"Ah, I'm full."
"Nee-sama, I can't eat anymore."
Kuroka and Shirone are lying on the floor while stroking their slightly bulging bellies. I am amazed to see that each of them has eaten an entire gray wolf.
I mean, a whole gray wolf could last me two or three days when I was a Baby Dragon, and I'm not going to say anything about when I was an egg.
"Kuroka, Shirone, go take a bath now that you've finished eating. Draco and I need to have a little talk."
"Yes, Tia-nee!"
The two sisters soon obey Tiamat. It seems the Nekoshou have somehow recognized her as the leader, although how she has done so is unknown to me.
Once the two sisters are gone, Tiamat exchanges her friendly smile for a much more chilling one.
"Now, Draco. Tell me a little more about these Servants..."
….
Let's go back a little earlier.
After Shirone and Kuroka finished their little celebration, we continued with the meal.
"Hey, Kuroka."
"Tell me, Danna-sama."
That affects the tone of voice, besides calling me husband...
It would be nice if it came from a mature woman, or at least an a.d.u.l.t. But Kuroka's only 14, so I feel strange.
I'm not a pedophile, as much as I love lolis. I'd only touch a loli if she's legal.
"Call me Draco."
I give her a little bump on the forehead.
"Mooo, it's okay. Draco-sama."
Kuroka pouted as she speak. She tries to look sad, but I can see her lips curl slightly.
She seems genuinely happy.
"Could you teach me [Senjutsu]?"
"Senjutsu"? Sure, why not?"
She's accepted it pretty easily.
"Nee-sama, I want to learn too! I want to learn too!"
Shirone joins the conversation. She seems quite excited to talk about Senjutsu.
"Hmm, so Senjutsu. I think it's a good idea, since continuing to kill monsters in this forest isn't going to make you much better. I've noticed that the more you kill, the harder it is to level up. If I'm not mistaken, killing a few dark worms now won't do you any good."
Tiamat's observation skills are impressive as always.
"Yes, I've noticed that too. The stronger the enemy, the stronger I become. But I get less and less strength from weaker enemies than I did before."
I think that's all I can tell Tiamat.
I don't tell her about the system because it's unbelievable. I can't give evidence about the existence of this one.
"In that case, I'm going to have to ask you to stop killing the monsters that live here. This is one of the few places on earth where monsters can still live freely and safely. Although some foolish humans try their luck entering the forest to hunt monsters, but that's what I'm here for, the guardian of this forest."
That answers some questions.
"Tia-nee, where is this place located?" Kuroka asks him.
That's a question I've had since the moment I was reincarnated. But to Tiamat I know nothing of this world, I am just a dragon that hatched from the egg a little more than a few weeks ago.
"This forest is part of what used to be Babylon, the capital of the Babylonian Empire. If you ask for a country today, we'd be in a part of Iraq, in Southwest Asia."
We're in Iraq... I'm a little scared right now.
I remember in my previous life, the U.S. and Iran were starting a war, and Iraq was the first place of conflict. Iran had even launched missiles into Irak territory.
A missile won't fall here, will it? Can I survive a rocket or a nuclear bomb?
It is impossible. I will die instantly.
"Something wrong, Draco? You're shaking."
"It's nothing, hehe."
Good thing this is a different world. I don't want to get involved in wars between countries.
"You sure? You can tell me anything that's bothering you, Draco."
It's really nothing.
"Boy, I think you should take the opportunity to talk about the Servants with Tiamat. You'll have to tell her sometime soon, and I think this is a good time."
You haven't talked in a while, old man.
"Don't expect me to talk to you much, kid. My time has passed, and now there's only a little bit of my soul left in the Fate System. I just want to observe how my successor is going to solve the problems of the multiverse, I think it'll be fun and interesting."
I see, so you're a stalker. F.u.c.k.i.n.g old pervert.
"I don't think you're the best person to call me a pervert. Now, tell that to Tiamat."
Okay, okay.
"I have a problem, Tia."
Tiamat looks at me with concern in her eyes.
"While I was unconscious, I had a dream and met an old stranger. He told me many things, but, to sum up, I'll tell you that he told me I have a special power called the Fate System."
"It was just a dream, you don't have to overthink."
Tiamat is trying to comfort me. Although I don't know why. Shirone and Kuroka are listening carefully.
"It wasn't just a dream, Tia. When I woke up, I tried to test if it worked, and it did."
Tiamat scowls.
"Can you prove it?"
"Yes."
To prove it, I only have to do one thing.
"Agni Gandiva"
I call the name of my Noble Phantasm.
A light appears in front of me, and I extend my hand naturally.
I don't know why, but I have a feeling I must. It is as if I was born to carry this bow. My hands grasp the bow with impressive naturalness as if I had performed this movement thousands, if not millions of times.
"That is-!"
Tiamat raises her voice when she sees the bow in my hands. Maybe she recognized it?
"Do you know what this is, Tia?"
Tiamat nods her head.
"That's the Gandiva, the bow of the god Agni who lent the hero Arjuna to help complete a mission."
"Agni, the God of Fire, wanted to devour the forest of Khandava, to regain its power and splendour. He had enlisted the help of the two heroes, Krishna and Arjuna. Arjuna was the best and most excellent archer of all times, and he demanded from Agni a bow that would match his strength, skill, and the power of heavenly weapons.
Agni provided the heroes with the desired weapons. He gave the bow of Gandiva to Arjuna, as well as two quivers that would provide him with an inexhaustible number of arrows.
The weapon was feared by many during the war of Kurukshetra, having defeated and killed many great warriors and the gods themselves.
Gandiva gives the bearer self-confidence, self-belief. The bow was well adorned and supported with great energy and is said to be equivalent to one hundred thousand bows, it was also incapable of being damaged and was worshipped by the celestials and the Gandharvas.
Finally, it is said that at the end of the Dwapara yuga, Krishna left the mortal world and went to Vaikuntha. Arjuna could not draw the bow, nor remember the spells needed to invoke his heavenly weapons. Later the Pandavas withdrew and travelled to the Himalayas. On their way, Agni came and asked Arjuna to return the Gandiva to Varuna. Arjuna committed himself and let them fall into the waters of the sea. Thus the heavenly bow was returned to the gods."
Tiamat took a deep breath and squinted as he looked at me.
"Tell me, my dear Draco. Why do you hold in your hands the most powerful bow that ever existed? Why is it not in the hands of the gods?"