I sat in my office chair, surrounded by the soft hum of arcane machinery and the quiet ticking of the ornate clock on the wall. The panoramic window behind me reflected the brilliance of Nazarick's core—golden light filtered through layers of protective magic, casting intricate patterns on the marble floor.
On my desk hovered a faintly glowing projection: the World Interface. Dozens—no, hundreds—of worlds floated across the holographic display, each labeled in shimmering runes. From fantasy realms and post-apocalyptic wastelands to cosmic civilizations and mythological domains, every one of them called to me with the promise of challenge and discovery.
But I didn't rush.
"Current balance," the system chimed softly.
[Quest Coins: 15,071.75]
A small smile tugged at my lips. Enough to go anywhere I want.
The door opened quietly behind me, and the gentle click of boots echoed across the room.
"Lord Alastor," came Yuri Alpha's calm, respectful voice. "Your tea, as requested."
She placed a porcelain cup beside my hand, bowing slightly. Her movements were precise and mechanical in discipline but graceful in tone—an elegance only a Pleiades Battle Maid could possess.
"Thank you, Yuri," I said, not taking my eyes off the display.
She adjusted her glasses and folded her hands neatly in front of her, watching me scroll through the endless list of worlds. Her expression was serene, though I could feel her curiosity beneath that calm exterior.
After a moment, she asked, "Have you decided where to go next, my lord?"
While she can't see the system interface, I explained to them about a system I have, like what we have in the Nazarick throne room, which Albedo and I can use.
I don't want them to think me as a madman showing gang signs in the air.
"Not yet," I murmured, fingers gliding across the holographic interface. "But I'm close."
The worlds shimmered past, each tempting in its own way.
Then the list shifted, and one title caught my attention.
[Demon Slayer Universe]
As the description loaded, I leaned back, reading the flickering lines across the holographic interface.
"A world where demons roam under the moonlight and humanity clings to the edge of despair. Slayers wield swords imbued with breath and will, standing as the final wall between life and annihilation."
Demon Slayer, huh?
I had watched the anime once—just enough to understand its rhythm. Beautiful swordsmanship, tragic demons, and a bittersweet sense of hope that tried to outshine endless bloodshed. But I never saw how it ended. Because it wasn't animated.
But I can guess the ending; stories like these always end the same way: heroes rise, monsters fall, and peace returns… until someone stronger shows up to shatter it again.
"I guess it's time I write my own version," I murmured, tapping the screen.
The holographic text shimmered, finalizing the coordinates.
[Demon Slayer Universe: Destination pinned.]
•••
Since Albedo had been preoccupied with overseeing the Six Floor's post-battle inspection — verifying the condition of every magical beast, tallying their resurrection costs, and ensuring that none of Nazarick's guardians had suffered permanent damage — our departure had been delayed longer than expected. The Amphitheater, which had been reduced to rubble during the last incident, had already been restored to its flawless original state within an hour. Yet, even with the repairs completed, Albedo refused to leave until she was certain every detail was accounted for.
Because of that, our journey to the Demon Slayer world suffered a minor setback. Originally, Albedo was scheduled to accompany me immediately after the preparations were done, but her obsession with perfection kept her tied down for another two days. Only after everything within the Sixth Floor was accounted for did she finally allow herself a moment of rest — and prepare for departure.
Two days later, the throne room once again bustled with the presence of the Guardians. Albedo stood by my side her wings slightly spread, a faint shimmer of excitement hidden beneath her calm expression. Yuri Alpha stood a few steps behind her, composed as always, carrying the faint scent of oil and steel — a testament to her recent maintenance of her combat gear.
Before us stood Shalltear Bloodfallen and Demiurge, the latter standing with his usual sharp poise, his eyes glimmering behind his glasses. Albedo turned toward him, her voice smooth yet commanding as she relayed her instructions.
"While I am away," she said, her tone leaving no room for misunderstanding, "you will act as the primary overseer of Nazarick's external affairs. I trust that you will maintain order — and that you will not overstep your boundaries in pursuit of… personal experiments."
Demiurge chuckled softly, bowing low. "Of course, Lady Albedo. You wound me with your lack of faith."
"It's not lack of faith," Albedo replied, folding her arms. "It's experience."
A ripple of suppressed amusement passed through the throne room. Shalltear, standing off to the side, twirled a strand of her silver hair around one finger before stepping closer, her crimson eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Fufu~. Without Albedo or you here, My lord, who will keep me in check, I wonder?" she said, her voice carrying a dangerous sweetness. "Perhaps I should accompany you instead, Lord Alastor. I can be very helpful, you know. And if you order it, I'm sure Albedo won't object."
Her lips curled into a teasing smile, but Albedo's wings flared slightly, and a visible vein pulsed on her temple.
"Try it," Albedo said in a dangerously low tone.
I sighed, raising my hand before they could escalate further. "Enough, both of you."
Shalltear pouted but backed away with a smirk.
Albedo, satisfied, returned to my side. "Then it's settled," she said firmly. "We'll depart immediately."
[World Selection: Complete]
[Chosen World: Demon Slayer World]
[Cost: 1,300 Quest Coins] (Per Person)
[Confirm Transfer?]
As I reached for the floating confirmation sigil.
[Modify World Parameters]
I tapped it. A secondary window opened, offering options to alter the difficulty, environment, and even the timeline.
I type in the modification.
[700 quest coins debited]
With that, I closed the window and tapped [Confirm].
~~~