The next day, the couple headed to Sky City.

Leon sat cross-legged on Roswitha's dragon back, holding the "Pregnancy Shopping List" Roswitha had prepared the previous night.

These two were accustomed to making clear plans or drafting detailed lists before starting anything.

For instance, when they helped Noa pass the entrance exam for Saint Hiss Academy or planned the "Parental Love" date in Sky City, they always made sufficient preparations beforehand.

This habit greatly improved their efficiency and reduced the margin for error. Because of this, Leon and Roswitha had never had any disagreements except regarding "household hierarchy."

Leon glanced at the shopping list filled with various items, most of which were nutrient supplements.

Some of these he had seen in the Empire before, specifically designed for pregnant women to boost nutrition.

It was no wonder Roswitha hadn't asked Anna and the others to buy them. After all, the supplements clearly appeared to be for pregnant women, and a single glance from Anna would reveal that her Majesty was expecting another little princess.

As mentioned earlier, Roswitha wanted to keep her pregnancy a secret from her subordinates during the early stages to avoid disrupting their daily workload.

The number one workaholic of Silver Dragon Castle certainly lived up to her reputation.

However, Leon found himself curious: Was it really necessary to use so many supplements just two months into the pregnancy?

"That's a lot to buy. What if you can't finish them and they spoil?" Leon asked.

"Too much? I think it's alright. When I was pregnant with Noa and her sister, I consumed way more than this."

Roswitha paused and added, "Perhaps human pregnancies differ from Dragon Clan pregnancies? The Dragon Clan might require more nutrients."

That sounded reasonable indeed.

After all, human infants of the same age were neither as intellectually advanced nor as physically developed as Dragon Clan offspring.

Take Noa and Muen, for example—though they were not yet two years old, the elder daughter could excel academically by winning essay competitions and physically by holding her own in a three-on-one fight in self-defense.

The younger daughter was an even heavier hitter, with dual-element awakenings of lightning and fire, fully embracing the "I want them all" mentality.

Meanwhile, human infants barely past their first year were likely still struggling to decide whether to call out "Dad" or "Mom" first.

Given the faster developmental pace of Dragon Clan offspring, it's understandable that they might need more nutrients during pregnancy than humans.

However, inherent differences in individual abilities didn't necessarily mean humans were inferior to the Dragon Clan on the battlefield.

While individual Dragon Clan members were notably powerful, their reproductive methods and traditional values often resulted in relatively low population numbers. Cases like Leon and Roswitha, where the first pregnancy yielded twins and the second followed quickly, were exceedingly rare.

On top of this, the Dragon Clan was divided into numerous sub-tribes with weak cohesion.

Humans, on the other hand, could rely on sheer numbers to overwhelm the Dragon Clan, even seizing additional lands from them.

Moreover, thanks to their higher birth rates, humans possessed an ability the Dragon Clan lacked:

The art of lottery pulls.

Ordinary civilians could be likened to B-rank cards, so slow at clearing maps that they’d frustrate even casual players.

Regular Dragon Slayers were akin to A-rank cards, usable after some investment.

Outstanding Dragon Slayers who could earn minor roles in the Dragon Slayer Army? Those were the coveted S-rank cards.

Then there was someone like Leon, blessed with a natural-born Dragon Slayer physique—a rare prodigy who could withstand massive stone impacts on his chest by age ten. He was, quite simply, an SSR-tier jackpot!

If humanity could churn out a few more "lucky families" with Leons as SSR offspring, the infamous Dragon-Human war might conclude a few centuries earlier than expected.

Ultimately, wars between species played to each side's strengths and attacked the other's weaknesses.

After all, no race in the world was perfect.

"What’s this 'Jade Dew Dragon Fruit'?" Leon asked, pointing to an item on the list he'd never heard of.

"It's an exceptionally rare supplement known for its calming and pregnancy-supporting effects," Roswitha replied.

"I understand the pregnancy support part, but… calming?"

"Yes, it helps soothe emotions and alleviate anxiety."

Roswitha explained, "I worry that before long, I'll struggle more with controlling my mood and temper. So... Leon, you’d better pray we can find it in Sky City. Otherwise, you’ll be my Jade Dew Dragon Fruit instead."

Leon rolled his eyes and slipped the shopping list into his pocket. "So now I've gone from being your captive to your emotional punching bag?"

"Isn't being a punching bag part of a captive's job description anyway?"

"One day, when I overheat and explode, we’ll see who takes who down with them, you dragoness!"

Boom!

The sound barrier shattered as Roswitha sped up, heading straight toward Sky City.

...

Several hours later, the couple arrived in Sky City District.

They began by picking up some common pregnancy supplements and loose-fitting outfits suitable for expectant mothers.

The morning passed quickly; only one item remained on the list:

The aforementioned Jade Dew Dragon Fruit.

As expected of such a rare supplement, Leon and Roswitha had visited numerous nutrition stores without success.

Standing on the bustling street, Roswitha scratched her temple.

"Looks like we won't be able to find it."

She sighed dramatically, then patted Leon's shoulder with a mischievous grin. "Well, my dear Jade Dew Dragon Fruit, I guess I'll have to make do with you from now on."

Annoyed, Leon shrugged off her hand with a scowl.

Holding the shopping list, he glanced around the area for any remaining nutrition stores he might have missed.

Though Leon had never personally dealt with a moody pregnant woman, Roswitha's recent bouts of temper convinced him it was better to find the real Jade Dew Dragon Fruit than rely on himself as a substitute.

Unfortunately, they'd already scoured all the stores in the area without success.

Roswitha crossed her arms, tilted her head slightly, and leaned close to Leon's ear: "Well? Found it yet?"

Leon glared at her without saying a word, then strode forward decisively.

"Hey, where’re you going now?" Roswitha called out.

"Where there’s a will, there’s a way. I’ll find a store selling Jade Dew Dragon Fruits today, no matter what!"

Rarely had Leon felt such a burning urge to complete a shopping task—it seemed his aversion to being a human stand-in as Roswitha's escape valve had truly inspired him.

Roswitha chuckled and shook her head, watching his determined figure. "Alright, I’ll tag along for the stroll. Consider it a way to kill time."

With her arms still crossed, she followed behind him.

Leon dropped by a few more stores, including maternity and baby supply shops, asking about the elusive Jade Dew Dragon Fruit.

Yet every store clerk gave him the same frustrating response:

"Sorry, sir, we’re not sure where to find that. But would you be interested in trying this product instead?"

Unhelpful and overly pushy with their sales pitches—Leon imagined himself wiping them all out in irritation.

By midday, there wasn't even a hint of the Jade Dew Dragon Fruit, not even a single shred of its peel.

Sigh.

Behind him came Roswitha's mock sigh, followed by the unmistakable sound of high heels clicking closer. She appeared at his side and teased, "Where there’s a will, there’s a way—unless you finally give up. Leon, stop looking. Just accept your fate as my emotional punching bag. I’ll go easy on you, promise~"

"Oh, come on. Once I become your punching bag, do you think I’ll still have the privilege of being 'spoken to'?" Leon, ever the quick thinker, refused to fall into her trap.

As the couple discussed this matter, Leon's ears caught a voice coming from a distance.

"Grand opening event! Win an ultra-rare Jade Dew Dragon Fruit by competing in our contest! Sign up now!"

Leon’s eyes lit up as he turned toward the source of the voice.

On the far end of the street stood a newly opened store hosting a promotional event.

Judging by their slogans, the competition's prize appeared to be none other than the elusive Jade Dew Dragon Fruit!

Roswitha noticed it too. "Well, you're lucky this time."

Leon scoffed, grabbed her wrist, and strode purposefully toward the store.

"Whoa, what’s the rush? Winning isn’t as easy as they make it sound—you need to place first to claim the prize!" Roswitha said.

"Pfft, that's nothing. Watch me bring that Jade Dew Dragon Fruit home!"

She didn’t wrest her hand free, letting him pull her along.

This guy always got pumped up at the mere mention of a competition. His attachment to titles like "Champion" or "First Place" was beyond obvious.

Well, since they rarely had outings like this, she figured she’d let him have his fun.

The couple approached the store.

Unbeknownst to them, at the corner of the street behind them, a tall figure in red quietly observed their every move.