Punish Her For Me (6)
"Haha... There's a limit to self-importance. What makes you think a dragon would bother sending monsters after a mere human like me over and over?"
"I never said I sent any monsters."
Atergar froze stiff as if struck by lightning. Sweat began beading on her forehead.
Just as I thought... that was her doing.
Controlling monsters like limbs was thanks to a racial trait called the Dragon Roar. It was a bit different from how demons handled monsters through empathy. The Dragon Roar overwhelmed them with an irresistible, crushing fear. That's why dragons used strong monsters like ogres to guard their lairs or sent them to raid human villages for fun.
But I never imagined this dragon would stoop to that. Because... she hadn't talked like that back when I chased her off. Guess she picked up all the bad habits in the last ten years.
"Did you really think you could get petty revenge on me like a coward, scared of facing me head-on?"
"A dragon? Getting revenge on a human? Pathetic. Hilarious. You think you're that big a deal?"
She inched backward as she spoke.
"See? That proves it. It's you, isn't it?"
"Still picking fights without proof and beating on anyone you grab, huh, you old washed-up hero?"
"I swore I'd kill whoever sent those monsters. And it just had to be you."
As I stepped forward, she retreated, twisting her lips in a sneer.
They say a dragon's grudge lasts at least a century, but all she could manage was sending monsters to annoy me? What kind of dragon pulls childish pranks like a kid...
I had no interest in bickering with this dragon any longer.
"Fine, let's drop it. Atergar, you're a dead woman walking. Didn't I say I'd kill you if you showed up again?"
"Kill me? What right or duty gives you that? You're not even a hero anymore. And 'show up again' meant in your true form, didn't we agree? Looks like your brain's gone soft in the meantime. Must be wired straight to your dick from running that inn and whoring out..."
Spotting the start of her crude insults, I cut her off.
"Right, we did. I'd kill you if you revealed your true form. But you already broke that promise when you appeared over Myanfeld and spewed breath."
"I didn't do it!!!!"
Atergar suddenly shrieked like a banshee.
"I didn't! I didn't do Myanfeld!"
The dragon stomped her foot in rage, screaming at the top of her lungs.
"Then who else could wipe out an entire city? Stop with the bullshit excuses and give me something believable."
"Ugh!"
Atergar huffed in frustration, glaring daggers.
"What the hell is your problem? Why won't you just talk?"
"Argh..."
She let out a trembling sigh laced with curses.
"Fuck... this sucks..."
Her voice quivered slightly, her nose tip flushing red like she might cry.
"Haa..."
She wiped her nose with her sleeve and let out a long sigh. Whatever had her so pissed and aggrieved, Atergar shot me a glare with her reddened nose.
"Hoo... damn it..."
She cleared her throat a few times and fixed me with a stare.
"Spit it out. If not you, then who?"
Atergar ruffled her flaming red hair wildly, clearly hating the idea of explaining. Then, a thunderous rumble echoed from her stomach. She screamed, looking up at the sky in terror before blushing beet red.
"What's that noise? You spewing breath from your gut now too?"
Clutching her starving belly, she sneered.
"Hilarious. Locking a little girl in the woods, starving her for fun... total perv."
"She's not little, I didn't lock her up, I didn't starve her, I didn't enjoy it, and I'm not a perv."
"You say that, but you're still scaring me like this. Weirdo old hero with fucked-up tastes."
Another massive growl from her stomach made me sigh. Figuring out the situation was priority one. Only then could I feed her or kick her out of the city. But she showed zero signs of talking.
I strode over, scooped Atergar up, and tucked her under my arm. Her head swung back and ass stuck out awkwardly, but whatever.
"Let go! Let go! Help! Somebody save me! Perv's dragging off a little girl!"
The red dragon bellowed for help. I smacked her ass hard with my palm.
"Shut it. Or I'll beat your ass like old times and drag you off."
"Eek!"
Atergar clamped her mouth shut instantly. Must've hurt like hell.
Heading down to the camp, breakfast distribution had just wrapped up, and the outdoor kitchen crew was prepping to return. I tossed Atergar onto the cart, grabbed pots and cookware from Francois, and loaded them up.
"Why is this child... here?"
Francois eyed Atergar slumped in the cart bed with a puzzled look.
"Hmph. None of your business, you saggy hag."
At Atergar's outrageous remark, Francois blinked in mild surprise. But she soon flashed a gentle smile that cowed Atergar instead.
"W-Why are you smiling like that, creep? Am I funny? Being treated like luggage... h-huh?!"
"Shut your rude mouth."
I glared, and Atergar averted her eyes. Francois seemed more shocked by my words than hers.
"Bertrand. You mustn't say such mean things to a child."
"She's not a child, Francois. She looks like that, but she's lived way longer than us."
Francois clearly didn't get it.
"She's actually a dragon. Polymorphed into human form."
"Ah... I see..."
Francois forced down her bewilderment with an awkward nod and smile.
We hitched the mule and headed back to the inn. Atergar grumbled the whole way about the bumpy cart and rundown city.
Back at the inn, I yanked the Holy Sword off the wall first thing. Sure enough, as Atergar wandered into the hall, peering around, it blazed with brilliant light. I sheathed it properly and stashed it under the bar. Idi approached.
"Bertrand... who's that red-haired girl...? Thought she was Marim at first..."
Atergar whipped her head around, locking eyes with Idi. Idi froze, starting to hiccup. Atergar's gaze lingered on Idi's massive breasts.
"Heh... human milk cow much? Milking her fresh every morning? You insane perv."
At the absurd comment, Idi giggled dopily.
"She even talks like Marim... hehe... who is she...? One of Marim's siblings she mentioned...?"
"Yeah. Atergar."
"Atergar...? Same name as that red dragon..."
"Yep. That's her."
"So... the names are similar... huh...?"
Idi slowly scanned Atergar. The dragon girl, who looked innocently youthful at a glance, was now peering intently at the troll skull. Staring holes into her, Idi's armpits and back grew slick with sweat. She gulped hard, face beaded with perspiration.
"A dragon... why... here...?"
"I'll explain later."
"Uh... okay... but... why's she walking around like that...?"
Atergar muttered at the troll skull.
"Hanging up one puny smallfry like it's a big deal. Total has-been. Useless sack of shit."
"Quiet. Follow me."
I shoved Atergar's back, heading upstairs.
"This your workplace? Bet you clean toilets and eat scraps. Pay's a single fairy tale coin, sleep in the attic—or the doghouse out front..."
"I'm the owner."
Atergar burst out laughing.
"What kinda bullshit is that? No way!"
We hit the hallway just as Pelle came from the other end. She met Atergar's eyes with a cold glare, then suddenly gasped.
"Gasp...!"
As a demon who empathized with monsters, she'd clocked what Atergar was.
"What? A demon now? Still got survivors?"
Despite the arrogant tone, Pelle pressed flat against the wall, speechless. Her face paled, lips bitten raw. She even squeezed her eyes shut as Atergar passed.
"This inn's fucked. Human milk cow, horned demon... now I buy you owning the place. Perverted tastes—collecting all races to sample. Vulgar. Filthy. Bet your useless dick's riddled with holes, pus leaking..."
"Shut your mouth. We're here."
"Ow!"
I pinched and yanked her cheek, knocking on the door.
"Come in, Master."
"Haha. 'Master'!"
Atergar cackled. I shoved her inside. Kosa sat in the room like a mystical painting, a faint fragrance lingering as she awaited us.