Chapter 48: Let Me Say Thank You
Three days later, at the Saint His Academy’s entrance ceremony.
Young dragons who successfully passed the academy’s rigorous tests, along with their guardians (dragons?), gathered in the auditorium, making quite the lively scene.
Laughter echoed both inside and outside the auditorium.
But.
Guess which three unfortunate souls couldn’t muster a smile?
Leon, Noia, and Roswiser were currently up on the stage, being subjected to the scrutinizing gaze of at least a hundred dragons.
Leon had always thought that being “roasted over a fire” was just a colorful way of saying “you’re in an awkward situation.”
But at this moment, he would have much preferred to be literally roasted!
Just then, the principal, Wilson, who had conducted their interviews a few days earlier, stepped onto the stage and enthusiastically announced,
“Ladies and gentlemen, quiet down, quiet down! Now, let me proudly introduce these three: the Melkway family, who scored the best in this assessment! Let’s hear how they’ve managed to maintain such harmony in their family, which was only established two years ago!”
Leon shot a d*ath glare at the Vice Principal, gritting his teeth as he muttered,
“Old dragon, you really are pushing your luck—”
Flashback to one hour earlier.
The four of them had arrived at the academy for Noia’s entrance ceremony.
This time, they had brought Moon along.
With some time to spare before the ceremony began, Leon and the others were ushered into a private lounge.
They had hardly settled in when someone knocked at the door.
Opening it revealed Vice Principal Wilson.
“Congratulations to both of you, and to little Noia for passing the academy’s tests!”
The Vice Principal stepped inside and politely said.
Roswiser and Leon, of course, returned the sentiment with a few humble words.
After taking a seat, the Vice Principal continued,
“Noia scored nearly full marks in her test three days ago. You should know that the average score in our entrance tests over the years has barely hit 80. I’m genuinely happy for you both to have such an outstanding daughter. The academy hasn’t welcomed a talented student like her in many years.”
“By the way, Noia is only a bit over a year old, right? She should just be at the age of learning. Besides her natural talent, her preschool teacher must be exceptional. May I ask who that teacher is?”
Roswiser and Noia exchanged silent looks, turning toward Leon.
Leon licked his lips, adjusting his posture. “Uh, there’s no teacher as such. Just a bit of basic knowledge, mostly it’s just that my daughter is diligent and studious.”
“Mr. Leon, you have quite the persona, but it seems you are not of the Silver Dragon Race. Which tribe do you hail from?” the Vice Principal inquired.
“Ah, I—”
“My husband comes from a minor tribe that was absorbed by the major dragon clans a long time ago,” Roswiser quickly interjected, smoothing things out for Leon.
The Vice Principal nodded, “I see.”
His question was not without cause; it simply stemmed from Leon not revealing his lineage, compelling the Vice Principal’s curiosity.
The tail isn’t just a casual accessory—it signifies age and identity among dragon races.
But keeping it hidden didn’t cause too much trouble, respecting personal choices and all that.
You might wonder why no one considered Leon might be human.
In a room full of dragons, no one expected a human to be so boldly present—along with a wife and kids, no less!
“Oh, and besides Noia, you two might not know this yet, but you also achieved the top score in the Family Assessment!”
At this, Leon and Roswiser exchanged wide-eyed glances and straightened up in their seats.
“Really, Principal? We—we got first place as well?” Leon asked, excitement bubbling in his voice.
As a self-proclaimed academic, he certainly cared about grades.
Initially, he assumed their impromptu interview would be a disaster.
To his surprise, they had snagged that top spot!
“That’s right, Mr. Leon. You and your wife not only did well on the written test, but your interview performance also impressed us immensely.”
The Principal did not hold back his compliments. “Your understanding of family and your everyday interactions truly showcase what a real family should look like.”
Hearing this, the couple was momentarily stunned.
A real family…
Principal, you must be blind—oh wait, I mean, your insight is impeccable! You’ve instantly perceived us as a real family!
Yep, yep, we’re a truly harmonious and loving family!
“Other families we interviewed appeared too… idealistic, giving off a vibe of hypocrisy and pretension.”
The Principal sighed, then looked up at Leon and Roswiser,
“But you two are different. Mr. Leon, Miss Roswiser, your love is very solid, strong, and sincere. You must be a super sweet couple in your daily life, right?”
A super sweet couple.
Oh, Principal, you truly are—
You really think…
You think our marriage is lovey-dovey!
You must be out of your dragon mind!
“Hm? Am I wrong, you two? Why do you both look so uncomfortable?”
“Ah, no, no, no, hahahaha~ Principal, we—”
Roswiser leaned in, wrapping her arm around Leon’s, smiling through a furrowed brow, “We’re indeed very loving, right, Leon?”
“…Right.”
“Well then…”
The Principal stood up, excitedly exclaiming, “Could you two represent the family on stage to speak at the entrance ceremony?”
Leon & Roswiser: ?
And thus, we arrived back at the beginning scene.
“Old dragon, you’re pushing your luck—”
Roswiser quickly pinched his wrist.
If he didn’t hold back, his day job as a dragon would surely get the better of him.
Now looking at Noia.
Their eldest daughter wore a face of utter despair, standing in between her parents.
All she wanted was to quietly enroll, learn magic, and then quietly graduate.
Why did she have to speak as the family representative? Why couldn’t someone else take the cringe stand?
Among the family of four, the only one who managed to escape this “torture” was probably Moon, who remained seated below.
But Moon wasn’t idle.
She was fist-pumping in the audience, seemingly more hyped than the Principal on stage.
Noticing this trio was “soft-spoken,” the Vice Principal had to step in.
“Noia, you’re the youngest candidate in this exam, yet you scored impressively high! This is undoubtedly related to your family upbringing, right?”
Noia maintained a blank expression, nodding.
“Do you have anything you’d like to say to your family?”
Looks like if she didn’t say something, this old man would never let her off the hook.
Noia pondered and replied,
“During my review for the exam, I really appreciate my mom’s encouragement and my sister’s company.”
Leon’s heart tightened a bit.
Looks like he was about to be left out again, just like that first dinner.
But it’s fine. As long as his daughter successfully enrolled, this humble father could fade into the background.
“And most importantly, I want to thank my… my father, who really helped me a lot. Thank you so much. Umm, that’s about it…”
Finished, Noia cast a glance at Leon.
Old father was one step away from “tears streaming down his face.”
The Vice Principal clapped. “It seems Mr. Leon, you’ve done well raising your daughter. She’s so thankful to you! Don’t you think you should say something back?”
Leon stifled his tears and asked blankly, “What should… I say?”
“Of course, a hug, a kiss for your wonderful daughter!” the Vice Principal replied.
“A hug… sure, but a kiss…”
Principal, you wouldn’t want the entrance ceremony to turn into a patricide scene, right?
“A kiss on the cheek is fine,” Noia suddenly whispered.
“Eh?”
“Hurry, let’s just get this mortifying ceremony over with.”
Leon quickly scooped up his eldest daughter and, amid applause from the crowd, Roswiser’s astonished gaze, and Moon’s excited claps, lightly kissed Noia’s cheek.
A quick peck, gentle and soft, where Noia could clearly feel Leon’s apprehensive caution.
But Leon felt content.
After all, just a month ago, Noia wouldn’t even let him touch her.
Roswiser watched this scene and secretly sighed in relief.
Father-daughter relations finally showing signs of thawing!
On the bright side, thank goodness she didn’t say to kiss her instead, Roswiser thought to herself.
“Well, if the daughter got a kiss, how can we forget the wife, Mr. Leon?”
