It wasn’t difficult to handle the golem that appeared out of nowhere.
Because of its large build, it moved slowly, so I only had to keep an eye on Arsep.
Its defense was poor compared to its massive size, so when I threw a single stone, it shattered.
“Why a stone, of all things?”
The stone I threw at the golem pierced its core, and cracks spread from there, collapsing the rock.
“What?”
“No, I was just curious why you took down that golem by throwing a stone.”
Arsep asked while looking at the fragments of the broken rock.
‘Is it strange to take down a rock with a rock?’
“It’s not like I could punch a rock. My hand would just hurt.”
“…If you have the strength to crush a rock with a small stone, fighting bare-handed would probably be the strongest choice.”
“Civilized people use tools, you know. Anyway, let’s keep moving. So, what was that thing?”
As I quickened my pace, I asked about the golem from earlier.
From afar, it looked like an ideal rock to sit and rest on, but as we approached, it suddenly rose from the ground and attacked us.
‘Could that be considered a monster? I’m not sure if it qualifies as a living being.’
“Think of it as a magically created automatic defense mechanism. In the past, demons used magic on inanimate objects like that to combat dangerous monsters or hostile forces in the Demon Realm.”
“That’s fascinating. Just casting a single spell on a rock makes it come to life and move like that?”
“It was probably intended to target humans entering the Demon Realm. However, since it detects ground vibrations to attack, it’s hard to distinguish friend from foe.”
From the explanation, it sounds like a kind of landmine.
“So, when it said it would crush everything like ants earlier, was that the rock speaking?”
“No, that was just the voice of the one who cast the spell. There are demons with such peculiar tastes.”
For a moment, I imagined a demon chanting a spell in front of a rock.
‘Whoever that demon was, they must be shameless. To an outsider, it would look like they’re talking to themselves in front of a rock.’
***
“Hmm… It should be around here somewhere….”
About two hours after leaving the castle, Arsep began examining statues scattered among fallen leaves and strange sculptures.
There were numerous statues around us.
Many were shaped like animals such as wolves, boars, and bears, and some were unfamiliar creatures, likely native to the Demon Realm.
Each one was life-sized, as if it were modeled after real creatures.
The sculptures were so intricately carved, down to each strand of fur and mane, that whoever made them must have been either extremely skilled or obsessed.
‘If there was a person who made all these statues, I’d like to learn a bit of carving from them.’
“It’s been so long that finding it isn’t easy. But it wouldn’t have disappeared, so it must be here somewhere.”
“Would you like some help?”
“No, even you wouldn’t be able to help with this, as only I know where it is. Just take a short break, though if you’re bored, I wouldn’t mind some conversation.”
“Then, if you don’t mind… Do you know who made these statues?”
“Ah, these were created a long time ago by a demon with hair made of snakes. Her statues were quite popular among the demons, and this place used to serve as an exhibition hall for her works.”
‘A demon with hair made of snakes… I think I have an idea of who that could be, but learning sculpture from her might be difficult. Inborn talent isn’t something you can just learn.’
“Her statues have the unique quality of never deteriorating, no matter how much time passes. I had a few in my castle that I particularly liked, but strange sounds would come from them at night, so I gave them to another demon.”
I nodded and sat on a stepping stone nearby.
Initially, I considered sitting on one of the statues, but something made me hesitate.
“Ah! Could it be right there?!”
“Sorry?”
“See that stone you’re sitting on? Try pulling it out.”
“Got it.”
As I looked up at the sky of the Demon Realm, Arsep pointed to the stone beneath me.
I immediately grabbed the stepping stone and pulled it out.
The ground split slightly, and a mysterious beast statue with a large mouth, about three meters tall, appeared.
“…And you just pull it out with one hand again.”
“Sorry?”
“Nothing. Now I understand why it was so hard to find. Anyway, try looking inside.”
“It’s pitch black in there.”
The inside of the statue’s mouth was black.
It was so black that it seemed to absorb all light, like the darkest black I’d ever seen online.
‘I wonder what makes this so special that Arsep has been searching for it all this time.’
“Don’t be surprised just yet. Follow me. I’ll show you something interesting.”
Arsep took my hand and led me into the statue.
The statue was big enough for two people, but I questioned if there was really anything special inside.
That question was quickly answered.
“This is a path I created long ago. With this, you can traverse the continent without passing over the sea or sky.”
Somehow, despite the statue’s size, there was room for us to walk inside.
She held my hand and continued forward.
Eventually, we saw light and stepped outside.
“So, how does it feel?”
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen a blue sky.”
Indeed, the sky was blue, not the usual red hue.
The sky of the Demon Realm is red, as if tinged with the colors of sunset in the morning, and only dark at night. But here, the sky above me is undeniably blue.
The trees are green, and the water is blue, bringing back a familiar feeling.
‘Just the fact that the sky is blue is refreshing.’
“Is this the Human Realm by any chance?”
“This isn’t the Human Realm. As you know, there’s a war going on. But I brought you here to show you this sky, so we’re in the Fairy Realm.”
“The Fairy Realm…?”
“It’s a continent where elves, dwarves, and various minor races live. Although the Human Realm and the Demon Realm are at war, this land has hardly felt the effects of it.”
The Demon Realm, home to demons, and the Human Realm, home to humans.
And then there’s the Fairy Realm, where races like elves and dwarves coexist.
“But there were elves among the adventurers who came here last time, weren’t there?”
Although Arsep claims that the Fairy Realm is neutral, as its name suggests, there were definitely quite a few elves among the adventurers who came before.
“Elves aren’t confined to the Fairy Realm. And don’t worry—I’ve been researching this thoroughly over the past month.”
“So, it’s like overseas residents or expats…”
“Why think so deeply? Just think lightly. I brought you here to change your mood.”
I decided to heed her words quietly.
After all, spending the past month amidst humans and demons throwing magic around like fireworks even in the dead of night has made me irritable and nervous in many ways.
“But is it okay for demons or humans to enter the Fairy Realm, even if it’s not at war like the Human Realm and the Demon Realm?”
“Humans would be fine; demons, probably not. But luckily, I’m okay. Since I currently have no magical power, as long as I hide my wings and tail well, I’ll look just like a beastfolk.”
“It’s helpful at times to have no magic power.”
“Haha! If I had magic, I’d simply transform into an elf or beastfolk and wander around freely… but here I am.”
Arsep seemed unsure whether to be pleased or not.
“We came here to refresh ourselves, right? Let’s put those thoughts aside and focus on positive ones.”
“That sounds best. But could I trouble you to carry me for a bit? All that moving around to find the statue has left my legs trembling….”
“How about doing a bit of regular exercise when we get back? Even something simple, like a morning jog.”
“If my magic were restored, this wouldn’t be an issue… but since I don’t know when that’ll happen, perhaps it’s better to build some natural physical strength, as you suggest.”
I carried Arsep on my back.
We could have rested a bit, but she seemed eager to keep moving.
“If you keep at it, you’ll adapt quickly. So, where are we headed now?”
“We’ll follow this path for now. Much has changed over the long years while I slept, but the Fairy Realm should be more or less the same.”
I followed the path as directed by Arsep.
The path through the blue sky and green forest brought a sense of peace, and as we walked, a city far beyond anything I’d seen in the Demon Realm appeared.
It wasn’t a village; it was a full-fledged city.
There were people bustling about, creating the lively atmosphere of an urban area.
I hadn’t expected to encounter such a city after traveling through the forest.
“I thought some elves would still be here. Our destination is over there. Let’s take a break from the clashes between demons and humans and enjoy ourselves.”
“Just hearing that sounds wonderful.”
Seeing my surprise at the city, Arsep looked satisfied and wore a smug expression.
“Of course, it’s good. I was practically confined in the castle, staring out the window and mulling things over. But now that you’re here, I can go out freely, can’t I?”
It’s certainly a different environment.
Instead of watching humans and demons battle with magic against a red sky, I’m in a proper city, witnessing the normal, peaceful daily lives of people.
“Let’s go and find a place to stay! I heard there are plenty of delicious restaurants in that city, so we’ll relax and enjoy ourselves here!”
“Got it. I’ll run, so hold on tight.”
“Ha! How much have I ridden on your back by now? I’ve already mastered keeping my balance.”
Though Arsep had no magic power, she had plenty of money.
Naturally, being a city, there was security at the entrance.
However, since she was without magic, they didn’t suspect her to be a demon, allowing her to pass without any issues.
It seemed there was a large-scale system to detect demonic magic, but it didn’t work on her.
Seeing this, it appeared far more convenient to be entirely void of magic than to have just a trace of it.
‘Isn’t this actually pretty beneficial?’
“To think that they detected no trace of demonic magic from me… not even a speck remains.”
Unfortunately, it seemed that the person in question didn’t feel the same way.