MTLNOVEL Chapter 97: Compensation
Forget it, this time I've more than achieved my modest goal. For today, I'll let you shameless Drow off the hook.
As David, soot-stained from the Destruction Flame of Barto Hell and keenly aware that his trump cards were nearly spent, rationalized a retreat, he prepared to make a quick exit with a flick of his tail.
Twelve enchanting and gracefully distinct silhouettes stepped out from the shadows.
Damn it! The twelve matriarchs from Drogsin's Spider Nest City have all come out to seek revenge against me! This was the first thought that sprang into David's guilty conscience. He was so shocked his scales nearly flew off.
"Do you bunch of dark-skinned runts dare to show your faces?!"
Then, nearly on instinct, he raised his head high, clenched his right claw before him, and the once-dim Dragon inscriptions on his body stubbornly began to glow anew.
Although he knew that after this massive display, the significantly altered "Protection of Tiamat" likely wouldn't possess the same heaven-defying, terrifying power as the previous "Wrath of Tiamat." But, since it was called 'Protection,' surely it could shield him, a young Red Dragon, from the assault of a mere twelve Drow, right? The most crucial part was that his opponents were unaware of this change!
Indeed, the moment they saw David about to unleash another 'big one' without warning, the Drow matriarchs who had arrived together nearly wet themselves in fear. If he were to unleash another Divine Flame at such close range, especially with their power link to the Spider Queen severed, none of them would escape.
This was to avoid provoking the Sed Ponga's reckless nature any further and to prevent an unnecessary spiral of suspicion.
Under the divine intimidation, the twelve Drow matriarchs, with surprising unison, dropped to their knees before David with a THUD.
Some shook their heads frantically, others waved their hands or explained in panicked tones,
"Please, no more fighting, Lord David Uthos! We've come to offer our apologies!"
"Yes, yes, yes! We're here to apologize to you! Please be merciful, Your Excellency!"
Someone hastily added, "Flavia, that audacious bitch, has already taken her own life to escape punishment! Please, calm your anger and spare us Drow, who are now homeless."
Their words were, in fact, half true. Spider Nest City had indeed been nearly razed to the ground. Besides Flavia, five or six other unfortunate matriarchs had also lost almost everything in that divine catastrophe. Although the statue that maintained the power link with the Spider Queen had crumbled, the flame inscriptions from the Chromatic Dragon Queen still burned brightly. The previous battle—nothing short of deities clashing while the Drow suffered the consequences—had made the victor abundantly clear.
Theoretically, any one of them could invoke the Spider Queen's name to break through the Dragon Queen's residual power and call upon her presence once more. But as Drow, they knew all too well the consequences of such an act while their goddess was already seething with rage. Matriarch Flavia's fate was the starkest example. Now that their goddess's connection had been severed by their adversary, even if their hearts bled with resentment and jealousy, they could only swallow their bitterness.
As for Flavia's death, daring to seek help from the goddess under those circumstances was practically courting disaster! Yet, not doing so would have meant certain death for all the Drow, including Flavia. Theoretically, their very survival could be attributed to Matriarch Flavia's 'selfless sacrifice' and her monumental gamble.
This led to the rather farcical scene unfolding before them. Though each matriarch present possessed the strength to instantly kill the young Red Dragon David, none dared to make a move. These matriarchs, who usually wielded the power of life and death over countless Drow, were now forced to kneel and submissively admit their wrongdoing. They could only hope the young Red Dragon before them would retract his claws and stop his accursed rampage; they truly couldn't endure any more.
Regardless of the truth, their words finally had an effect.
"What? Flavia, that brazen wretch, is dead?"
This was something David had never anticipated, and it simultaneously eased the tension that had gripped him. The reason was simple: he understood the Drow far too well now. With Flavia dead, the primary, direct threat and source of conflict were gone. Moreover, given the intricate feuds among the Drow, it was utterly impossible for any of them to openly seek revenge for that greedy fool Flavia, especially while he still exuded 'divine intimidation.'
"Yes... she is dead. It's just that her death was quite unsightly. We can bring her remains over later, but that... distinguished appearance... you might not recognize her."
To be precise, it was now somewhat difficult to even piece her body back together completely.
David was speechless.
He had no interest in examining the body. Under the current circumstances, these Drow matriarchs had no reason to lie to him about this. Absolutely no reason. If Flavia were still alive, they probably would have already trussed her up and delivered her to his doorstep. More importantly, he felt there were far more pressing matters to attend to right now.
He immediately flashed a devilish smile at the group of Drow matriarchs, who wore cautious, ingratiating expressions.
"Well then, if you're here to offer apologies, you ought to show some sincerity first, shouldn't you?"
The Drow matriarchs exchanged dismayed glances. This little Red Dragon whelp seems to know quite a bit, they thought. Suddenly, it dawned on them. Many years ago, one of their families had indeed brought back a Red Dragon Egg from Sed Ponga. That knowledge must have come from the draconic heritage. In that case... their Drow kin actually had both old grudges and new hatreds with the Sed Ponga. It was just the first time they'd ever heard of a Chromatic Dragon seeking vengeance for its ancestors.
Before a dumbfounded David, the twelve matriarchs tactfully began to loosen their clothing, signaling they carried no weapons or poisons for this negotiation. This was the Drow version of 'coming clean,' a rare and high form of 'sincerity' even among themselves. Of course, if the Red Dragonling before them were a little older, they, as Drow, wouldn't mind demonstrating an even deeper sincerity.
But they hadn't expected to cast their earnest pearls before swine.
This approach even provoked the furious flames of David's [Wrath]:
"FUCK YOUR MOTHERS!!! Is this the 'sincerity' you Drow show?"
"SCREW YOUR SINCERITY!"
"I WANT COMPENSATION!"
"COMPENSATION! DO YOU GET IT?"
"THE KIND MADE OF REAL GOLD AND SILVER!"
"WHO THE HELL IS INTERESTED IN YOU BUNCH OF SLUTTY, DARK-SKINNED MONKEYS!"
"HUH???"
His final words seemed to strike a collective nerve among the matriarchs, who normally held themselves in high esteem, viewing the bestowal of their favors upon male Drow as the highest reward. The Drow matriarchs, who usually dared to engage in public displays before their subordinates, now clutched at their alluring bodies like saintly, demure High Elves, looking tearfully and innocently at the Red Dragonling who clearly didn't appreciate their charms and seemed unlikely to do so anytime soon.
Finally, one of the weakest matriarchs, coerced by the others, ventured, "Then, Lord David Uthos, what kind of compensation do you require to spare our Drogsin Spider Nest City?"
David finally revealed that ferocious smile once more.
Fucking hell, after all that dawdling, it's finally time for the dragon to open its great maw! The moment has arrived. Since you're all willingly sticking your necks out for the slaughter, then I certainly won't be polite.