Hokkaido—

Japan's northernmost island, a place that boasts breathtaking scenery and a wealth of natural beauty. Warm springs, historical sites, and a vibrant indigenous Ainu culture can all be found in this region, which is well-known for its stunning mountains, extensive forests, pure lakes, varied seasons, and vibrant summer flower fields. Fresh seafood, dairy products, and distinctive local dishes are among the culinary delights. A blend of contemporary conveniences and traditional experiences can be found in its quaint cities, such as Sapporo, making Hokkaido an amazing travel destination.

If there was ever a perfect spot in Japan for a refreshing walk, it was here.

Satan was currently trekking along a straight path in a nearby mountain area, surrounded by a dense forest of trees.

His thoughts were preoccupied with the morning television news.

'The news makes it obvious that the supernatural isn't the only group aware of Satan's fall and Hell's sealing... I wouldn't be surprised if I ran into some holy order dedicated to fighting monsters, demons, Satanists, or whatever other horrors this world has spawned...'

The thought was troubling. If the Satanists managed to unseal the Devil, a confrontation between him and the actual Devil seemed inevitable.

His demon side urged him to kill every demon in this world, become the sole demon and the only Satan, and enslave the world. It whispered to let the Satanists free the real Devil and demons, then demonstrate the true power of the demons of Dark Descent.

But he wasn't going to do that. If the Satanists' words were true, the real Satan would likely burn the entire world to cinders. And if anyone was going to burn this world, it would be him, not someone else, including the actual Devil.

'Speaking of that... could the Satanists be the ones Albedo mentioned? It's possible... I need to investigate... but where will I find a Satanist?'

Satan halted his steps as he noticed a familiar structure nearby.

A church.

It stood abandoned and broken, partially shrouded in algae and vines, with walls marred by huge cracks and a roof on the brink of collapse.

'I have nothing else to do... why not take a look? These kinds of places often conceal horrific crimes. Perhaps I'll find something intriguing... or even a Satanist. It's the perfect setting for their rituals, whether it's child sacrifice or whatever they call it.'

Approaching cautiously, he pushed the weak door, which promptly fell apart.

Stepping inside, he surveyed the scene. Dust lay thick on broken, rotten wooden furniture, and the stained glass barely transmitted any light, so grimy it was. His attention then turned to the corpse of a nun, lying in an advanced state of decay with multiple stab wounds and a head brutally crushed by a rock.

'Wow... a dead body... just as I expected. Judging by the condition of the body, it seems to have been here for at least a week or two, however...'

There was something unsettling about it: it emitted no smell.

'It had been here long enough for its odor to be detectable from outside the church... yet there wasn't any. What could be the reason for that?'

Was it a monster who had done it, or was it just a plain old murder by a human?

Satan was leaning more towards the first scenario, though there was also a chance it could have been the second. However, he didn't have much knowledge in science, so he wasn't sure.

Another possibility was that one or many Satanists were involved in it.

'The only way I could know the answer is to resurrect the nun or use the temporal vision spell... Unfortunately, I am neither a Saint nor a Chronomancer...'

If he had known beforehand that he was going to be summoned to another world, he would have chosen one of those classes instead of becoming a destruction mage.

'Thankfully, I have this item with me...'

Satan gazed at the silver ring on his left index finger, known as 'The Silver Codex'. It was one of the rarest items in all of Dark Descent, capable of granting wishes to players within its reach. This ring was Satan's most powerful item. It could grant a maximum of two wishes, each costing around 150 MP points, with a cooldown period of 24 hours.

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"Until now, I have only used this ring to request materials to upgrade and maintain my player base."

In Dark Descent, players who reached the level cap of 100 were granted a piece of land that they could use for various purposes: from creating small, cozy homes for breaks, to constructing grand cities to showcase their creativity, or designing dungeons to challenge other players, acting as boss characters with rewards for those who defeated them.

He found himself missing his player base; if it were here, things would be much easier, not to mention the vast array of items he had accumulated within it during his time in Dark Descent.

However, this also led him to wonder: was his player base also present in this world?

Considering that game elements seemed to function in reality, it was entirely possible. He planned to investigate this further later; for now, his focus was on the current situation.

He took a deep breath, steadying himself for what he was about to attempt.

Choosing to resurrect her seemed more practical than using temporal reversal vision, which in the game description only revealed events up to six days past.

"Hear my plea, oh administrator... I am Sataniel Von Avesta, the Mage of Destruction, ranked tenth among all players in Dark Descent. I request you to resurrect the woman lying dead before me..."

The ring emitted a brilliant glow, indicating that his request had been granted.

A white pentagon circle materialized above the lifeless body, with four white leaves positioned outside the circle, their stems touching it, each pointing to a cardinal direction. In the center of the pentagon was an infinity symbol.

'Miracle of God... one of the fifteenth-tier magic spells, wielded by the most difficult priest class, the Saint... the highest level of resurrection magic, capable of bringing back even those obliterated from existence.'

The woman's body was engulfed in white light. As the outer circular ring of the pentagon circle began to spin, the cardinal leaves remained fixed at their points. Meanwhile, the rock that had crushed the woman's head vanished, crumbling into pieces.

'If it weren't for my Devil persona...'

The magic circle and the white light gradually dissipated, restoring the woman's body and bringing her back to life.

Satan finally got a good look at the nun's face, and he was quite impressed: long, flowing blonde hair, pale skin that looked soft, blue eyes, and soft lips.

'Alright... time for some drama.'

Satan cleared his throat and gently roused the woman, "Hey, open your eyes, woman! I, Satan, the lord of the infernal, command you!"

The nun immediately opened her eyes in shock, huffing and puffing. She quickly checked herself.

"What the?! My body... the stab wounds are gone..."

A look of shock took over her.

"I am alive!!!"

Satan watched the scene with amusement.

"Yes, indeed you are. I have brought your fragile life back from the cruel and cold grasp of Death."

The nun's eyes finally settled on Satan, widening in fear. She crawled back a little.

"Who are you?! No... what are you?"

Her voice trembled, internally sending a surge of euphoria through Satan. It was the second time someone had shown fear towards him. He was going to relish this interaction thoroughly.

He struck a theatrical pose, ready to introduce himself.

"I am the harbinger of sin, one whose mere presence could taint the purity of heaven itself! Lies are woven into the fabric of my being, and evil courses through my veins. My soul is a void of darkness, despising truth and justice. I am the whisper in the night, the shadow that corrupts the light. I am known by countless names throughout the ages, feared and reviled. But to simplify it for you—I am your lord's greatest enemy."

"My lord's greatest enemy..."

The nun repeated the words, realizing who stood before her.

"It can't be... you-you-you are Satan?!"

"Yes, I am he, and he is me. Now, there are some questions I need you to answer..."

Satan moved closer to the nun, his expression twisted, causing her to retreat in fear until she reached the wall.

"Don't even think about running from me, woman. I can be very compassionate, but if you defy me, I will have to become a harsh sadist. I don't want to inflict severe pain on a beautiful woman like you, but I will..."

The nun gulped, her voice trembling, "Wha-wha-what do you want to know?"

Satan leaned in, his face inches from hers, gently touching her cheek before whispering in her ear.

"I want to know... who took your life in such a cruel manner... or the circumstances that led to it..."

"I came to Hokkaido with my husband and daughter for a small vacation. We were walking in the mountains, and during our stay at a hotel, figures in purple robes abducted us and brought us to this place. They killed my husband... and then me..."

The nun paused, her eyes widening in realization.

"My daughter! Where is my daughter?!"

She looked at Satan with worried eyes, desperate for an answer.

"Don't look at me, woman. I have no knowledge of your daughter's whereabouts."

Tears fell from the nun's eyes as she cried, her motherly heart filled with sorrow.

"What I can tell you is that those responsible for this tragedy are the Satanists."

Upon hearing the word 'Satanists,' the nun immediately grabbed the collar of his shirt—a black full-sleeved t-shirt adorned with purple and gold linings. It was a rare item known as "Curtain of Murder," which increased his parameters by 50 percent.

"You took my daughter?!"

Satan slapped her, though not with full force, causing her to stumble.

"Don't touch me, woman. I neither have your daughter nor any need for her."

"Then why did your followers take her?!"

"Silence!"

He grabbed the nun's face and lifted her.

"Lower your voice when addressing me, woman. I don't tolerate your kind talking back!"

He threw her onto one of the rotten, decaying tables.

The nun coughed up blood, crimson droplets staining her pallid face.

"Please, I beg you... give me back my daughter."

"Stop your whining, woman. How many times do I have to remind your feeble mind that I am not responsible for this?"

Satan reached into his inventory and retrieved a medium-sized test tube with an engraved golden cap, containing red liquid inside. It was a healing potion, a low-level one typically used by those under level 20.

"I will bring your daughter to you if she is alive...."

He poured the potion into the nun's mouth.

"I'm not doing this out of goodwill. You've given me valuable information..."

The nun slowly got up as she was healed, looking at Satan with desperate eyes.

"You will bring my daughter back to me...."

"I will, if she is alive. That's the promise of the Devil. Now, what is your daughter's name and how does she look?"

"My daughter's name is Selene... Selene Everfall..."

'Everfall... that's the same surname as Elena's....'

A sharp thought crossed his mind: Could this woman have any connection to Elena? It seemed unlikely, but he had to ask; if true, it would open up numerous new theories to investigate.

"Wait a moment, I have another question. First, tell me: do you know a woman named Elena?"

"Elena...? I do know one Elena...."

Satan decided to be more specific, but in a grandiose and dramatic way.

"Elena Everfall... adorned with cascading silver hair that shimmers like moonlit streams, eyes as piercing as sapphires, a complexion of porcelain, a slender waist that captivates the gaze, and a figure graced with bountiful breasts, likely D or E. Her presence carries the delicate scent of ripe pears, and her skin is so soft it seems almost ethereal, beckoning to be touched."

"This description... you meant, my sister, don't you?'

'Once again, I am right!'

"Yes. Now take my hand. I'll teleport you to her. She'll explain everything."

The nun hesitantly grasped Satan's hand. He activated "Shadow Transfer" and whisked them away from the church.