Chapter 3: The Coup

◇A Room in the Dark Citadel◇

Yuigarde, the so-called Tyrant of the Dark Family, raged through his room, kicking the walls and screaming. “What in the hells is wrong with my brother?! Is he going senile?!” Yuigarde’s half-brother was none other than the Dark One Gholl.

“Master Yuigarde, this is the Dark Citadel... We do not know if one of Uliminas’s spies is listening, so if you could please be a little more quiet...?” A succubus stepped towards Yuigarde to try to stop him, reaching out with her arms. This was Phufun, Yuigarde’s henchwoman.

However, Yuigarde fended her off. “Am I supposed to put up with this? Leaving the castle whenever he feels like! Talking about bringing a human into the Dark Army! What is he thinking?!” He stomped ferociously through his room.

“From what I’ve learned snooping around Uliminas, that human has all the power you would expect of a Hero. The Dark One Gholl must consider it a stroke of fortune that Klyrode has not claimed him. I believe he thinks that it would be profitable for us if he were to recruit the man.”

Yuigarde roared with rage. “Yeah, because he’s going senile!” He kicked the wall again, hard enough to blast a gaping hole in it with his foot. “If he’s a Hero, destroy him! If he isn’t, destroy him even harder! Why would you try to get along with his kind?! The only good human is a dead one! We should be attacking Klyrode! Why are we being so damned cautious?! Take the whole army and crush them under heel! Am I wrong?!”

“You are not, Master.” Phufun bowed deeply. “Not in the slightest.”

Yuigarde nodded his head once, satisfied. “Has it come to this, then? Do I take my brother’s throne for my own? Declare myself the true Dark One and launch a full invasion of the human heartland of Klyrode?” He clenched both his fists tightly as he spoke.

“I would caution against haste, Master,” said Phufun. “You know the Dark One Gholl is frightfully strong. With your power you could perhaps defeat him, but you would certainly be hard-pressed. And what if you find resistance among the Dark Army? Now, on that note...” She leaned in to whisper something in her master’s ear—something that made a sinister grin spread over his face.

“Hrm, I see!” he said. “I will leave the preparations in your hands, then. Do not disappoint me!”

“I will not, Master Yuigarde.” Phufun bowed and teleported off to do her dark deeds, leaving Yuigarde alone in the room, laughing maniacally.

◇In a Forest◇

Hero Gold-Hair breathed a sigh of relief as he surveyed the area through a part in the thick grass. “It seems like those guards finally gave up,” he said. “Persistent lot. What in the blazes did I ever do to them?” Wiping the grass and mud off his body, he began to walk through the forest.

Behind him, Tsuya scrambled out of her hiding place. “Oh, um, Hero Gold-Haaair!” she cried. She was visibly struggling for breath. “Can we please take a break? Even a little one would be nice...” She looked up pitiably at her companion, begging him with her eyes. Tsuya was wearing a full cloak, but underneath had on surprisingly little. When Hero Gold-Hair looked down to face her, he caught an eyeful of her ample cleavage.

“A-All right, find somewhere to sit and take a rest. I’ll... I’ll guard the area!”

“Thank you so muuuch!”

Hero Gold-Hair watched Tsuya rest from the corner of his eye, fumbling awkwardly. Honestly...her body is just obscene, no matter how many times I look at it... He turned his eyes upwards, to the sky. But she’s stuck by my side all this time. I should do my best to treat her a little like a maiden. I’m a hero, after all!

Suddenly, before their eyes, a different woman appeared. She must have used Teleportation. Whoever she was, she was wearing some extremely provocative clothing. It wouldn’t have been out of place in a bondage kink scene. The woman used her index finger to press her glasses up against the bridge of her nose in a deliberate flourish.

Hero Gold-Hair drew his sword and faced her. “And you are? You don’t look like someone from the castle.” Tsuya cowered behind him.

“Oh no, oh no!” Tsuya said. “She looks scaaary!” She pressed close to Hero Gold-Hair’s back—maybe a little too close. He could feel two plump mounds pressing against him.

“Y-Yeah!” he sputtered. “Yeah, she is! S-So, would you stand back a little?!”

“What? But she’s scaaary!”

“Well, I’ll protect you!”

Before they could end up in a protracted quarrel, the woman once again adjusted her glasses with the same level of grandiosity as before. “You are very laid back, you humans. Perhaps you don’t realize your situation,” she said. “I am Phufun, servant of my Master Yuigarde.” At her feet appeared an array of black spiders. “I have chosen you as sacrifices so that my master may ascend to the rank of Dark One. It is a great honor for pathetic creatures like yourself. You will serve to bring about the greatest Dark One in history!” Her smile was cold.

“Eeeeek!” Tsuya hid behind Hero Gold-Hair’s back and trembled. But he was ultimately unimpressed.

“Hmph,” he grumbled. “Pathetic.”

“What?”

“I don’t know who you are or what’s going on, but this Yuigarde fellow is so weak and cowardly that he needs sacrifices to become a strong Dark One? Pathetic!” He brought his sword to a high guard as he spoke. “I’ll show you what I can do with my own strength!”

“Oh, but Hero Gold-Haaair,” said Tsuya, pressing her index finger to her cheek in thought even as she clung to his back, “I’m pretty sure the gods of the Celestial Plane gave you their blessing when you came—”

Hero Gold-Hair glanced over his shoulder, glaring at Tsuya. “That’s entirely different!” he shouted.

“Oh, it iiis? My bad...” Tsuya withered under Gold-Hair’s sharp glare and slumped her shoulders.

With that said and done, Gold-Hair turned his attention back to Phufun, clearing his throat very deliberately. “A-Ahem! Well, regardless! I have no intention of falling to the underling of such a coward!” Once more he readied his blade.

Phufun seemed colossally bored. “Well, say what you like, you human coward.” She gestured towards him with her right hand as her black spiders unleashed a torrent of webbing.

“Hmph. I’ll show you the true power of Hero Gold-Hair!”

◇Minutes Later◇

Phufun looked down at Hero Gold-Hair and Tsuya, all wrapped up in spider silk. “You had some half-impressive things to say,” she said, “but in the end you’re just a human. Hardly worth mentioning.” She snapped her fingers and an endless horde of spiders came to collect the two bound humans. She extended her right hand to conjure a magic circle. Phufun, her spiders, and the two they had claimed vanished as quickly as they had come. The forest was once again quiet.

◇A Restaurant in Houghtow◇

“Oh? You’re interested in that sort of martial arts too, Ser Balirossa?” Ghozal sat across from Balirossa at a restaurant in town, nodding along with interest as he sipped his drink.

“Y-Yes, I suppose,” said Balirossa. “Though, really, it’s just how I like to spend my time...” She was dedicating every ounce of willpower she had to acting natural and calm, but it was proving difficult. She knew Ghozal to be the Dark One, of course, and even now she suspected that he was after her life. Her hands were shaking, making her glass rattle loudly.

Ghozal was watching her shaking cup, enraptured. Even at a time like this her arm is loose, ready to draw her sword at any moment... She truly is something! He kept nodding, thoroughly taken in by his misunderstanding.

Flio, who was sitting next to Balirossa, looked between her and Gholl, smiling. “There’s a lot she still needs to work on,” he said, “but she’s an incredibly dedicated student.”

After their chance reunion in Houghtow, Gholl had returned to his old habit of visiting Flio’s house whenever he had a chance, just like everyone had thought he would. He would make friendly conversation with Flio, while also keeping an eye out for Balirossa. Balirossa, however, was doing everything she could to avoid him. He hardly ever had a chance to see her face. Finally fed up with watching this two-person farce, Flio had arranged for today’s luncheon.

“Balirossa, why don’t you try talking with Ghozal once without running away? If you don’t want to talk anymore after that, just tell him.”

“B-But...if I say such a thing, the Dark One will surely k-k-kill—”

“Mister Ghozal isn’t that kind of man—or demon, rather. And besides, I’ll be right there with you.”

It took a lot of convincing, but Balirossa finally agreed to come. Ghozal was overjoyed with Flio’s plan, while Balirossa was terrified.

“The contrast between those two is incredible,” said Rys, smirking as she watched the conversation unfold with Byleri from a table next to theirs.

“Ah ha ha, yeah? Like, totally...”

Rys had once been in the Dark Army and was very well acquainted with the Dark One Gholl. To her, the idea that he would be so smitten with a human woman, or that he could look so cheerful in conversation, had once been beyond her wildest dreams. All she could do was grin. She was barely able to suppress her laughter.

Rys’s amusement aside, Ghozal was gazing at Balirossa with a big smile on his face. Balirossa felt like she could collapse at any moment. Oh no... At this rate, the conversation’s going to peter out, and we’ll be left just staring at each other! Working up her courage, she raised her head. “Um...Sir Ghozal,” she said, exerting her willpower to speak, “I have something I want to talk to you ab—”

“I’m sorry to interrupt your conversation!” Suddenly, Greanyl burst into the restaurant and ran up to their table. “Lord Gholl! There’s—”

“It’s Ghozal!”

“Oh! I’m so terribly sorry! Lord Ghozal, Lady Uliminas asked me to report to you... There’s an emergency!”

“What? What happened?!”

Greanyl leaned forward, using concealment magic to ensure nobody could overhear as she whispered in Ghozal’s ear. “Lord Yuigarde has launched a rebellion against you. He’s occupied the throne room, calling himself the true Dark One.”

Ghozal’s eyebrow twitched at the news. “Yuigarde did what?!” He took to his feet. “Ser Balirossa, I’m terribly sorry to leave in the middle of our conversation, but some urgent business just came up. We’ll have to pick up some other day.” He took her hand in his and lightly kissed it like a gentleman.

Balirossa’s cheeks flushed red. She had absolutely not been expecting that. “Oh!” she said. “I, um...” But Ghozal stood up straight and tall, and followed Greanyl out of the restaurant. Balirossa was left watching him go.

“He seemed like he was in a hurry...” mused Flio, curious as he watched Ghozal leave. “I wonder what happened.”

◇Dark Citadel—Throne Room◇

Yuigarde called out loudly as he entered the throne room. “Well, Phufun? Do you have it ready?”

Phufun stepped out from behind the throne. She faced Yuigarde and bowed deeply. “Good and ready, Master,” she said. Yuigarde stepped forward, beside her. Before them, hidden by the throne, was an enormous, elaborate, and thoroughly evil-looking magic circle.

“This is for the Rite of Superhybridization?”

“Yes, Master. This is the secret magic art, known to very few.”

Beyond the bounds of the world, deep in the abyss, was an alternate dimension known as the Dark World. The Rite of Superhybridization was dark magic that drew profane energy from that realm to empower its user far beyond their normal abilities. This magic was related to the Rite of Hybridization that Damalynas the Grand Magus of Midnight once used, but much stronger. Unlike its lesser counterpart, however, Superhybridization required a sacrifice.

Yuigarde regarded the circle. “But it’s not gonna empower me for long, is it.”

“That is why we must have everything ready first, Master,” said Phufun. “When you and Gholl begin your duel, we can cast the spell simply by offering up our sacrifice. That way you can get the best possible use out of it. All you need to do, my lord, is defeat Gholl before the spell runs out.”

“Hrm. Planned to perfection. I like it!” Yuigarde grinned, confident in his victory. “With my own hands, I will defeat my brother—no, I will defeat Gholl, and take my rightful throne!” He raised his right hand in the air and laughed and laughed. The sight seemed to strike Phufun with emotion. She bowed deeply, her shoulders trembling in awe.

Behind Phufun, the sacrifices her spiders had brought—Hero Gold-Hair and Tsuya—lay on the floor, wrapped up tight. Hero Gold-Hair was struggling as hard as he could. “Release me! This is not where I am meant to die!” he tried to say, but it came out as, “Mmph! Mmmmph!” With the black spider web binding him, he couldn’t even speak. Next to him, Tsuya lay unconscious.

Between Yuigarde’s bellowing laugh and Hero Gold-Hair’s muffled screams, a strange symphony of voices filled the throne room.

◇Dark Citadel—Infernal Four’s Meeting Room◇

The Infernal Four under Gholl, the current Dark One, had gathered together for a meeting: the lamia Yorminyt, the lichsteed Sleip, and the doppeladler Hugi-Mugi. Once, the lupine Fengaryl had been with them, but he had been accidentally killed when Flio used the spell Purification. His empty seat had yet to be filled, leaving the Infernal Four standing at only three.

Sleip, the oldest of the group, stroked his white beard as he thought aloud. “Should we really be taking Phufun up on this?” he wondered. He seemed to be quite agitated. The horse part of his body—the part below his waist—kept restlessly kicking at the ground.

Next to him, Yorminyt’s serpent-like lower half was equally restless as her human upper body sighed. “You mean,” she said, “to sssimply watch and not meddle as Yuigarde challengesss the Dark One for hisss throne. But good or ill, we have already accepted her termsss, have we not?”

“Yes...” said Sleip. “Indeed we have. Although we would be within our rights to throw Yuigarde in the dungeon...”

Yorminyt held up a finger to Sleip’s mouth, interrupting him before he could continue. “We are doing thisss to wake Lord Gholl out of his ssstupor, no? That isss why we, the Infernal Four, have taken up Phufun’s offer, no?”

“Exactly, yes! Yes, exactly!” Both of Hugi-Mugi’s hawk heads spoke in tandem. “The Dark One has been acting odd lately, yes! Yes, oddly acting!” Their golden wings fluttered in excitement. “Hardly in the Dark Citadel, never attacking humans, and now going to visit a human man, yes? Yes, very odd!”

Sleip and Yorminyt nodded emphatically in agreement. “The Dark One hasss not been taking this seriousssly,” said Yorminyt.

“The old Dark One would simply suppress a rebellion by force,” said Sleip.

“Well, I wouldn’t expect Yuigarde to get the better of Lord Gholl. When he receivesss a challenge for a Ritual Duel, I’m sssure he will come to his sensesss.”

“Indeed. The Dark One is wise. When he understands that this is the consequence of his behavior, he is certain to repent.”

“Yuigarde will fail, yes! Yes, he will fail! We want Lord Gholl back to normal, yes!”

The three seemed to be in agreement.

“This is all for the sake of our lord, the Dark One...”

“Yesss, it isss all for him.”

“Yes, yes!”

◇ ◇ ◇

Sleip, Yorminyt, and Hugi-Mugi conveyed their thoughts on the matter to the council of advisors to the Dark One. They explained that they were not hoping to eliminate Gholl, but only bring him to his senses. The advisors had also been unnerved by the Dark One’s recent behavior and all agreed with the Infernals that something had to be done and that they would not interfere.

All of them, except for one.

“Meowt are you saying?!” Uliminas interrupted Yorminyt’s speech, springing to her feet in full-on battle mode. “Never! Do you think I’m a mewdiot?!”

“U-Uliminasss, we jussst thought...”

“You can think,” she said, “after you arrest him! This is mewtiny! And mew! The Infernal Four!”

“No, no, Uliminasss,” said Yorminyt. “Membersss of the Dark Family have the right to call a Ritual Duel if they cannot follow the current Dark One. It’sss technically a rebellion, not a mutiny...”

“Mew cares?!” Uliminas grit her jaw shut and bolted straight for the throne room.

The golems and gargoyles guarding the gates saw Uliminas coming with clear violent intent and judged her to be an enemy. At once, they started to move. The hellcat busted through handily, though not without taking damage, and leapt into the throne room. Before her sat Yuigarde.

“Yuigarde!” she cried, “You’re under arrest! Meeeooowww!” Her claws out, she sailed through the air, arms and legs extended out as far as she could reach. She aimed a flying kick at Yuigarde’s head, planning to contract her limbs when she struck to rake Yuigarde’s whole upper body with the claws on her feet and hands.

“Your aim is good...” Yuigarde remained sitting, not even rising to receive her attack. “But you lack follow-through!” Crack! A terrible sound echoed through the room as Uliminas’s claws shattered into pieces on impact, shards flying in every direction. “I can harden my body at will, you know. Although I guess you’ve figured that out.” He clenched his right hand into a fist, grinning maniacally. “Now, begone!”

Just as Uliminas landed, Yuigarde shouted and struck her with his fist. She was sent flying, her body colliding with the wall hard enough to cause it to crumble. The hellcat found herself pinned under the rubble. Yuigarde simply huffed, and went back to his seat.

Suddenly, something flew through the air straight at Yuigarde. “Hm?” Yuigarde had relaxed his defenses after sending Uliminas into the wall, and wasn’t able to harden his body in time.

“Master! Watch out!” Phufun jumped out in front of Yuigarde, her wings flared out to strike down whatever the things were. Then she got a closer look: they were Uliminas’s broken-off claws.

“No...” Yuigarde opened his eyes wide and turned to look at the ruined wall he had thrown Uliminas against. The hellcat, still buried under the rubble, had used the last of her magic to fire her own cast-off claws at him.

“Dammewt...” Uliminas cursed as her consciousness faded.

“Lady Uliminas!” A shadow demon ran up to the fallen body.

“You...” said Phufun. “Greanyl, the Silent Listener?” She spread her arms wide and an impossible number of black spiders appeared before her.

“I’ll be taking her!” Greanyl tossed a magic gem on the floor, and a blinding flash filled the room.

Phufun let out a grumble, covering her eyes with her arm as she ran towards Greanyl, but when the light had faded, Greanyl and Uliminas were already gone.

Yuigarde clicked his tongue several times in irritation, his expression sour. “What a nuisance,” he said, rising from the throne. “Capture them. Torture them until they submit and— Hm?” But then he saw a figure in the doorway. A cunning smile crept onto his face when he realized who it was. “Gholl! Welcome!”

The two stood facing off with each other, Gholl fixing his half-brother, the Tyrant Yuigarde now occupying his throne, with a contemptuous glare.

It was Yuigarde who finally broke the silence. “Brother... No, Dark One Gholl! Your foolish deeds have cost you any approval you once had with your army!” He roared with laughter.

“W-Wait just a second, Yuigarde.” Sleip of the Infernal Four had been standing next to Yuigarde. He rushed up to the rebel. “We have not lost all approval for—”

Phufun interposed herself between Sleip and her master, blocking the lichsteed’s path. “Infernal Sleip, the Ritual Duel has already begun. Be a good boy and keep your promise not to interfere.”

“Excuse me?! Am I not to even speak?!”

Phufun pressed her glasses back up the bridge of her nose. “Of course not.”

“Gnhhh...” Sleip grit his teeth in anguish, but he had no choice but to stand down. With the Infernal quieted, Phufun stepped back behind the throne where the ominous magic circle was still glowing, Hero Gold-Hair and Tsuya bound at its center.

“Now,” she said, “all that’s left is to fill the circle with their blood.” She summoned two magical swords, one to sever each of their necks.

“Hero Gold-Haaair!” Tsuya tried to say, “It’s been an honor to know yooou!” But all she could manage was, “Mmmmmmmmmf! Mmmmmmmmmmph!”

“Don’t be a fool!” Gold-Hair tried to respond, “It’s too soon to give up!” But of course, it came out, “Mmph! Mmmmph!” He kept looking over at her as he struggled desperately. But no matter how he fought, the spider silk held him fast. Tsuya’s eyes were full of tears.

While this was happening behind the throne, Yuigarde and the Dark One Gholl stood glaring at each other. “Gholl!” Yuigarde shouted. “I will claim the title of Dark One from you and rule the world as the ultimate conqueror! This Ritual Duel will determine which of us will reign as the true Dark One!” Again he laughed, spreading his arms wide without taking his eyes off of Gholl.

Gholl folded his arms. For a while he simply stared at Yuigarde. Then he suddenly clenched his hand into a fist. “Yuigarde,” he said, “can I ask you something?”

“Wh-What? Are you going to beg for your life?”

“No, not at all,” Gholl responded. “I was just curious... What exactly did you mean by my ‘foolish deeds’? I really have no idea what you’re talking about.” The Dark One tilted his head, puzzled. It seemed he was being earnest.

Yuigarde shook with rage. “Are you playing dumb with me? Now?!” He pointed an accusing finger at the Dark One and gesticulated wildly as he spoke, raising his voice in anger. “Very well! I will tell you! You say you’re trying to recruit some human into our army, but your visits are nothing but self-indulgent merrymaking! You’re purposely delaying our invasion to run around having a good time with humans! Even when you did invade, you drew back when it was time to deliver the killing blow! Tell me what this is if not foolishness! Do you deny it?!”

When Yuigarde had finished, Gholl brought his hand to his chin, seemingly deep in thought. “I see...” he said. “So you would call that foolish...” He turned to look at the three remaining of the Infernal Four, and his advisors, who were standing to the side. His eyes were shining with anger. Suddenly, a tremendous quantity of malicium issued forth from the Dark One’s body as he began to grow larger and larger, his rage obvious to anyone. The Infernals were struck motionless before his gaze. However, the three seemed somehow joyful.

“Yes,” muttered Sleip. “This is what I had been waiting for. That rage... That driving spirit!”

“Our Dark One...” Yorminyt whispered. “Crush Yuigarde with your overwhelming power...”

“Strike him down, yes,” said Hugi-Mugi. “Yes, strike him down and declare yourself the true Dark One!”

“And then, lead us to kill all of humanity!”

“With the Dark Army at your back, ssstrike humanity from thisss world!”

“Lord Gholl! We are ready to attack any time, yes! Yes, any time!”

The Infernals and the advisors all watched Gholl keenly, with joyful anticipation. Gholl spared them a glance and returned his attention to Yuigarde.

Finally... Phufun raised her right hand, and the swords floating in midair began to close in on the captives.

Everyone was certain that the duel was about to begin.

Gholl closed his eyes. The malicium filling the area vanished. His body returned to its original size.

Yuigarde, who had already been preparing himself for battle, staggered off-balance like he had missed a beat. “Wh-What?”

Gholl took a deep breath. “Hrm,” he said. “All right. If you all think my actions have been foolishness unworthy of a Dark One, then I will accept your verdict. I resign.” He took off the bracelet on his left arm, the sign of his station, and tossed it at Yuigarde. Yuigarde caught it, a stunned look on his face. Then, Gholl turned towards his Infernal Four. “Thanks for everything,” he said. “Keep well.”

He turned to leave the throne room, but after he had taken three steps, he stopped. “Oh, right,” he said. “I forgot.” A magic circle appeared in front of him as he spoke. “Yuigarde, here’s your thanks for looking after Uliminas.” Gholl raised his hand, thrusting it towards the magic circle. The next second, another magic circle appeared in front of Yuigarde. Before he realized what was happening, Gholl’s fist came flying out from the circle, striking him in the middle of his face.

Yuigarde cried out. Gholl’s fist sent him flying back into Phufun who had been standing behind the throne and readying the preparations for her own magic circle. She was thrown back as well. The two of them collided with the wall which shattered from the force. Yuigarde and Phufun flew outside, bumbling and tumbling.

Satisfied, Gholl turned and wordlessly left.

Everyone in the room was in shock at the development, and not one of them moved an inch.

◇ ◇ ◇

Once Yuigarde had made his way back to the throne room from wherever in the world they had ended up, he called for all the Dark Army to assemble in the underground arena. Almost all came, with only a few exceptions.

“Today,” Yuigarde proclaimed to the crowd, “I have triumphed in the Ritual Duel! I am the new Dark One!” At first, the army was confused. The room was filled with disquiet and mumbling. They had heard nothing about this. But, at Yuigarde’s next words, the atmosphere changed completely: “As the Dark One, I will lead the whole of the Dark Army to begin our eradication of humanity at once!”

A great cheer erupted from the crowd. This was, after all, the Dark Army. Many of the demons making up its ranks had always been warlike, but the Dark One Gholl had been postponing the invasion, keeping them out of the ring. Some of them were so fed up that they had been recklessly attacking random human villages. So you can only imagine how excited they were for the new Dark One Yuigarde to announce a recommencement of hostilities!

Yuigarde nodded his head, satisfied. Then, he raised his right arm. “Those of you who would reject my appointment, return your Demon Rings at once! The rest of you, prepare for war!”

The Demon Ring was a ring given by the Dark One to those who swore allegiance to him. Each one had a magic gem embedded in its face. The law among demonkind was that if one would refuse an order from the Dark One, they were to return their ring and depart the Dark Army at once.

None did.

The crowd cried out with jubilant cheers. “Long live the Dark One Yuigarde!”

“Crush the humans!”

“Prepare for war!”

And then they left the arena to prepare for their invasion. The Dark One Yuigarde nodded happily to himself as he watched.

Something landed at his feet with a clunk. “Hm?” He looked down and saw a large pile of rings. “These are Demon Rings...” There was a sheet of paper underneath. It read: “The hellcat Uliminas and the Silent Listeners humbly return their rings.”

“Dark One, what should we do?” asked Phufun. “I could bring them back by force, if you will.”

Yuigarde smirked. “Let them go,” he said. “They’re nothing but a lot of cowards. All they do is sneak about. My army has no need for them.” He laughed, and Phufun bowed deep.

And so a few days later, Yuigarde—the new Dark One—led almost every demon under his command to invade Klyrode Castle, the seat of human power. An invasion doomed to end in ignominious defeat.

◇ ◇ ◇

The Dark Army set out from the Citadel and marched straight for Klyrode Castle, but the Princess ordered her army to use guerrilla tactics to harry them. They set countless traps along the Dark Army’s path: pitfalls, falling rocks, and trees that would collapse and crush Yuigarde’s forces. She set soldiers to lie in wait and ambush the Dark Army using hit-and-run tactics while her main force kept their distance, firing on the enemy with bows and stones and spells, never engaging directly. Still, Yuigarde ordered his soldiers to march forward.

In the end, the Dark Army was harassed to complete exhaustion. They lost a full third of their number, and the survivors were heavily injured. They had no choice but to retreat without ever coming in sight of the walls of Klyrode.

◇Dark Citadel—Throne Room◇

“How?! How did this happen?!” The Dark One Yuigarde sat on his throne, trembling with anger. “You! Phufun!” He turned to shout at the succubus standing beside him. “What happened?! What is the meaning of this?!”

Phufun’s voice was full of hesitation when she spoke, shrinking before Yuigarde’s wrath. “W-Well, if you want my opinion... I think, um... The humans were so afraid of the strength of the new Dark One that they set more traps and ambushes than usual...or something.”

“More than usual?! When Gholl did this there weren’t any traps, or any soldiers lying in wait! Why was Gholl able to reach the human castle when I couldn’t?!”

Phufun went pale, cold sweat running down her brow. “Ah, m-maybe... This is just a thought but, maybe Gholl was lucky and managed to avoid them? I really don’t know...”

Phufun’s speculation was, of course, completely wrong. As the Dark One, Gholl had been scrupulous in his use of scouts to gather intelligence, only advancing his army after making sure to search for traps, drive off ambushes, and confirm the location of the enemy. For that reason, traps and ambushes had never been a major problem during his tenure. Moreover, it was Uliminas and the Silent Listeners who performed their duties as scouts with such consistent excellency.

Yuigarde, though, had no better grasp on the situation than Phufun. He clicked his tongue and said, “I guess there’s nothing we can do about luck.” He was silent for some time. “Nothing to do but build an army that isn’t afraid of some traps.”

“I think that would be best, Master.” She pressed her glasses up against the bridge of her nose. Incidentally, the glasses she was wearing at the time didn’t have actual lenses.

At Phufun’s words, Yuigarde’s bitter expression softened slightly. “All right, get to work on our forces. We attack again as soon as we’re ready.”

Phufun bowed deeply. Then, timidly, she raised her head. “Excuse me... Master?”

“Yeah? What is it?”

“Well...your orders are to build a greater army than the last, yet we lost a third of our fighting force in yesterday’s defeat. How am I to proceed?”

“Idiot!” Yuigarde raised his voice in anger and smacked Phufun hard. The force of his blow sent her body through the air, impaling her in the ceiling. Yuigarde looked up at her suspended body. “Thinking about things like that is your job!” he spat. “Don’t ask me!” With Phufun still stuck in the ceiling, he turned and left.

But Phufun was grinning. “Ahhh,” she rhapsodized, her face red and a perverted smile on her face. “What sweet, sweet pain... The bliss of Master’s fists... The bliss of breaking through the ceiling... So many amazing sensations filling my body... Hee hee... Hee hee hee hee... How splendid! Hee hee hee hee hee!”

◇Klyrode Castle—The Princess’s Chambers◇

The Princess sat at her desk, reading reports about the recent campaign against the Dark Army, in which she had assumed the role of commander. During the fighting she had set up her headquarters near the front to receive the latest intelligence as quickly as possible and alter her battle plans on the fly as the situation changed. She made a special point to listen to the advice of her generals. She had some experience with mock battles from her tutelage as a member of the royal family, but this was, after all, her first time leading an actual army into battle. She would take in every bit of information and consider what the best possible move would be in the situation. Then she would hand down her decision, to be carried out immediately.

Such were the Princess’s heroic efforts in leading the war effort that she exhausted every last ounce of her fortitude. When word came that the Dark Army had gone into full retreat, she collapsed on the spot.

She spent several days afterwards in bed, recovering from fatigue, but the campaign was an overwhelming victory for the Magical Kingdom of Klyrode and her allies. However, the Princess was less overjoyed at her victory than she was at the news that her side had suffered shockingly few casualties.

Since then, she had passed the time poring over reports. As she did, she began to notice something strange. I knew it... she thought. Here too. And also here...

Every time an allied unit found themselves at a disadvantage, the metaphorical cavalry would come to save them without fail. At first, the Princess had assumed that these were the actions of reserve forces in the allied army, but as she studied the reports she realized that there were many incidents where a force would appear to rescue her soldiers even when the reserves were occupied elsewhere.

Moreover, the composition of these units was exceedingly strange. Sometimes it would be a man in a blue wolf mask accompanied by a silver wolf. Sometimes, an androgynous figure with something that looked like a ring around their head. Sometimes it was a party of four humans and a psychobear. They would appear in small numbers, completely alter the course of the battle, and vanish.

The Princess nodded in understanding. There’s no doubt about it. Lord Flio and his companions lent us their strength. She clasped her hands together, almost like she was praying. He has done so much for us... This time, I will not allow him to turn down a reward.

The Princess stood up and hurried out of her chambers.

◇ ◇ ◇

The next day, the Princess issued a proclamation to all in and out of her kingdom: “For the attempted murder, defrauding, and defamation of the rightful Hero, acts considered high crimes in our law, the present King Klyrode is to be removed from office. His accomplices in these crimes are hereafter to be banished from Klyrode Castle.”

The King’s guilt in these many crimes against Flio was by now well attested. In the Magical Kingdom of Klyrode, such acts were known as lèse-héros and were tantamount to treason. Technically, Flio was not actually the Hero. However, the Princess, under her authority as regent and representative of the royal family, had acknowledged him as equivalent to one. Therefore, went the argument, this law should apply to him as well.

The King’s empty seat, of course, was succeeded immediately by the next in line for the throne and acting regent: the Princess herself. From then on, she was known as the Maiden Queen. After her victory against the Dark Army, the Maiden Queen enjoyed tremendous popularity throughout the kingdom. Hardly anyone raised an objection to her ascension.

◇Dark Citadel—Throne Room◇

At the same time as the Dark One Yuigarde was taking his epic defeat, there was a theft taking place in the Dark Citadel. An unknown culprit entered the Citadel treasury and left with a part of the treasure while Yuigarde was away with his army. With few guards left protecting the Citadel, the thief was able to find their way to the treasury, knock out the old soldier left protecting it, and take their keys.

When Yuigarde heard what had happened from Phufun, he clicked his tongue in irritation. “And? Do we know anything about them? Please tell me the guard was at least able to remember a face. As old as they are, they should be able to do that much.”

“Master... The treasury guard at the time was a skeleton named Calci’im. Apparently, a cloth...thing was suddenly pulled over its head from behind, and it later awoke stuffed in a treasure box. I’m sorry, but we don’t have any reliable information...” Phufun handed the Dark One a piece of cloth.

“What’s this cloth for?” he asked. “It’s very thin...”

“This is the cloth that Calci’im had pulled over its head, Master.”

“This?! But with something so tiny over its face, it should have been able to see, right?!” He pulled and stretched at the cloth, staring like he was trying to burn a hole through whatever-it-was. Next to him, Phufun eyed it dubiously.

That cloth... It’s faint, but I think it kind of looks like a lady’s undergarments. She squinted and swapped out her glasses for a prescription pair, which she pressed up against the bridge of her nose.

◇Meanwhile, in a Forest◇

“Aha ha! Take that, you demons!” Hero Gold-Hair cackled as he ran through the forest, Tsuya following behind. The two had been captured by Phufun to be used as ritual sacrifices, but when Gholl sent Yuigarde and Phufun flying, they had managed to cut themselves free with a sword that had fallen on the floor and escaped in the confusion.

They hid in the castle for a while after that, but when the bulk of the Dark Army marched out to attack, they took their opportunity while the castle was short on staff to escape, taking the treasures of the Dark Citadel with them.

Hero Gold-Hair ran off, leading the way into the forest. “Aha ha ha ha! Do you believe me now?!” he bellowed. “I’m not about to meet my end in a place like this!”

“Waaait, Hero Gold-Haaair!” Tsuya called after him. “Can you please run a little sloweeer?” Tsuya was running awkwardly with her knees turned inward, clearly nervous about her lower body.

“What’s wrong? What happened to the panties you used on that skeleton guy?”

“Don’t call them paaanties! That makes it sound weeeird!”

“What difference does it make? But anyway, why don’t you just put on another pair of panties?”

“Stop calling them paaanties! And I can’t—I’m all out!”

“Honestly,” said Hero Gold-Hair, “what am I going to do with you? You can have a pair of mine, I suppose.”

“I’m not going to wear boooy underwear!” she cried.

“How selfish can you—well, look, just use them until we find a town, okay?”

“But someone might seeee!”

The two argued as they ran through the woods. At the time, they had no idea that one of Phufun’s black spiders had followed them. It had turned into a black mist, and sneaked inside Hero Gold-Hair’s Bottomless Bag. The very same bag that was full of the Dark Citadel’s plundered treasures.

◇Houghtow City◇

Flio and Rys were walking through the streets of Houghtow. Rys, like always, clung to her husband’s arm. Today she was in exceptionally high spirits. She hummed as they went along. “The battle yesterday was so fun, my love,” she said. “It’s been so long since I’ve been able to cut loose like that!”

“Your happiness is everything to me, Rys,” said Flio, smiling at his wife.

Rys smiled back and continued, pressing her body close to Flio’s as she spoke. “And I was privileged to see such truly incredible feats from my lord husband!”

“Hiya and Sybe did a lot too, I think,” Flio said.

“Yes, they did...but poor Balirossa! Getting caught up in Sybe’s charge like that... I think she blacked out. And she was the most enthusiastic about this!”

“I’ll never forget it. At first I thought Balirossa had just gotten a little overzealous and charged in too far.” The two of them burst into laughter at the memory of the sight. “So Rys,” Flio said after they had finished, “what are you in the mood for today?”

But Rys didn’t get a chance to respond. Suddenly, a voice came from behind them. “Excuse me, may we come along as well?” It was Ghozal. Uliminas was with him, both in human form.

◇Flio’s House—Later◇

Balirossa hummed to herself as she passed through the front door on her way back from hunting. Sybe was at her heels in its unicorn rabbit form. When she came to the living room, she grinned widely to see Flio home. “Lord Flio, I have returned! It was a good hunt today!” She strode into the room with an air of victory.

The man sitting directly across from Flio turned to face her. “Oh, excellent!” he said. When Balirossa saw who it was, she turned and ran for the entryway with incredible speed, almost flying back out of the house.

“Wh-Why is the D-D-Dark One here?!” she stood rigid in front of the door as she took in the situation, cold sweat already breaking out on her brow.

“Hrm,” said Ghozal, nodding his head at the fleeing knight. “You see how nimbly she moves her body? Balirossa really is something special.” He sounded impressed.

Uliminas looked aghast. “Meow?! She’s just running away! What is wrong with mew?!”

But Ghozal just continued to nod his head as if he couldn’t hear her.

◇◇◇

Flio and Rys sat at a table in the living room facing Ghozal and Uliminas. Hiya was on standby, waiting quietly behind Flio. And to the side of the living room, attempting to hide behind the staircase, Blossom, Byleri, and Belano stood watching keenly.

Ghozal looked at the three humans and smiled. “Oh, you three,” he said. “I’m not the Dark One anymore, you know. You can relax.”

“What, really?” said Blossom.

“W-Well, um,” said Byleri, “like, it’s still scary though?”

Belano said nothing. She was shaking with fear.

As the three slowly pulled themselves to their feet, Uliminas suddenly changed her shape, switching back to her demon form. “Make no mewstake,” she said. “We are still demeowns.”

“Whaaa?!” cried Blossom.

“Oh no! Help? Like, someone?” shouted Byleri.

Belano said nothing. She was already sprinting up the stairs. In a second, the other two came stumbling after.

Flio grimaced. “Miss Uliminas,” he said, “I would appreciate it if you showed some consideration towards them.”

“Fine,” said the hellcat, and let out a quiet little sigh as she returned to her human form.

Ghozal, meanwhile, had finished his cup of tea. He turned his attention back towards Flio. “Well then,” he said. “What do you think of our earlier proposition? Do we have your consent?”

Hiya looked curious at those words. “Exalted One, what did Lord Ghozal ask of you?”

“Ah,” said Flio. “Right.” He turned his head towards the staircase that Blossom, Byleri, and Belano had vanished up earlier. “I think we should let everyone have a chance to speak their mind. Could you come out for a bit? And get Balirossa too?”

“Huh?” answered Blossom. “You want our opinions?” With great trepidation, the three made their way into the living room. Almost immediately after, Balirossa stepped back inside. She had finally managed to still her heart and prepare herself mentally.

Flio glanced over the assembled household. “I called you all here because Ghozal asked me if he and Uliminas could stay at this house for a while.” He smiled, as did Ghozal, sitting across from him. “I want to give everyone a chance to share their opinions.”

“Erm, yes,” said Ghozal. “I’ve explained the situation to Rys and Mister Flio, but basically I ended up very suddenly resigning as the Dark One. It would probably be a bad idea to live in the territory controlled by the Dark Army, see, but when it comes to the human world, those two are the only ones I really know. We won’t be any trouble, and if you want, we’ll leave once we find other lodging. But I would really appreciate it if you could put us up, if only until we find something else...” He bowed his head.

“I don’t believe Rys or I have any objections...” said Flio. Rys nodded in agreement.

Hiya pondered for a moment before responding. “If the Exalted One and his wife approve, I have no issue with it, of course.” They bowed.

“Come to think of it,” said Blossom, “is it really our place to find fault with what the Lord and Lady decide to do? We’re imposing on their hospitality ourselves, you know.”

“I agree,” said Belano quietly. She, Blossom, and Byleri nodded. But Balirossa shot up to her feet.

“Y-You! What are you saying?!” she wailed. “Perhaps he’s retired, but this is the former Dark One! And that woman works for him, does she not? D-Do you really want them to stay here?!” She pointed a finger at Ghozal and Uliminas, her hand and body both trembling.

Ghozal made a pained look...or perhaps he was impressed. “Hrm,” he said. “You are an excellent guard, Ser Balirossa, to suspect the worst even now.”

Uliminas scowled. “Mewdiot. She’s just being a scaredy-cat.” If Ghozal heard Uliminas’s words, he gave no sign of it.

Once again, Balirossa spoke up. “W-Well, I’m opposed! Absolutely! One hundred percent against it!”

Rys gave Balirossa a sharp look. “Balirossa,” she said. “Do you really mean to turn away Ghozal and Uliminas when they have nowhere else to go?”

“Huh?” Balirossa looked suddenly alarmed. She froze on the spot, her eyes wild with confusion and panic.

“My...” said Hiya. “I had no idea Lady Balirossa was so coldhearted.” They stared intently at the former knight’s face.

Blossom also glanced over at her. “I thought you would be more compassionate than that...” she said.

“Like, it’s like I don’t know you anymore...” said Byleri.

Belano said nothing and just stared.

Balirossa’s mouth opened and closed, failing to produce any coherent sound. Withering before the gazes of everyone in the room, she subconsciously took a step back. She felt something bump into her leg. “Huh?” Looking down, she saw Sybe, in its unicorn rabbit form, poking at her leg. It nodded. “Sybe...” she said, her voice shaking. “You want to let them stay too?” Sybe gave a happy affirmative snuffle. Balirossa looked like she was about to cry.

Balirossa did eventually agree to let Ghozal and Uliminas stay, but that’s a story for another time.

◇That Night◇

Uliminas crawled into a bed in one of the empty rooms in the second story of Flio’s house, and immediately sprawled out to sleep. At first, Ghozal had insisted that he wouldn’t mind sharing a room with Uliminas. “We shouldn’t be troubling you for too long, after all,” he’d said. But Uliminas had insisted otherwise.

“Meow...meowron!” she’d spurted out, blushing bright red. “You think I wanna sleep with mew?!”

And so, the two were given separate rooms.

There was a knock at the door. “Uliminas? Are you awake?” Rys poked her head into Uliminas’s room.

“No,” she said. “I’m asleep.”

“So she says, anyway,” Rys rejoined. Uliminas responded by pretending to snore loudly.

Rys smirked in amusement and sat down on the foot of the bed. “I guess she’s asleep,” she said. “I’ll just sit here and talk to myself. I can’t help but wonder how Ghozal could have neglected to take any money, if he had someone as scrupulous as Uliminas with him.”

“...It’s the Silent Listeners,” Uliminas muttered.

“Your spies?”

“Yeah...” Uliminas continued without opening her eyes or moving from her position. “They defected from the Dark Army with me. But they didn’t enough meowney saved to live on, so Ghozal the meowron went and gave all of our funds to them.”

“That sounds like Ghozal,” Rys said. “He looks like he’d be a ‘might makes right’ type, but the truth is that he takes care of the people around him first and foremost.”

“And it’s always my purroblem when he does...”

Rys gave Uliminas a fond smile. “Tell me something, Uliminas. I’ve heard that you were in love with him. Are you still?”

“I have no idea what mew’re talking about.”

“Is that why you came here with him?”

“I dunno about that.”

“Then you wouldn’t have a problem if Ghozal gets involved with Balirossa?”

“Like hell I’m gonna let that human get her paws on him!” Uliminas kicked up and landed on her feet, standing on the bed. It dawned on her that Rys was staring, and she flushed red, suddenly going motionless once again.

Uliminas dove back under the covers. “I’m just talking in my sleep,” she said. “Doesn’t mean mewnything.”

Rys couldn’t help from snickering.

◇Dark Citadel—Throne Room◇

“What?! We’re still not ready to attack Klyrode?! Phufun, what is the meaning of this?!” Yuigarde raised his voice in anger and stood up from his throne. He had once more given the order to attack Klyrode, only to be told that they were hardly any more ready to marshal a fighting force than they had been the day after their defeat.

“I-I’m so terribly sorry, Master...” Phufun was kneeling on the floor. She bowed her head deeply. The Dark One Yuigarde glared at her, clicking his tongue repeatedly in irritation.

“Well?! When will we be ready, then?!”

“I... I don’t...” Phufun started to sweat. She had no answer. The delay in preparations was natural enough. It had not even been half a month since a third of the Dark Army was lost in the attack on Klyrode. Phufun was between a rock and a hard place trying to find ways to make up for the loss.

Furthermore, many of the surviving soldiers had made petitions asking for more time before they were called back into service. They all stated that they needed to recover from their wounds, but for many this was only a pretext. Among their number were demons who had set out on their own to attack human settlements back when Gholl was the Dark One—demons who had been driven away by Flio. When they saw the same human in a blue wolf mask and the silver wolf by his side coming to the aid of the human forces, they were gripped by all sorts of powerful emotions. Some remembered the man’s overwhelming power and simply lost heart. Others felt themselves indebted to the man who had spared their lives. None of them were all that excited at the prospect of another offensive.

Phufun could tell that it would be next to impossible to draft enough soldiers only from demons directly under the control of the Dark Army. So, she had begun to reach out to other demon lords whose territory was near the Dark Citadel. They had, after all, sworn loyalty to the Dark One, and now Phufun requested their aid. But almost none agreed, due to Yuigarde being held in very poor regard by most of the demons. When he was known as the Tyrant, Yuigarde had developed a poor reputation with his peers for his arrogance, rudeness, violent disposition, and drinking habits (as it just so turned out, he was even worse when he was drunk). Nothing he had done in his tenure as the Dark One had shown any sign of his behavior having changed.

In fact, Yuigarde had been drunk when representatives of the other demon lords came to formally congratulate him for his ascension to the role of Dark One. He derisively mocked the messengers and told Phufun, “I don’t feel like it today. Tell ’em to come back tomorrow.” They were sent away without ever meeting the new Dark One. It’s probably no surprise that this story ended up widely circulated.

Even worse, Yuigarde had led his army to a historic defeat by Klyrode. Demonkind had already begun to turn its back on the Dark One Yuigarde.

The Dark One Yuigarde kept on screaming in anger at Phufun as the three surviving Infernals watched from alongside the throne. Sleip sighed. “I had never intended for things to come to this.”

“We brought thisss on ourssselves...” Yorminyt folded her arms and gazed somberly up at the ceiling. “We were short-sssighted. If only we had lissstened to Uliminasss and helped her throw that ssscoundrel in the dungeons...”

Hugi-Mugi’s two heads were both downcast. “Lord Gholl... Yes, Gholl the lord...” they said. Their conspiracy against the Dark One Gholl had ended in nothing but regret for the three of them.

And still, before their eyes, the Dark One Yuigarde carried on, taking his terrible temper out on Phufun.