Shut Up, Malevolent Dragon! I Don’t Want to Have Any More Children With You

Leon’s childhood farm had been transformed into the "General Cosmod Residence," and the dragon-slaying academy where he had honed his skills was now a bustling tourist attraction. In this nostalgic journey, the only place that still felt like home to Leon was the **Cosmod Orphanage**.

When Leon arrived at the orphanage with Rebecca and Martin, it was just in time for dinner. The children had set up long wooden tables in the yard, bringing over benches to sit on while leaving open spots on either side of the main table.
“Those are the teachers’ seats,” one of the kids explained.
Young nuns carried trays of simple yet heartwarming dishes, placing them on the table for the children to enjoy. Leon, Rebecca, and Martin stood at the entrance, quietly observing the lively scene.

“Oh, perfect timing! We can snag a free meal,” Rebecca said, patting her stomach.
“Is food the only thing on your mind?” Martin quipped, exasperated.
Rebecca paused, pretending to think deeply, before answering with exaggerated seriousness. “Food, sleep, play… and play…”

She dragged out her final word, mischievously baiting Martin. Predictably, he fell for it.
“And what else?” he asked curiously.
“You,” Rebecca teased with a sly smile.

Martin, flustered, turned beet red. “I-I get it! You’re probably thinking about how to coordinate with me in combat, right?”
Rebecca chuckled. “Martin, the war is over. We don’t need to fight anymore.”
“Then… it must be for daily patrols since we’re partners?” Martin guessed awkwardly.

“Nope. Just thinking about you, purely and simply.”
“Don’t say weird things, Rebecca!” Martin stammered, his lips trembling as his face turned an even brighter shade of crimson.
Leon, watching his teammates bicker like an experienced older sibling, shook his head with a knowing smile.

“These two… such close friends,” he mused to himself, utterly missing the subtext.
---
### The Orphanage Reunion

As the trio walked into the courtyard, a few children noticed them.
“Hello! What brings you here?” asked a slightly older child, though even he wasn’t much taller than the others. His large, innocent eyes were filled with a mix of curiosity and shyness.
Rebecca crouched to meet him at eye level, smiling warmly. “What do you think we’re here for?”
The boy studied her thoughtfully before answering, “Well… you’re pretty young, so you’re probably not here to adopt anyone, right?”

Rebecca froze. “A-auntie?”
“Yes, auntie. Why?” the boy replied, tilting his head innocently.
Behind her, Leon burst out laughing, clutching his stomach as he leaned on Martin for support. 

“She hated being mistaken for a kid before, and now she’s an ‘auntie!’ Rebecca Aa~untie~!” he teased, savoring every syllable.
Even Martin, usually her staunch supporter, struggled to suppress his laughter.
“Captain! Stop laughing! She’s going to kill us both!” Martin whispered between chuckles.

Rebecca ignored their antics, turning back to the boy with a strained smile. “Listen, little one, there’s a big difference between calling someone ‘auntie’ and ‘sister.’ Can you guess what I should be called?”
The boy tilted his head, thinking seriously before answering, “Auntie?”
Rebecca sighed in defeat. “You really can’t tell the difference, huh…”

Before she could lament further, another voice called out, “Angie, come eat! I’ll greet the guests.”
“Okay, Sister Sharon!” Angie replied sweetly.
The cheerful “Sister Sharon” instantly rekindled Rebecca’s temper. “You clearly know how to tell the difference! You did that on purpose, didn’t you?! You little rascal!”

Sister Sharon approached with a gentle smile, apologizing to Rebecca. “I’m sorry, Miss Rebecca. She’s probably just nervous around new people.”
Given Leon’s public profile, it wasn’t surprising Sharon recognized her. As a core member of the Lionheart Society, Rebecca’s face had been plastered across newspapers not long ago.
“New people? My adorable face was all over the news! How could I possibly be a stranger?” Rebecca protested.

Leon intervened, patting her on the shoulder. “Come on, don’t take it out on the kids.”
Turning to Sharon, he greeted her warmly. “It’s been a while.”
Sharon’s eyes lit up with joy. “Leon! Sorry, it’s getting dark. I didn’t recognize you right away.”

“It’s fine,” Leon replied.
Sharon, visibly excited, asked eagerly, “Did you come all this way just to visit us?”
Leon scratched his head sheepishly. “Well, I had some other matters to handle, but I made sure to include a stop here to see you and Miss Caroline.”

Caroline, the nun who had raised Leon, was like a second mother to him. She had taken him in as an infant on a stormy night over two decades ago, instilling in him the values and principles that shaped his character.
“Oh, I see!” Sharon said, nodding. “Let me call Miss Caroline—”
“No need,” Leon interrupted. “We’ll go together.”

---
### Caroline’s Chapel
Sharon led them to the chapel, where Caroline knelt before a statue, quietly praying. It was her habit to eat last, ensuring the children were always served first—a principle she’d upheld even during the darkest days of the war.

Hearing footsteps, Caroline turned and was visibly surprised to see Leon.
“Leon? What brings you here?” she asked, rising to greet him.
“I had some business in the Empire, so I thought I’d stop by to see you all,” Leon explained.

Caroline’s expression softened with a smile. “Have you eaten yet? If not, join us.”
Leon scratched his head bashfully. “I hope I’m still used to orphanage food.”
Caroline chuckled. “Of course, you are. You grew up on it.”

She turned to Rebecca and Martin, greeting them warmly. “Miss Rebecca, Mr. Martin, welcome.”
After a round of polite introductions, the group sat down, casually catching up.
“How have you been since the last battle?” Caroline asked Leon.

He smiled, tapping his leg. “I’m fully recovered now. No more [N O V E L I G H T] wheelchair, see?”
“That’s good to hear. And you’ve been living with… what was her name again, Sharon?”
“Rosvisser,” Sharon supplied.

“Yes, with Lady Rosvisser?”
Leon nodded awkwardly, the formality of “Lady Rosvisser” sounding strange to his ears. He laughed nervously, scratching his head. “Yeah… something like that.”
Sharon’s eyes sparkled mischievously. “Leon, is it true? Did you really marry the Silver Dragon Queen?”

“Well… after the Empire framed me, a lot of things happened. It’s a long story, but yes, I ended up marrying her.”
Sharon gasped. “That’s amazing!”
Rebecca, always eager to stir the pot, chimed in. “And he’s not just married—he’s got three kids now!”

“Three?!” Sharon exclaimed, wide-eyed. “Are they adopted?”
Leon shook his head, crushing her last shred of disbelief.
“Wait… humans and dragons can… have children?” Sharon asked, completely floored.

---
### Caroline’s Memories
Caroline, holding back her amusement, asked to see pictures of the children. Leon pulled out the photos he’d unpacked the night before, handing them over.

“Oh, how adorable!” Sharon exclaimed, marveling at the tiny dragonlings. “I always thought dragons were born fierce and intimidating, but they’re so cute!”
Caroline, staring at the photos with a quiet smile, remarked softly, “They have your eyes, Leon. Just like when you were little.”
Curious, Rebecca leaned in. “What was the captain like as a kid? Was he just as stubborn and clueless back then?”

Caroline laughed gently. “Not at all. Leon was quite clever as a child.”
Rebecca’s interest was piqued. “How did you find him, anyway?”
Caroline’s expression grew nostalgic. “It was a stormy night, the biggest I’d ever seen. Thunder roared, and lightning lit up the sky. When I returned to the orphanage, I found a small basket at the gate. Inside was a newborn baby boy, quietly lying there as if waiting for someone.”

She smiled fondly. “I had been reading a book called *The Lion’s Voice* at the time, about a lion cub who was abandoned but never cried. It seemed destined for greatness. So, I named the boy in the basket…”
“Leon Cosmod.”