Bonus Short Stories

A Girl’s Best Friend?

◇Houghtow City—Flio’s House◇

Two things stood out in Flio’s living room. The first was the large table with an impressive number of chairs lined along either side, around which the household took their meals. The other was Sybe’s hutch. Although Sybe spent most of its time transformed into a unicorn rabbit thanks to a little spellcraft of Flio’s, it was first and foremost a psychobear. Flio had built the hutch to be comfortable for Sybe in either of its forms and—accordingly—very large.

Sybe was currently in the hutch in its psychobear form, fast asleep and completely exposed. It was lying on its back, and on its belly was a girl—Blossom. She was naked except for her undergarments, lying facedown on top of Sybe’s fluffy belly and sleeping soundly.

It was before daybreak, and outside it was still dark. It was even darker inside the house, but Blossom’s eyes shot open. She sat up and yawned.

“Another morning...” she mumbled, climbing down from Sybe’s belly. Blossom was large for a girl, but Sybe was almost twice her size. On top of the psychobear, she looked almost petite.

“Sybe’s belly sure is nice and fluffy, though,” she said as her feet reached the floor. “It makes for a comfortable mattress! I was sleeping like the dead.” She reached down to grab her discarded clothing from off the floor. She had been overheating last night on account of the giant warm-blooded psychobear she had been spending the night on top of, and had pulled off her clothing in her sleep.

As Blossom dressed herself, Sybe roused from its slumber and sluggishly sat up. “Morning, Sybe!” she said. “Time to get up and get farming!”

“Gwor...” Sybe mumbled sleepily. Then it stretched with a louder (but still very tired), “Gwooor!”

Blossom smiled at Sybe’s antics. “Aha ha, you awake there, Sybe? We got lots to do today.” Blossom jabbed Sybe’s belly with her fist.

She had actually struck him with a fair amount of power, but Sybe didn’t even react. As fluffy as its belly may have seemed, a human simply could not punch hard enough to hurt a psychobear. Sybe flailed its legs and arms feebly as Blossom’s affectionate fists sunk into its fluff.

◇ ◇ ◇

Blossom walked down the road that led away from the house past Byleri’s ranch towards the fields. When she was a young girl growing up in a rural farmhouse, Blossom’s parents had been sure to teach her everything they knew about farming. Even now, farming was her specialty, so much so that she had, without really intending to, turned the tiny garden that had once adjoined the house into a sprawling farm. She would then deliver everything she grew to the kitchen of Flio’s house. It was safe to say that most of the food on their plates on any given day came from Blossom’s farm.

“Okay!” Blossom said, taking the hoe she had been carrying slung over her shoulder in her hands. “Let’s get to work!”

She made her way into the fields, Sybe following behind. It was in its unicorn rabbit form again, walking skillfully on its two hind legs and pulling out weeds with both forepaws. It would sandwich a weed between the pads of its paws and jump, yanking it out in one go. It was very used to this work and before long had accumulated a pile of weeds about as large as its own body.

The pair stopped. They could see something through the foliage of the forest. Several somethings. They were vampire wolves: a pack of three, all ravenously famished. They were staring at them, looking very much like they were considering sating their hunger with Blossom and Sybe.

Sybe walked to the road on two legs as it carried its mound of weeds. It put the weeds down by the shoulder of the road, clapped its paws to shake off the bits of leaf, and turned to head back to the fields. It was like one of the wolves had shouted, “Now!” The instant Sybe’s back was turned, they tore out of the forest and descended upon the unicorn rabbit.

Vampire wolves are beasts that use their sharp teeth to drain the blood of their prey. Once their prey has been immobilized from blood loss, the wolves devour their flesh at their leisure. However, the horn of a unicorn rabbit was also very sharp. If a vampire wolf were to attack a unicorn rabbit head-on, it very well might not return unscathed. But right now it was three against one. Even if Sybe were to turn around in time to gouge one of them, the other two would descend on it and rip it apart. Or so the wolves believed.

One wolf came from directly behind. Another came from the right, and the third, the left. Mustering their last reserves of strength, the starving wolves charged in, eager to sink their fangs into Sybe. Thud! Just as they came within striking distance of the rabbit, the three wolves crashed into something solid. It was then that they noticed the invisible barrier between them and their dinner. They were at the boundary of the magical barrier Flio had set up to protect his household.

The three wolves lay where they had fallen after their collision with the barrier, utterly confused by what had happened. Then, a large shadow fell over them. Slowly, they raised their heads. Before them was Sybe, fully transformed into its psychobear form. Still sensing hostility from the vampire wolves, Sybe now stood looming menacingly over the would-be hunters.

Even if it was on the other side of the barrier, the vampire wolves could only cower before the enormous figure, drooping their tails and shaking with terror. They had attacked thinking that their prey was a unicorn rabbit. If that had known they faced a psychobear—a beast against whom they stood no chance at all of victory—they would have never dared to try.

Sybe looked down at the three and began to approach, swinging its arms with big swipes. It lowered its head as it grew closer and started to sniff. The wolves’ instincts told them that they were about to be eaten. They would have run for the hills, but between their extreme hunger and mortal fear, they couldn’t move a muscle.

Sybe pulled its head back and turned away from the wolves, walking back in the direction of the farm. It returned before long, but this time it had brought Blossom.

“Well, if you insist, Sybe, I suppose we’ll see what we can do,” said Blossom. Together, she and Sybe headed off into the forest.

◇ ◇ ◇

Not long after, the wolves were greedily devouring the mushrooms Blossom had roasted.

Blossom grinned. “Seems y’all like the shadishrooms,” she said. She skewered another freshly harvested shadishroom on the end of a stick and stuck it in the simple stove she had made by piling up rocks in a dome.

Shadishrooms were an edible mushroom that grew abundantly in the mountains. Because of their tendency to grow very high up on trees, they were considered hard to find, but they were prized as a meaty and nutritious fungus, edible by herbivores and carnivores alike. Blossom knew the places where shadishrooms grew by heart, and since she rode on Sybe’s shoulders, she was able to collect a great number of them to give to the vampire wolves.

When they had eaten their fill, the wolves bowed by lowering their heads a number of times, then returned to the forest.

“Come back anytime you feel hungry, y’hear?” said Blossom, waving them goodbye as Sybe waved energetically beside her with both arms. “Next time we’ll get Lady Rys to cook you up some proper meat!”

“I remember having to steel myself up to face those things back when I was a knight,” she mused after they were out of sight. “Feels weird not being scared of ’em at all. It’s thanks to you, Sybe.” She playfully jabbed the psychobear in its side with her elbow. Sybe made a happy noise and rubbed its cheek against hers.

“Aha ha, all right, all right!” she said. “We’re going to be late, but let’s wrap things up here and head back to the house. It’s almost time for breakfast.” Sybe made another happy noise, turned back into a unicorn rabbit, and headed once again back to the fields.

◇ ◇ ◇

“Oh? Y’all wouldn’t happen to be the same ones from yesterday, would you?”

The next day when Blossom and Sybe made their usual trip to the farm, they found the vampire wolves from before waiting for them. At their feet, a great number of magical beasts lay dead. “You hunted these for us?” asked Blossom. “That’s what this is?” In response, the wolves drew back from their kills and sat down.

“Hey, there’s no need for anything like that!” she said. “Oh, I know! Why don’t we all eat together?” It looked like the wolves understood her words. At the very least, they began happily wagging their tails.

“You’re gettin’ meat first thing in the morning, Sybe!” Blossom turned to her companion. “You happy?”

Sybe gave a cheerfully affirmative “Gwor!”

Ever since that day, the vampire wolves would come and visit now and again. They would bring meat, and Blossom would cook it up for all of them to share. It seemed that Blossom and Sybe had made three new friends.

Flio, the Grand Magus of Midnight

◇Houghtow City—Flio’s House◇

Past the entryway to Flio’s house was a hallway leading off to the left. Following the hallway all the way would take you to the living room, but to its right was a flight of stairs leading to the second floor where everyone’s bedrooms were located.

At present, Flio and Rys had just returned from the city. “Hey! We’re home!” called Flio.

“We’ve returned!” added Rys.

Two figures appeared from the living room at the end of the hallway: Hiya, and with them, Damalynas. “Your return gladdens me, O Exalted One, mistress,” said Hiya, bowing deeply.

“Welcome home, both of you,” said Damalynas, bowing alongside Hiya.

Flio faced them with his practiced calm smile. “It’s my pleasure to be—wait, hold on. Hiya, isn’t it about time you retired the ‘Exalted One’ thing? It’s just a little too over the top. It puts me on edge.” He grimaced.

The corners of Hiya’s mouth turned up in a smile. “I’m terribly sorry, Exalted One. I’m afraid that I cannot agree to change my manner of address, even if it is at your request. I beg your forgiveness.” They bowed once more.

Flio’s smile was tight-lipped. Honestly... They really won’t budge on this no matter how many times I ask, will they?

◇ ◇ ◇

Flio decided to relax in the living room for a minute and sat down to chat with Hiya and Damalynas. Rys had made them tea.

“By the way,” he said once the conversation had been going for a while, “there’s been something I’ve wanted to ask you, Damalynas.”

“Hm? Something you want to ask me?” Damalynas blinked in surprise.

“Yeah, it’s just that I think I’ve heard a number of people call you the Grand Magus of Midnight. I was wondering what that was about.”

“Oh, that.” Damalynas waved her hand and a book appeared in her grasp, seemingly from nowhere. “This book is known as the Midnight Grimoire. It was created by the greatest mage of old and the progenitor of the art of dark magic, Damalynas the Origin. Within its pages lies the knowledge of every dark magic in existence. I suppose you could call it something like a handbook. By custom, you see, any magic user who masters all of the secrets contained within this book earns the right to use the name Damalynas.”

“But I thought women who used magic were called witches, and that mage was the term for men,” interjected Flio. “How come you call yourself a mage? Or, ‘magus,’ I suppose.”

“Mm. Well, in the time of Damalynas the Origin, the words were used somewhat differently. Mage—or magus—wasn’t always a term reserved for men. It used to be a title that indicated a spellcaster had attained a certain level of mastery. One such as I, who has reached the pinnacle of dark magic, naturally would be far beyond that level and would therefore be known as Grand Magus. That’s simply the title the book gives to those it has acknowledged. It isn’t about to change anytime soon.”

“The book itself gave you that title?”

“Indeed. It is the magic of the book itself that judges whether or not its holder has mastered the dark arts. If it decides you’ve fulfilled its requirements, it gives you the title.” Damalynas was puffing her chest out a little. This was all clearly a point of pride for her. “By the way, I, Damalynas the Apricot, received the title Grand Magus of Midnight after ninety-nine years of study and training. I am the first in history to master the dark arts in under a century.”

“Oh? That’s incredible, Damalynas!” said Flio.

“No, no, it’s really nothing that spec—well, actually, it absolutely is.” Damalynas scratched the back of her head and smiled bashfully, seemingly embarrassed by the praise.

“Wow... This book must have some amazing spells in it.”

Hiya, who was sitting between the two, nodded their head. “It does,” they said. “As Damalynas stated, it would be exceptionally difficult even for an advanced magic user to master it in less than a century.”

Damalynas giggled awkwardly. “W-Well, I suppose. Do... Do you want to have a look, Lord Flio?”

“Yeah!” he said. “I’m interested.” He took the tome from Damalynas.

“Huh?” As Flio’s hand touched the cover of the book, the Midnight Grimoire began to glow. The light spread to Flio’s hand. Both Hiya and Damalynas opened their eyes wide in shock. “What in the...?”

“Th-This never happened when I read the book...” said Damalynas. Before her eyes, countless words seemed to float out from the glowing book and were absorbed into Flio’s arm. They kept going and going, a staggering volume of words flying through the air and vanishing into Flio.

Flio could feel the words pouring into his mind over and over. More than that, he could understand them. No, it was more than simply understanding. The contents of the Midnight Grimoire were being directly absorbed by his brain.

He appeared utterly stupefied.

It didn’t take long at all. The light vanished as abruptly as it had appeared. “What... What just happened?” Flio asked. He stared at Damalynas with wide eyes.

“I... I... Well, I saw it happen,” she said. She was so disoriented that it was taking effort to speak coherently. “But that’s the first time in my life I’ve ever so much as heard of something like that. I certainly have no idea...” Next to her, Hiya was staring at the tome, their arms folded.

Then, from the book in Flio’s hand, a figure appeared—a woman. She had silver hair that went down to her knees, almond eyes, and pointed ears like an elf’s. Her outfit looked like an ancient mage’s vestments with the shoulders rather daringly exposed. She seemed to regard Flio with a beguiling smile as she floated in the air.

“That’s...the Grand Magus of Midnight...Damalynas the Origin...” Damalynas gulped.

Hiya stared at the woman and then nodded. “Hm... Yes, I seem to remember this woman. That is indeed Damalynas the Origin.”

“So that’s Damalynas the Origin...” Flio returned the floating woman’s gaze.

Suddenly Damalynas the Origin raised her arm and pointed at Flio. “I offer my congratulations, you who have mastered the dark arts. You have earned the right to the name Damalynas, the Grand Magus of Midnight. Take care not to bring shame to our name.” So saying, she smiled mysteriously and vanished. For a while, neither Flio nor Hiya nor Damalynas moved an inch.

When Flio had been summoned to this world, he was granted the blessing of Transcendence. One of the abilities it granted him was the power to learn any spell he had experienced even once. When he touched the tome, his ability reacted to the dark enchantments on the book itself, taking all of its knowledge for his own.

Flio, however, had no awareness of the abilities given to him by Transcendence and no idea what had happened to him just now. “Hey! C-Can anyone explain what that was?! She said I mastered the dark arts, but all I did was touch the book! I don’t—” an expression of dismay crossed his face. He was clearly panicking.

For her part, Damalynas was staring in shock. “It... It took me ninety-nine years to learn the dark arts...” Her speech was faltering, and she had a grim expression on her face. “You really learned it all just by touching the book...?”

Hiya, their arms still folded, looked at Flio. “To master the Midnight Grimoire in such a short time... Truly you are the Exalted One.” They nodded.

“No. No way! That can’t be what happened, can it?!”

Damalynas, meanwhile, was staring blankly, her tortured smile plastered on her face.

And so it was that Flio obtained the title of Grand Magus of Midnight.

Loss and Grief

◇Klyrode Castle—Knights’ Barracks◇

“Hey, what’s gotten into you all?” Company Leader Echenbach sounded surprised as he entered the barracks.

The knight Raine loudly sighed again at the question. His expression was miserable and forlorn. The knights sitting at the table around him looked no less depressed. Together they were making a veritable chorus of miserable sighs.

“Oh. Hello, Captain,” said Raine, glancing up at Echenbach for a second before looking down at his feet and sighing once more. As if in response, the other knights sighed at once.

“Don’t give me that!” Echenbach placed his hand on Raine’s shoulder and looked around at the other knights. “Did something happen? What’s wrong?”

Slowly, Raine lifted his head. “Nothing happened. It’s just, she’s gone.”

“She?”

“You have to know Balli; she was under your command...”

“Ah, yes. Balirossa left, along with her party. What of it?”

“What do you mean, what of it...?” Raine sighed again. “For years, the newcomers to our company were nothing but filthy men...and then suddenly in their midst, a goddess descended from the heavens...” And again, he sighed.

A number of the other knights stood up from their seats. “She was a paragon of chivalry. Everything she did, she always gave it her best,” said one.

“Her perfect face...” said another. “Her hair, fluttering in the breeze...”

“Even in her armor, you could tell that her body was something else...” said a third.

Raine nodded at everyone's words. “She was our north star, the goddess who gave us life...and now she’s gone, just like that...” He sighed several times.

“And our relationship had just gotten to the point where we were saying good morning to each other every day...” said a knight.

“We were going to be on night patrol together...” said another.

“Next month we were going to be in the same unit for the regional patrols,” a third knight said. “We were going to spend a whole month together...”

As the knights offered their various contributions, Raine sighed even more heavily and slumped his shoulders.

“Get a hold of yourselves!” Echenbach snapped, looking around the room at his knights. “The Dark Army’s been quiet lately, but we never know when that’ll change. They could attack any day now!”

His words seemed to have no effect. The knights, Raine included, spared him no more than a single forlorn glance. “I mean...” said one. “I know that, but...”

“It’s just...” said another. “How do I put it...?”

“It’s going to take a while to come to terms with, I think...” said a third.

The knights sighed.

Echenbach followed suit. “All this just because one girl left the company...”

◇Klyrode Castle—Stables◇

Norduca the armory chief had come to the stables where the knights’ war steeds and the horses for pulling wagons were kept. She was here for a regular observation, but something was clearly wrong. The horses were clearly in low spirits, moping dejectedly and hardly touching their hay. “Excuse me...” she said, confused. “Is there some problem here?”

Benimo, who worked in the stables, rushed out to meet her superior Norduca once she noticed her there. “Lady Norduca...”

Norduca cut her off. “There’s no need for that,” she said. “Can you tell me what’s wrong with the horses?”

“Y-Yes, ma’am...” said Benimo. “They’ve been like this ever since Byleri left. She used to be the one who took care of them, you know...”

“You found a replacement for her, didn’t you? But they’re still in this state...”

“We did... We’ve been working with the new staff as best we can, but the horses seem to get more depressed each day...”

Norduca massaged her temples. “I know Byleri was excellent with the horses, but there must be someone who can do her job...”

Just as she said the words, the horses raised their heavy heads to stare at her. Norduca took a step back, spooked by the horses’ strange behavior. “What in the world...?”

The horses began to bray. They seemed angry. Suddenly, the whole stable seemed to reverberate with the noise. Norduca pressed her hands against her ears to block out the terrible sound.

Could they possibly be angry that I’m not Byleri...?

Norduca began to sweat while she watched as the horses began to whinny with rage.

◇Klyrode Castle—Knight Captain’s Quarters◇

Knight Captain Valkas wore a thin-lipped, bitter smile as he read the report. “I see... I would have never expected the absence of two rookie knights to have such an effect,” he said. Folding his arms, he began to think aloud. “The knights will get over Balirossa on their own, most likely, but what should I do about the horses?”

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. “Knight Captain, sir, permission to enter?”

“Come in,” said Valkas.

“Yes, sir. Excuse me.” A knight opened the door and stepped inside.

“What is it? Is something the matter?”

“Sir, we received an inquiry from a neighboring village. It seems that one of our knights—a woman—had been in the habit of going to their village to assist with farmwork on her days off. She hasn’t been coming recently, and they are concerned for her well-being...”

“Do you know this knight’s name?”

“Yes, sir. It seems she was called Blossom.”

Valkas grimaced. What do you know, he thought. It’s another one of the knights who quit with Balirossa... For a while he sat scowling and stewing in silence. “Tell them,” he said, “that Blossom has resigned as a knight for personal reasons, and that she is in good health.”

“Yes, sir.” The knight gave a salute and turned to leave.

No sooner had he exited the room than another knight entered. This one was a woman. “Might I have a word, Knight Captain?” she said.

“Oh? Captain Boralis of the Princess’s personal guard? What brings you here?”

Boralis saluted the knight captain. “I’m afraid I came here to ask a favor,” she began.

“Mm. Well, what is it?”

“Captain, would it be possible to assign a witch to the Princess’s guard? It’s been on my mind for a while now.”

“A witch?”

“Yes, Captain. I believe the recent incident with Damalynas demonstrates our need for stronger defenses against attacks on the Princess’s person. If you think well of it, of course.”

“I see...” said Valkas. “I understand your concern. Very well, I will speak with the captain of the Magic Corps and have them send you a list of candidates.”

“Actually,” said Boralis, “I have a specific person in mind.”

“You do? Who?”

“Among your knights, I believe, is a witch by the name of Belano. If at all possible, I would really like to have her...”

Again, Valkas grimaced at the name. “Ahhh... Well, you see...I’m terribly sorry, but Belano resigned recently, for personal reasons.”

“I...I see...”

“The Princess’s guards must be women, correct?” Valkas said. “It might take some time to find someone if you need a witch specifically and not a mage.”

“I understand...” said Boralis, dejected. “Thank you for your assistance.” She saluted once more, and left the room.

“Wonder what’s with Ser Boralis?” Valkas stared curiously at the door the guard captain had left through. “She got good and depressed just from hearing that some inexperienced witch quit the knights...”

◇ ◇ ◇

Boralis sighed heavily as she walked down the corridor. I can’t believe it... Ser Belano quit the Magic Corps...

Since she had been very young, Boralis had been surrounded by girls and women. She had been trained at an all-female knight academy and served her entire career with all-female teams. She became the company leader of a succession of all-female companies of knights, and finally she was selected as captain of the Princess’s all-female royal guard.

Over the course of many years in an environment surrounded by only women, she had developed a distinct proclivity—or perhaps you might say a fetish—for petite girls, the cuter the better. She had been taken by Belano from the moment she chanced to lay eyes on her, and had long entertained the fantasy of working together.

It was perfect! I could have at once strengthened the Princess’s guard and spent every day in the presence of Ser Belano... I can’t believe she quit...

Boralis’s shoulders slumped as she continued on her way.

◇Houghtow City—Flio’s House◇

Balirossa and her companions were sitting in the living room when they were overtaken by a sudden sneezing fit.

“Aah-choo!” sneezed Balirossa.

“Kerchoo!” sneezed Blossom.

“’Choo!” sneezed Byleri.

Belano didn’t sneeze. Her body shook silently from a sudden cold. Her face was pale.

Flio, who had been sitting next to the four, turned to look at them. “Are you all coming down with a cold?” he asked. “We should try and get you all warmed up.”

Balirossa smiled grimly. “I...do not believe that that was a cold.”

“What does that mean?” said Blossom. “Someone’s spreadin’ rumors about us?”

“Wha?” said Byleri. “Like, that’s kinda embarrassing?”

Belano said nothing. She was still shivering.

The four shared a glance. They had no idea that they were such a popular topic of conversation back in Castle Klyrode.

The College of Magic’s Idol

◇Houghtow College of Magic◇

“And that’s it for today’s lecture!” Oryou, who was standing behind the podium, closed her textbook with a snap. Oryou taught offensive spells at the Houghtow College of Magic. She was from the Land of the Rising Sun, far to the east, and wore an exotic garment known as a kimono and had her hair done up with an ornate hairpin. She was very popular with her students thanks to her ability to speak candidly with anyone as well as her gorgeously proportioned figure.

Oryou stepped down from the podium and looked over at Belano, who was sitting in the front row. “Belano, you have a meeting after class, no? Shall we go together?” Belano nodded mutely and stuffed her notes and textbook into her oversized bag, slung it over her shoulder, and followed Oryou out of the room.

Shion was sitting near her and gave her a curious glance on her way out. What’s happening with Miss Belano? he wondered.

Shion was on the tall side and had a rather intense gaze. At first glance he looked like someone who would be difficult to approach, but he had a good natured and helpful personality, and had earned many friends among the students. Not long ago he had let his magic go out of control during an offensive magic class exercise and had been saved by Belano’s defensive spell. He had been trying to ask her out to lunch to thank her properly, but ever since that day, Belano would leave class immediately after it got out to go to the faculty office. He had yet to be given an opportunity.

He watched Belano leave. Once again he had missed his chance. “Why does she keep getting called to the faculty office?” he said, puzzled.

“Oh, you don’t know?” Another boy walked up beside him.

“I suppose you do know, then, Lacroix?”

“Of course!” Lacroix took a notepad out of his back pocket and began flipping through the pages. He was a short, heavyset boy who always seemed to be spacing out but who apparently had some sort of mysterious information network. It was widely accepted that nobody knew the goings-on at the school better than him.

Lacroix stopped flipping and opened his notepad to a particular page. “Here it is. The faculty was very impressed by that defensive spell Miss Belano cast the other day. I heard they’re going to make her a teacher.”

“What? Are you for real?”

“Of course. There isn’t anyone in the faculty who specializes in defensive magic. It sounds like they’ve been looking for a defensive magic teacher for a while.”

“I see...” Shion nodded. “Well, she is pretty incredible when it comes to defense.” But wait... he thought. If Miss Belano is going to be a teacher here, I could take her class... Shion looked back up at Lacroix. “Hey Lacroix,” he said. “Do you know when she’s gonna start teaching?”

“Of course I know that! I just finished registering for her class!” Lacroix took out a piece of paper and handed it to Shion. On it was written: “Notice of Enrollment: Defensive Magic Course (Available to Public) — Houghtow College of Magic.”

Shion’s eyes opened wide. “What?! They’ve already started registration?!”

“They just started today. Just a few minutes ago, in fact.”

“Lacroix...” Shion fixed his friend with a look. “I thought you were taking a long time to use the toilet.”

“Oh? Whatever do you mean?” Lacroix looked back over his shoulders, making a show of whistling innocently. “Anyway, Shion, you had better hurry up and register yourself.”

Shion seemed to be thrown off balance by this. “Of course! You don’t have to tell me twice!”

“Naturally you’d want to attend the class taught by the girl you’ve been trying to ask out to lunch!”

“D-Don’t be ridiculous! I just want to take her to lunch to thank her for the other day! It has nothing to do with whether or not I like her.”

“What was that? All I said was ‘ask her out to lunch.’ I didn’t say one word about liking her.”

“Sh-Shut up! A-Anyway, I’m going to go register for her class!” Shion hurried out of the classroom, his face red, fully aware that he had said too much.

N-No... he thought. It isn’t because I like her or anything. It’s true that she’s short and cute and just my type, but my motivations here are pure! I have no intention of... Well, I mean, if it happens I’d be... No, no, no! What am I thinking?! I’m registering for her class because it would be kind of sad if she didn’t have a lot of students, and as her classmate I should try to make it a success! It’s not like I’m looking forward to seeing her face every day in front of the class... I’m not...

Shion sped down the hallway towards the administrative office, his mind racing furiously. But when he turned the corner, his eyes went wide as he stood stunned. There was a line leading out of the office and a paper sign which read: “Enrollment for new Defensive Magic Class Underway.”

Taclyde, a member of the College’s administrative staff, spoke from behind the window. “Those hoping to register for the defensive magic class, please go to the back of the line. If you have other business, please line up here.” None of the students in the line for the defensive magic registration moved. It seemed they had all come to the right place.

Shion had never expected Belano’s class to be so popular. He glanced over to the front of the line. Don’t tell me I’m too late... He broke out into a run for the back of the line, an urgent look on his face.

“Hey!” shouted Taclyde. “No running in the hallways!” Shion ignored him and took his place in line. The line stretched forward in the direction he had come from. He wasn’t the last either. Student after student lined up behind him. Shion began to sweat.

Where did all these people come from?! he thought, craning his head to look at the front. Belano hardly spoke to her fellow students and immersed herself fully in her studies, but she was small and dainty and she always gave her all in class and practice. She was like a tiny, cute little animal doing her best, and many of her fellow students wanted to cheer her on. At some point, they had grown into a veritable crowd.

Shion never expected this in his wildest dreams. He was becoming agitated at the wait. Time and time again he tried to steal glances at the front of the line. It can’t be much longer... Come on, come on, come on...

◇Houghtow College of Magic—A Hallway◇

With their preparations in the faculty office concluded, Belano and Oryou stepped into the hallway and set out to look over the room where Belano’s class would be conducting practical exercises.

As they walked, Belano noticed an exceptionally long line leading towards the administrative office. She looked over, curiosity written on her face, but said nothing. Oryou noticed her expression and followed her gaze to see where Belano was looking.

“Oh?” she said. “That’s quite the queue. I wonder what could be happening in the administrative office?” She thought it over for a second. “Hmm... Well, we can ask Taclyde about it later. Come along, Belano. Let’s go to the exercise room. I’ll give you a simple explanation of how everything works.”

Belano nodded in assent, and Oryou led her down the hallway. Neither of them would have ever guessed that the queue was full of students hoping to register for Belano’s class. It would be a little while until they learned the truth.

Observation Log, Subject: Flio

“Hey, Rys, hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long.” Rys had been waiting to the side of the entrance to the Merchant’s Guild building, keeping a low profile so as to not get in the way of Flio’s work. She smiled at Flio’s greeting.

“Not at all!” she said. She walked up to her husband and attached herself to his right arm. “Did your business go smoothly?”

“It did! And that’s everything taken care of for today.” Flio returned Rys’s smile. “So, ready to find somewhere to eat lunch?”

“Of course!” Rys wrapped her arms tighter around Flio’s, beaming up at him.

As Flio and Rys went about their day, a girl stood on the roof of a nearby building, watching them. She had cast Concealment on herself and her surroundings so as not to be seen as she stared intently at the happy couple walking down the crowded streets. On her back was a pair of wings—a clear sign that she was not human—but they did not look like the wings of an avian demihuman.

This was Dia, a follower of the goddess Blanchet who reigned over this world.

It is our task as celestials to watch over the people of this world... Still, we are meant not to intervene... she thought as she took gracefully to the air and alighted on the city street.

Mixed in among the humans walking through the town, she followed along behind Flio and Rys. There is something odd about this man called Flio. He cast the greatest holy spell by himself in the Delaveza forest, even turned back time when he faced the djinn who commands the origin of light and darkness... Even a celestial would be hard pressed to perform such feats. For a human to be capable of them is far outside of our expectations. She knitted her brow as she considered everything Flio had done.

Suddenly, and quite surprising to Dia, a magic circle appeared beside where Flio was walking. It rotated in place for a moment before out stepped Hiya. They were dressed as they usually were with a thin cloth wrapped around their body, a halo shining behind their head. They must have been using magic to conceal their presence. At least, none of the townsfolk milling about seemed to notice a magic circle appearing in their midst, or Hiya themself.

“Exalted One,” they said.

“That’s the djinn who commands the origin of light and darkness,” Dia hissed through clenched teeth, watching as Hiya bowed reverentially before Flio. “I had heard they had become one of his followers. I suppose that was true... This was dangerous enough when it was only Flio. With both of them here...I may be in real peril.”

Dia hid herself in the shadows and continued watching as yet another magic circle appeared and a woman emerged. She had dark skin and wore the purple outfit of a witch. When she saw who it was, Dia’s eyes widened with shock.

“Th-That’s the Grand Magus of Midnight, Damalynas the Apricot! Wait. Was she one of Flio’s followers too?” Dia swallowed as she watched Damalynas begin to speak with Flio and Rys as if they were all good friends. “This is bad,” she muttered to herself. “That man by himself can use the highest level of holy magic and even manipulate time. And now the djinn Hiya and the Grand Magus of Midnight Damalynas are with him—two of the five most powerful magic users in the world... I must report this to my Goddess at once...” She gave the four another glance. They were talking about something.

“Then, Exalted One, you were already aware of that person’s presence?” asked Hiya.

Flio smirked wryly. “Yeah. She’s using Concealment, I think, but even so, it’s not like I’m going to miss someone who insists on following me all the time. I don’t think she’s from this world, but I don’t think she means any harm for the time being. I’m just waiting to see what she’s planning.” As Flio finished, he called up a window. Inside the window was an image of Dia, watching the party from the shadows a ways away. “I made a bug into a familiar and sent it to keep an eye on her. I don’t think she’s a threat...”

What are they looking at in that window? Dia was still watching intently as Flio showed his party the image of her. There were a number of bugs flying around in the air above her head. She had no idea that one of those bugs was Flio’s familiar.

“Exalted One,” said Hiya after they had taken a good look at Dia through Flio’s window, “shall I take care of the matter? I could dispose of her very quickly.” They touched their hand to their chest and gave another deep bow.

“You don’t need to do that yourself, Your Divinity!” said Damalynas. She pointed to herself with her index finger. “Say the word and I’ll turn her into fish food. It won’t take a second.”

Next, Rys pulled on Flio’s arm. “How dare she spy on my lord husband?!” she said. “I’ll get rid of her in a flash.” She began to turn into her wolf form.

Flio placed his hand on Rys’s head and looked around at his three companions. “Rys, Hiya, Damalynas, it’s all right. There’s no need to do that.”

“But my lord husband! We can’t just overlook someone following you!” said Rys.

“Indeed. You speak true, mistress,” said Hiya. “To shadow the Exalted One is an act worthy of death.”

“I agree,” said Damalynas. “I’d feel like I wasn’t a proper Grand Magus of Midnight if we didn’t wipe her off the face of the world.”

The three crowded around Flio, demanding to be allowed to take care of Dia. Flio’s smile looked very strained. “W-Well, I mean, I don’t sense much in the way of hostility from her. And she isn’t hurting anyone just by watching us...”

“If you say so, my lord husband,” grumbled Rys.

“Very well,” said Hiya. “But if she ever shows even the slightest sign of hostility towards the Exalted One, I, Hiya, shall exterminate her with extreme prejudice.”

“I told you, Your Divinity, there’s no need to trouble yourself with her! Please leave her to your faithful Damalynas.”

Reluctantly, the three agreed to do things Flio’s way.

I wish I could hear what they were saying... Dia was still stealthily watching the group from her hiding place, blissfully unaware that they had been discussing the question of whether or not to eliminate her. She still didn’t know that they were aware of her presence. Well, I should try to learn as much as I can. I want to have a lot of information when I report to my Goddess... Dia nodded to herself as Flio’s bug flew around above her, keeping a watchful eye.

Gold-Hair and Tsuya: Tsuya Gets a Job

◇In a Tavern◇

A little after sunset, two men stepped through the door of a tavern. They were greeted with a cheerful “Hiii! Weeelcome! Come on in!” from Tsuya, who was serving customers inside and at that moment grinning from ear-to-ear. She jogged up to the door, eager to greet the two new customers. This was a successful establishment, and there were several other girls beside Tsuya working at the moment. They followed after her to give the men their own welcomes.

Tsuya and Hero Gold-Hair were wanted criminals on the run, and Tsuya had come to work in this tavern in order to earn funds for their life on the road. She had to choose where to work carefully. This was a good establishment for her to find work because they didn’t put up wanted posters from Castle Klyrode, but it didn’t exactly attract the best customers. As you might imagine, the girls working here were showing quite a lot of skin as they entertained the guests. This suited Tsuya just fine—it was her preference not to wear much in the way of clothes as is. She stood unashamed as she welcomed the customers.

One of the two adventurers spoke to Tsuya. “Hey, haven’t seen you before. You new?”

“I aaam!” Tsuya said, grinning just as wide as before. “I just started todaaay! My name’s Tsuyaia!” She gave them the false name she was using for this job, and led the two into the building.

“Whad’ya think?” one of the men whispered to his partner. “The new girl’s pretty hot, right?”

“No kidding...” the other whispered back. “Big tits, thick ass...and her waist is so slender it’s like you could fold her in half...” They were practically salivating as they stared at her from behind.

Hiya led the men to an empty table, stopped, and turned around. “Is this table all riiight?” Both men just stared. “Ummm... Siiirs?”

“Huh? Oh! The table! Y-Yes ma’am, this one’s fine!”

“Y-yes! I’m fine too, yes ma’am!”

The two men had been so completely entranced staring at Tsuya’s behind that it had taken them a good few seconds to notice she was speaking to them. Stiffly, they awkwardly took their seats. “Can I take your ooorder?” Tsuya asked.

“Yeah, let’s start with some drinks.”

“Drinks and some snacks!”

Tsuya smiled. “Thank yooou,” she chirped. “I’ll be back with your driiinks!” She went off towards the kitchen as the two men went back to ogling her backside.

“Hey...” said one of the men. “You wanna see if that girl will give us some extra service?”

“I think any of the girls here will, if you have the money.”

“Wow, nice! Let’s try it!” He flashed a thumbs up, and the other man returned the gesture.

Suddenly, a man’s voice came from beside them. “You...”

The men yelped in unison. At some point, this stranger had come up beside their table. He was wearing a heavy cloak with the hood pulled low over his eyes. He brought his head in close.

“That woman is not some harlot! If you speak to her like that...” he trailed off, taking something out from deep within his cloak. The men’s eyes went wide when they saw what it was.

Is that...a shovel? They looked up at the man in disbelief, frozen to the spot. There was a strange sense of menace in the man’s eyes. Somehow they couldn’t look away. There was part of them that wanted to put him in his place—his weapon was a shovel, after all! But confronted by his intense stare, they found that they couldn’t speak a word.

“I’ve given you a warning,” said the man in a low voice. “If you chose to ignore it...well, I think we understand each other.” And with that, he left. The two watched him leave in stunned silence.

“Sooorry for the waaait!” said Tsuya, who had returned from the kitchen carrying a pair of tankards. “Heeere’s your driiinks!” She was grinning just like before as she handed them over. “I’ll go get your snacks next, if you’ll waaait a little longeeer!”

Tankards in hand the two watched Tsuya go back to the kitchen and then glanced at each other. “So...what now?” one said, quietly.

“What do you mean, ‘what now’?”

“We should probably give up on her, right?”

“Yeah...probably.”

The pair nodded and took a drink.

◇ ◇ ◇

The night was half-over by the time Tsuya left. “See you lateeer!” she called to the rest of the workers and then headed out the back door.

A man in a heavy cloak came up quietly behind her. Tsuya smiled happily when she saw him. “Hero Gold-Haaair! You came to pick me uuup!” She jogged over to her partner. Hero Gold-Hair made sure she was following him, and then wordlessly walked off in the opposite direction.

Tsuya took hold of Gold-Hair’s arm and pressed her body close. She had a short coat on top, but on her lower body she was wearing nothing but the scanty clothes she had worn to work. Hero Gold-Hair took off his cloak and put it on her. “But Hero Gold-Haaair, what if you catch a cooold? It’s sooo chilly tonight...”

“Just wear it. I have a high body temperature.”

“You dooo? Well, okaaay, thank you!” She attached herself back to Gold-Hair’s arm, smiling fondly up at him.

“Anyway, Tsuya, I can’t say I think much of that tavern. Is there really not anywhere better?”

“Huuuh? What do you meeean? They don’t have waaanted posters, and they pay wages at the end of each daaay! It seems good to meee!”

“But what about the low-life customers?! And do you really have to dress like that? I don’t care what anyone says, that outfit shows way too much skin!”

“Whaaat? I think the outfit is cuuute. I like it! O-Oh, do you think it looks baaad on meee?” Tsuya looked up at Gold-Hair, suddenly worried.

Hero Gold-Hair blushed. “N-No! I mean...whether it looks good or bad has no bearing on the matter!”

“Oh, gooood!” Tsuya smiled happily, and pulled Hero Gold-Hair’s arm close, sandwiching it between her breasts. Tsuya did things like that wholly without meaning to. His arm now stuck in her cleavage, Hero Gold-Hair found that he had entirely lost the power of speech. The two left in silence.

“Oh, Hero Gooold-Hair! One of the cuuustomers told me about some seeecret treasure called the Chaaampion’s Edge! It sounds like it’s nearbyyy!”

“What? Is that true?!”

“It iiis! They even told me mostly where it iiis!”

“Well then! We should be off at once! I want to get my hands on this sword!”

“Whaaat? Right nooow? But I juuust finished work! I neeeed to reeest!”

“F-Fine! All right! We’ll find an inn, so stop rubbing your chest all over me! But we’re off first thing in the morning! And mind your chest!”

The two kept chatting as they went on their way through the city, vanishing into the crowd.