"A certain kind of person I can't trust anyone else to handle," Leon said, and his thoughts became perfectly clear to Rossweise in an instant.
"You're planning to sneak into the exam site, disguised as one of the many 'black-gold knight cosplayers,'" she deduced, a knowing look in her eyes.
"That way, you can ensure Noah's safety right on the spot," Leon confirmed.
Rossweise mulled it over, her expression thoughtful. "Hmm... It's a bit ridiculous, but even if the academy finds out, the principal and the staff likely won't say much. After all, we are directly tied to the Adam incident. We have every right to take precautions." As always, she carefully weighed the pros and cons of her husband's impulsive yet well-intentioned plan.
"Alright, I support you," she finally declared.
Hearing her approval, Leon exhaled in relief. "I thought you wouldn't agree."
Rossweise raised a brow, resting her chin on her hand with a playful smile. "Why would you think that?"
"Because the whole thing feels a bit over the top. But I can't think of a better way to protect Noah without her knowing," he admitted.
Leon's protectiveness toward his daughter had a touch of post-traumatic stress to it. Like any overbearing father, he was deeply wary of anything that could pose a threat to his child's safety. The unexpected attack in the Demonic Moon Forest had cemented his determination to ensure such a thing never happened again.
As Rossweise, his wife of six years, well knew, "Once an idea takes root in her husband's mind, it's as if it's nailed there. He won't rest until he carries it out."
Moreover, Rossweise shared his concerns. As a mother, she too was worried about Noah's safety after such a harrowing ordeal. This shared wavelength, this mutual drive to protect their family, was what made them such a well-matched couple.
"But," Rossweise added thoughtfully, "even if we manage to infiltrate the exam, it might not be easy to obtain one of those black armor sets the academy uses."
Leon blinked and gestured for Rossweise to look at him, a slow grin spreading across his face.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Rossweise asked, confused.
"Is there a chance," Leon began, leaning in with a mischievous glint in his eye, "that the man standing before you is the original owner of the black armor?"
Rossweise froze for a moment, then realization dawned. "Oh... I can't believe I forgot about that!" She lightly tapped her own forehead.
Leon chuckled, pulling her into his arms and gently patting her head. "Pregnancy brain is real. Poor thing."
Rossweise playfully swatted at his chest in mock protest but quickly gave up, melting into his embrace.
"Mm, this is actually pretty comfortable," she murmured as she leaned against him, resting her head on his lap.
Leon lowered his gaze, brushing a strand of silvery hair from her cheek. His fingers lightly traced her smooth, pale skin, appreciating the rare moment of tranquility between them.
"This moment feels... perfect," he said softly.
After a comfortable pause, Leon continued, "There are still a few days until the exam. We have enough time to prepare."
"Alright," Rossweise replied, her voice content. "Then tomorrow we'll—"
Before she could finish, a sharp bird cry, the sound of a training dummy being struck with immense force, came from the backyard.
The couple exchanged glances and quickly got up, heading to the balcony to investigate.
In the training yard below, Noah was already there, practicing her forms against the resilient dummies.
"Our daughter is so diligent," Leon remarked, shaking his head in admiration.
"She must be gearing up for the new exam," Rossweise said, her hands cupping her face with a proud smile. After a moment, she glanced sideways at Leon and teased, "She's very determined to defeat the man in black armor, you know."
Leon rolled his eyes. "Childish."
"What's childish about wanting to defeat you?"
"I wasn't talking about Noah. I was talking about you."
"Me? How am I childish?"
"You just are. You're over two hundred years old but still act like a kid sometimes."
"You're saying I'm immature?"
"No, not at all."
"You are! You're saying I'm immature! You want a divorce, don't you? You even want to hit me!"
Leon stared at her, utterly baffled. "?"
"Pregnant women... terrifying creatures," he muttered under his breath, earning himself another light swat.
.
.
.
The next day, Leon donned his simple workout gear and headed to the training yard. If Noah was back to her intense training regimen, then her personal human punching bag—her father—couldn't be absent.
By the time Leon arrived, Noah had already started her warm-ups.
The princess's morning routine was notoriously intense:
– 100 shuttle runs,
– 200 high knees,
– 30 push-ups,
– 100 single-arm pull-ups.
If she felt up to it, she would finish with several laps around the massive training yard as a "cool-down dessert."
During her warm-ups, Noah didn't need a sparring partner, so Leon sat on the soft grass nearby, quietly observing. He held a insulated breakfast box filled with freshly prepared food his queen had insisted on sending.
After a while, Noah finished her rigorous warm-up and jogged over to him, her small arms swinging rhythmically as she ran.
"Morning, Dad," she said, her face glistening with a healthy sheen of sweat, her cheeks flushed pink, and her breath slightly labored.
"Take a break. Catch your breath, and then have some breakfast," Leon said, handing her a cool bottle of water and a soft towel.
"Okay."
Noah took the towel, dampened it with a bit of water, and wiped her face. Immediately, she felt refreshed and revitalized.
After cleaning up, she sat down beside her father on the grass. They sat shoulder to shoulder, both hugging their knees to their chests, their postures almost identical—a picture of familial resemblance.
Looking out at the vast, sunlit training yard, Leon and Noah shared a rare, quiet moment together.
"Dad," Noah said, breaking the comfortable silence.
"Yeah?"
"The Lightning Wolf Breakthrough you taught me— I think I've mostly got it down now."
"Really? That's impressive. It took me a lot longer to master it back when I was training," Leon said, his voice filled with genuine pride. He had long since learned that Noah's dedication stemmed from her deep-seated desire to gain his approval. Knowing this, he never held back on praise when it was truly deserved.
Noah smiled, a bright, happy expression that lit up her face. "Hearing praise from you first thing in the morning makes me happy all day."
But then, her expression shifted, a faint, thoughtful crease forming between her brows.
"What's wrong?" Leon asked, noticing the change immediately.
"Nothing serious," Noah said hesitantly. "It's just... I might not be able to use Lightning Wolf Breakthrough effectively in real combat."
"Why not? Is it because it takes too long to prepare, leaving you open to an attack?"
Noah shook her head. "Not quite. It's hard to explain with words. Let me show you."
"Alright," Leon agreed, "but eat your breakfast first. You need the energy."
"Yes, Dad!" Noah replied, her tone bright and obedient.
.
.
.
After finishing her nutritious breakfast, the two returned to the center of the training yard.
From a safe distance, Noah began concentrating crackling lightning magic into her palm. The air hummed with power. When the energy was fully gathered into a volatile sphere, she thrust her hand forward, unleashing a brilliant lightning wolf that streaked across the field with incredible speed and a thunderous crackle.
The technique itself was flawless—smooth, powerful, and precise.
But as the lightning wolf shot forward, the violent recoil from the powerful spell forced Noah to stumble back two unsteady steps, her upper body swaying dangerously before she managed to regain her balance.
She turned to Leon, a look of frustration on her face. "That's what I mean. After using Lightning Wolf Breakthrough, I can't stabilize my stance because of the recoil. It leaves me wide open."
Leon nodded thoughtfully, analyzing what he had just seen. "That makes sense. The problem lies in the fundamental mechanics of the spell itself. The 'lightning wolf' is a long-range attack that requires a sudden, violent burst of magical energy to propel it forward. That same burst creates an equal and opposite force that pushes back on the caster."
He walked over and ruffled Noah's sweat-dampened hair affectionately. "You're still young. Your body, your core strength, isn't developed enough yet to handle that level of recoil. That's why it's affecting you so much."
In terms his old comrade Rebecca might use: "This damn sniper rifle has way too much kickback!"
"Is there any way to fix it, Dad?" Noah asked, her voice hopeful.
Leon hesitated, not wanting to disappoint her. "Not really, not for this specific technique. It's my fault for teaching you this spell too early without considering how its physical demands might affect you at your current stage."
Noah shook her head, offering him a understanding smile. "It's not your fault, Dad. I was going to learn it eventually. Can you teach me something else in the meantime? Something a little less... forceful?"
"Alright," Leon said, his grin returning, full of confidence. "Don't you worry. I've got plenty of other tricks up my sleeve to teach you." He cracked his knuckles, his mind already racing through his arsenal of techniques, searching for the perfect one for his determined daughter.