A Bizarre Business Scheme (3)
Ammugar suddenly realized something and let out a gasp of admiration. "I see... If they're all hyped up from seeing a dragon... Getting them to open their wallets would be a piece of cake... And monster enthusiasts won't hesitate to spend if it satisfies their cravings."
"Even if you priced those sculptures you brought at double the normal rate right now, the crowd out there would snap them all up. They've just laid eyes on a dragon, after all."
Pelle gave a small nod in agreement. Only Orkog looked baffled, glancing around at us in confusion, clearly not following the conversation.
"What he's saying, Orkog, is this: Sell our monster sculptures to the people coming to the inn to see the dragon."
Orkog tilted his head for a moment, then snapped his fingers. "Ah...! Got it."
"Yeah. No monster enthusiast would pass up a sculpture modeled after the dragon—or at least its head—that they just witnessed."
Confirming that Orkog understood, Ammugar turned to me. "Monster enthusiasts are few and far between, so it's tough to do business with them without some serious word-of-mouth. But right now, we could just set up shop here and they'd come flocking on their own."
"That's why I called you guys in. I'll hook you up with a workshop, so make some sculptures. Dragons, if possible."
"Understood, hero. But..." Ammugar hesitated, trailing off. He glanced at me through his glasses, then finally spoke up. "It's not just about letting us make some money that prompted this, is it...?"
"Nah. Give me thirty percent of the sales."
"Th... thirty percent... sir?" Ammugar echoed, his face twisting in distress.
"I'll cover the workshop rent myself, so thirty percent of sales. Even after that, you'll make way more than you did back in Emard."
Ammugar clamped his mouth shut, clearly doing some mental math. Soon, his expression softened a bit. He'd probably crunched the numbers and realized it was still a win. And it was.
"Very well... We'll do it, hero."
"Good. Finish eating, then come with me to City Hall to register and scout a workshop."
The reason I'd brought Ammugar and Orkog along was, of course, this sculpture business I'd just outlined. Letting people just gawk at the dragon and leave felt like a missed opportunity. Better if word spread that anyone visiting the inn could snag top-quality monster sculptures too.
And there was another reason for dragging these demons here. It was for Pelle.
She'd cried on the basement stairs while reading Ammugar's letter, and her eyes had been so puffy from weeping when they'd stopped by Emard with Ukun last time. Seeing her like that had stuck with me, weighing on my mind. Having her fellow demons around might cheer her up a little.
Of course, I couldn't have those scary-looking guys actually staying at the inn... But if they lived within walking distance, it should be comfort enough for Pelle. If this venture took off, they might even settle in Rosens for good.
I glanced at Pelle, who stood there arms crossed, silent as ever.
Right after we finished eating, I took the demons into town. At City Hall, we filed the special oversight temporary entry notice and submitted their personal details to the guard post. Now Ammugar and Orkog could operate legally within Rosens, under constant guard surveillance.
We found a workshop for them on the eastern outskirts of town, close to the inn. Even with permits, demons strutting around downtown might be a bit much.
The place we picked was a two-story gabled house. The elderly owner explained that the second floor had been her home, the first a shop—now vacant since she closed the business. She barely batted an eye at the demons, focusing only on the lease and deposit.
"I've already ordered materials from the lumberyard—they'll deliver here. Bring the sculptures to the inn every night."
"Yes, hero."
With Ammugar and Orkog's temporary workshop sorted, I headed back to the inn feeling much lighter.
The self-proclaimed monster enthusiasts lingered in the yard until sunset, hoping the red dragon might make another appearance. Only after the sun fully dipped behind the Vurn Mountains did they finally disperse. Some came inside for meals and rented rooms.
"Phew... That was exhausting..." Idwild set down an empty glass on the bar, wiping sweat from her forehead. Her raised arm revealed sweat-soaked underarms, darkening down to her side.
"Hehe... But check this out... We made a killing..." Idwild showed off a bulging pouch stuffed with copper and silver coins.
"Not bad. Here, for your hard work." I fished out a few silvers from the pouch. Idwild beamed, bouncing in place with joy. Her massive breasts jiggled, wafting a thick soap scent.
Marim, who'd been staring from across the room, sidled up to me slyly. "Boss. Starting tomorrow, lemme work with Idwild instead of deliveries..."
"Go wash up and hit the hay. You've got deliveries tomorrow too."
"Sheesh... Big tits get all the love and cash, while flat girls like me just suffer. Unfair."
"Watch your mouth." Marim stuck her tongue out at me and blinked away.
"Hehe... Gonna buy something yummy with Marim... Thanks, Bertrand..." Idwild clutched the silvers tight, her plump rear swaying as she climbed the stairs, breasts still bouncing.
I savored the view of her fattened, jiggling hips for a moment before crossing to the bathhouse. Della sat at the counter, counting the day's earnings.
"Boss? What brings you here?"
"Just came to see you. Big haul today?"
"You bet. Take a look." Della swept her hand over the stacks of coins on the counter.
"Damn, that's a lot."
"Only 'cause you always look out for us." Della flashed a naughty smile, lowering her gaze demurely. "But... you've been neglecting me lately. Ever since that time, no attention at all."
"Hmm... That so? Guess it's time for an inspection, then."
I circled behind the counter and stood at Della's back. She bowed her head, gripping the counter and sticking out her ass.
"Ukun's inside... Be quiet, okay...?"
"That dwarf's too short to see anyway."
I hiked up Della's skirt and yanked her panties down to her thighs.
We were deep in reaffirming our mutual trust when the men's bath door suddenly burst open. Ukun stomped out. Startled, Della's body clenched hard around part of me, forcing me to unload prematurely.
Della clamped a hand over her mouth, trembling silently at the waist, speechless.
"Huh? What're you two doing back there?"
Della, hair disheveled and sweat-drenched, naturally couldn't respond. I spoke up instead. "Uh... Just double-checking the counts."
"What? You idiots need two people for that?"
"Shut it."
Ukun grumbled to himself as he shuffled toward the inn. Only after he was gone did Della and I carefully separate. As I pulled back, her legs gave out, and she slumped to the floor, panting.
"You okay...?"
"Y-yeah, boss... Go... take care of business..." Della whispered like a sigh, waving me off.
I stroked her back, pulled up my pants, and returned to the inn.
Late that night, after closing up, I headed to my room. Sprawled on the bed, I amused myself imagining ways to fleece the monster enthusiasts when someone knocked.
Before I could say "come in," the door slid open, and Pelle entered.
"What's up?"
Pelle said nothing, striding to the bed in her heels—click-clack—then started stripping. Her short dress made her naked in seconds. By the time I processed it, she was straddling me.
"What're you...?"
"Thanks."
With that curt word, Pelle began demonstrating her loyalty to her master.
"Tastes funny. You've been with someone else again, huh."
"Aren't you meddling too much in your master's private life?"
"Then punish me."
And so, that night, Pelle got thoroughly tamed, horns gripped tight.
The next morning, before dawn, Pelle dressed and slipped out. As she reached for the door, she sucked in a sharp breath and stepped back.
Kosa stood there, lute slung over her shoulder, staff in hand. She spoke softly. "Master. Are you awake?"
Pelle froze, eyes darting to me without a sound. Caught off guard by Kosa's early visit, I stammered, "Uh... Kosa? What's up so early?"
"Good, you're up. I have something to discuss."
"Oh... yeah?"
Kosa nodded faintly with a smile and stepped forward. Her staff tapped the floor left and right.
Tap. Tap. Tap.