It turned out that Leon’s strategy of “leave no treasure behind” was absolutely correct.

After successfully stealing the Heart-Guarding Dragon Scales and returning to the "secret base," Aurora first tried a few pieces of dragon scales to activate the reverse magic, but there were no signs of success.

It wasn’t until she tested over ten pieces that they finally encountered one with a magical nature similar to that of Ravi—the right Heart-Guarding Dragon Scale.

The first test of the reverse magic was also successfully completed.

Having resolved the energy source issue, the next steps were to carefully debug and make adjustments to ensure that no mishaps would occur during the reversal process—such as accidentally tearing her dad into shreds, or teleporting just the person while leaving their clothes behind.

This process was also an equally monumental task. Aurora didn’t dare to slack off. She worked tirelessly day and night to perfect the reverse magic.

With less than three months remaining, she had to send her dad back before the deadline in order to prevent the fierce battle where her mom made a desperate sacrifice and ended up in a coma.

During this time, Leon continued practicing the Nine Hells Gate technique with great dedication, utilizing the methods his youngest daughter taught him.

Meanwhile, he also didn’t forget to condense and store magical power.

During the Space Rift Battle, it was his lack of readiness time that gave Ravi and his three men an opportunity to trap him within the spatial barrier after the defeat of Stata.

But this time, with nearly half a year of preparation and rapid progress with the Nine Hells Gate, not to mention Leon's increased power. Having three opposing Dragon Kings' sneak attack would be insignificant. Even if they attempted to have sexual intercourse with him, General Leon would only smile faintly and say, “It's time for lunch.”

Meanwhile, Noa and Muen carried out their regular fieldwork. In these last critical months, no mistakes could be afforded.

Thus, the father and his three daughters each assumed their respective duties, all preparing for the day when the reverse magic would be complete.

However... the hectic and fulfilling days of preparation didn’t always keep Leon fully focused.

He often found himself distracted by another thought.

Roswitha.

On the night before the deadline, with less than 24 hours remaining, Leon came to the room which had a crystal stored Roswitha alone. He pulled up a chair and sat beside the crystal.

The beauty within the crystal was still lying peacefully. Her brows were relaxed, and her expression was serene and lovely.

Her hands overlapped across her abdomen, holding a photograph beneath her palms.

It was a candid "couple photo" the photographer had taken during their family photo shoot.

In the photo, the couple gazed deeply into each other’s eyes. Their emotions interwove through their shared look.

On the back of the photograph was written a phrase, which Leon could never forget:

“May the silver radiance always shine in the eyes of who you love.”

Leon believed that before Roswitha lost consciousness, she didn’t know whether she would ever wake again.

Faced with this unknown slumber, Roswitha had chosen this photo as her sole accompaniment.

Noa had said that her mother didn’t quite understand emotions and wasn’t great at expressing them.

Yet, Roswitha knew what she cared about and what she couldn’t part with.

In the World Line where “Leon doesn’t exist,” she had held on alone for six months. She was the most solitary queen on the throne, yet also the most sorrowful and distressed wife.

Up until the moment she fell into a coma, was she still believing that... Leon would come back and save everything?

For months, nearly every night, Leon would come here to spend time with Roswitha.

He would neither speak nor do anything. He just quietly watched his sleeping wife.

However...

Before stepping into this room, Leon needed to steel himself for quite a while each time.

He felt fear. He felt dread. And sometimes he even felt trembles in his legs.

In those early days, Leon’s mindset had been relatively steady.

But as time progressed, especially during these final days, he was increasingly reluctant to approach to Roswitha. He did not dare to look at her, or to convey his inner thoughts to her.

He was, after all, a man of delicate and sensitive emotions, not good at managing his negative feelings.

Just like back when the proxy Dragon King of the Scarlet Flame Dragon Clan, Augur, warned him that "The Dragon Clan will take everything from you," Leon had spiraled into deep introspection and self-doubt.

That time, though, he had come through successfully.

And the one who helped him get it through was Roswitha.

Though Roswitha was not adept at expressing her emotions, she understood Leon and knew exactly how to reach the darkest corners of his heart, and then pull this stubborn young man out of his shadows.

Many, many times, Roswitha served as a "spiritual mentor" to Leon.

After all, for over two hundred years, the queen hadn’t lived in vain; her life experience far exceeded that of Leon.

But now, with Leon entangled in longing and worry, what was he to do without Roswitha?

His heart, without her, was knotted like a tightly wound rope.

Which was impossible to unravel, remaining chaotic and messy.

He pulled his mind back from the precipice of despair, took a deep breath in, and slowly exhaled.

Then, Leon reached out his hands, gently pressing them on the crystal.

The crystal was cold, as frigid as the stifling reality around him.

“I really... miss you so much.”

If everything went well, he would be able to meet her again in just twenty-four hours.

But then... who could guarantee that everything would go smoothly?

It was rare for Leon to feel such a lack of confidence in something.

Because he was never afraid of failure.

Fail once? Do it again. Fail again? Try as many times as it takes. He was, after all, someone who was resilient to no end.

But.

This time was different.

This time, if he failed, he might never get to hold his lover again.

The pressure, as heavy as a mountain, settled in his chest, making it hard for him to breathe.

It wasn’t just a race against time—it was a love so profound that it defied the constraints of space and time, a love meant to be salvaged.

But—was he truly capable of pulling it off?

“It’s getting late. You should rest for a while,”

Noa’s voice came behind him. “Aurora says we can begin the reverse magic in just a few hours. You need to conserve your strength.”

“No need. I'm fine.”

Leon didn’t turn his head, continuing to silently gaze at Roswitha. His voice was quite steady, but Noa could sense a faint tremor within it.

After a brief hesitation, Noa walked over and stood beside Leon.

Only then did Leon notice that, out of the corner of his eyes, Noa's hands were cradling a delicate wooden box.

Although the box was exquisitely crafted, its appearance suggested it had quite a bit of age.

“This is...?”

Noa opened the wooden box, revealing an assortment of unrelated little trinkets.

A black fragment, a Rubik’s cube, a piece of note, an essay, and a family photo.

“These are things that are very important to me,” Noa explained.

Leon looked at those trinkets. He recalled that he made the Rubik’s cube for Muen, and created one for Noa as well at the time. Back then, Noa had been prideful and was unwilling to get along with him.

The note simply read “Noa · K · Melkevi,” likely from the time when Leon had been teaching Muen how to write and ended up jotting down Noa’s name as well.

The essay detailed the date Leon and Roswitha shared in Sky City, along with Noa’s thoughts on their love.

And the family photo, of course, needed no explanation.

“I had originally planned to collect and fill this wooden box with many more items...”

Noa said softly, “But in the twenty years after you disappeared, nothing else was ever added to it. Every item inside bears its own unique significance. Yet once a tragedy occurs, those happiness would transform into torment. So...”

A sudden Dragon Flame ignited in Noa’s hand, casting fiery light onto the wooden box she had safeguarded for two decades.

The flames consumed the items inside—the Rubik’s cube, the note, the essay, and the photograph.

Only the black fragment glowing brightly amidst the fire.

Leon was startled and quickly tried to extinguish the fire.

But Noa threw the box to the floor, letting it burn completely.

She held her father’s hand, with her eyes brimming with tears. Her voice was choking:

“No matter you fail or succeed, I'll no longer need these things now.”

“If you succeed in altering the past and restoring the original World Line, this box will naturally return to me, along with all I care about.”

“But if you fail... you and my sisters are all I have.”

“So go, Leon Cosmos.”

“No matter what happens, you will never be alone.”

A few months earlier, when he shared a heartfelt talk with his daughter, her future self and past self had slowly overlapped in his eyes.

And at this moment, Leon saw the shadow of Roswitha in Noa.

The one who could always pull him out of despair when he was lost—that person had never truly left.

...

A few hours later, in the crystalline chamber, Aurora was preparing to activate the reverse magic.

The Heart-Guarding Dragon Scale floated quietly within the magical circle, providing energy for the entire spell.

Complex and intricate spell inscriptions began to glow as the array’s pulsating energy filled the room, creating opposing currents of air.

Aurora tucked her hair back as it was tousled by the wind, turning to Leon.

“Stand here.”

Leon stepped forward to the center of the array.

“If all goes well, the reverse magic will be completed in ten minutes, which means that... in just ten minutes, you’ll be able to see Mom.”

“Alright. I understand.”

As the wind howled, Aurora stood in front of Leon, slightly lowering her head. “Dad...”

“What is it?”

“I... I did well, right?”

Leon was momentarily taken aback, not quite understanding why Aurora would ask such a thing in the last few moments before the spell commenced.

“Twenty years ago, Aurora didn't get your approval before you vanished,”

Noa chimed in from behind. “So now... It's time to praise your youngest daughter.”

That was when it hit Leon.

So that’s what it was about.

He looked at Aurora, reached out his hands, and affectionately ruffled her soft pink hair.

“You’ve done so well, Aurora. You’re your dad’s proudest daughter.”

"Really—"

"Ahem, ahem." Noa cleared her throat twice and put an arm around Muen's shoulder.

Leon quickly patched things up, "One of my most prideful daughters."

Aurora smiled. She took off her glasses, wiped the corners of her eyes, and then put it back on.

"After going back, remember to remind me not to stay up late for reading. I don't want to wear glasses again."

"Okay, I'll remember."

Muen also nervously pinched the hem of her clothes and quietly stepped closer to Aurora. She stared at her father, who was bathed in light. Normally, Muen was the most lively one among them. But at this moment, she found herself at a loss for words.

Was this a farewell......

Or the beginning of a reunion?

Muen couldn't tell.

But there was one thing she knew—

"Papa, you're... definitely going to save the world, right?"

To her, her dad was nothing but a hero, the almighty and unparalleled big hero.

Twenty years ago, he was. And twenty years from now, it's still true.

"I will. Definitely, Muen, I promise you."

"Then—then after you go back, you have to make steak for me more often... I love the steak you make."

"Alright, I'll make it for you together with Mom."

"Mm-hm!"

Her chatterbox had popped open, and there was so much she wanted to say.

But she knew that the remaining time should be given to her sisters.

Muen and Aurora both stepped aside, allowing Leon to exchange gazes with Noa, who stood in the doorway.

Noa crossed her arms and leaned against the wall.

She looked into those dark pupils, then smiled gently.

"I'm waiting for you in the past, Dad."