Once my brain unfroze from the shock, we quickly explained everything to the dragon, so he knew why we were rushing off.
I didn't want to leave like this, but I also didn't want to postpone going to Gran, especially since the police were still there and wanted to talk to me. Though… I had no idea what I would even tell them.
The dragon seemed to understand, waving his tail to send us off and telling us he had much to explore—but that he'd love to see us again soon.
Well, we were obviously going to come back. We still had to choose a name for him, and I wanted to see those caves too.
Besides, he still looked very pleased, which made it harder to leave.
"You don't need to come with me," I told Llewellyn. "If you show up, you'll likely end up on the news again."
Llewellyn's eyes narrowed.
"I'm not sitting this one out," he said. "Someone might be watching the place. We might not dissuade the big players regardless, but some of the smaller ones might back off if they think I'll come for them."
I sighed.
I didn't know how I felt about this. I was here to make sure he was safe, not the other way round.
I mean, I obviously didn't mind in battle. But this was overdoing it a bit.
Well, anyway.
After a brief argument, we said goodbye to the dragon and teleported directly to Eunhwa Home's front door.
The woman at the front desk let me in, looking relieved. She offered to guide me to the police immediately, but I wanted to see Gran first, and in the end she agreed.
I found Gran quickly in the common room, sitting at a table. She had set her card aside and was now drinking tea and reading a book.
Thankfully, there weren't many residents around, but some of the ones there looked up when we entered. At the sight of Llewellyn, one or two mouths dropped open.
Gran spotted me and her face broke into a smile.
I crossed the room in three strides.
"I'm fine, love," she said, patting my back, as if I was the one who needed comforting here. "I told them it wasn't necessary to worry you, but they thought it would be better if you heard it from them than from the news."
Well, they were right.
I hugged her back. They'd already said she was okay, but seeing it with my own eyes was different. Besides, I couldn't shake the feeling that if I hadn't been so public, or at least hadn't been caught by that reporter, she wouldn't be risking her life right now.
"And you must be Llewellyn," Gran said, pulling back to look up at him, her eyes bright with interest.
Llewellyn bowed his head in greeting, actually looking a bit apprehensive.
"It's good to meet you, ma'am," he said. "I'm sorry you were involved, but I'm glad to see you weren't hurt."
"Oh, none of that formal business," Gran said. "Besides, we all owe you way too much. I should be thanking you."
Ah, she was the best.
Her gaze sharpened, zeroing in on my throat. "Though I see my grandson's been busy."
…Oh, shit!
I forgot!
I slapped a hand on my neck, my face catching fire immediately.
Gran snorted.
"Here," Gran said, unwinding her scarf, and wrapping it around my neck, covering the marks. "Can't have you scandalizing the other residents."
I covered my eyes with one hand. There weren't many residents around, but I had to go talk to the police.
When I looked up, Llewellyn's ears had turned red, too. Which… uh, Gran definitely noticed, considering how amused she looked.
Well. Nothing I could do about it now, except for… uh… wishing the ground could open up and swallow me whole.
"Have there been reporters around?" Llewellyn asked after clearing his throat. "Since the last accident."
…Damn it. I should have checked in on her. What was wrong with me?
It's true that visiting would have likely made things worse, but I should have at least called.
Granted, we'd basically gone from the reporter incident and first online pile-on against me, to the Pirate Dungeon, after following that mysterious guy with insane magic there, to the second online pile-on against me, then being dropped on Llewellyn's lap, then straight into a Distorted Realm in France a few hours later—and finally to discovering a dragon and being relocated on top of a mountain in North Innishae!
Not like I'd had time to even think. But.
…Now that I thought about it, what was even my life lately.
Anyway, the point was, I'd been busy, but I should have at least called.
"Mhh," Gran said, gesturing for us to sit at the table with her. "There have indeed been reporters around, but us residents don't go out much, so they could only loiter and wait. Some of the people here have loved spying on them from the windows, though, so it's been very entertaining, as far as I'm concerned. I think Mrs Balfe thinks she's Miss Marple now."
Why was she being so flippant about this!
"What about the staff?" Llewellyn asked.
Gran took a sip of her tea.
"From what I know, most of them know someone who is awakened, so they've just been teleporting right to the front door. We have a couple of awakened staff who have helped those with no personal access to anyone with teleportation. Most of the reporters got bored quickly."
Well, that was something at least.
Suddenly there was a loud chirp.
Shit!
I looked down to my pocket, where Penguin's little head was poking out. He was looking at Gran with round eyes.
There was a long pause.
"Is that a penguin?" Gran asked.
Damn it. I forgot to send him home! Or even to equip an artifact for him!
"Um," I said.
Llewellyn quickly took out a concealment artifact and activated it. Once we were shielded from prying eyes, I took Penguin out and placed him on the table.
"Gran meet Penguin," I said. "Penguin, Gran. He's um… been living with me for the past few weeks."
Gran's eyes had turned into saucers. She looked at Penguin, ecstatic. When he moved closer to be petted, Gran started cooing at him happily, patting his little head while Penguin chirped, delighted.
"Well, looks like there's quite a lot you haven't been telling me," she said, sounding happy about it. "Anything else I should know?"
She eyed me and Llewellyn both.
"Um," I said. "Not really?"
Gran snorted.
Penguin, sensing she was getting distracted, started cycling forms, maybe trying to find out which one would get him more cuddles.
"The officers are in the director's office on the second floor," Gran said, her eyes back on Penguin. "Third door on the left—you've been there before. You can leave him here with me while you talk to them. Penguin is going to keep Gran company for a bit, isn't it right?"
Penguin chirped happily, turning back into a penguin and flopping down on the table, belly up. I had a feeling he picked that up from Lumos.
I looked at them, amused. Ah, this was good. Also a relief I didn't have to worry about Penguin while speaking with the detectives.
"Alright," I told Llewellyn. "Shall we go in?"
Llewellyn nodded and passed the concealment artifact to Gran, explaining how it worked, before he got up.
"Let's get this over with," he said to me.
I nodded.
"See you in a bit," I told Gran, tugging my scarf higher.