"Minion?" Sen repeated, now worryingly, but yet no one answered. “Minion?”The seed of doubt worming itself in his mind, Sen searched for his prized lackey. He watched his minions, led by the Kobold Rangers, fight off stragglers while Sweet Chocolatine captured imps in fishnets. The minions cheered Sen as he flew over them, as they should. He didn’t land to ask them, for, with his damaged wing, he knew he couldn’t fly again after landing.The dragon went north, towards the sheeps’ pens, finding his dragon guests feasting on his pantry. Corpseling Jules and Rolo the golem tended to his chief of staff, laying in the dirt and surrounded by other crying minions, from Malfy the fiend to that reptilian Savoureuse. Sen graciously landed nearby, covering the minions with dust.“Ah… ah... ah minion, here you are,” Sen said while catching his breath. He immediately noticed that his lackey had grown wings and a tail, just like his master! What a faithful chief of staff. Sen didn’t have the heart

Classic merchant, wording the request by implying he already accepted.Kyle hesitated. The other options weren’t all that good, but returning to Melromac meant continuing his life as a minion, with all that it entailed.But…Kyle thought back about what Savoureuse told him, before the fight with Furibon. That he had the opportunity to make a good life in that new world instead of trying to chase after the past.Kyle would never admit it out loud, but he had grown attached to Melromac, and the people he met there. Even that crazy dragon.Especially that dragon.“Will I still get into Heaven if I return?” he asked Miel.“You will have to take a new insurance plan,” Miel flashed a smile at him, which he didn’t find innocent at all. “A better one this time.”That settled it.“Excellent choice,” Shesha said, happy with the transaction. She touched his left arm with her cold fingers, a tattoo representing a coin with a snake symbol on it materializing on his skin.Congratulations! You earne

“Were you not informed?” Manling Roland asked. “I froze your bounty a month ago. I asked that no adventurer of Gardemagne go after your head.”“Aw, but that was free experience and treasures!” Sen complained.“Your Majesty, we left the previous hideout because they kept bothering us,” Manling Kyle reminded him. “Also, I’m pretty sure we’ve made many enemies who will love to go after our heads.”Manling King Roland cleared out his throat. “Bounties are for enemies, and I would like to come as a friend.”“Only Manling Kyle earned that title,” Sen chastised the upstart, the statement taking back the various manlings.“Then, as a good neighbor,” King Roland replied. “I have no quarrel with you, so long as you return my niece to me.”“I, Sen, unlike you robbers, do not tax or infringe on my minions’ private property,” Sen replied smugly. “I shall release your princess back into the wild after tonight. But you better grant me my promised boon.”“Of course,” King Roland replied, proving hims

“Bye Sen!” one of his last dragon guests said, flying away under the midday sun. “Amazing Bragging Day!”“Of course, it was mine!” Sen replied, which left his close family as the only remaining dragons. “Aww, you’re leaving?”“I do not want to leave my hoard unattended for long,” Genialissime replied, his mate Blightswamp at his side. “You know how many greedy ratlings live near my place. You avoid eating them for a year, and then they forget the food chain.”“Uncle Sen, Uncle Sen!” Jolie could scarcely stay in place. “Can I make my lair nearby? I want to become a great adventurer just like you!”“Jolie, there is a big flying city full of tasty elves and demons which now belongs to me,” Sen replied, happy to have company. “I will gladly let you settle there!”“Great!” Jolie squealed in happiness. “I will bring my hoard there!”“It was the best Bragging Day of the century,” Genialissime congratulated Sen. “I cannot wait to test my new magical powers on my cattle!”“Just wait for my new

“Good morning, Miss Kia. Indeed, I am now a full-fledged heaven counselor. I must inform you that you should upgrade your subscription to Heaven+. For your sake.”Angels. Meaning well, but pushy.“Look at that,” the bug fiend’s tone turned venomous. “A redemption chaser. Let me guess, your subscriptions are down again, and you have come to learn from the better multiplanar company?”“Those are donations, and they are up!” Miel replied, the mere sight of the fiend angering her. “In fact, I have come to prospect new cli—new believers!”“Prospect?! This is our market! We took it from Maure Hellcorporated, now it’s our turn to establish a monopoly!”“Since it is a ‘free market economy’, as you slimy sales demon said, the higher-ups want to invest there,” Miel replied, showing the fiend a contract. “I have received the authorization of the Grand Vizier himself!”“You... You will not steal our market share!” Malfaisant protested, much to Kia’s joy.“The goddess, Shesha, also voiced her inte