The promotion assessment concluded successfully.
Exhausted, Noah left the training grounds with her homeroom teacher, Lydia, supporting her. Her small form leaned heavily against the instructor, the adrenaline of the fight having completely drained away.
Leon silently watched his daughter's retreating back. A faint, deeply gratified smile appeared beneath his helmet, unseen by all. "You have still got a long road ahead of you," he murmured to himself, his heart swelling with paternal pride.
Just as Leon was lost in thought, the other assistant instructors approached him, their voices buzzing with excitement.
"Big Brother, that duel just now was incredible!"
"Yeah, yeah, it is amazing how you managed to maintain such control while still putting on such a spectacular fight."
His temporary colleagues showered him with praise.
But Leon only replied in a quiet, humble tone, "It is because that child is exceptionally talented. I could not possibly use the same level of difficulty for her as I would for other students."
"Well, that is how our little girl is—no matter the setting, even wearing a helmet and carrying a shield, she will shine," someone teased affectionately.
The instructors continued discussing the duel, clearly impressed. Leon, however, knew he could not linger. Staying too long would only increase the risk of someone figuring out his true identity.
He quietly extricated himself from the group and slipped around to a storage room at the back of the building.
Standing at the door, Leon glanced around furtively to ensure no one was nearby before opening it. As the door swung open, a suit of armor clattered out—more precisely, the unconscious man wearing the armor he had discreetly borrowed it from.
Leon crouched down and peeled the "9527" label off his own armguard, sticking it neatly onto the unconscious man's chest plate. Then, he rapped the man's helmet twice with his knuckles.
Knock, knock.
"Sorry, buddy, but for my daughter's sake, I had to knock you out temporarily."
"Do not worry though, your performance as 9527 was brilliant. Your end-of-month bonus is safe."
"Do not thank me; peace in our nation starts with sacrifices like yours."
After another light, almost apologetic knock on the helmet, Leon dragged the man to a corner of the stairwell. From a nearby balcony, he retrieved a potted plant he had hidden earlier and—crack!—shattered it dramatically on the ground.
Leon carefully scattered the ceramic shards and soil around the unconscious man's head, completing the scene. Now it looked like a heroic assistant instructor had been tragically, and somewhat comically, knocked out by a falling plant pot.
Ignoring the questionable logic of whether a potted plant could actually incapacitate a dragon-born instructor wearing a full helmet, Leon took a step back to admire his handiwork.
Dusting off his hands, Leon stood up, but before he could fully appreciate his masterpiece, hurried footsteps echoed from upstairs. Instinctively, he rolled to the side, hiding beneath a nearby storage shelf.
The commotion soon attracted the other instructors.
"Let me tell you, that Noah kid has a bright future ahead of her!"
"I completely agree! Wait... who is that lying there?"
They rushed over and quickly assessed the scene.
"9527? Oh, come on, big guy! You fought so fiercely earlier, and now a flower pot takes you down?"
"Hey, wake up, man! Are you okay?"
They shook 9527's shoulders, and he groggily regained consciousness.
"Uh... what happened? What is going on?"
"You got knocked out by a flower pot."
"This pot's quality is insane. Let us ask the logistics department where they got it," one instructor joked.
9527 removed his helmet and rubbed his neck, wincing at the very real pain. "...A flower pot knocked me out? But why does my neck hurt so much..."
"Maybe it hit you at a weird angle. You know, headshots do not always knock people out cleanly," another suggested, trying to rationalize the absurdity.
"Is that so... Wait, crap! The assessment!"
"Dude, it is over. The assessment ended just now."
"It did? When?"
"Just now! Do not tell me you have got flower-pot-induced amnesia?"
"This... can't be. I do not even remember participating—"
"The headmaster said your performance was outstanding. Your bonus is doubled this month."
"Really? Oh... uh, yeah, that was definitely me just now."
Hiding under the stairs, Leon heard their conversation and finally relaxed. With no loose ends to tie up, he quietly slipped away like a shadow. Even if someone investigated later, he was not worried. The vice principal would cover for him—after all, if the old guy did not, Leon would simply stop bringing Rossweise to school events. Let us see who would panic more then.
Clicking his tongue in satisfaction, Leon left the grounds and made his way to a pre-arranged quiet grove. There, he removed the distinctive black-and-gold armor and stored it securely in a wooden chest. With the chest in hand, he calmly exited the academy grounds.
Rossweise and Shirley were already waiting for him at the gate.
"All done?" Rossweise asked, her voice a mix of curiosity and amusement.
Leon nodded. "Yeah, it is done."
"Good. Let us go home."
"Sure."
Leon glanced at Shirley. "Thanks for your help."
"You are too kind, Lord Leon," the loyal scout replied respectfully.
With that, Shirley unfolded her magnificent dragon wings and transformed into a massive, though slightly smaller than Rossweise's, silver dragon. She was still large and powerful enough to carry them both with ease.
As they flew home, Rossweise leaned lightly against Leon's shoulder, the chest containing the black-and-gold armor placed safely before them.
After chatting for a while about the day's events, Leon opened the chest, his thoughts briefly wandering as he stared at the armor within.
Rossweise smiled mischievously, tempted to bring up the time she had secretly embedded dragon runes in the armor as a prank to trick him into wearing it. But she decided against it. That was a private, fond memory best kept just between them.
"Rossweise."
"Yes?" she replied, tilting her head.
Leon gestured for her to come closer. Raising an eyebrow in curiosity, she leaned in. He whispered something in her ear.
In an instant, her expression darkened, a mix of utter exasperation and fond resignation. "You! You are absolutely ridiculous!"
Rossweise glared at him, but Leon simply shrugged, a playful glint in his eyes.
"Come on, I did so much for Noah today. Can not you indulge me just this once?"
"...No!"
"Please, honey."
"Leon Cosmodeous, are you seriously begging me for this?"
"Yes, because this is even more tempting than a bunny outfit."
Shirley, flying steadily in front, twitched a dragon ear: Bunny outfit? What kind of games do they play at home?
Rossweise quickly covered Leon's mouth, her face flushing a bright pink. She had not even mentioned the rune prank, and here he was blurting out something about bunny costumes!
Leon looked at her, his eyebrows waggling in a silent, pleading inquiry: Can I? Can I? Can I?
Rossweise let out a long, defeated sigh. "Fine."
"You are the best, wife!"
Shirley: What did I just overhear...? I must focus on flying. I hear nothing.
.
.
.
Later that night, in the royal bedroom.
Rossweise lay on the large bed, her wrists bound to the ornate headboard with soft, silken ropes. Her long, pale legs contrasted sharply with the black battle armor she still wore around her waist. Her disheveled silver hair cascaded over her shoulders and across the pillows, her expression a masterful mix of exhaustion and defiant pride. The partially broken armor gave her the appearance of a captured, yet unbroken, Valkyrie.
Leon smirked, fully immersed in his role.
"A seductive warrior, wounded yet stunning. Scars only enhance that beautiful face."
Rossweise maintained her deadpan expression, playing along.
"The fall of a heroine often signals the rise of a new one," he continued dramatically.
Rossweise simply stared back, her eyes unblinking.
"Do you have children? No? What a pity—dying here means the end of your bloodline."
Rossweise allowed a slight, contemptuous twitch of her lip.
"Your blood tastes exquisite," Leon teased, leaning closer.
Though she wanted to roll her eyes into the back of her head, she knew it was her turn to speak her lines. "Dark Lord, you have made two mistakes," she replied, her tone flat and emotionless.
Leon gasped, his acting skills kicking into overdrive. "W-What?! What mistakes?!"
"First, you should not have been alone with a trained Valkyrie. Second, you should not have tasted my blood."
"Ah! The Curse of Blood!" Leon clutched his head dramatically, staggering back. "Ugh! So hot... My body is burning up...!"
Moments later, the scene reached its climax:
"Dark Lord, I will see you in hell."
"Ha! Your child is already taking root in my womb. Kill me, and you will have no heir!"
At last, the impromptu play concluded.
Rossweise let out a long, deep sigh, utterly drained. Her wonderfully childish husband had managed to wear her out completely, both emotionally and physically. But as she looked at his triumphant, happy face, she could not find it in her heart to truly mind.