"This world is too terrifying!"
Leonora looked at Hokkaido, which resembled hell itself. Her already fair skin was now deathly pale, drained of all color.
She was a descendant of Nordic nobility and had married the wealthy Soe. Although she was the mother of a high school student, she had never experienced any setbacks in her life.
Now, being dragged into a world that looked like a living hell, Leonora felt like she was going crazy.
"It's okay, I'll protect you."
Soe quickly stepped forward to comfort his wife.
If they were still in the real world, Soe's words might have moved mother and daughter deeply.
But now, Leonora and Alice looked at Soe with eyes full of doubt.
'Protect us? Really?'
Nakiri Soe scratched his head and smiled: "A-Anyway, I-I'll do my best."
Mother and daughter had a hard time keeping a straight face.
'If effort were enough, your brother-in-law wouldn't be dead.'
Alice's eyes darted around. She mustered her courage and approached Makoto.
"Nishikawa-kun, can you tell us about this world?"
Alice understood very well that the only person they could rely on now was Makoto.
First, they needed to know the basic information about this world to increase their chances of survival.
After eating several sausages, Makoto briefly explained the basic structure of this world to the group.
In this world, supernatural forces also existed, but not wielded by humans… they were Devils.
These Devils were born from human fear of certain things.
From major fears like humans' fear of weapons or animals, came the Knife Devil, Bomb Devil, Snake Devil, Rat Devil, and so on.
To minor fears like humans' dislike of vegetables or insects, came the Tomato Devil, Potato Devil, Leech Devil, Fly Devil...
All kinds of Devils existed.
Some Devils didn't want to interact with humans and lurked in remote areas far from people.
Others hid in big cities.
Most Devils were violent by nature and inherently disliked humans, attacking them either passively or actively.
Hearing Makoto's explanation, even the players who had just narrowly escaped death couldn't help but feel a bit speechless.
They could understand Devils like the Knife Devil or Snake Devil.
But Tomato Devil and Potato Devil? Weren't those just comic relief?
Makoto, however, thought of an interesting question:
Since there were filler Devils like the Tomato Devil, did that mean there were also Coriander Devil and Broccoli Devil?
After all, quite a few people disliked those things.
"Knife Devil, Bomb Devil… those sound formidable. But I didn't expect there would be food-type Devils... I suppose it makes sense. If there were a Lemon Devil, I'd definitely stay away."
Utaha couldn't help but comment. She hated sour things, especially lemons.
"So, Nishikawa, the Devil that attacked just now was..."
Hiratsuka Shizuka asked the question everyone was most concerned about.
What exactly was the Devil that could destroy an entire city in a few seconds and push even Makoto to the brink?
Makoto took the milk Yotsuba handed him, chugged a few gulps, and said:
"The Gun Devil."
"The stronger humanity's fear of something, the stronger the Devil that embodies that thing becomes. Devils also exploit this by attacking humans, intensifying that fear, growing stronger, and repeating the cycle."
Hearing Makoto's answer, the scene fell into dead silence.
It was… a gun!
That made sense.
After all, among all weapons, the one that inspired the most fear was naturally the gun.
Especially their father-figure in Japan, the land of the free, America… that place probably contributed significant power to the Gun Devil.
"Then aren't humans in this world just prey for Devils?"
Mana thought of another question.
If Devils were so terrifying and possessed such immense power, how did humans in this world survive?
Hearing this, everyone snapped to attention.
That's right. If Devils in this world were so terrifying, how did humanity survive?
The Hokkaido before them was a living example… they had been completely helpless against the Gun Devil.
Even a strong fighter like Makoto had been pushed to such a state.
Makoto said calmly:
"There's a difference between a full meal and a single meal. Those Devils understand that. Since a Devil's power comes from human fear, if they wiped out all humans, their own power would wane."
Therefore, even Devils like the Gun Devil, which represented killing and primal desires, only appeared every few decades or even centuries. They wouldn't commit genocide against all of humanity.
Makoto's words didn't have any comforting effect.
Instead, the players' faces turned even paler.
Isn't this just like humans raising pigs for food?
I won't kill you all. Every time I want to eat, I'll just cut a piece of meat off you, keep you alive, and then cut another piece next time.
Damn, it would be kinder to just kill me outright.
Fortunately, Makoto continued:
"However, some Devils are willing to interact with humans. This kind of relationship is called a contract. You understand?"
Hearing this, Eriri, being a homebody, was the first to catch on.
"I get it! It's about offering some kind of price to gain a Devil's power, right?"
Makoto clapped his hands: "Not bad. Looks like you've spent a fair bit of time with anime."
"Hehe."
Eriri scratched her head a little sheepishly at the compliment.
Meanwhile, Yotsuba pouted slightly. That was what she had wanted to say.
Although she wasn't a shut-in like her sister Miku, she still read manga and played games regularly.
Makoto continued:
"By making a contract with a Devil, you can gain power beyond ordinary humans. Most of these people choose the profession of Devil Hunter… a job that pays well for hunting Devils. They are the main force humanity uses to fight against Devils."
Hearing this, many of the new players' eyes lit up instantly.
The recently awakened Kudo Shinichi and Tomoya were the same.
Especially Tomoya.
He had always been resentful about crossing over to the Naruto World but not being able to become a Ninja.
And now, by simply making a contract with a Devil, he could gain supernatural power? That was such a good deal.
Sign it! Sign it now!
Oh, by the way, Ito Makotou, who had been castrated twice, was still unconscious and didn't hear this part.
"Mr. Nishikawa, how does one make a contract with a Devil?"
Soe stepped forward first and asked impatiently.
As the son of Nakiri Senzaemon, he wasn't overly obsessed with superpowers.
After all, he already possessed power in the real world that most people couldn't even dream of.
But the problem was, in this world, that kind of power was completely useless.
And he had a wife and daughter to protect. Now that Makoto mentioned it, the best option seemed to be making a contract with a Devil.
Makoto looked at him like he was an idiot, then said to the Aizono sisters and the others:
"Don't make contracts with Devils. They're not good news."
"Those beings aren't benevolent. What they demand often exceeds your imagination… lifespan, body parts, even sacrificing family, friends, children... And often, it's not a one-time exchange for permanent use. You have to pay a price each time you use the Devil's power."
At this point, Makoto couldn't help but laugh.
"For example, if you made a contract with some kind of beast Devil, like a Tiger Devil or Lion Devil. Every time you use its power, it demands to eat your flesh. Today it eats your arm, tomorrow your leg. The day after, what will it want to eat?"
Instantly, the players who had been bright-eyed moments before felt like ice water had been poured over them from head to toe.
'Wasn't that too cruel?'
Yui and the others couldn't help but thought in relief, 'We were lucky to have learned Ninjutsu in the Ninja World. The cost of gaining superpowers here was just too high.'
This world is too damn cruel.