When Xie Ling woke up, he had somehow lost his memory.
The little town before him was peaceful as a poem, with blooming flowers lining every street. It looked like a lovely place to live.
If no one had handed him an employment contract.
He might have amnesia, but he wasn’t stupid.
Faced with a tall man sitting in the shadows, his features impossible to make out, Xie Ling stammered as he prepared to quit.
Suddenly, a bell rang outside. Blood-and-flesh-like growths sprouted beneath the “man’s” feet, and one wrapped around Xie Ling’s calf, leaving a bright red gash where it touched him.
Xie Ling thought it over. Xie Ling got scared. Xie Ling quickly opened the letter. Fine, he’d do it. He loved working more than anything.
[Congratulations! You’ve been hired as the town mayor!]
Xie Ling: Who? The mayor? Me?
Well, that still doesn’t mean...
*
But he was the mayor, after all.
After taking up the position, Xie Ling finished entertaining his guests, then turned to face the residents with growing confidence.
The neighbors were throwing their eyes around and polluting the environment? Perfect. He plucked them all out and set them to work guarding the town entrance around the clock.
He also safely escorted the guests who claimed they were there to scout locations and had such brilliant acting skills they could pretend to be scared of the eyes keeping watch.
The children’s teeth were too noisy, their endless chatter keeping the whole town awake? Perfect. He hung them up as a broken clock, and everyone who tried it said it worked great.
He also dragged back the guests who loved wandering off, digging through the town’s trash for clues, and getting hurt, then made them go to bed early like good little children.
He just didn’t know why the guests seemed to be getting more and more attached to him...
Still, he was more than happy to help them.
*
Then one night, a guest knocked on Xie Ling’s door, climbed into his bed, and, seeing that he was awake, didn’t even panic. He smiled as he leaned closer.
“I heard you lost your memory. How tragic. Are you really willing to spend your whole life trapped in terrifying instances? If you can just...”
Xie Ling thought the man was pretty kind. He wanted to kindly warn him in return, but just as he opened his mouth, the cold sensation wrapped around his ankle tightened abruptly.
This one probably couldn’t be saved.
Xie Ling smiled at the guest, lowering his head like a lamb as he quietly waited for countless tentacles to emerge from the shadows, half embracing him as they reached past him and raised their spikes toward the outside world.
Reader’s guide: This instance is too dangerous, so we don’t recommend choosing it. If you insist on entering, remember an NPC named Xie Ling.
Stay close to him, do as he says, and follow all his instructions.
The great mayor will keep you safe!
What do you mean, “He’s just a cannon-fodder NPC”...? Say that again in front of the monsters who turn obedient as soon as they’re under his command.
And whatever you do, don’t call him “wife”!
Reader’s guide (this time for real):
1. This story is also known as Miracle Lingling.
2. Everyone’s favorite story. Every monster in town likes the protagonist. Every single one. The love interest is a tentacle monster, with lots of secret identities. Nonhuman love interest warning.
3. Includes urban legends and horror elements, but it won’t be too scary (probably?).
Theme: Every star can find a place to call home
