I’ve brought Graham to Edinburgh’s house.
If Wil is slacking around here and I ask her, Graham can become stronger.
Just the other day she made Reina strong enough to defeat Edinburgh.
Graham was a part of that training too, and I see his face stiffen, but he decides to do it since he feels it’s necessary to get stronger.
But…
“So Wil, can you help again?”
“No. What a pain.”
“Don’t say that. You’re just lying there on the sofa doing nothing.”
“I’m using magic to see far away and looking for anything interesting happening on the island.”
“So you’re doing nothing.”
She doesn’t look at me, instead looking at what looks like a half-transparent monitor hovering in the air.
Is this how she watches us with that magic?
She sits up and stares at me.
“What am I, someone doing odd-jobs? I helped Reina because Edinburgh was involved, but what’s fun about training this guy?”
I guess there’s no upside to her.
But surely if the strongest person on this island helps him, Graham will get stronger.
He bows and asks too.
“Please! I have to get stronger no matter what!”
“Hm, you’re getting what’s coming to you for being lazy all this time.”
“Yes, ever since I learned the name of my ancestor, I’ve been picking being with my friends over getting stronger! And I’ve lagged behind because of that! But now…”
“Ah… I don’t need that.”
Graham tries his best to argue, but Wil brushes it off as annoying.
“I don’t like all that intensity. If you want something from me, pay the appropriate price.”
“Price? What should I give…?”
“Figure it out yourself. Kukuku, but I have no intention of doing anything unless I receive something considerable.”
That smile on her face sure looks bad…
Graham looks like he’s struggling to think of something.
Wil wants something, but surely she has pretty much everything… Maybe a sense of shame?
But it really might be hard to think of something of appropriate value she wants.
“…H-how about my fang!?
“I don’t need that.”
“Guh…”
Graham is frustrated over being rejected. Are ancient dragons’ fangs prized items?
Then again, something valuable to Wil is bound to be something odd.
“Then… Then I’ll bring some of my treasure and you can pick three…”
“All.”
“Eh…?”
“Bring it all, and I will consider it of appropriate value for me to help you.”
Wil has an evil grin on her face, and Graham’s face is twitching. He turns to me like he’s asking for help.
I introduced her to him, so I should do something to convince her…
“Wil, can’t you be a bit more reasonable?”
“No. You owe me, but I don’t owe you. I have no obligation to listen to your request.”
“Uu…”
She has a point. It was to amuse herself, but she was the one who created the impetus for Reina and I to become family.
And when I include my body and Reina’s training, I feel like she’s been helping a lot lately.
“Either give me all your treasure or give up.”
“…”
“By the way, ancient dragons have a tendency to become attached to the treasure they collect. It must be hard to part with even one piece.”
She says with that evil smile. It’s like she knows he’s not going to give everything.
And looking at the pain in Graham’s face, I’d say she’s right.
“Mother, one moment please?”
“What is it Edi?”
“If you aren’t going to help, how about I do?”
“Hn? Hnnn?
Edinburgh suddenly proposes something after being quiet all this time.
Wil has a quizzical look on her face, like she can’t tell where she’s going with this.
“Just so you know, he’s stronger than you.”
“On this island it would be easier to count the ones who aren’t.”
“And you’re going to teach him?”
Edinburgh nods.
She was the strongest mage on the continent, but beings on this island are fundamentally different.
Even a normal monster is stronger than one that could be called a calamity. It’s to the point where even Zephir says it’s dangerous for him to walk around alone.
And Graham is an ancient dragon that’s particularly strong even among all that.
I feel like it might be pretty dangerous for Edinburgh to train him…
“It might be just right…”
I wasn’t expecting Wil to say that.
“But what brought that on?”
“I recovered my memory, and I have been looking back into my past. Since I decided to live on this island… I feel like I need to try to learn more about others.”
“…I see.”
Wil’s expression is peaceful after hearing that.
But then it quickly changes to the same teasing expression as always as she turns to us.
“Ancient dragon.”
“…What?”
“You heard her. What do you say?”
I feel like she’s implicitly asking if he’s willing to follow someone weaker than him.
Power is everything for ancient dragons. That’s why he’s the leader.
It’s also why they call me bro.
I can’t imagine his pride as an ancient dragon will let him be trained by Edinburgh.
“Can you make me stronger?”
“I don’t know how you’ve been so far, but I can teach you how to fight.”
“…”
Edinburgh says as she looks directly at Graham’s overwhelming presence.
It doesn’t feel like she’s confident, it’s more like she’s stating a fact.
I think that’s what leads Graham to straighten his posture and slowly bow.
“Please do.”
“Yes, leave it to me.”
Thanks for the treat.