The Realm of the Demon Outcast

【Baalzeph von Bloddyhen’s Mandatory Quest】
【You must obtain the ‘Varg Chief’s Heart (0/1)’ for Governor Baalzeph of the Neutral City Midvalen.】
【Reward: Midvalen Governor Delegation Rights, ??? (To be revealed upon completion).】

So you’re telling me to bring you Karvan’s heart?
Beyond the semi-transparent quest window, Baalzeph’s fishy face was visible.

“You know the rules, right? You are forbidden from returning to Midvalen until you complete the request.”

“W-wait a minute. I haven’t accepted—”

【By the authority of the Empire Lord <Baalzeph von Bloddyhen>, you are banished from the <Neutral City Midvalen>.】

Before I could finish, my body tilted.

Baalzeph had pushed my back.

And right in front of my feet was the precipice of the outer wall at the very top of the Midvalen Tower.

“Aaaaargh!”

Is he a maniac?!
Feeling the sensation of falling straight down like a Gyro Drop, I curled my body with all my might.

Since I was falling from this height, I’d likely be shattered regardless, but I tried to land on my back rather than my head.

【…Exiting the Neutral City ‘Midvalen’….】

Perhaps my effort was commendable because just before hitting the ground, pop!, my surroundings shifted.
In an instant, the dark red floor of Midvalen, which looked like dried blood, turned into a green forest path.

“Iyahp! …Eh…?”

And, to my surprise, I landed on the ground in a ‘Superhero Landing’ pose, as if pulled by a magnet.

【The <Varg> race passive plundered from <Stigma Theory – Karvan Baharga> prevents fall damage.】

Wow, I’m alive.
Only then did I collapse sideways, panting for breath.

Thank goodness.
I thought my body was going to be smashed to pieces.

“…That crazy mosquito bastard!”

As my senses gradually returned, curses rose to the tip of my throat.

He pushed me off the top of that tower?
Mumbling curses at Baalzeph, I managed to push myself up.

However, I had no idea where I was.

“Current location.”

〔Current Location: Lake of Lament, in front of Midvalen〕

Ah.
Looking closely, I was on the opposite side of the lake where I had thrown the earring Karvan gave me.
I frowned while looking at the smoke rising from the top of the Midvalen Tower and stood up.

First, I have to find Karvan.

Since he wasn’t among the Suras fighting in Eve Square earlier, there was a high probability he had been banished to the outskirts of Midvalen just like me.

Rustle.

I unsummoned the mini-map and brushed off my messy clothes when I felt a presence behind me.

“Karvan? …Ah?”

I turned my head happily without thinking, but then I flinched.

【…▒▒▒▒ ▒▒▒▒▒….】

There, strange black figures were standing as if nailed to the spot, flickering with static.

It felt like looking at a graduation photo in 360p resolution.
The rest of the world was vivid, but that specific part looked like it was covered by a mosaic.

【…▒▒▒▒….】

Wondering what on earth that was, I stared at them and belatedly realized.

“…Wait. Are you guys Observers?”

【Affirma▒ive ▒nswer.】

It seemed they were.

But why do they look like that?
Their forms are glitching like an old TV that’s about to turn off.

Curious, I approached them cautiously, and the Observers also moved toward me hesitantly.

【…Rec▒gnizing ▒ata for Awa▒ener ‘Shin▒ju▒’….】

Was this how I looked to other Awakeners?
They just muttered incomprehensible noise.

“Hey. I have something I’m curious about. Why haven’t you guys been chasing me lately?”

Since they didn’t seem to have any will to harm me anymore, I tried to talk to them for the first time in a while.

“Is it because I’ve become a local of this world? Have I lost the value of being chased? Because I’m not a ‘Player’ anymore?”

【▒ar▒ ▒▒ar▒!】

…What is ‘Rr-rr’?
They were just babbling like babies.
I was starting to feel sorry for them.

“Just how did you end up….”

It was at the moment I was about to ask how they ended up in that state.

【…The boundaries of space-time are blurring….】

Zap! Something like golden graffiti was drawn on the ground.

…What is it?
As I stared blankly, a massive body appeared in the center of the summoning circle where sand-like particles were fluttering.

【The Demon Outcast <Janus> appears through a rift in sub-space.】

Ah, it was Janus.

…Janus?!
I stared blankly at the pitch-black armor that didn’t reflect a single ray of light, and then belatedly panicked.

《Demon Outcast》 Janus

Grade: ★★★★★ (★)
Attack Power: (NOT FOUND: Error)
Ability: Ramping Power of the Demon God
Exclusive Weapon: Dark Spear

One of the gods said to have existed in <Paradise> long ago. He possessed the power to cross and distort space-time, but because he found no interest in any dimension, he was exiled from the divine throne for his lethargy. However, he met the person called his destiny, regained his strength, and gained infinite authority.

Janus.
A notorious boss monster called ‘F*cknus’ by users due to his terrible defense spanning three phases and his insane learning ability.

Above all, he frequently disappeared from his exclusive field, making it difficult to even see his face, let alone subjugate him. He was the primary reason for the skyrocketing price of ‘Demon God’s Blood Tears,’ also known as ‘Demon Blood,’ an essential material for SL weapons.

Fortunately, supplies were possible thanks to another Demon Outcast, ‘Lartis,’ but Janus remained a terrifying wall.

For example, even the rank 1 player BerserkerCries, who held all sorts of records, had failed to set a new record for Janus’s subjugation.

Why? Because there were just too many damn bugs.

『……』

But why is such a rare fellow wandering around here?
Is this a walking course for boss mobs?

Breaking into a cold sweat, I peeked behind the pitch-black helmet.

A giant figure clad in jet-black armor from head to toe, overflowing with demonic energy.
His entire body radiated an aura of ‘I am incredibly strong.’

“D-do you have some business with m—”

『Name.』

“…Pardon?”

【The Demon Outcast <Janus> prepares for <Judgement Strike>.】

“Aack! Sh-Shinbi! Shinbi! That’s my name!”

Clang!
I answered in terror at the black spear, twice my height, being raised, but Janus was already striding right in front of me.

Crazy, I’m dead.

I squeezed my eyes shut at the massive shadow looming over me.
He’s even stronger than the Skollcat; I’ll be turned into a Tanghulu before I can even resist.

I was imagining all sorts of horrific scenarios, but there was no sign of anything.

『Confirm.』

…Huh? At the voice mixed with mechanical sounds, I slightly opened one eye to find an Observer had approached me at some point.

【…Is this ‘Awa▒ener’ Shin▒ju▒…?】

The Observer opened its mouth wide, and a bright light shot out to scan my body.
Exactly like a scanner.
Then it tilted its head. Even though it had no features, it looked a bit dim-witted.

Thud!

【…99.▒9! Da▒a matches. Authen▒ication complete…!】

At the sound of the massive spear striking the ground, the Observer hurriedly spoke.
Even without features, they seemed terrified, just like me.

『Where is it.』

Wait a minute.
Did Janus turn the Observers into that mess?

As I looked at them with pity, I almost missed Janus’s next word.

“…Pardon?”

『Beast.』

“B-beast?”

Does he have a disease where he dies if he speaks more than two words?
Unsure if this was even a conversation, sweat trickled down my face at the fragmented syllables.

“If you mean beast, are you talking about an animal? I’m sorry. I have no idea what….”

【…<Janus> prepares for <Judgement Strike>.】

“Ack! I-I got it! P-perhaps you’re talking about the Skollcat?!”

Janus, who had raised his Dark Spear, slowly tilted his head.

“Right? The ‘Divine Outcast’! Ah, you’re friends! Skollcat-nim is over therrre! At the top of the Midvalen main tower. You can find him if you go there!”

『……』

“Th-then, I’ll be going now. Goodbye.”

Ahahaha, I gave an awkward bow and tried to turn away.

“A-ack!”

A golden circle was drawn around my feet.

At the same time, a black sandstorm swirled around, enveloping me.

【…The boundaries of space-time are blurring….】

“Uh, eh? Wait a minute, aaargh!”

It felt like a giant black plastic bag was being pulled over me.
The bright light vanished as if being eaten away, and I was sucked into the darkness.

I thought for sure I was dead.

The pitch-black darkness was no different from the abyss inside the Observer’s gaping mouth.

But I was banished from Midvalen. Where would I respawn?

…Or, am I actually dead?

『Janus! How could you bring her here like this!』

…Maybe I am.

I blinked at the sight unfolding before my eyes.

Fluttering. Swarms of bluish butterflies flying like illusions everywhere, and a field of golden sand covering the floor.

Jewels embedded here and there within it, and even an oasis flowing down lily pads off to one side.

Everything looked so much like the afterlife that I was convinced I was dead.

『I told you to explain properly first and bring her politely, but you just did whatever you wanted!』

『You were neglecting and agonizing over me every day, so I simply resolved it.』

『When did I ever neglect you! Anyone listening would think I hadn’t seen you for days!』

…And, a woman dressed in what was unmistakably divine robes was vigorously shaking the collar of Janus, who was sitting slouched on one side of a throne.

『What will she think of us if you just recklessly toss her into a space-time rift?!』

『Then what should I have done.』

『You’re asking because you don’t know?! First, politely ask, ‘Are you Awakener Shinbi-jui?’ Then apologize! After giving a thorough explanation of the situation….』

“Um, he did ask for my name.”

Snap.
Two pairs of eyes simultaneously landed on me, and the pressure was quite overwhelming.