We named my son Alfred.
Lu was the one who chose it; apparently, every name I suggested was rejected.
What concerned me was the fact that he was the child of the "me" who had fallen ill and died in my previous world. I had been granted a [Healthy Body] by God, but I wondered if that divine protection extended to my son as well. There was no way to check, so I could only pray. I just wanted him to grow up healthy.
Also, since he was the child of a human like me and a vampire like Lu, I wondered what his race would be. Would he be a half-vampire? I tried asking Lu, but since this was her first time giving birth and there weren't any other experienced vampire mothers around, she didn't know either.
It made sense. From what I could see, he looked no different from a normal human baby for now. According to the High Ogre Race, racial characteristics only started to manifest once a child reached a certain size. In their case, it was the horns. They weren't born with them; instead, the horns grew slowly by the time they reached maturity. It certainly made sense—giving birth to a baby with horns would be an anatomical nightmare. I wondered if my son would follow a similar pattern.
It was worrying, but there wasn't much I could do about it. Whether he turned out to be human or a vampire, he was definitely the child of Lu and me. I resolved to do my best to raise him.
Lu herself was doing fine after the delivery. While she wasn't exactly the same as she had been before the pregnancy, her personality seemed to have softened. Perhaps that was just what it meant to become a mother. Regardless, I was simply happy that both mother and child were healthy.
As for the actual child-rearing, the High Ogres had taken the lead with such enthusiasm that we were never short on hands. If anything, there were so many people helping that Lu and I barely got a chance to look after him ourselves. I wished they’d let me play the role of "Dad" a bit more often.
On a different note, the reason for the departure of Kuro’s thirty offspring was finally revealed. It turned out those thirty wolves, along with some of Zabuton’s children, had been off conquering a dungeon located to the south of the forest. I couldn't believe they’d do something so dangerous.
The discovery happened by chance when Granmaria spotted the dungeon entrance. The site was quite a distance south of the village, but because dungeons left unattended could eventually overflow with ferocious monsters, it was decided that we needed to investigate. A conquest party was formed, primarily consisting of High Elves.
I volunteered to go, but the entire village turned me down. I really wanted to see it; the idea of dungeon exploration definitely tickled my sense of adventure.
When the party was at the entrance checking their equipment, Kuro’s offspring suddenly emerged from the depths, carrying Zabuton’s children on their backs. After following them back inside to investigate, the group figured out exactly what the wolves had been up to.
So, they had been exploring the dungeon entirely of their own volition. I wondered if that was just a natural instinct for Kuro’s kind. Apparently, Zabuton’s children handled the tasks that required fine motor skills or reaching places the four-legged wolves couldn't access.
The High Elves brought back a haul of monster bones from the creatures the wolves had defeated, so I tossed them into the storehouse. I initially questioned the point of keeping bones, but apparently, they were quite valuable for various uses. While the High Elves returned to the village, Kuro’s offspring stayed behind to continue their exploration. I hoped they’d come home to visit every once in a while.
Then, the incident happened.
It was a little after noon when Zabuton’s alarm rang out. The signal came from the south. Looking up at the sky, I spotted something flying. Another Wyvern? Remembering the last time one appeared, I felt a surge of anger.
The flying object was heading straight for us. I knew instinctively that its target was the village. Judging by its terrifying speed, it wasn't coming on a friendly visit. I transformed the [Universal Farming Tool] into a spear and took a throwing stance. I would bring it down.
Just as I put my strength into the hand holding the tool, another flying object slammed into the first one. The newcomer was Draim. I’d seen his dragon form enough times to recognize it instantly. Compared to Draim, the dragon that had been charging us was about two sizes smaller. It wasn't a Wyvern, but a dragon of a different color.
The smaller dragon seemed stunned by Draim’s tackle but managed to stay airborne. From there, the two spiraled into a mid-air battle. For a moment, I thought about leaving it to Draim, but it looked like he was actually losing.
I was considering whether or not to provide backup when I suddenly felt a powerful killing intent coming from behind me. From the north?
I spun around and hurled my spear toward the source of the malice in a single motion. Standing there was a pure white dragon, roughly the same size as Draim, if not slightly larger. I expected the spear to be drawn into the white dragon’s chest as if by a magnet, but at the last possible second, the dragon threw itself aside. The evasion was desperate, leaving the dragon's posture completely broken.
It was my chance. I prepared a second throw. But just as I was about to let it fly, someone jumped in my way.
"W-Wait, please! They aren't enemies!"
Draim’s servant, Gucci, had appeared out of nowhere and was standing before me with his arms spread wide.
A short while later, I found myself facing three individuals in human form. There was Draim, a beautiful blonde woman, and a young girl who looked like a youthful version of the woman. The girl, however, had two magnificent dragon horns growing from her head and a large tail peeking out from under her skirt.
"This is my wife, Graffaloon, and our daughter, Lastismoon," Draim explained.
According to him, the first dragon that had charged the village was his daughter, Lastismoon, and the pure white dragon I had nearly skewered was his wife, Graffaloon.
"I didn't know. I am truly sorry," I said, bowing. I really meant it. I had almost killed Draim's wife with a spear.
"N-No, I should be the one apologizing. I did something that caused a terrible misunderstanding..." The daughter, Lastismoon, bowed her head while trying to hide behind Draim’s back. I seemed to have terrified her. She was actually quite cute, though I suspected she was the reason Draim was currently covered in bruises and scratches.
"I also apologize for my careless approach," Graffaloon added. "I acted solely out of a desire to protect my husband and daughter. Please, laugh at my foolishness."
Of course, I didn't laugh.
"Let’s just put this behind us as a series of mistakes on both sides," I suggested. I really wanted to avoid any more trouble.
As Draim told it, the whole mess started because his daughter suspected him of having an affair since he had built a "secret" house in the Village of the Great Tree. To make matters worse, she saw him preparing a gift for Alfred’s birth and assumed it was a present for a mistress. Draim denied it, but she didn't believe him and flew straight for the village, intending to burn the whole place down.
I made a mental note to keep an eye on the daughter as a potentially dangerous person.
"I-I'm so sorry," she squeaked. Being able to apologize was a start, but her hair-trigger aggression was a problem.
Panicked, Draim had chased after her and tackled her at full speed to stop the attack. That should have been the end of it, but when Graffaloon realized what was happening, she had also rushed to the scene at top speed. As for that intense killing intent she had been radiating...
"It was love," she explained.
I decided to mark the wife as a dangerous person as well.
Graffaloon's aura had been so overwhelming that Kuro’s wolves, Zabuton’s children, the High Elves, the Lizardmen, and the High Ogres had all fallen into a state of paralyzed panic. It took a long time for things to settle down. While there were no physical injuries, Kuro’s offspring were currently cowering with their tails between their legs at the sight of her, and Zabuton’s children wouldn't even go near her.
I often forgot because Draim was so casual, but this was a reminder that dragons were truly fearsome creatures. Or perhaps it was just that mothers were a force of nature. Interestingly, Alfred had apparently slept through the entire ordeal. He was definitely going to be someone important.
"Daughter, you have to trust me more," Draim pleaded.
"But..."
"I have Graffaloon; there is no way I would ever cheat. If I even thought about it..."
"If you thought about it?"
"The mere idea is terrifying! Daughter, remember this: your father simply does not have that kind of courage!"
"U-Uh, okay."
"More importantly," Draim continued, "do you finally understand what I’ve been telling you? That being hostile toward this village is simply not a realistic option?"
"Yeah. An attack that could punch through all of Mother's barriers... wait, that was aimed at me first, wasn't it?"
"It was."
"......That was a close one."
"It certainly was. I'm just glad you're safe."
"Father..."
"It’s wonderful that you two are getting along," Graffaloon interrupted, "but I hope you haven't forgotten me."
"U-Umu. You were impressive as always, Graffaloon. My heart nearly stopped when that attack was unleashed."
"I was only saved because a kind spider helped me," Graffaloon said. "I never expected an attack that could bypass barriers, shields, walls, and resistances all at once. There would have been no way to dodge it on my own."
"A kind spider?" Draim asked.
"An old friend of mine. They shifted my body a fraction of a second before impact. Otherwise, I wouldn't be standing here right now."
"Graffaloon..."
"Rusty," Graffaloon said, addressing her daughter. "I hear there is a house for Draim in this village. You are going to live there."
"Mother? Why so suddenly?"
"That level of offensive power cannot be left unmonitored. I’m not asking you to suppress him, but when that power is unleashed, you must strive to ensure it isn't directed toward the Dragon Race."
"E-Er..."
"Do I have an answer?"
"Y-Yes! I'll do my best!"
And so, without my input, the village gained one more resident.