Chapter 8

INTERLUDE THEATRE: ACT II Lady Komekko and the Great Lord Host “Hey, you’re a little late today. Let’s get cracking.” Host was sitting in front of the tomb of the Dark God again. “I was so sure there was just one seal puzzle, but I guess I was wrong… Hey, Komekko. Today we’re gonna break Lady Wolbach’s seal for real. It’s your time to shine, girl.” “Okay,” I replied. When we had solved the first puzzle, a more difficult one showed up from inside the pedestal. “Check this out: I brought you more food. I mean, it’s just something I caught outside the village and then grilled up. I can’t exactly go shoppin’ in town. Hope you can live with this.” Then he presented me with some sort of very cooked meat… “…Drool.” “…For when you’ve made some progress on that puzzle, all right? But look, why’re you even here? Ain’tcha got a mommy or some friends or something?” “Mom’s never home, and I’m the only girl my age in the village. I don’t have any toys, either, so I was playing with this.” “…I get it. Well, uh. Anyway, the Great Lord Host is here if you want to talk, at least till you finish that puzzle. This one looks pretty tough, so I bet it’ll take you a while. Security’s pretty tight around the village, so I can’t get here every day, but I’ll bring you something to eat when I can.” He took a look at my work. “Hey, you’re comin’ along.” “Uh-huh.” I had swallowed my drool and gotten to work. “…You thinkin’ about this?” “…Uh-huh.” He had noticed me glancing at the meat while I worked. Now he grinned. “For a demon, a contract is absolute. I said this was for when you’d made some progress on the puzzle, right?” I stopped and glanced at him. “You’re so cool, Host.” “Flattery won’t get you anywhere, sweet cheeks.” “…I haven’t had solid food in three days.” “I saw you scarf down the stuff I brought you yesterday. The woe-is-me act won’t work on me.” “I’m going to be an even more awesome wizard than my big sis. You’d best not make me any angrier…” “You got a big mouth for such a little kid. You know threats don’t work on a demon, right?” Now he was really grinning. “…I’m too hungry to think anymore, so fork over the food. Please, Great Lord Host?” “Heh! Geez, guess I ain’t got any choice! Here, eat up, Komekko!” He hadn’t done anything to prepare the food he’d hunted but put some salt on it, but it was still delicious. When I had finished the hunk of meat, Host said, “Okay. Now we know who rules the roost, and your tummy should be nice and full. So listen to your Great Lord Host, Komekko, and solve that puzzle.” “…I’m too full. I’m sleepy now.” “Grrr! Don’t you piss me off! You can’t do that to me after you scarfed down my food! Listen to me, Komekko!” I just flopped down on my stomach on the ground, fiddling with the puzzle even as I drifted off to sleep. “Yeah, I’m full, but I still don’t wanna work on it.” “…P-please, please tackle that puzzle for me, Lady Komekko…” “Heh! Geez, guess I ain’t got any choice!” “H-hey, kids don’t get to say that! Even if you did learn it from me!”