The Return to the Demon King's Island II-1

We finally returned to the Demon King's island, one day late.

In the carriage heading back to Japan, Tōgen and Sora quietly held hands.

Sora pondered what to do next, overwhelmed by a sense of loss from the power she had once possessed.

Despite having lost all ability to fight, she felt no anxiety at all.

It must be because of the warmth she could feel through the hand she was holding.

When I tightened my grip on the hand I was holding, it wrapped around mine in return....Am I holding on too tightly?

Feeling curious, I looked up at her side and found Tōgen with wide eyes.

"W-What's wrong?"

"Does this mean we don't have to hold back anymore? Can we continue with the ship's journey?"

I got the gist of it somehow.

"Calm down, I don't know what you're trying to do, but calm down."

I can't hold back anymore. I've been holding on for years. It's okay, right?

"W-what kind of preparation is this...? Don't worry, the soundproofing magic stone is already activated... There, how many children do you want?"

"Huh, so... five people or so?" "Alright, let's do our best."

A special freight car carrying the two, pulled by a magical four-wheeled carriage.

Among the previous four-wheel magical vehicles, Kisei thought.

Good thing we added soundproofing. Next, we'll have to work on reducing vibrations...

On the return ship, Lina sat on the bed, smiling brightly. I was整理ing information about magical beasts brought from Nihon at the desk.

"What's up?"

"It's great. Just watching those two made my heart race."

"Yeah, I know."

I took Lina's hand.

Exactly one year since the international conference.

Taro had recently been spending all his time at the research facility.

"Your Majesty, just in time. Please come this way."

"Sorry to interrupt your busy schedule. What are the results?"

"Your prediction was correct. It was indeed a black hole—confirmation of the disappearance of magical particles."

Based on prior research, I was now certain there was a consistent correlation between the black holes I had encountered and the increased activity of the monsters.

The legend that remained in Arasooto.

The Legend of the Heavenly Black Eye.

A tale likely involving a battle with a dragon.

Yet, if it was truly a dragon they fought, the name "Heavenly Black Eye" seems unlikely.

It probably emerged alongside the increasing number of dragons and monsters.

Perhaps people at the time saw it as merely an omen or sign?

What will come next? Monsters and black holes... or should we call them black spots?

Perhaps it's connecting the monster beasts and the black spots. That would be the magical essence.

It turned out that black spots surprisingly occur in various places around the world if you look for them.

Yet even when they appear, they vanish almost immediately.

Fortunately, they tend to occur repeatedly in the same regions.

When we thoroughly established roots in such an area and conducted precise investigations, we discovered that the surrounding magical essence was decreasing.

In its place, matter from the world I came from began arriving.

Everything in this world possesses magical essence.

In the end, the total amount of magical essence remained equal.

The stronger the monsters, the more they sense the fluctuations and move toward them to investigate what is happening.

In other words, by following these fluctuations in magical essence, we can predict where and when monsters will appear.

Based on past experience, fighting monsters often leads to difficulties due to insufficient preparation.

With proper preparation, we can either flee or counterattack.

Indeed, knowledge is essential.

Thus, we're collaborating with various countries to identify where and when monsters appear.

While a unified military force hasn't been established, connections through the World Conference have strengthened, fostering a positive and cooperative relationship.

Thanks to this proactive collaboration, we're gradually gathering a vast amount of data.

When examining the locations of the data, the rate of black holes was particularly high at sites where legendary monsters, said to have been fought by a hero, were believed to have clashed. It can be inferred that black hole occurrences were also increasing at that time.

According to the legend of the hero, a dragon monster was said to have fought in the area now known as Nihon.

In various regions of Nihon, the rate of black hole occurrences was uniform, with nothing unusual observed.

Moreover, right along the border between Nihon and the Kingdom, the rate of black hole occurrences was abnormally high.

This is a point of concern.

There are several other points to note as well. For example...

"But what kind of monster is this? The one called a dragon?"

Interrupting my thoughts, a researcher speaks up.

"They can fly through the sky, have tough scales, and possess abilities like fire-breathing and various other powers."

"So, a flying magical four-wheeled vehicle, equipped with weapons as well."

"That's right. If that's the case, there's no way humanity can stand against them. We'd just have to run and hide."

"Please don't say that. I've been fleeing from war for so long, and I've finally reached this country. Please protect me. I'll support you with everything I've got."

"Wait, am I the one supposed to be fighting then?"

"There's no one stronger than you in this nation."

With an indescribable feeling, I step out of the research facility.

On the way back to the city, I ponder.

In recent times, thanks to international cooperation and decades of research, our understanding of the relationship between the monsters and the black spots—and of the black spots themselves—has greatly advanced.

If we continue research for a few more years, or even decades, it might become possible to go beyond the black spots and return to the original world.

Once the issue with the dragon monster is resolved, perhaps I could continue my personal research as well...

On that day, I finished my work and collapsed into the bedroom.

Today was Noel's turn.

"Hey, Taro, you're not carrying too much on your shoulders again, are you?"

"Maybe I am. I can't recover unless I sleep with these thighs."

"Hey, you seem fine."

I felt a fairly strong irritation, so I sat up.

Sitting beside him, I leaned against Noel.

"I've been researching those black spots I've been passing through lately. Recently, I've learned a lot about them—pretty interesting stuff."

I feel Noel's intense gaze.

"Taro, you're not thinking of going back to your original world, are you?"

Noel looked extremely worried.

"I guess I must've been truly exhausted if I'm making you feel this anxious."

Saying that, I push Noel down.

Noel easily lay down on the bed.

"I have you all, and the children too. I'm not going back. I'll live out my life in this world."

"Hmph, then you'd better make sure you never go back."

"I'd like to show the children the world I came from, though."

The usual night passes by.