Broadcast Day 3: Face-to-Face in Reality (Part 2)
My cowering son and his partner had vanished from sight. Under the guidance of these humans, I was now descending into an underground parking garage.
"We're terribly sorry for bringing you to such a humble place. Unfortunately, there's nowhere else fitting enough to host the Heaven-Annihilating Dragon, Grand Ragnar."
= It's fine. Pay it no mind.
Underground parking garage. A space I hadn't entered in ages. With all the cars cleared out, I settled onto the empty floor, and the human named Kim Dusik spoke up.
"Heaven-Annihilating Dragon Grand Ragnar. We have but one question for you."
= What is it?
"What is it that you desire from us?"
I pondered Kim Dusik's question for a moment. What I wanted from them...
= Communication.
"Communication..."
= What I seek is for you to listen to my words, and for you to speak to me without reservation. That's why I'm doing this internet broadcast—and why I've come out here, despite the minor inconvenience.
Though invisible to humans, I fixed him with a stern expression.
= Does that answer your question?
"Yes. Indeed it does."
= Good. I'm glad.
I turned to open a portal through space...
"W-Wait a moment!"
= Hm? Why do you call?
Puzzled, I glanced back, and Kim Dusik, sweating profusely, addressed me.
"Heaven-Annihilating Dragon Grand Ragnar! Now that you've come all this way, might we perhaps continue our conversation a bit longer?!"
= Conversation?
"Yes! I hear you've been using someone's resident registration number. It might not matter now, but it could cause problems later!"
Kim Dusik shouted desperately. The humans beside him didn't speak, but their eyes urged him on fervently.
Hmm... What to do...
= ...Very well. Let's hear you out, then.
I halted my turn and sat back down. Since I'd come this far, better to wrap everything up before leaving.
"Th-Thank you..."
= This may turn into negotiations... In that case, I shall summon one more of my own. Is that acceptable?
"O-Of course."
Kim Dusik nodded tensely. With their permission, I opened a portal.
Click-clack! Click-clack! Footsteps echoed from beyond the rift.
Emerging first was attire of fine silk. Resembling ancient East Asian garb from Earth—reminiscent of wuxia fantasy realms—the outfit belonged to a child I'd taken in from such a dimension.
Then appeared a figure with golden-blonde hair and beastly yellow pupils... in the form of an adult human woman. But with fox ears atop her head instead of human ones, and nine tails swishing behind her, she was no ordinary human.
"You summoned me, my lady."
= Well done, Jae Ye.
The nine-tailed fox, my loyal servant. Jae Ye bowed demurely.
"A gumiho..."
"Insane... Another unmeasurable monster..."
The humans murmured at the sight of Jae Ye. She couldn't have missed what I'd heard.
Zzap!
"Eek?!"
"Gasp!"
Jae Ye's sharp glare—cold toward humans—pierced them. Though just a look, they flinched in tension.
I addressed Jae Ye.
= Jae Ye...
"...My apologies."
Was it because she'd gone so long without seeing humans? Unable to control her emotions for a split second, she averted her gaze at my gentle rebuke.
I introduced her to the humans.
= This child's name is Jae Ye. She's clever, so she'll converse more smoothly than I.
"..."
"Yes..."
Her chill lingered, though subdued. Kim Dusik eyed us warily. And then...
"Ha... I'm going mad."
A middle-aged man pinched his nose bridge in lament. Whatever burdened him, our talk had only just begun.
While my true body conversed with the humans, my avatar—me—was chatting too. Multitasking is child's play for a dragon.
"Ho ho. The internet truly spreads news swiftly."
I'd sensed a few humans lurking near my true body, but for an event just twenty minutes old to propagate this fast... Choosing internet broadcasting was wise indeed.
"Indeed, as you say, I am a married woman."
The viewers buzzed in confusion—or was it more shock? Interest seemed high.
Someone posted that. No need to hide it, and spilling audio on stream was bad form, I'd learned.
"My second son."
Ah, confusion dominated now. Seizing the moment, I elaborated.
"Five dragons dwell on this planet Earth, including myself. All are my children."
My eldest, White-Winged Dragon Skatuya Blaze, took an interest in human society and chose to mingle with you. Traveling dimensions to return home, he forged bonds with humans in every realm—perhaps understanding them better than I.
My second, Deep-Sea Dragon Ena Belzetus, despises humans. Or rather, all intelligent life beyond our family. Thanks to my guidance, he doesn't hunt proactively, but intruders in his domain face his full wrath.
"Try not to hate him too much. He's a child with much pain."
The chat remained chaotic. One post caught my eye.
I see. My second son had bereaved families.
I addressed that commenter directly.
"Yes."
"You seem to forget... I am a dragon. Not human."
Though once human in a past life, those memories had mostly faded. My identity now aligned more with dragonkind.
"Death comes equally to all. And all kill someone."
Every being survives the food chain. My survival meant claiming lives. Thus, I saw no need for guilt in such killings.
"Child, would you feel guilt if the pig you ate for food condemned you? Or the fly you squashed?"
"I regret your father's passing. But I bear no responsibility for it."
Because I am not human, and from a dragon's perspective, it's not my burden.
"Children, do not mistake this. I am a dragon who comprehends human thought to some degree—not one who empathizes with it."
I understood funeral rites but shed no tears for your dead. That was the gulf of species and values.
"One reason I forgive your errors mercifully is this: We differ in all things. Thus, our values clash."
Human tales spoke of it: Dogs raise tails in friendship, cats in warning—leading to fights from misunderstanding.
"If you seek communion with me, remember this. As I show consideration, so must you."
If not? Leave the stream. I didn't expect rapport with every human. Even my children and elder dragons diverged from my views—how could millions align?
The vibe had dipped. Stream atmosphere mattered, I'd learned. How did humans lighten it...?
...Perfect. Answer and shift the mood.
"Because his father—my husband—was slain by humans."
The mood sank further.
...Broadcasting is too hard.