Five days later, Ingrid announced that the attack had occurred on the Fatas Triarchy - another unfamiliar name. Apparently they were neutral, choosing to only defend against the demon lord's corruption within their borders, but never actively participating in attacks on the Demon Continent's shores. Either maou-mama is trying to unify humanity to wipe them out in one go, or she really can't tell apart the various human nations and just indiscriminately attacks them. Or she just messed up the transportation location.

In any case, the state of emergency was lifted, so we departed Hovsgaerden the following day. Now I have a lot more leeway on the journey, since I've been entrusted with night watch duty. I have a few hours every night to do whatever I want, as long as it doesn't wake up anyone. I used it to stockpile on livestock I found in the surroundings most of the time.

During a conversation with Senka one night I was reminded of the fact that I should check the map inside the backpack I was given. Rather, she mentioned geography and I remembered that I still had it stored safely inside my body. But I'm half-expecting it to be a map of just the Demon Continent, and most likely not even a very detailed one.

"I just hope it actually is a map..." It wouldn't be funny, if it was just my misconception, associating the large piece of leather with an actual map. "Kortid." Oh, lines are forming! It's actually one, after all. I apologize for thinking you didn't give me a map, maou-mama, but I still want to hit you for not telling me the incantation to make it work. Let's see...

Spoiler :

Snap

No good, I need to calm down. I would have flipped the table, if we had been sitting at one. The red dot shows my location and basically nothing else is written on it - except for a black dot on a place called "Demon Continent". It's the only named place of the map, and it also happens to be on the other side of the known world. At least that's what I gather from it. There's no legend for the map, and no indicator for ratios of distance, but I do have Rolan's map of the kingdom for comparison. We're about one thousand leagues from the capital by now, and about nine times that is the distance, in a direct line, to the black dot on the Demon Continent, which is hopefully the location of the demon palace, at least.

In other words, if I were to walk that distance in a perfectly straight line, and assuming it'd be all flat land, then it would take me at least ninety days. That's only if I were to walk at the same pace as I've been traveling so far. Of course, there are two seas to cross, and the journey will in no way be going in a straight line. That doesn't seem too bad at first, but I'm not traveling alone, I don't intend to just be on the move all the time, and I do want to see more of the world.

Actually, maou-mama, three years seems quite reasonable for such a distance. Now I have to wonder whether she deliberately sent me to such a faraway place, or it was really just an accident. I wouldn't have met Senka and Kamii otherwise, so at least I'm grateful for that. I think you redeemed yourself in my mind. Still, it's the other side of the world, as far as I can tell from this huge map.

"Is it just me or does this shape look familiar?" Senka says with a completely unamused expression. I don't know what she's referring to when I take a closer look. "You, of all people, should know what I mean..." I've never been good at geography, you know? I shrug.

"But really, it's a long way after all..." I sigh and look up at the stars. Hm, why are there two moons? I snap my neck around to Senka. I don't remember seeing this the last time I looked up into the sky the previous night? "Two moons?"

"Ah... yeah, no." She doesn't answer directly. What do you mean by that? Is it something you can't talk about in this world? "Just accept it as it is..." If you say it like that, I'm even more interested!

"Don't leave me hanging, oi!" Oops, I just raised my voice a little. Kamii wakes up and looks around sleepily. "Everything is alright. Go back to sleep, Kamii-chan." I pet her hair and she puts her head back in my lap. I turn to Senka, but she doesn't seem to want to touch further on the subject. I look up again and just can't shake the feeling that there's more to these two moons than meets the eye. Don't tell me they're actually eyes of a gigantic monster or something, haha...

"Just so you know, tonight is a new moon." Ahhh, don't drop such a bombshell on me right after my mind comes up with such an absurd explanation! I focus on the moons but just can't tell. Not that I could do anything if that was true. If those are really the eyes of a monster, it'd be big enough to accidentally destroy the planet by sneezing. There are stars between them. No, that can't be... Let's leave that matter aside, there's no point in thinking about it now.

That night I dreamed of galaxy-sized robots fighting each other while defying all laws of physics.

Along the way we passed through two towns of similar size to Hovsgaerden, and stayed a night in each. Since we were rushing, we didn't take on any requests at the adventurers' guilds there and only stocked up on supplies for the journey. While we did get many weird looks from the townspeople, especially Kamii and I, for carrying Senka, I never once thought of hiding her crab claw from sight. I think that it's a badge of honor and a status symbol, and anyone who thinks otherwise can come and take it up with me!

We finally enter a mountainous area six days after our departure from Hovsgaerden, and the reason for why the journey is meant to take a month becomes apparent. The distance between Tokyo and Nara can be walked in about ten days, when one takes it at a reasonable rate. But there's negligible elevation to cross and the roads are all paved and well-maintained. That's not the case here. While we were walking on a gravel road up until now, the path ahead of us is turning into a simple dirt road.

"The problem isn't the road, but the length of it. Because the mountains are quite steep, it'll be winding a lot." Gram explains as we slowly ascend. "The Kongensgrad is the mountain range that runs along the entirety of the Kingdom of Lares. We need to make for the King's Pass, which is the easiest way through the mountains."

"But not the fastest?" I'm curious!

"Well, you see..." I think he dreads my asking. There must be a faster, but more dangerous route, I can feel it. "There are other routes, but it's better if we don't take any of those paths. They are very dangerous." Oh, now you've done it.

"Why not? If they are dangerous, it is a means to test our strength. I am sure that they do not even begin to compare to the demon lord." This is directed at Rolan and his hot-headedness. He's the hero-type after all, so it's very likely that such words will entice him to take action. I turn to look at the man in question.

"Chloe is right." No honorific. Rolan got quite comfortable with me these days. Even Luna is calling me just by Chloe now, and the bard has settled with a "lady" in front. "If we can't overcome such a trial, we won't be able to challenge the demon lord within the next two years." I doubt you'll be able to even in twenty, unless you have a cheat-like growth potential.

"What routes are there?" Let's pick the one that sounds the most difficult.

"The King's Pass, as mentioned earlier, is the easiest and best maintained route. It's frequently used by travelers and merchants." I don't care about that one. "The second fastest route is the Himmelensveien, which is more treacherous and takes one across the tallest mountains in the Kongensgrad. But it takes nearly five days off the travel time." That sounds better, but it's still just a hike in the mountains. Doesn't seem too dangerous to me. "And the fastest, by seven days, is The Maw." That's it!

"No, we really shouldn't... it takes us too close to the troll kingdom." Gram, you're not making it easier for your case. That's just even more of a reason for me to wish to go that way. "It may take the least time, but if we cause a disturbance, the entire troll kingdom could come down on us." Sounds like a feast.

"The troll kingdom?" I see an uh-oh expression on Gram's face, but pay it no heed. By now he knows that when I ask like this, I want to hear all of it, and then I will propose to go that way, if it interests me.

"Trolls are a race of demi-humans the size of children. They're quite strong, despite appearances, and they eat anything. That includes human flesh." Rolan explains. "Every year greedy merchants are lost in The Maw, because they encounter the trolls during their passage. But there are still daredevils who try to shave off travel time by going through there. Of course, there are people who succeed, but it's usually just pure luck."

"We should try ourselves on that route, Rolan." I'm determined to go that way, and you won't get me to change my mind on this. I cross my arms in a defiant pose. This should give all the necessary signals for my stance. Gram buries his face in his palm and the bard chuckles. I think Luna doesn't particularly care about which route we take, and I can feel some excitement in how she seems to be listening intently while acting like she's doing something with her equipment. I'm sure everyone here would really like to test their limits, most of all the leader himself.

"Dangerous?" Kamii suddenly asks and slightly lifts her crab claw. I doubt she's going to be of much help in a fight, but I appreciate the sentiment. I pet her hair.

"Do not worry, I will protect you." She gives me a smile that could melt me away on the spot.

"I think we should be alright, big man. We have two outstanding mages with us and your shield is unbreakable." Rolan doesn't mention the bard. That's quite sad. Seriously though, there must be some justification to his presence in this party, maybe it's just something I haven't seen yet. A certain set of circumstances or specific conditions that have to be fulfilled for him to be of use... yeah, no, I have nothing.

"So it is decided then?" I think my smile is really radiant right now.

"Yes, we'll be going through The Maw." Yay!

It still took us another four days to reach the entrance to The Maw. Along the way Senka told me that in this world, one month equals twenty six days and that a year consists of thirteen months. If my high school math doesn't fail me, it means I actually have less time than I thought I do. Well, common sense dictates that a year has three hundred and sixty five days, right? Still, it's only about three earth months of time less, but that shouldn't be a problem.

In either case, the name of this place is well deserved. On the side of the mountain a large, jagged rift opens like a giant mouth with sharp teeth. The wind slowly blows fog in and out of it, making it look like it's breathing. I wouldn't be surprised if it actually was a living being and we walked through its entire digestive system... uh, I don't want to think about it like that after all.

"Now, this is a sight to behold." The bard seems quite intrigued and takes the lute into his hands.

"The widow descends into the netherworld,

To reclaim her lover's long lost soul.

Returning the dead bears a divine toll,

In the form of a goddess' pure tears impearled.

Unbeknownst to the lady that blessing is gone,

Given in whim and now taken in spite.

The lovers reunite in feelings reignite,

In the land of the living she wakes again, alone."

Kinda sounds like the story about Izanagi descending into hell to bring back Izanami, but it's also different. I have to admit that his voice is great, though.

"How ominous..." Luna comments. "That may not have been the best poem for the occasion." Yes, I agree on that part. We're about to descend into the netherworld, and it makes it sound like we're going to come out one person short or something. Kamii holds onto me tighter. Senka's in my embrace, so she won't be going missing. If there's ever a reason to believe that things are going south, I will stuff them both inside me and make a run for it. I can keep a living being alive inside my body for several hours now - at least the sheep can live for that long, but I haven't tried it with humans, or dark elves, yet. That should be enough for me to find someplace safe, even if it's only a temporary haven.

"We'll descend tomorrow." Rolan announces. The sun is hanging low, and while it doesn't matter for an underground exploration, we marched all day and everyone is tired. Well, I'm not, but Kamii isn't used to these long treks. She's actually the main reason our progress has been slower than when I first joined the party in that starting village, but I can't blame her.

We use the time to gather wood to prepare torches, fill up several water containers just in case there isn't any fresh water in the cave systems, and in general just rest before descending into a place where we may have to run for two days without sleep, in case things go wrong. But I do feel like meeting those trolls to see how dangerous they really are. Maybe I can facilitate something...

I should be able to provide great magic backup with the light spear spell, and Luna has been teaching me the way to meld magic. Along the way, I came to learn that this half-elf girl must be an exceptional prodigy. The spells that take a long time to chant are all creations of her own rather than ones she learned from books. While she does have some basic knowledge of lower level spells, all the higher level ones she knows are melded together from her imagination. I think she has quite a bit of potential.

Does this mean I can just create spells by imagining their effects, too? I can't just test that out in front of everyone though, since I'm trying to not stand out too much with my seemingly overtuned abilities. I did enough with the spear that pierced through half the city and the one low-level spell that cleared the entire cemetery dungeon in an instant. I guess I can just test the shielding spell I found in the holy scripture, which "protects the devout and innocent". Quite vague again, but I'm sure that if I can use it, I won't be excluded from its effect.

Tonight, the night watch is doubled, with Rolan and Luna taking the first shift. Since we're that close to the troll kingdom, and it's possible that there may be some scouts or foragers coming out from the caves, it's best to have more attentive eyes and ears. For some reason I feel like they won't pay much attention to their surroundings, though. Senka did tell me that she never sleeps, so she can wake me up if something happens.

But I'm too excited to sleep... like an elementary school kid going on a field trip the next morning. How would it feel to be surrounded by a large number of goblin-like creatures - because the description of these trolls sound like goblins from many games I've played - and fighting in a party with sword and magic? Wouldn't it be awesome, if we had to fight our way through hordes of enemies with the light at the end of the tunnel just in sight?

I'm so excited!