Chapter 292: Ch 2: Bottom Of The Food Chain
"Seems like it could be a friendly place," Dave said as he walked past the sign for the town ahead.
The town was small and all the buildings were made out of wood. The two looked very run down like the people didn't really care, they just tried to make it through each day.
"I hope the people aren't all like the ones we just met or did you make this world filled with idiots?" Tequila asked by making her face appear on the side of his neck.
Dave was a bit jaded when it came to humans. After all the havoc they cause in the real world, it was easy for Dave to make them the bad guys.
"No, not everyone is mean, just most of them. Plus, you know that always makes humans the lesser species, but it's not like there won't be some good people and Demons," Dave explained as they entered the town.
The first two buildings were just small wooden houses. Off two the right behind then there was a long apartment-style building that was a single story tall.
The streets had some people milling about, but everyone kept themselves completely covered up. A couple humans were milling about uncovered, but they were few and far.
"What do you make of the place?" Tequila whispered.
"Hard to say, but the Demons here are being oppressed by the dragons. So, I would assume we will have to deal with that a lot," Dave explained.
"Oppressed Demons? And you have to save them? Why does this sound like the punch line to a funny joke?" Tequila questioned Dave.
They had just passed a general store on the left and there was a weapons shop on the right. The next building on the right caught Dave's eye and he head over two it.
"No, not a joke. In this world, I made Demons the lowest race, and the dragons at the top. I mean, I thought it was funny at the time, and I still do," Dave said with a laugh as he stood in front of the nicest build he had seen in the town so far.
The Dragon's Tax Hut. This was a place to register as an adventure or the person could get hunted down for tax evasion. Avoiding paying your taxes was a serious crime here in this world thanks to Dave.
Dave had Made the Dragons ruthless in this world. He was going to be playing their game until he was strong enough to fight back.
"We are going to go and register with the local Dragon Lord that is on staff today. Please keep hidden; the last thing that we need right now is for the Dragon Lord to think that I am some kind of Demon, okay?" Dave asked Tequila.
"Fine, but I like to think that I only help," Tequila said while turning up her nose before fading back into Dave.
Dave sighed. Yes, she would think that, but now it was time for Dave to put on his game face. Dragons were all about the money, and Dave designed them to be penny pinchers.
Dave pushed open the wooden door to the build that had a large sign that was in gold lettering. Dragon's Tax Hut was riveted in gold on a sheet of black metal very similar to the one at the entrance of the town.
Inside was a single small room that belied the size of the building. The room was spartan with only a desk and a door behind it.
There was also a pair of old chairs sitting in front of the desk. So, Dave walked over and sat down it one to wait.
There was no bell or anything to let the dragon know that he was here so Dave was forced to wait. Fortunately, Dave didn't have to wait too long, and the back door opened,
A man with a scaled and pointed green draconic face appeared. He was wearing a white robe that was lined with gold trim that was more than likely made from actual gold.
"Hmm, I see, and new Demon scumbag coming into town to find work?" The dragon asked in his humanoid form.
"What? Demon? No, I am a human!" I tried to complain, but the dragon put a hand up to stop me from continuing.
"No, there are no humans in this world with blue eyes and blonde hair. Tell you what, I will kill you now, and then tomorrow when you are reborn as the same worthless Demon, we can try again? Does that sound better than accepting the license?" The dragon asked with an amused look.
Dave was frustrated, but trying to get around this was just going to get him killed. Dave nodded his head to the dragon, and the green-skinned creature smiled a toothy and vicious grin.
"Good, you look like you might do some good work and pay good taxes. We could use more of your type around here, but that usually makes the other jealous. Watch yourself in this town, Stranger, Everyone is looking for a chance to get ahead."
The Dragon turned and was about to walk back through the door he had come through, but Dave called out to him.
"What is your name? Just so I know who to give thanks to, right?"
The dragon slowly turned around and stared at Dave for a moment, but then laughed in a strange way.
"Bahamut is the only God that you are allowed to pray to, worthless Demon! My name is Dalzoro, and if you bring me bounties you could have a chance to progress further up in this world. There are many things a person could do with the right kind of influence," Dalzoro said suggestively, before turning and leaving the room, closing the door being him.
"Look at that, you didn't even need my help! You're just born at the bottom of the food chain," Tequila laughed from his shoulder as I left the Tax Hut.
"That definitely did not go as planned, but nothing hardly ever does," Dave said with a sigh.
"Why didn't you use your new skill on him," Tequila asked curiously as Dave continued his way up the street.
"I was worried about what would happen if it wasn't a good re-roll. If I would have gotten a bad response from someone like that, no amount of anything that I did would be able to help," Dave explained as he walked past the Town Hall.
The Town Hall was nowhere near as nice as the Dragon Tax Hut. Though, if this was a Demon run town that would be expected.
On the left-hand side was a Bakery and a clothing shop, but that shop had an out-of-business sign on the door. As he walked by, Dave could smell the freshly baked bread that made his mouth water.
The last game Dave had played there had been no need to eat. Now, he could smell the fresh smells, and it was making his stomach start to rumble.
Luckily, Dave had reached the Inn called The Last Stop. It was just on the other side of the town Hall and it was the biggest building in the town.
"Do we have any coin, other than what I got from those two men?" Dave asked tequila as he walked up to the front door of the Inn.
"No, you just have that, you don't even have a weapon or anything, so you have better save your money and only pay for one night! No beer and hookers! I am your hooker!" Tequila told him as he walked into the building, making
Dave smiled.
Inside the bar was on the immediate left and the rest of the room was filled with tall tables and bar stools, four to five at each table. The place was not clean, and from a quick look around the place, Dave could see that there was dust on everything.
This also included the tables that people were sitting at. There were their patrons at them, and they all were sitting at different tables.
"Haven't seen you around here before," a young man said slowly from behind the bar.
Dave turned to look at the kid and smiled.
"Yeah, just got into town and talked with the Dragon Lord Dalzoro. So, now I need a place to stay for the night. Maybe some food two if it doesn't cost that much," Dave explained to the young man, but the boy looked very confused and lost.
"Uhh… MA!" The boy yelled and then ran into the back.
A large woman with a ladle and apron on walked out from the door that led into the kitchen area. She looked angry at first, but then changed to a nicer expression when she looked at Dave's hair and eyes.
"So, another poor Demon vagrant just came in to serve the big bad Dragon Lord, eh?" The large woman asked Dave.
"Yeah, something like that," Dave said with a smile.