Chapter 1: One Month of Peace
It's been one month since Strom jumped over the cliff.
Now, he lives in a small rented house on the edge of the village. Inside, he has a forge for his personal work, while his main shop is in the village market.
Strom is no longer the Dragon Knight. He left behind the armor, but he kept his sword, still wrapped at the hilt with Angela's scarf. The blade rests quietly inside a wooden chest, never far from him.
By day, Strom repairs tools and forges weapons. By evening, he walks home, eats, and sleeps. The same routine repeats every single day.
To the villagers, Strom is just a young blacksmith with no parents. No one knows his true identity or the battles that scarred him.
Walking home one evening, Strom whispered to himself,
"This is the life... This is the peace." ☮️
One morning, while the village was as quiet as usual, Strom was hammering away at a tool in his forge when he felt someone tap his shoulder.
Voice: "New place, Dragon Knight!"
Strom instantly reacted. His instincts took over as he swung his hammer toward the intruder, but just before it landed, he stopped.
It was Sam.
Strom: "Sam? What are you doing here?"
Sam: "Ah! Just checking if you're still alive."
Strom (smirking): "So... my one and only friend finally showed up."
Sam: "I wanna see this new village. Be my guide."
Strom: "Let's go hang out."
The two wandered through the village streets. Strom explained how he no longer took part in chaos. He didn't fight monsters, chase thieves, or play the hero anymore.
Sam: "So you've really become the silent blacksmith?"
Strom: "Yeah. Totally useless... but sometimes."
Sam: "Ha! A knight can't really retire, huh?"
Strom: "Not until I need a stick to walk."
They laughed, ate together, and shared stories from the past.
Then Strom admitted his little trick.
Strom (explaining): "Whenever a monster falls and the villagers ask what happened... I just tell them a dragon killed it."
Sam: "Dude! You lie every single time... and they actually believe you?"
Strom (grinning): "Yep. Classic lie."
Later that night, Strom walked with Sam until they reached the village boundary.
Sam: "Well... if you ever need anything, I'm here."
Strom: "Bro... that's kinda gay."
Pure silence.
Even the wind stopped moving.
Strom (awkwardly): "...But appreciated."
Sam: "F you, man!"
Strom (laughing): "Thanks. See you later."
And the two of them walked back toward their own villages.
Chapter 2: New Roommate
For once, it was just evening... then, in the blink of an eye, it was already night.
On his way home, Strom spotted an old merchant selling jewelry. His eyes locked onto a silver ring with a blue gem that gleamed beneath the torchlight.
Strom: "Hmm... classic ring. How much?"
Merchant: "Twenty gold coins."
His heart skip a beat, like he just asked for his life as price.
Strom: "TWENTY?! What is this? Blessed by God himself?"
Merchant: "Classic ring, classic price."
Strom: "Are you robbing me, old man?"
Merchant: "Take it or leave it."
Strom: "At least give me a discount!"
Merchant (firm): "This ring was owned by seven different people... and none of them complained about the price anymore."
Strom tried to think positively.
Strom (thinking): "Maybe they got rich and left the ring behind..."
...Even though that made absolutely no sense.
Strom: "Fine..."
Grumbling, he still bought the ring.
Later that same night at his house, after placing it on the table, Strom was about to sleep when a voice echoed through the house.
Voice: "You chose the wrong path, idiot human."
Strom froze, looking around.
No one was there.
Just an unknown voice.
Strom (confused): "...A hidden bitch in my house?"
Voice: "Excuse me?!"
In an instant, a blue aura burst from the ring.
A blue demoness lunged straight at Strom with a dagger aimed for his throat.
But Strom reacted faster.
He caught her wrist and slammed her against the wall.
Strom (calm): "My landlord said no girls allowed... so fuck off."
Wraith: "You don't know how to talk to girls!"
Strom: "Yeah? Like trying to kill someone the first time you meet them is good manners."
Wraith (hissing): "You'll regret this."
In an instant, she dissolved back into the ring.
Strom: "At least tell me your name. Otherwise I'm calling you 'bitch' again."
Voice: "...My name is Wraith. And don't you dare call me that thing ever again."
Strom: "Fine. If you want to stay, stay for the night. I don't want people saying I left a girl outside alone."
Wraith: "I don't want your help, understood?"
Strom (muttering): "Such a gentle woman."
Strom (thinking): "What the hell is this creature?"
Later, Strom sat in his chair, staring at the cursed ring. He placed a glass of water on the table.
Strom: "Water."
Wraith materialized again... and instantly attacked.
Strom slammed her into the wall even harder than before.
Strom: "Listen, lady. If you don't want to live here, then leave... But first, give me my twenty gold coins back."
Wraith: "Greedy human."
Strom: "Money isn't free, you know."
She didn't answer.
She simply stared at him with enough hatred to make anyone else run.
The silence became painfully awkward.
After a moment, Strom scratched the back of his head.
Strom (trying to stay calm): "Good night. Just do me one favor... Don't kill me while I'm sleeping. And if you do want to sleep... there's a second bed over there."
For the first time...
Wraith's expression changed.
She looked completely confused.
A human... had just offered a demon a place to spend the night.
For the first time in a very long time... Wraith didn't know how to respond properly.
Chapter 3: Special Place
Morning light slipped through the forge's small window. Strom rubbed his eyes, stretched, and glanced at the little wooden table beside his bed.
The ring was gone.
Strom (genuinely happy): "Yes! The demonic bitch is gone. Peace restored."
A voice replied behind him.
Wraith: "You really need a lesson."
Strom (freezing): "...Sorry, ma'am."
Wraith stood proudly, holding a plate. The food on it looked like black coal.
Wraith: "I made breakfast for you."
Strom (disbelief): "...You made... this?"
Wraith: "Yes. You gave me a place to stay, so this is my thanks. From now on, there is no debt between us."
Strom stared at the charred mess. Every instinct screamed "don't eat this", but Wraith's sparkling eyes were filled with expectation.
Strom: "...I'm not hungry. You eat it."
Wraith (anger rising): "SO... you don't want it?! Fine! I admit I can't cook... but believe me, it's tasty!"
With a deep sigh, Strom shoved the food into his mouth.
His soul left his body for a second.
Strom (thinking): "Why, God... why?"
Later, while heading toward his shop, a small idea suddenly crossed his mind.
He turned toward her.
Strom: "Hey, girl. You wanna hang out?"
Wraith's face instantly lit up. No human had ever treated her like this... or survived long enough to do it.
Wraith (happiness overloaded): "Really?! Where?"
Strom (thinking): "Perfect. She goes into the ring, I throw it away. Easy escape."
Strom: "Come with me."
Wraith happily jumped back into the ring.
Strom held it tightly.
Moments later, while walking toward the edge of the village, he slowly raised his hand.
He was ready to throw it away.
But...
His hand froze.
From inside the ring, Wraith was quietly humming to herself.
She sounded... happy because they are going somewhere... Together.
He remembered her smile.
Her excitement.
The way her eyes sparkled when he invited her.
Strom (sighing): "Damn it..."
And Instead of throwing it, he quietly walked back.
Later, Strom returned to his shop and started working.
Wraith, however, didn't sound happy anymore.
Wraith (disappointed): "When you said 'hang out,' I thought you meant somewhere special... somewhere romantic."
Strom (cold): "We're not dating."
Wraith: "You really don't know how to treat a girl."
Strom: "First, you're a freaking demon. Second, have you ever seen a human not try to kill a demon?"
Wraith: "Have you ever seen a demon not try to kill a human?"
Strom: "...You tried twice already."
Wraith: "...Okay... Equal point."
When they are busy talking then suddenly, screams echoed through the street.
A massive twenty-foot snake-human hybrid was raiding the village, stealing supplies.
Wraith: "You should stop him!"
Strom (still hammering): "He's only stealing resources. Not a big problem."
Wraith (worried): "He'll kill those children!"
Strom looked outside.
A child was about to be crushed beneath the monster's tail.
Strom: "...Okay, fine. Don't panic."
He slipped on the ring and sprinted toward the chaos.
Without hesitation, he grabbed the child and carried them to safety before guiding the villagers away from the monster.
Strom: "...Wow! The bitch was actually right."
Wraith (from inside the ring): "I'm gonna kick your ass later."
Strom: "Sorry."
He picked up a massive rock and hurled it straight into the hybrid's eye.
Strom: "Hey! Free food is over here!"
The creature roared in pain and chased him far beyond the village into the empty plains.
Strom gently placed the ring beneath a tree.
Strom: "Miss... don't step out... This is our personal matter."
He led the monster even deeper into the plains.
A burst of power exploded from his body, but before he could attack, the hybrid's tail slammed directly into him.
Wraith stepped out of the ring, ready to help...
Then she remembered his words.
"Our Personal Matter."
She folded her arms and stood there watching.
Wraith: "I think he's on his own."
The hybrid hurled Strom across the field.
He crashed hard against the ground...
...then stood back up immediately.
Strom (rage): "...Enough."
A massive glass blade slowly formed high above the monster.
One swing.
The giant blade crashed down, cleaving the hybrid clean in half.
Blood splashed across the plains.
The monster twitched once... then fell silent.
Strom walked over, making sure it was truly dead.
Then he kicked its nose.
Strom (frustrated): "Congratulations!... You drained my special ability. Thank you."
That technique consumed an enormous amount of mana that he couldn't afford to use it often.
Wraith stared at him in silence but her mind was racing with questions.
Wraith (asking): "Who... are you, really?"
Strom remained quiet for a few seconds.
His eyes drifted toward the distant mountains.
Then he finally answered her.
Strom: "Not your business."
Wraith: "That's rude... but fine."
She quietly returned inside of the ring. Strom simply accepted his fate that... She wasn't leaving anytime soon.
When he returned, the villagers immediately surrounded him.
The lie continued.
Villager 1: "What happened to the monster?!"
Strom: "A giant blue dragon cut him down."
Villager 2: "Thank God!"
Villager 3: "Why can only you see that dragon?"
Strom: "...Maybe I'm blessed... Who knows."
Without another word, Strom walked back toward his house...
...with the ring still in his pocket.
Chapter 4: Boundaries
The night sky was clear, the moon shining like silver glass over the quiet village.
On the roof of Strom's small forge-house, two figures sat together beneath the moonlight.
Wraith: "Now... can you please tell me who you really are? I'm dying to know."
Strom (exhaling): "Okay. But remember, you can't take this knowledge anywhere."
Wraith: "Okay."
He leaned back, gazing at the stars. For the first time in weeks, Strom spoke about his past. He told her everything except her... except Angela.
Wraith froze for a long moment. It took her time to process everything she had just heard.
Wraith (quietly): "...And you're still able to smile after all that? How?"
Strom: "Because I can't spend my whole life crying over the past."
Both of them fell silent. After a short pause, Strom finally spoke again.
Strom (hesitate): "Now... your turn."
Wraith (shaking her head): "No... I.. I don't think I will."
Strom: "That counts as cheating, you know."
Wraith sighed.
Wraith: "Fine. Long story short... I'm the evil demon princess of the Frozen Kingdom who loves killing humans."
Strom let out a small laugh.
Strom: "When you told me that snake hybrid would kill those children, I already knew you weren't evil."
Her eyes slowly dropped. The lie shattered under his gaze.
Wraith (quietly): "My past is complicated. Just understand... I'm the most wanted demon alive. I've killed many humans... so many."
Strom gently reached for her hand.
Strom: "Listen. We can't change the past, but we can make a better future. Just help me pay the rent."
Wraith listened peacefully... until he mentioned rent.
Her expression changed instantly and she burst into laughter.
Wraith: "You greedy humans can't be real."
Strom: "Like I said, money isn't free. We'll divide the work. You handle the cleaning, I'll handle the cooking."
Wraith (innocently): "Is my cooking really that bad?"
Strom immediately panicked.
Strom: "No! It's too good. If you keep cooking, you'll lose your talent."
Wraith burst into laughter again. She knew he was lying.
After calming down, she looked at him with a gentle smile.
Wraith (softly): "Thank you... for understanding me."
Strom: "No problem. But before you leave one day, give me back my twenty gold coins."
Wraith: "Greedy goblin."
Strom: "Fair nickname."
Strom continued talking about random things while looking at the moon. At some point, Wraith quietly rested her head on his shoulder.
He didn't notice, just kept talking...
Until he realized she had fallen asleep like that.
His words stopped halfway.
He looked at her sleeping peacefully and gently held her hand.
Strom (quietly): "There are boundaries between us, Wraith. A human... and a demon."
Even knowing how cruel the world was, he couldn't help smiling.
Neither of them wanted to admit it...
...but they had started enjoying each other's company more than anyone could have imagined.
____
The next morning was quiet as ever.
But peace never lasted long.
Three armored knights arrived at Strom's doorstep.
Knight 1: "We saw someone on your roof last night."
Strom (calmly): "No, sir. That must've been your dream. There's no blue demon here."
The knights exchanged a quick glance.
Knight 2 (suspicious): "You're hiding something, blacksmith."
Strom (calmly): "No. Why should I?"
The knights looked at each other once more before turning around and leaving.
They had asked about "someone".
Strom answered about a "blue demon".
Without realizing it, he had confirmed exactly what they were searching for.
No more questions were needed.
Chapter 5: The Dungeon of the King
That evening, Strom and Wraith were sitting together, talking casually beneath the lantern light when suddenly...
CRASH!
A glass bottle shattered through the window, releasing a thick cloud of poisonous gas that quickly filled the room.
It didn't even take a minute before Strom collapsed.
Wraith (panicked): "Strom! Wake up... wake up!"
She kept shaking him, but Strom remained unconscious while the poison had no effect on her.
Wraith (thinking): "Strom... please no!"
Heavy footsteps echoed from outside.
Without wasting another second, she slipped back into the ring.
In a flash of blue light, she disappeared into Strom's ring just as several knights stormed inside. They seized Strom and dragged him away.
____
Later... inside the dark dungeon.
Strom slowly regained consciousness. At first, he couldn't even open his eyes, but little by little his vision became clear.
The first thing he noticed...
His ring was gone.
Heavy chains wrapped around his body, suppressing every bit of his power.
But he wasn't alone.
Sam: "Yo!" 🤘
Strom: "How the hell did we end up here?"
Sam: "Long story short... don't try stopping knights from kidnapping your friend."
Strom: "Fair point... Did you see my ring?"
Sam: "Y... Yeah. One of the knights took it."
Strom's expression changed instantly.
Strom (cold): "If they dare to hurt her... I'll end them."
A familiar voice echoed softly from the pendant around Strom's neck.
Wraith: "Wow... you really care about me."
Both of them froze.
But Sam nearly jumped out of his skin when she actually came out.
Sam (screaming): "AHHHH! Please don't eat me! My mom will kill me if I die!"
Strom (facepalming): "Come on, Sam. She's my friend."
An awkward silence spread through the dungeon.
Even Wraith took a second before freeing him.
Strom: "Go on. Say hi."
Sam slowly looked toward the blue-skinned demoness emerging from the pendant. After calming himself down, he finally realized...
She wasn't terrifying, but actually good looking.
Sam (gulping): "Well... hello, beautiful. I.. I.. was just joking."
Wraith (narrowing her eyes): "Really?"
With one swift motion, Wraith sliced through the chains before shattering the cursed bangle around Strom's wrist.
Strom (stretched his arm): "Let's get out of here."
Wraith: "You two find a way out. I'll be back after kicking the ass of that freaking king."
Strom: "That's not necessary. We can just ignore him."
Wraith: "Nah. He didn't ignore us... so I won't ignore him."
Sam: "I think she'll handle it. Let's get the hell out of here."
Their paths separated.
While Strom and Sam searched for an exit, Wraith had already reached the main hall, hiding behind a massive pillar.
She carefully peeked outside.
The king was grabbing one of his own knights by the collar when he was knee down.
In his other hand...
He was holding her ring.
King (furious): "Where is she?"
Knight (panicking): "I... I don't know, sir! She... she must still be inside!"
Without another word, the king slammed the knight onto the floor and began crushing his helmet beneath his boot.
Not a single knight dared to stop him.
In fact...
Most of them pretended they weren't even breathing.
Wraith (whispering): "Why is he so obsessed with me?"
She searched for an opening to attack...
But there wasn't one.
First...
She would have to deal with the king's guardian.
Meanwhile...
Strom snatched a spear from a knight's statue. His grip tightened around it and, for the first time since entering the dungeon, a genuine smile appeared on his face.
Strom: "Hell yeah."
Sam: "Why do you need a weapon?"
Strom: "And how exactly are you planning to defend yourself when the knights try to stop us?"
As they attempted to escape, the dungeon trembled. Heavy footsteps echoed through the hallway as a towering suit of armor slowly emerged from the darkness.
Zoro... The Hollow Knight.
He wasn't gigantic, but large enough to block the entire path.
Only his upper body and helmet remained. No legs. No flesh. No body. Just a cursed suit of living armor with a single crimson eye burning beneath the helmet.
A massive shield rested on one arm while an enormous greatsword dragged across the stone floor.
Sam (terrified): "That thing... has no body!"
Strom (confused): "How?"
Sam: "He was loyal beyond measure. He sacrificed his body and bound his soul to this armor, becoming the cursed knight of this kingdom."
Zoro slowly planted his greatsword into the ground, completely blocking their path.
Strom: "Sam! Grab a weapon."
Sam: "Oh! I have one."
He proudly pulled a tiny dagger from his pocket. It was so small that even a kitchen knife looked more dangerous.
Strom stared at it for a second with pure disbelief in eyes.
Strom: "Small ass dagger. Don't use it." 🥀
Meanwhile...
Wraith found another glass bottle filled with poisonous gas. Without hesitation, she threw it into the main hall.
The gas spread rapidly. Panicked knights rushed away while the poison slowly filled the massive chamber.
The hall was so large that the gas needed time to take full effect, giving the king enough time to escape while his soldiers collapsed one after another.
A cruel smile spread across Wraith's face.
Because now... he is alone.
She sprinted forward and leaped straight toward him with her claws extended.
But the king calmly threw a handful of glowing magic dust into her face.
Instantly her powers vanished.
Even breathing became difficult.
King: "Even the gods took their time creating your beauty."
Wraith (struggling): "Le... leave... m... me..."
King: "You're even more beautiful when you struggle."
He poured the remaining dust. Her body trembled in pain while tears rolled down her face.
Flashback
Days earlier, the king visited an old witch outside the kingdom. He wanted something capable of suppressing a blue demon's power completely.
The witch handed him a small pouch.
Witch: "This will work."
King (smirking): "Good."
The witch raised one finger, closed her eyes like a teacher about to start a lecture.
Witch: "But remember... each use only lasts sixty seconds. If you use another dose before the effect completely ends..."
She opened her eyes.
The king was already gone.
Only a pouch of gold coins remained on the table.
Witch: "Not listening to elders has consequences."
Her eyes drifted toward the reward.
Witch: "...Well... who cares?"
She happily grabbed the coins and waddled back inside like a penguin because of her back pain.
Meanwhile...
The king slowly walked toward Wraith.
King: "You've really started trusting a human, haven't you?"
He pointed toward a massive painting hanging behind the throne. It showed one of his ancestors standing proudly on the chest of a defeated blue demon king.
It looked exactly like Wraith's grandfather.
She looked at it for a moment... then smiled.
Wraith: "Fake."
King (raising an eyebrow): "Excuse me?"
Wraith: "My grandfather always held his sword in his left hand."
For the first time, the king looked genuinely surprised.
King: "You noticed that rather quickly."
He stepped closer.
King: "Tell me... did that boy say something like 'I love you?'"
He leaned down until they were face to face.
King: "You think you're special to him? Without your powers... you're nothing."
King (continue): "Become my queen. Otherwise, your place will be beneath my foot while his body rots inside my prison."
At that moment, blue energy burst around Wraith.
Sixty seconds.
The dust had worn off.
Wraith: "No thanks."
She slowly stood up with a smile. Brushed the dust from her shoulder.
Wraith: "I'm already owned by someone..."
A smile appeared on her face...
Wraith: "...For twenty gold coins."
She kicked the king's leg out from under him and slammed him onto his own throne before smashing a wooden chair across his face.
Leaping into the air, she drove her dagger straight beside his head.
THUD!
The dagger buried itself into the throne.
The king froze in terror.
Wraith (coldly): "Now listen to MY final offer. Leave us alone... because next time, I won't miss it."
She pulled the dagger free and, with one crushing punch, knocked the king unconscious, leaving him broken... but alive.
Meanwhile...
Back in the dungeon hall, Sam had already climbed onto a massive pillar while Strom was still fighting.
Because the spear didn't match his powers, Strom had no choice but to rely on raw strength alone.
Then...
THIN!
Strom's spear snapped in half and he was cornered away.
In anger Zoro slowly marched toward him, raising his massive sword for the final strike.
Then...
Tink!
Sam's tiny dagger bounced off Zoro's helmet.
The Hollow Knight slowly turned his burning crimson eye toward the pillar.
Sam was still standing on top.
Zoro walked over without saying a word.
One swing.
THUD!!!
The entire pillar shattered.
Sam fell straight to the ground... right in front of him.
The Hollow Knight raised his sword again.
Then...
A blur of blue flashed across the room.
So fast that even Zoro couldn't react.
It was Wraith.
She didn't bother fighting him head-on.
She leaped onto his armor, climbed over his shoulders, reached into the helmet...
...and ripped out the glowing crimson eye.
The armor froze.
A second later...
CLANG!
The entire suit collapsed into lifeless metal.
Wraith looked at the two of them with disappointment.
Wraith (calmly): "Idiots."
She crushed the crimson eye beneath her foot and continued walking toward the exit.
Sam and Strom exchanged an awkward look...
...then quietly followed behind her with their heads lowered.
___
That Night...
Back at Strom's house...
Wraith looked toward Sam.
Wraith: "So... you're Sam, the mage."
Sam (awkwardly): "Ah... yeah."
Wraith: "You seem to know a lot. Can I ask you something?"
Sam (confidently): "Sure. Why not?"
Wraith (smiled): "Who's the hottest here... me or your friend?"
Sam instantly choked on his drink.
Strom stopped eating completely, trying to process what the hell he had just heard.
Sam (panicking): "W... What kind of question is that?!"
Strom: "Now I regret buying that ring."
Wraith: "I'm staying with you now. Forget your twenty gold coins, poor blacksmith."
Strom: "Rent is still due."
Sam looked between both of them in complete confusion.
Sam: "Wait... do you... want to eat him?"
Pure silence...
A second later, the entire room burst into laughter.