章節 45: Chapter 44
Familiar's Forest
- Master!!!
- You're finally here, you mongrel.
- The Garden of Avalon would not have lasted much longer.
The collective cry of the Servants in my head was the first thing I heard upon returning here, and the feeling of reconnecting with them immediately followed. Looking around, my eyes recognized the familiar scenery of the Familiars' forest, causing me to breathe a sigh of relief.
- Don't yell, I'm not deaf," I grinned, "I hope it wasn't anything serious.
- Of course not. Unless you count the fact that Beast II went berserk when she sensed your disappearance and we contained her rampage in my Soul Mirror, of course. But that absolutely can't be considered anything 'serious', can it? - hissed Emiya in his usual sarcasm.
- You have no idea how glad I am to hear from you again, Queen Shiro," I began, and then froze as I processed his words, 'Wait. Did you say 'held back'?
The next moment, the space in front of me exploded, forming a gap the size of a skyscraper. And out of it appeared the figure of Tiamat in her gigantic Beast form. Her aura was like a tsunami wave through the entire forest of familiars, causing the animals around me to run in all directions to get away from its owner.
Tiamat's four-pointed star pupils flickered until they stopped on me, and then her mouth, with its razor-sharp, shark-like teeth, opened wide, tears streaming from her eyes.
In a brief flash of light, her Beast form was replaced by the familiar form of a Servant. Then Tiamat threw herself on top of me and hugged me tightly, dipping her head on my chest and beginning to rub herself. Her embrace was so strong that if I hadn't used Reinforcement, my body would have turned to mush.
After a second, I silently put my hand on her head and began to slowly stroke, making the strength of her hug even stronger, and my shirt had already turned into a wet rag.
She was really scared, huh? Beast II, the Evil of Humanity and the original Goddess, now looked so fragile and helpless. Her hands were trembling and unwilling to let go of me, causing a wave of warmth and guilt to run through my body.
That level of affection warmed my heart, but at the same time came the shame that I had made her so anxious. And honestly, I don't have a single thought to apologize to her. The feeling emanating from Tiamat was directly screaming in my mind. It wasn't the feeling of a worried mother, but...
- Well, here's an idea. - The demon Asmodeus remarked casually, having made certain conclusions. From which a tired expression appeared on my face, as I also came to them.
Previously, I had only considered her figure as a loving mother, but as a woman? This is... new... though not unexpected. Considering this particular point of view, a better woman doesn't exist in principle, huh?
The tired expression on my face was replaced by an awkward one.
Besides, on second thought, I'm in love with her.
My eyes closed for a few moments.
Well, as long as she's okay with it, why not?
My hand slowly and carefully reached for her, intending to lift her chin a little. Tiamat obediently lifted her head and looked up at me with tear-stained, reddened, worried eyes. I brought my face close to hers and kissed her gently. There was no passion or desire in it, as there had been with Death, but only love, affection, and... awkwardness.
Her eyes widened for a moment and then, how shall I put it, smiled happily? She responded to the kiss, and her concerned embrace was replaced with a loving and sensual one.
I don't know how long we kissed, but both Tiamat and I were really enjoying the moment. After a while, we pulled away from each other and our gazes met. My awkward smile met hers, filled with happiness. Tiamat gently laid her head on my chest wet from her tears and felt true joy. I didn't even need to use magic to realize it.
Hehe. I guess we're a couple now, huh?
- How... unusual... - Goetia practically murmured in a whisper - Love between a Beast and a human? How... strange...
His words shifted the focus of my attention away from Tiamat, and I noticed a look of disbelief and shock directed at us, or rather at Tiamat.
Slowly turning my head towards the source of the stare, my eyes noticed a female figure with blue hair that resembled Tiamat. She was naturally staring in our direction, and her dragon-scented body was shaking uncontrollably.
Tiamat, noticing that I was distracted, turned toward the figure as well. And seeing the watcher, recognition appeared in her gaze.
- M-m-mother? - In a trembling voice, as if it would break in the next moment, the figure whispered.
- Aaaaaaaaaa~ - Tiamat sang sadly and joyfully at the same time and, breaking away from me, walked towards the figure.
- Y-you're alive? I-isn't this a dream?
- Aaaa~ - Tiamat gently hugged the figure, causing the latter to start crying.
Yeah... The moment is really touching, I won't argue, but I'd like to get some context. Also, the description of a certain dragon figure is very fitting for this woman.
- Master? - Grandfather's voice echoed in my head - What about Beast II? Should I report to you?
-It's all right. Have all the Servants gather at home and recuperate," I assured him, "By the way, how did you manage to hold out against Tiamat without my mana? I realize that in this world the concentration of magical energy is quite dense, but still.
- Ouroboros shared it.
- Ophis? - I raised an eyebrow - And where is she now?
- She left. Said she had to check on her group.
Heh. Well, something doesn't change, I guess.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a couple of heads with blue hair walking towards me.
- Aaaaaa~ - Tiamat sang with a slight smile on her face as she reached me and pointed at the woman, giving me a headache - Aaaaaaaa~~
Yep. Just as I thought. That woman was the dragon queen Tiamat. And now I've dated three female bearers of that name. But I don't understand, why the hell are there TWO people with the name "Tiamat" in DxD at once?
But the next moment my thoughts were cut short as Tiamat's last words reached me, which I didn't understand.
- Wait. "Our" daughter?
- It's a pleasure to meet you, Father," the dragon queen said naturally and bowed respectfully, "I'm so glad my mother is alive and well, though I don't see how that's possible, and that she's finally found a mate who's truly interested in her happiness.
My eyebrow twitched.
And I really don't understand why you're taking this so naturally. Is it something wrong with me, or with everyone else?
Time to ask questions...
-0-
Emiya residence.
Well, the answer lay on the surface, so to speak. This Tiamat was the child of Tia, as I had now decided to call Beast II, of this world. Moreover, the only one who had not turned on her mother. The dragon queen had previously borne a different name, but later changed it to honor her parent. And seeing Tia alive, her shock is understandable.
When I asked her why she had so easily decided to recognize me as a father figure, she replied, "Mother said so," which made the edge of my mouth twitch, for I had not, in fact, heard any clarification or anything of the sort. And the dragon queen was extremely respectful to me, even considering that she had only met me a few minutes ago.
We eventually parted on the fact that she would visit me and Tia from time to time, to which I simply shrugged.
Well, whatever.
Arriving home, I was confronted by the tired and frazzled Servants gathered in the parlor.
Merlin and Archer were sprawled out on the couch with their eyes closed. Though the floral pervert occasionally threw an envious glance at Emiya, who was being tended to by a worried Medusa and Artoria. Lancelot lay on the floor and just slept, as did Hercules. Even Gilgamesh and Enkidu, who had likely taken the brunt of Tia's attacks, looked bad. A hundred faces with almost imperceptible signs of fatigue stood next to Grandfather. And Foe wasn't here.
Fortunately, there was a closed field around the house, blocking out unnecessary glances.
- Thank you for not interfering. - As I approached King Hassan, I made a deep bow.
- 'She was important to you, Master,' he replied, and then gave Tia a brief glance, to which she lowered her head slightly, 'But if you had stayed even a moment longer, I would have done what was necessary.
- I understand. - I sighed tiredly.
It is indeed pleasant to be back, as it is to see the faces of my Servants. But the aftermath of my disappearance is definitely not pleasant. It's lucky there weren't any particularly violent or dangerous ones, though Grandfather would have dealt with them anyway.
While I was pondering, the door to the Emiya residence opened wide, and a disheveled Aika flew into the living room with a frightened look on her face.
- Sensei! You're back! - she shrieked.
- Yeah.
- Do you realize the danger of your rash actions?!
- Uh-huh.
- Are you even listening?!
- Uh-uh.
At my words, she boiled like a kettle and without a word, she left the house, stomping loudly on the floor.
Ah... It's good to be back. Although, I think I forgot something... I wonder what it was?
-0-
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