Chapter 223 (1/2)

According to the Hero legend, it is said that the Dark Continent was a place that was just as its name implied.

『Light did not shine from the dull sky, and the smell of blood and rich magical power that derailed the senses were mixed into the wind.

In the land, proper crops could not be raised, and a forest that grew mysterious plants and Maju (magic trees) stretched out.

This land that was surrounded by the rampaging Sea of Farthest Ends, it were as if every conceivable pain and hell was condensed here.』

「……And that is the description of our continent that has been written down in the books of mankind that you all have.」

After saying that, Nanalus, the Zadark Kingdom’s diplomat, closed the book that was in his hand with a *patan*.

The ones who gathered in the garden that spread out in front of the Jiol Forest Kingdom’s royal castle and listened to Nanalus’s talk were the first group of tourists that would be heading to the Zadark Kingdom after this. A total of twenty-four people.

This time, where the experimental aspect was strong, the group was composed of twenty-two people who were chosen through an 「impartial raffle」, and two others. The 「impartial raffle」 in this case had the meaning of a raffle from among those who were chosen through an impartial investigation.

As for who the other two were, they were the Jiol Forest Kingdom’s fourth prince, Eric, and the Jiol Forest Kingdom’s hero that defeated the previous Demon King Gramfia together with the Hero Ryuuya, Luuty Rigas.

Eric had the ascertainment role as a representative of the royal family, and Luuty was invited as special case.

「Now then, just how much of this is the truth? Using that as something for you all to look forward to after this……I shall explain the important points to follow. First, discriminative remarks are prohibited within the town. Next, attack magic and any magic close to that are not allowed to be used within the town. The use of weapons has also been prohibited. Since these are all in place in order to protect everyone, so I ask that you all adhere to them.」

Like that, the explained rules were mainly as described below.

Any acts of shows of force through words, or some sort of method of attack, or any actions that resemble battle are prohibited.

Entering any place other than the designated boundaries is prohibited, and doing trade for anything other than the designated goods is prohibited.

After putting them into words like this, it felt as if there were a lot of restrictions, but there was also the aspect where it couldn’t helped.

After all, this was the first time mankind was being invited as guests.

There was no telling what would happen in places where eyes couldn’t reach, and even in regards to the goods, it was impossible to predict what kind of effects that something with a lot of magical power would bring about to mankind.

The result of taking that sort of danger into account had made the rules take their current form, but the plan was to loosen the restrictions while watching how things looked from now on.

「Now then, I would like to invite everyone to the Zadark Kingdom but……as you all know, there is no such thing as a stable route that connect both of our countries.」

This was also a well-known fact.

There was the method of imitating the story of how the Hero rode in on the Holy Dragon Ykslet and using Dragons to cross over the Sea of Farthest Ends, but that couldn’t be said to be reliably safe.

「And so, everyone will be escorted there by the Transmissioners that the Zadark Kingdom has. Please go to the Transmissioner with the number that you notified of before this, and listen to their instructions.」

Matching with Nanalus’s explanation, the Mazoku Transmissioners that were lined up in the garden at fixed intervals had numbered tags.

「Please be at ease as the Transmissioners that will be guiding you all there all own Transfer Skills that have been certified with the Zadark Kingdom’s examinations. Well then, I wish you all good travels……」

With the explanation finished, the tourists were transferred one after another.

And then, the ones left behind in the garden in the end were the Jiol Forest Kingdom soldiers and Nanalus, as well as Eric and Luuty.

「……Fumu, Nanalus-dono. I cannot find the Transmissioner that is in charge of Luuty-dono and I……?」

「Yes, since we needed to make particularly special arrangements to for the safety of the both of you, a special Transmissioner has been prepared.」

「A special one……?」

「Yes, I believe that they should be arriving any mome……」

Transfer light appeared at the side of the three of them, and interrupted Nanalus’s words.

Before long, what appeared there was the figure of a single woman.

She was someone whose looks possessed enough beauty for Eric to let out a voice of admiration, but it was also someone that Luuty knew very well.

「I’m the Transmissioner Fainell. I think you’ve already heard this from Nanalus, but the two of you will be guided through a special course. You’ll be guided by a different person while at the actual place but……Well, I’d like it if you ask anything else to that person.」

「Fainell-sama, your tone……」

「Ugh……I, I know. Ahー……Well, with that being the case……Nnn. Since I will be guiding you there, please be careful to not separate from me.」

Announcing that, Fainell held out both of her hands to the two of them.

[]　After Eric and Luuty took her hands, Fainell tightly gripped back on them.

Doing that, she activated her Transfer Magic, and after an instant, the scenery around the three of them had changed to the reception hall on the first floor of the Zadark Kingdom’s Demon King Castle.

The reception hall, which suited the word “sublime”, was overflowing with bright light, and was filled with an air of purity.

However, before Eric’s group could look closely at it, a woman who stood in front of them bowed.

「……Welcome to the Zadark Kingdom. I am the one who will be guiding you, the Maid Knight Ichika.」

「Ah, yeah……I’m Eric. I am grateful for the invitation today.」

「I’m Luuty. We’ll be in your care.」

If I remember correctly, the person called Ichika should be under Demon King Vermudol’s direct supervision……that is what Luuty remembered.

Luuty understood that they were being treated more specially than expected, and at the same time, she noticed that Eric had turned eyes with strong interest towards Ichika.

Luuty admonished Eric in a small voice.

「……Prince Eric, that is rude to someone you are meeting for the first time.」

「Eh? Ah, ahh……sorry.」

Seeing Eric take his gaze off of her as if coming to his senses, Ichika calmly replied.

「Was there some point that was inadequate about me?」