Chapter 59

Now that the general outline of the reward was settled, I decided to take it easy for a while.

Still, a reward, huh?

I mean, sure, I worked my tail off against Dahaka, but in the end, I had Ril and Karin help me out.

Even while I was relaxing, Ril and Karin stayed nestled close to me. They weren’t sleeping; they just seemed to want to be stuck to my side for now. I pulled them both closer and stroked their heads. This was the most peaceful moment.

“Hey, hey. Do we get rewards too?” Karin asked suddenly.

“Is there something you want?”

“It’s not so much that I want an ‘object,’ but I was thinking I’d like to look around this country more.”

“You don’t need a reward for that, do you?”

“But everyone gets all twitchy and scared when they see me. It’s no fun.”

Ah. That’s the “natural enemy” thing Ouka mentioned.

Whether it’s expected or just a matter of course, the Garuda is feared by dragons. As a species known for enjoying the taste of dragons and serpents, it’s only natural they’d be terrified. At most, only big shots like Tiamat or the Dragon Emperor aren’t afraid; the Draconewts must be petrified.

Plus, after they saw her incinerating Dahaka’s minions, it’s only natural for that fear to intensify.

“Well, you’ll just have to give them time to adjust,” I said, but Karin didn’t hide her dissatisfaction. I guess I have no choice.

“Ril, Karin, move aside for a second. I have something to give you.”

I opened the desk drawer in the room and pulled out two presents I had bought for them.

“Here. For you.”

“Eh?”

“Mm?”

Wait. Their reaction was dull. That’s weird—I had imagined them being way more excited. Is this not how it usually goes?

“Is it… okay for me to have this?” Ril asked.

“Well, yeah. I bought it specifically to give to you.”

“Me too?” Karin added.

“Of course.”

Wait, was gift-giving a human-only thing? But the shop clerk had treated it like it was perfectly normal…
The two of them hurriedly opened the packages.

“Ah, it’s a scarf…”

“I got a ribbon…”

They both froze.

Uh-oh. Did I fail? Look, this was my first time giving gifts to girls, so I was prepared for a minor setback, but to fail so hard they turned into statues? Do I really have that little sense?!

“Ryu, tie this for me. I don’t know how.”

“Me too. I’ve always just had them on as part of my Humanization Arts, so I don’t really know how to put one on.”

A total disaster!!

Giving someone a gift they don’t even know how to wear is the ultimate blunder!!

Aaaagh. Shop Clerk, I’m sorry. I failed miserably.

However, I had at least been taught how to tie a scarf and attach a ribbon by the clerk. Though it felt a bit clumsy, I managed to get them on. The two of them stood still in front of the full-length mirror provided in the room, staring at themselves.

“Ryu, does it look good?”

“Papa, what about me?”

They looked at me with expectant eyes. There was only one thing to say. It was a bit embarrassing to say it straight to their faces, though.

“Ril, Karin… you both look beautiful.”

The moment I finished saying it, they lunged at me with a massive hug!

“Ryu, thank you! I’ll treasure it!!”

“Papa, thank you! I’m going to wear it forever!!”

Thank goodness. I didn’t fail after all. Since they had frozen up for a while, I really thought I’d blown it.

“I’m glad you liked them. Just… next time, try to react a bit sooner. Also, Karin, if you leave it on all the time, your hair and the ribbon will get dirty and worn out, so take it off before you sleep.”

“Okay~”

Yeah, she’s definitely going to keep that on for a while. Well, if she’s that happy, it’s worth it as a man.

“Excuse me. Mr. Ryu, Lord Draig is calling for you.”

Tiamat was back to her usual self. I suppose she’s fine as long as she’s in “work mode.”

“I’m coming. Hey, you two, let go of me for a second.”

“Nooo.”

“Me neither~”

“I’ll dote on you plenty later, so just endure it for a bit.”

They still wouldn’t let go, so I had to peel them off by force before following Tiamat.

“So, why was I called?”

“It seems to be a consultation regarding your reward. Lord Draig intends to present you with a claw as your prize.”

“Whose claw is it, specifically?”

“He mentioned that he has gathered claws from various dragon races and wishes for you to see them in person and decide.”

A dragon’s claw, huh? I wonder what kind of effects it has.

“Do you know the size of the claws?”

“What size would you desire?”

“I’d like it to be about one meter long, if possible.”

“Understood. I shall ask him.”

We arrived at the Dragon Emperor’s chambers.

“Ryu, is it? I have prepared claws from various dragon races. Which do you prefer?”

A massive assortment of claws sat atop soft cushions.

“What do you mean by ‘various’?”

“Characteristics differ by race. Earth Dragon claws are heavy and hard; Water Dragons are supple and beautiful; Wind Dragons are light and sharp; and Fire Dragons focus purely on offense. I have also prepared claws from special individuals, such as myself and my wife.”

There were indeed some claws that emitted an extraordinary aura. To be honest, most of them felt unwelcoming. Was this what Dowal meant by “the voice of the material”?

For now, I ignored all the claws that didn’t like me and searched for a material that felt like it would accept me. Surprisingly, I found it in the “Special Individuals” zone.

“This might be the one…”

I didn’t know whose claw it was, but this one felt like it would harmonize with me the best. It was roughly 90 cm long—not too thick, not too thin, not too hard, and not too soft. When I held it, it had a weight that felt just right. Even though it was my first time touching it, the sensation was remarkably similar to when I held Grandfather’s fang.

“I’ll take this one. Give me this.”

The Dragon Emperor and Gwyber started grinning and chuckling, while Tiamat turned bright red. What kind of reaction was that?

“That is Tiamat’s claw. How fortunate for her—a part of herself will always be by her disciple’s side.”

Ah. So that’s how it is. Surprisingly, even the Dragon Emperor enjoys a bit of gossip.

“In that case, why don’t you just give me Tiamat herself while you’re at it?”

I dropped an even bigger bombshell!

“What do you say, Tiamat? Will you follow Ryu as his reward?”

The Emperor was definitely seizing the chance to tease her back. It seemed like he was usually the one under her thumb.

“I have a mission to raise Lady Ouka into a fine adult. Therefore, I must decline.”

“That’s a shame. Having you around would have been a huge help in a lot of ways.”

Still, I had expected that much. Tiamat always put the country first, and even though I’d only seen a bit of it, I understood how hard she worked for it. So, I decided it couldn’t be helped and gave up on Tiamat.