Chapter 59: Professional Dragon Slayer for Twenty Years
Back to this morning.
Leon found Anna.
“Good morning, Your Royal Highness.”
Leon held two cups of drink, handing one to Anna. “Good morning, Anna.”
Anna took the drink with both hands but showed no intention of drinking. Instead, she smiled and replied, “Thank you, Your Royal Highness. Is there something you need from me?”
“Ah, it’s nothing important. Just wanted to ask if there are any fun places around the Holy Temple? Or maybe a spot that Roswiser likes to visit. I’m just looking to stroll around and clear my mind.”
Anna nodded. “Yes, Your Royal Highness, I can have someone take you there.”
“Oh, that’s not necessary. Just write me a list and give me a map. I’ll explore it myself.”
After a moment, Anna marked some locations on the map. “These are the places that Your Majesty usually enjoys visiting.”
“Great, thanks, Anna!”
“Anytime, Your Royal Highness.”
With the map in hand, Leon made his way to the back mountain of the Holy Temple.
He had just awoken a little over a month ago, and most of that time was spent being soft-caged by Roswiser in the nursery, leaving him no chance to walk around or see the sights.
His activity was limited to the nursery, the backyard, and the training ground—talk about a three-point line of boredom.
Finally, he’d waited long enough for Roswiser to mess up and knock herself out.
Leon seized this opportunity to carefully plot his revenge.
He wanted Roswiser to know that in this world, the thirst for vengeance wasn’t exclusive to their Dragon Race.
As the saying goes, even a rabbit will bite when it’s cornered.
Moreover, Leon was a clever rabbit who knew how to endure and set traps.
According to the map, Leon first arrived at a cherry blossom forest.
The terrain here was quite elevated, with cherry blossom trees growing sporadically, all ancient, sturdy, and lush.
After surveying the area, he stood under a cherry blossom tree and turned his gaze toward the Silver Dragon Temple below.
From this vantage point, Leon could see the entire Silver Dragon Temple.
The ancient, majestic castle, the spacious front and back courtyards, and the various defensive measures laid out around the temple.
Leon could even spot the route he took two years ago when he led an attack on the Silver Dragon Temple.
Now, the various lookouts along that route were significantly more fortified compared to other areas.
Looks like the Mother Dragon learned a lesson the hard way.
Back then, Leon had researched for ages before finding the weakest link in the temple’s defenses.
If it hadn’t been for that sneaky ambush that time, he might just have taken down the Mother Dragon in one fell swoop.
“Ah, heroes don’t speak of their past glories.”
A failure is a failure, no need to dwell on it.
But hey, sometimes a close call means good fortune; Leon was currently contributing to the dragon-slaying cause in his own way.
In short, a backdoor approach to saving the country.
Come on, who could tie up the Silver Dragon Queen without a single soldier lifting a finger? That’s practically a historical first for both dragons and humans!
Roswiser’s recent comment about Leon was spot on:
“You’ve become a god among men, achieving more than those who’ve been through the ringer with two little ones to boot!”
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Leon walked up to the tree, lifted his arm slightly, leaned forward, and propped himself up against the sturdy trunk.
He tilted his head just right, and from this angle, he could take in the entire Silver Dragon Temple.
“Perfect, this angle and position are just right.”
Satisfied, Leon eagerly continued to the next location.
After some twists and turns, Leon stumbled upon a cave.
There were no signs of beasts here—definitely a suitable spot for a couple to enjoy some beloved activities.
But then…
Leon crouched down and pinched some of the dirt.
“A bit hard—it might hurt her knees. Also—”
“Hey!”
“Hey~ hey~~~”
The cave instantly echoed with a crisp response.
“Whoa, the echo is too loud; it ruins the mood. This won’t do.”
With that, he crossed out the cave on his map.
Next up was a small stream winding down the mountain.
Leon lay down by the water’s edge.
The cool stream flowed rapidly beneath his head, with a wide-open view and no pesky trees in the way—come nightfall, lying here would give him a perfect view of the entire starry sky.
“Nice, this’ll do.”
He marked a check next to the stream on his map, just like he had with the cherry blossom forest.
The entire day was spent investigating various terrains around the Silver Dragon Temple.
In a daze, he even felt like he was back two years ago when he was still the captain of the dragon-slaying squad.
Every time they went on a stealth mission, he meticulously studied the attack routes and escape plans, analyzing every possible pro and con.
It was thanks to that solid foundation that Leon was now able to use the “right place” method.
Mother Dragon, this time you’re going down!
By the time he finished his inspection and headed back down, night had already fallen.
The Silver Dragon Temple at the bottom was ablaze with lights.
The temple at night looked considerably softer than during the day.
Leon took a moment to admire it, but didn’t linger too long, quickly making his way toward the back courtyard.
Upon returning to the backyard, he noticed it seemed quite lively.
The maids were gathered together, like they were…
Having a bonfire party!
Leon excitedly walked over, but as he got closer, he found it wasn’t a party at all.
It looked more like they were holding some sort of ritual.
And the two little figures standing at the front were undoubtedly his daughters.
“What kind of abstract role-play are they doing…?”
Muttering to himself, Leon jogged over.
Reaching the crowd, he saw the maids crying and laughing at the same time.
Now he was really puzzled.
With curiosity, Leon continued to move forward.
He found his two daughters shouting things like “I’ll give you the steak, come back and see us!”
Then, he quietly approached Noia, who was holding a wooden box, ready to toss it into the bonfire.
Sticking to the principle of believing first and asking questions later, he thought understanding could wait; his main task was to join in.
So—
“Who are you honoring? Count me in!”
“When I was little, your grandpa taught me how to play the suona—ever heard of it? It’s a mysterious instrument from the East used for honoring others. Want me to show you a thing or two?”
“Princesses are so filial; His Royal Highness has returned!”
Leon turned with a face full of black lines. “Who’s being so rude? I’m not dead, okay? Where’s this revival nonsense coming from?”
He then looked at Noia and Moon.
The two little ones looked astonished and bewildered, as if…
As if they truly believed he had returned from the dead.
Leon leaned back slightly, sensing trouble.
He glanced at the table behind the bonfire, which carelessly hosted a photo.
The person in the picture… well, looked kinda familiar.
“Sorry to interrupt; may I ask what you two are up to…?”
My dear daughters, if you’re throwing a ceremony for me, isn’t that a bit extreme?
“Daddy!”
Moon leaped straight into Leon’s arms, clutching the steak tightly.
Of course, Leon opened his arms and caught his little girl.
“Daddy! Boohoo~ Moon thought you didn’t want her anymore~”
“What nonsense are you talking about? How could I ever not want you both?”
“But we couldn’t find you anywhere—we thought you—”
As Leon comforted Moon, he explained, “Ah, I went exploring in the back mountain today and lost track of time, that’s all.”
Noia’s eyes glistened with emotion, and she choked back a sob.
Had she… misjudged him?
Leon looked at Noia, then around at the gathering of maids.
Too many people around; it wasn’t the right moment for a heart-to-heart with his eldest daughter.
Guess he’d talk later.
He ruffled Moon’s hair and noticed the steak in her hands.
“Moon, why are you still carrying that steak around?”
With her shoulders shaking and sniffling, Moon said, “This… this is a tribute for Daddy.”
“…Tribute.”
Moon nodded vigorously. “Sister said that when someone passes away, the food they enjoyed becomes a tribute.”
Leon silently facepalmed. “Alright then…”
“Well, Daddy.”
“Hmm?”
“Now that you’re back, can Moon eat your tribute?”
