Book 4: Chapter 2 |
“Ow, ow, ow!! That hurts, that hurts! Gently—gently!”
The wails of the dragon-slaying hero echoed through the Kasmod Orphanage.
Just half an hour ago, he had been the revolutionary who publicly declared the fall of the old Empire before a foolish king, the leader who guided the Lionheart Society to free the people from oppression and humiliation.
Now, that same man was sitting in a wheelchair.
The destructive power of the Ninth Gate was terrifying. Leon had survived thanks to Lothswisse’s heart-protecting dragon scale—but survival did not mean there was no price to pay.
The right leg that had shattered the Primal Nightmare was now completely wrapped in plaster.
“I’ve stabilized it with healing magic for now. Next, you’ll need a period of rest.”
Rebecca crouched beside the wheelchair, patted the cast on the captain’s leg, and continued, clicking her tongue.
Leon shot her a sideways look, speechless.
“Don’t think that just because I’m in a wheelchair now, I can’t deal with you.”
Rebecca blinked her pretty eyes, stood up, then quietly circled behind Leon’s wheelchair. She found a wooden stick and jammed it between the two wheels.
Then she returned to his front, hands on her hips, unable to hide her smug grin.
“Then come chase me.”
Leon tried to move the wheelchair, but the wheels were locked tight by the stick. It wouldn’t budge an inch.
“Bleh~”
Rebecca stuck out her tongue at him.
“Little brat, I advise you not to get too cocky. Pain doesn’t disappear—it only gets transferred. Once I recover, guess whose turn it’ll be?”
Rebecca snorted and crossed her arms.
“Don’t care. Live for today while you can. I finally get a chance to bully you—I’m going to get Martin to join me!”
Leon: ?
The heavens have truly reversed order.
Absolutely reversed!
While they were fooling around, Lothswisse and Claudia returned to the orphanage with the others.
“We didn’t find Queen Elizabeth, but lackeys like Scott have all been captured,” Nacho said. “They’ll be thoroughly investigated and sentenced based on everything they’ve done over the years.”
When Kant was still on the throne, those corrupt royal relatives had him as their greatest shield.
Even officials with integrity and a sense of responsibility didn’t dare investigate them lightly.
Now that Kant had fallen, there was nothing stopping a full investigation.
Leon nodded. “So they didn’t confess where Elizabeth went either?”
Elizabeth was Kant’s wife. Claiming she hadn’t participated in the exploitation of the people wouldn’t fool even a three-year-old.
Leon had planned to hand the royal couple over to the people together for judgment.
But now only Kant remained. Elizabeth had vanished.
Nacho shook his head. “Nothing. That woman disappeared like she evaporated.”
Leon sighed. “When disaster strikes, everyone flies their own way.”
“We’ll keep pursuing Elizabeth.”
“Good. Be careful.”
“Mm. Then we’ll get back to work. Let’s go, Rebecca.”
“I still want to bully the captain.”
“Come on.”
Martin stepped forward and hoisted the petite Rebecca onto his shoulder.
“Martin! You have no idea how terrifying the future will be! We should bully him while he’s still stuck in a wheelchair!”
Rebecca kicked her legs while hanging over Martin’s shoulder.
The mad girl’s voice gradually faded into the distance.
Leon smiled helplessly. “So noisy. That crazy girl.”
“Since everything’s settled, I’ll be heading back as well.”
Claudia spoke. “I’ve been away for quite a while. The Sea Dragon Clan can’t go without me for too long. And I need to inform Charlotte and your master as soon as possible—they must be worried sick.”
“Alright. Please tell Master and Madam that once I finish handling things here, I’ll visit them as soon as possible,” Leon said.
“No trouble at all.”
Claudia smiled. “And don’t forget what you two promised me.”
At her words, the couple exchanged a glance, then nodded in unison.
“We won’t forget, Senior. When the time comes, just bring Helena to our home.”
Claudia nodded with satisfaction. “Then I’ll see you two soon.”
“Travel safely, Senior.”
After bidding farewell, Claudia transformed into a blue flood dragon and shot into the endless night sky.
Lothswisse watched her disappear before finally withdrawing her gaze and turning toward the foolish wheelchair-bound man.
Leon sensed the dragon mother’s gaze and slowly turned his head to look at her.
The couple locked eyes for a moment before Lothswisse spoke first.
“Well, this is great. Now everyone knows that the dragon-slaying hero married a dragon.”
Leon knew she was referring to how they had hugged and kissed in front of tens of thousands of people.
Honestly, a dragon slayer marrying a dragon was already explosive enough.
What Leon hadn’t told them yet was: not only did I marry a dragon, but we even have three kids.
…
Leon snorted softly, then put on a serious expression.
“So what? You didn’t refuse either.”
The queen froze, then kicked the wheel of his wheelchair irritably.
“Not refusing doesn’t mean I agree.”
Leon:?
Fine, fine. The Empire was just toppled, and now she’s throwing punches here.
What flawless boxing technique, Your Majesty.
But Leon knew she was just joking with him in her tsundere way.
So he played along.
“Well, there was nothing I could do, Your Majesty. The atmosphere had reached that point. Not kissing would’ve felt wrong.”
Lothswisse’s cheeks flushed. She turned her gaze away.
“Idiot…”
As the couple bickered and exchanged embarrassingly sweet remarks, more injured people were carried into the orphanage courtyard.
That world-shattering battle hadn’t caused civilian deaths, but many people were still injured.
Hospitals across several districts were already full. Fortunately, the nuns at the orphanage knew basic first aid and could handle minor wounds.
So the injured were brought here.
Leon himself had arrived earlier for the same reason.
Among the wounded, Leon spotted a familiar figure.
Constantine walked into the courtyard with a look that said, “How can inferior humans live in such a dump?” He scanned the area, then strode straight toward Leon.
“Leon.”
He stopped in front of him and glanced at the cast on his right leg.
“So? Completely broken?”
“…It’ll heal.”
“Good. Wouldn’t want to miss the chance to defeat you at full strength someday.”
“Haha. Dragon Kings really have a sense of humor.”
“Enough nonsense. When are you giving me that room full of primal manuals you promised?”
Leon scratched his forehead, eyes drifting aside. After a brief mental brainstorm, he spoke seriously.
“We just finished dealing with the Empire. There’s still a lot of cleanup work. Once I’m done, I’ll give them to you.”
The promise just keeps getting bigger.
Constantine narrowed his eyes, studying Leon.
Leon met his gaze calmly.
After a long stare, Constantine spoke.
“Fine. I’ll wait. Oh, and—”
“Brother Leon!”
A cheerful girl’s voice interrupted them.
They turned to look.
It was the young nun Sharon and Teacher Caroline.
“Sharon, Teacher Caroline.” Leon smiled and waved.
“Leon.”
Teacher Caroline stepped forward with a gentle smile. “You’ve worked hard.”
“It’s nothing. At least no one will skim the orphanage’s funding anymore.”
“Yes. We have you to thank for all of this.”
“Not at all. I just cleared my name and happened to save the people while I was at it.”
At those words, Lothswisse silently covered her face.
There he goes again.
Even Constantine couldn’t help but sigh.
And at the same time, he wondered to himself—
Why in the world was I defeated by such an idiot back then?!
“Brother Leon, honestly…”
The young nun complained. “Why didn’t you just tell us you were back a few days ago? Why all the disguises?”
Leon scratched his head. “Well… it wasn’t convenient to acknowledge you then. It might’ve brought unnecessary trouble to you.”
Sharon blinked thoughtfully. “Is that so…”
“Yeah.”
“But even then, you shouldn’t have used the fake name Constantine.”
Leon froze and stole a glance at the real Constantine beside him.
The Crimson Flame Dragon King wore a blank expression, but his eyes held a clear urge to smash Leon’s wheelchair to pieces.
“Constantine… what’s wrong with that name? It sounds great. Very imposing.”
To avoid provoking him, Leon decided to praise it against his conscience.
“It’s not imposing at all! It sounds scary and mean—not even half as nice as your name, Brother Leon!”
“……”
“Hey. Human.”
Constantine finally spoke.
“I am Constantine.”
Sharon: ……
Disaster. A flood washing over the Dragon King’s temple.
It was already past midnight, and the lighting was poor. Sharon hadn’t recognized Constantine earlier, assuming he was just a Lionheart member.
Now, the Dragon King’s natural aura of authority frightened her.
Teacher Caroline stepped in front of Sharon instinctively, afraid the Dragon King might suddenly lose his temper.
Although the Dragon Kings had helped overthrow the Empire, the stereotype of dragons being violent and bloodthirsty was deeply ingrained in the people’s minds.
Changing that perception overnight was unrealistic.
“Constantine, you scared my friend,” Leon said.
Constantine snorted. “Fragile humans.”
Naturally, the Crimson Flame Dragon King wouldn’t bother arguing with a little girl. He flicked his sleeve and walked toward the gate.
At the orphanage entrance stood a blue-haired man.
It was Fer.
Before leaving, Constantine half-turned his head.
“Leon. Until next time.”
As his words fell, a massive iron-blue dragon appeared in the street, startling everyone in the courtyard.
Fer spread his wings and carried Constantine into the night sky.
Teacher Caroline finally let out a long sigh of relief.
“I never imagined I’d see a dragon from so close…”
She withdrew her gaze and looked at Leon.
“So, what are your plans next?”
Leon thought for a moment.
“I’ll stay in the Empire for a few days to help Rebecca and the others wrap things up. Then…”
“Then?”
“Then I’ll go home with my wife.”
…
Footnotes
- Reversed order of heaven and earth
- Pinyin:dào fǎn tiān gāng
- Explanation:A dramatic expression meaning that roles and authority are completely overturned; often used humorously.
- Live for today while you can
- Pinyin:jīn zhāo yǒu jiǔ jīn zhāo zuì
- Explanation:An idiom meaning to enjoy the present moment without worrying about future consequences.
- When disaster strikes, everyone flies their own way
- Pinyin:dà nàn lín tóu gè zì fēi
- Explanation:A saying describing how people abandon one another when danger arrives.
- Tsundere
- Pinyin:tsundere (loanword)
- Explanation:A character archetype that acts cold or harsh on the surface while hiding affection underneath.
- Instant kneeling
- Pinyin:guāng sù huá guì
- Explanation:Internet slang describing immediate, shameless surrender.
- Flood washing over the Dragon King’s temple
- Pinyin:dà shuǐ chōng le lóng wáng miào
- Explanation:An idiom meaning “friendly fire” or accidentally offending one’s own side.