“Get. The. Mayor.” She kept the same tone.

“I will let you in, and you can talk to the mayor yourself.” A buzz came over the speaker as the garage door opened.

Although she mumbled, “Thank you,” Jennifer could not help glaring at the gate and its hidden guard as she walked away.

The trio first went to the micro foundry and fulfilled her promised quest. The effort of turning on her mend power reduced her stamina below ten percent. With her anger cooled to a low simmer, she made her way to the mayor’s hotel, Chateau du Jim.

As she passed by the town square, Jennifer’s jaw dropped. A tent city, more orderly than the goblin encampment, had popped up in the park. The tents were set up like rows of tiny houses. The top of the tents were below her shoulders. Jennifer looked down at Kevin’s goblin and pointed at her then the tents. In front of the line of tents someone had left a sign. “I hear the beating of war drums, the cost of bread and freedom are on the rise.”

The little goblin moved her head left and right, a clear no.

Turning to Woozle, the lynx-shark answered before she could ask the question. “I don’t know. I’ve never seen something like this. From the setup, it looks like a camp of functionaries. This isn’t a good sign.”

With a shake of her head, Jennifer moved on slower than before. She stopped in front of the door to the hotel, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. Exhaling, she opened the door.

The mayor sat at his table in a corner. The room was full but much quieter, as if the joy in the room had been tied up in the back. Her companions followed Jennifer to the mayor’s table. He did not look up as the chairs were pulled out.

The blank look on his face told Jennifer he was in his menus. She politely cleared her throat with no effect. Before her annoyance triggered Giant Intimidation, she asked, “Woozle, how much damage does a shark bite do to a mayor?”

“I don’t know. Let’s find out, kid.” Jennifer smiled in anticipation.

The mayor shot up out of his seat, using words a sailor might use after stubbing his toe and finding his bottle empty.

Woozle was curled up at Jennifer’s feet as the mayor looked around for the source of his pain. Both the necromancer and her familiar looked on in curious innocence. The goblin giggled as she peered over the edge of the table.

“Did you see what bit me?” the mayor asked in frustration.

“We only just got here, but we were hoping to speak with you.” Jennifer tried to sound as innocent as possible while batting her eyelashes at the mayor. “I had a bit of an issue getting into the town today, and I’ve not even seen my new house. It was so worrisome, I had to come straight to you.”

“Oh, fallen to the dark side, have you? Necromancy will do that. I’ll add an exemption for you.” As the mayor spoke, he waved his hand in a circular motion.

“What? No. Inferno levels. I have a way of summoning undead without gaining evil points. I meant the goblin.” She dropped the innocence act at the assumption of being evil.

“Not evil yet. So, what was the issue?” The mayor looked her up and down.

“The guard wasn’t going to allow the goblin in or Woozle.” With frustration rising, Jennifer wondered how long it would take for her Giant Intimidation to kick in.

“How did you sweet talk the guardsmen into letting you in?”

Jennifer focused on the ceiling until she calmed down. “Yeah, sweet talking is something I can do.” She tried to control her tone, knowing she should get back to the point. “I think Kevin’s goblin should be allowed in. All goblins really.”

The mayor did not respond but had the blank stare of someone looking at their menus. “Very scary giant lady with a clean skeleton was let in the main gate at three-oh-one. Nothing to report.” The mayor’s left eyebrow raised, and made eye contact with Jennifer. “I wonder who that would be.”

“So, Woozle and Kevin’s goblin will be allowed in along with Kevin.” She focused on a spot on the table.

“A goblin guest will be allowed in with approved adventurers or townsfolk.”

A barmaid Jennifer did not recognize left drinks on the table

“So, what’s happening with the tent city? And the town wall?”

“War.” With that single word, the mayor was the center of everyone’s attention. “In the last two days, we’ve had more functionaries fleeing the war shell. They mention a T-Rex. It’s a little cliche, but the T-Rex has been fighting hard. The warlord you met during the raid is the biggest concern.”

“I did not like them trying to buy me off, but why them?”

“They’re getting desperate and have lost a few towns. This town is a strong defense territory. If I were them, I’d make a temporary bridge a day's ride away from the town, with my remaining forces, take this town, and rebuild my forces.” A grim determination filled the mayor’s voice.

“Why not just go the normal way?”

A three-dimensional map appeared over the table, and the answer became obvious. A bridge crossed from one hexagon shell segment to another. She did not want to be stuck on the bridge with an army at her back when she would not be able to turn around. “One doesn’t want to be trapped on the bridge. The main bridge leads into town, where you have a gate.” Her words came out flatly.

“The reason why this town is here is because of that bridge. It was here before the town was founded. If they crossed here, we would be able to see them. This is a small trading town. Bigger, thicker, tougher walls is what I have the town focused on building.” A note hung in the mayor’s voice that she could not identify.

The mayor needed a pick-me-up, but she would need to be subtle. Perhaps, even convince him it was his idea.

“Well, since you wanted to make sure I got home safe, you said you were going to show me to my new home?”

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

“Wait, what?”

From his reaction, she felt she nailed it. “My house should have been built by now, but it’s so scary out there with all the unfamiliar faces. What if I get lost again?” She did her best to look innocent. “Oh, and I am going to borrow this table and the chairs. And this water.” She did not give him a chance to protest. She reached her hand out in front of her, trying to be ladylike. “Your hand, sir?”

The mayor automatically reached out and stood up. Before he could say anything, the table and chairs disappeared into Jennifer’s inventory.

She half dragged him to her new house and let herself in. The light outside was growing dark, but the lights inside illuminated the flower garden on the other side of the glass.

“I see why you needed to borrow the table and chairs. There’s nothing in here yet.” A frown creased the mayor’s face as he looked around. “Well, it’s very nice. I like how you can see the flowers outside, but I really must be going.”

After Jennifer placed the table and chairs in front of the window, she turned to the mayor with a glare.

Giant Intimidation II successful

He took a seat. “I guess I can stay a little while.”

“Good, this won’t take long.” She pulled a water jug from her inventory and made her way to the kitchen. When she noticed the goblin was following her, Jennifer pointed at one of the other chairs with a smile.

Jennifer looked around the kitchen at the layout she had picked, including a space for her alchemy station. After taking the station out of her inventory, it fit in the space nicely. She walked outside to one of the bushes and some moss on a rock, gathering the ingredients to use in her current plan. Jennifer bustled around lighting fires under beakers, adding the water, and starting the brewing process. Jennifer activated Does This Taste Like Poison, Craft Healing Potions, and hoped the Alchemy part of her powers would help keep everything up as she continued to mix and heat.

She really hoped her plan would pay off. She came out of the kitchen with what had been clean, cold water and was now a green, warm liquid. She put it in front of the mayor. A devilish grin lit her face.

“I don’t know about this.” The mayor did not meet Jennifer’s eyes.

Her smile widened and her eyes narrowed as she said two words, “Drink it.”

The mayor looked at the drink in front of him. His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down as the mayor took a sip. A bead of sweat ran down the side of his face.

“Tea. You made tea.” The look on his face was priceless as his eyes slid in horizontal lines, indicating that he was reading his menus. “It’s a healing tea that gives a buff.”

“Thank you. I made it myself.” She could not help but let pride fill her voice.

“So, you dragged me away from my duties. While the town I am leading is on the verge of an invasion that could happen any day now just so I could try tea?”

“Yes, do you like it?”

“Yes, it was very good.” He took another sip of the drink.

Woozle’s head came up from behind the table. “Kid, you can make tea?”

“Yup, it is basically hot leaf juice and some skills.”

“And Jim, former adventurer, and current mayor of the town of Hogsback. Would you pay for this tea?”

“Oh ya, if I could get it from a store. I would definitely pick a can of this up, especially if I was going into a fight.” The mayor answered with enthusiasm.

Woozle turned his head from the mayor to Jennifer, and back again. He rolled his eyes and coughed. Both Jennifer and Jim looked at him. “Okay so Jim, yes or no would you buy this drink?”

“Yes”

“Jennifer, you can make this drink?”

“Yes?”

“And all three of us are in a room with a table and chairs?”

“Yes.” They both answered. Jennifer did not know where Woozle was going with these questions.

One of Woozle's paws went up to his face. “Would this space make for, oh I do not know, a good tea shop?”

Jennifer’s face went slack, her eyes slowly moved from Woozle to Jim. She stared at the mayor. Her mind spun at the question. “How much do you-” she trailed off and stiffened her back, deciding to inspect her nails. “How much do you pay for the tea in a tea shop?”

Jim gave Jennifer a blank look. He sighed, looked down at the ground, then up at the ceiling. “If you find the cost of the ingredients, double that price and it would be a fair price. The tea gives a medium health regeneration, and a tiny boost to stamina. It will be a great benefit for combat. In fact, the town would be willing to put in an order. If you bottle it, we can get it equipped to the guards.”

“Wha, double? Are you sure? There are literally three ingredients: moss, leaves, and water.” Her eyes moved from the cup to the mayor.

“Then triple it. It is business and you have a good product. You will have a good customer base among adventures and you are in a good location. I believe you will do well. And this did get me out of my own head space, if you got more chairs and tables, maybe add something to the atmosphere...”

“Cat café,” the thought so loud in her head she said it aloud.

Woozle’s head looked down. “I do not think tea made of cats would be good.”

The mayor’s head tilted at Woozle.

“No, a cat café is a shop that serves tea, and has cats who are up for adoption who roam around the space.”

The room was silent for several long heart beats.

“What if you adopted familiars?” Jim asked slowly. “Most of the time, people dismiss their familiars because they are not suited to the role of the people they are attached to. Here they may be able to find one they like, and will keep rather than sending them back into the system.”

Jennifer looked at both entrances, “One was meant for guests, and the other for everyday use, but yes. Yes, that could work.”

“I think I can get you the business license for a familiar café.” The mayor stood up. “Thank you for this. It did get me out of my mood. Time, tide, and war waits for no one.”

After Jennifer and the mayor said their goodbyes, she decided to explore her new house. It was empty, but it was what she wanted. It was a win for Jennifer. Making her way upstairs, she found the first alteration to the blueprints.

Doors marked with Large Soup Bowl 14, Kevin the wolf, Just Jennifer, and Sarah No Val. She made sure there would be room for them in her blueprints. Kevin was the only one who pushed for his own room at the design phase. He was also the only one there. Smiling, she shook her head at the thought of roommates. She was not going to be alone in this house with just Woozle, her spider, and a bunch of skeletons. Well, Kevin was already staying here. She had not meant to share it this way, but because they helped with the quest, how could she not? If they did not want to stay here, she would still have room for people to come and stay. Something she did not get when coming to this world. Besides, there was something comforting about not living alone. Opening the door to her room, she realized that she was going to need to get some furniture.

After rushing over the micro foundry, she ordered a bed, a small table, a chair, a desk, and a wardrobe. Disappointment rose in Jennifer when she found out those items would not be available until tomorrow at the earliest. Thankfully, she had an adventurer’s sleeping mat from her night in the train car. She thanked the robot and trudged home.

She was tired, more emotionally than physically. It had been a long two days and Jennifer wanted to sleep in. Finding her room again, she unrolled the mats and made herself comfortable. The goblin took up a spot on Jennifer’s lower midsection and curled up. Woozle was too big to curl up on Jennifer, so he took up her left side. Rover teleported from the trapped door to a corner where he made a web nest. She took Kevin’s skeleton, who took a spot at the end of the mats located at Jennifer’s feet. She was unsure if she should take out the blue skeleton or not. She decided he could wait till later.

With her eyelids getting heavy, she looked out the window at the honey-colored moon in the sky. She thought, This place is feeling a lot like home, before she drifted off to sleep.

She woke up once to let the living Kevin in, and again to let Kevin in though she couldn’t remember letting him out.

When she awoke for the final time, the light was high in the sky. Judging from the brightness, it was midday. Jennifer let out a yawn and stretched. Woozle was lying beside her, and he too yawned. She was in her own home and in no danger. There were no giant spiders either. The mayor was not knocking on her door. It was a very nice way to wake up. Woozle purred, sending a comforting rumble. Jennifer closed her eyes to savor the relaxing sensations.