Super Righteous Player-Chapter 1237 - 274 Grandma’s Love

Although the grandmother’s ancestral laws are strict,

she cannot go after the decaying husband under the constraints of Chrono-Law if he keeps avoiding Winter Duchy.

And the decaying husband even timidly hid underground, not daring to take even that risk.

But in reality, even if he were above ground, the grandmother could not easily lay a hand on him.

Because, if the grandmother actively violated Chrono-Law, she would have to pay a considerable price—even if it could be repaired through rituals, it means for a period of time she would be stripped of her immortality, and her own power would be suppressed by the Divine Power left in the Chrono-Law ritual by other True Gods.

The duration of this deprivation is determined by the time taken by the grandmother to act.

Even if the grandmother could wipe out the decaying husband in an instant, she would still be sealed for about half a year.

If it were usual times, it would be nothing.

Just a matter of dozing off and it’s over.

But now is the critical time when The Worm and the celestial chariots awaken... Annan does not dare to let the grandmother act rashly.

Moreover...

"You’d better not act personally. I am fully capable of killing that decaying husband myself,"

Annan said confidently: "It’s precisely because I have yet to ascend to godhood that I can still strike him down.

"He has been my enemy from the very beginning—you can’t steal my prey."

"Very well, that’s the spirit."

The grandmother obviously was very satisfied with Annan’s response: "Children of Winter must be so! Those who dare to move against you must be struck swiftly and decisively. You must hit them hard! Make them pay a painful price—let everyone know that your dignity is inviolable."

As she said this, a cold light flashed in her eyes: "Take, for example... those traitors within Winter Duchy."

The grandmother referred to the nobles who caused trouble for Dmitry as "traitors."

If it were the years when the grandmother was not awake, this could only be considered as a provocation, a test by the nobles.

But while the grandmother is awake, any act of infringing upon the Winter family is absolutely not permitted—not even a trace of it.

All dragons are of Dual Aspects.

Winter Duchy is completely a different country when the grandmother is awake and when she is asleep.

First of all, they are completely different geographically—as spring arrives, the land becomes fertile, the Frost Beasts significantly retract their area of activity, the blizzards in the wilderness cease, the frozen harbors melt... Politically, economically, militarily, legally, even the entire nation’s spirit and energy are completely different.

A philosopher of Noah once said, Winter is like a beast that hibernates.

When the snowflakes fall, it is harmless, even vulnerable, but once it awakens from its slumber, it will remind those who have forgotten its former glory of its magnificence.

"I deliberately held back from acting against them, but my patience has its limits."

The grandmother took a deep breath, slowly setting Annan down: "Because this matter still needs to be led by you.

"I am your guarantee, your grandmother. I can make decisions on major family matters and shoulder the big problems, but you are the head of this family. You need to take the lead in such matters—to give you face, to firmly control the younger generation."

The grandmother’s words were powerful and resolute: "For those who are still hesitating, who have not yet committed unforgivable sins, they should be taught, guided.

"The entire Winter Duchy is like one big family. You are the head of this family.

"Those who have made grave mistakes must be punished; but those who merely harbour the wrong thoughts should be instructed, advised, warned. Let them abandon such improper thoughts!

"If you execute them without teaching, that cannot be called benevolent governance; if you forgive them without punishment, you will be looked down upon. You must carefully grasp this balance."

As the grandmother spoke, she frowned deeply: "Ivan is being quite unreasonable. If he tried to extend his life, he could have delayed his transformation into a dragon for a few more years—and those years are precisely when you are busiest. He should not have added to your burdens under any circumstances.

"Fortunately, Dmitry is a good child. He’s capable of holding his own, and he hasn’t been blinded by power. Without him, the troubles you’d encounter might have impeded your path to ascension.

"After all, transforming into the Chariot of Heaven is what you’re truly meant to do—far more important than simply becoming the mere Duke of Winter. You haven’t allowed such trifles to slow down your growth... It can be said that you’ve shown great restraint. Both Dmitry and Maria are reliable."

"I’ve always remembered that."

Annan replied softly.

The old grandmother had a lot to say—perhaps because she had just woken up, she had a bellyful of words to tell Annan, or maybe she was just such an elder who tended to be talkative.

She was like the matriarch of a feudal family, an old grandmother, an elderly lady in charge, and Annan was the young yet steady patriarch.

She had so much she wanted to entrust to Annan, countless experiences and lessons to teach him. And before that... she was an "old grandmother" who hadn’t seen her grandson for a particularly, particularly long time.

The feeling of cherishing, loving, and worrying... Annan could now feel it so clearly.

Only the Annan who had completed the ritual and became whole again could deeply understand such complex emotions.

It also strengthened Annan’s determination to restore Maria to normal humanity.

Maria still has a long life ahead of her.

She might even become the Storm God—in this case, the sooner she regains her true humanity, the better the experience she will have after becoming a god.

As for Dmitry...

... it might not be nice to say this.

But Annan’s eldest brother probably doesn’t want to live for very long.

He is about to become the Pope of the old grandmother—and with the grandmother waking up, that "about to" probably becomes "anytime now."

If he wishes to become a god, taking the path from Ritualist to Pope, he could also become a subordinate god to the grandmother... just like the Father of Stones.

However, unlike his brother and sister, Annan and Maria, Dmitry doesn’t have strong desires.

Annan has mentioned it several times, and Dmitry has always explicitly rejected Annan’s plans to help him regain his emotions.

"Because there’s no need."

Dmitry said so.

Perhaps because he spent much more time with Duke Ivan than his younger siblings, his relationship with his father Ivan was particularly close.

If not for his concerns for his younger siblings and for the Duchy of Winter, Dmitry would have followed Ivan on his dragon transformation after Ivan had transformed into a dragon.

Once Winter is thoroughly settled down and has a worthy successor, he will prepare for his dragon transformation to find Ivan.

After all, the dragon transformation itself is also a ritual to regain emotions—it signifies the complete hatching of the Heart of Winter.

...However, dragon transformation requires exhausting one’s own lifespan to achieve natural death.

In a sense, Dmitry’s diligence in handling government affairs is probably also driven by a desire to die from overwork...

Because for the Winter clan, death is not a permanent farewell.

If Dmitry wants to see Annan, he can always return to the mortal world for a short time through the old grandmother or Annan’s ritual.

This is also a way of living, and Annan has no right to interfere.

But at least now, Annan can make his life a bit easier—

"I’m ready, Grandmother," Annan said earnestly, "We should return...

"—to completely resolve the [Problems] that have lingered in Winter over the years."