The so-called entry procedures were actually quite simple. The conductor used a special device to verify each passenger's identity. Once the check passed, the entry procedures were completed at the same time.
As for how that confirmed their identities—it was because after being reincarnated using Evil Pieces, a servant devil's information was already registered in the Underworld. A quick scan with the device was enough to confirm whether it was truly them.
Naturally, there were no issues with the identities of the Eligos servants. Their verification was completed quickly, and the entry procedures were finished without incident.
"From here until we reach the station at your destination, you're free to move around the train cars," the conductor said. "There are sleeping compartments and dining areas available. Please feel free to make use of them during your journey."
After greeting Leo's group with a professional smile and guiding them into the carriage, the conductor disappeared, leaving the girls with an even stronger feeling that they were riding a train straight out of hell.
"If I hadn't already been reincarnated as a devil, I'd never dare get on something like this," Utaha muttered under her breath, earning unanimous agreement from the others.
That said, the interior of the train was unexpectedly normal. Unlike its terrifying exterior, it looked more like a banquet hall used by medieval nobility. Red carpets covered the floor, the decor was elegant, and there weren't many seats, giving the impression of riding in a luxurious first-class cabin. There was even a bar counter and a tea cart.
"Woo—"
Not long after, the train's horn sounded, and it began to move slowly, pulling away from the station.
"Where is this train heading?" Yukino asked, glancing out the window.
After leaving the station, the train followed dark tracks, but instead of heading into a city or residential area, it seemed to be traveling through a strange, warped world. There were no proper buildings or scenery in sight.
"Alright, stop looking," Leo said, motioning for the girls to sit down as he explained again. "There's nothing out there—just distortion."
"Once we leave the station, we officially enter the gap between the human world and the Underworld. That's why you can't see anything beyond the tracks. There's literally nothing there."
"In about thirty minutes, we'll encounter the Dimensional Gap and pass through it, officially entering the Underworld."
"And this train will take us directly to the Eligos Territory, where we'll get off."
The seats were arranged face-to-face. Sitting across from Leo were Yukino and Utaha, while Asuna and Mahiru sat beside him, one on each side.
"That place is both the Eligos family's territory and land waiting to be developed."
"In the future, I'll grant part of that territory to you. You'll need to develop it properly and restore it to prosperity."
"Of course, that's something for later. We haven't officially debuted yet. We'll only need to think about reviving the territory after that."
Leo's explanation cleared up some of the girls' doubts—but also raised more questions.
"So what you're saying is that the Eligos Territory hasn't been fully developed?" Yukino asked, puzzled. "Why?"
It was a reasonable question.
The Eligos family was one of the Seventy-Two Pillars. Even if the bloodline had once been cut off, as long as the land remained, there was no reason for it to be completely undeveloped.
Unless it had been abandoned.
"That's right—it was abandoned," Leo said with a shrug. "The land was once prosperous, but after the Eligos family fell, all the devils living there left. It eventually turned into ruins."
The Underworld was different from the human world. There were no oceans, and the land was vast. Even after devils and fallen angels divided it up, land utilization was still extremely low compared to the small population of devils.
As a result, land in the Underworld wasn't particularly valuable unless it had additional worth—such as rare resources. Once no one managed it, the land was quickly discarded without hesitation.
That was why the former residents of the Eligos Territory had left, moving on to more prosperous regions.
Leo had returned before, but all he saw was a massive stretch of abandoned land. Cities had crumbled into ruins, vegetation overtook what used to be urban areas, and various monsters roamed freely. It wasn't a place anyone could live.
"You'll understand once you see it for yourselves."
Seeing how intently the girls were listening, Leo shared a bit more about the Eligos Territory to help them better understand the situation.
Even so, after hearing everything, the girls all had the same thought.
"How are we supposed to revive a place like that?"
The current state of the Eligos Territory was that bad—definitely not something a group of young girls could develop.
"Don't rush it. Our future is still long," Leo said casually, clearly having already thought it through. "There's no way we could revive it with just the few of us."
"But once we debut and start participating in Rating Games, we'll make a name for ourselves in the devil world. When that happens, even if we do nothing, people will come seeking us out."
"That's when the revival of the territory truly begins."
As for now…
"Just treat it as a place for us to train."
Leo unfolded a magic circle in his hand, projecting a detailed map.
It was a map of the Eligos Territory. It was very detailed, but most areas were marked as barren—mountains and forests everywhere, hardly looking like places anyone had lived.
"Our destination is here," Leo said, pointing to one corner of the map. "This used to be an Ancient Battlefield where the Eligos family trained soldiers. The outer area has a barely usable camp, while the interior is filled with dangerous terrain."
"Some areas are perfect for training, with great results—but stay too long, and you'll die."
"I've trained there before," Leo continued. "Not for long, though. The environment was too harsh."
Back then, Leo had only been one of the stronger Mid-Class Devils, nowhere near a High-Class Devil. Naturally, the place had been too dangerous for him.
Now, however, he could move through it freely.
"My plan is to train all of you there for one month," Leo said, his gaze sweeping over the girls. "I've already prepared a detailed training plan. Once everything's ready, I'll hand it to you."
The girls nodded, showing they understood.
They weren't without anxiety, but they suppressed it.
After experiencing two attacks, they were painfully aware of how lacking their current strength was. They wanted to become stronger.
So even knowing they were heading to a harsh environment, they mustered their courage and raised no objections.
"Don't worry," Leo said, as if seeing through their thoughts. "With me here, nothing will happen to you."
The girls nodded again, finally relaxing.
The train continued on, traveling endlessly through the warped, eerie world.
About thirty minutes later, an announcement echoed through the carriage.
"Approaching the Dimensional Gap. Approaching the Dimensional Gap."
Hearing that, the girls rushed to the windows.
"There's a hole!" Asuna cried out.
Ahead of the train, a black cavern appeared in the twisted world, spinning slowly in the void like a black hole.
The train plunged straight into it, then emerged moments later, carrying the Eligos servants into the Underworld.
The scenery outside changed completely. The warped world vanished, replaced by an unfamiliar landscape.
A purple sky stretched overhead, and endless land spread out below—mountains and forests everywhere. There was no sea, but massive lakes dotted the terrain.
"Th-this is the Underworld?" the girls murmured, their eyes shining with wonder. Even Yukino, Asuna, and Utaha were no exception.
It couldn't be helped. The last time the three of them had been to the Underworld, it had already been dark, and all they saw was the Familiar Forest.
This time was different. There was no sun in the sky, but the light was plentiful, clearly illuminating the mountains, rivers, lakes, and forests. The view was undeniably beautiful.
"Is this really the hell from the legends?" Mahiru said softly. "It doesn't look like it at all."
The others nodded instinctively.
"What you're seeing now is just the surface of the Underworld," Leo explained with a smile. "This part isn't much different from the human world. There are towns and cities, and it's quite developed—at least in the devil world."
"As for the hell you imagine, that's actually underground, much deeper."
"That's where the souls of the dead go. Even deeper still live the gods who manage the Underworld and the gods of death. They're part of a different system from us, and we rarely interact with them, so you don't need to worry about it."
"Look—the Eligos Territory is coming up."
Following Leo's lead, the girls looked ahead.
The land was full of mountains and forests, with the faint outlines of towns and cities—but all of them were abandoned, reduced to crumbling ruins.
The train crossed ruins, mountains, and forests before finally reaching the boundary of the Eligos Territory and entering a stretch of wasteland.
At the edge of the territory stood a camp made up of rows of tents.
"We're here," Leo said as he stood up, a strange smile on his face.
"Come on, girls. It's time to face your trial."
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
You can read up to chapter 173 on patreon.com/NiaXD.