The Great and Perfect and Dignified Dragon
In front of Grandine's hospital room, a bunch of doctors and nurses had gathered, frozen in place—they couldn't go in or leave, and they were at a total loss.
"Did Grandine cause some kind of accident?!"
The moment I arrived, I blurted out my biggest worry.
Thankfully, no one was hurt yet. The medical staff shook their heads and let out sighs of relief.
"The patient just regained consciousness, but she's vehemently refusing any medical treatment. When the doctor tried to go in, she screamed and opened her mouth wide. We thought, 'What the hell?' and then suddenly this massive gust of wind blew through, sending everyone flying..."
...She was about to unleash her breath attack!
Good thing she wasn't recovered enough to do real damage. If she'd had even a bit more strength, that doctor would've been roasted on the spot.
Realizing how close we'd come to disaster, I bolted into the room toward Grandine.
She was huddled on the hospital bed, wrapped head to toe in the blanket like some terrified wild animal, trembling uncontrollably as she hid her body.
With her injuries sapping her strength and leaving her as weak as could be, being stuck alone in a place full of humans must've convinced her she was on the brink of death.
Seeing Grandine in such extreme panic, I called her name.
"Grandine!"
Her shaking eased just a little, but it didn't stop.
I rushed into the room and positioned myself between her blanket cocoon and the medical staff in the hallway, blocking their view.
With my body shielding her from sight, Grandine finally relaxed a tad more and plastered herself right against my back.
"Y-you... you bastard... I can't forgive you, but... if you help me now, I'll show a shred of mercy... Q-quick, kill those things!"
"No, Grandine. Those people aren't the humans from Libertas. They're not fighters either. They're specialists here to treat your injuries."
At that, Grandine chomped down on my arm.
It hurt like hell, but since she was so weakened, it wasn't bad enough to draw blood like last time.
"Why are you taking their side!? You siding with humans 'cause you're one too? Is that it? Yeah, I knew it ever since I smelled those other human females on you! That's why you ditched me and ran! How could you—"
Crunch—
Judging that words weren't getting through in her current state, I grabbed the base of her tail again and squeezed hard.
"Eek...♡"
"Grandine? Calm down first, and let's talk. Those people aren't here to hurt you."
"Sh-shut... up...! Humans are... ahn...♡ all trash..."
"They have zero hostility toward you—in fact, they're trying to help—and you're just gonna attack and kill them solely because they're human? That'd make you no different from those Libertas scum who oppressed all non-humans just for what they were. Grandine, you'd be stooping to their level."
Even with her weak spot gripped and shaking like a leaf, Grandine glared at me venomously.
"You... now you're insulting me like that?! Comparing me to those vermin? The last bloodline of the great dragon race?! Apologize! Hic...♡ A-apologize...!"
"See? You're not like that, right? So you wouldn't attack someone who has no intention of harming you, would you?"
"N-now you talk like that...! Don't lecture me! Eek...♡ You're not even an elder of my clan... acting all high and mighty... I've hated that tone from the start... ahn...♡"
Back then, she was acting all spoiled and I went along with it because I felt relieved and happy. Now she's denying it?
I gently stroked her horned head, softening my voice even more into a low, soothing rumble.
"Grandine? You're a descendant of the great dragon, a far superior being to any human, right?"
"Duh, why ask the obvious! I'm an existence on another level... hic...♡"
"Then naturally, Grandine wouldn't stoop to lowly human tricks, like attacking someone who means no harm just because of their race."
"Obviously... ahn...♡ I'm nothing like lowly humans..."
"The other non-humans have promised to trust my words for now—no preemptive attacks or discrimination. As their leader, Grandine wouldn't fail to set an example, right?"
"Hnn...♡ Of course I'm the model for everyone... I can handle whatever they do without batting an eye..."
Having sweet-talked Grandine into compliance, I released her tail and stroked from the crown of her head up to her horns.
"Good girl, so good. As expected of the great dragon—such broad understanding and consideration for others. I couldn't pull that off, but Grandine? You're on another level. I can already feel the dignity of an ancient wyrm."
Bombarded with praise, Grandine's expression softened considerably.
Even after I let go of her tail, she didn't attack or bite—just sat there with a half-melted look on her face, letting me pet her.
"So, as a great dragonkin, Grandine wouldn't refuse the goodwill of humans trying to heal her injuries, right? Attacking those who approach with good intentions is what Libertas trash do. Your dignity is worlds apart from theirs."
"Obvious... A dragon as magnanimous as me doesn't attack those bearing tribute."
As she said that, Grandine suddenly sniffed the air and went back on high alert.
"B-but this place is different! The stench of blood is everywhere! And there's this weird, sharp, sour smell I've never encountered—like it stings my nose! How can I believe those humans aren't here to attack me?!"
"Oh, that? Probably the alcohol smell. This is a human-run relief facility, so that's normal. If you went to a place where elves gather to treat the injured, it'd reek of regen herb powder or sap, right? This is the same thing. The blood smell's probably from all the wounded being brought here."
"...R-really...?"
"Yeah. If you still can't trust it, I'll stay right by your side. If I see them trying to hurt you, I'll take them out. Sound good?"
Still unaware I'd lost all my power from back then, Grandine eyed me with anxious, quivering pupils before nodding.
She even grumbled loud enough for me to hear.
"Running off on our first night together, and now acting all reliable."
"A-hem...! Anyway, since you've graciously understood with your great dragon magnanimity, can I let the medical staff in now?"
"......They really won't do anything to me?"
"Promise!"
After wrangling her agreement, I sighed in relief and called the staff.
"You can come in now."
They'd been spooked by Grandine's freakout too, eyeing things nervously before tentatively stepping forward.
As the medical team approached, Grandine stayed hidden in her blanket, grip tight on my arm like a lifeline, watching for any funny business.
"Um... patient, please lie down comfortably. We'll check your status and change the IV."
The nurse said it cautiously, and I nodded to Grandine that it was okay to lie down.
She did so reluctantly, still scared out of her mind—but she didn't let go of my arm, clutching it like a security blanket.
The doctor and nurses checked the machines logging her vitals, jotting notes furiously. The doctor muttered in amazement.
"Heh, this is incredible. I've seen plenty of unique dimensional transferees, but never one with such remarkable recovery. Blood pressure's still low from blood loss, but otherwise, she's on a smooth path to recovery. The X-ray from this morning showed significant healing in her damaged organs too. We'll monitor, but no need for more surgery at this rate."
"Phew... that's a relief."
Lily and Grandine had gone at it like it was do-or-die, both a mess physically, but neither seemed at death's door.
If one had lost the power balance, they'd be 100% dead—but their freakish strength had evened it out. Small mercies.
"We'll swap the IV bag and set a new line. Morning rounds done."
The nurses prepped a fresh IV bag and got ready for the line.
"Patient, please roll up your sleeve."
But Grandine was too busy glaring suspiciously to move, so I rolled up her patient gown sleeve for her.
"There, Grandine. They're just swapping the IV. This'll be the last of it."
"IV...? What's that."
"Supplies nutrients to your body and helps recovery. Think of it like elf regen herbs—no eating required, so you skip that nasty taste."
"Hmph. Fine, that's good."
With what sounded like permission, the nurses removed the old line from her arm, wiped it with alcohol swab for the new one.
"Little sting. Relax your arm."
Since her right hand was gripping my arm, they went for her left.
The moment the needle pierced her skin.
"KYYAAAAAAHHHH!!!"
Grandine screamed like she was gonna bring the whole hospital down...
CRACK-CRUNCH!!!
"Gahhh!!!"
Insane strength surged through her right hand, twisting my right arm into a grotesque angle.