The next morning, at dawn.
The bonfire had quietly extinguished as daylight arrived, leaving behind only a scorched earthen frame to tell others that warmth and light had once existed here.
Toot—
A train traveled from the horizon, pulling into the camp in this border region. The doors opened, waiting for passengers to board.
Leon and his party had already packed their luggage. Under the conductor's guidance, they completed the necessary paperwork and boarded the train, preparing to leave the Underworld.
"So we have to take a train on the way back, too?"
As she took her seat, Asuna Yuuki spoke with some surprise.
"Just this once," Leon said as he sat across from her. While stowing his luggage, he explained, "After all, things should be finished the way they started. Once you complete a full round of entry and exit, your records will be fully registered. In the future, if you want to come to the Underworld, you can apply to jump directly using a magic circle."
"That's a relief." Mahiru Shiina sat next to Asuna and said softly, "If there's such a convenient method to get here, having to spend time on a train would be quite inefficient."
"I actually think this way feels more authentic," Utaha Kasumigaoka remarked, sitting next to Leon with her arms crossed. "Jumping directly with a magic circle is convenient, but it makes you feel like you've just arrived at a place you don't know. It lacks the actual sensation of having traveled to another world."
"Entering the Underworld while still alive is already lacking in reality," Yukino Yukinoshita said calmly from Leon's other side. "Regardless, we can finally go back."
Yes, they could finally go back.
Although they had only been in the Underworld for a month, Yukino, Utaha, Asuna, and Mahiru all deeply missed their life at the manor. They had come to view that place as their home. Living in a camp during this month of special training had been anything but comfortable.
Thus, they were all eager to return home.
"I wonder what Lord Leon's manor looks like."
While Yukino and the others were chatting, Ravel's side was also engaged in conversation. Ravel, Ram, and Rem sat in another section, looking out the window as they talked.
"You lived in the Human Realm before, didn't you?"
Ravel sat in her own seat, taking the initiative to strike up a conversation with the sisters sitting across from her.
"Yes," Ram nodded expressionlessly. "The Oni village where Ram and Rem lived was located in a remote area of the Human Realm, surrounded by nothing but mountains and forests, with no towns nearby."
"But that was ten years ago." Rem took over from Ram. Thinking of something, her expression turned somber as she said, "Ever since we were rescued by Lady Tiamat and brought to the Underworld, Rem and Sister have never left."
During these ten years, they had initially lived with Tiamat in the Familiar Forest. Later, Tiamat felt that the sisters shouldn't be away from civilization for too long, as it wouldn't be good for their psychological and mental health. Consequently, she purchased a property in Lucifad for Ram and Rem to live in.
So, this was a return for Ram and Rem after ten years. When they left the Human Realm, they were only seven years old; returning now, they were both seventeen.
"Do you have any plans after we get back?" Leon overheard the sisters and turned his head to look at them. "Do you want to go back to the Oni village to take a look?"
However, facing Leon's suggestion, both Ram and Rem shook their heads without hesitation.
"The Oni race has perished, and the village was burned to the ground that night. Even if Ram and Rem go back, it would only be to gaze upon the ruins."
Ram showed no lingering attachment to her hometown; her tone was very calm, almost cold.
"Rem has nearly forgotten where the village even is. There is no point in going back."
Rem appeared equally calm and detached.
The sisters' status in the Oni village had been very peculiar—one a recognized prodigy, the other a recognized failure. Yet, regardless of which they were, neither had any affection for that so-called home.
Because they were born with only a single horn, the sisters had nearly been disposed of like trash at birth. Even though Ram had timely displayed her amazing talent and power to make the clan abandon that idea, they still harbored no great love for the Oni race.
Ram felt this way, and Rem even more so. In the village, she had always been subjected to disdain, contempt, and fear. If not for Ram protecting her, she would have likely been "processed" by the clan long ago.
In her normal state, she was too mediocre, and her Oni transformation was uncontrollable. In the eyes of the Oni race, Rem was nothing more than a bomb. One could imagine what her life in the village had been like.
Under such circumstances, Ram naturally held no fondness for the clan either, especially since they had treated her sister so poorly.
Because of this, neither Ram nor Rem felt any regret about the clan's demise. They weren't sad that their people were gone, let alone interested in visiting the site. As for the culprits who wiped out the Oni, Tiamat had long since dealt with them, so there wasn't even a need for revenge. They could completely put the existence of the clan behind them.
"Fair enough," Leon nodded. "Then, would you like to try attending a human school?"
If Ravel, Ram, and Rem were interested in human schools, Leon wouldn't mind pulling some strings to have them transfer into Sobu High.
"If you three transfer to Sobu High, the school is going to become quite lively," Utaha mused.
Whether it was Ravel or the sisters, they were all exceptionally beautiful girls with distinct characteristics. If they transferred, the "Five Flowers on High Peaks" might turn into eight. In some ways, these three might even be more popular than the current five. Ravel and Rem both had angelic faces and devilish figures; while Ram didn't share the latter, the twin dynamic made the appeal go off the charts.
"If a certain erotic golden-haired loser sees you, you might end up in her new work as the leading heroines that very night."
Thinking of her frenemy, Utaha's expression became somewhat subtle.
"A human school?"
Ravel seemed tempted, looking hesitant.
"If you come, you can transfer to our class and be my seatmate," Mahiru Shiina said to Ravel with a smile.
Ravel and Mahiru were the same age; if she transferred to Sobu High, she would inevitably be a first-year.
Yukino Yukinoshita and Asuna Yuuki looked at the two sisters. They attended the International Class; even if transfer students like Ram and Rem without a prestigious background entered the second year at Sobu High, they likely wouldn't be in the same class.
But that was only under normal circumstances. For Leon, who had already spread a network of contacts throughout Chiba, he could move Ram and Rem into the International Class whenever he wished. By then, the sisters could be classmates with Yukino and Asuna.
Unfortunately, Ram and Rem didn't seem particularly interested in human schools either.
"We are Lord Leon's retainers, and also his maids."
"Rather than going to school, Rem and Sister would prefer to perform our duties as maids in the manor."
The sisters stated their position.
"That's fine, too," Leon thought for a moment and didn't veto the idea. "School is just like that anyway. Utaha and I are already third-years and will graduate next year. If you don't want to go, then don't."
"Ravel, you can think about it. If you're really interested, let me know."
More than that, Leon was concerned about whether they could continue attending school peacefully at all. Since their backgrounds had been exposed, various factions—including the Hero Faction—were now keeping an eye on them. Furthermore, with the upcoming changes in the world's structure, the supernatural world was about to face unprecedented reform and turmoil. Leon felt they might not have many opportunities to attend school normally in the future. If that was the case, there was no need to force Ram and Rem into Sobu High.
"Speaking of which, have you thought about what you want to do after graduation?" Yukino looked at Leon and Utaha. "Continue to university? Or just stop and work?"
Everyone turned their gaze toward Leon and Utaha.
"I plan to continue to university," Utaha said without hesitation, as if she had considered this long ago. "My life plan is to attend university while writing."
Even now, Utaha had not given up on writing. The Koisuru Metronome might be facing cancellation, but her interest in writing hadn't waned. On the contrary, her exposure to the supernatural world had given her even more ideas and inspiration. She had already decided that if her current work was cancelled, she would stop writing romance and write a fantasy novel based on what she had seen and heard.
"I probably won't continue with school," Leon stated a goal completely opposite to Utaha's. "I'm making my formal debut as a new-generation Devil this year. I want to focus my energy on participating in the Rating Games, strive for good results, restore the Eligos house, and re-develop our family territory."
In other words, after graduating high school, Leon would most likely return to the Underworld and place his focus there. As for the Human Realm, he could hand over the territory to another High-Class Devil or leave the management to retainers whose homes were in Chiba, like Yukino.
If any of his subordinates were promoted to High-Class Devil and wanted to be independent after graduation, he wouldn't oppose letting them inherit his foundation and manage the devil business in Chiba. But that was no easy feat. Currently, while the strength of Yukino and the others had improved significantly, in the records of the Underworld, they were still Low-Class Devils.
The Underworld had very strict management regarding ranks. Promotion required not only meeting strength standards but also achieving corresponding results. For example, performing well in Rating Games, having "highlight moments" that displayed potential to catch the eye of the upper echelons, performing meritorious service, or making contributions to the devil business. All of these influenced how the upper ranks evaluated a person. When they felt you were qualified, the promotion notice would be issued.
This was how Leon had succeeded—accumulating enough performance and evaluation through daily devil business, combined with his strength barely hitting the mark. Only then did he successfully promote to a High-Class Devil, receive his own Evil Pieces, and debut as a "King."
Issei Hyoudou's dream was similar—to debut as a devil, become a High-Class Devil, and use his pieces to build a harem.
"Come to think of it, I haven't asked them if they want to become independent as High-Class Devils in the future."
Leon suddenly remembered this, his gaze sweeping over the girls.
Becoming independent as a High-Class Devil didn't mean they were no longer his retainers. If the Master had a need, he could recall retainers who had become "Kings" to fight for him at any time. This was true for ordinary retainers, and even more so for Leon's. At the very least, even if they were independent, the reincarnation based on his "Retainerization" trait would exist eternally; their souls would still belong to Leon.
Therefore, Leon wouldn't oppose his retainers becoming independent; he just didn't know if they had such thoughts. If they didn't, they could refuse to take their own pieces and continue to stay by his side as retainers even after promoting.
"It's still too early to consider this. I'll ask when the opportunity arises in the future."
Leon suppressed these thoughts for now. Although his retainers' potential and strength far exceeded Low-Class Devils, currently everyone—except Ravel—was still ranked as a Low-Class Devil. Independence could be considered slowly after they promoted to Middle-Class.
What needed consideration now was life after returning to the Human Realm.
"Many people will probably react to our return," Leon thought, falling into deep contemplation of those eyeing him.
The train began its journey under these circumstances, heading toward an opening unfolding in the horizon.