The Hero of Hypnosis

"And finally, this is my room!" Janna dragged Kai into her room and pushed him onto her couch as she jumped onto her bed.

Two hours. That's how long it took for Janna to show Kai around her entire home. The place was massive, and when Kai thought one hall came to an end, there was another hall right next to it.

The two of them ran around like young kids who had finally been able to hang out after days of prodding their parents to allow the visit.

Janna talked about how great her childhood was and how she admired her father. She mentioned the times when she broke her arm during one of her training courses, and another time when she didn't know that when you challenge an alchemist, it would be a battle of alchemy, not martial arts.

By the time she figured that out, she had already fisted his face so many times that he was unrecognizable.

What Kai got from her stories was that she really loved and respected her father and was extremely heartbroken after hearing the news. She truly believed that he wasn't a deserter and that someone framed him.

Even if he wasn't framed, she believed that he had to have been captured instead. There was no way her father would desert, and she stood by that claim.

"I believe you, and I'll help you find your father." Kai sat on the bed and hugged her.

"Would you do all you could to find your dad?" She asked

"Pffft! Fuck no! That guy is a bastard. Trust me, no good will come from knowing that nacho-seasoning popcorn-loving weirdo."

She had no idea what popcorn or nacho-seasoning was, but nodded along anyway.

"My Lady? May I enter?" A maid asked as she knocked on the door.

"You may."

When the maid stepped in, she was surprised at the sight. Janna was in Kai's arms. No, not only that, but Kai being in her room was a massive shock as well. She didn't show a reaction, but on the inside, there were a lot of questions.

"The madam is looking for you both. She is in the study room." The maid bowed.

"Okay, thanks for letting me know. Let's go, Kai." She grabbed his hand and bolted out of the room.

'Are they together?' The maid wondered. 'He is very handsome. I wonder if he's into older women. Wait! What am I saying?'

---

"Ahh, you're here. Please, come look at this." Kirlia flipped the map on the study desk around to show Kai and Janna.

She pointed at a red X on the map. "This is where the current battle is taking place. This is the front lines, where your father is...was."

She then moved her hand to another X on the map. "This is where the intelligence of the Royal Military said Ian had run off to. Do you see why that doesn't make any sense?"

"No," Kai admitted.

"That's the area occupied by demons, where the Cult of Demons is. Right?" Janna asked

"Correct. According to the military, Ian abandoned his post and ran toward the Cult of Demons. Do you see how this doesn't make any sense? Also, take a look at this."

She showed another map. This time, the Xs were made with a blue color.

"According to what our own men said, your father was indeed on the battlefield, slaying demons and their followers, but a powerful demon showed up and nearly wiped out their platoon. After that, he knocked out your father and took him away. But he went in this direction."

"That's the complete opposite direction." Kai noticed

"Exactly. Now, why would our own men say this, while the military says another?"

"They're trying to sabotage you guys. Since your family is the main force that is protecting the front lines, with you gone, the front lines would be wiped out." Kai put together.

Janna shook her head. "That doesn't make any sense. Why would the military want the front lines to fall? We would be taken over by demons, and they would have a strong footing in the kingdom."

"I think that's the point." Kirlia pointed out.

"How?"

"Because the military is either working with the demons, or has been infiltrated by them." Kai realized.

Janna couldn't believe what she was hearing. "N-No! That's impossible! How could that happen? Are they blessed by Gracia to make sure that doesn't happen?"

"That's what Hector said as well, but demons had all sorts of abilities. They could have stolen the memories of some high-ranking officer, killed him, and taken his place via shapeshifting. I've looked at old records, and it has happened before." Kirlia didn't wish for this to be true, but all the evidence was pointing to it.

Janna slightly calmed down. "Okay, even if that's true, we came to this conclusion way too quickly. Wouldn't they realize that we suspect demons are in play?"

"They're desperate," Kai muttered. "They're desperate and need to bring the front lines down quickly. Not too long ago, I fought against a demon who said that the demon king was coming soon. Not to mention, this isn't my first time running into the Cult of Demons. I've faced them twice before, actually."

Kirlia's eyes widened. "T-This could be it! Quickly, does anyone else know about this?"

He nodded. "Yeah, the entire Hero Academy does. The headmaster is currently investigating the situation. And as for the cult of demons, the church is on that."

"Kai, are you able to spot out demons?" Janna asked

"Yeah. With ease, in fact."

"Then, do you think you'll be able to see if a demon is currently in the front lines acting like a person in command?" Kirlia asked, hoping he would say yes.

"Wait, let me get this straight. You want me to infiltrate a military outpost, which is illegal, to see if a demon is hiding among them?"

"Yes."

"Sweet, I'm in."

"Great. I only wish I could have gotten word to Diana." Kirlia sighed.

"Well, Auntie Diana is a busy person. She's a superpower fighting in the war after all." Janna chuckled.

"Wait, what?" Kai's brain felt like a puzzle that was coming together, but instead of being placed correctly, it was as if the manufacturer had made some pieces too big and too small, so when they came together, it hurt his brain.

"You have a friend named Diana who is a superpower?" He asked

"Yes." Kirlia nodded.

"And your husband is also a superpower?"

"Yes."

"Oh, shit! The plot thickens!"