No Dog, No Deal

The tavern dress is a bit scratchy around my waist. Not the best feeling when paired with the sticky scents of sweat and musk. Still, it’s miles better than my old job; I’d gladly trade ringing up items for pouring ale mugs for rowdy travelers any day. Makes life a bit more exciting, wouldn’t you say?

So I put on my brightest smile in the dingy mirror, the single crack in the bottom not deterring me at all, and say in the cheeriest voice I can muster: “How can I help you today, sir?”

Something fluffy and white pounces on a scrap of cloth hanging from the mirror. My little Hokkaido pup Kumo tears at the cloth with his teeth, his tail swishing in all different directions as he yanks out the threads. I manage to smooth out my skirt one final time before kneeling down to take the cloth from him.

“No, Kumo. Not for you.”

But he just stares up at me with those big brown eyes, and suddenly I can’t stay mad at him for too long. I coo and scratch the spot just behind his ears, whispering sweet nothings under my breath. Hands down, the best part about this new life is the fact that stuck-up goddess actually let me keep my precious doggie.

…Oh yeah, the goddess. Let me back up a bit, okay?

|~|

My old life started out pretty fun, but then that quickly ended once I finished school and started working. A dead-end retail job with bills and loans to pay off, with overbearing parents wondering when I would get a career and settle down and start a family. Every holiday ended with me trudging back to my lonesome apartment, contemplating on whether or not to slam my head against the wall. (Once I actually did it and managed to knock myself out. Not my best moment, I’ll admit.)

I tried to make the best of it day by day, but I was quickly getting bored with regular life. Going to work, coming home, shopping for essentials, going to sleep, and then waking up just to start all over. Maybe I was just sick of city life. Perhaps…I needed a fresh start. Somewhere in the countryside, perhaps?

I was pondering this while walking Kumo before work. The little pup was the brand-new addition to our little family, and he’d already brought me endless joy (and headaches). But then I realized the time, quickly scooped him up in my arms and booked it back towards my apartment.

If I didn’t leave within the next ten minutes I’d miss my train, and then my boss wouldn’t like it if I turned up late to work, and then I’d have to hear about it—

Oh look, a bus.

|~|

Next thing I know, I’m sitting cross-legged in the middle of nowhere, almost like a kid during story time. I blink, touch my face, then tug at my clothes. Everything seems to be in order, but…

Am I…dead?

But then another more important thought crosses my mind. Kumo!

I’m about to call out to the pup when suddenly a cluster of sparkles form in front of me. Bright golden lights melt together into the shape of a person—no, of a woman with long flowing yellow hair and gorgeous blue eyes. A thousand white flowers decorate her silver dress, the skirt coiling down around her ankles. She’s the epitome of beauty, the only thing visible in this empty void around us. The sparkles rise above her, forming stars along the vast darkness.

“Keiko Igarashi, daughter of moon and sun, wandering traveler of the realms, I’ve called upon you to bless this land with your skills and powers. The realm faces a dark—”

“Where’s Kumo?!”

She blinks, her voice catching in her throat. Huh, not used to being interrupted by people, eh? Nevertheless, she tries again. “I…um, you’ve been summoned here to the realm of—”

“I don’t care. Where’s Kumo?”

Her jaw clenches ever so slightly, but she manages to mask it with a sickly sweet smile. My fingers twitch at the sight.

“Kind traveler, if you would just listen to me—”

“No. Where is my dog?”

This time she glares at me, stomping her silver-heeled foot against the black floor. (Wait a minute, how are we even floating like this?)

“Listen here, traveler, you are in the presence of none other than the goddess of light and life, so mind your tongue when you’re speaking to me!”

“Where’s my dog?”

“Are you even listening to a single word I’m saying?!”

“Where’s my dog?”

“I’m talking to you, you know!”

“Give. Dog. Now.”

Her cheeks are a bright shade of red, all puffed out like a child’s. It’s almost adorable, how easy it is to rile her up. But I don’t have time to gloat, not when my pup isn’t in my sight.

“Can’t you at least try to take this seriously, wandering traveler?”

“…No. Where’s my dog?”

She groans, catching her head in her hands. It’s hard to keep my features schooled, but on the inside I’m panicking. Who is this strange woman, and what has she done with my best friend?!

Finally she relents, and when she looks up her blue eyes are a bit glassy. “If I return your canine companion to you, will you promise me you’ll listen to what I have to say?”

I frown and hold out my hands to her. “Dog first.”

She mutters something under her breath, and suddenly with a snap of her fingers a fluffy white ball appears in my arms. Kumo wriggles around, his tail lashing from side to side as he reaches up to lick at my face.

I manage to let out a sigh. Doggy acquired, thank God.

“…Okay, what were you saying?”

She bares her teeth for a moment, then takes a deep breath and clasps her hands in front of her. She seems a bit calmer, now that she’s gotten the audience she so desperately wanted.

“Let me start again. Keiko Igarashi, daughter of moon and sun, I’ve called upon you to serve the realm that lies before you. Your former life is no more, but you’ve been granted a second chance by the gods and goddesses of this blessed realm. The journey that lies before you will be daunting, perilous at times, but a grand reward is promised at the end of your path.”

I blink, taking in her words one by one. Kumo squirms in my arms, occasionally licking at my face as she talks. Luckily he doesn’t seem bothered by our strange circumstances.

The woman smiles up at me, her glassy eyes luminous against the dark backdrop. Her teeth are pearly white, her blond hair combed so perfectly. With an appearance like this, there’s no way she’s just an ordinary human.

“With your strength and skills, you have been chosen to bring the realm back from the brink of ruin. Take heed with this warning, dear traveler. The journey ahead will be dangerous, but a necessary one for a hero of your caliber. Now go on, fulfill your—”

“Eh, I think I’ll pass.”

The silence that ensues is deafening. I can see the woman’s face contorting, a mix of fury, anger, betrayal…but I merely shrug and turn on my heel. Kumo continues to wag his tail happily.

“Thanks for the offer, but I’m not interested in becoming a hero.” I’ve read way too many light novels to know how this ends up.

“B-but I summoned you! You can’t just walk away, traveler!”

“Well, I can. And I am, right now. Watch me.”

“Halt, right there!”

I hug Kumo close and continue to walk. It’s nothing but darkness as far as I can see, but it has to end somewhere, right? Maybe we can find a way out—

Suddenly my hands fall to my sides. My eyes widen, and my heart leaps in my throat. Kumo—?!

I whirl around, just in time to see the woman holding the pup close. He doesn’t seem too bothered with the change in handler; his tail hasn’t stopped moving since she snapped him back into existence.

“I need you to listen, traveler. So please, don’t walk away from me.”

I grit my teeth, my hands clenched into fists at my sides. I have a feeling I know what’s coming, and the last thing I want to do is sit here and listen to it. But I don’t have a choice, not when she’s holding Kumo as a hostage.

“This realm is in grave danger. Within four years’ time, the entire land will be consumed in chaos and bloodshed. I have summoned you to put a stop to it, vanquishing the enemy before he has a chance to rise to power. I am begging you, traveler. Too many times have I seen the realm burn to ash…”

Her eyes glisten with tears. I bite my lip, unable to suppress the pang of sympathy that hits my chest. I don’t like it when people cry in front of me. I’m not very good at comforting them, as I’ve been told plenty of times before.

So I simply sigh and shake my head. I guess there’s no way out of this, huh? “Fine, whatever. What’s his name, and what do I do to beat him?”

“In four years’ time, he will answer to the infamous title of Demon Prince.”

I quirk an eyebrow. They’re never really creative with these scary villain names, huh?

“As for your role,” the woman sighs, finally passing Kumo back to me, “you must summon enough strength to defeat him, not in battle, but in matters of the heart. Strength is preferred, yes, but only your pure and gentle heart can win this war.”

…Yeah, okay.

“Erm…thanks, ma’am. I’ll do my best…?”

It’s a pretty crappy promise from a so-called hero of the realm, but it makes her eyes light up so prettily. It might be a trick of the light, but it looks like her entire being, and not just her dress or the sparkles, are glowing even brighter.

“Thank you, kind traveler. Your words give me hope for the future of this realm! And if you may ever need assistance in your quest, do not hesitate to call upon me.”

A slip of paper appears before me. I frown and grasp it, reading the elegant script on the page. Goddess of Light and Life, Reina.

…A business card? Seriously?

“Thank you…?”

But I can’t be too harsh, not when she looks like I’ve hung the moon.

“Splendid! I expect great things from you, Keiko Igarashi. Oh, and your little pup, too.”

Then she snaps her fingers, and the darkness below me gives out. I cry out as the wind whips through my hair, clutching the barking Kumo tight to my chest.

|~|

And now we come back to tonight.

With a sigh, I straighten up and give myself a final look in the mirror. The memories are still fresh, despite having happened about a month ago. I was left wandering on my own by the goddess in the middle of nowhere, until the owner of this tavern found me and took me in. He promised a roof over my head and hot meals, if I agreed to work in the tavern as a serving girl. The pay’s not the best, and the tavern’s interior has seen better days, but it definitely beats out my old convenience store job. Plus, Kumo is a welcome sight for the customers and servers, as long as he stays out of the kitchen. (The owner’s wife also likes having him around.)

But I’m always on guard, wondering if any shady figures will make themselves known at the tavern, ready to attack us. I don’t know much about physical combat, and I’m pretty sure that whole “pure and gentle heart” thing the goddess talked about was just a bunch of nonsense, but just in case I have a knife strapped to my thigh, just below the hem of my dress. (The tavern owner himself gave it to me! Nice, huh?)

Oh, and Kumo’s starting to get a pretty nasty bite to him. Last week he nearly tore a chunk out of a man’s ankle for pushing around one of the serving girls. He was rewarded with a pile of meat twice his size and a nice warm bath. Aww, he was just so fluffy and cute…

But it’s already been a month, and nothing’s happened so far. Maybe the goddess was mistaken? She did say there were four years before the so-called villain became actually dangerous. So maybe she just had her dates wrong? Usually in these kinds of stories the plot would be moving forward, like, the day after the hero gets send to their new world, right?

Best case scenario? Nothing bad happens, and I get to live a nice, quiet life in this tavern with my cute little pup Kumo. Honestly, it sounds like a dream come true!

I pat my cheeks and smile one last time in the mirror. Yeah, I look great for tonight!

“You be good, Kumo. I promise to bring you snacks later, okay?”

But he’s not listening (as usual); he’s too busy tearing at the cloth again. I sigh, take it from him one more time, and head out of the room.

The main floor of the tavern is already bustling with customers, with serving girls bouncing from table to table. A few rowdy men are already laughing in the corner, knocking back mugs of ale one after the other. There’s a young drunken couple sitting by the door, taking sips from each other’s drinks with shy giggles, their cheeks flushed with pink. All in all, it’s a relatively normal night at the tavern.

I flash my usual smile at a group of men from behind the counter, wiping down the stray droplets from spilled ale with a clean brown rag. “Welcome to the Drunken Dragon, sir! What would you like to drink tonight? Rum, wine, mead, ale, we’ve got it all! So what can I—”

The words die in my throat when I finally look up. The men are only half-listening to me, lost in their usual conversation. But one of them in particular saunters closer to the counter—close enough to rest their elbows on the wood surface.

Oh no… Oh gods…

“Good evening to you too, ma’am.” The Demon Prince himself graces me with an innocent smile. “I’ll take some of your finest ale, if you have some.”

…Looks like I won’t be getting that quiet, boring life after all.