Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle (魔王城でおやすみ)

The hero's party presses on to save their princess, finally finding their way again.

Ancient Volcano

They were slowly but surely making their way to the Demon Castle.

We've been making smooth progress after getting back onto the right path.

Let's keep at it--Hm?

What are you doing, Kisho?

It's about time I try out this spell.

Is this--?

The princess' gem is emitting a greater amount of peaceful aura than expected!

We may be able to create a wormhole to the Demon Castle!

Can you?

Oh, dear, she's sleeping so peacefully.

Gem

Hey, don't wake her!

I wonder what she's dreaming about?

Hm?

Now, Dawner!

Huh?

What is it, Dawner?

My finger's hitting something.

Careful. We have no idea what's on the other end.

Okay.

I think it just moved!

Oh, no! The spell is becoming unstable!

Pull your hand back!

Oh, dear. I must report this.

It's no good. The peaceful aura is completely gone.

The distance may still be too great.

I see. But we can use this spell to get into the castle once we get closer.

Yeah. And to do that, we must defeat the demon top ten.

That's right.

I'll be there soon!

I, Dawner the Hero, swear to save you, Princess!

"Eighth Night" "The Princess and the Frightful Demon Nightmare"

You know why I've summoned you all here?

Because we just had some magical interference from the hero, right?

Yes! And the heroes are headed to the Ancient Volcano

Defeat Dawner the Hero!

to defeat the next top ten demon!

Time to fire ourselves up again!

And consequently, with the Ancient Volcano's boss present,

we will now hold a send-off party for him!

Yeah!

I'm counting on you!

Yeah!

Princess, what are you doing--

I just had a nightmare. Let me tell you about it.

Cause

Why the heck is she here?

H-Hey, we're about to have a send-off party before going out to fight the hero--

They say you feel better after telling someone about your nightmare.

Ignored.

Listen, you! This battle will eventually affect you, too.

So in my dream...

She'll stop at nothing.

Okay, fine. But keep it short.

Demon King!

My dream was about a childhood memory.

And a boy, my childhood friend, was in it.

His name was...

...D-Whatsit.

D-Whatsit?!

Not a memorable kid, huh?

Couldn't have been.

D-Whatsit was so mean.

Princess!

Hm?

Princess! These are for you!

He stabbed me with rose thorns.

D-Whatsit?!

And there was a bee in the flower bouquet.

D-Whatsit...

Princess! Watch out!

Panicking

Panicking

Panicking

Panicking

Panicking

Panicking

Panicking

Then he gobbled the bee up.

This D-Whatsit is one scary kid!

And plus...

It was sweet!

Panicking

...he told me what it tasted like.

D-Whatsit?!

How frightening. What a crazy kid!

How could you forget his name?!

U-Uh, okay, well...

Uh, right! Let's start Fire Venom Dragon's send-off party.

Right.

Then it was the time when D-Whatsit dragged me to a picnic.

The nightmare continues!

First, though we had attendants, we got separated from them

because of his horrid sense of direction.

In a pinch, right off the bat!

And then...

Princess, let's race to the top!

Race in that situation?!

D-Whatsit was a fast runner. I lost sight of him immediately.

The road was frightening. I came across a person's legs sticking out from the ground

and a boy who'd fallen into a trap.

That was D-Whatsit, Princess!

Then when I didn't see anyone at the top, I just turned back.

Princess?!

I didn't feel a need to tell anyone about D-Whatsit.

Hey!

After half a year...

That means D-Whatsit died, Princess!

Wh-Why didn't you tell anyone?

He wasn't very memorable, so I forgot.

D-Whatsit!

But then, D-Whatsit returned.

What?!

Princess!

I'm glad you are well.

And we had our first conversation in a while.

Who are you?

At least remember him!

He was just so forgettable.

I'm so glad!

Who is he?

Reported

Wait, that wasn't a conversation.

Conversations require some back and forth, Princess!

I feel so sorry for D-Whatsit!

Though D-Whatsit's a real piece of work himself.

I bet D-Whatsit's still doing idiotic stuff now.

But Princess, that was more of a nightmare for D-Whatsit than for you.

Looking back, it's a nice memory--

But the worst part of the nightmare

was when my father told me that D-Whatsit was my fiance.

That was my whole dream.

What?!

--A dream?! Was that part true?! --Was that reality or dream?!

Oh, she left!

But really, why did I suddenly dream about my past?

I wonder what D-Whatsit is like now.

Oh, well, I got to share my whole dream, so I feel better now.

I probably won't see D-Whatsit ever again anyway.

Princess!

Zzz...

The princess' fiance and childhood friend

who has no sense of direction and whose name starts with "D."

Fire Venom Dragon. Make sure you annihilate the hero.

H-Huh? O-Okay.

Achoo!

Oh! Someone's talking about me!

Gross.

D-Whatsit

Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle !

Ancient Volcano

The hero's party reached the Ancient Volcano

to defeat the next big ten demon.

Stay alert.

Took you long enough, Hero!

You're--

One of the big ten, Fire Venom Dragon!

I'm itching to fight!

You'll never defeat us!

A battle to the death was about to begin.

Meanwhile...

To my Dear Mother,

Your daughter Sya was doing surprisingly well at the Demon Castle.

However, a dreadful disease now eats away at me.

I cannot sleep from the pain it afflicts.

What's more...

an even greater obstacle prevents treatment of my illness.

Princess!

Hey, Princess!

It's okay! You'll be fine!

They'll take a look at you now.

Come on, get up!

N-No! Let go!

The demons eat away at my youthful body.

If only I had not indulged in the sweet pleasures of life.

Sya.

Don't recite a death poem for one measly cavity!

We've got a dentist here at the Demon Castle! Okay?

Demon Castle Clinic

Cursed Dentist

Come now, Princess. Open your mouth.

You're a stranger.

I'm the Cursed Dentist. With my dexterity and many talents, I'm also a musician.

All right. Move your hand away.

Now open your mouth.

You call that open?!

The pain won't stop unless you show me your affected tooth.

Can't I just drink a potion?

Cavities are caused by tiny fairies, so it won't get better unless they're removed.

See now? Okay, open up.

Why are you blushing?

No matter. Now that you've opened a bit, place some pressure on the jaw and...

Hey, you okay?!

Escaped

O-Oh, no! Go after her...

It hurts!

Of course it does!

Healer