[RAW]Apocalypse Innkeeper -- Chapter 3

Chapter 3

I stared at her dumbly.  “A job?”

The demon nodded again.  “Exactly. ADI is going to provide humanity with new services for the next phase of the ascension. Specifically, we’ll be running the rest and resupply areas.”

“Demons, working for jellyfish?” I asked.

“Not really,” Or’ireth replied.  “I won’t get into the details of how trials are delegated to a clan, but it involves a lot of bribery and backstabbing.  The clans not selected to oversee the trial are given the right to run other services.  ADI is running the rest and resupply areas.”

“Right, back to drowning,” I said, resuming my trek toward the creek.

“You wanted to open a business right, run a restaurant?”

I paused.  “How did you know that?”

“The Medusozoa Chorus is required to run aptitude tests as part of the ascension process, to ensure the species being tested is given a fair chance at completing it.”

I turned my head and gave her a hard look.

“The legalese for a fair chance can be stretched rather far,” she admitted.  “Anyway, you scored highly in the areas that ADI is interested in!  We feel you’d be a perfect candidate to run one of our rest and relax franchises in the next phase of the ascension!”

“What?” I was once again dumbfounded.

“A handful of humans, yourself included, are about to hit level thirty,” Or’ireth explained.  “Once you do, you’ll be given a Class and a chance to leave the tutorial area, to truly explore the ruins of Joriel and face its many harrowing challenges.”

“Oh, joy.”

“Exactly,” she chuckled.  “A lot of things change after leaving the tutorial area.  Instead of the crappy Realm Stores you’re used to, there’ll be hubs where people can go to craft gear, buy supplies, even get a good night’s rest.”

That part caught my attention; it sounded like heaven.  “Seriously?”

“Are you familiar with the concept of an Adventurer’s Inn?” she asked.

“Sure,” I muttered, the gears in my brain already spinning.  “It’s just like in games, right? They’re somewhere to buy a beer, eat a giant turkey leg, and heal all your wounds by sleeping in a comfy bed overnight.”

“All true, except the heal overnight part,” the demon said in a seductive tone.  “Those locations need to be staffed by qualified individuals, and ADI and I feel you’d be perfect for one of those roles!”

I mentally slammed on the breaks.  “Hold on, hold on, a demon, showing up out of nowhere, to offer me what I want most in the world?  This has got to be a scam, right?  You’re going to demand my soul or something and then leave me high and dry!”

“There are some details we’d need to hammer out, but the offer is an honest one,” the demon countered.

“Details?” I pressed.

“You’ll need to be level thirty and be qualified to leave the tutorial area before you can take the job.” She held up her hands.  “Don’t worry, once you agree and sign on, ADI will be more than willing to help you with that last, small hurdle!”

“What else?” I pressed.

She straightened the fabric on her blouse.  “This opportunity is still considered part of humanity’s trial, so we won’t be able to offer you a full franchise to start.  Essentially you’ll need to level up the inn and expand its capabilities through hard work and effort.”

I blinked.  “And I get paid on top of all this?”

Or’ireth nodded.  “Of course, you keep everything you earn!  As an ADI franchise, you’ll be selling goods and services at a set price, and you’ll need to purchase your supplies and materials through our storefront, but we offer a very fair profit margin!”

“I’d have to see it first,” I grumbled.

“Of course!”  The demon pulled a device similar to a cell phone out of her pocket, and a new screen popped up between us.

It was a list of the food, beverages, and services I’d be able to offer with a level-one location.  It was pretty basic, but she was right, the profit margin, all in Realm Coins, was very generous.  I’d be making more than I could ever dream just by grinding monsters and clearing dungeons.

I had to forcefully stop my stomach from grumbling from seeing the food list.

Closing the window, I peered at the demon more closely.

She was drop-dead gorgeous, no doubt about it.  Her skin was a place shade of blue, almost periwinkle, with a tapered set of horns curling from her brow.  In contrast, her hair was so blue it was nearly black. It cascaded all the way down to her hips in thick, flowing waves.

The cut of her clothes might have been rather conservative, but it could hide the flare of her hips and breasts.  And her face was a pure vision of beauty, with thick, full lips, soft features, and eyes that were pitch black with glowing blue pupils.

She was sin, all prim, proper, and seductive.

I shook my head.  “There’s got to be a catch to all of this.”

Or’ireth glanced around as if she were afraid we’d be overheard. Her fingers danced across her phone.

“There is, but not for you,” she said, her voice pitched low.  “I can’t get into the details, not here, not now, but let's say my clan is very sympathetic toward other clans forced to undergo these brutal, senseless trials.”

“And?” I pushed.

“We want to stick it to the Medusozoa Chrous and all the assholes responsible,” she finished.

I thought for a moment, then nodded.  “Okay, where do I sign?”

*****

Even the end of the world couldn’t save me from paperwork.  Or’ireth summoned a mountain of contracts, forms, and whatnot that needed to be reviewed and signed.

And I insisted on reading them all.  Or’ireth seemed on the up-and-up, but I wasn’t dumb enough to trust anyone I just met especially a demon.

The business courses I had taken were paying off if nothing else.  The language in the contracts wasn’t the dense legalese I had feared, but instead, they laid out my franchise options in straightforward, plain language.

It was surprising, but Or’ireth had been honest with me.  I was looking at the opportunity of a lifetime.

“Shit,” I sighed, “hand me a pen.”

I signed everything, going through form after form until my hand began to cramp.

Or’ireth, grinning happily, reviewed everything before tucking the documents away.  “Fantastic, I’m looking forward to working with you, Erin!”

“Same,” I admitted.  “So, what comes next?”

“Next, you need to hit level thirty so you can leave the tutorial area,” she explained.  “The quickest and easiest way to do that is to clear a Challenging Dungeon.”

Despite the warmth of the day, I felt a chill.

Challenge Dungeons were a step above the dungeons I had been clearing out.  They featured superior loot, according to the System, but they were defended by powerful monsters and bosses.  Without any gear or weapons, it would be a suicide mission for me to even attempt it.

Or’ireth grinned.  “Don’t worry.  Now that you've signed up for a franchise, you qualify for a number of ADI perks.  We’re limited in what we can do until you leave the tutorial, but we can provide you with equipment and assistance in clearing the dungeon.”

“What kind of assistance?” I asked.

She fanned her hands in front of herself. “Me!”