The Pretty and Competent Administrator (1)
"Kyaaah!!"
Della let out a piercing scream at the grotesque sight. The Holy Sword, glowing pure white, sliced through the tentacles from top to bottom, leaving a fan-shaped afterimage in its wake. Purple blood gushed from the severed ends.
"Get back!"
He shoved Della aside and kicked the door riddled with holes. The hinges shattered, sending the entire door flying. A loud crash echoed from outside as whatever had been standing there toppled over from the impact.
As he burst out of the inn, the thing pinned under the door extended another tentacle, smashing the door to splinters. Amid the flying debris, the monster slowly rose to its feet.
It was a beast the size of an adult man, bat-like wings sprouting from its back. Long, dangling hands ended not in fingers but in writhing tentacles, and its gaping maw held more tentacles dripping slime.
A flying monster... Nergama? What the hell is it doing here?
Gripping the Holy Sword and lunging for the attack, he froze as the Nergama twisted its tentacles like a tongue and rasped out words.
"He...ro... Ber...trand..."
Never in his life had he heard of a Nergama speaking. Their physiology wasn't built for it. How the hell...?
"Wai...t... I'll... come... soon..."
The creature's abdomen suddenly ballooned. He knew exactly what that meant. If that thing blows, we're all finished...!
He charged forward, plunging the sword—blazing white-hot like molten light—straight into its neck. In that instant, the Nergama spat its final words.
"The God...dess's... pup...pet..."
Its head rocketed skyward before thudding to the ground. The grotesquely swollen belly deflated in a rush. The corpse reeked horribly as it rotted away in seconds.
"Goddamn it...!"
Pinching his nose, he backed away. Kali came crawling timidly from the monster stable, tail tucked in fear.
"Here, Kali!"
At his call, Kali bolted over like its tail was on fire. Scooping up the dog, he hurried back inside.
Della approached, her face slick with cold sweat.
"M-Master... what was that...?"
She clamped a hand over her mouth at the sight of the Nergama's corpse melting outside the ruined doorway, scorching the ground black.
"A monster. It's dead now, so don't worry."
"Why would it just—"
"Don't go outside till sunset. The fumes from the corpse'll give you a splitting headache."
"Got it. But Master... earlier..."
Della hesitated, glancing at the Holy Sword. Its glow had faded now that the monster was slain, leaving it looking like any ordinary blade.
"We gotta fix the door before dark anyway. I'll explain later."
"O-Okay... C'mere, Kali."
Della scooped up the trembling, wide-eyed dog.
He slipped out the back through the kitchen. He'd stockpiled scrap furniture and usable lumber there for just such an occasion. Grabbing an axe, he hacked apart a suitable piece.
As he chopped, his mind replayed the incident. A rare breed like Nergama showing up at the inn. It attacked the moment the door opened—and tried to self-destruct on top of that. No doubt it came specifically to kill him.
But why all of a sudden? What the hell's going on...?
By the time crimson sunset filtered through the inn's west windows, he'd hung the new door in the frame. The Nergama's corpse had fully dissolved, leaving only a sinister black stain.
He shoveled up the tainted soil and loaded it onto a cart.
"Della! Gonna dump this."
"Be safe! Dinner's almost ready."
Pulling the cart, he headed north from the crossroads. Kali trotted ahead, sniffing around.
Faint city noise drifted from the stream valley below—farmers heading home. Most buildings stood empty and silent. Someday they'd brim with life again.
To his right, the Buren River flowed parallel, evening shadows settling in. Occasional splashes marked fish jumping in the quiet waters. Birdsong mingled with rustling leaves in the cool spring breeze, carrying that crisp seasonal scent. A truly peaceful scene.
He dumped the soil in the woods by the outskirts road and returned. Della was setting the dining table in the hall, savory smells whetting his appetite.
"Mmm, meat pie?"
"Yup! Sit down."
He lit the hearth, and they sat across from each other. Della sliced a generous hunk of pie—juicy pork spilling from the flaky crust—and plated it for him. Thick chunks, finger-width and glistening with juices, tumbled out. She added a side of onions pickled in vinegar and sugar. Perfect foil for the rich pork.
Forking a corner into his mouth, hot steam and nutty fat bloomed across his tongue. Trembling fat-marbled pork blended with crisp pastry, pure bliss. For a moment, he forgot the day's monster and even the Demon King.
He speared some onions next. Sour-sweet tang cut through the grease, amplifying everything.
"This is insane. Never had anything like it!"
No exaggeration—it was phenomenal.
"Thank you, Master."
Della smiled, feeding Kali a scrap. The dog dove in face-first, chomping happily.
Worth every one of those fifty gold coins. Not that it cost a dime.
They chatted amiably about the recipe through the meal. As it wound down, Della glanced at the Holy Sword hanging behind the bar.
"Master... what is that sword? It glowed earlier... I've never seen anything like it."
He pondered how to explain. But even for a coworker, he couldn't spill everything. Plus, that nondisclosure oath from the palace...
"Dunno? Sunlight reflecting off it, maybe?"
"Maybe... but you told me not to open the door after seeing it."
"Well... yeah, suspicious visitor before opening time? Gotta be careful."
"Hmm... I see."
Della nodded readily, but he doubted the sharp girl bought it wholesale. She was just respecting his reluctance.
Time to change the subject.
"Wanna head to City Hall after dinner?"
"City Hall? This late?"
"Inviting folks over tomorrow for a feast."
"Whoa! A party?!"
Della clapped excitedly. Since his arrival, locals had steered clear, mistaking him for some lofty noble per Hildeva's tales. Easy fix: invite 'em home, stuff 'em with good food.
He needed good relations for business—and with the infrastructure he'd bought up. Any resentment, and he'd be the greedy landlord getting trashed.
They tidied up and strolled to City Hall in the cool evening air.
"Tomorrow evening? Fields'll be done by then, so should be fine."
Hildeva adjusted her glasses.
"Spread the word, then. Plenty of food and drink at the inn."
"Will do. Folks'll love a night out. Hey!"
Kali, now buddies with Hildeva from his Bue trip, pawed her skirt. Muddy prints soiled her brown pleats. She shooed it off, brushing vigorously.
Next morning, Mollo arrived early with his wagon. Amid supplies sat a whole hog—gutted and ready for roasting.
"Mollo. Busy?"
"Nah, nothin' much."
"Stay for dinner and crash here, then. Whole pig roast."
"That so?"
Mollo eyed the pig thoughtfully.
"Well... can't say no to that."
He smacked his lips.
They unloaded and prepped immediately—roasts take hours. In the backyard, they set up a spit rack. Skewer the pig snout-to-tail on a long iron rod, mount it, slather with sauce. Light the wood below, rotate constantly till sunset, basting often.
He manned the spit while Della prepped the hall. Mollo spelled him occasionally, then helped Della when bored.
The skin browned, fat bubbling and dripping. The sauced pig's aroma tantalized.
Kali drooled circles around them; Mollo swallowed hard.
"Last whole roast was nigh on ten years ago."
"Not an everyday dish."
"Aye. For commoners like us, buying a whole pig's a fortune. Only got a taste back at festival."
Mollo reminisced.
"Lived in Myanfeld then. You know it? Place was hell—some nutjob dragon fresh from hibernation terrorizing everything. Popped up spewing fire, smashing spires with its tail... Never seen the like."
"Heard of it. Red dragon Aterugar, right?"
"Spot on. Armies and mages couldn't touch it. City dying, folks fleeing... nearly ended up like here. Then poof—gone one day."
I know. 'Cause I chased the damn thing across the sea. Few good smacks, and it tucked tail like Kali and bolted.
Mollo spun more youthful yarns. Spit-turning flew by till dusk. Pig perfectly done, he hoisted the skewer onto racks and carved as voices approached from the front—invited farmers arriving.
"Welcome!"
Della greeted brightly.
"Mollo, help Della?"
"On it."
Glancing inside while slicing, the hall buzzed. Soon it'd overflow with paying guests praising food, boozing, singing.
"Della! Mollo! Meat's ready!"
He loaded platters; half the pig remained. Plenty for all.
"Damn, smells killer."
Hildeva, arrived unnoticed, snatched a piece and wolfed it.
"Mmm!"
She chewed, eyes narrowing in delight.
"Good, huh?"
She nodded vigorously, speechless, and carried two platters inside.
Beer mugs and meat circulated tables. Hildeva quieted the crowd for his intro.
"I'm Bertrand, owner of the Crossroads Troll Inn. Sorry it took so long to host this. Eat and drink up—plenty to go around."
Cheers and applause erupted. The feast kicked off rowdily. He and Della rushed drinks and meat; Hildeva and Mollo pitched in. Someone belted a tune; all joined in. Pure revelry.
Then a newcomer doused the mood. A young man with oiled pompadour and haughty sweep of the room. Fine silk peeking from his cloak marked him no traveler. Two armed soldiers in light leather flanked him.
The sudden strangers halted the fun; eyes turned.
He spoke abruptly.
"Is the administrator here?"