The so-called entry formalities were, in fact, handled by the train conductor using a specialized device to verify the passengers' identities. Once their identities were confirmed to be in order, the entry procedures were synchronized and completed immediately.
As for how identities were verified, it was because after being reincarnated using Evil Pieces, the data of the Peerage devils was registered within the Underworld. A simple scan with the specialized device was enough to confirm whether a person was who they claimed to be.
Naturally, the identities of the Eligos Peerage members were perfectly fine, and they quickly completed the verification and entry process.
"Now, until we reach the station at our destination, you are free to move about the carriages. We have sleeping berths as well as dining areas. Please make use of them during your journey."
The conductor welcomed Leon and his group into the carriage with a professional smile before disappearing, leaving the girls with an increasing sense that they had indeed boarded a train to hell.
"If I hadn't already been reincarnated as a devil, I would never have dared to board a train like this," Utaha Kasumigaoka muttered under her breath, earning unanimous agreement from the others.
However, the interior of the train was unexpectedly normal. Unlike its monstrous and terrifying exterior, it resembled a venue where medieval aristocrats might enjoy a banquet. The floors were covered in red carpets, and the decor was elegant. The number of seats was limited, giving off the feeling of riding in a luxury first-class cabin, complete with a bar counter and a tea cart.
Toot—
Not long after, the train's whistle blew, and the locomotive began to move slowly, pulling away from the station.
"Where is this headed?"
Yukino Yukinoshita checked the view through the window, only to find that after leaving the station, the train followed dark tracks through what looked like a bizarre, distorted world. There were no proper buildings or scenery to be seen.
"Alright, stop looking. There's nothing outside but a void of distortion."
Leon beckoned the girls to sit down and began explaining to them once more.
"After leaving the station, we officially entered the gap between the Human World and the Underworld. That's why you can't see anything outside these tracks—because there is nothing there."
"In about half an hour, we will encounter the Dimensional Wall and pass through it to officially enter the Underworld."
"This train will take us directly to the Eligos Territory, where we will disembark."
Since the seats were arranged facing each other, Yukino Yukinoshita and Utaha Kasumigaoka sat across from Leon, while Asuna Yuuki and Mahiru Shiina sat by his sides, attending to him on the left and right.
"That place is both our Eligos family's ancestral land and a territory waiting to be developed."
"In the future, I will grant portions of that land to you. You will need to develop it properly to make it flourish once again."
"Of course, that's for later. Currently, we haven't officially made our debut. We only need to consider the restoration of the territory after we have debuted."
Leon's explanation resolved some of the girls' confusion but generated even more questions.
"According to what you're saying, the Eligos Territory isn't already developed?" Yukino Yukinoshita asked doubtfully. "Why is that?"
It was a natural question. The Eligos family was one of the 72 Pillars of Solomon. Even if the lineage had been broken for a time, if the land was still there, there was no reason for it to be completely undeveloped. Had it fallen into ruin?
"Yes, it has fallen into ruin," Leon said with a shrug. "Though the land once flourished, after the Eligos line was severed, all the devils living there left, leaving the place to become a wasteland."
The Underworld was different from the Human World; it had no oceans, and the land was incredibly vast. Even though the Devils and Fallen Angels had divided it equally, the utilization rate of the land remained very low compared to the sparse devil population.
Therefore, in the Underworld, land wasn't particularly valuable unless it had some specific added value—such as rare resources. Otherwise, once no one was managing the land, it would be abandoned without a second thought.
The former residents of the Eligos Territory had left for more prosperous lands. Leon had visited before, only to find a vast stretch of desolate earth. The cities had turned to rubble, and various plants had reclaimed what used to be urban areas. Monsters prowled the ruins; it was not a place fit for habitation.
"You'll understand once you see it."
Seeing the girls listening intently, Leon shared more details about the Eligos Territory to help them grasp the situation. However, after hearing his description, only one thought occupied their minds.
"How on earth are we supposed to restore a place like that?"
The current state of the Eligos Territory was just that dire—certainly not something a group of underage girls could develop.
"No need to rush; our future is long," Leon said casually, having already formulated a plan. "We certainly can't restore it with just a few people. But once we debut, start participating in Rating Games, and make a name for ourselves in the devil society, people will flock to us of their own accord even if we do nothing."
"That is when the true restoration of our territory will begin."
As for now—
"Just think of it as our place for cultivation."
Leon unfolded a magic circle in his hand, projecting a map. It was a very detailed map of the Eligos Territory, but most of it showed a desolate state—nothing but mountains and forests, with no sign of human habitation.
"Our destination for this trip is here." Leon pointed to a corner of the map. "This was once an ancient battlefield used by the Eligos family to train soldiers. The outskirts are a camp that is barely usable, while the interior is filled with various dangerous environments. Some spots can be utilized for training, and the effects are quite excellent."
"I've been here before to train for a while, but not for long. The environment is too harsh; staying too long would definitely be fatal."
Back then, Leon was merely an elite among Middle-class Devils, not even an Ultimate-class. Of course, now he could likely walk through it as if it were level ground.
"My plan is to train here with all of you for a month." Leon's gaze swept across the girls. "I've already prepared a detailed training schedule. Once we are settled, I'll hand it over to you."
The girls nodded one after another, signifying their understanding. It wasn't that they didn't feel uneasy, but they suppressed it. After experiencing two attacks, they were all dissatisfied with their current strength and wanted to become stronger. Therefore, even knowing they were headed to a harsh environment, they summoned their courage and offered no objections.
"Don't worry," Leon said, as if seeing through their hearts. "As long as I'm here, I won't let anything happen to you."
The girls relaxed and nodded again.
The train continued its journey through the distorted and eerie world. About thirty minutes later, an announcement broadcasted through the carriage.
"Approaching the Dimensional Wall—Approaching the Dimensional Wall—"
Hearing the announcement, the girls immediately pressed against the windows to look outside.
"There's a hole!" Asuna Yuuki cried out in surprise.
Indeed, a black cavity had appeared in front of the train traveling through the distorted world. It looked like a black hole, rotating slowly in the void. The train plunged directly into the hole and emerged a moment later, bringing the Eligos Peerage into the Underworld.
The scenery outside the window changed completely. It was no longer a distorted world but an alien one. There was a purple sky and vast, endless land. The terrain was mostly mountains and forests. Although there was no sea, large lakes were visible.
"T-this is the Underworld?"
The girls looked at the scenery with wonder in their eyes, even Yukino, Asuna, and Utaha. Though the three of them had been to the Underworld before, it had been night then, and the Familiar Forest was right in the foreground, so they hadn't seen much of the Underworld's unique landscape.
It was different now. Although there was no sun in the sky, there was plenty of light, making the mountains, water, lakes, and forests clearly visible. The sight was undeniably beautiful.
"Is this really the legendary Hell?" Mahiru Shiina couldn't help but ask. "It doesn't look like it at all."
Yukino and the other two nodded involuntarily.
"The Underworld you see now is just the surface. This part isn't much different from the Human World. There are towns and cities, and it's quite developed—at least within devil society."
Seeing the girls looking so interested, Leon smiled.
"As for the 'Hell' you know, that's actually underground, in much deeper places."
"That is where the souls of the dead are meant to go. In the deepest depths, there even reside the Underworld Gods and Death Gods who manage the realm of the dead. However, they belong to a different system than ours. We generally don't interact with them, so you can ignore them."
"Look, the Eligos Territory is here."
Under Leon's guidance, the girls looked toward a patch of land the train was approaching. It was also filled with mountains and forests, but one could faintly see the existence of towns and cities. However, those settlements were all abandoned, reduced to ruins and broken walls.
The train crossed wastes, mountains, and forests, finally reaching the border of the Eligos Territory and entering a stretch of badlands. The edge of this area was a camp made up of tents.
"We've reached our destination."
Leon stood up and gave the girls a mysterious smile.
"Let's go, girls. It's time to face your trials."
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