Snatched from Another World: A Demon's True Account of Theft Beyond the Veil of Sleep

Life, Organisation Association

Introduction: Jorani the Whitesmith

明方新聞

Akegata Shinbun

Pilot Story: Snatched from Another World: A Demon's True Account of Theft Beyond the Veil of Sleep

Welcome to the very first story published by Akegata Shinbun, Japan's first newspaper. The Dreamlands are on everyone's mind right now, what with that First Hashinara Expansion Order that went around not long ago. That's why, for our launch story, we'll be looking into a story that suggests the veil between our world and that of dreams maybe isn't as thick as you might think! Here's our guest journalist, Marquis of Envy, Lady Shax:

Do you really want me to write this? Are you sure? It won't be nice. Well then... I was particularly bored that day. You see, the Daimyō of the Hashinara Clan (that's like a Duke for you Demons out there) released my from my centuries-long prison and then promptly buggered off to some other world. Most summoners ask for my help in stealing great riches, or the souls of their enemies, but this one hardly had a word for me. So, I had to find my own entertainment. When I first got let out of that damnable bottle, I met a young man from Albion. He was exactly the kind of hapless, stuck-up sort that I love to toy with. I stole his voice then, but was ordered to give it back. That's why, why I thought about having some fun, his was the first mug to pop into my mind. It wasn't hard to convince someone to give me a lift to Ago Manor, where I knew I'd find "Lord" Maxim. He was just sitting around in his room when I arrived. Exactly how I thought I'd find him. I've met rulers like him before, and they talk big but mostly just stand around and object whenever you suggest anything remotely interesting. That's what I expected him to do now. See, I'd been thinking a lot on the way over to Ago. It seems like that Yoshitakatomo girl could get us in a lot of trouble (read: entertainment to break up the mediocrity of my hell-banished existence), but she was stolen away by the Dreamlands before we ever got a chance. So, what if I stole something back? I'd gotten a pretty good idea of how I was going to do it, but I needed someone who had been to the Dreamlands before. Someone with a little bit of a bond I could abuse. Conveniently, Maxim had been there at least once. I could smell it on him, just like I could smell the sulfur from Gehenna all over his soul. Of course, he wasn't interested. Mortals are always so touchy about their souls. Mention that you're going to poke around in their essence and they get all up in arms. He told me to get lost. I made a dignified exit and started thinking about how I could get back at him. Maybe I'd steal the loyalty of his most trusted commanders. Or maybe I'd wipe those good looks off his face, literally. Come to think of it, hadn't he gotten more handsome since I last saw him? I mean, way more handsome, a real blonde bombshell. But I'm getting off track. He was going to regret turning me away. I'd make sure he thought twice about doing so again. Or I was going to, but he called me back. It seems Maxim isn't as dumb as his slack-chiseled jaw and empty blue eyes would suggest. He'd be willing to try after all. Not to say that letting me fish around in his soul was the intelligent option, but making an enemy of me would be even worse. I didn't have any ulterior motives anyway. This time. I came up on him and reached around. Having four arms is useful for things like this (if the cretin who stole my other two is reading, I'm not finished with you), and I found his soul's bond to the Dreamlands right away. After that, it was just a matter of sending some magic out and finding someone who'd had their own interactions with someone from this world. It wasn't hard. Those idiots had been all over at least one of the major cities. I got a good grip, pulled, and— Look, I won't say it wasn't embarrassing, but when your whole existence is a two-arms-missing embarrassment, you get used to it. I fell over. My crows went everywhere. Some hussy from the Dreamlands popped out of the air and collapsed into Maxim's arms. Dark skin, beautiful features, and a shapely body. Disgusting. Reminded me of some of those insufferable Lust demons back home. Maxim seemed happy enough, animal that he is. The girl, "Jorani the Whitesmith," apparently, had no idea what was going on. I enjoyed her stammering and confusion for a little bit and bided my time. Then, when Maxim offered to take her home, I drove the nails in. She wouldn't be going home. Rather, because I stole her from the Dreamlands, this was her home now. Go back to that side and she'd start to waste away. The expression on her face was priceless. It's times like these that I love the perks of being an Envy Demon. Of course, the two managed to work it out anyway. I guess Jorani was just worried about not finishing her last job and Maxim offered to send someone over to Baharna to sort it out. Other than that, she was delighted to be here on Earth, with all the new sights and sounds. Ugh. Some people can really see the silver lining in anything, and it makes me want to— I doubt they'll print that last part, but use your imagination. That's about it. And before you get any ideas, no human is going to be able to do anything like this. I'm an Archdemon. You know that, right? I've had millennia to practice my magic. So don't get any ideas about the Veil of Sleep being thin or whatever. Got it?

So there you have it. Thank you for your contribution, Shax, and we hope you'll be willing to write for us again in the future! In our guest journalist's expert opinion, the veil between our world and that of dreams really is just as thick as you might think. At least we learned that demons aren't always out to get you! You can definitely trust them every once in a while. Maybe. Thanks for reading, and look forward to the official first volume of Akegata Shinbun, printing in all major cities tomorrow!