"Ow, ow, ow! Take it easy!"
Inside the familiar main hall of the Cosmod Orphanage, the cries of the legendary dragon-slaying hero echoed. Just half an hour earlier, this same man had declared the fall of the Empire before a corrupt king and led the people to freedom. Now, he was sitting in a wheelchair.
The destructive backlash from the Ninth Gate had been immense. While Rossweise's Heartguard Dragon Scale had saved his life, it couldn't completely negate the cost. His right leg, the very limb that had delivered the final, obliterating kick to the Primordial Nightmare, was now encased in a thick, white cast.
"It's been temporarily stabilized with healing magic, but you'll need to rest for a while," Rebecca explained, squatting beside the wheelchair and tapping the cast. A playful smirk spread across her face. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. After all these years of fighting, this is the first time I've seen you this banged up. Any thoughts on this new experience, Captain?"
Leon shot her an exasperated look. "Don't think that just because I'm in this chair, I can't deal with you."
Rebecca's eyes sparkled with mischief. She stood up, sneaked behind the wheelchair, and wedged a sturdy wooden stick firmly between the spokes of the wheels, locking them in place. She then strutted back in front of him, hands on her hips, looking immensely pleased with herself.
"Well then, catch me if you can."
Leon tried to push the wheels, but the stick held fast, preventing even the slightest movement.
"Nyah-nyah~" Rebecca stuck out her tongue playfully.
"Little girl, you'd better not get too cocky," Leon warned, though a smile tugged at his lips. "Pain doesn't just disappear—it transfers. Guess who's next when I recover?"
Rebecca huffed, crossing her arms. "I don't care! Carpe diem! It's not every day I get to bully you. I'm going to get Martin to join in!"
Leon could only stare. Betrayal! This was pure betrayal!
Amid their playful bickering, Rossweise and Claudia returned to the orphanage, their expressions a mix of relief and frustration.
"We didn't find Queen Elizabeth, but we captured all of her key henchmen, like Scott," Nacho reported, stepping up beside them. "They'll be thoroughly investigated and judged based on their crimes over the years."
During King Canter's reign, these corrupt royals had enjoyed his protection, shielding them from any real justice. With his fall, the path was finally clear for a full accounting.
Leon nodded. "So, they didn't give up Elizabeth's location?"
It was unthinkable that the king's wife was unaware of the Empire's oppression. Leon had intended for both monarchs to face the people's judgment, but while Canter had been captured, Elizabeth had simply vanished.
Nacho shook his head. "Nothing. It's like she disappeared into thin air."
Leon let out a tired sigh. "When the ship sinks, the rats flee. We'll continue to track her down."
"Good. Be safe."
"Understood. We're heading out now. Come on, Rebecca."
"But I'm not done bullying the captain yet!"
"Let's go!"
Martin walked over and, without ceremony, hoisted the petite sniper onto his shoulder.
"Martin! You have no sense of impending doom! We need to take advantage of him while he's immobilized!" Rebecca protested, kicking her legs uselessly as Martin carried her away, her complaints fading into the distance.
Leon chuckled, shaking his head. "That girl is truly something else."
"Now that the immediate crisis is settled, I should return to the Sea Dragon Clan," Claudia announced. "I've been away too long, and my people need me. Plus, I must inform Charlotte and your mentor about everything that has happened. They have been worried sick."
"Thank you, Senior," Leon said sincerely. "Please tell them I will visit as soon as I've tied up the loose ends here."
"Of course." A knowing smile touched Claudia's lips. "And don't forget the promise you two made me."
Leon and Rossweise exchanged a glance, nodding in unison.
"We won't forget. Just bring Helena over when the time comes," Leon assured her.
Claudia nodded, satisfied. "Then I will see you both soon."
"Safe travels, Senior."
With their farewells complete, Claudia stepped into the courtyard. In a flash of brilliant light, she shifted into her magnificent, blue-scaled dragon form and soared into the dark, pre-dawn sky.
Rossweise watched her until she disappeared, then turned her gaze back to the man in the wheelchair. Leon, sensing her stare, slowly turned to meet it. They looked at each other for a long moment until Rossweise broke the silence, her voice laced with dry amusement.
"So, now the whole world knows that the great dragon-slaying hero married a dragon wife."
Leon knew she was referring to their very public embrace and kiss, witnessed by thousands. It was a sensational revelation on its own. He hadn't even mentioned the fact that not only had he married a dragon queen, but they also had three half-dragon children together.
He smirked, putting on a mock-serious face. "So what? You didn't object, did you?"
Rossweise paused, then playfully kicked one of the wheels of his chair. "Not objecting doesn't mean I gave my explicit agreement."
Leon feigned shock. Ah, here we go, picking a fight right after toppling an empire. His queen certainly knew how to keep him on his toes.
He knew she was just teasing him in her usual tsundere way, so he played along. "Well, there was no helping it, Your Majesty. The atmosphere was perfect. It would have been a crime not to kiss you."
A faint blush colored Rossweise's cheeks as she turned away. "Idiot..."
As the couple bantered, more injured people were being helped into the orphanage's front yard. While the battle had miraculously resulted in no civilian fatalities, many had suffered wounds. The city's hospitals were overwhelmed, but the nuns at the orphanage had basic first-aid knowledge and could handle the minor injuries. Leon himself had only been brought here recently.
Among the new arrivals, a familiar, imposing figure entered the courtyard.
Constantine strode in, his expression one of disdain as he muttered, "How do humans tolerate living in such dilapidated places?" His crimson eyes scanned the area and landed on Leon. He walked over, stopping before the wheelchair.
"Leon."
Constantine glanced at the cast-covered leg. "What, is it completely broken?"
"...It'll heal."
"Good. I need to be the one to defeat you when you're at full strength."
"You dragon kings and your sense of humor."
"Enough banter. When will you give me the Primordial manuscripts you promised?"
Leon scratched his head, his eyes darting as he scrambled for an answer. He replied with feigned seriousness. "I just finished wrapping up the Empire's business. There's still a mountain of things to do. I'll get them to you as soon as I'm done."
The promise was as vague as it had always been.
Constantine narrowed his eyes, studying Leon intently.
Leon met his gaze with practiced calm.
After a long moment, Constantine said, "Fine. I'll wait. Oh, and—"
"Leon!"
A cheerful voice interrupted them. They turned to see Sister Sharon and Teacher Carolyn approaching, their faces bright with relief.
"Sharon, Teacher Carolyn," Leon greeted them with a warm smile.
"Leon," Carolyn said, her smile gentle. "You've worked so hard."
"It was nothing. The trouble is over now. No one will ever cut the orphanage's funding again."
"Thank you. For everything."
"Don't mention it. I was just clearing my name. Saving the people was a happy side effect."
Rossweise, standing nearby, covered her face with a hand, silently shaking her head. There he goes again.
Even Constantine let out an internal sigh, wondering, Why in the world did I ever lose to this fool?
"Leon, you're unbelievable," Sharon said, puffing her cheeks in a pout. "Why didn't you tell us you were back? And why the disguise?"
Leon scratched his head again. "It wasn't the right time to reveal myself. I didn't want to bring any unnecessary trouble to your doorstep."
Sharon blinked, processing this. "I see..."
"Exactly."
"But even so, did you have to use the name 'Constantine'?"
Leon froze and glanced sideways at the real Constantine.
The Crimson Flame Dragon King's face was a stoic mask, but his eyes held an unmistakable urge to reduce the wheelchair to splinters.
"Constantine... What's wrong with that name?" Leon said, deciding to try and defuse the situation with insincere praise. "It's a strong and mighty name."
"It's not mighty at all!" Sharon insisted, oblivious. "It sounds harsh and isn't nearly as nice as yours, Leon!"
"..."
"Hey, human," Constantine's voice rumbled, laced with the authority of a Dragon King. "I am Constantine."
Sharon's face went pale. Oops.
In the dim light, she hadn't realized the imposing man behind Leon was the genuine article. Constantine's tone was so commanding it frightened her. Carolyn quickly stepped in front of the young sister, shielding her from the Dragon King's gaze. Old fears died hard; the stereotype of dragons as violent and bloodthirsty was deeply ingrained, and trust would not be built in a day.
"Constantine, you're scaring my friends," Leon said evenly.
Constantine snorted. "These humans are tiresome."
The Crimson Flame Dragon King would not stoop to arguing with a young girl. With a dismissive flick of his sleeve, he turned and walked toward the orphanage gate, where the blue-haired Iron-Wing Dragon King, Fael, stood waiting.
Before leaving, Constantine glanced back over his shoulder. "Leon. Until next time."
With that, a massive iron-blue dragon materialized on the street, its sudden appearance causing a wave of gasps and startled cries from everyone in the yard. Fael spread his vast wings and, with Constantine on his back, launched into the sky, disappearing into the fading night.
Carolyn let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. "I've never seen a dragon up close before..." She looked at Leon, her expression softening. "So, what are your plans now?"
Leon was quiet for a moment, thinking. "I'll stay in the Empire for a few more days to help Rebecca and the others with the final clean-up. And then..."
"And then?" Carolyn prompted.
He turned his head, his eyes finding Rossweise's. A calm, sure smile settled on his face.
"I'll go home with my wife."