"What did you just say?!" Rania shouted as she stood up.
"Greetings... to... Grandma?" Rama replied.
"Did you just call a grandma?!" Her voice rose a pitch.
"Forgive , Granny! But... you are a grandma. Just like the letter said," said Rama, trembling.
"Huh? A letter?"
"Yes, a letter... from Mom," Rama replied.
(Grandma? A letter from Mom? Don’t tell ...) Luna thought.
"Don’t tell ... you’re..." Luna muttered, her heart pounding.
"I’m Rama, Grandma. Son of Mama Rania."
Luna’s body weakened, her chest tightened, and she nearly collapsed if not for Ekin, who quickly supported her.
"..."
I... am a grandmother...? I never imagined I would beco a grandmother.
"..."
(Wait... Rasha is Rania’s grandchild. That ans... I already have a great-grandchild?!) Luna gasped internally.
Her face turned pale instantly. Seeing this, soone approached.
"Granny, are you okay? Are you feeling sick? Dizzy? Unwell—"
Luna raised her hand, stopping the question.
"I’m fine. Just... shocked and still trying to process all of this," Luna replied, exhaling deeply.
Everyone sat in silence. Then, footsteps echoed.
"Rama!"
ZRETT!
The sliding door opened.
A black-haired elven woman appeared, clad in gleaming silver armor.
"Oh, you have guests," she said, glancing into the room. "Greetings, Ekin."
Ekin only nodded, then turned to Luna, who was still looking down.
The woman curiously stared at Luna.
"In that case, I’ll co back later. Sorry to intrude," she said politely.
"Um... actually... this..." Rama stood and whispered sothing to her.
Her expression changed. She turned pale, looked at Luna intently, then sat beside Rama.
"Grandma... this is Raisya, my twin sister," said Rama.
"I’m Raisya, Grandma. Greetings," she said gently.
They both held Luna’s hand and pressed their foreheads against its back.
(Twins? And all their nas start with ’R’? Rama, Raisya, Rasha... Is Rania obsessed with the letter R?) Luna mused.
"..."
Suddenly, Luna rembered sothing.
"Wait a minute. Didn’t Rania just get married five years ago? Are you... adopted?"
Rama and Raisya glanced at each other. Then Rama replied.
"Grandma, we’re the children of her first husband. The one now is her second."
(Second husband?! Rania practiced polyandry?!) Luna thought, shocked.
"W-What about your father?"
"He passed away a hundred years ago, at the age of ninety."
(Oh, so I misunderstood...) Luna thought.
"I’m sorry... if my question hurt you," said Luna.
"It’s alright, Grandma. That was a long ti ago. Now that Mother’s no longer alone, we feel more at ease," Rama replied.
Luna’s heart ward at their response.
(They’re good children and grandchildren... unlike their mother, who always loved surprises.)
"Can you still communicate telepathically with your mother?"
"Yes, Grandma."
"Good. Please tell her this: choose one—castration, hanging, or beheading."
At that, Rama, Raisya, and Ekin all turned pale.
[At Nuzantra Academy]
Rania had just arrived in her office when the ssage ca through.
"I’m going to die..." she whimpered weakly.
[Back to Luna]
Once things cald down, Rama called a servant to bring tea and snacks. Oddly, among the snacks was one made of chocolate. Sugar itself was a luxury—chocolate was ten tis its price. Was he a successful rchant or just trying to impress ?
When I scanned him, Rama was at about level 100, nearly on par with Tarma. Raisya was slightly higher, at level 128. Probably because she was a knight.
"By the way, what business brought you here earlier?" Luna asked Raisya.
Raisya glanced at Rama, hesitating to answer.
"If it’s a secret, don’t force yourself," I said, trying to reassure her.
"No, actually..."
Raisya explained about the bandits on the southern route who had been defeated by a group of adventurers—one of whom was a silver-haired elf.
"So... the one who defeated them was you, Grandma?! As a representative of the governnt, I offer my gratitude," Raisya said respectfully.
"Hehe, it was nothing. Besides, I wasn’t alone. Ekin and the Black Iron Spear were with ," Luna replied.
(Nothing?!) Ekin thought.
"In that case, thank you as well, Sir Ekin and your team," Raisya added.
"..."
"Lady Luna, shall we..." Ekin whispered.
"Well then, I’ll be leaving," I said as I stood.
"Where are you going, Grandma? Do you have a place to stay? If not, I can find you a high-class inn."
Luna paused before standing. Simple taverns always brought back mories of her old friends. Insulting such a place was like insulting those mories.
"No need! Let’s go, Ekin," Luna said firmly.
She walked off without waiting for a reply. Rama, Raisya, and Ekin just watched as she marched away—they knew she was genuinely angry.
Ekin quickly excused himself and chased after Luna.
"Lady Luna... Are you alright?" Ekin asked as he panted, trying to catch up.
But Luna didn’t answer. They kept walking toward a tavern.
This tavern had a distinct character—wooden interior, lively chatter, laughter, and music intertwining. Servers bustled about, catering to a diverse mix of races.
Luna scanned the room, searching for the mbers of TBH. In the corner, one of them waved.
"Lady Luna, you look so tense. Did soone poke you? Hahaha," Tarma teased.
"If soone’s bothering you, just bash them, Lady," said another mber.
Without a word, Luna grabbed the mug from Tarma’s hand and downed its contents in one go.
"I’m upset. Soone insulted a place that’s precious to ."
(Oh... I see.) Ekin thought.
Just as Ekin was about to join her, Raisya appeared and stopped him.
After a brief exchange, Raisya and Ekin approached the table where Luna sat.
"Grandma... Rama may be clumsy, but he didn’t an any harm. Please, forgive him," Raisya said as she slightly bowed her head.
Seeing that, Luna’s anger softened.
"You didn’t do anything wrong. Why are you apologizing?" Luna said.
"Even so, I still wish to apologize on my brother’s behalf," Raisya replied.
So stubborn.
"Very well, I forgive him," Luna said gently.
Raisya stood up. Her eyes shimred with tears, but she smiled.
Luna herself wasn’t sure why she had gotten so angry. Maybe... because this place reminded her of her old friends.
"I didn’t expect you to be a grandmother," Tarma blurted out drunkenly.
His friend tried to stop him, but it was too late. Luna’s sharp gaze pierced him.
"Raisya is a different matter. But you...? Are you mocking ?" she said, narrowing her eyes.
Luna summoned a small lightning orb from her fingertip and flicked it at Tarma. Seeing that, every mber of TBH instantly scattered. Since Tarma was half-drunk, he couldn’t dodge it and simply took the hit.
When the orb struck him, his body shuddered like soone freezing in the cold—except his hair stood on end like a spiky hedgehog.
Ekin and Raisya stepped back. The other patrons could only laugh at the scene.
[The Next Morning]
(What should I do today? Ekin said the docunt processing would take three days. That ans I need to find a way to pass the ti.) Luna thought.
After thinking for a while, Luna decided to visit the Adventurer’s Guild. It was still bustling. She browsed the quest board. Most quests involved hunting bandits or minor errands.
"Looking for work, little lady?" a deep voice greeted her.
Luna turned around. A tall, dark-blue-skinned draconian, about two ters tall, stood behind her.
"Everything looks little from your perspective," a woman beside him replied.
"Oh, right... haha." The draconian laughed.
"Yes... I’m just browsing," Luna replied.
"Quests have dwindled thanks to the bandits. People value their lives," the draconian said.
"True. The food supply to the capital is disrupted. Even from the northern port of Movento, it’s halted," the woman added.
"They say a giant sea monster is nesting near the docks. Fishern are too scared. It’s been a month and a half," the woman continued.
(A month and a half ago... north... giant fish? That was...) Luna thought.
"Thanks for the info," Luna said, quickly leaving the area.
Her instincts told her she needed to go there.
[After Luna Left the Guild]
"I feel like I’ve seen that woman before," the draconian said.
"Is that your Playboy line to get closer? Pretending you’ve seen her before?" the woman replied dryly.
"No, really, I swear. I feel like I’ve seen her," he insisted.
"Sure, I believe you. Anyway, let’s just look for work," the woman said.
[Back to Luna]
While walking, Luna suddenly rembered sothing.
(Oh right, I got angry at Rama yesterday, and we haven’t made up yet. Should I bring him sothing as an apology?) Luna thought.
After much deliberation, she finally decided what to bring. Luna went to a store that sold ingredients and cooking supplies. After browsing for a few minutes, she found what she needed. Once she had everything, she headed to the tavern she had visited with Ekin and the others. There, she asked the owner for permission to use the kitchen. Upon receiving it, Luna began to cook.
[Over an Hour Later]
Luna stepped out of the tavern and made her way to Lemurian. When she arrived at the building, soone called out to her.
"Great-grandma...?"
It was Rasha, Rama’s son.
"Rasha...?"
"Are you here to see my father, great-grandma?" Rasha asked.
"Yes, is he in?" Luna replied.
"He just stepped out, but shouldn’t be long. Please wait inside. I’ll show you the way," said Rasha.
Luna nodded and followed him in. She was led to the sa room where she and Ekin had t Rama and Raisya the day before. After escorting her, Rasha left Luna alone.
A few minutes later, the sound of running footsteps on wooden floors grew louder.
ZRETT!
The door slid open, and soone burst in, imdiately prostrating himself.
"Grandma! I’m sorry for what I said yesterday!" Rama cried.
"Um..."
"I know my words hurt you, great-grandma," Rama added.
"Uh..."
"Raisya said I offended a place that’s special to you—"
"STAND UP AND LET SPEAK!" Luna shouted.
At her voice, Rama quickly rose, slightly trembling and pale.
"I’m sorry for yelling earlier. And I’m sorry for being immature yesterday. It’s just that..."
"I’m sorry for yesterday, too, Grandma," Rama replied.
The two apologized with heads bowed, then glanced at each other and burst into laughter.
Hahahahaha
[A Little While Later...]
"Oh, right. Where’s Raisya? I haven’t seen her today," Luna said.
"She’s out of town on duty," Rama answered.
"I see... is she on a mission?" Luna asked again.
"Um... sothing like that..." Rama replied stiffly.
(Seems like it’s a secret) Luna thought.
"Oh, right. Here, a gift as my apology," said Luna.
From her spatial storage, Luna pulled out a cake—like a birthday cake—with an assortnt of fruit slices on top. A cake with white cream, topped with strawberries and kiwis—rare delicacies in this world. Rama’s face lit up instantly. His eyes sparkled like a child receiving a new toy.
"Thank you, great-grandma!" Rama bead.
(I’m still not used to being called that.)
After so ti, and with the cake completely devoured (by Rama alone)...
"I’ll be gone for a few days," said Luna.
"Where to, Grandma?"
"I’m heading to a northern city," Luna replied.
"North? Movento, the port city?"
"Yes."
"Why so sudden?" Rama asked.
"Ekin’s caravan has to wait a few days for docunt processing. Besides, I’ve also received a lead," Luna added.
"A lead on what, Grandma?"
"A lead... on another Guardian Tower," Luna replied.
"What?! A Guardian Tower?!"
User Comments
0 comments from readers