The old granny is called The God of Dragons, or Dragon God I guess. That would explain why I feel that her power is immeasurable and that Analysis fails to display her status.
Becca 「 So you’re the Dragon God? 」
Dragon God 「 Well when you say it like that, I suppose that sounds too stiff and impersonal. Just call me Granny Abaleyn. Or even Granny. 」
Becca 「 Well then, Granny Abaleyn, what did you visit us for? 」
Granny Abaleyn 「 I noticed a ruckus being caused nearby and felt my dear little sweetpea moving. And what do I find, my dear great granddaughter’s good for nothing husband and his delinquent brat. 」
That doesn’t sound like dear old granny. I maintain vigilance as I feel a pressure coming off her gentle, thorny words.
Granny Abaleyn 「 I know of everything so I knew that something happened to them. Imagine what the elders would think if they found out that a Wyvern Lord and his son were kept captive by some humans using mystical magic. How shameful. 」
So the Dragon God knew of what happened to the Wyvern lord but didn’t make any movements to settle the issue. Maybe part of her reasoning is that it would only add insult to their shame. Dragons seem to be very prideful species.
Granny Abaleyn 「 I waited for them to fix their messes but they were freed and spared by you all. While not the best outcome, it was acceptable. But to my shock, it seems that they’re going on some misguided crusade to sooth their egos. 」
Wyvern Lord 「 Oh great elder, I beseech thee, grant our race honor and allow us to annihilate the villagers. 」
Granny Abaleyn shows a dark expression towards the Wyvern Lord and his joints seize up in fear.
Granny Abaleyn 「 What honor is there in a mighty Wyvern Lord trampling on some defenseless humans. Why not show respect to our dear guests here and settle the issue without a show of force. Or is that title of yours just an empty decoration? Can you only think with your fists? Hah! 」
That definitely shut up the Wyvern Lord.
Wyvern Son 「 Madam! It was humankind who imprisoned me! They must pay for their crimes against dragonkind! 」
Granny Abaleyn 「 And was it not humans who rescued you and freed you from your bonds? Are you just going to ignore their pleas and wage senseless destruction? 」
The granny is on a roll as she silences the son too. She is not letting anyone change her mind, her sheer presence pressing down on them.
Wyvern Empress 「 Grandmother Abaleyn, what do you wish done? 」
The granny’s granddaughter sooths her wrath and turns her back into sweet old granny.
Granny Abaleyn 「 Well obviously there should be a punishment for imprisoning a Wyvern, but also a punishment for harassing and attacking these humans. Miss Becca, what would you suggest? 」
Me? Granny Abaleyn leaves the fate of the Wyverns and the villagers in my hands. She gives me some strange look like she is expecting a certain answer from me. I could try reading her mind but I fear that like my other skill it would fail.
Under her scrutiny I can only come up with something on the spot.
Becca 「 I guess, the villagers should pay for their greed by giving restitution and… denouncing material possessions? 」
This is what I was originally planning to do with them to teach them a lesson. I just didn’t think I’d be doing so like this.
Becca 「 And for the two Wyverns, maybe community service? Unless that doesn’t exist here. What I mean is, they are temporarily banished to live among humans in secret, where they will learn to deal with them as equals and learn a better… temperament? 」
It sounds ridiculous even to me but I can only think of them as misbehaving punks who should be sent to do community service and adopt better attitudes. Still, I’m suggesting sending Wyverns out to do human community service, so its a bit of a stretch.
Granny Abaleyn is deep in thought and then looks up at me with a bright smile.
Granny Abaleyn 「 That sounds lovely. We’ll do as you say then. The villagers will give up their possessions to Miss Thorn, and the Wyvern Lord and his son are to live with the humans for 100 years. Any objections? 」
In her last few words her voice drops an octave and her piercing glare sweeps over the Wyverns. None of them look up and silently consent. Actually I want to object to being given possession of the village goods but I don’t think she’d appreciate me speaking up now.
Granny Abaleyn 「 Then this matter is settled. Now then, my dear guests, would you join me and my granddaughter for some supper? 」
Becca 「 Actually we’re kind of tired out so we’ll just – 」
Granny Abaleyn 「 Hmm? 」
She looks at me with eyes almost squinting shut and a dark ominous aura can be felt. I change my answer hastily lest I utter my dying words.
Becca 「 – And we are no longer tired let’s go girls! 」
Me and the girls, I guess Brigid is included for now, are whisked away on the back of the Wyvern Empress and reach a far away mountain where an impressive looking villa sits. The architecture looks more advanced than the cities and villages that I’ve seen from humans. I wonder who built it?
Some maids come to receive Granny and us her guests. These maids put Envie to shame with their dignified stature and I can tell from looking that they must be stronger than her as well.
The maids guide us to a parlor and serve milk tea which seems to be a favorite of the granny. They don’t have much reaction to us her guests or the Empress who has reverted to a human form in order to fit through the doors. Me and the girls were surprised that the Wyvern Empress that towered over our heads could transform into a striking beauty, the kind that could be a model on Earth strutting down the runway.
We sip our tea in silence as I try to guess why the Dragon God would invite us here.
Granny Abaleyn 「 Let’s see, I suppose we could talk about recent events, but I imagine you would have a hard time keeping up, seeing as you’re new to this world miss Becca. 」
Now would be a perfect chance to do a spit take but I resist the urge to spew tea into the air.
Becca 「 How did you…? 」
Granny Abaleyn 「 It’s not so difficult, I’m sure any existence like me can tell. 」
Becca 「 I see, then I guess we can skip the formalities. So what business do you have with us? 」
Granny Abaleyn 「 It’s you I have business with, actually. 」
Becca 「 Me? 」
I’m not surprised that her focus was me but I reply as a natural response. She looks me from toe to head and has that all knowing smile again. Even if she looks like that she speaks in a serious tone.
Granny Abaleyn 「 I know what you are. Whether you are aware of it yet, you have a resplendent destiny ahead of you, a peculiar fate indeed. I cannot see what will happen, as all gods are helpless to fate’s whims. But you, my dear, are different. I wonder just what you will accomplish in the near future. 」
Becca 「 You’re not making much sense here granny. 」
Granny Abaleyn 「 Well I won’t spoil the surprise. What I want to say is simply, whatever happens from now on, I hope that your decision will not inconvenience this world’s inhabitants. 」
Becca 「 Still have no clue here. 」
Does this old dragon love talking in riddles or something? Of course I don’t voice out something so disrespectful in front of her.
Granny Abaleyn 「 It’s simple really. You have two outcomes before you. One in which your life continues as is, or one where it ceases to be. What will become of you, I know not. 」
Becca 「 It’s starting to get awful scary hearing you talk about my future. Can’t you give me some sort of hint, anything? Please, Granny Abaleyn? 」
If something bad is going to happen to me then I want to know what it is and stop it. This dragon god definitely has an idea about what is coming for me so I plead as sincerely as I can.
Granny Abaleyn 「 All I can say is that, keep good friends close at hand. That would be for the best. 」
Becca 「 Make friends, got it. I’ll do that. Thanks a bunch, ma’am! 」
The girls and I say our farewells and get ready to leave the villa. The empress invites us to ride her back but I have my gate teleporting magic that’s more convenient. On our way out I can hear the granny mutter to herself.
Granny Abaleyn 「 I’ve lived for countless ages, I wonder what the next one will be like. In her hands, I’m sure it won’t be boring. 」
As a side note, we decided to let Brigid tag along as she heavily insisted with flared nostril and reddened cheeks. I forgot about it, but wasn’t this girl talking about having a harem of girls or something? Is this really okay? Well, I do need to make friends so I guess it can slide, for now.
END OF CHAPTER 9
Paypal
Becca 「 Make friends, got it. I’ll do that. Thanks a bunch, ma’am! 」
That is not what she just said