Chapter 41 - Arrival To The UnderWorldLand

"Huh...?"

After some hours, Ness opened her eyes and saw that Joren's sleeping face.

'Who's... this?'

That was the first question that popped into her head. But after her eyes completely regained their vision, she realized that it was Joren.

"Am I... really that drunk or he dashing when he's asleep? No, his face relaxes... so this is supposed to be his normal face if he does not have that glaring look..."

After muttering that Ness found that Joren's other arm was hugging her waist.

"This guy is taking advantage of me..."

She said before going back to sleep.

Joren didn't intentionally hug her. He just moved after sleeping since his arm was in an awkward position, trying not to touch Ness.

...

After some weird dream about a talking Unicorn telling him that his soul in the UnderWorld that's only comprised of his lower leg was dashing, Joren woke up and immediately noticed the bright light piercing his eyelids.

Afterward, he could hear a cacophony of noise. The ground also seemed to be swaying as his body moved along? No, the ground is not curved and soft.

"What...?"

He muttered before hearing a reply.

"Joren? Are you finally awake?"

Ness' voice entered Joren's ears so he replied.

"Ness? Where... where are we?"

Slowly opening his eyes, he could see that the sky was dark. Then... where do the lights come from? At that moment, the thing that's been holding him up was removed, dropping him onto the ground.

"Woah..."

"Geez! Do you know how long have you been sleeping!?"

"Huh?"

Joren blinked a few times before he finally regained all his senses. There were a lot of people... no, monsters (!?) going to and fro in the wide road. There were stands that sells what it seems like candies with questionable flavors on a stick. There were also humans who are laughing alongside strange creatures.

Surrounding them were establishments that offer different kinds of foods and services. Gift shops were prominent among them, selling merchandise about characters that Joren have no idea who but all of them have scary faces who were trying to smile. Furthermore, they have long horns like goats.

Most of the noise was coming from the background music that was singing-

[Hell for you, hell for me, isn't this hella fun!

We, demons wouldn't make you run.

Embrace the world without a sun.

And, enjoy your eternity in the UnderWorldLand!]

"Umm... where are we?"

Joren asked even though he just heard the song.

"I'm asking you do you know how long have you been sleeping?"

Ness stomped around while repeating her question.

"A-ah... no, how long?"

"Today's the second day! We've arrived here yesterday, the others thought you're dead and I was almost fined for illegal soul-trafficking!"

Joren looked up and saw that the backpack Ness was holding was bigger now than before. That's where he must've been sleeping.

"Must be becuase I haven't slept properly for a whole week..."

He muttered.

"That wouldn't have been long if not for the fact that we only have two days more in this realm! The cruise ship will be leaving the day after tomorrow at noon! If we don't find your soul before then, we'll be stuck here for the rest of our lives!"

Joren listened and processed what Ness said. His eyes widened as each second passed by.

"Wait wait wait, that's really important. Why didn't you tell me that before?"

"... teehee?"

Ness' eyes drifted as she lightly knocked her head. She acted cutely and Joren couldn't believe its working on him.

"Well, past is the past. Also, we only have one day on the ship anyway, we shouldn't talk about business! Let's talk about this in a quieter place."

Joren looked around and couldn't believe that this really is the UnderWorld. Also, what even is UnderWorldLand? Are they copying D*sney?

Also, this just seemed to be a Halloween version of it. He couldn't see anything... hell out of it. The only fire he saw, which was supposed to be prominent in the Underworld he's heard about, is at the street lamps.

While Joren was sightseeing, Ness was leading him towards the hotel that was reserved for them by the cruise as a part of their trip.

"Wait... is this what a normal hotel looks like here or is this..?"

"Yes, another love hotel if not obvious for the heart-shaped doors."

Ness snickered but it doesn't seem to be towards Joren but towards the hotel.

"We're not going back to our room, let's go to the lobby. But before that."

She said while walking towards a ginormous guy with red skin and giant horns. This guy's appearance screams 'I'm a demon!'

"Hello again, mister!"

Ness said with an attitude.

"Hm, what is it this time, Mrs. Vanessa? We already let you off earlier, are you seeking another trou-"

"Let me off, look at this guy. Does he look dead to you? Huh? Is this guy dead?"

Ness pulled Joren and poked his cheeks.

The hotel manager propped up his glasses and looked at Joren with menacing eyes. Joren gulped under this pressure simultaneously with the manager.

These two scared each other.

"Are you sure this is your husband, Joren Vierei?"

"Husband? I mean, yes, are you telling me he's a different person?"

Ness doesn't to be intimidated by anyone at all as she tried to be the one who intimidates which she failed, considering her pretty face.

"Well..." the manager rubbed his chin, "you're husband... how do I say this, sorry for the wording but, has a more refined face. Meanwhile, this one looks tough."

"Are you saying my husband is ugly!?"

Ness stomped forward while Joren's face looked sad upon hearing this honest criticism.

"No, no, I mean, he just looks intimidating compared to your husband's gentle face."

The manager tried to explain as he began sweating. Earlier, when they tried to question this woman, they found out that they couldn't use force against her to make an arrest. Strength is power, especially in the UnderWorld. Realizing that this woman, Vanessa, is not a simple woman on her vacation, the hotel let her 'crime' go.

However, it seemed that they offended her earlier that she's back pushing her case.

'I should've just agreed with what she's saying...'

The manager thought but he was really dumbfounded when Vanessa presented him with a 'different person' He thought that this woman was presenting a half-assed proof to support her stand just because she was offended earlier.

"It's because he's just sleeping earlier!"

"Ne-... Vanessa, are you sure we should be wasting our time here?"

"No! Wait, if they're not weak, they could've got me arrested for false accusation, you know!" Ness seemed to be riled up.

'So, we're weak? Not that she's super strong?' the manager didn't know how to respond to that.

"Oh, close your eyes, Joren and relax. Come on."

Ness thought and since she's in this state, Joren gave up and close his eyes.

"He still looks scary." the manager replied which he then realized his mistake, 'Wait, I should agree with her.'

Bam*

Joren then felt a heavy hit on his neck before he fell unconscious. Once he woke up again, he saw two beautiful mounds above him.

He had the urge to touch them.

"Joren..."

But good thing he restrained himself. He reluctantly sat up since Ness' thighs were the best pillow he had in all of his life.

"Argh... Ness? It seemed that I fell asleep again."

He said before looking at Ness who have her head hanged. This was the first time he saw Ness have that sad expression.

"Umm... sorry, I hit you..."

The volume of her voice decreased with shame. Figuring out what happened, Joren asked.

"So, did you prove that I'm handsome?"

"Huh?" Ness was baffled by his question before answering, "Yeah? They apologized and I received a VIP pass for the UnderWorldLand."

Joren then smiled, "Then what's the problem?"

"No, don't you have a problem with me? I'm selfish. I even left Virena because I wanted to go out once in a while then I hit you pretty hard just to prove my point."

"... hm, about Virena, you should definitely apologize to her. You could start by helping her with the task that's originally yours."

Joren suggested but Ness shook her head with an embarrassing smile.

"Actually... I'm not really that smart. I don't know how to run the First Level. I only got that position because of my strength. Even if I want to, I can't help Virena. I took her in, not because I pitied her when she was a child, it was because I just want to train her to do all the job for me. Isn't that pretty selfish?"

"I don't know the whole story but I think Virena is pretty happy that you took her in?"

'Wait, when Virena was a child?' Joren found something out of place but he didn't think much about it.