98-Episode 17: It looks like a really nice guy



 We flew through the sky with flight magic for about three hours.
 The Great Plains of Batuda came into view.

 Even if you look around from the sky, it's a vast, unobstructed area.
 Although it was neatly color-coded on the map, in reality it was just a plain plain.

 The only thing we could see was a reddish-brown mass far beyond the plains.
 It looked small from here, but considering the distance, it was quite large.
 Is it a mountain, or is it a rock?

 Apparently, that's just where the area was blacked out on the map.
 I'm sure it could be seen from anywhere on this plain.
 It would be a perfect landmark.

Hmm?

 I find what looks like a village on the ground.
 There is a moat and wall around it, and there are horses, cows, and sheep that look like livestock.
 I'm sure it's inhabited.

 I went down to the ground and went through the gate, which had no particular gatekeeper, and went inside.

 The houses are all like tents, and there are probably about 50 houses in total.
 However, each house is quite large.
 They seem to be made of very sturdy fabric, and they don't seem to be able to take a beating in the wind and rain.

 However, as expected, if a large demon appeared, there would be no room for improvement.
 Wasn't this area a danger zone?

 But it's still quiet.
 I don't see anyone at all.

 And that's when I found the first person.
 It's a woman of forty.

Welcome to the Great Plains of Batuda. Are you looking for a rare and unique demon?
Yeah, but... ... this place?
Haha, wouldn't you be surprised to see a settlement in such a dangerous place? But the truth is, the demons of the plains don't come to this area, so we're safe.

 I don't know what the principle is, but it is said that the demons living in this great plain, while the deeper you go, the more powerful the demons become, they never go out of their specific places.
 That's why they can be neatly color-coded according to the level of danger, just like that map.

This is a place where adventurers, hunters, and demon trainers keep coming back for more. They are the target of our business.

 The reason it was so quiet was because most of them were taking on the plains at this time of day.

'Well, I suppose it's about time they came back.

 It was past noon when we left the Demon City, so the sun had already begun to set in the west.
 I heard that there are some people who camp out on the plains, but at night it becomes dark and the danger level increases, so many of them return to this village to stay overnight.
 Most of the tents in the village are inns.

We have a restaurant at our house. If I may say so myself, it's a popular restaurant in this village. It gets crowded very quickly and it's hard to get a seat.

 It seems to be free now.
 It is a little early for dinner, but we decided to go out to eat.

 Her shop was right around the corner.
 Entering through a rather large entrance.

 It was larger than I had imagined from the outside.
 The ceiling was high, perhaps more than three meters high.
 It's like a giant's residence.
 The tables and chairs that are lined up for it are the size of a normal human being.

It's designed so that even demons can enter it. Of course, any race that is too big or unsanitary is not allowed.
I see.

 It's no wonder all the houses are so big.

They're made from the pelts and bones of the demons that live in these plains, but they're strong enough to be this big.

 The restaurant is apparently run by a family.
 There was a middle-aged man who said he was a woman's husband, and a daughter about my age.

 She was right, it was empty now.
 Or rather, there wasn't a single customer.

 I sat down in a suitable seat.
 This also seems to be a specialty of the dish with the meat of the demons that can be hunted in this plain, so we ordered it appropriately.

 While we waited for our food to come out, I asked the girl who brought the water for us.
 She was tall and beautiful, vaguely resembling Laina.

By the way, can I ask you something?
What is it?
'What's that thing across the plain that looks like a rock?

 She made a face and said, "Oh, that.

It's in the center of the plain, and it's called Demon Rock.
Demon rock...
It's rumored to be inhabited by an incredibly powerful, legendary demon. There's a lot of talk about a giant demon that can prey on even Gigant dragons, or a demon with fangs and claws that are sharper than Fenrir's, but I believe in the theory that a fallen angel is sealed inside. Do you know? I heard that the angel is an incredibly handsome man...

 He says with an enthralled face.
 Apparently, his personality is very different from Laina's.

'Has anyone else gone that far?'
As far as I know, no one. I've seen a number of people try to get up to speed, but most of them came back wrecked without even making it halfway. I mean, not just me, but everyone in the village says they've never seen anyone who has made it to that rock, and I'm guessing no one has ever done it before. So maybe all of that stuff you mentioned earlier is just a rumor, or maybe it's just a fantasy.
I see.

 Just getting to that demon rock is not an easy task.

"Are you going for that magic rock too?
Yes.

 I nodded.

But that's not the point of going to that rock, though. Our goal is to turn the demons there into followers.
No, you can't.