Storm Dragon
Finally, after more than a week of traveling the time has arrived.
Ok, ok! I need to concentrate and not mess this up, I will go face him and make everything work out!
I quickly activate [Thought acceleration] and a single second becomes 1000, with this I revise my plans.
First! We meet Veldora, after so long in the cave coming sins against slime kind to survive I have finally done this.
Second! We ask him about my situation, of course we can't be direct at first, let's try to get to know him a little bit first and explain things.
Third! we befriend him ...cause I genuinely want to, I mean it's Veldora.
And final we get a name, I can't keep going without one and it's very important to getting stronger so.. it's about time.
When I do get a name.. I think I'm going to have to come with terms with everything that happened to me and my body.. I'm not particularly looking forward to it but that's for the future, a very close future that fills me with anxiety.
But although I am anxious, I won't allow this to ruin this opportunity, I've been looking forward to this and getting nervous over it and I'm not letting it go to waste.
I have all the information from the novel, the anime and manga of this encounter.. I should be able to do this.
I rethink my plan to get this done and when done turn off thought acceleration, I then press forward.. let's do it!
"Oh? So you do know who I am"
He responded, I think I should have been a little bit more careful with my entry, maybe played it off a bit? So he would introduce himself better and let the conversation flow? No I'll try to be sincere.. never been want to fake things anyway.
"..yes I do, I came here to meet you after all"
"..to meet me?"
As I walk forward he stops talking and then I hear.
"Ahhhhh-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!!"
After hearing that ...iconic I guess? laugh, I finally see him.
Clad in black scales all over his large body, two powerful wings on his back, and his honest to go terrifying looking face and jaw, A Dragon, a True Dragon at that.. I uh.. always got caught up in how funny and cool Veldora was and somewhat forgot about how terrifying he truly is as well ..I won't let that stop me though.
"Very well, you may have the honor to gaze upon me the Great Storm Dragon Veldora!"
...I wonder if he practiced something like this in case someone came around, it has been 300 years of solitude after all.
"For someone that knows who I am to willingly have come all the way through the cave to this place, how bold of you small one ..and foolish as well, a child like you in a place like this.."
Oh.. yeah I kinda forgot, I look like a child so obviously-
"But a mere goblin child would not have managed to survive the journey here, in nearly 300 years no once managed or dared such a thing and the aura I feel from you is not fake, so tell me.. who are you child?"
..I don't know why I doubted him.
"..well I guess it's time to tell."
I put away my usual shyness and proceeded to tell Veldora about my journey so far, how I died and got reincarnated, then abou how i woke up in the goblin village, talked a bit about my parents and made my way through the forest and cave to here, of course I didn't get deep when it came to my skills and objectives but besides from that I told him everything, it was surprisingly easy to speak with him, probably because I already have some idea of who he is.
"Hmm. So a transmigrant, then? That alone makes your origins are quite rare.. but a transmigrant from another world.. one that inhabits the body of a monster, a soul by itself should not be able to do that and I cannot recall this ever happening before in this world's history.. quite peculiar indeed."
He said something similar to Rimuru didn't he? Though I guess I showed that I have some knowledge already so he skipped some explanations, also "never before in this world's history"? Yeah that's going to change soon.
"..heh! And as soon as you arrived in this world you got mistaken by a prophet of mine? I do not even have followers or cults! How strangely amusing"
"...amusing for you"
He can't understand how annoying that was.. though I guess the boredom he felt is probably 100 times worse than the boredom I felt.
"...hm, quite the mystery your existence is, but I do have a question for you that is unrelated to it"
..hm? Uh that's not a part of the plan but..
"..alright? You can ask"
"Very well, you see I have noticed something particular about you.. you know things you shouldn't."
Eh?
"The way you reacted when I told you about Transmigrants, the fact you didn't seem surprised at all, you definitely already knew that and although I commented about how special your soul is.. and how this is a historical event, you didn't seem even slightly surprised or interested, you openly showed your knowledge about otherworlders ..even though you have only been either in a goblin village and this cave during your entire stay in this world, the only person that you told about this was your mother and even then you introduced yourself as an otherworlder ...not to mention that if everything you knew about me were the rumors, then even as an otherworlder you would not have come here, unless you were extremely foolish ..or knew more than you're letting on."
...oh.
Ohh.. crap uh.. I forgot Veldora could be smart when he wanted to!
"So heres my question, how much do you know and why? And don't bother lying to me, I will know immediately."
....well shit.
I activated [Thought acceleration] and just think.. "How the hell do I get out of this one??"
He completely saw through me! I mean I wasn't trying to hide it but I didn't expect to be put on the spot like this..
...ok I have never been the best at lying ..but I am good enough at half-truing and changing the subject.. besides I know better than to risk it.
Ok let's put everything together and escape the topic while giving a convincing answer, normally this would be impossible but [Thought acceleration] does me miracles!
Ok.. plan made let's go!
"..you see there was ..something else, something I didn't mention about how I came to this world."
"Oh? And that would be?"
"..that it wasn't natural, at least it doesn't seem that way, I have been brought here by something.. or better someone".
I can see his eyes shine with intrigue, he is interested.
"You're saying your journey to this world was intentionally orchestrated by someone? And you are sure of that?"
"...they said I was part of their project and that they would be watching me, so yes.."
"You don't seem to be lying.. how interesting"
"..and to simplify things, ever since I was brought to this world I.. well you could say I know parts of the future.. I have knowledge of some events yet to come and some information, that's how I knew everything."
He is silent for a moment, then says.
"Heh! The more you speak the more your situation intrigues me small one, tell me now are you sure that this one you speak of is the one who granted you this knowledge?"
O-ouch!! This question is made to kill me huh? Ok.. no I just need to.. redirect it with an honest maybe!
"...they did know about what happened to my memories, but I am not sure what they did or know of me"
...please take the bait.!
"..so you aren't sure? Very well ...and your memories you say? What exactly happened to them?"
...Victory!!! Yes!! Subject change completed!
Anyway, now that I am not in danger of admitting to Veldora I saw his world like an anime/manga/novel, I went on to explain to him my memory situation, I also went a bit more into detail about the conversation I had with whoever that was in my "dream" and what they told me.
As I explain, I also notice that he seems very uh.. invested? In this, is he that bored or..? No he definitely is just that bored.
"..a being of unknown origin to you is apparently involved in bringing you into this world ...while knowing all about you? And possibly being the one to alter your memories and give you future knowledge."
He says while I can almost see his tail going up and down in curiosity and amusement.
"A true mystery, this genuinely captured my attention, who could this person be and what's their relation to you? What are their powers and intentions? Or why you in specific and not some other person? So many interesting questions.."
He seemed very amused by the whole thing, almost theorizing about it.
"Hmm this would mean you're technically a summon then? A summon by someone who can so casually act like they are a god."
You know.. if he wasn't a dragon I could swear I saw him smirking, like I get he probably ran out of things to entertain himself about a century ago but..
"Aren't you having a bit too much fun with this..?"
"Heh! Ahhh-Haa-haa-haa-haa!!"
..why the laugh?"
"It's only natural I find amusement in a situation like this, one would not blame me for it, not when you are such a unique individual with such a mysterious story, even more so after almost 300 years of doing nothing, and now you have given me plenty to think about."
Seems there's nothing I can do about it, well I guess I can let him have some fun at my expense but..
"If you're that lonely and bored you can just say it you know?"
"!? Fool! While I do agnologe my immense boredom I would never in a 1000 years be lonely!"
...Really? What if I..?
"..oh then you don't need my company huh? well suppose I will get going now-"
His eyes widen slightly.. Got him.
"W-wait!!"
"..hm? Why? Didn't you say you don't need company?"
"I.. just because one doesn't need it doesn't mean one can't appreciate someone to exercise my vocabulary with, yes that's it!"
...what a bad excuse.
Seeing me look unconvinced he says.
"D-don't look at me like that! I would never be lonely! B-besides uh.. yes! You couldn't possibly have come all the way here just to speak to me like this! Surely you have questions to ask me no?"
...welp I guess it's almost time to actually start, but first.
"I do and will but ...if you want to be friends i.. guess I don't mind."
You know, I don't think I have ever been this forward.. it's embarrassing as hell! If it wasn't for [Thought acceleration] letting me practice my phrases I would never be able to do this.. it also helps that I know his answer.
Veldora is silent then after a moment says.
"A mere hobgoblin proposed friendship with the known and feared, Veldora the Storm Dragon!?"
Almost the same response.. the power of knowing is so creepy, yet what I am saying is genuine so at least there's that.
"...well if you don't want to"
"Fool! I never said I didn't want to!!"
This is a bit scary, I feel almost evil for how predictable things are for me now.
Veldora takes a moment and says.
"...very well, if.. you insist, i will.. allow myself to think about it."
"...ok I insist, but its a final time ok? No take backs!."
"You!! ..urg! Fine I accept! You better be eternally grateful!"
"..."
"...Well???"
I can't help but smile at this and then giggle.
"Hehehe.."
"..What are you laughing at?? What's funny about this? I was serious! Be grateful!"
Honestly if he wasn't a giant dragon I am sure he would be pouting.
"Pff.. Hey! You're the last one I want to hear about when it comes to laughing.. and don't worry"
I smile, I really am happy with this, sure my knowledge makes me feel slightly bad but.. my feelings were genuine so I won't hold it against me for using this knowledge ..after all everything I did was give an old dragon a friend.
"And as a gift and sorry for making you doubt I will tell you something about the future!"
His eyes shine with interest now.
"Oh? And what is it then?"
"..hehe excited?"
"..TCH! Who wouldn't be when you phrases it like that! Come now tell me now!"
Hehe.. very well
"Then listen! In a near future someone will appear in this cave! Someone who will become your friend and change your life freeing you from this prison!"
I can almost feel his eyes widen slightly as he says.
"..so someone will arrive and free me? How unexpected! I was almost fully convinced this would have been my place of death! Yet you claim this person will free me?"
"Yes, he will be a remarkable individual, who will come in a rather uh.. unexpected shape and apperance, you will give him a name and he will give you one that you both will share like brothers."
Veldora is silent for a moment and then I can almost see him grinning as he says.
"Is that so? Heh.. Hahaha.. Ahhh-Haa-haa-haa-haa!!!"
...seriously what a laugh.
"In a single day I went from thinking I would do nothing until my death here ..to having a big event to look forward to! All thanks to you small girl.. no! My friend!"
Gah.!? ..he had to add the girl part.. not to mention it's embarrassing to be called that.
"W-well it's a favor to a friend."
"Now I don't suppose you would inform me the name of this person? ....No! Wait! Do not! That would ruin the surprise.. Ahahahaha! Now this is something to look forward to!"
...what a guy, kinda inconsequential of me to tell him that but.. the thought of just leaving him here without any hope of the future it's too sad for me to do.
After that I let Veldora talk a bit about how it is being, well... trapped here for so long and some things he did in the past, it was genuinely interesting and fun to learn more about the world and my new friend, at some point during that I learned [Thought Communication] from using [Prodigy Sense] while speaking with him, he is speaking directly to my mind after all, sure without being able to analyze the target it takes a while but it works and i finally did it, but time had come for the main event.
"...hey, mind if I ask my questions now?"
"Oh I don't see a problem, you may go ahead."
...excited huh?
"...first I could you please tell me what I am?"
We are both silent for a moment, then after that he say.
"...hm? Oh so it's time to talk about this, yes I noticed it while we were speaking."
He stops his eyes shine a bit with interest as.. oh.. oh he is analyzing me, I guess it makes sense? But if he already noticed it then-
"And if something isn't done about it.. it may be your end"
....Excuse me??