Chapter 9 – Escaping the Empire (1)
Chiiiiik-
A train with a black body entered the platform.
When Seoyun first entered the station, she recalled the steam engines and carriages she had seen in the Empire.
But what entered the platform was completely different from Seoyun’s imagination.
Mana circuits stretched long beneath the body, and wheel sounds were barely audible.
[The train bound for Purgatory City is now arriving]
Seoyun stood on the platform and blinked.
‘A High-speed Mana Train?’
“Wow, the Demon Realm has trains like this.”
“It’s the first regular line connecting the Demon King’s Castle and Purgatory City.”
Riv, standing beside her, said as she loaded Seoyun’s travel bag into the cabin’s luggage compartment.
“Still, people like Director Erica or the Demon King, who can open portals, don’t bother using it.”
“What about you, Riv?”
“Uh… I don’t have that much mana yet.”
Riv’s wings drooped.
“For a field agent of the Fallen Department, I’m still pretty pathetic.”
Seoyun, who had touched the mana flow of Erica’s Magic Portal, shook her head.
“That’s not true. Not just anyone could open a mass of mana like that. Director Erica was once called a Saintess.”
“Hearing that makes my pride sting a little less.”
When Seoyun and Riv entered the cabin, plush seats and wide windows caught their eyes.
Between the seats, even tables and Magic Tool charging ports were installed.
“Wow… They put a lot of effort into even a single chair.”
“Right? They say the Demon King was so pleased during the entire opening ceremony that he went kuh-kuh-kuh.”
As the two sat down, the train began to move smoothly.
Then, after a moment, an announcement echoed through the cabin.
<This train is an express bound for Purgatory City.>
<Purgatory City is always recruiting new migrants in the fields of mana refining, medical care, Magical Engineering, and tourism.>
<There are no restrictions by race, and migrants are provided with a Settlement Support Fund and one year of rental housing.>
Seoyun listened to the broadcast and asked Riv.
“This sounds less like a train announcement and more like a job posting.”
“Ah, the Demon Realm is really short on manpower. They’re promoting everywhere. It’s the Demon King’s will that the Demon Realm also needs balanced development.”
Riv looked awkward.
“The Demon Realm is overflowing with resources, but there’s a shortage of manpower to properly handle them.”
<Educational facilities and medical support for migrants accompanied by family are also available. Prepare for your future in Purgatory City!>
“Then is that also why you’re trying to make me Fallen?”
“Well, yes. There’s a limit to finding talent only within the Demon Realm.”
As the train left the Demon King’s Castle’s district, the Demon Realm’s Wasteland spread out beyond the window.
Then, as time passed, a red light appeared beneath the darkness of the Demon Realm.
Steam rose along with red light from various places on the ground.
Thick pipes stretched between them, and the red light flowing through the pipes gathered into a massive tower visible in the distance.
Seoyun brought her face close to the window.
“That’s a Magic Spring, right?”
“Yes. It’s the source of the Crimson Mana used by the Demon Race.”
“Ah… Crimson Mana.”
Seoyun nodded.
‘I learned that the Demon Race relies on the power of darkness welling up from the Demon Realm.’
What Seoyun had learned about Crimson Mana in the Empire.
“In the Empire, that mana is called Demon Power.”
“Mm… The unrefined raw liquid is dangerous. There’s even research from the Demon King’s University that it was recorded as Demon Power in the Empire’s scripture because of that.”
Riv also looked out the window.
“If you get close to a Magic Spring, your mind becomes contaminated or you can become addicted to mana. It’s not just humans; the Demon Race is the same. You see hallucinations, and fear and violence increase.”
As the train passed a low hill, old mining sites came into view.
Blackened rock walls.
Abandoned workplaces.
A red warning sign was attached to the iron door blocking the entrance.
[Old 6th Refinery]
[Major Accident Zone]
“In the past, lower-ranking Demon Race members went inside there without even protective equipment.”
Riv’s voice, reading the Adaptation Program guide, lowered a little.
“They pumped up Magic Spring mana themselves and filtered out impurities. If they got sick, they were only told their will was weak.”
“And now?”
“After the Demon King ascended, he shut down the dangerous refineries one by one. He improved the facilities and changed work to a shift system. At first it required more manpower, but as refining technology accumulates, it’s gradually improving.”
Riv pointed at the warning sign with her finger.
“The Demon King called that not a lack of will, but an industrial accident…”
Seoyun murmured while looking out the window.
“It’s like oil or natural gas. Dangerous, but once refined, it becomes fuel that moves the entire Demon Realm.”
“That’s right! The researchers at the Demon King’s Castle explained it the same way!”
Riv nodded as if impressed.
Seoyun thought while looking at the scenery outside the window.
‘In short, Purgatory City is a desert gushing with oil.’
She felt she understood why the new Demon King had not shown himself for a long time.
Instead of war, he had been reforming the Demon Realm’s interior and recruiting the manpower needed for that reform.
‘And in the process, he was pulling the needed talent out of the Empire…’
The train passed the Magic Spring refinery and entered a city growing brighter.
Buildings blending streetlights, glass, and brick.
Between the buildings, small electric cars—no, mana vehicles—came and went.
Beyond the city center, Magic Springs spewing steam and the Black Beach spread out together.
At last, the train stopped at a wide station.
[Purgatory City Central Station]
When the doors opened, a scene of humans and Demon Race mixed together came into view.
A horned Demon Race technician was having a heated argument with a human mage over blueprints spread across a cafe table.
A child with small wings, wearing a school uniform of a familiar design from her past life, was running around the escalator.
There were also quite a few humans wearing robes that could only be seen in the Empire’s Magic Tower.
“There are a lot of humans too…?”
Seoyun watched them for a long time as if fascinated.
Riv laughed softly.
“You’re curious whether they’re people who were suddenly caught and brought here like you, right?”
“A little.”
“Some of them may have been announced as missing or kidnapped in the Empire.”
“Those people too…?”
“They chose to Fall themselves.”
When they went outside the station, a huge signboard caught their eyes.
[Purgatory City – Enrich the Demon Realm]
-Magic Spring Industrial Complex
-Magical Engineering Research Complex
-Black Beach Tourist Area-Demon Realm Food Research Institute
-Portal Control Center
“That tall building in the tourist area is the Demon King’s Hotel where we’ll be staying.”
Riv pointed to a black glass building rising in the center of the city.
On the rooftop, a swimming pool with water cascading like a waterfall hung like a cliff.
“Director Erica also visited during her vacation this time…”
“I guess she bragged a lot?”
“Dozens of selfies at the pool. Massage reviews and breakfast buffet photos were posted in the group Magic Chat room every day.”
“Didn’t anyone say anything in the group chat?”
“Because she’s the Director, no one could say anything. Is this also abuse of power? I’m thinking of writing even one heartfelt letter to the Demon King.”
Riv said with a low laugh.
“I turned off notifications, though. Eileen seemed very envious.”
In the lobby of the Demon King’s Hotel, Seoyun, who had received the Brainwashing Program schedule, stopped her gaze on one item.
[Morning: Rest at lodging]
[Afternoon: Free sightseeing in Purgatory City]
[Evening: Rest at lodging]
(Free use of hotel facilities – massage, swimming pool, mana gym, cocktail bar, etc.)
[Optional tours: Magic Portal Control Center / Engineering Research Complex / Industrial Complex / Demon Realm Food Research Institute]
“Rest is fine too, but I’d like to start by visiting the Portal Control Center.”
“Seoyun.”
The purpose of Seoyun coming here was to make certain that the Demon King’s Army truly needed her, and what that purpose was.
“Overdoing it is not good. The medical staff only permitted light movement focused on rest.”
“I’ll just do the tour.”At Seoyun’s request, Riv made a troubled expression.
“…I think I understand why Eileen likes you so much, Seoyun.”
“Why?”
“The part where you come to a resort and try to go to a research institute first. You’re serious about work.”
“Of course I want to sightsee and rest!”
Seoyun hesitated for a moment and added.
“It’s just that I have a lot of questions about the Demon Realm.”
Because the scenery she had imagined was so different from what she had heard and learned in the Empire until now.
…
That afternoon,
Purgatory City Portal Control Center.As they entered the building, mana lines flowed ceaselessly along the walls and floor.
Beyond the wide glass window, a huge circular magic circle and several mana stones were installed.
“You must be Seoyun! We received word in advance from the Demon King’s Castle.”
The researchers were a mix of humans and Demon Race.
“People like Lady Erica and the Demon King can open portals with their own mana alone.”
A Demon Race researcher explained to Seoyun as they walked along the tour path.
“But for most people, that’s too much.”
The researcher pointed to a device installed beyond the glass of the tour path.
“So we’re researching how to use portals with an external device. If successful, even without a high-ranking Demon Race member, a portal can be opened with this device alone.”
“And the Demon King’s Army can use it to approach or escape from Fallen targets too?””Yes. That’s right!”
Riv hesitated a little beside her and added.
“Lady Eileen wants to transport goods too. She says she’ll make it possible to buy cup ramen anywhere in the Demon Realm. It will help with logistics as well.”
“That’s just like Lady Eileen.”
Beyond the tour window, the test began.
Crimson Mana filled the circular magic circle, and a small portal formed in the center.
Whoooong-
However, just before the circle was completed, the outline of the portal shook greatly.
Beeeeep!
Beeeeep!
[Magic Distortion Rising]
[Exceeding allowed threshold]
“Adjust it!”
“Check the mana flow of the circuit!”
Along with the warning sound, the test box that had been put into the portal popped back out, crushed.
As the portal’s distortion worsened, it began sucking in the surrounding air more and more violently.
“Stop mana injection! Stop the experiment!”
A human researcher didn’t hesitate and slammed a red button with his palm.
Clack!
The mana supply was cut off at once.
The forming portal disappeared as it was.
The researcher who pressed the stop button reported.
“It exceeded the allowed threshold. Let’s stop here.”
“Ugh, yes. We’ll inspect the refining device first, and today’s test will have to end here.”
The surrounding researchers immediately organized records and began shutting down equipment.
Seoyun asked as if she couldn’t believe it.
“You’re stopping?”
“If an accident happens, both the portal and the city stop. It’s dangerous.”
“…”
“It’s a shame we couldn’t show you a good demonstration… I wanted to show the new technology to Lady Riv and Seoyun. But it can’t be helped.”
Does safety put food on the table?
The words Chloe had spat with a sneer during a Dungeon raid came to mind.
But here, no one blamed the person who stopped the experiment.
No one shouted that they had ruined the schedule either.
The person who judged it unstable stopped the work themselves.
Seoyun looked at the deactivated magic circle, then stepped closer to the glass.
“That…”
All the Crimson Mana had disappeared, but the flow remaining inside the magic circle was still visible to her eyes.
When one side was blocked, the mana could not escape and came back, colliding.
The problem was that there was only one path for the mana to pass through.
“You can’t keep injecting mana.”
The research director turned to look at Seoyun.
“What do you mean?”
“If the path wavers, the whole thing collapses together. The more you push with output, the more the mana returns and tangles.”
Without realizing it, Seoyun pointed at the magic circle with her finger.
“You can compensate by adjusting the amount of mana, or by making one more path for it to escape when it’s blocked.”
“Are you talking about a bypass route?”
“Yes. If you only have one server, everything stops when it fails, right? You need to set up a backup.”
The director nodded as if he understood what Seoyun said and looked at where she pointed.
“Could you check it yourself, Seoyun?”
“Me?”
However, the research director who had spoken hardened his expression.
“My apologies. I shouldn’t ask a visitor to do work.”
He immediately backed down.
“Please only tour today. We will review today’s problem again in the direction you advised.”
Seoyun looked at him for a moment.
Then Seoyun carefully asked Riv, who was beside her.
“What if I say I’ll try it?”
“…Seoyun.”
She stared intently at Riv.
Seoyun’s eyes were intense, as if she wanted to examine the magic circle’s circuits.
“Ah, okay.”
Riv hesitated for a moment, then took out her Magic Tool from her bosom.
[Technical Advisory Contract]
Seoyun narrowed her eyes and looked at Riv.
“When did you prepare this?”
“Lady Eileen sent it along just in case. She said to show it to you if you wanted. That’s the kind of person she is.”
Seoyun read the contract and signed with her finger.
As soon as she signed the contract, Riv said.
“In exchange, you work only briefly. We also have to properly enjoy the Adaptation Program together.”
“Yes.”
“If it’s judged too much, you stop immediately. I’m worried.”
“Of course.”
…
Seoyun stood before the magic circle.
The research director quickly reviewed Seoyun’s revision with the safety staff.
Minimum output, test output, emergency personnel deployment.
One additional test under limited conditions
Seoyun channeled mana through her fingertips with the assistance of technicians.
“It’s possible to work this way too.”
“That’s only possible because it’s her. It’s not as easy as it looks. As expected, talent sent from the Demon King’s Castle.”
She did not destroy the existing circuit.
She merely made one more path so the blocked flow could circulate.
Whoooong-
The portal opened again.
This time, it did not waver even as time passed.
A researcher waiting on the other side of the portal pushed in a small test box.
Then the box passed through the portal and fell in front of Seoyun.
Thud.
“It’s a success!”
Cheers from the researchers burst out in the control center.
Riv looked back and forth between the portal and herself.
“With this method, can I open portals too?”
“I think so. In theory, yes.”
“Really?”
Riv’s small wings spread and fluttered.
“Soon I’ll be able to use portals for missions too!”
“You’ve been using your mana far too inefficiently until now. If you have a device like this, Riv can also…”
Just then, a notification sound rang from the Magic Tool Seoyun had received from Eileen.
Ding.
Ding.
[Short-term Technical Advisory Fee Paid]
“This money is…?”
“It’s Demon Realm money, so you can use it right away in Purgatory City.”
Seoyun stared for a long time at the payment amount she was seeing for the first time.
“Is this amount a lot?”
“Mm… It’s not small. I think you can buy Purgatory City souvenirs to your heart’s content.”
A smile spread across Seoyun’s lips.
It was rewarding, and she had even received compensation.
Seoyun watched the stably maintained portal for a while.
Should she really trust the Demon King’s Army?
But at least one thing she had confirmed for herself.
Here, her words were not ignored.
There were people who respected her.
Seoyun asked Riv.
“When is the meeting with the Demon King?”
“It’s scheduled for two days after the Adaptation Program ends.”
“Please move up the schedule.”
Riv’s eyes went round.
“Are you going to sign the contract?”
“The interview first.”
Seoyun said while looking at the laboratory beyond the glass window.
“Companies interview to see if an applicant is worth hiring. But applicants also choose the company.”
Just as a bright smile was about to spread across Riv’s lips.
“There are conditions.”
“Conditions?”
“Since I disappeared, there’s someone left in the Empire to take the blame.”
Seoyun said bitterly.
“When I fell into this world, that person took me in. They’re no different from family…”
“You want to bring them to the Demon King’s Army?”
“I’m not telling you to bring them by force.”
Seoyun recalled the notices she had read.
“I’d like to give them the same choices I received.”
Seoyun said while looking at the rippling red portal.
“That’s my first contract condition.”