"It was difficult to sneak out, but here" Lutessa said, honoring her deal as she handed Rassle the Divine Shard. It was reported as stolen by the Demon Army, or by the assassins, but Lutessa was the one who took it in the confusion.

As he accepted it, the Demon Lord who looked now like a normal human man smiled as he tipped his glasses. "Thank you. It was a pleasure doing business with you".

"Hold it...considering the value of that shard, there is something I want to ask you, as one of the oldest beings alive, as part of the compensation".

Hearing that, Rassle was a bit amused.

To negotiate further with me, to not let fear or terror stop her...Otherworlders dont tend to be this interesting even. I must know what she wants to know...

Rassle turned around, and looked at the woman.

"Very well, I suppose that is fair. What do you wish to know?"

"Do you know the locations of other students of mine, and do you know how we can return home?"

"Returning home would be...difficult, in your case. You see, your world has time flow at a much slower pace, the frequency is different. So, while you have been here, perhaps only a week or two has passed in your world. Its not my area of expertise normally, I tend to leave that to Demon Lord Aruu, who travels there and back every few hundred years or so. He is probably one of only three non-divine entities that can do that".

"So then, it is possible?!"

"It is, but its difficult. The three who can do so are immortals, because the strain of going from a faster world to a slower one is hard. Its easier to go from slow to fast then fast to slow, or something like that. And that is not all, you need to have powers that, even if they are not divine, are crazy strong and powerful. But if you really wanted to...if you were to gather a large number of Divine Shards, and take them to the point where the first heroes were summoned, where the giant Divine Shard first impacted this world, then perhaps you could find a way...that said, you would only transport your souls, and so unless you had everyone reincarnate, you would end up summoning them with the bodies they have in this world".

"I see...."

"They would also be naked, I know you Otherworlders at first have issues with that. But I suppose you seem determined enough to get past that for the sake of your students".

Lutessa nodded, certain of her own decision already.

"That said, you would also need sufficient knowledge of space time, and unless you are prepared to wait centuries, you should seek the aid of an expert. I can already tell you that while not impossible, you are very unlikely to convince Demon Lord Aruu to help you. That boy wont like what you are planning on doing. Right or wrong, after all the time he spent here, and everything he has witnessed, he believes that adaptation is the best way to go about things. You Otherworlders always have mixed viewpoints on his opinions, but I will say that at least its a very respectful approach, whether it is right or wrong".

Lutessa was not entirely thrilled to hear that. After all, Aruu was the oldest Otherworlder she knew.

"What of the other two?"

"Two? Ah right, I was thinking of those three".

"You said there were three, was that wrong?"

"No. Technically there is a fourth, but he are not currently alive, and even if he was, he would not help you. He would probably try to kill you and your students once he learns of their existence. After all, the fourth is the Demon King, who has outlived us all".

"...I see. But, why would the Demon King know?"

Rassle just smiled, a sort of smile that felt ominous and sent chills through her body.

"Because he is an Otherworlder like the rest of you, of course".

Lutessa was shocked by that, and nearly stumbled backwards, but stopped herself as she tightened her fists, and continued with her discussion.

"What about the other two?"

"The first is the oldest of all Dragons. Depending on who you ask, he is whimsical, a bit of a pervert, or a trickster. He has a mountain lair, but...he often is going out and about, playing tricks on people. Its possible some of you has already met him, he takes on many forms. The second is someone who has often kept herself shut away, within her own world, reading books and a lover of knowledge and stories. She tends to be hard to reach and even harder to talk to, and can be rather unreasonable any time you ask her of anything. Technically speaking, she lives in an alternate plane of existence adjacent to this one, so there are some difficulties regarding that too. However, the Spiritwoods are the easiest and closest place one can use to reach her...just remember, she might be difficult to deal with".

In other words, one was almost never home, and the other was almost always if not always home but that home was not reachable to normal people.

"I see...it seems the task is quite difficult".

"Well, if it was easy, then the people of this world would summon Heroes more often. A great deal of ceremony and preparation goes into this, as well as a great deal of mana. This kingdom wont be able to summon heroes again for several years, maybe even decades depending on conditions".

"Still, I cant give up. Its what I have to do, what needs to happen".

"Perhaps. But, I should warn you...everyone has their own ambitions, their own desires. That will include all of your students, and all of us Demon Lords. As well as everyone else you will ask for help or need help from. And in this world, its far easier to pursue one's ambitions through power and manipulation...you will need to deal with those if you want to handle that".

As he said that, he turned his back and began to walk away.

"But, it will be entertaining to see what comes from it" Rassle muttered, as he seemed to vanish completely.

"You owe us big time for this...that little Herra really grew up a lot in the last two weeks" a man said to the imp, Ritz. He was one of the people that Herra had cut to pieces with her Shadow Arts wires, or at least, he was supposed to have been cut to pieces.

"To think they would activate the castle's defenses and make us retreat though..." Teleka complained. "Oh, I cant wait to get my hands on that little boy and make him my personal plaything".

"Now now" Rassle muttered, appearing in the room suddenly. "Habrik, Teleka, you both did very well. Although I am a bit surprised you let Herra beat you so easily, Habrik".

"You are the one who said if things went that way, to play dead. Well, they didn't notice we secretly left while they were fighting Harzen. That said, he seemed to notice, considering in the beginning he launched a few attacks right at us".

"Ah, well, all is fine...in a sense. Teleka, I am a bit surprised you let him get the better of you so much...you were supposed to at least make them work for it more, maybe make their drive and desire stronger by killing one or two of them".

"Next time...that brat, I will tear his head off properly".

"No...if he can beat you like that, you probably can't do much of anything anymore" Rassle mentioned, surprising Teleka.

"Impossible! Its just because he had that help! Next time, I will tear him apart!"

"No, Otherworlders have much faster and stronger growth then that, especially at the beginning...perhaps that is why Ciel really used such a roundabout method, now that I think about it. Never the less..."

As he turned away, Teleka took a step forward to convince him, and then her head fell from her shoulders, disconnected from the body. Habrik then looked at his blade, and took out a cloth to clean it.

"You dont think she would have been useful again, to provoke that one boy, Rikuo? Wont he question why she suddenly disappeared?"

"Oh, I am not done with her yet" Rassle said, as he extended his hand towards the body. In that moment, the head suddenly moved on its own and re-attached to the body that had fallen over, and the wound appeared to heal. "Certainly, she still has use for one Reincarnator, but not as she is right now. And I didn't want her running off and challenging him right now. I will make her evolve, and we will let them grow. She will then be used as a way to make them stronger, and stronger...strong enough, so that they will become strong enough to fuel my own evolution. So much material at once. If I make sure to properly nourish these Otherworlders, I should make them evolve to a point to fuel my own evolution. After all, its impossible to evolve without the right conditions after all".

"...so, do you plan on telling me what you are really thinking?" Habrik said, seeing through Rassle's lies.

"Ah, as expected of one of my most loyal retainers, you wont get fooled by some half assed claim of an ambition, will you? Well, with what is going on...in addition to being lovely entertainment for me, as they progress, you should see it soon. My true ambition, and desire".

Rassle said that, as he picked up a wine glass. Immediately Ritz appeared next to him, pouring wine into the glass. Once it was sufficiently filled, he took a sip.

"Besides, Aruu seems to have finally started to make his move. After so long, I might be able to see it...the true ambitions of that boy who I have known the longest of all us Demon Lords".

Rassle made a face full of pleasure and ectasy.

"I cannot wait to see what becomes of it".

As the four groups headed off in their own directions, Aruu just smiled as he looked at the four heroes.

"...is it really okay for the Demon Lord to train summoned heroes?"

"Oh relax, you will both get stronger and adapt to this world in no time" Aruu mentioned, as he snapped his fingers. In an instant, they were no longer standing on the balcony of the castle, but an entirely different place.

"Are all Demon Lords this strong?"

"No. My specialty is the Spacial Attribute and the Time Attribute. As such, my power exceeds what normal people could achieve across twenty lifetimes, and even what some immortals could achieve ever. And some of the ones I did I killed already cause they tried to destroy the world, which is no good. Leaving aside all the innocent people, I do live here you know?"

As he said that, a portal seemed to open up behind him, as two people came out. Both of them looked a year or two younger then Aruu, and both of them appeared as if they had been fighting. Some of their hair was scorched, but regenerating, but one of them was only wearing a large shift and nothing else it seemed, while the other was wearing what appeared to be a school uniform, with tall grey socks, black shoes and shorts, a white short sleeve collared shirt, and a nice black vest. They both bowed a bit respectfully.

"...you two, what is with you?"

"Well, grandpa, you left through the gate...you usually dont return for several months at least if not years when you do that, so we thought you would not call upon us for awhile" the more dressed one said.

"I see...Nyx, I suppose this was the result of you sparring with your brother Zyr? Zyr, you had nothing else?"

"None within arm reach" Zyr said.

"...did you destroy the training grounds again?"

"...not if you wait three hours to check on it".

Zyr said such a thing.

"Well, whatever. Just, try to appear and remain professional and dont fight each other while on duty....or right before duty".

"These are...your grandkids?"

"Hold on, I thought you were a Demon Slime?"

Aruu nodded.

"I created them from my own body. Well, I created their parents from my own body, who then created them. Incidentally, all my children and grandchildren are basically my Demon Lord Minions, among others I have. And yes, they are all male".

"...is it because they are sort of clones from you?"

"I had an encounter with a female form of myself once, I would rather not see that happen again".

"So, what now...please dont tell me its pure embarrassing stuff".

"No, not just that...I have to teach you all how to cook, get you used to combat, help you further and fine tine your control of your new bodies and abilities, teach you about magic, claim a dungeon, get you to properly adjust to your equipment and find the best fighting styles that work for you, and a bunch of boring montage stuff we can go over later".

"...boring montage stuff huh?"

"Yep! But, you should adjust your common sense to this world as fast as possible, so I should tell you now. In this world, only royals and rich nobles have plumbing in their homes...so you need to learn how to bathe and use the toilet without running water also".

"...yeah, I suppose that was going to be a thing for sure" Bell sighed.

"Anyways, I cant promise it wont be dangerous or embarrassing. It totally will. But, I can promise I wont let you die" Aruu said. "Nyx, Zyr, bring them to the Training Village".

"Of course, grandpa".

"Got it, gramps!"

Hearing that, they opened a gate right in front of them. Suddenly, a whole new setting was in front of them, different trees and what appeared to be a small village, full of innocent and nice villagers.

"This is..."

"A training village. These people farm food and create goods for the castle, and recieve my protection in exchange. Its a simple arrangement like that. By the way, they are all either children of Otherworlders, a few are my grandkids..."

"...and great grandkids..." Zyr added, recieving a momentary glare from Aruu.

"...and they will help train you".

"So basically, this place is actually a place full of people who are ridiculously strong, and are going to help train and educate us?" Note asked.

"Oh yeah. I will also help, but I will let you get settled first. Have fun!" Aruu said, as he pushed htem all through the portal before closing it.

And so the potentially hellish training of the heroes began, as the clock ticked ever forwards.