Chapter 32: Success Leads to the Opposite Result?

Suspicious of the light that had emanated from the shadow boss thing I examined my chest for any sign that anything had changed but, noticing nothing, decided to ignore it for now. While I didn't see any physical differences I could feel them, my body positively vibrating with excess energy despite the nearly fatal battle moments before. Even the wounds from said battle visibly healed as I felt my Mind Palace expand slightly. Not quite sure how I knew that my realm had gotten larger I still knew that something fundamental to my inner world was now different as I could vaguely sense the entirety of what made up my Mind Palace.

[Ohohoho! It's not every day that a Dragon Hatchling defeats a Mirror Demon in the Place Between before their first molting! Even more amazing is that you managed it while dealing with the emotional instability caused by an incomplete realm! Color me surprised!] - Grampa Mor

Pulling me out of my inner contemplations I noticed that the air in front of me shimmered hazily as my Grampa's Dragon body formed out of nowhere in front of me. Too mentally tired to respond, despite my apparent recovery, I barely reacted to the massive dragon. At this point I wasn't sure if it was because of my tiredness or that I was just getting used to the giant lizard but I didn't really feel the same amount of instinctual fear any longer for some reason.

[Oh? You've even gained a Fear Resistance? Interesting!] - Grampa Mor

[Fear Resistance Grampa?] - Rose

[Oh you probably didn't notice but I was using my presence to cause the Fear Debuff on you but you just shrugged it off like it was nothing! When you were subjected to it earlier you couldn't even breath but now you've grown enough to not even notice when I'm using it! As expected of my Granddaughter!] - Grampa Mor

[Ugh... So you said something about a Mirror Demon?] - Rose

Shaking my head at his grandstanding as well as  how he smoothly took credit for my own accomplishment I decided to change the subject rather than dwell on why my Grampa would use a Fear Debuff on me in the first place.

[Oh right you haven't heard much about Demon's yet have you?] - Grampa Mor

[Master Gil told me a little about them but I don't know much. Was this Mirror Demon like the ones he fought?] - Rose

[Yes... and no... You see Demons are representations of sapient beings darker natures made flesh. The original demons were most definitely the same beings as the one you fought just a little while ago. However. The Demon's that inhabit your world now, as well as those that Gilgamesh and the ancient Hero fought against, are a bit like hybrids of those original Demon's mixed with the various races of Miscalis. It has made them weaker on the whole but also allowed them to maintain physical form more easily. I believe that you mentioned that you have a Succubus friend correct?] - Grampa Mor

[...yes?] - Rose

[Well then you've met the descendant of a Demon that represented Lust after it mixed with... Elves I believe? My memory isn't what it used to be so I'm not quite sure...] - Grampa Mor

Reeling slightly at the unexpected revelation I realized that it shouldn't be too surprising as most fictions placed Succubi firmly in the camp of Demons. It was a little different however since said Succubus was a friend of mine and hadn't shown any indications of mischief beyond just being a general pervert. Although it made sense when she thought about it she refused to believe that Veronica had anything bad in mind. Despite being a pervert.

[I refuse to believe that Veronica is my enemy! No matter what you say!] - Rose

[Oh no no I wasn't implying that she was an enemy. Actually Lust betrayed the side of the Demon's even before the war between them, the Gods and us Dragons. Now THOSE were good times!] - Grampa Mor

[Wait there was a war between Demons, Gods and Dragons?] - Rose

[There certainly was, although no records would carry even a hint of it occurring since it happened before this world was formed. It's been... over 5 billion years if I remember correctly.] - Grampa Mor

[...huh?] - Rose

Expecting my Grampa to say something like ten thousand years or something similar I felt my thought processes halt completely at the utterly incomprehensible timeframe that came out of his mouth that was so far beyond anything I even considered possible that I couldn't understand it at all even though I understood the number.

[5 billion? Like with a "B"? Big B billion?] - Rose

[Yes? Didn't you fath... oh right... Listen Rose darling, dragons are beings that are beyond the normal passage of time. Even your own life as a half-dragon will be many times that of even an immortal like Gilgamesh. And if you manage to Rank-up to a full dragon you will become effectively immortal, not the false immortality of Gilgamesh but a true one that will last until the Universe collapses in on itself at the end of time. I know that these ideas are beyond you at this moment but I need for you to truly understand that you are separate from this world, from any world, due to this fact. Living among mortals will only bring you suffering and pain. Take it from me, it's better to leave before you gain any painful attachments to mortals.] - Grampa Mor

[That's not up to you Grampa! I have friends and family that love me and that I love back. And I won't let you take me away from them!] - Rose

[Unfortunately... it IS up to me and I'll drag you back to where you belong if need be but you WILL come with me when I come to get you. It's not like you'll be stuck with me forever, you'll be an adult in 50 or so years and can go wherever you want after that afterall.] - Grampa Mor

Hearing that the old dragon still intended to take me with him back to the Dragon society made my hackles immediately raise as I realized that I was in danger of losing the only people that truly cared about me in this world. And I angrily told him so but unfortunately it had no effect despite my appeal to his emotions. The worst part was that I knew that he thought he was doing this for my own good so I couldn't convince him no matter how hard I tried that he was wrong.

[50 years is too long! It might mean nothing to you but all my friends will have lived almost their entire life at that point! I-I'll fight you if you try!] - Rose

His eyes widening as I took a stance he began laughing, that rock grinding laugh that shook his surroundings, before looking at me with mirth in his eyes.

[Gahahahaha! You can try little one but it won't do you any good!] - Grampa Mor

[What are you scared to fight me?! Bring it old man!] - Rose

[...hmm?] - Grampa Mor

[Tell you what little one. When I arrive I will give you a test and if I determine that you pass my test I'll allow you to remain with your... "friends"...] - Grampa Mor

Narrowing his eyes in anger briefly I felt a cold sweat cover my body as I felt my soul being crushed for only an instant. The fear radiating off him in that one moment so overpowering that I couldn't move as my mind shut down from a deep instinctual fear. And then it was over, my Grampa's mirth returned and I could suddenly move again. Although that movement was downward as I immediately collapsed. Breathing heavily from the one I held for far too long I barely caught the ultimatum that was given and while his concession wasn't exactly fair it was as far as he was willing to compromise as far as I could tell.

[Okay so how do I leave this place anyway?] - Rose

[Hmm? Well you just... do? You decide to leave and then you do it's as simple as that. This world IS your own afterall, in fact I can only be here because my mind is so much more powerful than yours that I'm effectively making the space directly around me into my own world rather than yours.] - Grampa Mor

Asking my Grampa the question that had been bothering me since I'd defeated the Mirror Demon I was surprised at the simplicity of how this world worked as I expected something much more complicated since a Rune had been required for me to reach here in the first place. Shelving that for later I decided to ask him about something he had just said as I slowly made my way through the bone maze, backtracking to where I had entered.

[You're stealing the space that you're occupying for yourself? That seems... dangerous.] - Rose

[Oh it is! In fact if I had any inclination to take your body for myself I could do so at any time from within your Mind Palace. You should never let anyone occupy your mind like this unless you trust them explicitly and even then don't do it. Now that you have formed a world you need to learn how to defend it from incursion, until then I'll leave a bit of myself here to defend you from outside attack.] - Grampa Mor

[Huh? I can be attacked here? I thought that since It's my own mind I decide what goes.] - Rose

[Well yes, you do more or less decide how your Mind Palace operates. However, should a stronger mind attempt to assimilate your mindspace you must learn to defend yourself from their incursion else you will be subject to the rules of their mind rather than your own. It is one of the many things I will teach you when I bring you home with me so don't worry about it in the meantime.] - Grampa Mor

[Tch! Whatever!] - Rose

Turning my head away from my Grampa we travelled through the maze in silence, my mood foul at his insistence at reminding me of my future.

[...what in the hell happened here?] - Rose

[I don't understand what you mean.] - Logic

[Don't understand?!? Why the hell does everyone look different and why do they keep calling me Goddess?!?] - Rose

Several Minutes Before...

After my failed attempt to convince the old bastard to let me be and him then letting me know in no uncertain terms what he thought of my friends we spent the next 30 minutes in silence except for when we came upon the hand monster in the flesh maze where he briefly commented on how impressive it was to have what he called a Flesh Stalker taking residence in what was essentially my mind. I'd been a bit nervous when we passed through the door but surprisingly it was no longer aggressive and even followed me while acting like a puppy wanting attention. I still never saw it's actual body though so I wasn't sure where the feeling of expectation came from when I saw it's writhing arms. It was... cute, for some reason.

Guiding us to the exit I had petted a few of the extended arms to show appreciation and the thing had reacted like I'd affirmed it's entire existence. I'm not sure what was going through it's... head?, but I was in for an even larger surprise when we finally left the flesh maze and I found myself looking out on what used to be a confusing explosion of pastel colors and out-of-place buildings from various era's.

Instead what greeted me was a fairly normal looking forest, except with red leaves, and the army of weird clay things were no where to be found. In their place was various fantasy-esque races like elves, foxgirls and more than a few lamia. They were all in various levels of armor but I noticed that most of them were female with only about 1 in 10 being male. About to force my way through the milling crowd I noticed that they all gave me a wide berth as I approached and I realized that is was because of the enormous dragon that was still following me as they looked at me with fear in their eyes.

Catching a glimpse of what looked like Logic on the hill we had launched me from earlier I made my way towards the embankment only to be stopped by two prostrating figures, one loli elf and the other a catgirl of some kind.

[Oh benevolent Goddess! We are not worthy to be graced by your presence! Praise be!] - Loli Elf

[What may your lowly servants do for you oh benevolent Goddess of Mercy?] - Catgirl

[O-Oh umm... Can you tell me where to find Logic? And call me Rose, this Goddess stuff is uncomfortable...] - Rose

[Oh Goddess Rose we would be honored to guide you to your servant Logic!] - Both

[Wha...? P-Please do so...?] - Rose

Nervous by the reverence that the surrounding people looked upon me with I inadvertently let them continue to call me Goddess as they guided me to the top of the hill. I could here a male voice that I recognized as Logic giving directions in the distance and sped up, taking no heed to the two that had continued to praise me nonstop while guiding me. Seeing Logic I was once more beset by an uncomfortable feeling when I saw his face but I pushed it out of the way to deal with later.

[Hmm? Oh you came back? I figured you would after all the Id creature's suddenly retreated into the rift. I assume you were successful?] - Logic

[Yeah I beat something called a Mirror Demon but besides that what in the hell happened here?] - Rose

[I don't understand what you mean.] - Logic

[Don't understand?!? Why the hell does everyone look different and why do they keep calling me Goddess?!?] - Rose

[Ah right... Well if I had to guess I'd say that your defeating the... Mirror Demon as you called it, stabilized this world and as a result the unfinished inhabitants became what they are now.] - Logic

Glancing back at the old dragon during Logic's explanation I saw him nodding along to his statement so I rounded on him.

[What the hell Grampa?!? You knew this would happen?] - Rose

[Well not exactly but yes. This Mental Palace is it's own evolving inner world afterall so naturally a change in the host, or God as it were, will affect the world as well. As for how that will change the world it's dependent on the individual so I didn't know how yours would change.] - Grampa Mor

[Tch!] - Rose

[Excuse me? Is this... dragon? related to you?] - Logic

[Oh right! Logic, meet my Grampa. Goes by Grampa Mor.] - Rose

[It's Dragon Lord Mortem Restisis to you lowly being! Only my adorable grandbaby can call me that!] - Grampa Mor

[It's an honor to meet the grandfather of our beloved and powerful Goddess.] - Logic

Immediately taking a deferential attitude to the puffed up reaction that my Grampa had treated him to I found myself impressed by his ability to improvise only....

[Hey! I'm not a Goddess!] - Rose

[You would know better than me of course Owner but now that I know that this world will maintain it's permanence I must keep up appearances for your subjects. Besides... I don't think your honorable grandfather would be thrilled with me addressing you with familiarity.] - Logic

Glancing back at my Grampa just in time to see him hurriedly turn his head away I got the feeling that he had been glaring at and intimidating Logic while I wasn't looking.

[Hah... Fine whatever, for now though I need to leave so if there is nothing else.] - Rose

[Oh one moment Goddess! Before you return to the outside world could I ask you to address your followers? They need direction and it would have more weight if it came from you rather than me.] - Logic

[W-Wait me? But I've never given a speech and I...!] - Rose

[It doesn't have to be anything fancy just something to give them an idea of what you want them to focus on.] - Logic

[D-Do you have any ideas? I'm not sure what to tell them...] - Rose

[Yeah I'd love to hear what a lowly being such as yourself thinks that my granddaughter should allow you to focus on...] - Grampa Mor

[With respect to Dragon Lord Mortem Restisis I believe that the first order of business should be to determine exactly how large this world is as well as prepare for more incursions from the Id or anything like them. Raising the population should also be on the agenda as our current numbers are too few to truly protect this world. I assume that more of these incursions may happen at any time?] - Logic

Responding to the challenge from my Grampa Logic remained calm while explaining exactly what he thought should be the next course of action. Glancing back and forth between the two I saw a grudging respect in my Grampa's eyes after Logic gave his answer so I figured that he'd made the correct plan.

[I-I guess let's go with that. I-If I need to change it I can always just pop in... right?] - Rose

The old dragon nodded as I sighed in relief, even though I'd decided to take control of my own fate trying to direct others in theirs was beyond my comfort levels far too much. Despite the fact that they were technically a part of me I still considered them their own beings because of how they acted so I felt nervous as Logic set up an area for me to address the several hundred residents of Ego.