Having done all he needed to do in the continent, Kai decided to leave for the Demon Continent. With their whole party back, they also had to attend school for a bit so after donning his 'Kenji' persona once more, Kai attended class as usual. There was some attention that came from the other students about how their experience abroad was but it ended without incident.

He was about to head home and prepare an alibi to travel for all of them, or maybe have the king allow them to freely leave school for a few more months. Either way, it was doubtful that they were going to make it to graduation anyway. It was already time for their first year to be over and they weren't even here for most of it.

"Excuse me."

As he walked down the halls, someone called out to him from the side. Kai turned his gaze and saw Amon, the demon marquess, or actually, his real name was Aamon. A few months ago, he was too weak to even be compared to Amon yet now, they were nearly on the same level. And, Kai felt that he wouldn't lose.

Still, that was unnecessary to think about. Amon, though he's been present for around half a year in the school now, he hadn't done anything suspicious at all. Kai even made sure to tell Angie and the headmaster about his presence and see if there was anything he was doing.

Seeing as there was nothing, Kai decided to just ignore him. Demons were eccentric beings. A demon that slaughters humans for fun could become an orphanage caretaker overnight, and they would feel neither guilt nor inconsistency. Amon suddenly had the urge to work as a human teacher, so he did. That was what Kai had surmised.

In the other timeline, Amon and many other demons launched an attack on the capital and killed many. This time, however, it seems like he was acting independently.

"Yes, professor? Is there something you need from me?"

Despite the two of them knowing each other's strength and identity, they were still in a public place.

"I have something to talk to you about, would you mind joining me in my room?"

Kai looked at Amon with suspicion but after feeling his own power a bit more, he decided that there wasn't anything that Amon could do without him being able to retaliate. Kai followed Amon to his room and sat down on a chair opposite of Amon's.

"This one believes that you hold great suspicion towards myself. However, that is not why I have called you here."

(A/N: Since it's been around... nearly 100 chapters(?) since Amon last appeared, refresher: he first appeared in chapter 124 as a teacher and he talks in a weird half-archaic, half-modern way. If I just made the pacing a bit faster, he wouldn't have had to be held back this far though...)

"The power you hold... it is far greater than it was before."

"What? Do only demons hold the privilege to have such power?"

Amon chuckled.

"Of course not. This one simply wishes to know how you managed to get stronger so quickly."

"That's none of your business."

Kai didn't need to hold back in front of Amon. Especially since they weren't in a public place. Besides, a demon like him wouldn't be so easily offended.

"Obsession is a poison to demons, such as I. To me, it is knowledge and entertainment that I seek."

Amon was a fifth-class demon, the highest one could go, and on top of that, a marquess. He only needed to abandon his mortal body to achieve divinity and become a Devil.

"And why would I satisfy your obsession? Do you want to run amok?"

Kai roused his power but Amon simply sat there and drank his tea calmly.

"No, I propose a deal—a contract. You tell me as to how you've gained your power, I mind not about the source or if you omit details. In exchange, I will send you to the Demon Continent with all of your companions."

"..."

A contract, it's an absolute clause for demons so long as it's signed. The most harmless being in the entire world would be a demon who has signed a contract. A human friend or lover would be more likely to betray someone than a demon who is under an oath.

A demon could spout many things and lie, but they could not go against a contract lest they risk losing their lives. For that very reason, contracts are very rarely used.

"Go on."

Kai leaned forward and decided to listen. Amon opened his hand and a contract manifested itself in flames. In there was written only a few things, the word 'Contract' on the top, their names, and then the clauses that the contract had.

Contractor (Kuroshi Kai) and Contractee (Marquess Aamon), these two shall henceforth be referred to as Party A and Party B.

1. Party A will provide what Party B is asking for, information, and in return;

2. Party B will honor the agreement with Party A, teleportation to the Demon Continent.

3. Party B will not disclose to anyone the information that Party A has spoken about.

4. Party B will not harm Party A nor anyone related to him until the return of Party A to the Soaring Eagle Continent.

5. Teleportation done by Party B is a one-way trip, Party B has no obligation to send Party A back.

It was a short contract, but it had everything that Kai needed. It even had an added clause about not doing any harm to Kai or anyone related to him, whether it be his friends, co-workers, or even acquaintanes on the street. And, as a knight working for the kingdom, that meant that Amon couldn't harm anyone in the kingdom.

It was a deal too good to be true, but it was real. In a sense, demons who sign contracts are like the genies of this world. A genie is obligated to fulfill any wish that the owner wants, which is exactly what a demon has to do. However, like genies, they also held the right to interpretation.

If you wish to a genie that you want to grow taller, they could make you a hundred meters taller or a fraction of an inch. Either way, your wish was fulfilled. However, unlike genies, demons had to abide by the contract's words and the wishes of the owner to a point. And, they didn't have an omnipotent power to help them grant the wishes.

If their owner wanted protection, then the demons couldn't just make them immortal. In the end, they were just stronger humans, albeit with some special abilities. Typically, demons were contracted for revenge in exchange for the contractor's soul or an item they so desperately want.

Amon manifested a pin and pricked his thumb. Once there was blood dripping, he pressed his thumb down on the contract. He then handed Kai another pin and put the contract nearer to him.

Kai looked at the contract once and after a moment's hesitation, he took the pin and did the same actions as Amon. While he was suspicious, it was true that he couldn't see anything wrong with the contract. There was even an added clause that guaranteed their safety from Amon.

After Kai added his thumbprint, the contract burst into flames and then duplicated. The two copies began rolling themselves up and a ribbon appeared once more in flames and wrapped around the contract. Then, a seal manifested itself.

One copy floated to Amon while the other copy floated to Kai.

"Well then."

Amon looked to Kai and waited for him to speak.

After filtering the information in his head, Kai began to talk about how he got stronger. He omitted everything about Amy, the Soul Thief, and the Blind Swordsman. He only spoke about things he knew that didn't need to be concealed such as his body being able to absorb mana from the surroundings and using that, he managed to absorb mana from a source.

Amon likely knew about Emi, considering that the sky turned dark and he was in the capital during that time. Still, Kai didn't talk about her and explained it differently. He couldn't lie because of the contract.

It didn't take long for Kai to explain everything, roughly only ten minutes had gone by. Having been told the answers he seeked, Amon looked satisfied yet curious. He wanted to know more, but he was unlikely to ask anymore questions.

"I have received the information. Please tell this one if you wish to teleport. I will have the teleportation circle prepared."

Kai nodded and walked to the door. After one last glance at Amon, he stepped out of the room.

It took around two weeks to settle everything. This time, he decided to take everyone except Amelia and Aya with him. Kazuki and Natsumi's siblings, Iori and Sachiko had returned.

They had stayed behind to deal with the aftermath of the Blind Swordsman and asked Kai for a teleportation circle to head home whenever they wanted to. With their presence, Kazuki and Natsumi were now free to move. After getting permission from the king, albeit his reluctance, everyone was prepared.

"Erina."

Erina paused and turned around. Standing there was her father, Hyosuke.

"...Duke, what brings you here?"

Being called by his title instead of 'father', Hyosuke couldn't help but clench his fist. It was his fault—everything was his fault. He didn't plan to ask for forgiveness and he didn't plan to meddle in her life any longer. If she wanted something, he would do his best to provide it. However, the wounds had already been inflicted and they would take time to heal.

Perhaps one day, she would choose to reconcile with him. However, he didn't think it'd be anytime soon.

"I've heard about it. You're heading to the Demon Continent."

Erina frowned and glanced at Kai who turned his head away. The duke wouldn't have known if nobody told him. After all, the fact that they were going to the heart of the enemy was a secret known only to a select few. Arata, Kei, and everyone else's parents were fooled into thinking that they were going to the other side of the continent for the school and gave their permission.

It was particularly hard to convince Umi's and Date's parents. Those two had been reserved to begin with so seeing them leave for so long only to return and leave again was making their parents worry. Kai wanted to respect their wishes but the two of them chose to join anyway.

After all, if the war started, there'd be no safe place anyway.

"And what does that have to do with the Duke?"

Erina asked in a monotone voice. The others had already left them alone so they could talk. As Hyosuke opened his mouth, someone interjected from the side.

"Erina, you may not like us, but we're still family."

Yoshino, Erina's half-brother appeared. His mother was a concubine who lost her life after an assassination attempt at Yoshino, a year prior to Erina's birth.

"What gives you the right...?"

Erina was about to snap at Yoshino.

"We're worried."

Hyosuke explained.

"You know what the demons have done to me—to us. Yet, you're here going to the continent filled with hundreds of thousands of demons, how could we not be worried?"

"..."

Erina bit her lower lip lightly. There was nothing she could say in return. It was true that she had suffered a lot during her childhood, but as someone who had already lived two lives, it wasn't as scarring as it would be. One day, she might forgive them, but that day wasn't now.

"I will be fine. Please, leave."

Erina raised her magic power enough for Hyosuke to sense it. It was a power at the peak of S-class, above that of Hyosuke's. After feeling that, Hyosuke could only bitterly laugh. Yoshino also didn't know what to say and after telling Erina to be careful one more time and handing her a life-saving tool, they left.

After meeting up with everyone, Erina lightly hit Kai in his sides.

"Ouch... I'm sorry for telling them, but you know more than anyone that they weren't at fault. One day, you'll be regretting not having made up with your family, I just don't want that to happen to you."

"...I know."

Erina looked down but didn't refute Kai's words. They were thoughts she had also held for a long time, after all.

Currently, everyone was at the academy. Amelia and Aya were going to stay behind, but they were still here to see everyone off.

"Papa, please return quickly, okay?"

"I'll return as soon as I can."

Kai hugged Aya and Amelia tightly as he stepped forward to meet Amon.

Yoko approached Amelia, "please take care of Emi. If she wakes up, tell her that I'll be back."

"Don't worry so much. Worse comes to worse, I'll turn her into a vampire."

"..."

Yoko didn't know if Amelia was joking.

"Kazuki, you better keep Natsumi safe or I'm going to kill you myself."

Sachiko warned Kazuki.

"Even if you don't say that, of course I will!"

After the four siblings bantered a bit more, everyone was ready. They stood on a magic circle at the academy's roof. Amon, who was patiently waiting for everyone, activated it at the signal.

Everyone had gotten stronger these past few weeks. Not just in terms of magic power, they had also trained to the point that their past selves couldn't even be compared. Date, who was close to awakening his Innate Ability, just need a small push. While Kei and Arata were also showing signs of awakening.

As long as everyone was together, there wasn't much to worry about being on the Demon Continent, Kai prepared them appropriate disguises in the form of artifacts as well.

"Well then, I'll see everyone when you return."

Amon bowed his head and everyone disappeared, leaving only himself, Amelia, Aya, Sachiko, and Iori.

Kai opened his eyes and looked around. He took a deep breath before yelling out at the top of his lungs, a curse directed towards Amon. He was teleported alone to somewhere, this meant that the others were in a similar situation.

"I'm going to rip that demon apart..."

The best case scenario would be that everyone was together with only him being separated. However, that was unlikely. It was more likely that they were also separated in ones or twos.

With that, their arrival to the Demon Continent started off in one of the worst ways possible.

(Prelude to the War Arc Ends)