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There were really survivors. I had sensed the presence of life, but I still couldn't believe my eyes when I was able to finally look at these people… after seeing so many souls wandering around, after seeing so many corpses… there were still people alive.

I don't know why but it fills me with joy… I don't know if it is my own happiness or perhaps that Benladann might be happy over this. Or perhaps a mix of the two. After all, even as the monster I've become, my empathy and emotions have not gone away. Maybe I've become more ruthless, but I am still… well, me.

The old grandma is surprised that her strong magic is not effective, she exudes the aura of a Rank 2 Magus, while the other children are only Rank 1 Initial Stage… they seem to be very weak.

Of course, they are all Ice Giants, so their sizes double those of humans if not being even taller, even these children might be taller than most humans.

"What kind of oversized lizard is this?!" asked the grandma.

"Oi! Who are you calling oversized lizard, grandma?!" I roar.

Okay, I can take them, but they better not call me oversized lizard!

"Agh! It spoke!?" cried the old woman, almost falling over her butt if it wasn't because some of the kids helped her remain her posture. The kids were just as frightened and surprised.

"Ahem. Yes, I can speak, though not with my own mouth, but through telepathy. So I am speaking directly into your minds… Glad to know that you understand me. My name is Drake, your friendly neighbor Ice Dragon, nice to meet you," I said.

"F-Friendly… A dragon? I have only seen Wyverns before… but a dragon that can speak?! Oh, gods… Please, don't eat us! We are all skin and bones! I am sure that we will give you indigestion!" cried the grandma…

"You're really hurting me with those dragon stereotypes! I am not going to eat anyone!" I said.

"No? Then… what do you want?!" asked the grandma rather rudely. I get it, she wants to seem strong to reassure the kids she's protecting…

"I came here to rescue you, of course. Did you hear the explosions early? I just destroyed a giant made of metal, so it is safe to go out," I said.

"Is it… safe? Yeah, I did hear all the ruckus… So you defeated it, really?!" asked the old grandma.

"Sigh… Please come outside. I promise you that I won't eat you…" I said.

"I don't believe you…" said the grandma while squinting her eyes.

Ugh, really? How hard can this be?

I don't want to use force nor intimidation for this, as it would worsen my image.

Maybe I should…

Oh, I know!

"Do you know a girl by the name of Benladann?" I asked.

"Eh?! No! Who is that even- Ah! I remember… I remember her well! That girl… The one that escaped from the village many years ago… that poor little girl… Her parents were so heartbroken after she escaped… they had tried many years to find her and- Agh, h-how do you know her?!" asked the grandma.

"She's my friend. I found her some months ago, and I helped her… She had made a full recovery now but… After seeing the corpses of her parents she had fallen unconscious… I am so happy that there are survivors… I need you with us, so she can…" I muttered.

The grandma's squinting eyes suddenly relaxed a bit, as she revealed to me her tired yet beautiful yellow-gold eyes.

"Sigh… I see how it is. She finally came back and saw this mess… Well, it's not like there is much to do now. We got all these kids and nowhere to go. If we stay here, we'll end up as monster food soon enough without enough people to defend the village… Can I really trust you?" asked the grandma, glaring at my eyes.

"Yes, please, trust me. And help me… make Benladann happy," I said.

"…Heh, you're a weird lizard… Fine, alright kids, he's a good dragon, let's get out of this hole," said the grandma, guiding the fearful kids out slowly, one by one.

It was around… Eight kids, of varying ages, which also included a baby, probably one-year-old, who was being carried by a girl probably at her 6 years of age.

They were all very young… the oldest was 9.

They all glanced at me from below, my appearance had become notably terrifying after evolving… So it was understandable.

"Dragon?"

"Is it a lizard with wings a dragon?"

"It looks scary… where's mama?"

"It has a skull over the face?"

"Papa… mama…"

"I am hungry…"

"Hah… You're enormous… Okay, you better take good care of us!" said the arrogant grandma, I really had the impulse to give her a nice bonk, but that would prob kill her so I contained myself.

"Don't be so arrogant, I will do what I can but don't order me around, I am a prideful dragon!" I said.

"Ah… Sure thing… Where is the friendly neighbor façade?" sighed the grandma.

"Oi! You're getting on my nerves already!" I roared.

"Hahah! I was joking, come on! I am just trying to get these kids a bit cheered up… After all, they are the only ones I was able to save…" sighed the grandma.

The kids glanced at the floor, or around the village, everything was in ruins. Probably all of them already guessed what had happened to their parents.

Although there were some stubborn ones.

"Grandma, where's big brother? And mama? I want to see them…!" said a little red-haired ice giant girl, with teary eyes.

"They're both dead, dear…" sighed the grandma.

"Buaaaahh! You're lying! You're lying! Sniff…"

The girl began to cry desperately as the grandma caressed her head.

"Why do you have to be so direct?!" I asked.

The grandma glanced me directly at the eyes, showing a light that showed off her years of experience.

"Life is tough, dragon. Going around is not the style of the ice giants, we tell things in front, the faster they are told and accepted, the faster we can adapt and survive…" said the grandma.

Ah…

…

…I guess she's right.

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