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The cult leader, who had already been a shuttle for the passage, now became a shuttle for magic power as well.

Park Seol-hwa temporarily released the cult leader’s restraints.

However, the cult leader seemed dissatisfied with something and kept hesitating.

“…”

“If you keep hesitating like that, I’ll cut your head off first. If I see even a hint of magic power left, I’ll tear your limbs apart.”

“How barbaric.”

“At least it’s not something you should be hearing.”

Under Jeong Gyeoul’s menacing threat, the cult leader poured all the magic power he had into the magic circle.

“Done. If someone else pours in the rest, it’ll be complete. Since I used all my magic power, that person should only need to use a little strength.”

“Such a quick shot.”

“…Gyeoul, no bad words.”

When they attacked the cult leader, the reaction came from somewhere else. It was Jeong Ha-yul.

“…Sorry.”

“When we enter the Demon Realm, I hope you can protect me until I recover my magic power.”

The cult leader shamelessly asked the hero to protect him.

“Huh? Don’t worry, nothing dangerous will happen to you.”

“Thank you.”

It seems he didn’t even consider that Jeong Gyeoul might not keep her promise.

The cult leader set a condition that if they entered the Demon Realm, they should release him instead of making contact with Satan or other lords.

Of course, Jeong Gyeoul pretended to accept the condition.

As Park Seol-hwa poured in the remaining magic power, the magic circle activated.

Light began to emanate from the magic circle.

“Come on up, everyone.”

“Uh, is this really okay?”

Unlike Jeong Gyeoul, who was used to traveling to the Demon Realm, the expedition members seemed uneasy standing on the brightly glowing magic circle.

They had even heard a half-threatening remark that if the amount of luggage increased, they might get trapped in the passage, which only added to their anxiety.

However, Lin Hazel, whose curiosity was stronger than her anxiety, was already on the circle, examining its components.

“Wow… since we’re not dying, hurry up and come on.”

The light was getting stronger.

If they delayed any longer, the magic circle might activate on its own.

“I can’t let the expedition team split in half right from the start.”

In the end, Jeong Gyeoul used telekinesis to pull everyone onto the magic circle.

All the expedition members got on.

Just as Satan was about to step on.

“Are you really going too?”

“…What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“You stay here.”

“…We had a deal!”

“I don’t make deals with villains.”

Taking the cult leader to the Demon Realm and releasing him?

He was the cult leader who had established a religion for Satan, who didn’t even exist in the middle realm, and gathered followers.

If they started worshiping the real Satan up close, they couldn’t even imagine what would happen.

Jeong Gyeoul pushed the cult leader aside and grabbed an extra bag Eun-chae had prepared.

“…You planned this from the start!”

“Yeah, thanks for your hard work.”

The villain stomped the ground in frustration, while the hero smirked at him.

Looking at the scene, it was hard to tell who was the hero and who was the villain.

But Jeong Gyeoul had no intention of taking the troublemaker with her.

‘Honestly, I’d like to kill him and go.’

She thought that after they left, the cult leader might pull some tricks, but that was for the people left behind to deal with.

They had triple-locked Park Seol-hwa’s restraints before leaving, so nothing would happen unless the entire Association collapsed and the underground prison was breached.

‘Honestly, if the Association collapses and the cult leader escapes and something happens… that’s the heroes’ fault.’

She decided to set aside her worries about the cult leader for now.

After all, they were the ones heading into a more dangerous place.

The light from the magic circle was now filling the entire training ground and still pouring out in massive amounts.

Flash—

The gathered light exploded like a flashbang and disappeared in an instant.

Along with the expedition team.

***

After a very brief moment, I opened my eyes…

And was greeted by a crimson sky and barren ground.

The heat radiating from all directions made it feel like we were in a desert.

“Where is this?”

“…It looks familiar.”

“A desert? Gyeoul, wasn’t the place you first fell into also a desert?”

“Ah! Right! This is that desolate desert.”

“See, I told you even if we land in a familiar place, you wouldn’t be able to guide us.”

Lee Ha-yoon’s joking remark was becoming a reality.

I really can’t remember.

If we go that way, we’ll reach that human trafficking village… or is it this way?

…Or maybe this way?

Wait, no? Is it behind?

If I can’t find the way this time, I’ll be branded as directionally challenged.

The ultimate directionally challenged Jeong Gyeoul.

My hero name might become “Directionally Challenged.”

I frantically tried magic power detection, but like last time, it was useless.

It seems Satan is still waging his conquest war.

Sweat started forming on my nose, and I felt like cold sweat was running down my back.

“Don’t tell me… you really don’t know the way?”

“Hmm, if it’s Gyeoul, it’s entirely possible. She used to get lost every day at the Clock Tower…”

“Be quiet, my head is throbbing from the teleportation aftermath…”

“…We’re all fine, why just you?”

I tried to buy some time by spouting nonsense, but no one seemed to believe me.

Clenching my lips, I racked my 14-year-old brain.

‘Nothing, nothing.’

I realized there was no answer.

“That way.”

“…Are you sure? Why do I feel so uneasy?”

“What’s with the reaction? If you’re unhappy, suggest a way yourself.”

The lack of an answer wasn’t just me; the other five expedition members were the same.

This was their first time here, after all.

Then…

If I go this way, it becomes the answer, right?

If we reach the human trafficking village, we can reminisce about old memories and say we came here.

I could use the excuse that I wanted to show them a demon village.

If we arrive at Asmodeus’s territory, we can say we came to meet Asmodeus.

If we end up in Lucifer’s territory, we can say we came to meet Lucifer.

Now that we’re in the Demon Realm, we don’t need to worry about the time dilation.

We can take it a bit easier.

With an expedition team consisting of two transcendents, three S-Class, and one A-Class, there’s no way we’ll get beaten by demonic beasts or monsters.

Let’s leisurely enjoy the scenery as we go.

***

Three hours later.

The expedition team had walked without seeing any village, any demon, or any architectural structure.

“…Is this the right way? Shouldn’t we stop now?”

While the other expedition members were still holding back, Lee Ha-yoon didn’t.

She glared at me with pouted lips, making my head spin.

At this point, I decided to push through with determination, recalling life’s truths.

‘…Perseverance leads to victory!’

I confidently declared while looking at the visibly dissatisfied Ha-yoon.

“Then Ha-yoon, you live here, I’m going.”

“…What.”

“Pfft.”

Ha-yoon looked somewhat shocked by my joke, but the others couldn’t hold back their laughter.

Walking for three hours without seeing anything.

And it’s a desert with heat pressing down on us.

Dragging a suitcase through this sandy place is bound to be annoying and exhausting.

But I’m the expedition leader.

Despite the harsh climate, the hardships ahead, and Ha-yoon’s nagging, I didn’t falter.

In the end, I managed to make the expedition members laugh and lighten the mood.

Or so I thought, for a moment.

“By the way, Gyeoul, it’s a bit funny to ask this now. Where are we going?”

The question I hoped they’d hold off on until we arrived finally burst out.

“…To meet a lord.”

“So which lord? Satan? Well, dragging this out won’t do any good. Are we going to meet Satan right away?”

“Well… maybe, maybe not?”

“…What kind of answer is that?”

“Well, you see…”

Expedition leader Jeong Gyeoul. On the brink of being dismissed.

At this rate, I might just become the expedition’s pack mule.

Of course, the cliché of the expedition team regretting and obsessing over abandoning me isn’t bad…

‘But that’s only possible in web novels.’

I had to think carefully before answering.

But lies beget lies, and those lies eventually become too much to handle.

That’s the situation now.

I don’t even know where we’re heading, so what am I supposed to say?

‘To tell the truth or not, that is the question.’

I closed my eyes and decided to tell the truth.

There’s still room for leniency.

I’m baby Jeong Gyeoul. Look at me.

Even if I make mistakes, I’m cute.

If I’m cute, everything’s fine.

Just as I was about to confess that I’m directionally challenged and have no idea where we’re going…

“Huh? What’s that? A castle?”

Lin Hazel, who was enjoying the view from a sand dune, spotted a castle.

The entire team climbed the dune and looked in the direction she pointed.

There was something small in the distance.

‘God helps me!’

Sorry for cursing before.

Anyway, I focused my magic power to enhance my vision and checked the castle’s flag.

My shoulders immediately lifted.

“What did I tell you? I’m not directionally challenged. That’s the castle managed by Dantalian, part of Satan’s army, and he’s a good kid.”

Honestly, I’m not sure why Dantalian’s castle is visible.

I remember it took days of travel with his subordinates to get there the first time.

‘Good things are good, why worry about it?’

In situations like this, just assume we luckily landed near Dantalian’s castle.

***

 

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