MITRON had already closed for the day.

Although it opened early, this bakery tended to close a bit faster than usual.

They closed either when the time came or when all the bread was sold out, so a few late customers would look inside the shop with lingering regret on their faces—lights on, but the door locked.

When Ryu Jang made eye contact with those customers while tidying up the store, he politely smiled and nodded his head.

Then those customers would awkwardly greet back and leave, and today there were a few such customers as well.

“I like looking at customers’ faces like that.”

He said this unexpectedly just as a customer had turned away and left through the back door.

Besides sweets, I guess he likes that kind of thing.

I understood the feeling of liking to see the faces of customers who came to his shop.

During the festival when we ran the tea house, there were quite a few customers like that too, and I felt both sorry and happy.

“The faces filled with expectation to eat something sweet, but leaving swallowing their regrets without getting anything. Quietly watching that is enjoyable.”

Ah, this guy looked like a harmless pâtissier on the surface, but in truth, he was a contractor of the Demon Lord.

And one close enough to keep the Demon Lord nearby, strong enough to infiltrate the Halloween auction alone and carry out a dangerous mission.

Moreover, hearing that explanation just now, it seemed Ryu Jang’s way of thinking was quite different from mine.

Considering the nature of the Sidellentium who let loose the crows to survey Eun Gwang High, he was probably closer in type to Yong Jegun than to an ordinary human.

Reaching this thought, the White Tiger standing beside me nodded.

Looks like he thought the same, but I didn’t particularly seek the White Tiger’s agreement just then.

“I have brought him.”

Inside the dark room Ryu Jang led me to, Sidellentium was waiting.

At the sight of me, he silently moved only his lips through the crow mask to greet me.

―It’s been a while since we last met like this.

“Hello.”

I greeted politely, but used informal speech as he once requested.

He seemed pleased by my greeting, the corners of his mouth curling into a gentle smile.

―You used honorifics to my crow, though.

“Does the crow dislike it?”

―He didn’t say he disliked it.

That was a relief.

I didn’t dislike the crows at Eun Gwang High either.

They didn’t cry loudly, and when I occasionally handed them bread crumbs as snacks, they happily ate them, which was nice to see.

I wasn’t the only one who liked the crows—more students at school began to take an interest, and there was a rumor they only ate bread from MITRON, refusing the school store’s.

Thanks to that, the bakery’s sales probably increased from giving bread to the crows.

―You even brought along a mythic noble.

“......”

The White Tiger arrogantly lifted his head but didn’t greet.

It was like openly showing he was the top martial talent of the proud noble clan, with zero intention to be friendly.

Sidellentium also didn’t seem eager to build a friendship, glancing once and then saying nothing.

I took the initiative to ask.

“You said you had someone to introduce?”

―Quite a few.

Contrary to the silent qualifier, Sidellentium looked like he had a lot to say.

He gave a short nod toward Ryu Jang, and holograms appeared.

Multiple holograms displayed maps of various terrains.

Next to the maps were photos presumed to be actual scenes of those areas.

Considering colors, soil, and vegetation, they appeared to be otherworldly or otherworldly-influenced regions.

“Is this the Demon World?”

―Yes. All taken and mapped from the same region.

Hearing that made my head spin.

I had guessed it was the Demon World, but I never thought all these maps pointed to a single area.

The Demon World was a space that transformed more violently than I imagined.

‘Even in Plmago it was difficult to move forward without a guide, but it wasn’t this extreme.’

Is there some other variable now in the Demon World?

Sidellentium continued to answer my question.

―The “That One” you fight has subjugated some of the demons. Those demons are acting as guides, roaming the Demon World.

The cause was the Black Curtain.

The Black Curtain made a contract with the demons on Christmas Eve and plotted calamities, but all failed.

In Plmago, demons safely completed their tasks without becoming Black Curtain’s minions, but in this world, they obeyed his orders as a penalty for failure.

As a result, Black Curtain used them as guides to advance into the Demon World, and the original expeditionary Sha-Hyung returned.

Most of this information was provided by Nabi-ryeong, and judging by the situation, she didn’t seem to have lied in between.

“Can the guides open paths and lead to the destination?”

―That depends on the destination. They might die guiding, but won’t get lost.

His harsh words sounded trustworthy.

In other words, as long as the guide is protected, they will definitely lead the way.

But judging by what he said next, Sidellentium meant something else.

―If the guide dies en route, the guide I introduced will escort the corpse to the destination.

Sidellentium seemed to think the companion’s life would go first, not the guide’s.

If he’s been watching through the crow mask all this time, he should know I would go myself and be accompanied by someone at least as skilled as me.

Yet he said that.

Is the guide’s skill really that great?

I said nothing for a moment, and Sidellentium smiled silently, raising his mouth corners more.

―I don’t doubt your skills. If your skills were doubtful, I wouldn’t have been watching you like this.

“Knowing that, do you still act like that?”

―White Tiger, do you realize that your first words here were what you just said?

“Yes.”

I have no idea why the White Tiger came here.

But Sidellentium seemed excited not by his rude attitude but by what he said, and started explaining eagerly.

―The reason I mentioned death is because, Jo Yi-shin, you’re human, and the companion might be human as well. The Jin clan and humans look similar on the outside and function similarly, but their substance and origin are completely different.

I knew that well too.

It was like comparing the moving principles of a robot arm and a human arm.

If you send a signal to the arm, energy is consumed to move similar joints and bones, so they’re alike.

Also, if you apply skin well, the two can look very similar.

But their origins and constituent materials are totally different.

A robot arm can rust if wet, but a human arm can get a cold and weaken, but won’t rust.

If cracked, a robot arm needs repair, but a human arm heals naturally if properly fixed.

Like that, the Jin clan and humans look alike and function similarly but are fundamentally different.

―The air of the Demon World is like poison to humans. Especially now, with the increased influence of the Seven Deadly Sins Demon God, closely tied to human emotions and morality, the air there will instantly ruin human mind and body.

For example, the poison that attacks ability users harms all ability holders, human or Jin alike.

But the Demon World’s air attacks only humans.

It’s like it intends to exclude humans from the Demon World.

The air is just somewhat suffocating to Jin clan but deadly to humans.

‘But everyone went knowing this.’

In Plmago, Joo Suhyuk and Andain’s group headed to the Demon World despite knowing this.

There is something humans must do in the Demon World.

“I know. But I’m going.”

―Are you going to sacrifice yourself alone?

“I’m not going alone.”

―Will you take Jin clan or descendants besides yourself?

Actually, I wanted to.

Jin clan and descendants weren’t safe either, but at least they were safer regarding the Demon World’s air.

At first, when I thought about the Demon World scenario, I was the only human going.

But now I’ve changed my mind a lot.

Moreover, seeing the Demon World situation, if I went alone, the plan might get tangled.

“No, other humans will go too.”

That was practically declaring I’d put someone else in danger.

Hearing that, the White Tiger laughed happily, and even Sidellentium smiled.

That Demon Lord seems to like me putting others at risk.

Thinking this, the White Tiger opened his mouth as if wanting to say something but quickly closed it.

I wished he’d stay quiet.

―I see. Then I’ll stop warning. I’ll introduce the guide.

As soon as he said that, the White Tiger turned his head and looked in one direction.

I felt no presence at all, but he noticed it.

Sidellentium silently moved his lips, apparently noticing the guide’s timing and moving accordingly.

‘Small! A Jin with a childlike form?’

Someone quietly appeared from the shadows, wearing a hood and a mask.

That made their small stature stand out even more.

Even in the darkness, their eyes faintly gleamed, but after blinking once, the light disappeared like switching off a lamp.

―Introduce yourself.

“......Isseushi.”

Even at a glance, it was the voice of a young girl.

Bundled up so tightly I hadn’t noticed, but the other was female.

Also, being the Demon Lord of silence and indifference’s recommendation, she spoke little.

That was the end of the introduction.

‘Isseushi is a term from Irish mythology referring to fairies or spirits. They once made {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} deals with higher beings of Celtic mythology, so maybe that’s the connection?’ 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Isseushi wasn’t a name, nor a term for a specific Jin clan like nobles or dragons.

It was like telling someone to introduce themselves and the reply was just “student.”

Still, she showed no intention to say more, and Sidellentium didn’t force her.

She had to go to the Demon World with that small body, so I didn’t plan to force much either.

―Isseushi probably knows the paths better than most demons. Rest assured.

“Okay, got it. But I want to greet you first......”

I politely greeted Isseushi and briefly introduced myself.

I wondered if she’d find it bothersome, but she said nothing and quietly looked up at me, listening.

Seeing her listen well, I was sure she was a kind and good Jin.

“What about the reserved seats?”

I was about to talk more to Isseushi, but the White Tiger interrupted.

It was a bit annoying, but I decided to stay quiet since I needed to hear about the reserved seats.

Ryu Jang answered that question.

“I have handled all the tasks assigned to me.”

“......”

The White Tiger didn’t reply even though he asked.

Eventually, I had to ask various things and listen to the answers.

After hearing everything needed, I decided to head back to school.

―You look busy. Got something important?

“Yes. If you had seen through the crow’s eyes, you’d know.”

Today’s schedule wasn’t over yet.

Having finished talking, I had to hurry back to take care of something very important.

“Final exams are coming. I have to make the kids study.”