Chapter 2: Everyone in the World Knows You’re Married
“Awoooo! Ouch, ouch, ouch! Easy, easy!”
Within the Casmod Orphanage, the cries of the dragon-slaying hero echoed.
Just half an hour ago, he had been declaring the fall of the old empire to the bumbling king; now, he found himself sitting in a wheelchair.
The destructive power of the Ninth Gate was impressive, and Leon was alive thanks to Roswiser’s Heartguard Dragon Scale, but that didn’t mean there were no other costs.
His right leg, which had kicked the Primordial Nightmare, was now encased in plaster.
“Temporary healing magic has been applied, but you’ll need to rest for a while,” Rebecca squatted beside Leon’s wheelchair, patting the plaster on his leg. “Tsk tsk tsk, you’ve been in battles for years, and this is the worst injury I’ve ever seen. Got any first-time experience feelings to share, Captain?”
Leon shot her a sidelong glance, speechless.
“Don’t think just because I’m in this wheelchair I can’t handle you.”
Rebecca blinked her big, beautiful eyes, stood up, and quietly snuck behind Leon’s wheelchair. She found a stick and wedged it between the two wheels.
Then she strutted back in front of Leon, hands on her hips, grinning like a cat who got the cream.
“Then come chase me!”
Leon tried to move his wheelchair, but the wheels were stuck tight like they were glued down.
“Nyah nyah nyah~”
Rebecca stuck her tongue out at him.
“Little girl, I advise you not to get too cocky. Pain doesn’t just disappear; it shifts. Once my injury heals, guess who’s turn it will be?”
Rebecca huffed, arms crossed over her chest, “Don’t care! I’m living in the moment! Finally got a chance to bully you, I’m calling Martin to join!”
Leon: ?
Reversal of heaven and earth!
In the midst of this playful banter, Roswiser, Claudia, and the others returned to the orphanage.
“Didn’t find Queen Elizabeth, but we caught Scott and his sycophants.”
Nacho reported, “We’ll conduct a thorough investigation and convict them based on their actions over the years.”
During Cant’s reign, he had been their biggest umbrella, shielding these royal members who embezzled funds.
Even just officials with a sense of justice didn’t dare investigate them at will.
But now that Cant had toppled, they could freely investigate these guys.
Leon nodded, “So they didn’t spill where Elizabeth went?”
Elizabeth was Cant’s wife; saying she hadn’t participated in the empire’s oppression of the people would fool no one, even a three-year-old.
Leon had intended to hand the couple over to the citizens for judgment.
But now only Cant remained, and Elizabeth had vanished without a trace.
Nacho shook his head, “Nope, that woman has completely evaporated.”
Leon sighed, “Seems like when disaster strikes, everyone runs.”
“We’ll continue searching for Elizabeth.”
“Good, stay safe.”
“Yeah. We’ll get back to work now. Bye, Rebecca.”
“I still want to bully the captain!”
“Let’s go!”
Martin stepped forward and hoisted little Rebecca onto his shoulder.
“Martin! You don’t know the horrors that await! We should capitalize on this opportunity when he’s a wheelchair-bound hero!”
Rebecca kicked her legs on Martin’s shoulder.
The sound of the crazy girl gradually faded away.
Leon chuckled helplessly, “What a ruckus, that crazy girl.”
“Since everything’s settled, I’ll be heading back now.”
Claudia said, “I’ve been away long enough; the Sea Dragon Race can’t be without me for too long. Plus, I need to update Charlotte and your Master about the situation here; they must be worried sick.”
“Alright, please tell Master and Mistress I’ll come visit them as soon as I’m done here,” Leon replied.
“Don’t mention it.”
Claudia smiled, “Just don’t forget the promise you two made to me.”
Upon hearing this, the couple exchanged knowing glances and nodded in unison to Claudia.
“We won’t forget, Senior. Just bring Helena to our house when the time comes.”
Claudia nodded in satisfaction, “See you then, you two.”
“Safe travels, Senior.”
After bidding farewell, Claudia transformed into a blue sea dragon and soared into the vast night sky.
Roswiser watched Claudia disappear, then returned her gaze to the foolish wheelchair-bound man.
Leon felt the gaze of the Mother Dragon and slowly turned to meet it.
They exchanged looks for a moment until Roswiser spoke first.
“Now everyone knows the great dragon-slaying hero married a dragon.”
Leon understood she was referring to their public embrace and kiss in front of thousands just moments ago.
Let’s be real; it was already a shocker that a dragon slayer married a dragon.
However, Leon hadn’t even shared the best part: not only did we get married, but we also have three kids!
…
Leon chuckled and then pretended to have a serious expression.
“What’s the big deal? You didn’t refuse, did you?”
The queen paused, giving his wheelchair tire a playful kick.
“Not refusing doesn’t mean I agreed!”
Leon: ?
Alright, alright. Just finished fighting the Empire, and now it’s time to throw some punches here. The queen sure has some impressive boxing skills!
But Leon knew she was just teasing him in her tsundere way.
So he played along, saying, “What can I say, Your Majesty? The atmosphere was just right; it would’ve been rude not to kiss!”
Roswiser’s cheeks flushed as she turned her face away. “Idiot…”
The couple bickered, exchanging cheesy lines until more injured people were wheeled into the orphanage.
The cataclysmic battle had left no civilian casualties, but quite a few were nursing injuries.
With the hospitals in the city overrun, thankfully, the nuns at the orphanage had some first-aid knowledge, so treating minor wounds was a piece of cake.
Leon had just arrived amidst all this chaos.
And among the injured, Leon spotted a familiar figure.
Constantine entered the courtyard, looking as if he were thinking, “Why do lowly humans live in this dump?” He scanned the area and, upon spotting Leon, marched directly toward him.
“Leon.”
Old Constantine approached Leon, taking a glance at his encased leg. “So, it’s completely broken?”
“… It’ll heal.”
“Well, that’s good; we wouldn’t want to miss the chance for me to defeat the healthy version of you.”
“Ha ha, you dragons sure have a sense of humor.”
“Enough small talk. When are you giving me that room full of Primordial secrets you promised?”
Leon scratched his head, avoiding Constantine’s piercing gaze. After a brief mental debate, he said seriously, “I just wrapped things up with the Empire; I have a lot of loose ends to tie up. I’ll get it to you once I’m done.”
The pie keeps getting bigger.
Constantine narrowed his eyes, assessing Leon.
Leon held his composure, meeting his stare without flinching.
After a long pause, Constantine finally said, “Fine, I’ll be waiting for you. Oh, and—”
“Leon, big brother!”
A cheerful voice interrupted their conversation.
Everyone turned to see the petite Sister Sharen and Teacher Caroline.
“Sharen, Teacher Caroline,” Leon waved at them, smiling.
“Leon.”
Teacher Caroline walked up with a smile, “You’ve worked hard.”
“Not at all; the trouble’s been sorted, and no one will be skimming the orphanage’s funding anymore.”
“Right, we owe you everything.”
“Not a big deal; I just cleared my name and happened to save the people along the way.”
Upon hearing this, Roswiser merely facepalmed.
Here we go again.
Even old Constantine couldn’t help but sigh.
And wondered internally: Why on earth did I let this fool defeat me back in the day?
“Oh Leon, you are something else.”
Sister Sharen complained, “Why didn’t you just tell us you were back the other day? Why the disguise?”
Leon scratched his hair, explaining, “Well, at that time… it wasn’t convenient to reveal myself; it might have caused you unnecessary trouble.”
Sharen blinked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity, “Is that so…”
“Yeah.”
“But even if that were the case, you shouldn’t have used Constantine as a fake name!”
Leon froze for a moment and sneaked a glance at the old dragon beside him.
Old Constantine had a stoic face but a glint in his eyes that suggested he wanted to smash Leon’s wheelchair.
“Constantine… what’s wrong with that name? It’s a great name, very grand.”
To avoid any conflict with Old Constantine, Leon decided to give a half-hearted compliment.
“Not grand at all! It sounds fierce but doesn’t hold a candle to your name, Leon!”
“…”
“Hey, human.”
Constantine finally spoke up, “I am Constantine.”
Sharen: …
Oh no, it’s a disaster at the dragon king’s temple.
It was already past midnight, and with the dim lighting, Sharen didn’t recognize the dragon king standing behind Leon, thinking he was just another member of the Lionheart Association.
Constantine’s tone carried the inherent authority of a dragon king, frightening Sharen.
Teacher Caroline stepped in front of Sharen, as if shielding her from the dragon king’s potential wrath.
Even though the dragons had played a significant role in overthrowing the empire, the stereotype of “dragons being bloodthirsty savages” was deeply entrenched in the minds of the empire’s citizens.
Getting them to change their minds anytime soon would be quite a tall order.
“Constantine, you scared my friend,” Leon said.
Old Constantine snorted, “Boring humans.”
The grand Red Flame Dragon king wouldn’t pick a fight with a little girl. Shaking off his sleeves, he turned to leave the orphanage.
At the entrance stood a blue-haired man.
It was Fair.
Before taking off, Constantine glanced back, “Leon, until we meet again.”
With that, a massive iron-gray dragon suddenly appeared in the street, startling everyone in the courtyard.
Fair flapped his dragon wings, lifting Constantine into the night sky.
Teacher Caroline sighed in relief, “Wow… never been this close to a dragon before.”
She turned to Leon, “So what are your plans now?”
Leon pondered for a moment and replied, “I’ll stay in the empire for a few days, help Rebecca and the others with the aftermath. Then…”
“Then?”
“I’ll go home with my wife.”
