Argh~ I don't feel so good...

My back is stinging me...Not to mention my head..ouch..Huh?

I opened my eyes immediately as I heard some men talking about me and the Demon Lady. And the last word got me to be angry once more as I yelled while clenching my fists.

"Where the heck is she?! That damn demon is gonna pay for this! Ah! Ouch, ouch ouch!"

Damn! That woman's strength...I can't believe I was humiliated in front of my people. I must find her...if I know where the Demon Lord's castle is...

I looked around, realising that I was still in bed with my back, my head, and my abdomen bandaged. The most important thing I was doing is searching my belongings; though to be fair, my sword was cut in half and my shield was thrown far away that I forgot to plan to find it later on. The most stupid thing that led to my defeat was forgetting to wear my armor before I initiate my challenge to her.

"Oh, Mister Hero! Are you alright?" said one of the men who's the pub owner and who was being friendly with that damn demon earlier on.

"Oh-ho~ If it isn't the pub owner who's being lovey-dovey with that damn demon?" I replied with a deep grudge though he should had known that every bandage I had on me is saying:

OF COURSE I'M NOT ALRIGHT, YOU SENILE GEEZER!

And the feeling of my backbone having a crack again got me yelping in pain...Ouch!

Or maybe someone's magic is making me feel more pain than usual...

"Uhm, Mister Hero? I know my boys and I don't want to upset you any further, but the humble lady left you this bottled message."

I was rearranging my own thoughts as the pub owner showed me a green glass bottle with a roll of paper inside it. Somehow the paper was glowing inside that it made me hesitate to open it, especially when it was from that demon lady.

Nevertheless, I needed to know if this message was her declaration of war against me and the whole world of Branshire. Since she must be the Demon Lord's daughter, she must be The Demon Princess. Yes! She must be doing this to take over Branshire. Without a minute's hesitation, I opened the bottle. Immediately, the light glowed brighter and it somehow came out of the bottle, in a blue flame. Every man, including me, in the room was shielding their eyes from the luminous light until we heard a pop above the bottle. We opened our eyes to see an odd-looking fella...well I'm not sure it's a boy or girl but it looks like a simple-looking, tiny black ghost wearing a black cloak. Its body's outline was glowing dimly in a silver color. The ghost could have fit in the palm of my hands.

"Is that a ghost?" asked one of the men. "This creature looks familiar..."

"Ah!", the pub owner replied. "It's a Will-O-Wisp. She told me that they're benevolent enough to be your guide, Mister Hero."

The word "guide" got my head nearly spinning as I asked him about his ridiculous explanation of a wimpy ghost being my companion trip. Then, I heard a woman's voice coming from the glowing paper, which scared the heck out of me. I recognized that voice and it turned out to be the damned demon's monotone voice.

"Hello, to whoever is listening. I shouldn't keep my hopes up for that dumb-looking Plank to understand what I'm about to say here. So if anyone is beside him, please translate for him as simple as you can."

Huh?! What damn right does she have to call me "dumb" like that?! I'm chosen because of my high-level intelligence, you damn...

"Anyways, Willow, who should be hovering beside you now, will take you to a shortcut to the castle I'm staying at."

Castle? Does she mean..!

"You promised that you'll slay me, Plank. I hope you'll say nice things to Willow because she's going through a sensitive phase at the moment. Guess I'll be expecting you in a week's time. Just don't get impatient along the way. Use your brain more often. See you then."

And that concluded the rolled paper's message as it turned into dust inside the bottle. Refusing to believe her ridiculous words, I yelled "Don't screw with me, you damn Demon Lady!" so loud that I noticed the wispy ghost had tears in its white-dot eyes. Then, it cried in the most high-pitched voice that it was shaking the whole building we were at.

The worst part was my ears are hurting from its cries that I covered them as tight as I could with my hands. The men beside me were also in agony, covering their ears the way I did except for the pub owner. He's got good hearing strength because he grabbed the ghost and held it in his arms, making a cradle for it. He was saying comforting words like it was his own child.

"Now, there, there. It's okay. He wasn't angry with you. He's being sensitive about your friend there. So can you stop crying and be a good girl?"

Girl?? This ghost REALLY has a gender?!

"Old Man, I'm not trusting this...thin...I mean creature. And shouldn't WE be cautious about the Demon Lady? You know what? I can't think anymore. My head hurts..."

"Speaking about the kind lady, you should know she paid a great amount for your recovery payment and my renovation. Though it was just the table that was broken."

"Okay, Old Man. BUT that doesn't mean I can trust that demon. She's an enemy I must defeat. I'm leaving now...though I'm still feeling the sores...Ouch, ouch.."

"Let Willow heal you a little. She may not heal you completely, but at least she'll stop the pain for you at least for a few days. Go on, Willow."

The ghost hovered towards me, placing it..I mean HER hands on my head. A glowing light outlined my entire body for a few seconds and when it faded away, I couldn't feel any muscle pain. I felt much better that I didn't have to move slowly when I changed and put on a clean complete set of white clothes and my full armor.

"Alright. Then I... uhm... I mean WE'LL be off then."

"Okay, Mister Hero. Be nice to Willow at all times."

The pub owner and his men saw me off and despite waving goodbye to me, I wasn't in the mood to greet them back. All I could focus now was my back-up plan if I were to be attacked again at that castle. Speaking of it, Willow had gone quiet once we left Tolldon's main gate. I followed as close as I could since I had no clues regarding that castle's location.

Even throughout the journey, she remained calm even if there was a mild storm around the next day. The next few days were enduring as I had to scavenge for edible berries and fish and water in the Greenshore Forest. To think I once wished I became a temporary ghost since Willow never had to eat or drink. All she needed was an early nap every night. The last few days were the most fearsome ones I have endured in which a few of them involved harsh storms. I was thankful that they weren't hailstorms that occur regularly this winter in this forest and around Tolldon.

And here I am. The seventh day. Willow and I have just gotten out of the Greenshore Forest. I am about to faint from my panting and the fatigue of a few days' starvation. A few metres away stands a scary-looking castle on top of the hills edge in front of me. Finally, it must be the Demon Lord's castle! I'm overwhelmed with endless joy that I start to shout with all my might that my voice echoes gives all kinds of animals a jump scare.

"I FINALLY MADE IT! HURRAY!!!"

I nearly forget about Willow that when I turn around, she has disappeared. I guess it meant a Will-O-Wisp's duty is done. Several metres along the pathway and I have arrived at the castle's entrance being on full alert. I knock on its steel door a few times but no one is answering. A minute has passed by and that gets me worked up as I'm losing my patience. I shout my warning to her that I intend to break her door down at this moment. There's no answer, and alas I cut that steel door into tiny little bits with my sword which I have fixed it with my Reconnect Ability before I left for the journey.

Once broken down, I march and search every door I can find. Most of them being made out of wood that it's easy for me to kick them, but I'm still having trouble finding her. In fact, the castle sounds so quiet; Only the crows are making some noise outside around the castle. I notice some exotic artifacts that suits a demon's personality, especially that BIG Venus Flytrap growing on a table at the dining room. Nonetheless, I dash across the hallways while calling her: "Where the heck are you, Demon Lady?"

"Wh...who...who's there?"

I stop my tracks once I've heard those words. It isn't her as this voice sounds too young, if not, a timid aura is heard in that kind of voice. It seems to be coming from another steel door with flower patterns nearly covering it. Without wasting any time, I blast the door with one of my greatest sword techniques.

"LIGHTNING SLASH!!"

With a big boom and smoke cloaking the entire room from my sword technique, I get myself ready, pointing my sword at a silhouette figure who's letting out a whimpering voice.

"So there you are!! Well even if you're not the damn Demon Lady, tell me where she is right now, minion!"

"Wa...wa...wait! Wait! I can explain! I didn't know Big Sis has defeated you, Great Hero."

Once the smoke is cleared out, I can see who it is. It's a short boy looking like he's around 13 years old. He looks like any regular demon but his pink hair is irregular where it looks almost like in the shape of a bowl. He has two horns pointing slightly upwards; each one on each of his forehead's sides.

Come to think of it, that woman didn't have any horns. She looks too human when the cloak came off...but now...

"Uhm...is that a pink dress you're wearing? And did you say Big Sis??"

Suddenly, the gravity in the room is pulling me to the ground. I've lost my holding of my sword as I got pulled downwards even more. My body is getting heavier that I've a hard time saying "ouch". Not to mention my armor is forcing me to feel its heaviness. Then, a non-human, mechanical-feeling type of voice is heard across the room.

"You are insulting Master Ranjō's clothing preferences, Intruder. You'll be on the ground for three hours."

"Wh~what! Argh! Hey kid!! Control your... whatever this is!! Ouch!"

"Oh... right! Mister Security, I'm fine in taking his comment so please let him go. I promise he won't hurt me."

Once the demon kid has finished his pleading the invisible mechanical creature, it agrees and apologises to him; hence, it lets me go as I'm able to stand up again. Once I catch my breath, I grab my sword to point to him again. Just for once I really need to know her location...

"Hey, kid! You better answer me immediately. Don't you dare stutter with your wimpy attitude!!"

"Ah! Uhm...uh..yes, sir. I mean Mister Hero! But...but... what do you...you...want to know?"

"Isn't it obvious? Your Big Sis must have told you about me and her fight with me. It seems that I wasn't at my best condition so I'm here to challenge her again. Now! Tell me where she is!"

"Well... that's... complicated..."

"How so? Heck! Do you even know when she's coming back to this castle?"

"About...that..Big Sis has left this world."

My eyes widen like I'm hearing the worst rumor I've ever heard. I'm about to drop my sword once I heard the "LEFT THIS WORLD" part...

"Kid...you meant to say she left Branshire? But surely...you meant to say she's at some other country. Now! Tell me the name of that country."

"It's... it's called...Ja-Pan."

"What?How...how do you spell that?"

"J.A.P.A.N.... Ja..pan, sir..."

I drop my sword, making it clatter inside this quiet castle. I don't know what to believe for I've never even heard of that country...