Book 3: Chapter 123 (2) |
Looking at the worn state of the church and its entrance, Leon felt a faint, ominous premonition.
“But doesn’t the welfare home get state funding? How…”
“Oh, it’s noth—”
“A few years ago, we got funding from the royals, sure, but these past few years, the royals added all sorts of messy audits and intermediaries. By the time it trickles down to us layer by layer, we’re lucky to get a third of it!”
Sharon said with some indignation.
This time, even Carolyn didn’t stop her.
Hearing Sharon’s complaints, Leon’s heart grew heavier.
Why had it come to this?
From his master back then, wandering the Empire’s *yellow, gambling, and drug-fueled gray zones* to pressure the regime;
To deliberately smear Leon, branding him a traitor;
To discover the true purpose of their collaboration with the dragon race—nothing more than exploiting the people to the fullest;
And now… those corrupt claws had reached the welfare home.
The stench of that rotten power was like a plague, spreading *pervasively* through the Empire.
“So we had no choice but to make paper lanterns to sell in the Upper District for some money.”
Teacher Carolyn said, “We can’t let the kids eat plain, dry bread on a big festival, can we?”
Leon suppressed the disappointment and anger in his heart. “When did this start?”
“Since… five—”
“Since Leon-bro disappeared, everyone’s life has been getting worse day by day.”
Carolyn shook her head with a bitter smile, “Though this girl’s blunt, it does seem to be the case… Five years ago, after that kid Leon vanished, for some reason, everyone’s living standards plummeted.”
“I know why, Teacher!”
Sharon said, “Leon-bro was the head of the Dragon-Slaying Corps back then, with military power, upright and *hating evil like an enemy*. He definitely couldn’t stand the royals pulling these *shady tricks*, so—”
“You’ve said too much, Sharon,” Carolyn warned.
“…Tch!”
The young nun pouted, still muttering reluctantly,
“Anyway… anyway, I just think if Leon-bro were here, we’d be better off than now.”
“But he’s gone, Sharon.”
The words seemed to touch a soft spot in Carolyn’s heart. She lowered her eyes, repeating softly,
“He’s… gone.”
The atmosphere grew heavy.
But Carolyn quickly adjusted,
“Sorry, that’s just us common folk rambling.”
“Oh… no worries.”
If Carolyn and Sharon hadn’t “mistaken” Leon for himself, they wouldn’t have discussed such things.
So Leon wasn’t too worried about them being targeted by opportunists in private.
*Dong—Dong—*
The welfare home’s bell rang, signaling dinner time.
“Would you two like to stay for a simple meal?” Carolyn asked.
“Oh, no thanks.”
“Alright, then we wish you a happy time in the Empire. We have things to attend to, so we’ll head back.”
“Mm.”
Carolyn and Sharon gave a slight nod of respect, then turned to leave.
But Leon suddenly called out to them.
“Hey, wait, Teacher Carolyn.”
“Is there something else, sir?”
Leon pulled out his wallet, taking out some gold coins,
“The paper lanterns—I’m reserving all the ones your welfare home makes. I’ll pick them up in two days.”
Carolyn looked at the gold coins, not rushing to take them, and said,
“That’s too much money, sir. We can’t make that many lanterns.”
Leon’s mind raced, quickly replying, “Then the rest is a donation to the welfare home.”
“This… alright, thank you, sir. May I ask your name?”
“Constantine.”
“Sounds like a… *future-promising* name, Mr. Constantine.”
Carolyn took the coins. “We’ll try to make as many lanterns as we can.”
“Mm.”
Carolyn nodded and turned to leave.
After the two nuns left, Roswitha crossed her arms, huffing,
“Really *doing good deeds without leaving a name*, huh, Leon~ Bro~ ther~?”
Leon grinned, hooking his arm around Roswitha’s, “Didn’t I leave a name?”
Roswitha burst into exasperated laughter,
“What’s with leaving Constantine’s name, you idiot!”
“Building public support in advance for the Red Flame Dragon King’s aid in three days,” Leon said, making up a serious excuse.
Roswitha rolled her eyes,
“Let’s go, let’s go, back home.”
She paused, then turned back to Leon with a fawning smile, “Need me to fly you back, Leon~ Bro~ ther~?”
“You’re such a bore, Mother Dragon!”
…
Meanwhile, back at the welfare home’s cafeteria, Carolyn and Sharon were distributing dinner to the children.
After finishing, the two sat aside, chatting quietly.
“Mr. Constantine seems like a good person,” young nun Sharon said wistfully.
But Carolyn frowned slightly,
“But I still think he’s like Leon… so, so much like him.”
Sharon scratched her temple, sighing, “I thought so too, but it’s been years with no word from Leon-bro. I don’t know where he is now. I wish he’d come back to help us…”
*Help us…*
Carolyn looked down at the few gold coins in her hand, the ones “Mr. Constantine” had just given them.
After a moment of thought, Carolyn’s eyes widened slightly,
“Sharon…”
“What’s wrong, Teacher Carolyn?”
“I never told that man my name the whole time, so why did he keep calling me ‘Teacher Carolyn’?”
Like a bolt of thunder, the realization exploded in Sharon’s mind.
After a second’s pause, she gasped, saying in disbelief,
“Leon, Leon-bro’s back—mmph!”
This time, Carolyn quickly covered her mouth.
As Sharon tried to pull Carolyn’s hand away, she realized this veteran nun, who’d worked at the welfare home for decades, was now leaning on her shoulder, sobbing softly.
“He’s back… Sharon, he’s back.”