We'd entered the Demon race territory.
Just like that. Effortlessly.
Of course, we hadn't been stupid enough to cross the border head-on.
The Demon race territory bordered the Empire, with imperial fortresses lined up everywhere—it was hardly a place humans could pass through.
To enter the Demon race territory from the Human race territory, you had to avoid the populated fortresses and traverse natural fortresses that were normally impassable.
What we crossed was a treacherous mountain range known as the Demon Mountains.
The kind of mountains where the peaks sat far above the clouds.
I really wished people would stop treating a trek through them like a casual little hiking trip.
No, seriously.
Along the way, we camped out at what appeared to be the ruins of an abandoned village, the mountain's resident dragon showed up and
After crossing the event-filled Demon Mountains, we were in Demon race territory.
Honestly, the journey had been so grueling that I hardly felt the transition.
On top of that, the scenery not looking all that different from Human race territory was probably another reason I was underwhelmed.
Because when you hear "Demon race territory," you can't help but imagine a hellish landscape perpetually shrouded in thick clouds, where nothing grows—a gloomy, dreadful wasteland.
But in reality, the sky was blue, plants and trees grew in lush green, and the air was crystal clear.
Magnificent natural scenery not much different from the Human race territory.
If anything, the Demon Mountains had been far more demonic.
Apparently, the Demon race territory also had fortresses to prevent human infiltration, just like the Human race territory.
The no-man's-land between Demon race fortresses and Human race fortresses was frequently a battleground—and in a sense, the most dangerous area in the world.
If a suspicious-looking person was spotted walking through, they'd be attacked on sight, and the resulting conflict could easily escalate to the level of open war. That was said to be an everyday occurrence.
When Master heard that, he just scoffed.
He seemed to think the Great Ello Dungeon was more dangerous.
And honestly, having heard stories of Master's past, I couldn't blame him for thinking so.
Since learning Appraisal, I'd been stopped by Ariel from using it on others, so I'd never actually Appraised anyone. But from everything Ariel and Master had told me, even the highest human Status barely reached 1000.
A dungeon teeming with Monsters several times that level—that being more dangerous made perfect sense.
Which was actually more dangerous, I couldn't say. I had no real combat experience, and I'd seen neither one for myself.
We'd crossed the Demon Mountains and were apparently already past the Demon race fortresses, so we wouldn't be passing through any danger zones.
I'd half-expected Master to charge straight into one, but since there were no signs of that, I was relieved.
Well, even avoiding the danger zones, we'd still be forging our own path through the wilderness!
The biggest reason the scenery hadn't changed whether in Human race or Demon race territory was, I figured, because we were moving through unspoiled nature.
From the tiny perspective of a mere human, the vastness of nature all looked the same.
In truth, I was only able to follow without getting lost because Ariel and Master were pressing forward without hesitation. But if just Melazophis and I had to carve through this wilderness on our own, I had no confidence I could navigate without losing my way.
I'd need to constantly combine clairvoyance and spatial movement to verify our position and destination, or I'd get turned around in no time.
And even if I didn't get lost, once Ariel was gone, Monsters would start closing in.
Right now, the wild Monsters kept their distance thanks to Ariel's intimidation. But naturally, that effect would vanish the moment she left.
Whether Melazophis and I could handle any Monsters that came after us... I wasn't exactly brimming with confidence.
Monsters were opponents that even Master faced mortal danger against.
If I was someone who couldn't lay a hand—or rather, whose hands and feet would get bitten off by the likes of them, then fighting Monsters was out of the question.
Well, it wasn't like those high-ranking Monsters that gave Master trouble were roaming around every five minutes. Weak ones, I might be able to manage somehow.
But the Monsters I'd seen so far had all been high in Status.
Ariel often took them out before I could even use Appraisal, so I didn't have complete data, but every single one had been stronger than me.
The Monsters in this world were absurdly powerful—almost unbalanced.
I honestly marveled that the Human race hadn't been wiped out.
What about the Demon race, though?
I'd be entering their towns soon. Just how much stronger than humans were they?
Being called the Demon race, they probably had devilish appearances, right?
Maybe wings growing out of their backs.
Blue skin, and fangs as long as ours—us vampires.
Part of me was terrified at the thought of seeing them, but I was also a little curious.
And so, as I fantasized about what the Demon race might look like, our journey progressed smoothly.
The surrounding landscape shifted from untouched wilderness to farmland.
There were proper roads, and we walked along them.
Oh, how wonderful roads were no matter how many times I experienced them.
Not having your HP drain just from walking through untamed nature was a blessing.
People harvesting crops in the fields came into view.
Oh?
People?
"Ariel, there are humans here, but this is already Demon race territory, isn't it?"
Could it be... captured humans from the wars, forced into slavery to work the fields?
"Hm? Humans?"
Ariel blinked at me for a moment as if she didn't quite grasp what I was saying. Then she looked around, and her expression shifted to one of understanding.
"Oh. Right, right. For a Reincarnated person, the term 'Demon race' probably conjures images of devilish appearances and whatnot. I see, I see~"
Ariel nodded to herself, apparently satisfied.
Um, an explanation would be great about now?
"Everyone over there is a Demon race member."
Ariel pointed at the people working the fields as she spoke.
What?
But they looked nothing but human to me.
"You can't judge by appearance whether someone is Human race or Demon race. Their forms are exactly the same."
Wh— seriously?
What was that supposed to mean?
I was incredibly disappointed.
This was no different from the Human race territory at all.
Humans and Demons—hardly any distinction.
Occasionally, Monsters that broke through the Demon King's intimidation...