Chapter 30
The small feature at the Zen'in estate, it was suppose to be a rock garden, nothing more or less. However, when Naoya became a divine creature, his energy accidently went into the earth itself. Well… not completely by accident of course. But, there are divine creatures that have enough power to rip open a hole, in which Naoya made completely by accident. That hole is known as a divine realm, and only creatures with the approval from the one who made the hole can enter.
Naoya made it quite clear he didn't intend on making this.
"The moment this happened, all these flying gnats came in and tried to set up shop. I tried to kick them out, until I learn that they pay rent." He said.
That little rock garden became a full garden, with a water feature. However, to get TO the divine realm, one has to be invited, or a dragon. They merely walk pass a willow cheery blossom tree and the branches take them to this other world.
Toji froze as he took it all in.
"Why does this look like downtown Kyoto?" he asked bluntly.
Naoya shrugged. "Beats me, this way,"
There were stores, shops, and it really did feel like downtown Kyoto. But the odd thing was this… everyone here was at a normal size. Fairies were not small. In fact, any divine creature that is usually tiny, stood as an equal to those around them.
"Interesting place, you made the rules here?" he asked.
Naoya shrugged. "I told them to do as they wished as long as it didn't annoy me. When I first came here, it was all tiny shit. I stepped on three houses before I shouted how dumb this all was. In fact, I said. 'Why not make it more like a city than this backwater shit!' It took some time, but they did make it a city. Then, the gnats were flying into my face half the time. Told them to 'stand as tall as me or not at all!' next thing I knew, when I came here, everyone was tall."
He didn't think of it, in fact, Naoya didn't care.
Had he, he would realize he nearly has the same pull as a dragon to these divine creatures.
He came to the bar, Naoya turned to Toji and explained this was the hub of all information here. "We can go in, I don't have a tab here."
"Good, also, can you sense anything about me… being a dragon?" he whispered.
Naoya peered him over but shook his head. "Keep it that way!" he ordered.
They walked in. The place went silent as all eyes came on Naoya. "What? Drink up you bastards!"
"HEY!" they cheered and went back to their conversations.
Toji went up to the bar, Naoya worked the room as he got a drink. Toji ordered whatever won't make him drunk, so, they place fruit water before him. Not bad stuff either.
Yet, as he drank, the tried to listen to the conversations, but they were muddled in his ears. He couldn't tell heads or tails from the conversations…
Strange.
"Haven't seen you around here before…" the barkeep said.
Toji smirked. "First time back in a while, this was the family estate… old stomping grounds," he explained.
"Ah… so YOU'RE Toji…" the barkeep said, but peered at Naoya. "He doesn't shut up about you…" he said bluntly and rolled his eyes. "Oh and oh he blabs about Toji this, Toji that, Toji is going to restore the clan's honor! Blah, blah, blah!"
Toji smirked. "It's rather shocking considering he bragged to everyone in the family that he is going to he the future family head. He's going to stand next to Satoru Gojo! Now… he's kissing my ass of all thing…"
Toji took another drink, but found a strange taste come over his pallet. 'Oh? Something is spiked in this…' was the first thought he had in mind.
Naoya took the same drink. He pounded back the water with ease before cheering for another round. "So, what's been happening here? I know we get travellers through here every so often…" Naoya said offhandedly.
The bartender appeared to have forced a smile. "You asking on someone's behalf?" and gave Naoya a new drink. He pounded that down too.
"Nah, but I have been hearing things. In fact, a little birdy told me that there are divine users about who are here to kill a dragon… dragon slayers." He said aloud.
The room went silent.
The bartender shifted his glare to Toji who took another round of the fruit water. "You speak of that with you mortal… cousin? Here?" he demanded.
Naoya peered at Toji. "What? Any time a human comes here, they don't remember what has happened." He protested. "He's here for some drinks and for me to show off that I have a clan of my own to take of if you think about it." He then bore a rather smug grin. "Wouldn't you agree?"
The bartender sneered. "What's this about dragon slayers?" the bartender asked.
"I just overheard others outside talking about it, it's the buzz at the moment since… it appears they tried to take down the demon dragons of Tiamat"
This made the room fall completely silent.
'The Demon dragons of Tiamat? That's a new nickname for them' Toji thought.
Yet, he began to understand what was in his drink, it was drugged to knock him out… so… as such…
CRASH!
Toji hit the ground and pretended to be knocked out.
Luckily, Naoya knew to keep up his act. "Was that really necessary? I said before he's human!" he protested.
"Safe than sorry," the bartender replied. "But I know what you are speaking of, the dragon slayers that came from Europe, more have gathered after the first time that arrived, didn't return. Not to mention, their familiars. Guess their contacts were killed, the familiars returned to the slayers and informed them… Look… I don't like dragons either, but they ain't that greedy! At least, not here on earth."
Naoya glared at him. "You do know, I was a dragon made divine creatures… they still piss me off!" he protested. "I never asked to be like this! And yet, I'm a Silky! If they wanted to turn me into something, make it cooler. Not some sort of house fairy!"
The bar snickered, the tender nodded in agreement. "You would have the right to hold a grudge, not so much everyone else. Those who side with the slayers believe the dragons are hoarding the divine energy…" he shook his head to it all. "They don't hold on to divine energy when they have more than enough, dragons GENERATE it!" he stated.
"By the way, what the hell kind of divine creature are you?!" Naoya asked. "You just showed up one day and set up shop here."
He snickered to the comment as he put the drinks away. "Well, former familiar to a dragon slayer" the barkeeper explained. "But, I don't help them. Not anymore and after seeing the world barely survive with one dragon hanging on by a thread." He turned to Naoya. "Word of caution for your friend who turned you. If they are aware that there are dragons here, they know who they are and what they look like, a slayer vows to never stop until they are dead. If they step foot in Japan, they don't leave until they are dead or the dragons are."
'I should pretend to be knocked out more often' Toji thought.
