After the grand tour of Nazarick came to an end, it was time for farewells.
The Hashira, the Ubuyashiki family, Tanjiro, and his friends—all of them stood near the [Gate] that would return them to their world. Each of them carried a token from Nazarick: a finely crafted blade, an enchanted trinket, or a preserved volume of knowledge approved for release. Even Inosuke had found something to treasure—a mask forged from Nazarick's mystical steel, which he claimed made him look "even more beast-like."
"Call us again," Mitsuri said, giving me a long hug and planting a kiss on my cheek, causing Nezuko to lightly puff her cheeks in mock jealousy.
"We'll come whenever you need us," Tanjiro added with a warm smile.
"I better be first on your list next time!" Zenitsu shouted, half serious, half terrified of being left out.
I nodded to them all. "Of course. I'll reach out when the time comes."
With that, the portal shimmered, and they returned to their world—leaving behind the echo of laughter, memories, and the silent warmth of shared experience.
I turned from the gate and took a breath.
It was time to return to my duties.
I teleported directly to the New World, appearing just outside the research base Demiurge had established during our previous campaign through the Azerlisia Mountains. The sky above was gray, tinged with mist, and the scent of metal and stone filled the air. Golems moved in the background, silently working to reinforce the stone walls surrounding the compound.
Demiurge greeted me at the entrance, his eyes gleaming behind his spectacles.
"Welcome back, Lord Alex," he said with a sharp smile. "I was just about to send word. Gondo and I have compiled the latest findings from the rune craft experimentations."
"Good," I said, brushing past the gate. "Show me."
We moved through the stone corridors until we reached the secured laboratory chamber. Gondo Firebeard stood by a large crystal console, hunched over sheets of parchment covered in symbols and notes. His expression was serious—haunted, even—but resolute.
"Gondo," I greeted. "Let's hear it."
He looked up, and despite the dark circles under his eyes, he gave a firm nod. "My Lord. The experiments are… progressing. Not without cost, but we're making headway."
I raised an eyebrow. "Go on."
He gestured to the side, where several glass tubes lined the wall. Inside, bodies floated in preservation fluid—some intact, others clearly marked by stress and failure.
"We began by inscribing the lower-tier runes directly onto the skin and muscle," Gondo explained. "But most of the test subjects couldn't handle the pain, even with enchantments. Their minds shattered, or their hearts gave out."
Demiurge stepped forward, adjusting his gloves. "So we applied layers of mental and pain resistance magic. Charm spells, calming illusions, suppression barriers… and a customized version of the [Mind Fortress] spell. That allowed a few to survive the process longer."
"Did it help in adding higher-tier runes?" I asked, folding my arms.
"Yes," Gondo said, his voice tightening. "For a while. The body rejects complex layers unless it's prepared with both magical conditioning and—disturbingly—intent. The subject must be willing, or magically compelled, to accept the burden."
He walked to a nearby wall and tapped a display crystal. A flickering image appeared: a dwarf, twitching under a glowing set of carved runes on his back, lines of light pulsing like veins.
"This one survived eight days. We managed to embed a tier-four rune—nothing too fancy, but stable. He couldn't speak by the end… But the rune reacted to elemental input. Fire spells became more intense when he was near."
Demiurge spoke again, his tone casual but filled with hidden intent. "We believe that with time, we can make the runes act as amplifiers to natural affinity. Not just enhancements. Literal evolution of magical capability."
I looked between the two of them. "And Gondo? You've been performing the experiments yourself?"
Gondo hesitated… but then nodded. "Yes. I started testing low-tier runes on myself. Painful—but manageable. The higher-tier ones… not yet. My mind is not ready for this kind of torture. Sir Demiurge is kind enough to cast the Tranquility Spell; otherwise, I won't even be able to do this much."
From the looks of it, he was still under the effect of the Tranquility Spell.
Demiurge added, "He's shown more fortitude than most. Impressive for a dwarf, I must say."
"So do you say the experiment was successful?" I asked.
Demiurge hesitated for a moment. "....Yes."
"Great, then let's apply it to me."
~~~
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