I Am the Thunder Dragon
"I am the Thunder Dragon."
"…Master, were you pregnant, nya?"
"As if."
This cat really has no filter whatsoever.
"Then what the hell is that crazy brat that just came flying out of Master's stomach, nya?"
"How should I know?"
She'd suddenly blasted something telepathic into my head and then come bursting out. How was I supposed to know what she was?
No matter how hard I think, there's nothing like her in my memories…
"Halt! Begone, lowly human! Do you even know who this body is, to dare approach so freely?"
"…I just came to the address I was given…"
"That is no concern of mine, lowly human. Leave at once. Do not test the limits of this body."
"No—someone from this house placed an order, okay?"
"And I already said that is no concern of mine! Get out! You mongrel!"
"No, look…"
From the front door came the arrogant voice of a little kid and the flustered voice of an adult man, locked in a noisy argument.
What on earth was this racket?
Listening closer, the kid's voice sounded like the one from a moment ago.
But the man's… who was that?
Hmm…
Ah.
Come to think of it…
Earlier, I'd ordered flounder sushi… delivery.
…Shit.
I grabbed the flying girl by the scruff of her neck midair, hauled her in, and locked her under my right arm in a firm hold.
"I'm so sorry! Our kid caused you trouble. I'll pay by card."
"Ah… right…"
"Unhand me this instant! A lowly human, daring to touch whomsoever he pleases!"
I clamped a hand over her mouth as she flailed her free arm wildly and stamped her feet.
"Mmph! Mmph! Mmph!"
Would you shut up for one second!
The delivery guy was staring at us like we were insane!
My face burned for no good reason. What a disaster first thing in the morning.
"Payment complete."
"Thank you. Have a good…"
Without even waiting for a goodbye, the delivery guy fled as fast as his legs would carry him.
"…"
Sigh…
Guess I'm never ordering delivery to this place again.
I eased the arm that had been pinning her down.
"Oh? So you've finally learned your place? Yes. You should have done so from the start. Now kneel, lowly human."
"…"
Without a word, I turned to face her.
She wore an arrogant little smile, the corners of her mouth curled high.
"…Ren."
"Don't worry, nya. I'll count this as self-defense and won't report you for child abuse, nya."
Is that so?
Is that how it is…
I clenched my fist tight.
And then…
"What are the two of you whispering about? Hurry up and get on your kn—"
WHACK—!
That's called karma, you little shit.
"So. What exactly are you?"
"I am the Thunder Drag—… no. I am the Thunder Dragon, sir."
The girl answered on her knees, her speech now the very picture of deference.
"Thunder Dragon?"
"Yes, sir. A being born from within Master not long ago. In other words, Master is, for all intents and purposes, my parent."
"…And you called your parent a lowly human?"
"I must have briefly lost my mind. I apologize."
"As long as you know."
Anyway. A Thunder Dragon…
Why had something like that been born inside my body?
I was just an ordinary human. Completely unrelated to dragons.
The only thing that even came to mind was Thunder Dragon's Heavenly Demise…
Don't tell me Thunder Dragon's Heavenly Demise was actually drawing on the power of a real dragon?
And because of that one skill, my trait had gone and created a Thunder Dragon inside me?
…They really do come up with everything, don't they.
Figures for an EX-Rank trait. The scale was on another level.
But if that was the case, they could've at least given me a proper offensive skill.
Sigh…
My poor, pitiful life.
"Um… did I do something to make you uncomfortable?"
She must have heard the sigh. She was eyeing me nervously, fidgeting.
"…It's nothing."
"That's right, nya. Master always sighs a lot on his own, nya. No need to worry about it, nya."
…More than half of those sighs are because of you, you know.
"What are you glaring at me for, nya."
"…Never mind. Just keep watching your anime."
"Nya."
I turned my gaze back to the Thunder Dragon.
"So why did you appear in human form?"
Aside from the navy-blue horn on her head, she just looked like a little girl who'd dyed her hair sky blue.
"Maintaining a dragon's form takes a lot of power. Besides, if I'd shown up transformed, this house would have collapsed…"
"…You're that big?"
"Well, of course? I am a dragon, after all."
Hmm…
This tiny little brat getting that enormous…
…I was kind of curious.
Maybe I should take her to the Tower and test it out?
Judging by the power of Thunder Dragon's Heavenly Demise, she probably wasn't weak.
And besides… even if she turned out weaker than expected, I had Ren.
I glanced over at Ren.
"Haa… so full, nya."
She had already finished her meal and was sprawled out on the floor.
"Hey, Master. Hurry up and bring me some water, nya. This body is thirsty right now, nya."
"Get it yourself."
"Too much work, nya."
"That's why you're getting fat."
"I am not fat, nya!"
"Not fat, my ass."
From cat form to full-blown chonky cat.
"Anyway, hurry up and bring the water, nya. That's an order, nya."
"…"
I'm your master. Why are you the one giving orders…
"…Master."
"Hm?"
"May I shut that lowly beast's mouth for you?"
"…What?"
What was that? Did I mishear?
I was pretty sure I'd just heard something vicious…
"…What did you just say, nya?"
Ah. Looks like I heard right after all. Ren's eyebrow was climbing.
That's… not a good thing.
What the hell was this crazy dragon even saying right now.
I was so dumbfounded I couldn't even speak.
And as if she couldn't care less about my panic, the Thunder Dragon looked down at Ren and opened her mouth again.
"I was merely seeking Master's permission to shut your mouth. A lowly beast like you, the way you speak to Master—it is thoroughly displeasing."
"…Ha?"
Oh no.
Ren was properly pissed.
A vein stood out on her forehead.
"Master."
"…What."
"Can I destroy this house, nya?"
"Absolutely not."
What kind of insane thing was this cat saying now.
"Then arrange a place for us to fight, nya. I need to teach that damn brat her place, nya."
"Ha. How absurd. Who is teaching whom their place? Bow your head, mongrel."
"…Master, do something already, nya. Before I lose it and go berserk right here, nya."
"…"
…Why is it always things like this around me…
Haa…
At this point, there was no other choice.
Even if I tried to stop them, Ren was clearly going to explode…
"Status window."
I pressed the Tower button at the very bottom.
Well… they do say fighting can make you closer.
It'd work out somehow.
Do you wish to enter the Tower?
"Yes."
Approved.
Fwoosh—
"…Where is this?"
The Thunder Dragon looked around, flustered.
"It's a place. Called the Tower."
They could fight as much as they wanted here. Plenty of space, and nothing that would break.
"Alright. You two take care of the monsters yourselves. Fight only to the point where you don't die. Oh, and for the record—don't kill the monsters either. If you kill them, you get kicked out of the Tower."
"…Got it, nya."
I thought I heard something chilling along the lines of Not being allowed to kill them is a little unsatisfying, nya…, but I pointedly ignored it and turned my eyes to the Thunder Dragon.
"Ahh… so my Master can freely come and go even from a place like this…. As expected, Master is a being set apart from lowly humans…"
"…"
Any hunter can come and go from here, you know.
She was forming yet another spectacular misunderstanding.
But explaining would just make my mouth hurt again, so I let her think whatever she wanted.
5, 4, 3, 2, 1… Begin.
"Kuwraaagh!"
The instant the countdown ended, two orcs and three goblins formed from blue shards charged straight at us.
…That's a new variable.
Up through the previous floors, they'd sat still until I attacked. Why was this floor so aggressive?
At this rate, I'd have to give up on the fight and just clear the Tower and leave…
"Lowly monsters, you dare…"
Shaa—
A chill swept through my body in an instant.
Goosebumps rose all over. My hair stood on end.
"Do you even know who this body is, to charge so recklessly?"
She merely turned her eyes and glared at the monsters.
And the scene that unfolded next made me doubt my own eyes.
The monsters, terrified by nothing more than her gaze, stumbled backward—
then spun around completely and fled for their lives with everything they had.
…What?
Is this… for real?
"Well then. Now that the nuisances have been dealt with…"
Blue lightning began to crackle in the Thunder Dragon's hand.
"I shall teach you your place. Consider it an honor, mongrel."
"That's my line, nya."
As if answering her, Ren cracked her neck with a sickening crunch, radiating a murderous aura.
And caught between them, I…
just stared blankly at the backs of the fleeing monsters and pinched my own cheek.
If this is a dream, please let me wake up right now…