20 The Storm Dragon..ness?

"W-Wait,...cough* Where do you think you are going, human?"

The words were slow, heavy, and full of strange tension—as if the source of the voice wasn't used to speaking at all. Leo, however, didn't flinch. The sheer awkwardness of the voice's tone struck him more than the power behind it. It was as if some socially awkward giant was desperately trying to get his attention, unsure of how to proceed after being ignored.

Leo paused for a moment, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. He turned slowly as if he were dealing with a nervous child, but his eyes remained sharp, and alert.

Leo turned slowly at the booming voice, sensing a strange mix of power and discomfort in the air. He couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the awkwardness that radiated from the source, and his lips curled into a slight smirk. This wasn't the terrifying roar of an ancient beast, nor the intimidating presence he expected from something like the Storm Dragon. No, this felt more like a nervous giant trying to assert themselves and failing miserably.

The dragon, still draped in its massive, steel-like form, shifted slightly, and Leo's gaze flicked toward the silhouette of the creature as it spoke again, its voice a mix of both assertiveness and hesitation.

"W-Wait, w-where... *cough* Where do you think you are going, human?" the voice bellowed, but with a noticeable stammer.

Leo, unfazed, straightened his posture. This is definitely not what I expected, he thought, watching the dragon's enormous form.

Though he knew Veldora was socially awkward, he didn't realize it was this bad, but he couldn't blame him.

'Maybe this is what happens when you have abusive siblings and the only one who took care of you in a good way is dead.'

Thinking about this, he feels this is the reason why his father raised him alone, so he didn't end up like Veldora. Both are the youngest siblings and the weakest.

'and with infinite potential.'

"Going?" Leo repeated casually as if they were merely having a normal conversation. "Well, I figured I'd take a walk, see the sights, then maybe come back later when you are not... sleeping?" His tone was light, teasing, but there was an edge of curiosity in his voice, but he tried to keep it highly disinterested.

The dragon seemed to shift, the deep rumble of its voice coming again, this time with a distinct undertone of frustration. "I-I am not... *cough* I am the great Storm Dragon, Veldora! Y-You should be honored to be in my presence, human!" The dragon's words were punctuated by a weak attempt at a dramatic flair, but the effort seemed to fall flat, as though Veldora wasn't quite sure how to pull it off.

Leo blinked. "Veldora?" he repeated, amusement flickering in his eyes. This is the 'great Storm Dragon'?* he thought, barely able to keep his expression neutral. The lack of intimidation was almost comical, though Leo understood the power that still lurked beneath the surface.

"You're the great Storm Dragon? Not exactly what I imagined," Leo replied nonchalantly, still trying to read the dragon's aura. It wasn't fear or danger, but something else—something far more... childish.

"H-Human! Do you want to die, don't you dare to underestimate me!"

"I doubt you could even harm a bug from your glorious blanket, otherwise you would have been rampaging like some rampaging idiot, I don't even think you are Storm Dragon Veldora, probably someone imitating him, even if

Veldora's pride flared, though it was tempered with an awkward tension. "O-Of course I am! I-I could level entire continents if I wanted to, but, y'know, I don't have to do that. I'm the one who chooses when to destroy things. Not like some rampaging idiot, huh?" Her voice was laced with the kind of boastful energy Leo had expected from a creature of this size, but it was clear she was struggling to maintain that air of terror.

Leo couldn't help but chuckle. The contrast between the image of the "evil" Storm Dragon and the reality before him was stark. "Sounds impressive, sure," Leo said, "but you don't sound too... well, terrifying." He crossed his arms and leaned back slightly, giving the dragon an inquisitive look. "Not that I'm complaining, of course."

Veldora shifted uneasily, unsure of how to respond. 'This weird human isn't intimidated at all... Am I doing this wrong?' She thought for a moment before speaking, her voice now tinged with uncertainty. "W-Well, you're not supposed to know that!" she stammered, attempting to regain some of her lost confidence. "It's... it's just that, y'know, sometimes I like to relax a bit... and I don't go around destroying everything all the time. That would be... childish."

Leo raised an eyebrow, leaning in slightly. "So, you do destroy things, just not all the time?"

Veldora quickly puffed up her chest in an exaggerated manner, trying to regain some pride. "O-Of course! It's just that... I only do that when I'm feeling... destructive, you know? So, I have to tell everyone who is the strongest true dragon." Her voice trailed off, revealing a vulnerability she wasn't quite ready to admit.

Leo observed her carefully, noting the way the dragon was trying so hard to seem imposing yet clearly flustered. "I see," Leo replied, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips. "Well, I guess if you're not in the mood to destroy things today, I'll take that as a sign I'm safe for now."

Veldora's pride swelled again at Leo's acknowledgment, but there was still an underlying awkwardness. "Y-Yeah! You're safe... for now," she replied, trying to sound confident. "But you should be careful, human! I'm not someone to be messed with, alright?" The final words were more of a half-hearted warning than an actual threat.

Leo couldn't help but let out a quiet laugh. "Right. Got it. I'll be sure to remember that, Veldora-sama" He gave a mock bow. "I'll leave you to your... 'relaxing' then. But I'll be back. You seem like you've got a lot of... energy to burn, and I'm curious what kind of 'destruction' you're capable of when you're in the mood."

Veldora's expression softened slightly, her nervousness giving way to a quiet pride. "Y-You are not strong enough to witness my destruction, human. But when I do decide to show my full power, it'll be spectacular!" Her voice was more confident now, but still with that slight stammer. She wasn't quite sure if Leo was mocking her or genuinely interested, but she couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't nearly as afraid as he should be.

Leo gave one last glance at the dragon, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "I'll hold you to that," he said with a grin before turning to leave the cave.

"W-wait! Did I allow you to go, Human?" Veldora asked with a little more pride, but for Leo, it looked like a desperate plea; he exaggerated his exasperation' "What now?"

Veldora did not expect this puny human to be afraid of her at all, but she is sealed in the cave for a long time, without someone to talk to or places to rampage, so she is really desperate for company, though she would not admit it.

Leo also knew it, he was just messing with the dragon, he wanted to sympathize with Veldora but his sealing was the result of his idiotic rampages, he wasn't going anywhere, there were plenty of reasons for it first was trying to befriend or at least take a look which was MUCH easier than expected, another was he could feel his divinity resonate with Veldora, the magicules were another bonus.

This cave was akin to those special cultivation chambers or sealed realms that appeared once in a thousand years in cultivation terms for him.

The silence stretched before Veldora spoke, setting aside her pride. "Human, don't go. Stay... and talk with me." She tried to act superior, but it sounded more like a request to Leo.

Leo's surprised by the dragon's vulnerability. "What's there to discuss, Veldora-sama? I didn't think you would want to talk to a puny human."

The dragon's voice took on a hint of wistfulness. "Anything, I've been trapped here for so long... I've forgotten the world beyond these walls"

But she didn't stop as if remembering something "Human if you keep me entertained I will grant you my divine protection,"

The offer would be tempting for any monster even humans if they were capable of surviving these magicules Leo felt a little tempted but Leo felt he could extract more "I am plenty powerful already and will grow stronger in the future, while your blessing is tempting but I have much more 'important' work to do." The important work is chasing skirts.

Veldora seemed surprised by the straightforward rejection, like an arrogant bitchy popular girl being rejected by a transfer student.

"So, what do you want? I don't exactly remember much after I was killed by my... sisters." Muttering the last part under breath as if afraid that her sisters would listen.

"Well, you deserved it," an asshole part of Leo wanted to say, but it was a ticket to ruining the good conversation and possibly earning the resentment of a True Dragon, and he didn't want to end like Luminous.

"Hmm, what about being friends?" Leo said he wanted to ask a favor but he remembered the first episode and decided to try his luck.

"FRIENDS, you puny human wants to be friends with the Dangerous Storm Dragon Veldora, one of the four True Dragons in the world. Are you afraid?"

Well, here he goes Leo thought as he looked at Veldora with a deadpan "If you don't want to then I am going back,"

"W-wait, haha, if you are insisting so much, then I grant you the honor to call yourself a friend of the great Storm Dragon Veldora."

Leo shook his head at Veldora's antics but extended his hand towards Veldora. She also extended her hand, unsure what to do, and their hands touched, creating a comical scene.

"Now, we are friends; let me tell you about "sacred texts" from my home world," Leo says cryptically as he buys the Book of Manga from the store for 1000 Gold, silently praying that some people never get knowledge of it lest the they get an existential crisis.

(After a few hours)

Veldora watched him go, her massive form still tense, as if unsure whether she should shout a final threat, she muttered under her breath, "I totally could have destroyed him if I wanted to..."

Then her eyes fell on a giant golden book. "I will ask him to get me more next time." She starts reading it with great interest.

~~~~~

Can't have a male inside our Rose/ Rimuru whatever name I am about to give to our little overpowered slime.

Images were uploaded in some chapters.

VelDORA I will think about the name issue in future.

Veldora is female but Mc doesn't know and thinks it is due to Veldora's antics before meeting Rimuru.

Great Red is True Dragon of Dreams, Reality, Illusions and???, is somewhere between Velgrynd and Veldora.

Mc has recieved Veldora's blessings meaning another power up in form of Storm magic of True Dragon.