it next to the life-sized Milky pillow over there. I'll figure out the best spot later. And make sure you place it carefully."
The robed figure who looked like a wizard and my master seemed to be old acquaintances. They spoke casually, as if they were completely used to each other. Habit really is amazing. Maybe my master has given up on him by now. We decided to rest here for about half an hour to adjust the teleportation magic array and watch the anime's ending credits all the way through. It was a fairly long mountain road, so the rest and a drink tasted especially good.
The wizard seems to be officially registered as a "Magician." However, as you can see, he's quite the eccentric, so he sometimes brings his research topics to both the association and the demons. What's more, his research topics are all related to magical girls, and he seems to be developing spells and costumes similar to those of magical girls. I wondered if that was really okay, but it seems he's allowed to continue because his business partners are very interested in his magic. "The research is questionable, but since there's demand for it," he said, and apparently the board has given their approval. Typical of demons—if there's supply and demand, they think like businesspeople.
Still, a wizard... When I play games, I always choose the wizard class. I do admire them, but if I tried to learn from him, he'd probably make me learn magical girl spells, so I'll pass. Besides, I'm currently my master's disciple, so I don't think I have the talent for juggling two mentors. I'll just take it one step at a time.
"You're small. Why did you come all the way here at your age?"
"Oh, sorry. Um, demon-san, do you need something from me?"
"No, it's just that you're about the same age as Milky. I was just curious."
Could you please stop bringing up Milky in every conversation? It's hard to know how to respond.
"Oh, I see. Are there really that few people my age around here?"
"Not exactly. There are plenty of kids younger than you in this world. But..."
"But?"
"Those kids don't have the eyes of children. They don't have hope or dreams like Milky does. They rush through life obsessed with strength, easily throwing away their lives, their eyes clouded by an uncertain future. There's none of that darkness in your eyes. That's why you're rare. Children with eyes like yours don't usually come into the underworld."
A cold sweat broke out on my forehead. He truly isn't human—or perhaps he's a devil who sees right through people. I didn't expect him to analyze me so deeply just by looking at me. And his words hit the mark perfectly. Thinking about it, the only people who would voluntarily enter the underworld are either complete fools or those who've been dragged in.
Ordinary people wouldn't even consider entering the underworld, even if they knew about it. Or maybe there are those who risk their lives out of admiration or a desire for recognition, but such people are probably just rushing headlong toward death.
Thinking about it, I must seem pretty abnormal to others. A child who lived a carefree life on the surface entered the underworld and is now acting decisively to secure his future there, without rushing recklessly through life. When I think about it, that's definitely abnormal. The reason I became this way is undoubtedly because of my knowledge of the original work. I know not only the future but also the deeper aspects of this world.
For example, the dangers of this world. The powerful beings of this world. The structure of this world. My thoughts are based on the knowledge from the original work, and I act accordingly. If I had been reincarnated into this world without knowing it was "High School D×D," and only had the knowledge and divine artifacts I possess now, how would I have acted? First, I wouldn't have ventured into the shadows like I do now, because I truly would have known nothing. I wouldn't have known left from right, front from back.
I know the beings that could become my enemies. That's why I could prepare countermeasures. I know my abilities are inferior in this world. That's why I didn't get carried away by my power. I know the power dynamics and roles of this world. That's why I didn't need to be overly cautious around them. I know who the hero of this world is. That's why I could focus on what I wanted to do with peace of mind. The origin of my actions is almost entirely based on my knowledge of the original work. I've finally realized that.
I could hear the sound of my heart pounding in my ears. Even though these were actions I had carefully considered, they might look abnormal to others. I need to make sure I remember this. I'll continue to reference the original work, but it's just knowledge after all. The thought of unconsciously relying on it and then being tripped up sends a chill down my spine. Still, the knowledge I have is what I can rely on right now. I'll be careful.
"Am I abnormal?"
"I don't mind at all. In fact, I find eyes like Milky's quite appealing."
Thanks, Milky. This is the first time I've ever thanked you. This topic is too much for my heart, so let's change it quickly. I'll just bring up something else.
"So, I heard that this demon was inspired by one of the Four Great Demon Lords and developed an interest in magical girls, which led him to make a contract with that magician. And that Demon Lord also likes magical girls, right? What kind of Demon Lord is she?"
"...You don't find that repulsive?"
"Eh, not exactly repulsive. I actually find 'Magical Girl Milky' interesting and watch it myself. I don't tell anyone else because I'm a guy, though. The story is quite interesting, and each episode has a good cliffhanger, so I can't help but watch it. I'm not exactly a fan, but it's one of my favorite anime."
He silently took my hand and shook it happily. Was he that overjoyed?
"The Demon Lord's name is Serafall Leviathan. She is in charge of diplomacy and is the only female among the Four Great Demon Lords, but she is also a powerful sorceress who can freeze the earth with her ice magic. Despite being a mid-level demon like me, who should be insignificant to her, she treats me as a fellow member of the magical girl fan club, showing a heart as vast as the ocean. She even requested the magical girl magic we developed directly and sent us hundreds of pages of detailed documents outlining improvements. She is the kindest and most passionate Demon Lord I know."
"Huh, that's amazing... A fan club in the underworld? Hundreds of documents? Is that really okay for an underworld diplomat?"
"Furthermore, it seems that her younger sister was recently born, and to celebrate, she and Sirzechs, who apparently had a sister born around the same time, decided to form a sister fan club and distribute their portraits throughout the underworld. She truly values her family and is overflowing with compassion."
"Wait, what happened with that?"
"It was stopped by the strongest one."
As expected of Grayfia-san! She prevented the future heroines' dark history from happening! Her reputation isn't just for show!
Still, the Demon King's true colors are really showing, aren't they, Sirzechs? The hardships of Rias and Sona must have started from the moment they were born. However, I think we got some pretty important information. From what we just heard, Rias and the others probably aren't very well-known in the underworld yet. That means there's a high chance the original story hasn't started yet. Also, "recently"... Well, for demons who live for thousands of years, a few decades is probably just a blink of an eye.
"Hey, demon-san. Do you think I can make it in the underworld?"
"...I don't know. I don't want your eyes to become like those of other children, but this world isn't kind enough for an ordinary child like you to survive. So, engrave your master's words deeply in your heart and be careful not to stray from the path. If anything happens, I'll help you out."
"Really? Thank you so much."
I received advice and a promise of help. The bond formed through Milky is incredibly strong. And in my heart, I pump my fist in victory. Since he doesn't seem to be lying, he must see me as just an ordinary child. In other words, he hasn't sensed the aura of my Sacred Gear. The greatest concern I had before meeting this demon has been dispelled. It has been proven that a general-level demon cannot detect the presence of a Sacred Gear.
If that's the case, then probably my concealment and stealth abilities are also effective. I was able to test them on lower-ranked demons near the port, but intermediate-ranked demons require more caution. I haven't told my master that I possess a Sacred Gear. He also didn't ask me how I gathered information about the port. But I think he probably has a rough idea. He knows that I'll keep my mouth shut if he doesn't ask, so he doesn't bother pressing me. I really look up to my master.
"Shou, the coordinates for the long-distance teleportation have been set. It's time to go."
"Ah, understood. Please take care of us."
"Alright, perfect. It's rare for him to be so friendly, so when you become a regular customer, I'll give you a discount. I really want to increase the number of Milky fans."
"Ah, ha ha ha..."
Maybe I shouldn't come here too often. My thoughts are being converted to Milky's wavelength. Even though I've found a wizard and a demon who like me, my thoughts are being shifted toward Milky's frequency. It's important, so I'll say it twice.
Come to think of it, there was another Milky fan in the original story besides Serafall. If I bring them together... No, I'd better not. It would probably cause more mental damage to me than anything else. I'm not going to do anything unnecessary.
With that, my master and I slowly stepped into the magic circle created by this Milky-obsessed demon. The Gremory family's magic circle was red, but the one we're heading toward is blue. Normally, you can't travel through a magic circle without a certain amount of magic power, but the demon will handle that part. When we return, if we tell them the coordinates, they'll come to pick us up. This is definitely convenient.
Now I can understand the excitement that the original protagonist, Issei Hyoudou, felt when he first stepped into a teleportation magic circle. As we stepped into the glowing magic circle, I felt something rush through my body. Could this be magic power? The magical energy enveloped us in a bright light. I instinctively closed my eyes against the glare, and then felt a momentary sensation of floating.
When I cautiously opened my eyes, I found myself not in the Milky-themed space we had been in moments before, but in a quiet forest surrounded by trees.
"I was wondering why you were shopping in a foreign country, but you came here to buy magic-related items, didn't you?"
"Yes, the headquarters of magicians are mostly in Northern Europe. I ran out of my usual supplies, and I wanted to get some things for my disciple as well."
"What, for me too?!"
"They're simple things... Magic is a technology that humans have developed by analyzing the abilities of supernatural beings and creating ways to counter them. It covers a wide range of fields, each with its own history. We have incorporated some of their technology and used it to navigate this world."
As I listened to my master's words, I found myself nodding in agreement. Certainly, ordinary humans without Sacred Gears have no chance of defeating supernatural beings. Magic must be one of the things that makes such confrontations possible.
In the original work, there were also tools imbued with magical power, such as communication devices and the glasses worn by Student Council President Sona. Those glasses would be amazing if they could shoot beams from the eyes. A princess with a switch that shoots beams from her chest and a princess with glasses that shoot beams from her eyes. An appearance in "Oppai Dragon" would be inevitable.
"Isn't what you're buying for me expensive? Are you purchasing weapons or something?"
"You wouldn't be able to use weapons anyway. As for what's important for those without power—it's not how to handle a crisis when it arises, but how to avoid crises in the first place. Now, here's a question. What do you think the magical tool I plan to give you to avoid crises might be?"
As usual, my master is such a tease. I guess I asked for it. But as a teacher, it's probably just a way to pass the time until we reach our destination. If it's a tool for gathering information, there's the recognition-blocking robe I'm wearing now, or the bracelet my master is wearing to prevent our conversation from being overheard. As for tools to avoid enemies, let's see...
"Ensuring a quick escape? If you have a way to flee immediately upon being discovered, you can avoid facing a crisis."
"Yeah, that's not a bad idea. There are magical talismans that can temporarily enhance physical abilities."
"And then, there's magic to prevent them from sensing our presence, right?"
"Disposable items that can confuse an enemy's detection or prevent them from tracking you. Hmm, you came up with more ideas than I expected."
Both of those were things I've been prioritizing. However, while they're convenient and could free up a slot in our defensive options, they're not exactly groundbreaking. They'd be helpful if we had them.
"And then there's magic to detect magical power."
"Wait, detection? Does that mean we can tell if the enemy is a demon or a fallen angel?"
"Detecting fallen angels requires different magic, but the detection performance for demons and other magical beings is quite high. Magic is fundamentally created from magical power, after all. It can be used to track individuals, their auras, or traces of magical power. This can help avoid crises or serve as a starting point for gathering information. This is one of the essentials."
I'm so happy! This is something I've always wanted. If I had this, I could have uncovered the truth behind the stray demon incident much sooner. I don't have any advanced skills like presence detection, so this is a magical technique I definitely want to acquire.
Magic is amazing. It was only briefly mentioned in the original work, and there were various types of magicians, but perhaps because it wasn't central to the original story, it didn't leave much of an impression. The Gremory family's servants in the original work were power-focused and didn't use such intricate techniques. Later on, the female characters also started using magic, but it was mostly to compensate for their own weaknesses. The only one among the main characters who used magic properly was the Norse Valkyrie, Rossweisse.
Thinking back, the characters in the original work were all incredibly strong, and there were many scenes where they had solid backup. In essence, there was a support organization that handled the rear guard and tedious tasks, allowing the protagonists to focus on taking down the main target. Such intricate magical techniques weren't necessary for them. Instead of wasting time on such details, it made more sense to focus on developing strengths and compensating for weaknesses to keep the power levels escalating. This is also a matter of putting the right people in the right places. In that sense, organizational strength is crucial.
"For now, I plan to buy some other simple items, but make sure you study how to use them properly. If too many ordinary people learn about magic, you might be punished by the magic-using factions. There are spells that can manipulate memories, but it's best not to rely on them."
"...Yeah, I don't really want to use spells that mess with memories either."
While gently touching his companion in his pocket, he nodded firmly at his master's words. In some worlds, if magic is exposed to ordinary people, they might be turned into animals or have their hearts taken. Though magic isn't the strongest force in this world, it's still a dangerous technology. Curiosity about magic can't be extinguished, but self-control must never be lost.
"Alright, this is where the magicians set up stalls to earn extra money for their research. Let me show you around while we look for what we need. Stay close."
"Got it!"
My excited expression earned me another scolding: "Don't let it show on your face." But I'll keep going anyway. And so, I stepped into the world of the magicians.
***
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