The day of Noa's entrance exam was drawing closer.

Besides the entrance exam, there were other things they needed to prepare in advance.

For instance, a family photo.

Saint Hiss Academy, a prestigious school for the Dragon Clan's elites, upheld rigorous standards for its students.

Although most Dragon Clan families consisted of single dragons reproducing asexually, there were exceptions like Roswitha’s case—“natural reproduction.”

Regardless of whether a family was ‘single-parent’ or ‘dual-parent,’ the family dynamic was a significant part of their evaluation criteria.

Only a harmonious, loving, and Dragon Clan ideology-oriented family could nurture qualified hatchlings.

The hatchling division of Saint Hiss Academy only admitted students from such families.

Unfortunately, Leon’s “family” couldn’t be further from being described as “harmonious” and “loving.”

“Not even close? Then we’ll have to pretend it is,” Roswitha said.

“Noa cares deeply about this entrance test, and you’ve all been preparing for it for a month. Whatever the case, we have to pass this test.”

Leon scratched his head. “So, are we supposed to take a family photo?”

“Of course. A few days ago, I used a message dragon to book a photography studio. Get ready; we’ll head there shortly.”

After a pause, Roswitha added, “And while we’re at it... we’ll take a full family portrait.”

Leon frowned. “A full family portrait?”

He recalled that not long ago, Roswitha’s sister—Isa, the queen of the Red Dragon Clan—had visited them. During her visit, Muen had mentioned wanting to take a full family portrait for quite some time.

Since their youngest daughter had expressed this desire and it was convenient, Leon naturally didn’t object.

He tossed back the blanket, got out of bed, and began getting dressed.

“Wait a moment. There’s one more thing,” Roswitha said.

“What?”

“I need to put a tail on you.”

“What? Attach... a tail?”

“Yes.” Roswitha nodded. “At home, you can get away with the excuse of ‘not liking your tail to show.’ But outside, a male dragon without a tail is just bizarre.”

Leon’s face fell as he asked expressionlessly, “Without a tail, will other dragons kill me?”

Roswitha shook her head.

“Then what do I care? Let them find it strange,” he replied indifferently.

“But a tail is an important symbol of being part of the Dragon Clan, and you—”

While putting on his jacket, Leon interrupted her from behind, speaking slowly, “For you Dragon Clan members, a tail may be a symbol. But for me, accepting you putting a tail on me... feels more like a compromise.”

Roswitha frowned and rubbed her temple. “Classic you, Dragon Slayer.”

Leon spread his hands.

Indeed, he was still the same proud and unyielding Dragon Slayer, rejecting anything that might diminish his identity or honor without hesitation.

Roswitha figured that if she forced the issue, this photo session might not happen at all.

“Fine, no tail, then. But remember, when we’re out there, don’t be your usual stubborn self, got it?”

“Mm.”

“I’ll go get Noa and Muen. You wait for us in the front courtyard.”

Leon silently nodded, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets as he left the room.

Hearing his footsteps fade, Roswitha let out a helpless sigh. “A whole family of stubborn mules; what am I supposed to do?”

Muttering to herself, she headed quickly to Noa and Muen’s shared room.

Since she had already informed her daughters the night before, by the time Roswitha arrived at their room, the two little ones were already dressed and ready to go.

Roswitha brought them downstairs.

Muen called out for her father while running over to Leon with tiny, quick steps.

Leon squatted down with a smile and scooped Muen up into his arms.

“Where are we taking the photo?” Leon asked.

“Sky City, the city exclusive to the Dragon Clan.”

Leon nodded thoughtfully.

He had read about Sky City in human historical manuscripts.

The city was said to be a haven removed from worldly clamor, a realm entirely belonging to dragons.

For millennia, countless brave souls had tried to gain entry to the Dragon Clan’s Sky City, only to fail without exception.

So, many years ago, humans and other species abandoned their attempts to explore Sky City.

Truth be told, Leon felt a flicker of anticipation in his heart.

He might very well become the first human in history to set foot in Sky City.

“Mom, how do we get there?”

It was also the first time their daughters would leave Silver Dragon Castle, so Sky City was equally mysterious to them.

“To Sky City? Why, we fly up there, of course,” Roswitha replied.

As soon as the words left her mouth, Roswitha spread her dragon wings wide, wrapping them around her body. After a momentary pause, when her wings unfolded again, a majestic silver dragon stood in her place.

“Wow! Mom looks so cool! Muen wants to turn into a dragon too!”

Noa tugged her sister’s tail and said, “Why don’t you grow wings first and then talk?”

“Hmph! Muen will become a dragon one day!”

With that, she turned her expectant gaze to her father and asked, “Daddy, why aren’t you transforming?”

“......”

“Daddy, transform! Transform! Muen wants to see what Daddy looks like as a dragon!” The little dragon girl clapped her hands in anticipation.

Even Noa stood to the side, watching him with great interest.

Leon felt like dying on the spot.

Darling daughter, your father is very talented at slaying dragons, but transforming into one? Let’s not, okay?

Leon swallowed nervously and laughed awkwardly, casting a desperate look at Roswitha for help.

But to his dismay, the mother dragon appeared entirely uninterested, leisurely licking her wings.

Are you seriously busy cleaning your wings right now, lady?

Is this some kind of pre-flight preparation?

Can you spare a glance at your husband here?

Help me out, damn it!

Seeing Leon remain motionless, Noa’s eyes narrowed slightly as she remarked, “Don’t tell me... you can’t transform?”

“Uh...”

“Daddy’s body hasn’t fully recovered yet, so for now, he can’t take his dragon form,” Roswitha finally pitched in. “Once he’s fully recovered, he’ll transform for you.”

“Yay! Daddy, you have to get well soon!”

“...Daddy will try his best.”

“Alright, let’s save the chit-chat for later and get on now,” Roswitha said.

She gently picked Noa up by the tail and placed her on her back. Then she took Muen from Leon’s arms and set her next to Noa.

Finally, Roswitha looked at Leon. “You get on too.”

Tch. Getting on a dragon wasn’t particularly difficult.

However, Roswitha seemed to be deliberately making things harder for him, not bending down even slightly to give him enough height to climb up.

Leon looked up at the massive dragon towering several meters above him. If this were the old days, he could have leapt up in just a few steps—and probably taken her head clean off with a holy sword on the way up.

But his current frail condition meant even climbing into bed required careful effort, let alone mounting a dragon.

“What’s wrong? Hurry up and join your daughters,” Roswitha said.

In her dragon form, Leon couldn’t discern any particular expression.

But one thing he was sure of—this dragoness was definitely laughing her heart out inside.

All this just because he refused to let her put a tail on him earlier?

Seriously, how childish can you be?

Still, dragging this out any longer would likely make the daughters impatient.

Leon scratched his cheek and reluctantly decided to compromise this time.

“Roswitha, could you... maybe lower yourself a bit? I... I can’t get on.”

“What? I didn’t catch that. What did you say?”

“...I. Can’t. Get. On.”

“Still didn’t catch that.”

“Mama, Daddy said he can’t get on,” Muen said helpfully.

“Oh, I see. You can’t get on? Why didn’t you say so sooner? Let me help you.”

With that, Roswitha grabbed Leon by the collar with her mouth and placed him beside the girls.

Sitting cross-legged, Leon immediately had Muen climb onto his lap, settling comfortably against him with her tail on his hand and her back leaning into his chest.

Leon patted Muen’s little head before looking over at Noa.

The reserved dragon girl was also watching him.

However, she seemed to be seriously contemplating something important.