Shut Up, Evil Dragon! I don't want to take a baby with you anymore - 2

Looking back at the life of Leon Casmod, the Empire’s strongest dragon slayer, it was a short life, but also a glorious one—

Of course, that glory might have been tinged with a bit of amusing absurdity.

At five, Leon single-handedly killed the neighbor’s vicious dog, saving a little girl. This scene happened to be witnessed by a passing dragon-slaying master, who took Leon in as his disciple.

At six, Leon was deemed to have extraordinary bone structure, a prodigy for dragon slaying. His master decided to raise the difficulty, teaching him body techniques touted as indestructible.

At ten, Leon entered the Empire’s most prestigious Dragon Slaying Academy as a genius—

What?

You ask what Leon was doing between the ages of seven and nine?

He was lying in a hospital.

Because when his master taught him the indestructible body techniques, on a whim, he had Leon perform a public demonstration of breaking a boulder on his chest.

It turned out the boulder broke his chest instead.

That one blow landed Leon in the hospital for three years.

His master thought the child wouldn’t survive, even preparing an apology speech for the orphanage teachers who had raised Leon.

But unexpectedly, a prodigy is a prodigy. He actually survived.

Anyone else would have respawned and started a new character by then.

After recovering, and with his master’s careful conditioning, Leon’s body became as strong as before.

So, on Leon’s tenth birthday, his master sent him to the Dragon Slaying Academy.

Leon thought that leaving his master might not be a bad thing.

At least the academy’s official curriculum shouldn’t include boulder-chest-smashing, right?

Thus, Leon graduated from the Dragon Slaying Academy at the youngest age and with the highest honors in history.

At fifteen, he took up arms and stepped onto the dragon-slaying battlefield.

His squad was invincible, slaying countless enemies and making significant contributions to reclaiming lost territory for the Empire.

Leon’s name spread among the Empire’s citizens.

They called him a once-in-a-century dragon-slaying hero, the only hope to lead the Empire to victory and end the war.

But.

An orphan with no background and no backing shouldn’t have such deep popular support.

His status shouldn’t climb any higher.

At the peak of Leon’s fame, the Imperial family dispatched him to the harshest dragon-slaying battlefield.

It was here, the battlefield against the Silver Dragon clan.

The fighting continued for several years, with countless casualties on both sides.

During the final battle, just as Leon was about to breach the Silver Dragon Sanctuary, he was betrayed and became Lossweiser’s captive.

He didn’t know who the traitor was.

And he probably wouldn’t have the chance to find out.

But fortunately, in his final moments, Leon made the Empire’s greatest enemy, the Silver Dragon Queen, pay a considerably “heavy” price.

As for this outrageously absurd charm-and-impregnate magic, Leon had found it in a tattered ancient text.

After reading it, thinking, “How can such evil and obscene magic continue to exist in this world? Let me execute justice!”, he burned the tattered book. 

Leon thought he would never use this trick in his life. Unexpectedly, Lossweiser gave him a golden opportunity.

If any other dragon slayer had been captured, they would probably just spout some harsh words and die with regrets.

Leon at least managed to thoroughly disgust the Silver Dragon Queen.

A complete victory, in a way.

Although he died in the end, Leon felt that with his achievements, getting into heaven shouldn’t be a problem.

As for his last words, “waiting for Lossweiser in hell,” it wasn’t a prophecy or a curse.

He just thought it sounded cool.

Like something a young person would say.

Despite having his cool moment, the feeling that still dominated Leon’s perception was:

Tiredness.

He was so tired.

His life, though short, had been exhausting.

If he could, Leon would have chosen a peaceful life of retirement.

He might have left the Empire, rented a farm in a remote town, married a girl who wasn’t particularly beautiful but not ugly either, and had a lovely daughter.

Then he could spend his days milking cows and watching the years pass by.

After all, milking cows was much safer than slaying dragons.

Not being able to live his ideal life was one of Leon’s regrets.

Well, regrets are a part of life, that’s what makes it life.

Buzz—

A buzzing sound rang in Leon’s head, interrupting his thoughts.

But…

In his head?

Wasn’t he only left with his thoughts now?

Why did he still have the sensation of something being “in his head”?

Before Leon could react, his “vision” suddenly returned.

Fragments of memory flashed before his eyes like a revolving lantern.

His birth, his growth, his experiences at the Dragon Slaying Academy…

It was like watching a movie.

The final scene froze in the Silver Dragon dungeon.

Sunlight streamed in through the single window. He was bound to an iron frame, his eyes locked with the Silver Dragon Queen’s.

It was the gaze between the defeated and the victor, but also like a fallen believer seeking a saint’s forgiveness.

The next moment, the image shattered, and a beam of light, like a sharp sword, pierced the void.

Leon slowly opened his eyes, his senses gradually awakening.

Body temperature, breathing, heartbeat, pulse…

“Am… am I not dead…?”

And his voice.

Leon tried to move his fingers.

Though numb and weak, they could move.

He forced himself to sit up, finding himself in a warm, luxurious room.

The room was predominantly pink, with paintings of the sun, clouds, and stick-figure angels on the walls—

Though abstract, a little person with a halo and a pair of hastily drawn wings, they were still recognizable as angels.

Wait.

Angels?

Had his soul finally arrived at its destination?

If so, he could finally lay down his burdens and reunite with his brothers who had died on the battlefield.

Leon, regaining some strength, got out of bed.

He dragged his tired, heavy body to the window and looked out.

The sky was clear, birds were singing, and flowers were fragrant.

“Holy shit, it really is heaven!”

It seemed his life had finally come to a perfect end.

Or.

Was it an exclamation point?

After all, Leon felt his short life had been quite extraordinary.

Well, it didn’t matter.

It was good to be in heaven after death.

“Hey~ you’re awake~”

A childish voice came from behind.

Leon turned and looked towards the sound.

He saw a little girl as adorable as her voice.

The little girl looked to be about three or four years old, with a charming appearance, chubby cheeks, and features that already hinted at future beauty.

Her appearance fit Leon’s image of a “little angel.”

Except for her unusual hair color.

Primarily black, with silver highlights.

Silver and black, not unattractive, but a bit odd on a little girl.

Wait a minute.

Employing child labor as angels in heaven was one thing, but why dress the little girl in almost-emo style?

Leon complained inwardly, walked slowly to the little girl, crouched down, and asked,

“Hello, what’s your name?”

“Mu En,” the little girl replied seriously.

“That’s a beautiful name. It means ‘moon’s grace.’ Who gave you such a lovely name?”

“Mommy.”

Leon froze.

No offense, but do angels have mommies…?

I thought God created you directly.

“My name is Leon, Leon Casmod,” Leon introduced himself politely.

“Mm-hmm, I know your name. It sounds like ‘lion’.”

“Who told you that?”

“Mommy.”

“…”

Leon suddenly had a bad feeling.

He slowly stood up, looking at Mu En with alarm. “Dare I ask, who is your mommy…?”

“Lossweiser.”

Mu En walked forward, hugged Leon’s leg, looked up, and said excitedly,

“Daddy, you’re finally awake!”

Perhaps his glorious and short life ended not with a period or an exclamation point.

But with an ellipsis, to be continued…