Chapter 82
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: In the Demon Realm
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The place called the Demon Realm, reached after a grueling journey, lived up to its name.
A thorny vine that would rot your skin with a single prick.
Mushrooms that spewed paralyzing spores whenever the wind blew.
Trees covered entirely in sharp thorns, as if refusing to allow even the slightest rest.
Snakes and venomous insects with tough scales, crawling indifferently over those trees, highly aggressive.
There were no grotesquely monstrous creatures in sight.
No hideously wicked villains either.
The environment itself was utterly bizarre, and with every step, every nerve was on edge. Merely walking drained body and mind.
No proper paths existed, untouched by human feet.
The thickly grown grass was like sandpaper, scraping bare legs painfully with each movement. And who knew what lurked beneath such grass.
Every seven or eight steps, something squished underfoot, which was quite distressing.
"I thought the Demon Realm would be some devil-infested hellhole. I didn't expect the environment itself to be the demon realm."
Day or night? Impossible to tell.
Magic lanterns lit the surroundings, but the sky was a roof formed by densely packed trees greedily blocking sunlight.
All senses were hyper-sensitive, sense of direction and time dulled.
Individually, none threatened life.
Taken separately, they could be handled casually.
But combined, all at once, it was overwhelming.
"I get why time feels so slow here."
"Right?"
Time itself didn't flow differently.
No such place existed.
A second here equaled a second outside.
Just the perception differed.
Under extreme tension, a second couldn't feel ordinary.
Subjectively, a day in the Demon Realm.
Impossible to grasp everything in a mere day, or define bodily changes. But Helen's reason for bringing me here was clear.
"Surviving a place like this... you'd definitely get stronger."
"Usually eight out of ten break down, but your mental fortitude's decent despite your rock-bottom talent. Hang in there—the longer you endure, the greater the rewards."
Helen grinned unsettlingly while swatting a flying insect with her hand, bursting it.
The air ripped with a sound that dulled my eardrums, making me frown.
"Ugh."
"Hold on a bit longer. You handled these trifles fine at first, but your focus is shot now."
"Can't help it..."
A good night's sleep would have helped.
But digging a burrow and staying awake through the night was exhausting.
Fighting monsters or demons would be better, a thought growing stronger over time.
A fight ends win or lose—clear-cut.
This slowly drained blood, impossible to fight.
"Why not burn this damn Demon Realm?"
Poisonous or not, it was a forest.
Fire would tame it.
Yet they preserved it, so reasons existed, but I grumbled anyway.
"Can't do that. Untouched by humans means rare resources abound. Potions you took? Made from herbs only here."
"Ah."
"High-purity magic stones too, plus countless rare herbs and poisons. Destroy it, and you'd doom the declining kingdom."
"It formed where the great demon fell, right?"
"Yeah, its corpse nourished the forest into this."
"Not sure if that's good or bad..."
"Bad for locals, good for the kingdom. What's complicated?"
"Fair enough."
Disaster for nearby folk, but a natural treasure trove for the kingdom—if managed well.
Thieves and slum conditions suggested poor management.
Wondering how anyone lived here, I licked cracked lips and spoke.
"Does the witch live in a place like this?"
"Yep. She had the biggest stake in slaying the great demon that made this. Claims rights here, loves studying its environmental impact. Reports new phenomena to the kingdom."
"Unlike Helen, she's diligent."
"Weird, right? Why hole up here?"
Tsk—Helen clicked her tongue, lazily slashing a dangling vine.
It bled, fell twitching grotesquely. She crushed it indifferently.
Closer look: a snake, disguised as a vine hanging from a branch.
"Didn't notice."
"Hard to tell visually. Demon Realm creatures are twisted by the great demon's influence—camouflage masters. Sense hostility instead."
"Sense hostility..."
Familiar territory.
And confident—before sunglasses.
Before gaining strength to protect myself.
I'd faced baseless hate and violence.
Human-only, so non-human malice felt distinct—needed adjustment.
"I'll try."
"That's why I like you. Others whine 'How?' when I teach. You just try."
"Other disciples?"
"Disciples? Just advised frustrating ones watching. Ignored me, all died eventually."
Regretted asking, but her casualness made it adventurer normalcy.
Acquaintances vanished often—most dead. Adventurers risked life daily.
Recalling my reckless choice, but without it, I'd beg in alleys, or worse.
No regrets—better human risks than inhuman ones.
"Hoo..."
Steadied mind and breath.
Idle chat eased fatigue briefly.
But body grew heavy, tensed muscles screamed—limit reached.
"The witch is admirable yet hateful."
Respect for living here, hate for causing my suffering.
"Well, even she preps thoroughly for the depths—not living there. One or two more hours, her house appears. Her domain's safe. Hang on—I'm tired too."
Her cheerful fatigue claim dubious, but Helen never lied. Nodded wearily.
Two hours—felt longer—revealed an elegant wooden mansion unfit for the Demon Realm.
Helen approached silently, knocked.
"Old hag! It's me! Can I come in?"
Friendly, playful tone. Door creaked open slowly. Response youthful.
"Quit calling me old hag!"
Voice young, but folded hands and hunched back elderly.
Smaller than me, soft cheeks under deep hat stood out.
"Old hag... you look younger than last time... too young now?"
"Younger the better!"
"Sure, but... live your age. You're 80."
Average lifespan 60—old indeed. But the witch looked a girl of ten.
Helen mistaken? No, banter natural, intimate.
Youth potion? Fleeting thought.
Witch sighed, eyed me.
"...What's this? Unpleasant child."
"One I'm raising lately. Brought for Demon Realm experience. Can we crash?"
"...So what's the favor this time?"
"Huh?"
"You only visit when you need me."
"...You know me too well."
"I raised you!"
Family?
Witch scanned surroundings, looked up at me.
"Feels like demon worshippers... but not quite. Curious."
"Heh..."
Unsure what to say, awkward laugh. Witch lost interest, allowed entry.
Mansion interior: otherworldly.
Exhausted from Demon Realm, thought hallucinating.
Wooden dolls cleaned, stiff-jointed but natural-moving.
Wall runes incomprehensible, spaced evenly.
Ornate sculptures and paintings felt alive, watching.
Magic lanterns studded ceiling—bright as day despite outer darkness.
Witch assigned room, warned:
Don't extinguish eye-straining lanterns.
Don't touch sculptures or paintings.
Death from disobedience? Your fault.
Eerie, but simple—nodded. She left with Helen.
Probably doll talk from capital.
Amusing exclusion, but too exhausted.
Collapsed unclean onto bed—far softer, pulling me in.
Eyes closed. Opened—body numb, hours passed.
Helen propped chin, watching. Smiled brightly.
"Talk's done, can stay awhile. Time to go."
"...Pardon?"
"Two days solid sleep—time for training. Want to get strong?"
"...Two days?"
Slept two days straight?
Shock brief.
Bit lip, forced body up, stared at Helen.
"...Yes. Training..."
Forgot: came to grow strong.
Demon Realm training began.
Thus, subjectively a year, actually half-year passed.
Desire to grow never faded. Results meaningful, despite meager talent.