111 The Master Means You’re Just Awful
Before long, Leon returned to the study with three copies of bunny girl photos.
One was the one he initially showed Roswiser, which she furiously burned after seeing it.
The other two were what he called “the remaining backups.”
He placed the three photos on the desk and pushed them in front of Roswiser.
Sticking to her promise, Roswiser handed over the envelope with the letter from the Master addressed to Leon.
Then, her gaze landed on the piled-up photos before her.
She stacked the three together to take a look.
Just one glance, and her face turned red.
How should she put it? She had to admire this guy’s creativity; without bunny ears, he fashioned a pair out of Roswiser’s hair.
In the photo, she lay there quietly, posed like a large human-shaped doll, striking all sorts of cute and adorable poses that Leon had set up.
Absolute humiliation, truly utter humiliation!
And besides the solo shots, there were plenty of pictures of Leon and her together.
In each of those, Leon sported a victorious grin.
But the happier he looked in the photos, the harder it was for Roswiser to endure.
These can’t stay.
Absolutely can’t stay.
If Isar sees these, her Silver Dragon Temple will have no peace for the next two hundred years.
Roswiser gathered her Dragon Flame in her hands and instantly turned those photos into nothing but ashes.
Ah~
A huge weight slipped off Roswiser’s chest.
Erasing her black history with her own hands felt overwhelmingly satisfying!
However, she secretly kept one of the photos of Leon and herself together.
In this photo, they weren’t too close, so she could later crop her face out, leaving just Leon and an unknown bunny girl.
That way, when Leon gets into more trouble like this, Roswiser could hit back by saying, “You wouldn’t want others to know you have a thing for black stockings bunny girls, would you?”
Meanwhile, Leon opened the envelope and took out the letter inside.
Roswiser sat in the chair. Although she couldn’t see what the letter said, judging by the single piece of paper, it likely wasn’t too lengthy.
But thinking of that mysterious old man’s character, it probably wouldn’t be a lengthy, emotional essay.
Just conveying Taige’s situation would be enough.
Roswiser didn’t rush him and patiently waited for Leon to finish reading.
She looked into Leon’s eyes, only to find his pupils fixed on a specific spot on the letter without shifting.
Roswiser frowned slightly. Did Taige write something in code that he couldn’t understand?
Or… something else?
After thinking for a bit, Roswiser asked, “What did your master say? Mind if I take a look?”
Leon pursed his lips, flipped the letter face down on the table, and pushed it towards Roswiser.
She took the letter and peered down.
Then, she froze.
No wonder Leon hadn’t moved his eyes; he was staring at a certain section of the letter.
Because on this letter… there was only one sentence.
No, calling it “one sentence” was even a bit of an exaggeration; more accurately, it was… “three words”—
“Kid, the donkey’s well, don’t worry.”
That’s it.
Roswiser had just thought the mysterious old man wouldn’t be overly sentimental, so the letter shouldn’t be too long.
But she certainly didn’t expect it to be not only short but also incredibly concise.
Moreover, in this gold-engraved brevity, one-third was dedicated to mentioning his donkey.
What’s this?
Is this a secret code between you two?
Roswiser blinked, put the letter down, and looked at Leon.
The couple exchanged glances for a moment before Roswiser asked, “Such a distinct style. I believe you can confirm the authenticity of this letter.”
Putting aside speculations about Taige’s intention behind those six words, Roswiser first needed to assure Leon that this trade was genuinely not her usual routine.
Leon, being sensible, nodded. “The writing is indeed my master’s. As for the content…”
Leon closed his eyes and let out a slow breath.
Seeing him like that, Roswiser pondered whether she should comfort him, saying maybe his master was getting old and not good at expressing feelings, blah blah blah.
But before she could speak, Leon earnestly said,
“If it were someone else, after two years of not seeing their apprentice, finally getting a chance to send a letter to check in, it would be quite strange to only write this short sentence. But… for my master, it all makes sense.”
Roswiser silently covered her face.
Alright, indeed not all families stick together.
No wonder his master said, “As long as he reads the letter, he’ll know I’m safe.”
“But…”
Roswiser lowered her hand and looked at Leon, “But?”
Leon fixed his gaze on the letter on the table, intensely staring at those last two words,
“I don’t quite understand why my master said, ‘don’t worry.’”
He pulled a chair closer, sat down, and leveled his gaze with Roswiser, staring across the desk at her.
“Even though he’s a farmer, before retiring, he was a dragon slayer in the Empire. He claims he hasn’t accomplished much, and just naturally retired when he got old. But even so, wouldn’t it be odd to tell his apprentice, who hasn’t been in contact for two years, ‘don’t worry’?”
Leon was rambling, almost as if discussing with Roswiser, “Is he… not wanting me to come back?”
Roswiser pondered.
Taige had indeed said not to let Leon return to the Empire within a year.
She had asked for the reason, but he was unwilling to elaborate further.
For Roswiser, this wasn’t really a requirement; she never intended to let Leon return anyway.
But to mention it in a letter to Leon, to hint that he shouldn’t return, raises questions…
Vaguely, Roswiser felt she could guess that elusive, former dragon slayer was planning something significant.
But she couldn’t just casually share this thought with Leon; after all, it was merely her speculation.
So, for the phrase “don’t worry,” Roswiser offered an alternative explanation.
“Your master might… just think you’re awful.”
Leon was taken aback and furrowed his brow, “Think I’m awful? What’s awful about me?”
He straightened up, slapping the table as he meticulously recounted his past glory to Roswiser.
“Before I came to you, I was a perennial number one on the Empire’s dragon slayer leaderboard, miles ahead of the second place. Even if I gave him two years, he wouldn’t catch up to me.”
“And I also hold all the physical record titles at the dragon slaying academy.”
“During both reserve and active periods, I’ve won every single competition and trial hosted by the Empire. I’ve got medals and accolades coming out of my ears, okay?”
Roswiser folded her hands, resting her chin lightly on her knuckles, patiently listening to Leon’s classic winner’s report. Then she leisurely responded,
“And then? Which champion gets captured by enemies for over two years and can’t get back?”
“……”
“You’re more like the champion of being captured and champion of submitting homework.”
As the situation returned to equilibrium, Roswiser turned on her sharp tongue again, “Don’t just blame it on your master; I think you’re awful too.”
Leon turned red, “Y-You think I’m awful? Is it because I haven’t taught you enough in the last half month?”
Roswiser shrugged nonchalantly, “What does that even mean? Don’t forget, in our last spar, you were beaten by me.”
Slap—
Leon slammed the table, “Put on your clothes; let’s go outside and spar again!”
Ooh la la, getting defensive, aren’t we?
Roswiser was quite pleased watching the change in Leon’s expression, then relaxed against the chair, arms crossed, looking as if she was just reveling in the moment.
“I won’t. As it stands, I have a hundred percent win rate against you; you’ve never beaten me, and that’s enough.”
“Roswiser!”
“Calm down, dragon slayer; right now, it’s your master saying you’re awful.”
Roswiser paused for a moment, then added, “But I absolutely won’t let you return; you’re my captive.”
