Chapter 50: Prelims Day 3 (Part 4)

[Well we've received credible information that the Prince, Julias de la Abelis, is planning to usurp his father's throne during this tournament by having him killed.] - Robert

[I think that's a bit of an oversimplification Boy... You shocked the poor girl.] - Grampa Richard

[Oof! You keep going for the vitals and there won't be any pieces of me left.] - Robert

[Grampa!] - Rose

[I'm here too, and I certainly agree with my husband. Not wanting to involve our beloved granddaughter is fine but I'd say it's far too late for that so the only option is to be completely straight with her.] - Grandma Daisy

[Grandma! You're both here too? When did you get here?!?] - Rose

[Oh us? We actually got here around a month ago and spent some time waiting for that Manic Blade character to finally show up with you in tow only for you to slip past us and that unconscionable man to be accepted into the staff here as a teacher.] - Grandma Daisy

[Tch! It seems we didn't scare that Principal enough the last time we met. Maybe a imploded tower or two will...] - Grandpa Richard

[Oh shush Richard, Rose is back now and by the Goddess what are you wearing?] - Grandma Daisy

[O-Oh right, well I ripped up my Adventuring Clothes so I just picked something casual out of what I had.] - Rose

[And no one told you how out of style it was? My Goddess child we'll need to update your wardrobe. Fashion hasn't halted while you were off galivanting through the forest, I can't have one in my family dressed in anything less than the best.] - Grandma Daisy

[Honorable Matriarch...] - Robert

[Oh right... we'll talk about this later, make a day out of it.] - Grandma Daisy

[Ahem so I'll be catching you up on what exactly is going on and what you're going to be expected to do. After talking with that boy Jim as well as collaborating with our spy networks we've come up with a concrete plan.] - Grampa Richard

[Who's Jim Grampa? I thought we were helping out King Nero?] - Rose

[Hmm? Oh Jim's his previous name, damn fool thought his name was too unremarkable and went and chose a different one when he took the throne. I still call him Jim though since it makes him squirm. Heh!] - Grampa Richard

[Ignore him. Besides that though where's my hug? Grandma has missed her favorite grandchild's hugs for far too long.] - Grandma Daisy

My grandparents arrival had been unexpected to say the least but it had alleviated my worries for the most part. While I knew that Papa was much stronger than me and I'd seen the shocking scene of my Momma's abilities the words of Grampa Mor stuck with me, he'd called my Papa a young fool and the lack of trust he had for his abilities had rubbed off me slightly during our exchange. This of course made me slightly uneasy about everything happening as I didn't want anything bad to happen to anyone I loved. My grandparents though, despite not knowing anything about their past, absolutely radiated strength. I don't know if they were some famous adventurer's back in the day but I wouldn't have been surprised if they told me they were Former S-Class.

Making our way to a tea room to relax during our conversation Grampa mentioned a name I'd heard as I was first arriving but one that hadn't come up after and, seeing my chance to clarify who he was, I asked about him. Only to have a bomb dropped a moment later about his identity and my Grampa's sheer nerves of steel at teasing him. Just as I was about to ask more about the fact that my Grampa knew the King personally and even more than that was close enough to give him lip as it were, I was interrupted by my Grandma demanding a hug while opening her arms wide. More than happy to oblige I immediately leapt into her arms to enjoy some skinship. Grampa, looking lonely at us from the outside, also joined in when I giggled at his distraught face and beckoned him over as well.

[Ahhhh... I've been missing out on that feeling for too long. It's not easy not knowing if your favorite grandbaby is safe for so long. I briefly considered tearing up the entire forest and was only convinced otherwise by your father.] - Grampa Richard

[That's cause not only would that be a huge diplomatic scandal and possibly lead to war it wouldn't guarantee you'd find our little girl. Imagine if you accidently hurt her while razing the forest?!?] - Robert

[Yes yes I already heard you last time, besides it doesn't make any difference now since she's back.] - Grampa Richard

[Speaking of, where is that kidnapper of yours? I'd like to pay my respects for... taking care of my granddaughter. Oh thank you for the tea.] - Grandma Daisy

Our affectionate embrace over we sat down around a small coffee table in various fluffy seats, the kind that you sink about a foot into when you sit down. Careful to keep my back straight because of my posture training I listened to everyone chatting about unimportant things with a smile only for that smile to turn awkward at the implicit threat in my Grandma's voice. Thanking the maid for tea as well I stiffly turned towards the group only to realize that they were all watching me for an answer. Damn, I guess I had to catch them up on what I'd been through before we continued our discussion.

[So it's true then...] - Grandma Daisy

[Pardon me Honorable Matriarch but I did say that my father contacted me. We still have several years until he arrives but preparations are already underway.] - Robert

[Haa.... I believed you, I did. But I hoped that it was all some kind of misunderstanding or a joke.] - Grandma Daisy

[Yeah.... It's.... difficult.] - Grampa Richard

[Wait years? I was freaking out this whole time thinking that I'd be picked up at any time and I had years?!? How?!? Can't he fly?] - Rose

After spending nearly half the day catching my family up on what had happened to me in the interim since our last meeting pale faces dominated the room. Gone was the levity of our earlier conversation and instead a uncomfortable silence lay over the room like a heavy fog muting any real discussion. Finally it was my grandmother, ever the strong one, that broke the silence with a grim accepting of reality. Expecting my revelation to be shocking event instead I was the one surprised when I found out that not only did they already know about Grampa Mor's approach they even had a timeframe to work with which was more than my own knowledge on the matter. In fact I'd spent the entire 5 month span in the forest expecting to be snatched at any time. Master Gil, while he didn't know the exact timeframe, had tried to reassure me that we most likely had a while to prepare although he had readily admitted that he didn't know for sure.

[Oh baby girl I'm so sorry you had to go for that long with that looming over your head! How are you feeling? Any lingering anxiety? Momma's here for you!] - Lily

[N-No I'm fine, I was just a little worried. O-Only a little.] - Rose

Apparently distressed at what Momma must have though was a painful 5 months, she'd be right, I was tightly pulled into her only slightly larger lap as she hugged me tightly. Embarrassed at her action I attempted to cover up my red face but I knew none of them were buying it as they gave me amused smiles. Papa, a look of enjoyment on his face, cleared his throat to get my attention before finally answering my question.

[Ahem... Well to answer your question there's two reasons that we have a bit of time until my father's arrival. The first is quite simple, distance. While father can fly the immense distance is still a hindrance to even one such as him. The second and the one that will slow him down the most however is that he'll be hesitant to come here in a straight line as there are being's that would even give my father pause in the way. However, if he feels it is truly urgent to force his way through he could drastically cut the time required. None of those beings would actually stand a chance if he was serious despite being things to be avoided normally.] - Robert

[O-Oh? There are things that can fight him on this world. I thought only God's would stand a chance.] - Rose

[Hah... To be honest I'm not personally familiar with them, my own power being far too weak to stand a chance. However, Big Brother, the Queen's husband, has personally fought with a few of them and while father could defeat them with some effort he generally avoids exercising any true effort according to my older siblings accounts. Although I've only spoken with 3 of my siblings so I don't know if the oldest ones know more.] - Robert

[Wait 3 siblings? How many Aunt's and Uncle's do I have?] - Rose

[Honestly? I'm not sure baby girl. It's at least in the dozen's, but I don't know much about those that are in hibernation besides the fact that most of them are more than likely millions of years old or more. Father IS several billion years old afterall so he's had countless children in that time.] - Robert

[<whistles> Every time I hear about the lifespans of dragons it still feels absolutely insane. Little Lily you and your cousin sure picked strange ones.] - Grampa Richard

[Wait cousin? Who's that?] - Rose

[Hah?] - Grampa Richard

Still reeling from the revelation of the existence of beings that even Grampa Mor was cautious of I was hit with another info-bomb in the form of family I didn't know I had. Composing myself from the unexpected jab I was caught in the face with a right hook in the form of hearing about a cousin I didn't know about. Figuring it must be some new person I decided to ask about them but was confronted with shocked faces. Did I say something weird?

[Didn't you tell her?] - Granma Daisy

[No, I thought Little Lily had said something.] - Grampa Richard

[I only said that she was family, I never said how.] - Lily

[I-I can see how she misunderstood considering who it is though...] - Robert

[W-What's going on? Why are you whispering to each other?] - Rose

[Honey, don't be too surprised when I tell you this. Actually this is our fault for not making it clear but....] - Robert

[...Queen Laura, she's your mother's cousin by marriage.] - Robert

[Huh?] - Rose

My thoughts froze, Auntie Laura is actually related to me outside of my father? Wait how does that work? Would that make her my double Aunt? Is that a thing? Is Arlen my double cousin? Damn you royal bloodlines and your confusing family tree's!!! Seeing the blatant confusion on my face Grandma cut in with a bit of reassurance.

[Honey it's not that important, just keep treating Laura like you always have and it'll be fine, besides that we're running out of daylight and lunch passed us by nearly an hour ago so why don't we eat then continue our earlier conversation?] - Grandma Daisy

[Good idea.] - Grampa Richard

[I'm starving Momma!] - Lily

[Y-Yeah, me too...] - Rose

Nodding hesitantly to her suggestion I completely forgot to mention my status as a Demon God for the 2nd time in the same day. Not realizing my blunder I closed the matter of the past 5 months in my brain, not realizing I'd left out a vital bit of information.