“Muahahaaha. Villain, no I am a demon. Mao, the great and powerful flame. My name will etch fear into your bones so deep that the blood you pass on to your descendants will know to fear it. If you wish to resist my rule go ahead and try. I could always destroy this pathetic town. Yes. I like the sound of that, Rockfell will be turned into nothing but ash.”

“What are you doing? Wait, come back, Mir!”

Mir ran up to me with tears in his eyes his lip quivered as he tried to speak.

“I…I…”

It takes a child huh? The people of Rockfell really are pathetic. Squatting down to eye level with Mir I glared into his eyes, he flinched taking a step back.

“What.”

“I…I…won’t. I won’t let you.”

A sinister grin plastered itself on my face. “You won’t let me.”

The crowd gasped as I grabbed Mir by the jaw holding him steady as I brought a flaming palm near his face.

“Won’t let me what?”

“I won’t let you destroy my home?”

“Why?”

Mir’s eyes grew wider as he shook from fear, I could see him clenching his fist. Mir bit his lip drawing blood in an attempt to calm himself.

“Rockfell is my home. It might be poor. It might be forgotten. The people might have forgotten what this place was like before. Before the mine closed down. Before everyone wandered around without purpose. Before my father died. But I remember. Rockfell, Rockfell is a wonderful place. One day it’s going to be back to the way it was, no better, it will be better. I swear it. So, Mao please….please don’t destroy my home.”

By the time Mir had finished speaking he was nearly choking on his tears. The expression on my face showed that I was unmoved. The townspeople on the other hand that was a different story. Mir’s words seemed to resonant with them.

“You’re making a deal with a demon huh? Well that’ll cost something. Like your life.”

As all of Rockfell watched with bated breath I brought my flaming hand down toward Mir’s head.

“NOOOO!!!” Maria cried out as my hand neared her son.

She tired to reach me but the crowd held her back. Mir trembled not breaking eye contacted with me as my hand touched his head.

By the time it did the flames had been extinguished, all I was doing now was patting him on the head.

“Well if that’s how you feel then the town’s yours. You better make into a place that’s much better than this one or…”

Without even turning away I flicked my hand off in a direction setting of an explosion of flames. The townspeople’s eyes widen as I back away from Mir.

“See ya brat. The bandits will help you fix whatever Chuu broke.”

“I didn’t break anything. How dare chuu blame chuu, Chuu.”

“You can keep Chuu if you want.”

Mir shook his head as he wiped away his tears, he was smiling. As I began making my leave I scratched at my chest, apparently the dust from the mine didn’t agree with me.

“Oh, by the way the witch destroyed the inner chamber of the mine. So, the bandits are gonna have to help you excavate it.”

“That’s a lie!” Old lady Ma yelled attracting more attention than she meant to.

“Hey this old lady looks sorta familiar.”

“Yeah now that you mention it.”

Sweat began dripping down Ma’s forehead only adding to the townspeople’s suspicion.

“Sir Mao wait.”

“Huh?”

What the hell was this about? Some old man that I hadn’t notice the entire time I’ve been in Rockfell approached me while the crowd of people cheered Mir on for saving the town.

“Hohoho I see what you did there.”

“I threatened to destroy the town. It’s not a secret I loudly proclaimed it actually.”

The old man nudged me, I wonder if he thought I wouldn’t harm him because he was old.

“The people of Rockfell have fallen on tough times. Nothing like a rousing speech to light that passion that’s burned out. Extreme as your method may have been I appreciate them. I’m sure deep down they do too.”

Huh. What did he think was going on here? I just wanted to stop seeing those feel sorry for me looks in their eyes. I had a number of options to accomplish that. Simple as that.

“We still have a shipment of ore from the mine that’s yet to be delivered.”

“And your point?”

“As you are aware the towns normally more bustling than this. Thanks to that adventurers come from here or there. A lot of the time we get them to help guard the shipments. What I’m asking is if you could wait until the morning to leave. And help guard the shipment of ore. I’ll even throw in a rare piece for you if you keep it between us. What do ya say? Oh, and did I mention the payment will be fifty drops how does that sound?”

I wanted to say no on principal I wasn’t an errand boy. Beside who the hell hires someone who just threatened to destroy their home. Also, on an equally important side note what the hell was a drop? Was fifty a lot? Was it small? I don’t know, the numbers and term meant nothing to me.

“We’ll take it. Chuu have good taste in guards, chuu.”

The old man looked at Chuu curious while rubbing his chin. “What’s that?”

“A sentient tumor. Whatever I guess. I’d love to see how you’re going to convince the towns…”

Huh where’d that old man go. In his place Mir stood there looking up at with a smile.

“The townspeople aren’t really mad at you. Well most of them, but they don’t hold grudges so don’t worry about it. Will you be staying at my place again?”

Mir reached a hand toward mine while giving me a strange smile. The words buzz off weirdo popped into my head well not those words exactly but…

“Why not. You are my servant now after all.”

Mir looked up at me with a weird expression. “What’d you say?”

“Nothing. Nothing at all.”

Author's Note

Hi everyone, I recently realized that not all my subscribers use the Tapas website meaning you don't get to see any updates I post on my wall. I figured since I wanted everyone to know I would post a little note at the end of this episode.

I'll keep it short and provide links in the description. I opened a merch store and will be gradually adding to it. There's also an awesome design I want to share with everyone which is up on my Instagram so be sure to check it out. Anyway thank you so much for reading and subbing I really appreciate it.