BRAND NEW WORLD
Chapter 20: A NEW FLOUR-BASED RECONCILIATION

Chapter 20: A NEW FLOUR-BASED RECONCILIATION

"What did you just say?!" Rania shouted as she stood up.

"Greetings... to... Grandma?" Rama replied.

"Did you just call me a grandma?!" Her voice rose a pitch.

"Forgive me, Granny! But... you are a grandma. Just like the letter said," said Rama, trembling.

"Huh? A letter?"

"Yes, a letter... from Mom," Rama replied.

(Grandma? A letter from Mom? Don’t tell me...) Luna thought.

"Don’t tell me... you’re..." Luna muttered, her heart pounding.

"I’m Rama, Grandma. Son of Mama Rania."

Luna’s body weakened, her chest tightened, and she nearly collapsed if not for Ekin, who quickly supported her.

"..."

I... am a grandmother...? I never imagined I would become a grandmother.

"..."

(Wait... Rasha is Rania’s grandchild. That means... I already have a great-grandchild?!) Luna gasped internally.

Her face turned pale instantly. Seeing this, someone approached.

"Granny, are you okay? Are you feeling sick? Dizzy? Unwell—"

Luna raised her hand, stopping the question.

"I’m fine. Just... shocked and still trying to process all of this," Luna replied, exhaling deeply.

Everyone sat in silence. Then, footsteps echoed.

"Rama!"

ZRETT!

The sliding door opened.

A black-haired elven woman appeared, clad in gleaming silver armor.

"Oh, you have guests," she said, glancing into the room. "Greetings, Ekin."

Ekin only nodded, then turned to Luna, who was still looking down.

The woman curiously stared at Luna.

"In that case, I’ll come back later. Sorry to intrude," she said politely.

"Um... actually... this..." Rama stood and whispered something to her.

Her expression changed. She turned pale, looked at Luna intently, then sat beside Rama.

"Grandma... this is Raisya, my twin sister," said Rama.

"I’m Raisya, Grandma. Greetings," she said gently.

They both held Luna’s hand and pressed their foreheads against its back.

(Twins? And all their names start with ’R’? Rama, Raisya, Rasha... Is Rania obsessed with the letter R?) Luna mused.

"..."

Suddenly, Luna remembered something.

"Wait a minute. Didn’t Rania just get married five years ago? Are you... adopted?"

Rama and Raisya glanced at each other. Then Rama replied.

"Grandma, we’re the children of her first husband. The one now is her second."

(Second husband?! Rania practiced polyandry?!) Luna thought, shocked.

"W-What about your father?"

"He passed away a hundred years ago, at the age of ninety."

(Oh, so I misunderstood...) Luna thought.

"I’m sorry... if my question hurt you," said Luna.

"It’s alright, Grandma. That was a long time ago. Now that Mother’s no longer alone, we feel more at ease," Rama replied.

Luna’s heart warmed at their response.

(They’re good children and grandchildren... unlike their mother, who always loved surprises.)

"Can you still communicate telepathically with your mother?"

"Yes, Grandma."

"Good. Please tell her this: choose one—castration, hanging, or beheading."

At that, Rama, Raisya, and Ekin all turned pale.

[At Nuzantra Academy]

Rania had just arrived in her office when the message came through.

"I’m going to die..." she whimpered weakly.

[Back to Luna]

Once things calmed down, Rama called a servant to bring tea and snacks. Oddly, among the snacks was one made of chocolate. Sugar itself was a luxury—chocolate was ten times its price. Was he a successful merchant or just trying to impress me?

When I scanned him, Rama was at about level 100, nearly on par with Tarma. Raisya was slightly higher, at level 128. Probably because she was a knight.

"By the way, what business brought you here earlier?" Luna asked Raisya.

Raisya glanced at Rama, hesitating to answer.

"If it’s a secret, don’t force yourself," I said, trying to reassure her.

"No, actually..."

Raisya explained about the bandits on the southern route who had been defeated by a group of adventurers—one of whom was a silver-haired elf.

"So... the one who defeated them was you, Grandma?! As a representative of the government, I offer my gratitude," Raisya said respectfully.

"Hehe, it was nothing. Besides, I wasn’t alone. Ekin and the Black Iron Spear were with me," Luna replied.

(Nothing?!) Ekin thought.

"In that case, thank you as well, Sir Ekin and your team," Raisya added.

"..."

"Lady Luna, shall we..." Ekin whispered.

"Well then, I’ll be leaving," I said as I stood.

"Where are you going, Grandma? Do you have a place to stay? If not, I can find you a high-class inn."

Luna paused before standing. Simple taverns always brought back memories of her old friends. Insulting such a place was like insulting those memories.

"No need! Let’s go, Ekin," Luna said firmly.

She walked off without waiting for a reply. Rama, Raisya, and Ekin just watched as she marched away—they knew she was genuinely angry.

Ekin quickly excused himself and chased after Luna.

"Lady Luna... Are you alright?" Ekin asked as he panted, trying to catch up.

But Luna didn’t answer. They kept walking toward a tavern.

This tavern had a distinct character—wooden interior, lively chatter, laughter, and music intertwining. Servers bustled about, catering to a diverse mix of races.

Luna scanned the room, searching for the members of TBH. In the corner, one of them waved.

"Lady Luna, you look so tense. Did someone poke you? Hahaha," Tarma teased.

"If someone’s bothering you, just bash them, Lady," said another member.

Without a word, Luna grabbed the mug from Tarma’s hand and downed its contents in one go.

"I’m upset. Someone insulted a place that’s precious to me."

(Oh... I see.) Ekin thought.

Just as Ekin was about to join her, Raisya appeared and stopped him.

After a brief exchange, Raisya and Ekin approached the table where Luna sat.

"Grandma... Rama may be clumsy, but he didn’t mean any harm. Please, forgive him," Raisya said as she slightly bowed her head.

Seeing that, Luna’s anger softened.

"You didn’t do anything wrong. Why are you apologizing?" Luna said.

"Even so, I still wish to apologize on my brother’s behalf," Raisya replied.

So stubborn.

"Very well, I forgive him," Luna said gently.

Raisya stood up. Her eyes shimmered with tears, but she smiled.

Luna herself wasn’t sure why she had gotten so angry. Maybe... because this place reminded her of her old friends.

"I didn’t expect you to be a grandmother," Tarma blurted out drunkenly.

His friend tried to stop him, but it was too late. Luna’s sharp gaze pierced him.

"Raisya is a different matter. But you...? Are you mocking me?" she said, narrowing her eyes.

Luna summoned a small lightning orb from her fingertip and flicked it at Tarma. Seeing that, every member of TBH instantly scattered. Since Tarma was half-drunk, he couldn’t dodge it and simply took the hit.

When the orb struck him, his body shuddered like someone freezing in the cold—except his hair stood on end like a spiky hedgehog.

Ekin and Raisya stepped back. The other patrons could only laugh at the scene.

[The Next Morning]

(What should I do today? Ekin said the document processing would take three days. That means I need to find a way to pass the time.) Luna thought.

After thinking for a while, Luna decided to visit the Adventurer’s Guild. It was still bustling. She browsed the quest board. Most quests involved hunting bandits or minor errands.

"Looking for work, little lady?" a deep voice greeted her.

Luna turned around. A tall, dark-blue-skinned draconian, about two meters tall, stood behind her.

"Everything looks little from your perspective," a woman beside him replied.

"Oh, right... haha." The draconian laughed.

"Yes... I’m just browsing," Luna replied.

"Quests have dwindled thanks to the bandits. People value their lives," the draconian said.

"True. The food supply to the capital is disrupted. Even from the northern port of Movento, it’s halted," the woman added.

"They say a giant sea monster is nesting near the docks. Fishermen are too scared. It’s been a month and a half," the woman continued.

(A month and a half ago... north... giant fish? That was...) Luna thought.

"Thanks for the info," Luna said, quickly leaving the area.

Her instincts told her she needed to go there.

[After Luna Left the Guild]

"I feel like I’ve seen that woman before," the draconian said.

"Is that your Playboy line to get closer? Pretending you’ve seen her before?" the woman replied dryly.

"No, really, I swear. I feel like I’ve seen her," he insisted.

"Sure, I believe you. Anyway, let’s just look for work," the woman said.

[Back to Luna]

While walking, Luna suddenly remembered something.

(Oh right, I got angry at Rama yesterday, and we haven’t made up yet. Should I bring him something as an apology?) Luna thought.

After much deliberation, she finally decided what to bring. Luna went to a store that sold ingredients and cooking supplies. After browsing for a few minutes, she found what she needed. Once she had everything, she headed to the tavern she had visited with Ekin and the others. There, she asked the owner for permission to use the kitchen. Upon receiving it, Luna began to cook.

[Over an Hour Later]

Luna stepped out of the tavern and made her way to Lemurian. When she arrived at the building, someone called out to her.

"Great-grandma...?"

It was Rasha, Rama’s son.

"Rasha...?"

"Are you here to see my father, great-grandma?" Rasha asked.

"Yes, is he in?" Luna replied.

"He just stepped out, but shouldn’t be long. Please wait inside. I’ll show you the way," said Rasha.

Luna nodded and followed him in. She was led to the same room where she and Ekin had met Rama and Raisya the day before. After escorting her, Rasha left Luna alone.

A few minutes later, the sound of running footsteps on wooden floors grew louder.

ZRETT!

The door slid open, and someone burst in, immediately prostrating himself.

"Grandma! I’m sorry for what I said yesterday!" Rama cried.

"Um..."

"I know my words hurt you, great-grandma," Rama added.

"Uh..."

"Raisya said I offended a place that’s special to you—"

"STAND UP AND LET ME SPEAK!" Luna shouted.

At her voice, Rama quickly rose, slightly trembling and pale.

"I’m sorry for yelling earlier. And I’m sorry for being immature yesterday. It’s just that..."

"I’m sorry for yesterday, too, Grandma," Rama replied.

The two apologized with heads bowed, then glanced at each other and burst into laughter.

Hahahahaha

[A Little While Later...]

"Oh, right. Where’s Raisya? I haven’t seen her today," Luna said.

"She’s out of town on duty," Rama answered.

"I see... is she on a mission?" Luna asked again.

"Um... something like that..." Rama replied stiffly.

(Seems like it’s a secret) Luna thought.

"Oh, right. Here, a gift as my apology," said Luna.

From her spatial storage, Luna pulled out a cake—like a birthday cake—with an assortment of fruit slices on top. A cake with white cream, topped with strawberries and kiwis—rare delicacies in this world. Rama’s face lit up instantly. His eyes sparkled like a child receiving a new toy.

"Thank you, great-grandma!" Rama beamed.

(I’m still not used to being called that.)

After some time, and with the cake completely devoured (by Rama alone)...

"I’ll be gone for a few days," said Luna.

"Where to, Grandma?"

"I’m heading to a northern city," Luna replied.

"North? Movento, the port city?"

"Yes."

"Why so sudden?" Rama asked.

"Ekin’s caravan has to wait a few days for document processing. Besides, I’ve also received a lead," Luna added.

"A lead on what, Grandma?"

"A lead... on another Guardian Tower," Luna replied.

"What?! A Guardian Tower?!"