Abyssal Sovereignty

In the midst of a perfectly paved road, a car drove steadily down the center.

“How’s our town looking, meow?”

Haru, seated in the driver’s seat, glanced back at the girl sitting in the rear seat as she drove.

“...Not bad.”

The girl peered out of the window, observing the neatly paved stone surface of the road. Pedestrian and vehicle areas were separated by noticeable height differences, with streetlights positioned intermittently along the boundary for illumination.

On either side of the street were various shops—some selling handcrafted goods, others peddling potions, and a few with glass windows obscured by curtains, presumably hiding less savory items.

“This landscape is said to have been inspired by the distant civilization that the High Priestess studied. It has evolved into its current form over a long period,” explained Shirone, who was sitting in the passenger seat.

The demons including black demons, a race with a uniquely magical origin, had absorbed cultural and intellectual influences from other races, particularly those from distant worlds, also known as otherworlds.

Other races, such as humans, demons, and elves, also absorbed knowledge from otherworlds, but their intake was relatively less compared to that of the demons. Most people from other worlds were not prejudiced against the demons, with a notable tendency to mention “the second dimension,” a term deeply connected with the knowledge they shared.

All these factors combined led to the demons acquiring a significantly larger proportion of otherworldly knowledge and culture compared to other races.

“By the way, it seems that the pastry shop has launched new items recently. Since it’s about that time, do you want to try them out?”

“...I’m not in a hurry. It’s fine.”

“Then let’s go, meow.”

As a priestess guard, Haru was quite adept at driving, and they quickly arrived at their destination.

“Come on in! We’re holding a special event—couples dining together will receive a special pastry!”

“Uh…”

Upon hearing the announcement from a petite waitress in a maid outfit outside the shop, everyone exchanged awkward glances.

“Sorry, I should have done more research,” Shirone apologized to the girl, having not anticipated that the pastry shop’s new offerings were exclusively for couples.

“It’s just for filling my stomach. Anything’s fine.”

“But…”

“Let’s go in.”

Shirone sensed that the girl didn’t want to make her uncomfortable, but in reality, the girl’s taste buds had become quite dull. Regardless of what she ate, it all tasted like bland paste, so she had taken to not eating much at all. She could sustain her energy through magical means, making it easier to avoid eating altogether.

“Hello, how many are there?”

“Three…”

“One for me, and two for them.”

“Meow!?” “Hmm!?”

Shirone and Haru were taken aback by the girl’s sudden response, while the waitress considered the situation for a moment before nodding in understanding.

“Alright, this way for the guest. The other two, please follow me.”

“Wait, are you...?”

“Enjoy your meal.”

Despite Shirone’s attempt to delay her departure, the girl unceremoniously ‘abandoned’ them.

Having been influenced by Misako, the girl had learned to discern that she shouldn’t hinder the couple. Indeed, through Misako’s manipulation, Shirone had inadvertently revealed her feelings under the assumption that Haru wouldn’t remember. Naturally, with Haru’s naive nature, it was only a matter of time before their relationship was confirmed.

After the girl settled into her seat and glanced around, she had to admit that the waitress knew her stuff. She had seated Shirone and Haru in a corner of the couples’ section, strategically positioned to be less visible to others.

Of course, this small obstacle was irrelevant to the girl. She could see Shirone and Haru’s faces reddening as they awkwardly shared the special pastries and even sipped from the same cup, their faces flushed despite the cold desserts.

“Next, we head to Dragon Valley, right?”

The girl nodded slightly in confirmation.

The reason they had driven out from the shrine was that she wanted to visit the Dragon Clan’s territory. Misako felt that maintaining courtesy was important and also wanted to show her the demons’s realm, so she had asked Haru to drive them there.

As for why Shirone was also present, Misako wanted them to spend some time together and strengthen their bond. She had even given them extra time, ensuring they could stay overnight if needed. The reason for the overnight stay was apparent from Misako’s private collection.

“Since the demons’s territory is quite vast, I’ll drive faster now, meow.”

Haru pressed the accelerator, and the car surged forward, the sudden acceleration causing the trio to press back into their seats as the scenery outside rapidly changed.

Despite her naivete, Haru had an exceptional talent for driving. Even at high speeds, she navigated with precision, performing stunts akin to “drifting” from otherworldly descriptions.

“...Phew, we’ve arrived, meow.”

After an eight-hour drive, they reached the outskirts, where development was nowhere in sight.

“There’s Dragon Valley. Although I’d like to go straight in, the road there is impassable for cars, and the Dragon Clan is quite dangerous.”

Shirone pointed to the mist-covered valley in the distance, separated from them by rugged terrain that barely resembled a road.

“It’s said that apart from the High Priestess, no one has returned after entering there. Please be very careful.”

The girl nodded slightly and proceeded towards Dragon Valley without hesitation.