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I see...Flio reflected.All these people have such fond memories of this place. It would be a shame to lose it...He glanced over at his wife.Come to think of it, didn’t Rys say something like that too?

He remembered Rys’s words from earlier that day.“At the time, I felt nothing but contempt for their lack of dedication, but since becoming my lord husband’s wife and having children of my own, I believe I have come to somewhat understand those children’s parents. I suppose I just wanted to create some happy memories with our Elinàsze and Garyl and Wyne...”

Flio rested his chin in the palm of his hand, and gave the matter some thought.

◇A Few Days Later—Dark Mountain Pudding Pudding Park◇

“Haah...” Peguilla let out a small sigh as she surveyed the entrance to Dark Mount Pudding Pudding Park.Nobody’s responding to my help wanted notices... Everyone I’ve approached for a loan has said no...and worst of all, we’re hardly getting any guests...

She sighed again and looked up at the sky. Then she saw it—something was flying towards the park. Peguilla couldn’t believe her eyes. “What is...that?” She stared, doubting her senses, as the object drew closer, until she realized it was a giant flying ship. She froze in place as it flew straight for the park entrance and came to a stop, hovering quietly in the air above Peguilla’s head.

A set of stairs extended down from the bottom of the ship and Flio stepped out, smiling his usual easygoing smile and waving hello. “Good afternoon, Miss Peguilla.”

“Y-You’re Flio, the guest from the other day! I-Is that the same ship you flew to the base of the mountain last time, might I ask?”

“Yes, that’s right. I made this ship with some of my companions. It’s an Enchanted Frigate.” Flio stepped off the ladder onto the solid ground and walked up to her. “Miss Peguilla, I’m here today not as a park guest but as the proprietor of the Fli-o’-Rys General Store, to approach you about a business venture.”

“The Fli-o’-Rys General Store... Isn’t that the human store that opened a branch in front of the Dark Citadel?”

“Yes, the very same.” Flio’s smile didn’t waver an inch. Peguilla could only stare, an expression of pure bafflement on her face.

◇Meanwhile, with Hero Gold-Hair...◇

Somewhere in a forest, a single carriage rolled along. It wasn’t pulled by any horse, nor was there anyone sitting in the driver’s seat. Nonetheless, it was moving along the road at a neat clip.

Inside the carriage sat Hero Gold-Hair, shaking his head and muttering, “That really was quite a nasty run-in we had back at Dark Mountain Pudding Pudding Park...”

“I really do apologize for that,” came Aryun Keats’s voice from the ceiling of the carriage. “It was much busier and far more enjoyable the last time I went.”

After all, the carriage was none other than one of the forms of the carriage djinn Aryun Keats herself.

“Well, whatever,” said Hero Gold-Hair. “It’s not like you suggested the park out of malice.”

“I am truly relieved to hear you say that...”

“By the way, Aryun, darling,” said Valentine. “What other sorts of vehicles can you transform into?”

“An excellent question, Madame Valentine!” replied Keats. “I have lived for longer than you might guess from looking at me, and in that time, I have obtained the data for a prodigious variety of vehicles. In addition to carriages, I can take the form of all sorts of ships and war machines, up to and including an Enchanted Frigate!”

“An Enchanted Frigate?!” asked the rest of the party.

“Those are extraordinarily rare, even in my old homeworld, the Realm of Evil!” exclaimed Valentine.

“Indeed!” said Keats. “But I had occasion to lay my hands on such a vessel, and now I can transform into one should I have need!”

“Hm,” Hero Gold-Hair grunted. “I take it that this Enchanted Frigate isn’t the kind of boat that floats on water?”

“Well deduced, Sir Hero Gold-Hair!” Keats answered. “The Enchanted Frigate is a ship that sails through the sky!”

“Wooow!” Tsuya cried, clasping her hands together. “That sounds amaaaazing! Sailing through the sky in an Enchaaanted Frigate...” Her eyes lit up at the thought.

“Leave it to me!” said Keats. “Just one second!” No sooner had the words left her mouth than the carriage began to change shape. Only the seats of Hero Gold-Hair and the rest of the party remained solid as everything around them shifted and transformed. “Transformation complete! Now, let us take to the sky!” Now in the form of an Enchanted Frigate, Aryun Keats ascended upwards at tremendous speed.

Hero Gold-Hair looked out the window and gasped in awe. “Well! This really is quite something!”

“An excellent view!” agreed Riliangiu.

Aryun Keats the Enchanted Frigate flew higher and higher into the air for a while before Wuha Gappoli spoke up. “Um... Keats?”

“Yes? What is it, Madame Wuha?”

Wuha’s expression was strangely dark. “Sooo...” she began. “Weren’t you just telling me the other day that flying as the Enchanted Frigate uses up a ton of magic power?”

“Oh yes!” said Keats. “Now that you mention it, that’s true!”

“What?!” the party’s eyes shot open with belated realization. Then, a second later, a tremendous rumbling sound filled the frigate, sounding just like that of an empty stomach.

“It’s an emergency!” Aryun Keats reported. “I seem to have run out of magic power!”

“Whaaaat?!” Tsuya cried, looking out the window in utter terror. “K-Keeeats! We’re reeeally high up!”

“Oh no!” lamented Keats. “I wanted to show everyone my cool side, but I ended up going too far! Tee-hee!”

“Don’t you ‘tee-hee’ at us!” said Gold-Hair. “D-Do something!”

“Oh, I really, really wish I could...”

Suddenly, the Enchanted Frigate began to plummet towards the ground at an alarmingly high speed. Inside, Hero Gold-Hair’s party let out a scream.

“Sir Hero Gold-Hair...” Keats asked. “Where would you like me to crash?”

“Don’t crash at all! Land this thing properly!”

“Well, I don’t know... I’m not sure I’ll be able to do that!”

Soon, Aryun Keats’s Enchanted Frigate form came crashing down in the same forest she had started from.

◇Later Still—Fli-o’-Rys Dark Citadel Branch Store◇

The Fli-o’-Rys Dark Citadel Branch Store opened at five o’clock in the morning and operated late into the night. It was nearly closing time one night when a demon woman stepped into the store.

Gekiduta, the daruma oni manning the store, greeted the new customer. “Oh, if it isn’t Lady Belianna! Your tasks are finally complete, then?” Because of its long hours of operation, the workers at the branch store were divided into two shifts, and thus Uliminas had hired many demons to staff the store.

“Yeah,” said Belianna, raising her right hand in a stiff greeting as she made for the drink corner in the back of the shop. “It’s been a damned hell of a time out there.”What a damned hunt that was,she thought.We chased that damned magic beast all over the damned place. I’m damned exhausted.She grabbed five bottles of her go-to recovery drink and brought them to the register.

“Five WJ Super Recovery Drinks! Many thanks!” Gekiduta bagged the items and placed them on the register as Belianna grabbed her purse out of her Bottomless Bag. “You really are fond of the WJ brand, aren’t you, Lady Belianna?”

“Damned right I am!” Belianna said with a grin. “Just seeing the logo blasts away every bit of my damned fatigue!”

The WJ brand was given to goods that met the approval of the Wolf of Justice, the mercenary who worked only for the Fli-o’-Rys General Store. The Wolf of Justice had roundly defeated demon after demon, time and time again, until demons everywhere began to develop a profound respect for the man. Some of them even worshipped the Wolf of Justice.

Uliminas, who had a shrewd eye for these sorts of developments, had come up with an ingenious plan—one that made her exclaim, “That’s purrfect!”when it was first conceived. And so, the WJ brand had been born.

Belianna picked up her purchase. “All right,” she said. “I’m gonna go home, drink these things in one shot, and feel damned... Hm?” Something caught her attention. Her eyes flicked to a large poster on the wall behind the register.

When Gekiduta noticed where Belianna was looking, he smiled cordially and launched into a scripted speech. “Oh, that? Fli-o’-Rys and Dark Mountain Pudding Pudding Park are holding a festival in commemoration of their new partnership. Students from the human College of Magic in Houghtow City will be in attendance, and there will be entertainment in the form of...”

Belianna suddenly interrupted his speech, grabbing Gekiduta firmly by the neck. “I-I don’t give a damn about some performance for kids!” she said. “Th-That!” With her free hand, she pointed to something written in the very corner of the poster. “I-I-Is that true?! A-About the talk show?!”

“Y-Yes, my lady!” Gekiduta choked out. “H-He’s on an exclusive mercenary contract with the Fli-o’-Rys General Store, after all...”

Belianna wasted no time. She retrieved the purse she had just put away from her Bottomless Bag. “A ticket!” she barked, slamming a fistful of cash down on the counter. “Give me a damned ticket to the Wolf of Justice’s damned talk show!”

Belianna had faced the Wolf of Justice in combat, and had found herself utterly helpless before him. She’d begun training to defeat him, but over time, her admiration for his overwhelming power had grown beyond respect or even mere worship. It was as if she were passionately in love with the Wolf of Justice.

Naturally, that was the real reason she purchased so many WJ-branded items as well.

◇Even More Days Later—Dark Mountain Pudding Pudding Park◇

The carriage parking area at the foot of the mountain was packed with vehicles, near overflowing. Before, customers would have made the rest of the trip in a skull dragon gondola, but now, the path up the mountain to the park had finally been completed. In their centaur forms, Sleip’s underlings pulled carriage after carriage full of guests up the mountain.

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Peguilla stood by the ticket station at the gate, along with a number of shadow demons from the Fli-o’-Rys supply team, greeting each guest with a smile. Past the gates were rows of food stalls, where yet more shadow demons were busily cooking up food and handing it over to the customers. The shadow demons had been honing their culinary technique under Rys’s watchful eyes, and now had a prodigious degree of skill.

The broken Ferris wheel was running again with a generous application of Hiya’s magic, while Sleip’s underlings were stationed in the unicorn building in their demon horse forms, letting customers ride on their backs. Meanwhile, Damalynas, the Grand Magus of Midnight herself, had summoned a crew of ghosts to populate the haunted house. But Flio’s crew hadn’t only reopened the existing attractions—there were new attractions making their first public debut as well. Every single one of them was crowded with eager guests.

As Peguilla watched the renovated park in disbelief, a demon family and their young child passed by in front of her. They were looking every which way, bright smiles on their faces.

“Papa, mama, have you been to Dark Mountain Pudding Pudding Park before?” the child asked.

“Sure!” said the demon father. “Your grandmother took me when I was no bigger than you!”

“I went with my family many, many times...” the mother reminisced. “I thought it had gone out of business a long time ago! I had no idea it was still so crowded!”

Peguilla smiled as she watched them go.The park’s back...she thought.It’s all thanks to Mister Flio—no, rather, the manager of the Fli-o’-Rys General Store...

As she was thinking that, Flio himself appeared before her eyes. “Good work today, Miss Peguilla,” he said. “I’m glad we were able to get this many guests.”

“Mister—Mister General Manager, sir!” Peguilla bowed deeply. “I don’t know how I can possibly thank you for all you’ve done. Not only did you give us the funds we need to operate the park, but you also gave us enough to renovate and expand as well! And not only that, but also sending your own employees to work here...!”

“Don’t worry about it!” said Flio, giving Peguilla one of his usual easygoing smiles. “We’re business partners, you know. Helping out is what I’m here for.”

“By the way, Mister Flio, I’ve been meaning to ask...” Peguilla ventured. “Is it truly safe for a human merchant to operate inside Dark Army territory like this? I know humanity and demonkind have that peace treaty now, but...”

“Oh! You have nothing to worry about on that front,” Flio said, pulling out a roll of lambskin parchment. He handed it to Peguilla, who read it over.

“This...” she said. “You have official permission from the Dark One Lord Dawkson himself?!”

◇Dark Citadel—Throne Room◇

In the Dark Citadel’s throne room, the Dark One Dawkson sat on the ground in front of his throne. He refused to sit on it, having declared that he “still hadn’t earned his place as Dark One.”

When Dawkson had reigned as Dark One before under the name Yuigarde, he would recline back in his throne, legs spread wide with an air of ultimate self-conceit. His current self hardly seemed like the same person at all.

“Master Dawkson.” Dawkson’s minion Phufun pressed her glasses up against the ridge of her nose. “Do you truly think it was wise to allow the Fli-o’-Rys General Store to partner with Dark Mountain Pudding Pudding Park? Itisa human business, after all...”

Dawkson nodded. “I wouldn’t worry about it!” he declared. “Fli-o’-Rys helped Calsi’im out a ton when back when he was Dark Regent, and nothin’ bad happened to demons when it did business in our territory. Besides, the demons have already accepted Fli-o’-Rys.”

“It is as the Dark One says, Lady Phufun.” The devil Zanzibar, one of the Infernal Four, spoke from his position to the side of the Dark One. Zanzibar had once led a rebellion against Yuigarde, who had ruled demonkind through pure force. However, Calsi’im, who had been serving as Dark Regent at the time, had joined forces with the Wolf of Justice to defeat him. Afterwards, Dark One Dawkson pardoned his crimes and made him one of the Infernal Four. Zanzibar had been working himself to the bone night and day since then, out of a sense of obligation to live up to the expectations placed on his release.

“What do you mean by that, Lord Zanzibar?” asked Phufun, adjusting her glasses again. “There are many demons who think poorly of our peace treaty with the Magical Kingdom of Klyrode, the largest of the human kingdoms. What if this is the spark that incites them...?”

“Indeed,” Zanzibar admitted. “If it were any other human store, I would expect demons to riot. However, if it is Fli-o’-Rys, there should be no problem. Fli-o’-Rys has a contract with the Wolf of Justice, after all.”

Phufun nodded pensively. “I see... Many demonsdorespect or even admire the Wolf of Justice. You’re saying they will permit it because of the store’s connection to him...”

Dawkson looked over to the spot in the throne room reserved for the Infernal Four. Right now, Zanzibar was the only one in attendance. “Belianna’s off today?”

“Yes, Master,” said Phufun. “She hadn’t missed a day of work since being appointed to her station, so I decided to allow it.”

“All right,” grunted Dawkson. “I’ll leave her area to you, then.”

“As you command.” Phufun bowed deeply.

As they were speaking, Coqueshtti, the little mad scientist girl wearing a light pink outfit, quivered and shook where she stood beside Zanzibar. She had been summoned to appear in the throne room that day, and had been jittery with nerves the whole time, repeating, “Awawa! Wh-Whatever could I have done...?”

But what Dawkson said was, “Hey, you! You’re now a member of the Infernal Four. Look forward to working with ya!” Once she calmed down somewhat, he gave a more detailed explanation. “You’ve been looking after hurt demons for a long time as one of Phufun’s underlings, haven’t you? The way I figure it, that makes you a better choice for the Infernal Four than anyone. And between Zanzibar and Belianna and you, that brings us up to three!”

I-I couldn’tpossiblyrefuse after the Dark One himself said such things!Coqueshtti thought, clutching her oversized syringe in her arms and shaking furiously.B-B-But I’m just a little girl! I can’t be one of the Dark Army’s Infernal Four! It’s m-m-much too scary for me! I-I-I’ll have to ask him if he won’t please reconsider...She looked over at Dawkson, sitting in front of the throne with his powerful body and fierce-looking face. She could only hold her gaze for a second before she turned away in fear.M-M-Maybe I’ll do it some other time...

◇Back at Dark Mountain Pudding Pudding Park◇

“And with that, let’s hope today is the beginning of a long and fruitful partnership!” Flio said, smiling as always. “Now, I should go get the stage ready...”

“Yes!” agreed Peguilla. Grinning, she turned to face the swell of guests coming towards the gates. “And I will do my best not to be outdone by you, Mister Flio—er...General Manager, sir!”

◇That Evening◇

A return carriage made its way down the path from Dark Mountain Pudding Pudding Park and arrived at the foot of the mountain. Out stepped Belianna, off-duty today, wearing not her usual revealing costume, but a short-sleeved shirt and a pair of jeans. She donned glasses as well, all so that nobody there would recognize her as the Infernal Belianna.

Belianna had a dopey smile on her face as she stepped down from the carriage. Her breath was coming out hot and steamy. She looked like she had just experienced pure bliss. “Eh heh...” she giggled. “Eh heh heh... The Wolf of Justice’s talk show was so damned good...”

That afternoon, Belianna had attended the talk show event hosted by none other than the Wolf of Justice. Just remembering it made her face go slack with joy. She clutched a commemorative crystal she had gotten which would project an image of her hugging the Wolf of Justice to her chest, face bright red. She had, of course, stayed after the talk show for a photo session with the Wolf of Justice.

That was the best...she thought.The best damned moment of my life...

◇Meanwhile—Dark Mountain Pudding Pudding Park◇

Dark Mountain Pudding Pudding Park had closed its gates for the day, but there was still a good-sized crowd in front of the entrance.

“I had a great time today!” Garyl said, grinning next to his assembled friends. Volunteers from the students at the Houghtow College of Magic had performed songs and stage plays for the event celebrating the partnership between Dark Mountain Pudding Pudding Park and the Fli-o’-Rys General Store. They had all worked hard, and even managed to get a round of warm applause from the demons who had come only to see the Wolf of Justice’s talk show.

“I was worried at first, but I’m glad so many demon guests came to watch us in the end!” said Elinàsze, smiling brightly.

“All’s well that ends well, I suppose?” Rislei said, nodding happily.

Salina, however, had a complicated expression on her face. “Maybe I’m imagining things, but it seemed like there were rather a lot ofinsectsswarming about my lord Garyl today...” She took Garyl by the arm and huffed, pouting.

She had her reasons for feeling that way. The guests who had come to watch the show—and especially the women—couldn’t get enough of Garyl. Some of them even took to catcalling him.

“Look at that boy! He’s such a pretty thing, isn’t he!”

“I wonder if he’d go out with me...”

“Please! Just one cup of tea!”

“I don’t mind!” said Garyl, still grinning cheerfully. “Everyone was having fun, after all!”

“Well, I suppose...” Salina said, nodding reluctantly. Garyl patted the girl reassuringly on the head.

Irystiel kept her distance, merely watching the group.

“Hey, Irystiel,” said Garyl. “What’s wrong?”

“Oh, it’s just...” Irystiel made her plush cat say with ventriloquism, “Irystiel’s sister Belianna isn’t here...”

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Irystiel and Belianna were half-sisters. Belianna was a pure devil, while Irystiel was half-devil and half-human. She had been attending a human school to avoid persecution from the other demons. Irystiel had performed a song and acted onstage today, while Belianna had been in the park. They had promised to go home together after it was finished, but Belianna had gotten too worked up after the photo session with the Wolf of Justice and forgot herself entirely, going down the mountain on her own.

“I’m sure Irystiel’s big sister is waiting for her,” Garyl said, giving her a big grin.

“Yes,” agreed Elinàsze. “I believe papa will be back soon too. When he gets here, shall we go looking for your sister together?”

The children spent a bit more time lingering in front of the park, chatting and laughing merrily into the night.