Small Beginnings (7)
"What the hell is that? You two really close or what?" Ukun asked in a tone dripping with disbelief.
I had nothing to say in my defense. Because Ammugar was...
"Hero, sir...! What brings you to this humble workshop...!"
Ammugar was crawling out on all fours, just like he had back in Kerno City. With him acting like that, who the hell would believe we were "close"?
"Get up, Ammugar. Please."
"Eh? Oh no, I couldn't possibly. How could I dare lift my head in your presence, Hero sir?"
"Damn it. Get up, you idiot!"
Only when I finally snapped did Ammugar stand, brushing off his knees. He was wearing a woodwork apron covered in sawdust.
"Oh! Pelle's here too!"
Ammugar, who had been groveling before me, spotted Pelle and broke into a wide, beaming smile. But she just scowled.
"For now... have a seat. Orcog, fetch us something to drink."
Ammugar swept to a table in the corner, shoving all the clutter off it. Wooden blocks and tools clattered into a box on the floor.
"Aigoo, the dust... One moment, please."
He darted to the back door, returning with a wrung-out rag to wipe down the table. A former Demon King's legion commander cleaning a table...
As we sat, Orcog arrived with a tray of cups filled with some dubious liquid. I eyed it suspiciously, and Ammugar explained it was "water."
"Water?"
"Yes, yes. We don't get many visitors, so... And, well, we're trying to cut back on expenses..."
Poor bastards, skimping even on drinks. Pelle furrowed her brow, glaring at Ammugar like a daughter despising an incompetent father.
"Anyway, what brings you here? And who's this dwarf tagging along?"
"Someone I'm working with. Introduce yourself, Ukun. This is Ammugar and Orcog. Demons, as you can see."
Ukun and the demons exchanged names. Ukun's face wasn't exactly beaming—demons had clashed with humans and other intelligent races during the Demon King's wars.
To lighten the awkward air, I glanced around the workshop and asked, "You two make all this? Impressive stuff."
"Yes, yes. We did. Taking your advice to heart, Hero sir, we're focusing on realistic depictions."
"That minotaur at the entrance even startled me. This dwarf was about to chuck his hammer at it."
"Ahem!"
Ukun cleared his throat loudly, embarrassed.
"So, business good? This stuff should sell."
"It's going alright. Turns out more humans like this than you'd think. Even got a few regulars."
"Good for you. If you're making money, live like people. Buy some drinks instead of just water."
"Yes, yes... But we need to save..."
Ammugar trailed off, glancing at Pelle. He clearly wanted to pay off their debt fast, to ease her burden. From their perspective, she'd basically been sold to me to cover it.
Pelle, still sneering at him, finally looked away.
"Anyway... what is it? You're not here just to check on us. You need help with something, right?"
"Spot on. You know where any surviving gagabur are?"
"Gagabur?"
Ammugar blinked, looking back and forth between me and the dwarf. Ukun was staring at his mouth like his life depended on it—because in a way, it did. Whether Ammugar knew where gagabur lurked would decide if Ukun's bathhouse lived or died. No uzarburunt meant no perpetual motion fluid, which meant I'd have to shell out two thousand gold raw, and I'd pass. He'd be back to wandering for investors. But snag it, and construction costs plummet to something I could handle.
"Gagabur? Why hunt those monsters?"
I explained how their brain fluid made uzarburunt for pumps and all that. Ammugar looked stunned—it was news to him.
"It does that?"
"Yeah! But raw brain fluid's useless. Needs our dwarven secrets—mixing special ingredients—to make uzarburunt!"
Ukun boasted proudly. A strange glint sparked in Ammugar's eyes.
"Expensive stuff? The fluid itself worth money?"
"Of course it—argh!"
I stomped Ukun's boot under the table. As he howled, I snapped at Ammugar, "That's for my bathhouse. No greed. You two couldn't catch a baby gagabur anyway."
"Ah... yes... of course... Pure curiosity, since it's such a mystical fluid..."
I glared fiercely to kill any funny ideas, then pressed, "Gagabur. Know any? Some must've survived. Demon King didn't scrape every last one worldwide."
"True. Hmm... Yes, there's probably intact habitats."
"Where, damn it? Spit it out. Won't leave you empty-handed."
I flicked a gold coin from my pouch. Ammugar snatched it midair, inspecting it intently. The silence dragged uncomfortably until I tossed another. Grinning ear-to-ear, he split one with Orcog. Always takes care of his subordinates. That loyalty had earned them a shot at life from me.
Pocketing the gold, Ammugar finally spoke. "Ever heard of the Ulrond Marshes, Hero sir?"
"Ulrond Marshes...? That swamp east of the kingdom?"
"Yes, exactly. Some gagabur live there."
"What makes you so sure?"
"You doubt me?"
I trusted him. His legion had been over eighty percent monsters—ecology was his expertise.
"For real!? Gagabur definitely there!?"
Excited, Ukun slammed the table with both hands. It split in half and collapsed. Water spilled, cups rolled. Ammugar stared down at the mess, crestfallen. Even trivial furnishings hurt right now.
"Hey! Shorty! What the hell in someone else's house?!"
"Oops. Got carried away."
"Sigh. Pay up quick. Looks like that's their only table."
Ukun fished out a silver coin. Ammugar eyed it on his palm. Time dragged until Ukun added another. Ammugar's face softened; he split it with Orcog.
"Guess we should head out. Hunting gagabur there'll take time."
"Already? Lunch is near—join us?"
"Nah. Gotta be back at the inn before lunch. And what're you eating without a table? Got food?"
Hit the nail on the head; Ammugar fiddled with his horn, smiling awkwardly.
"Some bread..."
"Figured—ship's hardtack bricks. Pelle brought stuff for you anyway."
I tossed the ingredients sack at his feet. Untying it, Ammugar and Orcog gaped at Pelle.
"Kitchen. I'll help sort. Or you'll shove it somewhere and let it rot."
Pelle stood coldly. Overpowered by her vibe, the demons slunk to the back door speechless.
Waiting for Pelle, I browsed the models. The more I looked, the more impressive. In months, they'd skyrocket by winter. But great products don't sell themselves. Demons faced sales hurdles—maybe help out. Their success meant faster debt payoff for me.
"Gagabur really in those marshes? Damn it all. Thought they were extinct. One's enough. One vial finishes the bathhouse."
Ukun muttered nonstop, buzzing with mania. Dwarves fixate obsessively—once hooked, they deliver.
Suddenly, Pelle's angry shout echoed from the back. Startled, Ukun glanced at the door.