The Boss is Back (1)
I gave Mideronde a quick rundown of my thoughts. She listened quietly and then said,
"I get what you're saying. But it's late now, so head back for today and come again tomorrow. We'll talk it over properly in the daylight."
"Sounds good. I'll do that."
I managed to convince Idwild that I could come back tomorrow and finally got her through the dimensional gate. We said our goodbyes to Mideronde and stepped through.
The dimensional gate opened into the inn's courtyard. As I dismounted the hell horse, Kali came bounding over with a joyful bark.
"Hey, you. Missed me, huh?"
I crouched down a bit and spread my arms, but Kali shot right past me and leaped straight into Idwild's arms.
"Hehe... Kali..."
I scratched my head awkwardly as Kali wagged its tail furiously in her embrace. The barking drew Marim out of the inn into the courtyard. Spotting me back to normal, she let out a shriek.
"Gross!"
"What the hell's that crazy half-elf yapping about?"
"You were kinda tolerable as a kid... but gross."
Marim flashed a cheeky grin and held out her hand.
"Gimme my clothes back."
"Sorry. They ripped when I grew back while wearing them."
"What?! Oh man! Oh man! Now he's even stealing clothes?!"
Marim griped loudly all the way back inside, yelling over her shoulder,
"The boss is back!"
As I started unloading the hell horse, Francois, Della, and Ukun came out into the courtyard.
"My goodness. You're really back to your adult self. You were so cute as a kid."
Francois sounded genuinely disappointed, while Della rushed over and hugged me tight.
"Big or small, you're perfect just as you are, Master. No injuries anywhere?"
"Eh, had a few scrapes, but I'm fine. Idwild got a little banged up, though."
Della immediately shoved me aside and started patting Idwild down.
"Idwild? Where are you hurt? You didn't just zone out and trip again, did you?"
"Hehe... No, Della... I'm all healed now..."
Idwild grinned like an idiot, grabbing Della's hands as they poked at her chest.
"Too bad. I was hoping for an excuse to smash that picky mouth with my hammer one more time."
Ukun chuckled as he approached and hoisted the freshly unloaded luggage onto his shoulders.
"Hey, dwarf. We need to talk. It's urgent."
"What now? More crap to haul?"
"Pretty much. You, the demons, and Aterugar—all of us need to chat."
"Even the dragon? What insane scheme are you cooking up now?!"
"First things first—let's unpack."
Ukun and I finished unloading the hell horse, and the rest of the staff headed back inside since the inn was still open for business.
"Idwild, go rest in your room."
"No... I'm fine now... really..."
Idwild beamed dopily, released Kali, and followed Della into the inn.
After stashing the tents and big crates in the warehouse behind the stable, I returned to the courtyard to find Brione still standing there blankly.
"Bertrand..."
She met my eyes, clutched her hands in front of her chest, twisting her fingers like she was tearing them apart, and finally spoke.
"So... I'll be going now..."
I looked at her for a moment and said,
"Your vacation's until tomorrow, right?"
"Huh? Y-yeah... why?"
"Then crash at the inn tonight."
Brione jumped in surprise.
"St-stay at the... inn?! For real...? I can... really...?"
"Gotta go back to Mideronde tomorrow, and I need someone to open the dimensional gate. Stick around till then."
"Yes! Got it...! I'll do that...!"
It was just for the gate, not an invitation to hang out since she had vacation days left, but Brione nodded eagerly with a bright smile anyway.
"Go grab a room. They'll have bathwater ready and everything."
"Th-thanks...!"
Brione panted with excitement as she hurried inside. Ukun, who'd been staring, muttered,
"What the hell's with her?"
"Mage."
"Figures. Mages are all nuts in one way or another."
We each shouldered a bag of odds and ends and headed into the inn. The common room was packed with guests, the noisy clamor deafening.
"Hey, Balder. Business is booming so hard the building's bursting at the seams. Time to expand, pronto."
"Been thinking about it. Tomorrow's got stuff lined up, and the plot next door..."
A sudden crash of shattering plates cut me off. Pelle stood frozen in the middle of the room, staring right through me. Food splattered the floor, but she didn't seem to notice.
Her lips trembled as she stammered,
"M-Master... you're... back..."
"Yeah. Good timing? Your stuff came in handy."
"Ah... y-yes... so... you're staying... adult now...?"
"That black orb's gone. Met the mage who made it and got it lifted."
"Ahh..."
Pelle's legs gave out, and she collapsed to the floor.
"Oh dear... Pelle..."
Idwild rushed over to help her up, but Pelle couldn't stand right away. Looking up at me from the ground, she stuttered,
"G-Good... for you... Congratulations..."
"Thanks."
With that, she hung her head. Idwild coaxed gently,
"Come on, Pelle... the customers are watching..."
Pelle let Idwild pull her up, glanced at me once more, then staggered off to grab a rag.
Pelle must've really liked me small. Sorry about that, but I couldn't stay a kid forever. If she's that bummed, she can have one that looks like me later. Wait, no—that'd just be my kid. Can't have that. Kids mean no more freewheeling life.
I went straight to Aterugar's room, dragged her out. To my now-adult self, she was just a bratty kid, easy to handle.
"Lemme go! You pathetic loser innkeeper scum! Exploiting a poor little girl! Greedy landlord! Hope a revolution wipes you out!"
"Your politics suck. Shut up and follow."
"Where to?! Dragging a delicate pretty girl out at night? Only one place that leads!"
She was making such a racket, no way through the crowded common room. So I opened her window and chucked her out. Then jumped after.
As expected, Aterugar landed without a scratch, fuming.
"Holy sword or nah?"
That shut her up. I joined Ukun in the courtyard, and the three of us headed to the demons' workshop.
The demons' workshop was lit up bright even late at night. A life-sized minotaur statue guarded the entrance, surrounded by piles of botched carvings.
Inside, amid sawdust haze, two burly demons sat carving wood.
"Guys. We need to talk."
"Oh! Hero, sir! Welcome! Hope the dwarf and dragon have been well!"
Ammugar swept junk off the table with his forearm; Orkog bustled to the kitchen for drinks.
"Nah, won't take long. Everyone sit."
We crammed around the tiny table: me, Ukun, Aterugar, and the two demons. Aterugar kept getting elbowed by Orkog's beefy arm and snapped; the demons panicked.
"Useless demons. Should've finished you off back then."
"Over here, Aterugar. Calm down."
I swapped seats for Ukun and her, then got to the point.
"Listen up. I've got an idea. But I need your help to pull it off."
Everyone but Aterugar perked up.
"What is it, sir? Anything you say."
"Pay attention."
I told them about Mideronde's lab and the plan it sparked. Ukun loved it, calling it crazy genius. The demons seemed on board but skeptical about feasibility. Aterugar...
"Hey! Red lizard commie! You catch all that?"
"I did! My ears work fine!"
"So, your take?"
"Do what you want! Why drag me into this? Sounds like you don't even need me. I gotta get back to Pipi!"
Pipi? The rabbit doll from the treasure chest? Man, she's got issues...
"You're needed too, Aterugar. Help out, or Pipi—or whatever—becomes Kali's chew toy."
She huffed flames from her nostrils in rage. The demons paled but stayed quiet—threat worked.
"Alright, consensus. We head out first thing tomorrow morning."
That night, Idwild came to my room. Still spooked from waking in Mideronde's lab.
"Sorry, Bertrand... Even with Della... the dark's too scary..."
"It's fine. Come here. Let's sleep together."
She climbed into bed, burrowing into my arms. We held each other, then kissed... and soon were naked, bodies entwining fiercely.
Footsteps—probably Brione's—lingered outside, but I ignored them. I knew her feelings, but she'd had chances and chosen to leave for what she wanted most. No knife to her throat—just her call. Now she owns the consequences.
The footsteps faded; muffled moans took over. Probably peeking, listening, wallowing in defeat and self-soothing.
"Harder, Bertrand...!"
Feeling Idwild's secret places vividly, I forgot Brione entirely.
Next morning, haggard-eyed Brione opened the gate to Mideronde's lab. I led Ukun, Aterugar, Ammugar, and Orkog through.
Ammugar shrieked like a girl the moment we crossed.
"No way...! How is this place...!"
Even hearing about it yesterday didn't compare to seeing it. The others gawked too. Dawn's light bathed the monster paradise.
Overwhelmed by the view, I declared,
"This is where our monster zoo will be."