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Grimmy rolled a translucent jar back and forth between his two front paws. The devil inside had turned back into a potato-like shape with closed eyes, its limbs and distinguishing features having snapped off due to a previous session of violent shaking. Grimmy blew flames over the jar, but the devil didn’t react, causing Grimmy to roll the pot towards Lindyss, who was sitting on rock while reading a book. The jar struck her leg, causing her to hiss as she put the book down. “That’s hot,” she said as she kicked the jar away and rubbed her knees and shins with a hand filled with healing magic. She wiped her hand on her seat and stared at Grimmy. “What do you want?”
“Pay attention to me,” Grimmy said, a smile cutting across his face.
Lindyss snorted. “What are you, a dog?” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a book. “Here, you can read this.”
“Pass,” Grimmy said, holding his paw out in front of himself. “Human words are too tiny and flipping the pages is annoying.”
Lindyss stored the book and swiveled her head around, looking for anything to amuse Grimmy with. Unfortunately, the cave that they had chosen to reside in was relatively empty. There was a bear carcass in the corner—the previous owner of the cave. Lindyss scratched her head. “Why don’t you, uh, I don’t know, terrorize a few towns or something? That’s always fun for you, isn’t it?” She glared at him when he shrugged his shoulders in response. “Didn’t you come here with a goal in mind? All you did was trap a devil. Why don’t you catch the summoner or the people behind him as well?”
Grimmy exhaled, causing Lindyss’ hair to flutter backwards. “This is why you’re the ruler of only half the world,” he said and shook his head. “You see, summoning devils takes a lot of energy and resources, and the materials required for that are a huge pain to find. Well, not really, but it’s a hassle. If I want to capture devils, all I have to do is let those summoners summon more for me. I’ll achieve my aims without even lifting a finger. It’s a little like having the great idea of creating a massive undead army that I control but don’t have to maintain because I placed someone else in charge of the boring bits.”
“See,” Erin whispered from within Lindyss’ shirt. “He’s just using you.”
Lindyss flicked the fairy with her finger, causing her to cry out. “I already know that.”
“Then why’d you hit me!?”
“Be quiet,” Lindyss said. “Stop saying things that’ll annoy him because he’ll take it out on me in the form of relentless nagging or teasing.”
“…You deserve it,” Erin said in a defeated voice.
Grimmy’s head rose off the ground as his legs straightened. He turned around, his massive body scraping against the walls of the cave, kicking bits of dust and soil up into the air. “Something interesting is coming this way,” he said with a chuckle as his tail nearly knocked Lindyss’ head off. He lumbered outside, the moonlight gleaming off his black scales as if they were made of obsidian.
“What is it?” Lindyss asked as she stored the book in her hand. “Not many things are interesting to you.”
“Two phoenixes,” Grimmy said as he licked his lips, “and one very delicious species of turtle.”
“Aren’t all species of turtle delicious?” Lindyss asked, raising an eyebrow as she climbed up Grimmy’s tail. She made her way to the top of his head and sat in between his eyes with her legs crossed. “I want some too.”
“This species of turtle has a snake for a tail, so it’s a two-in-one package deal,” Grimmy said. “I thought they went extinct long ago, but it seems like we encroached on one’s territory.”
Lindyss nodded and swallowed her saliva. She hadn’t eaten for a few days because she was too engrossed in her book, and Grimmy hadn’t hunted anything either. “I think I can sense it, but it’s a very faint aura. It seems like an infant? If it’s on the verge of extinction, shouldn’t you capture it and start up a hatchery?”
“You want me to start a turtle farm? These turtles are as strong as dragons when they’re adults,” Grimmy said. “It’s better to eat it now before it grows old enough to lay eggs.”
Lindyss smacked the top of his head. “You’re giving up huge long-term profits for a tiny short-term gain.”
Grimmy rubbed his chin with his front paw. “We’ll see.”
The two waited underneath the moonlight. A figure appeared on the horizon, two phoenixes perched on its shoulders. Grimmy’s expression relaxed as he deflated with a sigh. “It’s just a person with an imprint,” he said and clicked his tongue. “How disappointing.”
Lindyss sighed as well, her stomach grumbling. “I guess we can eat the phoenixes? A small consolation prize at least.”
“Phoenixes taste burnt,” Grimmy said with a snort. “I don’t want any.” He turned back around and lumbered inside the cave, plopping down onto the ground while curling up into a ball. A moment later, he raised his head. “Waiting for these people to summon more devils is boring. Maybe I’ll capture this person and use her as bait for the turtle that imprinted her.” He climbed back onto his feet and trudged out of the cave. When his head poked out of it, his snout nearly collided against an armored woman, Mary.
Mary took in a deep breath and drew her sword, pointing it at Grimmy’s nose as the two phoenixes on her shoulders flew away into a nearby tree.
“Doesn’t that dragon look familiar?” Susan asked Emile as they hid behind some leaves.
“All dragons look the same,” Emile said and snorted.
Grimmy tilted his head and blinked at Mary. “What’s this?” he asked. “You’re pointing a sword at me?”
“You captured a devil,” Mary said, her voice unwavering despite her pale face. “I’m here to reclaim it.”
Grimmy’s eyes narrowed into slits as his smile widened. “Oh?” He plucked Lindyss off his head and placed her in front of Mary. “You two should fight.”
“Huh?” Lindyss and Mary asked at the same time.
Lindyss glared at Grimmy. “This is entertainment for you, isn’t it?”
“I’ll give you the devil if you win,” Grimmy said to Mary as he folded his front paws and rested his chin on top of them. “Well, what are you waiting for?”
“I don’t particularly like thrashing brats,” Lindyss said as she scratched the back of her head with an awkward expression on her face. “How about you surrender?”
Mary charged at Lindyss while swinging her sword in response.