Chapter 4: The Djinn and the Grand Magus of Midnight

The shopkeeper gasped. “Master Flio,” he said. “This shield... Is it, by any chance, made from dragon scale? Where in the world did you get this?”

Flio smiled. “You have a good eye, sir,” he said. “Although I’m afraid I’ll have to keep my channels for goods like this a secret.”

The shopkeeper glanced between the shield and Flio’s smiling face before leaning in close to Flio’s ear to whisper, so the adventurers patronizing his shop wouldn’t hear. “I’ll buy this at your asking price,” he said. “But I need you to promise me that if you get your hands on any more dragon scale gear you’ll bring it to me. Please.” He quietly handed Flio a bag stuffed full of gold coins.

“Of course,” said Flio, calmly taking the bag. “Pleasure doing business with you.”

In the western part of the Magical Kingdom of Klyrode lay the city of Houghtow, the Capital of Trade. Many demihumans made their homes here in this busy city trafficked by countless merchants and adventurers. It was every bit unlike the town surrounding Klyrode Castle.

Flio left the equipment shop and purchased some food and sundries before leaving the city. A little ways out of town, he walked into his house.

“My husband!” cried Rys, dashing forward and wrapping her arms tightly around him. “Welcome home!” She pressed her lips to his.

“Glad to be home,” he said after they pulled away from their lingering kiss. He gave her a gentle smile as he embraced her once again.

On the day Flio had cast Teleportation and vanished before the Golden-Haired Hero’s eyes, he had come here to Houghtow, where he had been living ever since. Between Flio’s restitution from the Magical Kingdom of Klyrode for their botched summoning and the reward money for the party’s relentless monster hunts, they had enough funds to live comfortably for the rest of their lives. There was no need to work, but Flio was, after all, a former merchant. He was happiest when he was busy with something, and had been thinking of taking up some kind of profession.

At first he considered life as an adventurer, but after his past experiences he decided to give that up. The reason the Golden-Haired Hero had found him and forced him to leave, after all, came down to the fact that the Adventurers’ Association sent reports to the castle. Ultimately, Flio decided to put his skills to use and create equipment and magic gems to sell to shops in the town.

“That dragon scale shield I made fetched a pretty good price,” Flio said happily as Rys started putting the groceries away.

“You really can do anything, can’t you, my love? Even I was taken aback when I saw the quality of that shield,” said Rys, beaming at her husband. “Now come and relax a little. I’ll make us a pot of tea.” Flio thanked her graciously and watched as she went back into the kitchen.

Flio had finally succeeded in disabling the setting on his Bottomless Bag that prevented him from placing the remains of living creatures inside, and had begun using it to store parts of the monsters he had previously slain. With hides, scales, claws, and bones as materials, he would use his free command over magic to shape them into equipment or other items to sell in town. Flio was concerned that if he told people the truth about the provenance of his goods, people might begin to bother him with commissions or pester him about where he got his materials, so he made up his mind to tell everyone that they came into his hands through “secret channels.”

Rys settled into her role as wife, and spent her time doing housework every day. She had become quite adept at cooking and cleaning as well. Whenever she had a spare moment, she could be seen browsing through the knitting book she bought in town and practicing various patterns. It seemed that all of her test pieces were baby clothes.

Balirossa would often go to the forest nearby, either to receive sword training from Flio or to hunt. Monsters in this region were not as powerful as they were north of Klyrode Castle, and Balirossa was now strong enough to handle them on her own. When she wasn’t in the forest, she would spend most of her time hard at work helping Rys keep the house spotless.

Blossom devoted herself wholly to maintaining the garden that had been brought along with them. Incidentally, all of her gardening tools were made by Flio out of dragon scale. She was probably the only gardener with such a set in the whole wide world.

Byleri, meanwhile, created a pasture alongside Blossom’s garden, and began to raise horse-type monsters. Byleri had always loved horses, and was good enough at their care to be entrusted with the kingdom’s warhorses for a time. She raised a herd of relatively gentle-natured monsters Flio and Balirossa had captured, and would sometimes lend them to traveling merchants to hitch their carriages to. She earned a pretty decent amount this way.

Belano enrolled in the Houghtow College of Magic as a member of the public. Rather than trying to learn from Flio or Rys, whose magic was far above her level, she found it much more effective to take remedial courses on the basics of offensive magic.

Flio was worried that something as large as a pet psychobear would stand out too much, and used his magic to transform Sybe into a horned rabbit. Sybe spent its days running around the house on two legs, making cute snuffling noises. Sybe would often accompany Balirossa on her hunts, although it must be said that the rabbit brought down many, many more monsters than she did.

And so, Flio and his household settled easily into their peaceful new lives in Houghtow.

◇ ◇ ◇

One day, Flio and Rys had decided to go into town. They liked to visit the city once every few days to shop for groceries and eat out together.

“Rys,” said Flio, “what would you like for lunch today?”

“Let’s see... Personally, I’m interested in that restaurant on the corner. I remember smelling something delicious from there the other day.”

“Sounds good to me. Shall we?”

Rys nodded happily. She was holding onto Flio’s arm, trying to be moderate in her affections. They were in public, after all.

Today, Balirossa was with them. She had an errand to do in town. As she walked beside them she gazed at the pair with a slightly envious smile. “My lord, my lady, it’s always splendid to see you so happy together.” If only I had someone like that, she thought, turning her eyes upwards. Ideally, they would be nobility, so that they could help me restore my family name... As her thoughts trailed off, she suddenly thought she caught a glimpse of Gholl’s face floating in the sky. Wha?! O-Of all people...why would I see the Dark One’s face in the clouds?! She shook her head violently.

“What’s wrong, Balirossa? We’re going to leave you behind at this rate,” called Rys.

“Ah! I’m sorry, my lady! I’m coming!” Balirossa hurried after the husband and wife.

◇Meanwhile, in the Dungeons of Klyrode Castle◇

“Hmmm... So this is the castle’s sanctuary...” The Golden-Haired Hero looked up at the enormous entryway he had found deep under Klyrode Castle. “The place where they hide their secret treasure...” All around him guards were lying defeated. The Hero couldn’t measure up to the Dark One or a high-tier monster, but he was still quite strong for a human. He had no trouble with opponents on the level of these guards.

The Golden-Haired Hero laughed loudly as he opened the door with the key he pilfered. “Now, let’s hurry up and use this treasure to defeat the Dark One! And once I’ve been properly acknowledged as the Hero, I can go back to living the high life.” He stepped inside, heading deep into the recesses of the sanctuary.

“My Lord Heroooo!” said Tsuya, trotting alongside him. She pointed him towards a solitary sword sticking out of a stone pedestal. “I think that’s the sword!”

“So if I can get this thing out, some sealed djinn will grant my wishes? No matter what I ask for?”

“Yessir,” she answered. “That’s what I heard!”

The Golden-Haired Hero stared at the sword. “Okay, then how do I get it out?”

“Perhaps you should try pulling?”

“Hm. All right, let’s give it a try.” At Tsuya’s suggestion, he placed his hands on the hilt and pulled. The sword slid out with no resistance, and a strange smoke began to rise from the hole.

Tsuya had a bad feeling about the smoke. She stumbled in front of the Hero, trying to shield him. “M-My Lord Heroooo! Get back!” Before their eyes, the smoke slowly gathered into a solid mass, taking the form of a woman. She was practically naked, only her chest and hips covered, and even those only by the thinnest of a cloth wrapping. But even more than the figure’s eroticism, the Hero and Tsuya were struck by a strange chilly sensation that shook them to the bottom of their hearts.

The woman opened her narrow eyes, regarding the two humans with an unreadable expression. She spoke without moving her mouth; her words projected directly into their minds. I am Hiya, she said. The djinn who commands the origin of light and darkness... Was it you who released me from the Sealing Sword?

“Yes!” said the Hero with as much force as he could muster. “Yes, that’s us!”

Hiya slowly nodded her head. Then, in my name, I shall grant you three wishes... Tell me what you desire.

“And I can ask for anything?”

Anything at all. I am the djinn who commands the origin of light and darkness.

“In that case, my first wish is for you to strike Flio from the face of the earth! He is a wicked man who shamed me by refusing to do as he was told. Djinn! I command you!”

Hiya’s smile was as cold as ice. As you wish, she said. And in exchange, the lives of every human in this castle are mine. She vanished, and jet-black collar-like rings appeared around their necks.

“Wait, come back! Wh-What’s with this collar?!” The Golden-Haired Hero tried as hard as he could to get the ring off of his neck, but it simply wouldn’t budge.

Hiya: the djinn who commands the origin of light and darkness. When she chose to acknowledge someone, she would deign to grant them three wishes. However, her wishes came at a cost. A long time ago, a king wished for her to vanquish the Dark One of his day, and in exchange she claimed the lives of half of the living beings on the continent. They were snuffed out in an instant. Her power was vast, but so was her price. Fearful of her power, the king ordered his mages and witches to create the Sealing Sword in order to lock Hiya away in a sacred pedestal. She was hidden in the depths of the castle sanctuary, never to be summoned unless the absolute worst were to befall the kingdom.

The rumor Tsuya had heard said nothing of this. All she knew was that a djinn who could grant three wishes was sealed away in the underground sanctuary, and thus she had told the Hero the same. His wishes were going to be: first, to destroy Flio, who had humiliated him; second, to destroy the Dark One and his minions; and third, to be made the king of his own country.

The collars were known as the Collars of Sacrifice. When Hiya successfully granted a wish, they would sever the neck of their wearer. At that moment, a ring had appeared around the neck of everyone in the castle, from the Princess to the commoners.

◇Klyrode Castle—Throne Room◇

“No... This is the Collar of Sacrifice!” The Princess sprung to her feet, looking at the collar around her neck with despair in her eyes. “Has someone released the djinn? What careless wish could they have made...?” She turned to her guards. “Send the guards and knights to the underground sanctuary. Capture the person who did this at once!” At her words, the guards saluted and rushed down the hallway.

The princess anxiously touched her fingers to the collar around her neck. We need to be quick...but there’s more than just the djinn hidden down there...

◇Houghtow City◇

Flio, Rys, and Balirossa were in high spirits as they finished eating and went outside. “I believe I chose an excellent restaurant, did I not?” said Rys, cheerfully.

“You did,” said Flio. “We’ll have to go there again.”

Balirossa smiled. “Your judgment is enviable as always, my lady. That was truly delicious.”

While the three were chatting, a woman walked up to them—Hiya. She spoke directly into their minds. My name is Hiya, she began. You are the one called Flio?

“I am,” said Flio, his cheerful smile cooling slightly.

Then perish. Hiya swung her right arm downwards with unbelievable speed. Rys, however, jumped in front of her husband, not hesitating for a second. “My lord, watch out!” she cried as she crossed both her arms in a guard to block Hiya’s strike.

Hiya’s arm sliced effortlessly through Rys’s guard, slicing a diagonal wound throughout her entire body. Her fresh blood sprayed into the air. She crumbled to the ground. “Run...” she said. “Run...my...husband...”

And then she said no more.

“Lady Rys!” Balirossa screamed as she ran forward. “You fiend! How dare you!” But then, a strange voice rang out, echoing through the whole street.

REWINDING TIME...

“H-Huh?” Rys was sure her body had been cut in half. But here she was, perfectly intact, and there was Hiya, still where she had been standing before she attacked.

You reversed time... Perhaps you are underestimating me. Hiya did not seem particularly surprised at the situation, only eyeing Flio with her icy smile. Flio strode towards her with his eyes narrowed, his mouth slightly open.

As a reward for your defiance, I will tell you something. I am Hiya. The djinn who commands the origin of light and darkness. I have achieved the utmost pinnacle of the magic of light as well as the magic of darkness. Your spells will not— As she was speaking, Flio’s fist struck her on the jaw. With absolutely no wind-up, he unleashed a devastating uppercut, launching her into the sky.

She flew absurdly high before plummeting back towards the earth. Y-You... Who do you think I am...? she sputtered as she pulled herself to her feet, holding her hand to her injured jaw. I am the djinn who commands the origin— This time, Flio kicked her square in the face, sending her flying backwards. He leapt after her, flying through the air with incredible speed, and struck her in midair with both feet, hitting her into the ground with enough force to leave an enormous crater.

I am...the djinn who... Flio seized the fallen djinn by the hair and pulled her to her feet, where he struck her with a headbutt. I am...the djinn...

“Enough of that nonsense!” Flio glared at Hiya. Her hair was in tatters, and her forehead had been violently split open by his headbutt. Viridescent blood ran down her face.

Hiya, the djinn who commands the origin of light and darkness, had, as she said, ultimate control over light and darkness magic. There was no spell in the world that could pierce her defenses. Of course, she also employed a number of defensive magic spells against physical attacks. They were active now, but with Flio’s skills, which were so far above the limit they could only be displayed with that strange symbol, he was able to strike through her shields entirely, dealing damage directly to her body.

“You hurt my wife!” he said, kneeing her in the solar plexus. “I’m not gonna be satisfied until I make you suffer!” He spoke with uncharacteristic harshness as he lay into her as if she were a rag doll, glaring with a look of absolute rage.

As Hiya’s vision dimmed, for the first time in her life she understood the meaning of “fear.” In fact, she was terrified. She could feel her whole body going numb.

“I’m still...still not satisfied,” said Flio as he swung his arm.

Hiya spoke, for once not using telepathy but speaking with her voice. “I-I’m sorry!” she pleaded. “Please... Please forgive me...”

Flio’s fist sunk into her face.

◇Flio’s House—Several Hours Later◇

“Wh-What happened to her?” Blossom stared dumbstruck at the woman in Flio’s arms. She was horribly beaten up, in an entirely miserable state.

“I went a bit overboard in a fight, so I thought I should probably heal her up,” said Flio, tossing Hiya onto the living room floor and plopping down heavily in one of the chairs. Rys kept clinging tightly to him without letting go, her face flushed and her breathing ragged. It was plain as day that she was worked up.

Rys had been deeply moved. Seeing her cool-headed husband explode with rage against someone who would harm her—his wife—was too much for her. It was like she could no longer keep her love from bursting out of her chest. “Oh, my love... I’m so happy you would do that for me... I’m such a lucky girl...” Still cuddled close to him, no longer able to bear the intensity of her emotions, she began to strip.

“Hey, wait! Not here! There are people here!” said Flio, taking her in his arms. Without missing a beat she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him greedily on the lips. The two kissed passionately as Flio carried her up the stairs to their bedroom.

They left Hiya forgotten and beaten ragged on the living room floor, while Balirossa, Blossom, Byleri, and Belano stood around awkwardly, red from having witnessed the couple’s passionate lovemaking. Sybe the horned rabbit hopped into the room and regarded poor Hiya with a curious expression.

It was quite some time before anyone thought to check on her.

◇Klyrode Castle◇

Suddenly, the collar around the Princess’s neck vanished, leaving her bewildered. “What could this mean?” she wondered aloud. The Collar of Sacrifice appeared around the necks of those Hiya chose as her price to be sacrificed when she granted a wish. The Princess’s was now gone, her life surprisingly still intact.

She was baffled. She racked her mind for an explanation, but found none. “Do any of you know what this means?” she asked, raising her voice so that everyone in the throne room could hear. But the mages, witches, and knights around her were equally confused as their collars disappeared as well. Nobody was able to answer her question.

The Princess gasped as a thought struck her. “No...” she said, shaking her head as if to banish the idea from her mind. “Could the djinn have possibly failed to grant a wish? But there’s no way... She’s said to have even vanquished the Dark One of old...”

Unbeknownst to the Princess, her wild conjecture was entirely correct.

◇Flio’s House—Later Still◇

Rys emerged from the bedroom in exceptionally high spirits. “Time for dinner, everyone! ♪” she sang, grinning wildly as she skipped her way to the kitchen. Flio followed her down the stairs and stepped into the living room where Hiya lay unconscious and injured. He approached her and healed her with the highest-level recovery magic in existence.

“Where...” she started, looking all around the room as she regained consciousness. And then she noticed Flio. “Eeek!” The instant she saw his face, she shrieked and hid herself behind Balirossa. Her whole body was shaking.

Flio lowered his head in apology. “I went a bit too far,” he said. “Sorry. I did heal you though, so call it even?” Raising his head, he extended his arm to her in a gesture of goodwill, hoping to salvage this relationship that had started off on the wrong foot.

Hiya fell to the ground, kneeling and prostrating herself. “O-Of course!” she said as she bowed her head to the floor again and again. “Of course we’re even! Please forgive me for attacking you!”

◇Days Later◇

Flio double-checked to make sure he had properly put the merchandise in his Bottomless Bag. “All right,” he said, “I’m off to town.” Rys followed, affectionate as ever and a bright smile on her face.

As they made to leave, Hiya appeared before their eyes and walked up to them. “Exalted One,” she started. “Please allow your humble servant Hiya to clean the house and do the laundry, and to stand guard in your absence.” She bowed with an air of utmost reverence.

“Hiya,” said Flio, “if we’re going to be living together, could you stop calling me ‘Exalted One?’ It’s embarrassing.”

Hiya shook her head. “What are you saying? Exalted One, you forgave me for what I did to your wife, and took me in when I had nowhere to go. What should I call you if not that?”

Ahh... This is one of those situations where they won’t listen to anything you say. Flio’s lips curled up into a tired, wry smile as Hiya spoke, her voice full of passion. He gave up on convincing her. “Okay, sure,” he said. “Then I’ll leave the house in your hands.”

“As you wish. Travel safely, Exalted One. And your wife, as well.”

Flio and Rys left the house, leaving behind Hiya, who was still bent over in a deep bow. “Is this really going to work out, my love?” said Rys once they were out of earshot. She sounded uneasy. “I don’t know how I feel about sharing a roof with that person...”

“Yeah...” said Flio, coolly. “There’s part of me that only thinks of her as the person who harmed you. But she swore not to claim any more human lives, and, more to the point, I just feel sorry for her. She really doesn’t have anywhere to go.”

Rys managed a smile and grabbed hold of Flio’s arm. “You really are too kind, my love,” she said. “My kind husband... I love you.”

“I love you too, Rys,” said Flio. “Thank you.” The two headed for the city, Rys clinging as tight as ever to Flio’s arm.

◇Klyrode Castle—Sanctuary◇

It had already been several days since the Golden-Haired Hero and Tsuya barricaded themselves in the sanctuary of Klyrode Castle. The Hero was on his last legs, staring at the sanctuary door in front of him with a haggard expression. “How did this happen...?” he said. “How did it come to this...?”

“Hero!” came a voice from outside. “We know you’re in there!”

“You can’t hide in there forever! Surrender and come with us!”

The hallway was full to bursting with guards and knights. Inside, the sound of the door being struck and voices urging the Hero to come out echoed throughout the sanctuary. Fortunately for him, the sanctuary locked from the inside—it was meant to be a place of refuge in an emergency, after all. With the door locked, there was nothing the castle’s knights could do except stand around and wait.

The hero stood in a daze, staring at the door and listening to the tumult outside. Why...? That djinn was meant to eliminate everything in my way and give me my own country where I could reign forever as Hero! How did this go so wrong...? It had been days since the djinn departed to kill Flio, but she had yet to return. Even the Collar of Sacrifice that appeared when they had made their pact had vanished. That Flio... Did he manage to defeat her? Is that even possible? His thoughts were racing, but it was no use. He couldn’t think of anything.

I was chosen to be the Hero, wasn’t I? How come no matter how much I level up my stats won’t change? I can crush humans, but I don’t have a chance against a high-level monster! There’s no way I could defeat the Dark One... He covered his face with both hands.

“M-My Lord Hero...” Tsuya drew close to him, a worried look in her eyes.

And those people from the castle... he continued. Why didn’t they tell me about the djinn?! It’s because they didn’t explain things properly that I ended up in this situation. It’s all their fault... They’re to blame... I didn’t do anything wrong... I’m not in the wrong here! He turned his head up, looking to the heavens. “This is your fault,” he said in a low voice that felt like it was coming forth from Hell itself. “It’s your fault for not making me strong enough!”

Just then, a dark voice entered his mind. Do you desire power?

“Who is that?” he asked. “Who are you?”

Does it matter who I am? If power is what you seek, I can give it to you.

“You’ll... You’ll make me stronger?”

I will. I will make you the strongest thing alive.

“And...what will it cost?”

Oh, it won’t cost you a thing. All I ask is that you raze this castle and stamp out the royal line. You can do what you like after that.

“All right,” said the Hero. “I’ll do what you ask. Just give me power!”

Ha ha ha... the voice laughed. Then our contract is sealed.

“And now, I will finally, finally have the strength I need!” The Hero began laughing maniacally. “Mwa ha... MWA HA HA HA HA!”

“L-Lord Hero?” All Tsuya had heard was the Hero muttering to himself until he suddenly burst into laughter. But now, there was a voice entering her mind as well.

A fine offering. I believe I will take this body for myself.

“What?!” Tsuya panicked, but only for a second before her mind went black. Her thoughts vanished. She went limp, her head drooping, but in a second she raised it up again.

“Hmm... How many centuries has it been since I lived in a body...?” The dark consciousness that had possessed Tsuya’s body twisted her lips into a sneer and faced the Golden-Haired Hero. “That being said, these clothes aren’t exactly my style.” She examined the outfit Tsuya had been wearing—a dress that exposed rather a lot of her body. Screwing up her face, she snapped her fingers. Tsuya’s dress turned to smoke and transformed itself into a black bodysuit with an attached miniskirt, and a black cape. “Yeah,” she nodded. “This’ll do.”

“Now,” she said, turning her attention back to the Hero. “O Golden-Haired Hero, by the power of my black arts, let’s give you a more fitting form, shall we?”

The hero screamed, but his voice already sounded more like a monster roaring as his body began to change. He grew and grew to enormous size, golden fur covering his face. From his right and left hands he sprouted giant claws. He had the head of an evil-looking ram, the body of a bear, and the tail of a serpent. There were great curved talons on his hands and feet. He was, in all senses, a monster.

The thing in Tsuya’s body cackled evilly as she glanced at the Hero-beast behind her. “Then let’s be off, my darling Monster Hero! We must punish the fools of this castle for locking me away. They will taste the wrath of the Grand Magus of Midnight, Damalynas the Apricot!”

◇Klyrode Castle—Throne Room◇

The Princess was struck silent when she heard the news. “And now...Damalynas is back?”

Damalynas the Apricot. The Grand Magus of Midnight. Long ago she had reigned as the strongest magic user in the Magical Kingdom of Klyrode. But in her quest for power she fell to the temptations of a demon and turned to the black magic of the Forbidden Book of the Underworld. In doing so, she was lost to the darkness.

She went wild, drunk on demonic power. But, at the cost of many lives, the mages of Klyrode Castle were able to rob her of her body and seal her consciousness inside a gem. The gem was hidden in the deepest part of the castle sanctuary.

“But how could that be? How could she have broken the seal?” The Princess touched her hand to her lips, deep in thought. “Perhaps its power was weakened from the energy backlash when the djinn was released...”

“Your Highness!” said an aide. “We need to evacuate immediately! Damalynas is coming this way—she means to destroy the castle!”

The Princess was unwilling. “I won’t run away! Assemble our armies at once and—”

“We can’t! Most of our knights are stationed at our fortresses in case the Dark Army attacks! There are almost none left in the castle itself! And most of our mages are still bedridden with magic exhaustion from casting Purification! At present, we have nothing in the castle with which to resist Damalynas...” The color drained from the Princess’s face at those words.

“Your Highness,” said a guard, “let us retreat for the time being. We can attempt to gather our forces from the field after and see if we have any means to strike her down.”

She thought it over for a second and nodded. “A-All right...” she said and rose to her feet. She departed from the throne room, protected by an impromptu escort.

◇Some Time Later◇

“Where are we?” the princess muttered, glancing around uneasily. She had escaped the castle along with a number of knights and mages. Fortunately, there were some who had recovered enough magic power to cast Teleportation.

“We are outside the city of Houghtow, west of Klyrode Castle,” said a mage. “Hopefully evacuating here will buy us some time.” The Princess looked at her surroundings again as she listened. “I’m very sorry, Your Highness... If we had more magic power, we could have taken you further from the castle...” The mages bowed. They all looked rather pale and sickly. Casting Teleportation had been a dicey prospect in itself.

“There’s no need for apologies,” the Princess said. “That you were able to take us this far is enough. Guards, prioritize the defense of the mages.”

“Yes, Your Highness!” The knights moved as one to cover the magic users.

The Princess continued. “We should enter the city proper. We are far too visible in the open.” Her entourage wasted no time. The group took off at a run for the checkpoint at the city gates. But it was too late.

Found yoouu! The Princess could feel the dark consciousness in her mind as the words entered her brain directly. Not one of you is going to escape me. A black gash opened in the sky, the Golden-Haired Hero in all his monstrous glory visible inside. Damalynas, in Tsuya’s body, was riding on his back, arms folded contemptuously as she looked down on the Princess and her guards. She laughed cruelly. “Mwa ha ha! Now... Surrender your lives to me! All of you!” The guards and Princess could only watch in fear as the Hero began to tear his way out of the rift in the sky, abject despair on their faces.

Suddenly, the black gash closed with a snap. “Who dares?” said Damalynas. And then she was gone. At the same time, the Princess heard a voice coming from behind her. She turned to look and saw a man, accompanied by a woman affectionately clinging to him.

“So Rys, got any preferences for where we eat today once I’m done with business?” said the man.

“Not especially,” said the woman. “I would be happy to eat anywhere you choose, my love.” The pair—Flio and Rys—continued happily chatting as they headed towards the city gates. On their way, they passed the Princess’s entourage, who were still standing dumbfounded.

“Oh, good afternoon,” he said, greeting them casually as he continued on into the city.

◇Inside Klyrode Castle◇

“How... What even happened?” Damalynas sat where she had landed, undignified and on her butt. She was utterly baffled. Beside her, the Hero in his beast form was also sprawled out, having landed awkwardly on the floor.

Damalynas had made her way up through the castle from the underground sanctuary, destroying everything in her path until she reached the throne room. She found it empty. The King must have fled. “It was the royal family who ordered me to be sealed away,” she said. “I won’t forgive them! Nor their descendants! Nor their successors!”

She scanned the area with sensor magic, and found the traces of their escape route. It was easy to pinpoint the destination of their Teleportation spell, and she appeared outside Houghtow with a Teleportation spell of her own. However, when she arrived she found her magic blocked by a powerful force. The gate closed shut, depositing her and the Hero back where they came from.

So there are still magic users in this world capable of such an absurd feat? she thought. Fascinating... Damalynas stood up, grinning and undaunted. “It takes a lot of guts to make a fool of Damalynas,” she said, making her way to the monstrous Hero. “I’ll make them pay for that with their life!”

◇Houghtow City◇

The Princess and her entourage dashed through the streets of Houghtow. “We have to find those two from earlier!” she commanded. Her knights saluted, scanning the area for any sign of them. As soon as the Princess realized that it must have been Flio and Rys who stopped Damalynas from appearing, she had stopped standing around dazed at the spectacle of the Grand Magus being repelled like it was nothing and began to pursue the pair into the city. She was exhausted. Her whole body was covered in sweat, and she was gasping for breath as she ran. We need to hurry... We need to find them before Damalynas comes after us again! I don’t know who those people are, but I’m sure it was they who...

“Y-Your Highness! Look!” One of her knights raised his voice. He was pointing into the sky. The Princess, her companions, and even the passersby who happened to be in the area followed his gaze. There in the sky they could see the monstrous form of the transformed Hero. It seemed he had sprouted giant wings from his back. He was coursing straight towards them like a bird, moving at a ridiculous speed. In no time at all he had reached Houghtow, and landed right in front of the Princess.

Damalynas jumped down from the Hero’s back and approached. “Can’t stop me with magic when I just take to the skies, can you? You got off easy last time, but don’t think you can escape me.” The Princess froze, robbed of her hope. Seeing the despair in her eyes, Damalynas cracked a joyful grin. “Oh, that’s a nice face you’re making. Bit of a shame to send you to your grave looking like that, though.” She extended her right arm in the Princess’s direction. A magic circle appeared before the palm of her hand. “Is this the end of our little game? In your next life, take care to—”

“Stay away from Her Highness!” The knights escorting her charged the Grand Magus, blades drawn.

“Excuse me!” shouted Damalynas. “Can’t you see we’re getting to the good part?” She turned her hand away from the Princess to point at them. A shockwave rippled outward from her hand, sending the knights flying back with a calamitous “Waaaaaaaaaah!”

“And now it’s your turn.” Damalynas licked her lips as she turned back to face the Princess.

◇ ◇ ◇

While Damalynas was preparing to deliver the coup de grâce, a noisy scene was playing out on the street corner where the knights she had blown away had landed. “Mistress,” said Hiya, checking on Rys. “Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine. But...Hiya, what are you doing here? Weren’t you at home?”

“There was a surge of evil energy in this city. I hurried over the moment I sensed it in case I was needed.”

Hiya had easily stopped the knights’ flight in midair. Now she was standing between them and Rys. Rys had been standing outside the shop where Flio was conducting his business talks, waiting for him to finish, when without warning a group of knights came flying at her with incredible force. The knights were wearing heavy armor, and they were moving through the air at a very high speed. All in all, each of them had about the same force as a cannonball. If they had hit a building, it would have almost certainly crushed everyone inside. Even Rys would have probably been injured if they had happened to hit her.

And so, Hiya had stopped them, materializing at the last second and casually flicking her wrist, halting them in midair. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that Rys was unhurt as the knights clattered to the ground. They lay there, thoroughly unconscious.

Hiya glanced at Damalynas. Her eyes were too narrow to be sure if they were open or shut, but now they seemed to flicker with a strange light. “Mistress,” she said. “Do I have your permission to remove this loathsome woman who placed you in harm’s way?”

“I suppose so,” answered Rys. “She’s still attacking people, after all. Can you take care of her before my husband finishes his business?”

“Your wish is my command.” Hiya bowed deeply to Rys and turned, stepping towards Damalynas.

Once again Damalynas found herself interrupted as she prepared to attack the Princess. “And who might you be? Another busybody who dares to face Damalynas?”

“I do not know if I am a busybody,” said Hiya, “but you endangered the wife of my master, the Exalted One. I have come to remove you.”

Damalynas squinted indignantly at her with one eye. “Are you serious?! Remove the Damalynas, the Grand Magus of Midnight? By yourself? Gimme a break!” She pointed her arm at the djinn, ready to release her magic. “You’ll have plenty of time to regret picking a fight with me in Hell!”

Damalynas chanted, and a burst of magic issued from the magic circle in front of her hand: the highest form of the spell Lightning Bullet. Lightning, overwhelmingly powerful, surged towards Hiya...and the next moment, it vanished. Hiya was still standing there unhurt, as calm as ever. Damalynas drew back unconsciously. “Y-You... How did you—that was top-tier magic!”

“There is no magic in the world that will affect me,” said Hiya, the very corners of her lips turning up into a small smile. “Excepting only the magic of Lord Flio, the Exalted One.”

Damalynas clicked her tongue in annoyance. That woman... I can’t deny that she doesn’t seem to be an ordinary person. Claiming immunity to spells must be a bluff, but she did counter my black magic... “Then how about this!” she said as the Hero-beast roared and dove at Hiya.

“Ah,” said Hiya, with an air of impassive exasperation. “Your magic fails so you resort to might. How dull.”

“Hmph! Don’t think that’s all I have up my sleeve!” said Damalynas. An array of Fire Lance spells appeared all around the Hero, flying murderously towards Hiya as the Hero bore down from the sky. “It’s a little harder to deal with might and magic together, isn’t it?” She laughed loudly, sure of her victory.

But Hiya just continued to stare blankly back at her. “Can we be done with this foolishness?” she said. She raised her hand, facing her palm towards the Hero and the fire flying towards her. A powerful cyclone rose from the ground, swallowing up the Hero as the Fire Lances simply vanished. The Hero was sent flying, then landed in a heap behind Damalynas.

“What...?” Damalynas was aghast. She began to tremble fearfully as she looked at Hiya. “Who... What are you?”

“My name is Hiya,” she said, bowing politely. “I am the djinn who commands the origin of light and darkness, servant of Lord Flio the Exalted One.”

At that name, the color drained from Damalynas’s face. I know of her... She’s the legendary djinn, the supreme master of all light and darkness magic... They say that no spells a human can cast will work on her. She shook her head violently. “No, no, no! It can’t be! It just can’t! Even if it’s true, I am the one who has transcended the limits of human reason! I am the Grand Magus of Midnight! I am Damalynas! I will not be defeated!” She raised her voice to a shout as she sent a dark aura out from both her arms. It enveloped the fallen Hero and seemed to absorb into his body. The Hero’s monstrous form was already enormous, but he started to grow larger and larger as he stood back on his feet, roaring so violently that it seemed to shake the heavens.

Deep in the bowels of this planet there existed an abyss known as the Dark World. Damalynas now drew on its power, forcibly claiming it for herself and pouring it into the Hero’s transformed body. “Perhaps, djinn, you are a being beyond humankind. But I have gone beyond human wisdom! I will show you why I am permitted to bear the title ‘Grand Magus of Midnight’!” With her beast behind her, Damalynas cackled.

But Hiya remained unaffected, her expression unchanged. “Humans have a lot to say when they’re terrified, it seems,” she said, spreading both arms wide. “That being said, you are a little tougher than most. I may have to show you a little of—”

Suddenly, Flio’s voice came from behind her. “Hiya,” he said, “I’m done with work. Ready to get going?”

Damalynas glared at the intruder. “A common human! You think you can get in my way?!”

“I’m not trying to get in your way,” he said. “But you know, it’s dangerous to use magic like that in a crowded city.” He held out his hand and in an instant Damalynas’s black magic ceased entirely. With the flow of magic stopped, the Hero could not maintain his state and gradually began to collapse.

“E-Exalted One!” Hiya fell to the ground, prostrating herself with intense contrition. “Please forgive your wretched, incompetent servant! For failing to take care of this pest before you returned, I deserve to die ten thousand deaths! Punish me however you see fit!”

“Hey, hey,” said Flio, pulling her to her feet and forcing a smile. “There’s no need for all that.”

Damalynas was frozen with terror. No... No way. This can’t be. That was the highest-level black magic... Magic beyond the level a human could ever use. But he dispelled it in an instant. He dismissed the power for which I abandoned humanity like it was nothing... Once again, her body began to shake with fear.

“Exalted One,” said Hiya, “would you be so kind as to allow me to finish this?” She raised her hands over her head, where a great magic circle appeared. “Fall!” she shouted, and the black magic inside the Hero’s and Tsuya’s bodies began to seep out, sucked into Hiya’s circle.

“No...” said Damalynas, but in the same instant her consciousness was sucked out of Tsuya’s body along with her magic. Soon, all that was left was the Golden-Haired Hero, once again in his human body, and Tsuya, released from Damalynas’s control, lying unconscious on the ground. The black magic that was absorbed by Hiya’s circle condensed and became a black gem on the palm of her hand.

“Be honored,” she said. “You shall exist eternally as part of my body—the body of the djinn who commands the origin of light and darkness, servant of Flio the Exalted One.” She swallowed the gem whole.

“Are you done, Hiya?” asked Rys.

Hiya turned to face her, smiling gently. “Yes, Mistress,” she said. “I am truly sorry to have kept you and the Exalted One waiting.”

Flio nodded. “Okay,” he said. “Then let’s see to the injured people and broken buildings, and then get going.” He headed towards a group of people who had been injured in the fight.

The Princess had been standing there the whole time, watching the scene unfold like it was a play. Indeed, she had almost forgotten that what was happening before her eyes was real. Everything happened so fast that she couldn’t keep up with it. But when Flio left her line of sight, she snapped out of her daze. “W-Well, first of all, arrest the Hero! And then we must follow those people!” At her words, the knights (who had been healed by Flio) placed Tsuya and the Hero, still unconscious, under arrest.

One of the knights found Flio and his companions having a meal at a restaurant in the city and reported back to the Princess, who instantly came running. “I thank you from the bottom of my heart,” she said, bowing deeply, “for saving our kingdom from peril. I would like to acknowledge you as the True Hero and invite you to the castle.” She bowed once more.

“Your Highness, it’s really not such a big deal,” said Flio, turning to face her, “but I’m sorry... I don’t think I have what it takes to be a Hero. Besides, my current lifestyle suits me much better.” He put an arm around Rys’s shoulder, pulling her in gently.