Chapter 15: Grandmother and the dwarven craftsman

"Geez mother, you could at least wait for us," a familiar voice accompanied the woman who just droped on the ground, looking at the demon disintegrate into black dust particles.

"M-mom?"

"Leo?! What are you doing here?"

"I could ask the same, you were supposed to be with Saki and Riho back at Roseburg?"

"Don't worry about your sisters, they have father and maids tending to them for now, but when I heard you got suddenly sick, I came running," Leos mother came to her son, who took of his mask and petted his head, still hidden under the hood.

"But what are you doing here?"

"Princess Gloriosa got attacked, I followed instructions the attackers got from their employer and you saw the rest. Let's talk home. I'm going first," with those parting words Leo run out into side alley and used teleportation to get back home.

The two women used flying magic and entered the Dragonrose estate shortly after. There were four others as well, but those members of Leo's grandmothers adventurer team following close by.

Leo got just a few minutes to prepare drinks for everyone and change his wardrobe.

"Welcome to my estate. Officially I should welcome you as Leonard Hirano Dragonrose, but let's skip that. You can just call me Leo."

"Damn, he's really taking after you Sareen," grandmother's eyes went wide.

"Sure, sir Leo! I'm your grandother's team healer my name is Annie Iona Gale, nice to meet you," a busty woman in her thirties with golden eyes and hairs smiled. She had a staff with holy symbol of Skill god that shone faintly with purple light. "It seems you're really blessed by his lordship, the Skill god," she followed that by kneeling and preying, which somehow made Leo glow too.

"Huh?"

"Oooooh! Your blessing… to think it would be higher then mine, what a lucky day to be alive! Please as a fellow mem—"

She couldn't continue her speach, becouse she was promptly punched on her head by other woman behind her.

"That's enough for today, thank you! Sorry for her actions sir Dragonrose, she's follower of Skill god's doctrine and member of Skill society. Oh, by the way, I'm Frederica Viola, as you can see I'm from Ogre clan. Oh, and you don't need to speak politely with me, I'm just a commoner," she bowed.

Truely, her purplish red skin would make someone belive she was one of the Giants rather then ogre, but that was only becouse of trait unique to place she was born at, the Giant Mushroom islands to south-southeast from Ostillian kingdom, which was de facto a colony of said kingdom.

"Oh, it's fine, you are my grandmothers companion so please be at ease. Though I must say I haven't heard of that Skill society you've spoken about."

"Oh, I knew you would be interested sir Leo!" Annie flew past her restrainers and clasped both of Leo's hands in hers with a gleam in her golden eyes.

The two remaining women gave a stiff salutes alongside their greetings as they pulled her back and placed her in her seat.

"Okay, okay, I'm calm now! Relax you two!"

Afterwars it was explained to Leo and the girls that Skill society is a gathering of Skill gods followers and worshippers. They claim is that even though the Creator goddess created the world, it was the skill god who bring balance.

Though, from what I heard they are not that far from the truth, Leo thought afterwards.

"Leo, could you tell me what you were doing there, and in that outfit?"

"Sure mom. I was undercover. There is too large gap between common people and nobles so there might be some who would try attack a noble kid just for being noble. Though I'm strong enough to repel them, but if someone from higher ups found out that I, a Count, was attacked by someone in slums, they could as well try to destroy them. Not to mention that some people would try to stir more friction between me and commoners."

"I see, so you changed your outfit to throw people off guard. But, what about that demon?"

"That suprised me too. I felt a little bit of mana from the stone I threw in, but there was nothing picked up by my appraisal skills. I think that someone had prepared that demon down there and the stone was just meant to wake it up. Thank you grandmother for destroying it," Leo bowed to the woman to his right.

"Aah, that's fiiine. Though, I think that even if I didn't come, you would still dispatch it quickly," she smirked, "You are strong. Deffinitely stronger then your lil'Fred and lil'Flik."

"Huh? Stronger then father and uncle?"

"Yeah, Your level is… around fifty five I would say?"

"Urgh… you hit the nail exactly on the head, grandmother…"

I can't tell her that I'm actually just one level below her. Leo though and heard knock on the doors and Nina with Alette entered the room, shortly followed by Taru.

"Oh, hello there mother," the three said in perfect union.

"Little Nina too?" Leo's mother got surprised.

"So these are your fiancées, huh?"

"Well, there is also Kiira, Goli, Lulu, miss Victina, oh, and Lani too."

"Well, aint'cha a lucky guy, kiddo! Be sure to protect them!" Grandmother laughed and sipped her tea, but at the same time a blood chilling killing intent made her jump back and readying her sword.

"Oh, I want to see the fool who would willingly went against me. You see, the moment you go after those dear to me, I forgot about titles and go all out," the calm voice Leo had as he clearly declared so was in stark contrast to his demeanor.

The air cleaned up of the killing intent and Leo smiled once more, "You see, I'm quite greedy. Once I promise to protect someone I love I never go back on that promise. Even if it made me hated by everyone in the entire world, as long as I protect them, then I don't really care what the world thinks of me."

"Ha hahahah… to think my first reaction would be to back up…" grandmothers hand shook shortly before she slaped Leo on his back a few times, "It's been so, so long."

If it's like this... maybe he could inherit my technique...

"Oh, boss! Here you are! They just dropped off the booklet you asked for."

And for whatever reason Idra came in.

"Ah, great. I will take it from here."

"Idra?! The Blazing blade?!" Grandmother got furious and her eyes fueled by hatred could blow up at any minute.

"Y-you're… I see," Idra nodded his head and kneeled before the grandmother, "I see that the Goddess of battlefield Garnet is doing well. I, Idra am currently slave of lord Dragonrose and as such you are free to do as you wish."

"Um, mom?"

"Yes?"

"You haven't told grandmother, have you."

"We probably should do that right?"

"Um, Grandmother?"

"What? This guy cursed your father!"

"I know, but… that curse is no longer there."

"What?!"

"Taru here dispell the curse after we slew that Evil dragon. Idra offered his head to father, but was left in my care alongside is daughter Lani."

Garnet Triera Netrose, daughter of Earth dragonfolk duke and wife of former duke Netrose, who exceeded all boundaries of Intelligentfolk (a name for all highly intelligent human-shaped creatures, combining demi-humans, Fairyfolk, humans, Insectoids and others like them), seemed to everyone she met as a meat head who spoke with her giant sword, but the opposite was the truth. She pay close attention to people and their names. So of course, she remembered the name, Lani.

"So… this man… and his daughter?"

"Idra is one of my stronger warriors, while Lani is taking care of my company while I'm away. You could say she's my vice-president."

"I see," Garnet put away her sword and pointed her finger instead at the kneeling Idra, "Remember that if you as much as make unconfortable Leo, I will turn you into minced meat."

"I am fully aware of that and I promise to make my utmost to protect everyone… after all I don't want to step on my daughters happiness," he blushed with those last words, his red scales, actually getting lighter.

"So, what's this booklet about?" Leo's mother asked as she made sure the boiling blood is calming down.

"It's from my company… To explain, we started by making a café, I used me and the rest of the girls getting invited to tea parties from time to time to expand our cloud of customers. Our prices are quite affortable so both commoners and nobility can enjoy our sweets. Being able to produce both take-out and private rooms is nice bonus too. Of course some nobles can get quite nosy into our magic item research and selling of such items so we tend to have a lot of customers from servants dressed as adventurers buying our stuff."

"Wow, you can pick that up?" Garnet asked surprisedly.

"Well, of course. I spend a lot of time in Grubera dungeon city. Actually, me and my team will be heading to take on boss of 40th floor during the Hero festival next week. I have to check with princess Gloriosa if I can get a day off, though."

"You want to defeat a floor boss in a day? You belive in yourself kid," Garnet laughed softly.

"I do, especially when I have my strongest with me."

"Leo…"

"Oh, you…"

"Don't worry you can count on me!"

Taru, Alette and Nina blushed strongly becouse for that day the guards on shift were Ruzu and Idra and Leo promised everyone to go there together. Lulu and Victina wanted to go too, but were not permitted to. Victina, becouse she is a princess and Lulu... she got hold back by Victina so she wouldn't go flirt with Leo.

"Ahem… that reminds me, you will be holding an exhibition match at the Hero festival, right?"

"Yes. It seems like the student body still haven't had enough of my strenght. Actually, I was constantly asked to fight with some ogre girls from upper class."

"I wish they would give up already. At this point in time it seems more like bullying then duels. Even the vampire girl accepted the duel on your behalf once to give them some hope."

"But Ruby's not associated with us, though."

"We know, but Kiira who usually stops other girls from doing so was guarding Gloriosa that day."

"Ah, I see… Thanks for telling me Taru."

"With pleasure."

"Oh, grandmother, could you tell me why you came to the capital? I don't belive you just came here to help mother out."

"Aaah, yeah, about that... I will be referee of that exhibition match you will be doing."

"What?!"

"Hahah! Seems like I surprised you! That's good! Hahahah!!"

"Geez mother, you still find ways to pull pranks…"

Now that the talking was over, Leo stood up and opened doors to the next room and asked his mother and grandmother to follow him.

"Leo, what is this hall? So many doors…"

"Aah, you see mom, I was thinking about how to cut the cost on transporting myself between places. Gate, Transfer, Teleport and Warp are great spells, but they are just too expensive," Leo smiled and opened doors to his right which were of beautiful red wood, simmilar to that used in his room in the Roseburg.

"So I created a subspace connected with doors. This is my newest spell, I call it Dimension door."

"Huh?! We are in Roseburg?! Leo! What was that?!"

" Hah-hah-hah, a spell I made, quite handy, right?"

"Hahah! Now I understood you Sareen… Leo really goes overboard with his magic… three days of flight in an instant…"

***

Later that day, after Leo said hi to his quite surprised father and his two infant sisters, he returned back to the Royal capital and contacted the king.

The people that were watching him after the interrogation and appearence of the demon were still in the capital and within reach of Leo's spells so there was no ruch to capture them.

"Master, there is someone who wishes to meet you," Setto bowed politely and looked over piles of invitations from various nobles that came during the day and previous days evening.

"I need to siff through this first…"

"I'm sorry, but the visitor is marquis Hadrius…"

"What?!"

"Apparently he heard about Reidur and Raidur and want's to see their work."

"Well, what can I do… lead me to him."

"Understood sir."

Leo and Setto arrived at a guest room shortly after and found marquis Hadrius looking intently at picture that was painted by Goli.

"Beautiful, isn't it, sir Hadrius?"

"Sir Dragonrose… yes, it's quite beautiful. I never saw a depiction of battle in dungeon with such a realism. Quite fascinating…"

I shouldn't tell him that Goli was making sketches for this when she was supposed to train newbies…

"Goli is quite talented."

"Goli is her name? I see, she have a talent. What do you say, sir Dragonrose, if I introduce you to a curator, would you let her work be seen?"

"I'm sure that is her desicion. I can only ask her if she wants, after all, she have a title of her own now."

"Aah, I've heard that being your slave is a mark of excellency."

"Is that how other nobles see me?" Leo stuffed a chuckle.

"Quite a lot of them, yes. Dragonrose the Slave user. Untouchable Dragonrose. People call you by many names."

I don't know how to feel about that, though…

"Aahahahaah! Don't worry about that! I know quite a big deal about you so you can relax."

"You do?"

"Your father is in charge of dungeons, I'm head of royal craftsman guild. We used to work on some projects before."

"Now that I think about, I think I just saw father few days ago siffing through some plans for making new weapon for emergencies. Magic Cannon, it was called I belive?"

"You're informed quite well! Yes, we are developing a cannon that could be activated by magic simmilar to your guns."

In last few years Leo's collection of guns rose so much that now he was storing them in separated place in his Dimension box. And let's rather not start about ammunition needed for these guns.

"I see so it will be a bigger gun on wheels?"

"Yes, quite right. If you were adult I would ask you to help us with your expertise, but that's still quite far away."

"It's just three years until I'm fifteen though, that will pass shortly."

"Your sence of time, is really something else sir Dragonrose… Anyway, let's get to why I'm here. I want to see those two dwarf kids you have here."

"I've heard, but can I ask why? I'm their guardian so I can't really say if I can allow you to see them or not right away."

"Aye, that's alright with me. Though you seem awfully adult."

Crap, I can't let him find out!

"I'm now an older brother, so I need to look good to my little sisters."

"Aahahahaah! I bet they won't even remember it though!"

"They are quite young, but it's never late to start," Leo put on a soft, slightly uncertain smile to get off of the topic.

"Hahah! I see, I see. Alright, I understood. The reason I wanted to see those two is to find out if they are who I think they are."

"Meaning?"

"My sister married a nobleman in Beastman kingdom you see."

"And she's…"

"Alive, thanks to Gods. But she is weak and looks like a ghost, still calling her two sons who disappeared during the war every time she wakes up."

"I see."

"If you don't mind, only seeing back of their right shoulder should be enough. They should have a mark there which is same as their mothers. Here take a look, it's picture we had made of it."

The mark looked like a hammer and cressent moon. It was finely drawn as one would expect from the head of the best smithy and craftsman guild in the kingdom.

"Alright, I will call them right away," Leo nodded and told the maid on duty, Daika, to bring them.

"Um, that girl in maid clothes... isn't she from De Baule family?"

"Yes, she indeed is. Daika De Baule is her name. Do you know her sir Hadrius?"

"Just from rumors. Apparently she is a bastard of Beast kingdom's royal family. She's not physically strong, but she's quite a promissing mage. Though she disappeared during the war."

"She didn't disappear, she was enslaved and sold by some underground organization. Sadly when she was transported through the kingdom her carriage got attacked by monsters and was later found by slave trader who did bussiness with me on previous occasions so I bought her secretly," Leo lied with a bussinessman like smile all over his face.

"Is that so? But why did you not contact her family? I belive the current crown prince is in your class, is he not?"

"Yes he is, but as you said before, she's a bastard child of previous king. It could create a friction in Beast kingdom's noble society, and we don't want a civil war to break out now, do we?"

"Heh, you are as shrewd as your great grandfather," marquis laughted softly and downed his wine.

In that moment a knock could be heard from other side of the doors and two boys walked in. They were both dressed in black leather apron on brownish red shortsleeved shirt and trausers.

"Master Leo, it's good to see you again, what do we have the honor of being called here for?" the more talkative Raidur said with a smile.

"Good to see you two, too. The reason I called you is this gentleman here. Allow me to introduce you to Marquis Hadrius."

"It's a pleasure."

"It's to our greatest honour to make your aquitance lord marquis," the boys bowed.

"Yes… a pleasure…" the marquis looked taken aback and looked at Leo.

"Alright, now with the pleasantries over, I would like to ask you two to show us your right shoulders."

"Is it… becouse of that mark?" Reidur looked little uncertain.

"Yes."

"Understood, my lord," Raidur nodded and took off his shirt.

His brother followed him obediantely and Leo with the Marquis got to see a set of same crests on the boys right shoulder. A hammer with a cressent moon.

"Y-you really are… Raibecca's kids!" the marquis started sobbing as he hugged the boys.

"I see, now I understand why you never told us about your past. Will you tell us now?" Leo sit in his chair after taking two more from his space magic created storage.

"Understood, my lord."

As Raidur nodded, he sit in the prepared chair, little uneasily and started talking.

During the war, the two brothers and their mother left the capital, which was under high chance of getting attacked, and moved to their domain in north-western mountain range. The city of dwarves was supposed to be unraidable, but the worst case scenario happened. A dragon appeared and took residence in the mountain by chasing and killing everyone in his way. Sometimes putting curses on some weaker looking people.

"Curses you say?"

"Yes master, that dragon was the Fire dragon king, you've challanged with miss Lani."

"You've challanged the Fire dragon king sir Dragonrose?!" Marquis got surprised by this relevation.

"Not really challanged, but I showed him that leaving a curse on that girl would be foolish," Leo smiled like a bussinessman.

"I heard that you defeated a dragon but this is…" the Marquis had to hold his head as his knees became weak and he fell to the chair.

"We know how you feel, lord marquis," the boys tried to ease their uncle's heart.

"Master~! I came with news!" in that moment, Diniel the Fairy dragon flew in the room.

"Not now please," Leo waved her away while at the same time sending some package to her with space magic.

"Oh? I see, I know what you are thinking about," she smiled and her butterfly-like fluttered behind her as she phased through the wall.

"A divine beast?! So the rumors are true…" the marquis felt as if his very soul started to get excited. "Alright! Sir Dragonrose! As for your help with locating children of my dear little sister, I will make any weapon you like free of charge!"

"But sir, to do something for free… is it alright with you?"

"Do not fret about the small stuff! You can call it investment for the future if you want!" the old dwarf smiled wolfishly.

"I see. Alright, I will take you up on that. But please tell me what you want to do with the boys. Though we know their part of the story, I do not know your intentions."

It's already a success that he offered the weapon crafting for free. I need to reward Diniel for going along with my plan. Now, let us discuss more. Leo already planned for contacting with the marquis, but the truth behind the twins history was news to him. Not like he could not build up on that.

"I… I only have three daughters, it's most likely that the oldest one would inherit my title, so I was wondering if I could find her a propper husband."

"You know that people can't force the heart, you could ended up making your daughter hate you."

"That is indeed correct. That's why I want to adopt the boys in order to lessen the burden on my daughters back."

"So that's your scheme. If people want to oppose the boys inheritance, you can prove their lineage by being your sisters children."

"Yes. Exactly right, sir Dragonrose. I even got permission from his majesty the King."

"Then I guess the last word falls on the boys then," Leo smiled, turning the attention back to the boys.

Raidur took a deep breath as he put his cup with tea on the table, strighten his back and looked at the marquis.

"Lord Hadrius, your offer is the most generous, but our debt to lord Dragonrose is too great, If we can meet our mother at the very least we will be satisfied," he bowed as low as he could in his seat.

"I understand your viewpoint," marquis nodded, "Let's leave the inheritance for later. Now come, your mother is surely still waiting."

""Yes!"" the boys nodded in unison and so all of them started moving towards sir Hadrius's estate.

On their way, they had to went through the High nobility district, on which borders Leo's mansion was located. The two carriages went through carefully paved roads until they had to stop before gates, beautifully made by high class smith. Given Marquis Hadrius was specializing in weapon crafting it was clear this wasn't his work.

"Beautiful, right? Maria, my daughter made these, actually."

"She's quite talented with the hammer. Are those bronze statues over there her work too?" Leo asked and pointed at several statues in the garden.

"Yes. She work on them with her little sister Ryv. She's amazing sculptor and can cast any kind of statue with smile on her face, they are all so cute you know…" unknowingly, Leo started a barrage of bragging from the marquis.

As the rumbling went on and on, the entire group arrived at the mansion with build in smity to the side.

The group entered the mansion from the main entrance and headed stright to the living quarters on the third floor.

"My lord, you are back already?" a maid which just exited the room bowed deeply.

"How is she?"

"She finaly managed to eat something, but she's still weak… though, it's just as the doctors said. Her sickness isn't physical, but mental."

"I know. Let us through."

The marquis forced his way through and entered the room. Unlike what Leo expected, the room was bright and sunny, only thing that felt dark and gloomy was the person on the bed. She was clearly a dwarven woman with braided hairs and sideburns that could be mistaken for hairs, but the darker color spoke otherwise. Her body was skin and bone, yet her eyes seemed full of strenght.

"Brother… I need—"

"You still need to rest. I told you to leave this to me."

"But… they are my boys… I have to find them…" her voice was shaking as much as her hands.

"Be at ease. Boys."

As Marquis called the two, the boys entered.

"No… Reirei? Raidii?"

"Mommy!" The younger brother, Reidur, jumped to her side and grabbed her hand.

"Mom…" the older brother, Raidur, made haste too and took the other free hand of his mother into his.

"Boys!" the mother excluded extraordinary strenght as she pulled the two close for a hug.

"Let's leave them for a moment," Leo tugged on marquis's hand and pointed at the doors.

"My lord…"

"Take it easy Raidur, enjoy your time with your mother. We can speak later," Leo waved at him and left the room behind the marquis.

***

And so, the next week the long awaited Hero festival.

"Master Leo, are you sure you want to use that sword?" Lani asked me in the prep room of the amphitheatre where the exhibition match was about to start.

Leo looked at the bastard sword next to him. It had highly ornamented scabbard made from scales of Salamander lizard and other high ranked monsters. The sword itself was made from dragon bone and was plated by melted dragon scale, which gave it greenish gray look. This was work of Marquis Hadrius, who made weapons for his entire group.

Kiira got lighter version of Leo's sword which was also thiner then his, but was much denser. Goli got spear with a secret function and Taru got a staff with engraved marks of gods who gave her blessing. Leo was quite surprised to see the blessing of Skill god there too. Alette got a rapier and Nina got one as well. Finally, Lani got a wakizashi and Ruzu got a longbow. Suprisingly, when she fired an arrow and added her spirit magic to it, it got almost as powerful as Leo's elemental magic of higher level.

Leo had also prepared weapons for Lulu and Victina, but as of now he didn't have time to give it to them. For Lulu Leo had prepared a katana and for Victina he had made a wand, which he later strenghtened with artificially made Space magic stone.

Leo took a deep breath and took the sword to his hands.

"It's showtime. You better enjoy it as much as I will," his smile grew bigger as he took steps towards the ring. Inside of the ring his oponent was already waiting.

The woman had her red hairs held back in a ponytail which was fluttering in the wind. Her eyes were closed as she listened to her surroundings. Her elven ears moving from time to time.

"It's been some time since we fought against each other, right? Leo," she said with a smile.

"It certainly was. Kiira."