The appearance of Constantine at Saint Hiss Academy was bound to cause a stir.

First of all, Old Constantine was a legendary Dragon King, immortalized in *Young Dragon Educational Compendium* and countless history books. Though he had experienced two reincarnations, that did little to dampen the prestige of his past.

Secondly, before Constantine’s offensive against the Silver Dragon Clan, he frequently initiated a series of small-scale skirmishes, leaving everyone wary of this Crimson Flame Dragon King.

However, it would be unfair to label Constantine as solely a master of internal conflicts. After all, in-fighting and territorial annexations were quite commonplace within the Dragon Clan.

Thus, his sudden presence on campus naturally sparked fierce discussions.

“I heard that at one of the Dragon King summits, old Alrais was especially hostile toward Constantine.”

“Yeah, yeah! And our tribe’s Dragon King even deployed some forces to monitor the borders of the Crimson Flame Dragon’s territory. What’s going on there?”

“But since Constantine is standing here alive and well, does that mean the surveillance has ended?”

“Then what is he even doing at the academy? I haven’t heard any rumors of the Crimson Flame Dragon King having offspring.”

“Maybe he’s here to negotiate some sort of campus benefits for his clan?”

“Do you really think the Crimson Flame Dragon King would bother with something like that?”

“...”

Despite all the discussions, no one dared to approach Old Constantine directly.

The lack of chaos was largely due to the fact that Saint Hiss Academy, like Sky City, was an absolutely neutral faction. If Old Constantine had any move here, he’d go from being “a hero of the Dragon Clan” to “a sworn enemy of the Dragon Clan” in no time.

The one responsible for receiving Constantine was a highly senior department head.

Even so, the department head couldn’t stop sweating under the pressure of standing in front of the Crimson Flame Dragon King.

Watching the slightly comical interaction unfold, Leon narrowed his eyes and murmured,

“Could it be that his daughter has recovered? Is he here to enroll her in school now?”

Roswitha lightly shook her head.

“Didn’t you mention before that his daughter was sealed in crystal not long after she was born? No matter how gifted a young dragon may be, it’s impossible for one that small to enroll in school.”

“True.”

Even prodigy like Noa had only started attending school at the age of three.

No matter how exceptional Old Constantine’s little hatchling might be, it’s not as if she could come to school without even being able to speak properly.

“Then what is he doing here?”

“No idea. But I think I understand why the Vice Principal hasn’t come to torment us this semester.”

The queen curiously looked at Leon. “Why’s that?”

Leon tilted his chin toward Constantine. “Because he has an even tougher guest to deal with.”

Roswitha glanced back again in Constantine’s direction.

Sure enough, Vice Principal Wilson had taken over from the sweat-drenched department head and was personally hosting Constantine.

Seeing this, Roswitha couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

“So, at the end of the day, Constantine came here to take the heat for us.”

Leaning back leisurely on the bench, Leon stretched and let out a contented sigh.

“Great Constantine—need we say more?”

......

"Helena!"

“Noa-chan~”

After weeks apart, the two best friends flew into each other’s arms, running joyfully toward one another.

Under the bright sunlight, amidst the bustling crowd, the two small young dragons were about to embrace—

Until a tuft of hair suddenly sprang up between them out of nowhere.

Muen, with eyes closed and hands folded over her chest, slowly rose between her elder sister and her sister’s best friend.

Noa blinked. “Muen? Weren’t you just napping? H-How did you even get here?”

“Yeah... I didn’t notice Muen-chan’s movements at all… So fast.” Helena looked equally astonished.

But Aurora, standing close by, had figured it all out.

“Big Sister, Helena-sister, this is the one-in-a-lifetime Blink of the Melkevi family!”

Noa turned her head slowly to look at her little sister, her tone growing unusually serious.

“But Dad always perfectly times his Blinks to save the day. It feels like he has a lot more ‘one-in-a-lifetime’ moments…”

“It’s just a metaphor, Big Sis.”

“Oh, okay.”

Noa shifted her gaze back to Muen.

She had intended to greet Helena while Muen was asleep, knowing full well that her sister might grow jealous and come chasing after her.

But how could the perpetually overprotective sister-obssessed radar be so finely tuned? Noa and Helena hadn’t even embraced fully before Muen appeared, blinking her way directly between them.

Goodness, Muen, if you could train with half this energy, how splendid would that be? With a faint sigh, Noa lamented in her heart.

“Muen just woke up, noticed you weren’t there, so Muen came to find you,” declared Little Moon proudly, arms still crossed.

“I see... Well, you’ve found me now.”

“Uh-huh.”

Muen nodded, the tuft of hair on her head swaying.

But she made no move to step aside.

Noa blinked, an idea springing to mind.

“Alright, since you’re already here…”

Her voice trailed off deliberately, just as she expected, piquing Muen’s curiosity. Her sister turned to her, wide-eyed.

“What is it, Big Sis?”

Smirking mischievously, Noa stretched her arms wide and hugged her.

“Hey, Big Sis—”

Helena, clearly accustomed to being on the same wavelength as Noa after over a year of friendship, immediately mirrored the motion and embraced them both.

“Wait, Helena-Sister—uhf, uhf~”

Muen didn’t have time to react before she was sandwiched between Noa and Helena.

On one side was her sister’s familiar fragrance. On the other, was the Sea Dragon Clan’s uniquely crisp and refreshing scent.

Little Moon felt herself growing faint. Her large eyes turned misty, spinning in little circles.

Aurora, who had been watching the “disaster” unfold, couldn’t help but clap delightedly. Enlightenment struck her.

“Turns out, it’s not Big Sis being shy—it’s Second Sis!”

Kicking off the school year with entertainment this good, Aurora was sure that this semester was promised to go nothing but wonderfully!

After experiencing a “two-way hug” and “double cleanser,” Muen finally got some fresh air.

Aurora hurried to catch her about-to-collapse second sister, and asked,

“Second Sis, how did it feel?”

Still recovering, Muen shook her little head, trying to clear it, and thoughtfully replied,

“This side of the face was hard; the other side was soft.”

The former referred to Noa’s side, while the latter was about Helena.

“Hard? Soft? Why’s that?”

Aurora’s confusion mirrored that of Muen and Noa.

The three little dragon girls turned toward Helena in unison.

Startled, Helena hesitated for a moment before furrowing her brows and chuckling wryly.

“Ah, well… that’s something you’ll understand when you’re older~.”

Noa and her sisters exchanged glances. Since it was apparently a matter related to age, they decided not to pursue it for now; they’d find out in time anyway.

“Let’s go. I saw a snack stall over there earlier. Let’s buy a few things,” Helena suggested.

“Alright.”

The girls clasped hands and went off to shop.

***

On the other side, Leon had slipped quietly away from the crowd, heading into the school building—but not to find any teacher.

Instead, he made his way to the rooftop, alone.

The place was desolate and tranquil. Only during school lunchtime did some students occasionally show up to eat there.

Walking leisurely across the rooftop, Leon stopped at the railings, looking down at the campus below.

The crowd was still bustling, lively and noisy.

In a corner of the school square, Roswitha could be seen chatting with Claudia, who was also here to drop off her kid for school.

Leon retracted his gaze from the two women and turned it instead toward where the Vice Principal was still talking with Constantine.

Though the Vice Principal often liked to gossip couples for fun, his professionalism was indisputable.

Even in front of someone like Constantine, he maintained a dignified, equal-footed demeanor.

Of course, that might also be because Constantine was in a good mood today; judging by his expressions and tone, he wasn’t being particularly aggressive.

And that allowed them to converse peacefully.

Not long after, Constantine suddenly lifted his head and glanced toward Leon’s position on the rooftop.

It was clear that he had already noticed Leon.

But Leon wasn’t surprised. He kept his arms crossed, waiting quietly.

After a few moments, Constantine averted his eyes, exchanged a few more words with the Vice Principal, then strode toward the school building.

Minutes later, heavy footsteps echoed behind Leon.

He didn’t turn around, continuing to gaze out over the campus as he spoke.

“Don’t mind me choosing this spot to talk. Aside from my wife’s clan members, I don’t want anyone knowing we’re old friends.”

“I’ll say it again, Leon—we are not friends.”

“Fine. If you say we’re not, we’re not.”

When it came to the notoriously stubborn Dragon Kings and Queens, General Leon had a strategy all his own.

When Roswitha was being stubborn:

Leon: Right, right, whatever you say.

When Claudia was being difficult:

Leon: You’re just saying that out of anger. You don’t really mean it.

When Constantine was being contrary:

Leon: Just like the others, it’s all talk.

“Has the Ghostly Grass worked?” Leon asked, cutting straight to the question any self-proclaimed “daughter-lover” would care most about.

Constantine nodded. “She’s awake. The clan’s healers are helping her gradually recover her body.”

Hearing that the little one was fine, Leon secretly breathed a sigh of relief. However, he didn’t reveal too much and only responded lightly,

"That's good."

After a pause, Leon asked again, "So, did you come to the academy to enroll Heffy?"

"She was only two months old when Adam injured her. Now, she can barely say a few simple sentences. How could she possibly attend school?"

"Oh, I suppose you're right."

"Then why did you even ask?"

"Is it wrong to ask? At least I had one-third of the credit for your daughter's recovery, don't you think?"

Constantine let out a cold snort and said, "I came to the academy to help the clansmen who had been forced to suspend their studies go through the re-enrollment process. Also, I need to communicate with Wilson to avoid unnecessary troubles in the future."

Changes of varying degrees had occurred both within and outside the Crimson Dragon Clan, making their position among the Dragon Clans somewhat delicate.

Thus, Constantine's decision to come and discuss with the vice principal in advance made sense.

In fact, this act of his could even be described as extremely dutiful. After all, he could have easily sent a representative or a deputy in his place.

"I see. Have you finished the discussion?"

"Not yet. I'll be meeting Principal Olette later."

"Then why didn't you go earlier?"

Constantine paused, turning silently to stare at Leon without saying a word.

Leon was taken aback and pointed at himself, "What? Don’t tell me you left both the principal and vice principal waiting just to come chat with me?"

"Heh, you should consider it an honor, human."

Leon: "You~ should~ consider~ it~ an~ honor~, human~."

"...You're really asking for a beating. How has the Silver Dragon Queen tolerated you all these years?"

Leon shrugged, "Love blossoms with children, and will never quell."

"..."

Constantine sighed.

Even now, it was hard for him to accept that, once upon a time, he had been decapitated by this fool twice.

"Oh. Speaking of this, I want to ask you something... personal." Constantine seemed uncharacteristically hesitant.

Leon raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Are you and your wife planning to have another child?"

"..."

Leon twitched slightly at the corner of his eye. The hand he was holding in mid-air subconsciously lowered. "Why do you ask?"

Leon thought, Is this guy coming to me for parenting advice or something?

But of course, Constantine being Constantine, not even the greatest Dragon Slayer could predict his thoughts.

Constantine said, "If you're planning to, do it soon. I want Heffy to enter Saint Hiss Academy at the same time as your next child."

"Wait, w-why?"

Constantine, with an extremely serious—and inexplicably passionate—tone, responded,

"I will defeat you, and so my child will also defeat your child. It will happen."

Leon: "..."

Only a battle-maniac like you could think of something like this, damn it!