Chapter 272
It's not about returning to that hidden underground space, but... returning to the past.
If fate generously granted Leon a chance to save everything after he was in dire straits, then that "everything" certainly did not include Losweiser.
Because for Leon, she was unique and did not fall into any 'categorization'.
In Leon's heart, there was a small world that belonged only to Losweiser, and she filled this small world to the brim.
Leon didn't want to include Losweiser in his grand scheme of 'saving the future'—
She is Leon's present, his the Only One present;
As for the future, it doesn't belong to her, nor to Leon, but to the two of them.
"I understand, Noa. After we go back, I won't leave Mom again."
Noa smiled faintly, "What about us sisters? Aren't you going to take care of us?"
"Of course I won't leave you."
"That's hard to say."
Noa looked down and fiddled with her nails, pretending to be nonchalant. "What if one day you and your beloved wife get carried away and leave us, who are still young, at home, and then secretly run off on your honeymoon?"
"Then you should be happy."
"Why?"
"Because after your honeymoon, you might have a new little sister."
"... After the strongest Dragon Slayer and the Silver Dragon Queen got together, was their only goal in life to keep having children?"
"It is our duty to expand the population of the Melkwy family!"
At dawn, two royal carriages arrived at the gates of the Imperial City.
The number of guards has been increased by at least two times, and all civilians are prohibited from entering or leaving. Any caravan must undergo routine inspection.
"Captain, those two look like royal carriages, don't they?" The new recruit, who had only been with the company for a short time, spotted the carriages slowly approaching.
The security captain glanced in that direction and nodded. "Hmm, that's not very common, especially during martial law in the Empire. They actually sent out a special carriage...?"
The newcomer pursed his lips, hesitated for a moment, and said, "I'll go get checked."
Just as he finished speaking and was about to take a step, the newcomer was suddenly grabbed by the arm by the captain.
"What's wrong, Captain?"
The captain looked serious. "Kid, don't be silly. Even though we're under martial law, those are officials' carriages. Don't do what you did before, checking every single carriage."
Thinking back to a few days ago, this new recruit was inexperienced and was making a fuss over nothing, earning a salary of twenty gold coins but only having the ambition of someone earning two hundred gold coins. Wasn't he just making trouble for no reason?
With the entire city now under martial law and this special case occurring, it's a good opportunity to teach this newbie a lesson.
After giving his instructions, the captain released the newcomer's shoulder and said, "Go ahead, you know what to do."
The newcomer stood there stunned for two seconds before stiffly nodding.
He turned around and walked toward the two carriages.
"Hey, let us through quickly! If you delay the adults' goods transport, can you afford the responsibility?" the coachman said in an unfriendly tone.
The newcomer forced a smile and said, "It's a special time, sir. I'm just going to take a quick look. It won't take up much time. Please cooperate with our work."
"Cooperate my ass!"
The coachman was adamant. "There are still so many carriages ahead to check. By the time we get there, it'll be too late."
"Uncle, while you were yelling at me, I've already finished checking everything. See that special passage over there? I'll let you go through there after I'm done checking."
The coachman snorted and reluctantly agreed, "Hurry up, hurry up, don't waste my time."
"Okay, uncle."
The newlyweds secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
This should be his first time "negotiating" with people from other departments.
It was... a success, I guess.
The newlyweds arrived at the carriage's cargo hold, opened the door, and looked inside.
There were only bottles and jars and a few large wooden crates; you couldn't tell anything from the warehouse entrance.
The newcomer hesitated for a moment, then bent down and walked into the warehouse.
He tapped the large wooden box with his sword, producing a dull thud.
Meanwhile, Leon and Noa, who were hiding at the back of the warehouse, were ready to attack.
As soon as that guy spots them, they'll have to force their way through the city gates.
The footsteps grew closer. Noa stared intently at the warehouse floor, slowly raising her right hand, wisps of electricity flickering in her palm.
However, Leon pressed down on her wrist.
Noa looked up.
"Shh~"
Leon sealed his lips with his index finger, signaling Noa not to act rashly.
Noa could tell that Leon was also drenched in sweat.
Forcing their way through the city gates means they will face countless enemies and unknown situations.
She knew her father was not afraid of any powerful opponent, but this was not a battlefield for direct combat.
The turbulent and dangerous undercurrents will always be surging in places they cannot perceive.
Squeak—squeak—
The sound of boots stomping on the warehouse planks grew clearer.
The father and daughter huddled tightly in the corner, holding their breath.
This time, Noa is really going to make a move.
If that guy takes just one more step forward, just one more step, Noa will not hesitate to strike— Leon releasing her wrist means he tacitly approves of her doing so.
However--
The other person suddenly stopped.
"Captain... you're right. I'm only getting twenty gold coins in military pay, why should I worry about things that cost two hundred gold coins?"
The young imperial guard muttered something, then chuckled and turned to leave the warehouse.
Bang--
The warehouse door closed, and a young newcomer's voice came from outside, "It's ready, uncle, let's go, this is the special passage! Oh, and don't forget to mention us gatekeepers to the adults."
"Alright, alright, hurry up and open the door," the coachman replied impatiently.
The carriage moved slowly, then began to pick up speed.
The father and daughter in the warehouse immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
"Do you remember that person from earlier?" Leon asked.
"Hmm... Just a few days ago, he seemed to insist on thoroughly searching every caravan's wagon. He's a very conscientious and responsible newcomer," Noa said.
"But in just a few days, he learned the ways of survival in the empire."
Noa shrugged. "That was fast."
The speed at which one falls into the mire is always so fast that there is no time to react.
Two royal carriages, carrying the empire's most wanted criminal and his three daughters, sped away.
Today (February 8, 2024), the audiobook adaptation of our book will be released online! Please remember to support it!
(Spoiler alert: Mu En's voice sounds like Ke Li's)
(There's an extra chapter today, coming out this afternoon. You absolutely MUST listen to the audiobook!)
As it turns out, Leon's "never leave empty-handed" strategy was quite correct.
After successfully stealing the Heart-protecting Dragon Scale and returning to the 'secret base', Aurorla first tried several dragon scales, but the reversal magic showed no signs of activating smoothly.
After trying more than ten pieces, they finally came across a Heart-protecting Dragon Scale with magical properties similar to those of Ravi.
The first test of the reversal magic was also successfully completed.
With the energy source issue resolved, all that's left is to carefully debug and modify the system to ensure that no unexpected incidents occur during the reversal process, such as tearing Dad into pieces or only sending the person back while the clothes are not.
This process was also quite demanding, Aurorla dared not be negligent, working day and night to perfect the reversal magic.
With less than three months left, she had to get her Dad back before then to stop the fight that would drive her Mom to the brink of death and leave her in a coma.
During this time, Leon also practiced the Gate of Nine Hells diligently, following the techniques taught to him by his youngest daughter.
At the same time, the condensation and storage of Magic Power were not forgotten.
The battle against the spatial rift was because he didn't have enough time to prepare, which allowed Ravi and his two companions to take advantage of the situation and trap him inside the spatial barrier after he had dealt with Star.
But this time, with a full six months and the rapid advancement of the Gate of Nine Hells, let alone the three Dragon Kings coming to ambush him, even if the three Dragon Kings came to fight him head-on, General Leon would only smile slightly and say, 'It's time to eat.'
Noa and Mu En went out on their usual duties, as they could not afford any mistakes in these crucial final months.
And so, the four of them, father and daughters, each took on their respective roles, and everything... was in preparation for the day when the magic would be reversed.
However... a busy and fulfilling life of preparation cannot keep Leon focused all the time.
He always gets distracted by something else.
Losweiser.
On the night before the deadline, with less than twenty-four hours remaining, Leon went alone to the room where the Losweiser crystal was kept, moved a chair over, and sat down next to the crystal.
The beauty in the crystal still lies there quietly, her brows relaxed, serene and beautiful.
She placed her hands on her abdomen, with a photograph pressed beneath her palms.
That was a 'couple photo' that the photographer secretly took of her and Leon when they went to take a family portrait.
In the photo, the couple gazes at each other with tender eyes.
On the back of the photo was written a sentence that Leon would never forget:
May the silver light forever shine in the eyes of loved ones.
Leon believed that Losweiser didn't know if she would wake up before she lost consciousness.
For this unknown long sleep, Losweiser chose this photograph as her the Only One companion.
Noa said that her Mom didn't understand emotions very well, nor was she very good at expressing them.
But she knows what she cares about, and she knows what she can't live without.
In the timeline where 'Leon does not exist', she held on alone for six months. She was the loneliest king on the throne and the saddest and most heartbroken wife.
Until the moment she fell into a coma, did she still believe... that Leon would definitely come back to save everything?
For the past few months, Leon has come here almost every night to spend a long time alone with Losweiser.
He said nothing, did nothing, and simply watched his sleeping wife quietly.
But...
Leon needs to mentally prepare himself for a long time before stepping into this room each time.
He was fearful, terrified, and sometimes his legs would even tremble.
In the very beginning, Leon's mindset was pretty good;
However, as time went on, especially in these last few days, he became increasingly afraid to approach Losweiser, afraid to look at her, and afraid to tell her what was on his mind.
He is actually a very thoughtful and sensitive person, but he doesn't know how to regulate his negative emotions.
Just like long ago, after Augu, the acting Dragon King of the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan, told him, "The Dragon Race will take everything from you," Leon also fell into deep self-reflection and self-doubt.
That time, he managed to get out of it without any problems.