Dragon's Hoard and the New Hire
Dragons love hoarding precious treasures in their lairs. Sometimes they fetch them themselves, other times they send monsters to pillage them. That's why tomb raiders and foolhardy adventurers sometimes try to plunder a dragon's nest. Succeed, and you'd reverse your fortunes in one go. Of course, no one had ever heard of a success story.
Aterugar looked at me with a contemptuous sneer.
"No way... Hero, you were after that all along...? Planning to demand my nest's treasures as payment for taking down Lurtjog...? You greedy, materialistic pig..."
"Not stealing. But leave 'em there, and grave robbers will clean you out for sure. Word's already spread that you've left Myanfeld far behind."
Aterugar pondered my words for a moment before speaking up.
"I did stash a bit away back when I was a hatchling. But you showed up before I could even properly set up the lair, chasing me off—so that's all there was."
"Maybe Lurtjog claimed that nest and added to the pile?"
"Could be. Steal another dragon's territory, and you take the lair and the hoard—that's our way."
"Then let's go. We'll grab your stuff and whatever that perv dragon amassed."
Aterugar hesitated, eyeing me suspiciously from head to toe.
"But why haul it out at all? I'm heading back to Myanfeld anyway."
"Make a new nest here."
My blunt suggestion left her stunned for a second before she snapped back.
"What? A new lair? You think that's easy? Digging a cavern big enough for my true form takes more planning than you can imagine!"
"Who said anything about a true-form lair? Stick to that girl shape—no need for some massive cave."
"What are you even implying? I'm a dragon. Not some creepy sex doll for your pervy urges!"
"Ugh!"
I finally flicked her forehead lightly—a controlled tap, but she clutched her head and burst into tears anyway.
"Waaahhh!!!"
"Ah... damn. This ain't babysitting..."
I crossed my arms and waited for her sobs to subside. Soon enough, she sniffled to a stop, rubbing her eyes with hiccups.
"Done crying? Good. Listen up. You're nesting at this inn. Meaning, you're staying here."
She nodded at first, then jolted upright in bed.
"Why me?!"
"'Cause you'll be working here, obviously."
"Why me!!"
"You think I dove off that cliff to snap Lurtjog's neck for free?"
"Huh...?"
Aterugar slumped back onto the bed, legs giving out, her face blank with defeat.
"Stick around here—alone out there, another adult dragon shows up, and you'll get booted again. I'll protect you."
Shadows fell over her face. Dragons' attachment to their lairs ran deep.
"The work won't be tough. I saved you from Lurtjog—you owe me that much, right?"
Truth was, from the moment I met her in the refugee camp, I'd planned to put her to work at the inn. Sure, no magic, but a red dragon's mastery of fire was perfect for the inn and baths. And that fierce lair loyalty? Ideal for defending against outsiders. If attackers hit while I was away, she'd see it as a strike on her nest—and unleash her wrathful breath.
"What kinda work...?"
I laid out what I had in mind: lighting and snuffing every candelabrum in the inn and baths at once. Managing fireplaces, hearths, and bathhouse boilers. Kindling logless flames in guest rooms and common areas, and so on.
"Can you handle it?"
"You're seriously locking me up here just for chores?"
"Chores? Mages can't finesse fire like that. Who else but a red dragon could?"
She puffed up proudly, shrugging with a smug grin.
"Hmph. Well, yeah."
"Settled, then. You're boarding here. Share a room with Kosa—she's quiet, should be fine."
"Pay? A hundred gold coins?"
I stared down her outrageous demand.
"Didn't you hear me? This is payback for saving your ass from Lurtjog."
"What? Work for free? Huh?!"
"Hmm... Holy Sword's downstairs, right...?"
At my half-threat, she clamped her mouth shut, glaring daggers.
"Let's get along, Aterugar."
I offered a smile and handshake. She smacked it away with a pissy swipe.
Aterugar shifted to her true form and flew us to Myanfeld. The view from her back was breathtaking. Puffy white clouds drifted low, framing farmlands, cities, and mountain ranges like a painting below. The horizon curved gently, leaving me wondering why the earth bent like that. I'd reached the continent's edge before, and the land there was flat as Rosens. Maybe lands beyond the sea looked totally different. Someday, I'd ask her to ferry me across.
"What a sight."
「I've had enough.」
With the sun off to the front-right, a pale blue line appeared on the distant horizon. Hard to tell where sky met sea at the edge, but the blue deepened below. Somewhere between that sea and land lay the vanished port city of Myanfeld.
"Hey, funny story. Know what they call that sea?"
「What?」
"Gu-ryong-hae. Dragon-Chaser Sea."
「Meaning?」
"Sea That Drives Dragons Away, or something. Been called that since ten years back."
「Ugh, embarrassing.」
Aterugar began descending. Late autumn's chill sea wind, laced with dry salt, whipped at us.
"Where've you been the last decade, anyway? Not drifting over the ocean the whole time, right?"
「Some tiny island. Lived with the humans there.」
"That weird speech of yours from them?"
She snorted flames from her nostrils, ignoring me. We plunged into clouds, a brief damp inhale, then emerged as she banked sideways. The ground below drew a sigh from me.
The city stretched black and charred, like it'd been seared by a branding iron. The grim end of Myanfeld, once the kingdom's northeastern maritime trade hub. The chaos of that day flashed vivid—the sheer miracle that so many refugees escaped alive.
Aterugar groaned as we circled.
「Too frantic fleeing to notice... It's totally wrecked...」
She looped wide around the outskirts, veering into nearby mountains. Narrow canyons flanked us, opening to a basin ringed by peaks. Touching down on the flat, I scanned around.
"Perfect spot for a lair."
A colossal cave yawned in one cliffside. That was it.
"Bigger entrance than I dug—perv dragon must've expanded it."
Aterugar, now polymorphed, stood beside me. We approached the mouth slowly. An ogre perched on a rock upfront, blankly scratching its head.
"That idiot's still here. Total moron."
"What's it doing?"
"Caught it to guard while I was out."
Ah. Dragon's Roar conscript. She shooed it off with waves; freed from the compulsion, it bolted with heavy thuds.
"No other monsters?"
"Probably fled. This one's extra dumb—that's why it stuck around. Kinda like you..."
"Got it, got it. Let's head in."
The cave swallowed us, deepening into pitch black.
"Totally dark."
"Kyaa! Don't grope me!"
"Just bumped your shoulder. Light it up already."
She sparked flames, illuminating the vast interior—big enough for an adult dragon to curl up. Surprisingly clean floor, no goblin-shit or rotten scraps.
"We don't eat or shit in our lairs. Basic etiquette."
"Eh, humans do it in bed sometimes."
We rummaged for Lurtjog's hoard.
"Found it! Found it!"
Soon, excited shrieks echoed. There—a massive chest, big enough for five people. Stout wood; prying the lid took real effort. Hinges creaked open, releasing a puff of ancient dust. Peering half-inside, Aterugar let out a bloodcurdling scream.