"The Slaying of the Monster" is a short story by H. P. Lovecraft and R. H. Barlow. It was written in 1933 but not published until 1994, in Necronomicon Press’s The Hoard of the Wizard-Beast and One Other. It is an incredibly short story, being only five small paragraphs and a one sentence twist in the tail.
Synopsis[]
The Slaying of the Monster is a satirical and playful story of a heroic quest to destroy a legendary beast that has terrified a local community for generations. However, when the "monster" is finally found, the truth turns out to be far less mythical—and far more ridiculous—than expected. The plot parodies classic monster-hunting tropes and is a playful and light-hearted take on Lovecraftian themes. Sometimes, slaying the monster reveals more about us than the creature itself.
The people of Laen live in their town in the shadow of what we can see by its description is an active volcano. Believing it to be a dragon, the Laen townsfolk send their bravest souls to climb the mountain to where the lava spitting fire breathing dragon must be hidden.
Arriving at the mouth of the volcano, it is too hot, too smoky and far too dangerous to do anything against.
The Laen people return to their town and erect a stone plint that reads,
“BEING TROUBLED BY A FIERCE MONSTER THE BRAVE CITIZENS OF LAEN DID SET UPON IT AND SLAY IT IN ITS FEARFUL LAIR SAVING THE LAND FROM A DREADFUL DOOM.”
The story ends with the following sentence:
"These words were hard to read when we dug that stone from its deep, ancient layers of encrusting lava."