Chapter 35

I need directions.

That's what Emrill, who marked the map Rio brought with red ink, accidentally said.

"Directions?"

"Yes, we need someone familiar with the land of the Demons. We used Ray's telescopic abilities to pick a path, but Rio and the others wouldn't be able to do that, would they? I hope you know Mr. Arf well enough."

"I haven't been to the Devil's Land in the last few hundred years, either. I can't say I'm familiar with it."

Then I knew I needed directions.

"Is there anyone familiar with the land of the Demons enough to guide the way?

Emrill lowers her voice to Rio's inquiry and signals them to face each other.

On the widened table of the map, Emrill also joined the two who looked at each other, and that's how she began to whisper.

"This is something only some people in the extreme have been informed about. Do you know what a Jesus castle fortress is?

"Was it the closest fortress to the territorial line?

"That's right. Closest to the fortress is the territory ruled by the Duke of Inverse. There's a royal villa on the tip of its territory, and there's two demons there."

"Huh!?

"The Front Pioneer team captured him about a year ago. Even the kings don't know they're in Inverse territory right now."

"Huh? Why?

"Of course, I was rewarded for what I captured, but all I returned was a fruitless order to 'execute him immediately'. The kings have told me to just kill them, even though it's a corner means of knowing the enemy. Don't even think about how much sacrifice it took to capture them both. That's why Kleehardt didn't listen to that order."

Emrill speaks with red ink marking the location of the Castle Fortress of Jesus and even closer to it in Inverse territory.

"Inverse territory is a place you can wear if you run a horse from the Jeezant Castle Fortress for a day, and Kleehardt has absolute trust in the people there. So I decided to kill the two demons I captured and hide them in Inverse territory."

"But it's the royal villa where the demons are, isn't it?

"That's right. Well, you should actually meet someone there and ask them directly about the situation. I'll send a quick letter to the Duke of Inverse and anyone in the villa. All you have to do is… well, the demons you're capturing will do their part and take over the directions, but there's only one condition you can get out of here that liberates you… well, I hope you use it well around Mr. Arf. I'll leave the demons' persuasion to both of us. We don't have much time."

"Wow, come here and throw round just the most important part……"

"Hey, just because I'm a former demon king doesn't mean all demons listen to me."

"Even I can't do anything. I've never even met those demons. Well, someone in the villa might think of something, so just don't dare go. Either way, it's a place where you have to go to get to the Devil's Lands, so just think of it as a way to follow."

To that word, well, then two people nodded.

I told those two to wait a little while. Emrill took the paper and pen out of the desk that was nearby and started writing letters.

"You guys have one. The other two should be sent to express flight in the morning. Well, it'll be about five days before the express flights arrive, so you guys can leave in four days."

"That means it's okay."

"Yes."

Emrill's face, smiling at Rio's words, then turned into a crying smile.

"Fine, Rio. It's about you, so I guess you'll go even if you can't get the help of the demons. So promise me something. If you think it's dangerous at all, don't force yourself to come back. I'm glad you think about Ray and the Tonics. But I care about you, too. Please, come back safely."

……

Emrill was shaking as she hugged Rio all the time.

Holding such an emuril back, Rio speaks of his promise.

"I'm sure we'll all be back, Mr. Emu. So wait."

Thus began the journey of Rio.