Chapter 474: The Upper Realm (I)

For the remaining days, they kept preparing for the expedition.

Gray divided the map into several sections, marking possible hunting routes and locations where their group could establish temporary camps.

He also recommended bringing equipment capable of storing captured hunting marks, as well as enough supplies to remain in the hunting grounds for several days without needing to return to the extraction point.

Elira offered to obtain information about the participating Upper World academies through her family’s connections.

She would look into their strongest students, their known techniques, and any special rewards or restrictions associated with the competition.

Scarlett, meanwhile, focused on the practical aspects of combat preparation.

She suggested several formations suitable for fighting groups of unfamiliar opponents and pointed out areas where the terrain would make ambushes particularly dangerous.

Gray listened carefully and incorporated their suggestions into his plans.

He did not need them to carry him through the competition.

What he needed was information, efficiency, and enough support to prevent unexpected situations from consuming valuable time.

Every unnecessary fight would cost him Mana, and every hour spent wandering aimlessly through the Upper Plane would be an hour wasted.

He intended to make the most of the opportunity.

...

The days passed in the blink of an eye.

By the time the expedition arrived, the Demon Academy had completed all necessary arrangements, and first- and second-year students had gathered at the enormous transfer formation beneath the academy’s central tower.

Hundreds of demons stood in formation, carrying their weapons, supplies, and personal artifacts.

Some looked excited about the upcoming battles, while others wore nervous anticipation.

For many of the first-years, this would be their first visit to the Upper Plane, and the thought of fighting students from foreign academies had made the entire expedition feel far more serious than an ordinary academy competition.

Gray, however, was in an excellent mood.

He stood near the edge of the formation with Scarlett and Elira, looking at the enormous array of runes engraved into the ground.

The transfer formation was connected to a temporary outpost established by the Demon Academy in the designated hunting region.

According to the instructors, the outpost would serve as their main gathering point, where students could receive information, exchange hunting marks, and return if they decided to withdraw from the competition.

The instructors had spent the previous day checking the students’ registration marks, distributing return tokens, and confirming the equipment each participant was permitted to carry.

The final briefing had also made it clear that anyone who abandoned the designated hunting region or interfered with the competition’s rules would be disqualified.

Gray had listened to everything.

He had even asked a few questions.

But none of those matters occupied his thoughts now.

’The Upper Plane... I’m finally here.’

The instructor raised her staff, and the transfer formation began to glow.

VMMMMMMMM!

A column of crimson light rose from the ground, swallowing the assembled students in its radiance.

The surrounding space twisted, and the air grew heavy as the formation drew power from the academy’s enormous energy reserves.

For a moment, Gray felt as though his body had been pulled through a narrow passage, with countless layers of space sliding past him.

Then the world changed.

The first thing Gray noticed was the Mana.

It flooded his senses the instant he emerged from the transfer formation, settling across his skin and slipping through the space around him like an invisible tide.

It was everywhere, flowing through the air, resting in the soil, and gathering around the vegetation growing across the nearby hills.

The difference was immediate.

The Upper Plane’s Mana was far purer than anything he had encountered in the mortal plane.

Just a casual breath allowed him to sense the dense energy circulating through the atmosphere.

For an ordinary cultivator, the difference would have been pleasant.

For Gray, it was almost intoxicating.

His mana core responded instinctively, drawing in a faint trace of the surrounding energy before he restrained it.

The new Mana entered his body smoothly, passing through his refined circuits with far less resistance than he had grown accustomed to in the Underworld.

A subtle warmth spread through his chest.

Gray’s eyes narrowed slightly.

’Wonderful...’

He kept his expression calm, suppressing the urge to sit down and begin cultivating on the spot.

’The purity is excellent. Even the ambient Mana feels better than the crystals I’ve been using. If I spend the next seven days cultivating in this environment... I should reach... at least the Peak Monarch Realm.’

"But first of all..."

Gray looked around.

The transfer formation stood on a broad stone platform overlooking a vast landscape of green hills, ancient forests, and distant mountains.

The sky above was bright, with several pale clouds drifting over the horizon, while streams of silver Mana shimmered faintly around the peaks in the distance.

The air itself felt alive.

A temporary military camp had been established beyond the platform, surrounded by defensive walls and several layers of protective formations.

Demon Academy students were already moving through its entrance, where instructors directed them toward their assigned areas.

Beyond the camp, the Upper Plane stretched into the distance, beautiful and peaceful enough to deceive anyone who had forgotten the purpose of their visit.

"Huff..."

Gray drew a slow breath, letting himself enjoy the sensation of pure Mana surrounding him before turning toward the two princesses beside him.

Scarlett was already examining their surroundings, her ruby eyes moving from the defensive walls to the distant mountains.

Elira, meanwhile, looked considerably more relaxed.

She had arrived with several attendants who were carrying their group’s supplies, while a small collection of enchanted containers hovered behind them.

It seemed both princesses had taken their preparations seriously.

In fact, they appeared to have everything under control.

And that was precisely what Gray wanted.

By the time Gray finished appreciating the surrounding Mana, Scarlett and Elira had already organized nearly everything.

Their temporary camp had been selected, their supplies had been delivered, and the maps Elira had obtained through her family’s connections were arranged on a table inside the assigned tent.

Scarlett had also checked the group’s weapons, defensive artifacts, and emergency arrangements, making certain they would not waste time dealing with avoidable problems once the competition began.

They had even divided the hunting region into several sections, assigning priorities to areas with a high likelihood of containing valuable opponents.

Gray entered the tent to find the two princesses standing over the map.

Elira looked up as soon as she noticed him.

"Perfect timing. We’ve finished preparing everything, so you don’t need to worry about the arrangements anymore."

Scarlett nodded, pointing toward the stacks of supplies beside the table.

"The equipment has been checked, the route has been planned, and Elira’s people have gathered what information they could about the participating academies. We also have several possible hunting locations marked out, along with the quickest routes back to the outpost."

She looked directly at him.

"Everything is ready. You can rest, cultivate, or do whatever you intended to do before the competition starts."

Elira smiled brightly.

"Exactly! We’ve taken care of the troublesome parts, so you don’t have to waste your time with all these little details. You promised us a favor, remember? Consider this an investment in making sure you have enough time to keep your promise."

Gray looked at the two princesses before turning to the carefully organized supplies, the detailed maps, and the reports stacked neatly beside them.

He had expected them to help, but he didn’t expect them to finish almost everything before he had even settled into the camp.

For a brief moment, he was genuinely impressed.

’They really did prepare everything... As expected of the heirs to strong families...’

Scarlett had handled the details with efficiency, while Elira had made excellent use of her family’s connections.

Between the two of them, they had managed to arrange nearly every necessity Gray would otherwise have spent hours organizing himself.

It was perfect.

No, it was better than perfect.

He had successfully turned two princesses from rival royal families into willing assistants, and neither of them seemed particularly unhappy about the arrangement.

Gray’s lips slowly curled upward.

’Being handsome really is a blessing, huh...’

[You just enticed them with a favor that you probably won’t realize.]

Jasmine’s voice rang inside his mind, carrying a faint note of disapproval.

’That’s a rather harsh way of describing the situation. I offered them a fair exchange, and they’re helping because they expect something in return. Everyone benefits.’

[You promised them anything, Gray. Anything. Do you understand the meaning of that word, or did your brain stop functioning the moment you saw an opportunity to manipulate two princesses?]

’You’re exaggerating. I’m a man of my word.’

[You are a man who searches for the cheapest possible interpretation of his own promises.]

Gray nearly laughed.

’Mhm... maybe~’

[Tsk.]

He waved one hand dismissively, as though the entire arrangement were a minor matter, and gave the two princesses a relaxed smile.

"Wonderful. Then I suppose I’ll leave the preparations in your capable hands. You’ve both been exceptionally helpful, and I promise your efforts won’t go unrewarded."

Elira’s eyes brightened immediately.

"I’ll remember those words, Gray."

Scarlett folded her arms, watching him with an expression that suggested she was already reconsidering the wisdom of their agreement.

"You’d better. I spent half the morning checking those supplies, and Elira had to bother several people in her family to obtain some of those reports. Don’t think we’ll accept a meaningless favor after putting in this much work."

"Of course not, Princess. I would never insult your efforts with something meaningless."

Gray’s answer was smooth enough to make Scarlett suspicious, but he had already turned toward the exit before she could ask what he intended to do.

Elira watched him leave with an amused smile.

Scarlett, meanwhile, narrowed her eyes at the doorway.

"He’s planning something."

"Obviously," Elira replied cheerfully.

"The question is whether it’s going to be troublesome or entertaining."

"Knowing him, both."

Gray left the tent and wandered toward a quiet area beyond the camp, where several large trees grew beside a clear stream.

The defensive formations surrounding the outpost were still visible in the distance, and the sounds of students preparing for the competition gradually faded as he moved away from the central paths.

Once he was certain nobody was watching closely, he stopped beneath the shade of a tree and looked toward the distant mountains.

Pure Mana flowed freely through the air.

He could feel it entering his body with every breath, touching his mana circuits before dispersing into the surrounding energy.

Even without actively cultivating, his body was beginning to adjust to the environment.

Gray raised his hand and gathered a tiny amount of Mana above his palm.

A faint glow appeared.

He watched it carefully, studying the way the energy responded to his will.

’Wonderful. If I establish a stable cultivation cycle here, I should be able to absorb the surrounding Mana while refining my core. That will save me a considerable amount of resources.’

He closed his fingers, allowing the energy to disperse.

Then his thoughts returned to the two princesses.

’As for their favors...’

A faint laugh escaped his lips.

’Well, I’ll fulfill my promises. I’m not planning to cheat them out of what they earned.’

[How reassuring...]

’However, there’s no reason to assume they’ll ask for something troublesome. If they leave the choice to me, I can always choose a favor that’s simple enough to fulfill.’

He paused, his smile becoming increasingly mischievous.

’For example, I could offer to demonstrate my Incubus abilities. Perhaps teach them a few charming techniques, or let them see how effectively my Law of Seduction works in practice.’

He imagined the expressions on their faces when he suggested it.

Scarlett would almost certainly glare at him and accuse him of being shameless, while Elira would probably find the idea entertaining enough to agree before Scarlett could stop her.

The thought made him laugh.

’Yes, that should work rather nicely.’

[...]

Jasmine remained silent for several seconds.

Then a long, exhausted sigh echoed inside his mind.

[...Haah.]

Gray’s smile widened.

’What? I said I’d grant them a favor. I’m not taking anything away from them.’

[You promised two royal princesses anything they wanted in exchange for their help, and your first thought is to find a way to turn the favors into an opportunity to test your Incubus abilities.]

’When you put it that way, it sounds much worse than it is.’

[Because it is worse than it sounds.]

Gray chuckled and slipped his hands into his pockets.

Gray looked toward the sky, where pale streams of Mana shimmered faintly above the distant mountains.

His eyes narrowed slighly.

’Seven days. An entire week of pure Mana, rare resources, and opportunities to improve my strength.’

He smiled.

’Let’s make the most of it.’