Looking back on the life of Leon Cosmood, the Empire's strongest Dragon Slayer, it was a short life, but also a glorious one—

Of course, “glorious” might contain a hint of somewhat amusing absurdity.

At the age of five, Leon killed a neighbor’s vicious dog barehanded and saved a little girl. This scene was coincidentally witnessed by a passing Dragon Slayer master, who then took Leon in as his last and only disciple.

At the age of six, Leon was deemed extraordinarily gifted, a prodigy for dragon slaying. As a result, his master decided to step things up and taught him the so-called unbreakable "Diamond Body Technique."

At the age of ten, Leon joined the Empire's finest dragon-slaying academy as a prodigy, acclaimed by all—

What?

You’re asking what Leon was doing between ages seven and nine?

He was lying in the hospital.

Because when his master taught him the Diamond Body Technique, the man, on a whim, made Leon demonstrate the ability to shatter boulders with his chest in front of an audience.

But instead of the boulder breaking, it ended up being Leon's chest that gave way.

That single blow left Leon bedridden in the hospital for three long years.

At the time, even his master thought the kid wouldn’t survive, going so far as to mentally prepare an apology speech to deliver to the teachers at the orphanage that had raised Leon.

But Leon, the prodigy that he was, managed to survive despite all odds.

Anyone else in his position? They’d essentially be pressing restart on life by now.

After his recovery, under his master's meticulous care, Leon regained his strength and health.

Thus, on Leon's tenth birthday, his master sent him off to the dragon-slaying academy.

Leon thought to himself at the time that leaving his master might not be such a bad thing.

At the very least, there probably wouldn't be a "shatter boulders with your chest" course in the academy’s official curriculum, right?

So, as the youngest student in history and with the highest distinction, Leon graduated from the dragon-slaying academy.

At the age of fifteen, he took up arms and set foot on the dragon-slaying battlefield.

With his team, he triumphed time and time again, slaying countless foes, reclaiming lost territory for the Empire, and carving out stellar achievements.

Leon’s name spread among the people of the Empire. They hailed him as a once-in-a-century dragon-slaying hero, the only hope to lead the Empire to victory and bring the war to an end.

However.

An orphan with no background or backing wasn’t meant to have such a strong foothold among the people.

Nor should his status rise any higher.

At the pinnacle of Leon’s fame, the royal family of the Empire exiled him to the harshest dragon-slaying battlefield.

That battlefield was against the Silver Dragon Clan.

The fighting dragged on for years, with heavy losses on both sides.

In the final decisive battle, just as Leon was about to storm Silver Dragon Castle, he was betrayed by someone and fell into the hands of Roswitha, becoming her prisoner.

Leon never found out who it was that betrayed him.

He likely never would.

But to his slight consolation, in his final moments, Leon inflicted a rather "devastating" price upon the Empire's greatest foe—the Silver Dragon Queen herself.

Speaking of that notorious, unconventional, borderline dishonorable seduction-and-pregnancy spell, Leon actually stumbled upon it in an ancient, tattered book.

Back then, he thought,"Such an evil, depraved spell has no business existing in this world! Let me execute justice!" and promptly burned the book.

Leon honestly believed he'd never use that spell in his lifetime.

Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine that Roswitha would provide him with such a golden opportunity.

Had it been any other Dragon Slayer captured as a prisoner, they might’ve just spat a few final threats before dying with bitter regret.

But Leon? At least he got to gross out the Silver Dragon Queen in retaliation.

It's a complete win.

Although he still died in the end, Leon figured his achievements would surely earn him a spot in heaven.

As for the parting words he'd just uttered, "See you in hell, Roswitha," they weren’t exactly a prophecy or curse.

He simply thought they sounded cool.

Like something a young person might say.

Cool as it may have been, though, what dominated Leon's deeply weary soul was still:

Exhaustion.

Bone-deep exhaustion.

Though his life was short, it had been exhausting.

If given the chance, Leon would have preferred a quiet, peaceful life.

He imagined leaving the Empire for some remote little town, leasing a farm, and marrying a wife who wasn’t stunningly beautiful but also not unattractive.

Together, they’d have an adorable daughter.

Then he could spend his days milking cows while watching time slowly drain away his vitality.

After all, cow-milking was far safer than dragon-slaying, wasn’t it?

Failing to live out such an ideal life would probably remain Leon’s one regret.

Well, regrets are an inescapable part of life; that’s what makes it *life,* isn’t it?

*Buzz—*

A strange humming suddenly sounded in Leon’s mind, interrupting his train of thought.

Wait...

In his mind?

Didn’t he only have thoughts left at this point?

How could he still feel something like this?

Before Leon could react, his "vision" abruptly returned.

Fragments of memory flashed before him like a running film reel.

His birth, his upbringing, his time at the dragon-slaying academy...

It was as if he were watching a movie.

At last, the final frame froze on the image of the Silver Dragon Clan's dungeon.

Sunlight from the lone window filtered in, shining upon him as he hung bound to an iron frame, his eyes meeting Roswitha's.

It was the gaze of a vanquished man facing his triumphant captor, yet it also bore a resemblance to a fallen believer seeking the forgiveness of a holy saint.

The next moment, the scene shattered. A beam of light pierced through the void like a sword.

Leon gradually opened his eyes as countless senses and feelings began to awaken.

Body heat, breath, heartbeat, pulse...

"I-I’m not dead?"

As well as his voice.

Leon tried moving his fingers.

Though numb and weak, they could at least move.

Pushing himself to sit upright, Leon found himself in a cozy, luxurious room.

The room was predominantly pink, with walls adorned with drawings of the sun, clouds, and several stick-figure angels—

Although crude and abstract, the haloed figures with scribbled wings were still recognizable as angels.

Wait a second.

Angels?

Could it be... that his soul had finally arrived?

If so, he could finally lay down his burdens and reunite with his comrades who had fallen in battle.

Leon mustered his strength, getting out of bed.

Dragging his tired, heavy body to the window, he gazed outside.

Clear skies. Birds chirping. Flowers blooming.

“Holy crap, this really is heaven!”

It seemed his life had finally reached a perfect conclusion.

Or... perhaps an exclamation mark was more fitting?

After all, Leon found his short life rather astonishing.

Oh, well. No matter.

Ending up in heaven after death could only be considered a good turn of events.

“Hey~ you’re awake!”

A childish voice called out from behind him.

Leon turned toward the sound.

It belonged to an adorable little girl, just as sweet-looking as her voice.

The girl seemed only three or four years old, with cherubic features: a touch of baby fat on her cheeks and an already visible beauty written in her delicate brows.

She perfectly fit Leon’s stereotypical image of a "little angel."

Except her hair color was rather peculiar, combining black as the main tone with streaks of silver highlights.

Silver and black blended together—not unattractive, just rather odd for a little girl.

Come on now. Heaven outsourcing angel duties to children was one thing, but did you have to style them in such an edgy, almost emo fashion?

Leon internally complained as he slowly approached the little girl, squatting down to her eye level.

"Hello there. What’s your name?" he asked.

“Muen,” the girl replied earnestly.

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

“Mommy did.”

Leon froze.

No offense, but... angels have mommies now?

He’d always thought angels were handmade by God or something.

“I’m Leon. Leon Cosmood,” he introduced himself politely.

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

“Who told you that?”

“Mommy did.”

“......”

A bad feeling began creeping up on Leon.

He slowly stood up, looking at Muen with an increasing sense of dread.

“May I ask... who your mommy is?”

“Roswitha, of course.”

Muen stepped forward, wrapping her small arms around Leon’s leg. She tilted her head up, eyes bright with excitement, and said:

“Daddy, you’re finally awake!”

Perhaps Leon’s short yet glorious life wasn’t a full stop or an exclamation mark after all.

Rather, it was... a to-be-continued ellipsis.