The sun shines brightly.

　Reflecting its light, the open sea.

　As far as the eye can see, there is no land, only the infinite blue of the sky and the infinite blue of the sea.

　In a world dominated by such cruel blue, a man drifts on the surface of the sea.

　--Is this where he will die?

　Swayed by the waves, his consciousness hazy.

　His throat is parched and he is so hungry that he no longer feels nauseated.

　Her broken leg is aching and her whole body complains of a dull ache.

　The sun is shining and the unrelenting sea breeze is mercilessly draining the remaining strength and life from her.

　--The storm was so great that the mother ship was destroyed.

　When she was thrown into the sea, the rope snapped and she was able to get into a rescue boat that fell nearby, so she and her mother were able to escape the rough seas and almost capsized many times, but she and her mother's ship were able to escape the future of becoming seaweed. ...... So far.

　I'm sure that I will also be heading for the companionship of my friends who are probably already in heaven.

　But, well,...... that's not so bad either.

　They were good-natured guys.

　Stupid, rude, unrefined men, but the best of friends you could ever have.

　It would have been great to see them again.

　My only regret is that I won't get to see the woman I loved again ...... but that's just the way it is.

　I'll wait until we meet again in the underworld, and then I'll apologize.

I'll be right there, too. ......

　Yes, he was just leaning against the waves, waiting for the final judgement, but then he realized that the boat had hit something, and he slowly opened his eyes, which had been closed, to see what it was.

　--What ......?

　I looked through the haze of vision and saw - a ship.

　But it wasn't just any ship.

　It was a wreck.

　You will be able to have a look at a lot of the things that you've got to do to make sure that you've got the right information.

　A wreck - or a welcoming ship (・・・・・).

Cooke: ......

　--You have provided us with a very impressive welcoming boat.

　He gave a small laugh, then slowly closed his eyes again.



What, not an intruder, just a stranger?



　The voice came from above the ship.

If you think you're a crazy intruder on the verge of death, you should know that ...... status is normal and your race is demonic. You're in luck. If I hadn't happened to be over here today, I would have just died, and if I was incredibly strong, I would have been waiting to die in the wild.

　A young, male voice.

　The hair is dark and the face is ...... unrecognizable.
　In addition to the hazy vision, the sun is backlit and obscured.

　The someone comes down to you via a thin rope with a broken end and crouches nearby.

Here, drink this. Here, drink this." "On me, to honor your great fortune.

"U ...... a ......

　The young man magically creates a black crack in the space, takes a vial from inside, puts its spout to his mouth, and begins to pour its contents into it.

　It must be some kind of medicine, the bitter taste of the water seeps into his aching throat from thirst - and the taste of that much-needed moisture gives him a sense of vitality, as if he has come back to life, as if his whole body has bled again.

　His whole body trembles with joy, regardless of his intentions.

　--Is this man, a stranger, trying to help me?

　Some way I should thank him.

　The only thing he can think of is the fact that his head is spinning, so he reaches into his bosom.

　And he pulls out the bosom sword that he has always carried with him since he was a child.

　I'm not supposed to give it to anyone, but ...... is the only thing I have right now.

Here, take this ......

"Oh?　Can you?　But it's okay. It's just a whim--oh, hey.

　Relieved to see the young man receive it, he passed out there from extreme exhaustion.


　　　* * * *


　Consciousness comes back to life.

　Blink a few times and then slowly raise your body.

This is ......

　It was a sandy beach.
　His body was lying under a palm tree and the sea was in front of him.

　An unfamiliar jute bag was placed at his feet, and he checked the contents - it contained a large amount of food and a water bottle.

　When he saw it, he took out the canteen with a force that made him jump before he could even think about it, and began to drink from it as his instincts dictated, and then took out the fruit inside and bit into it.

It's delicious. ......

　A definite sweetness within a sour taste.

　It is a common fruit, but I don't know if I've ever tasted food like this before in my life.

It's delicious ...... ugh ...... ugh ......

　--Was I allowed to live?

　Tears run down his cheeks as he eats the fruit.

Uggh. ...... Uggh. ......

　The joy of survival, the guilt of being the only survivor, the sorrow of your friends' deaths.

　A jumble of emotions that overflows in his chest.

　He had been prepared to die, but the taste of the fruit made him feel alive at last, and he continued to cry for a few moments, his emotions bubbling up from deep within him.



　--Then, when he felt a little calmer, he checked his body for the first time.

　Five bodies.
　Not a single injury existed, and his limbs moved well, down to his fingertips.

　When the mother ship was swallowed by a great storm, she would have been crushed by a rolling barrel and broken her leg, but now her body moves as if it were a lie, as if it were a matter of course.

　The waves were tugging at you, and you had no bruises all over your body.

If it was a potion: ......



　I remember feeling like I was coming back to life when I was given a vial to drink. ...... Perhaps I really was coming back to life.

　That man used a valuable potion for a complete stranger, and yet he also prepared food and water for me.

　I'm not sure if that was enough to thank you for your life.

...... No, it wouldn't be enough.

　I would like to thank him again, but I don't know his face and I don't know his name if I don't know his benefactor's face.

　If I could at least get his name, I would live with it in my heart: .......

　Well, okay.
　I was saved by someone else, a complete stranger.

　I'll live the rest of my life remembering that fact.

　I will tell my children that a total stranger saved my life.

Kamla.

　Just as I was making up my mind to do so, the image of my wife popped into my head.

　Yes, I will see her alive again.
　Surviving means I will see her again, alive.

　I want to see her now.
　I want to see her again, to hold her and talk about all kinds of things.

　Picture the image of the woman you loved, and then immediately stand up with a poke of your hand.

The city is ...... this way.

　Thankfully, "The demon world is over there. Three days of flying on wings" is carved on a palm tree right next to it.

　It's really ...... everything.

I will never forget this debt of gratitude.

　Then he jumped up on the spot, carrying a burlap bag beside him.


　　　* * * *


Demon King, this knife has a nice sharp edge. It's beautifully decorated, but what do you do with it?

Ah, it was given to me by a random demon. It's very sharp, but not too sharp.

The adamantite knives that Maho-sama used to make, when cut, also cut the cutting board in half: ......

　His family's treasured sword was then carefully used in his benefactor's home as an easy-to-use knife, or something like that.