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

Leon chatted casually with Isha while little Muse occasionally interjected with a resolute "No way!" to remind everyone of her presence.
Halfway through the banquet, the Tower Master and Odin finally made their appearance.

After mingling with several Dragon Kings, they eventually approached Leon’s table.
"Looks like they’re here for you," Isha remarked.
"I wonder what kind of scheme these two old geezers have cooked up this time," Leon muttered, his tone laced with sarcasm.

Isha chuckled, pinching Muse’s chubby cheeks. "They’re probably just here to blow some smoke up their own tails. It’s all part of the routine when you’ve been a Dragon King for decades."
As they spoke, the Tower Master and Odin stopped in front of Leon.
"Red Dragon King, we’re delighted you could attend the banquet. I trust the food has been to your liking?" the Tower Master asked with a polite smile.

"The spread you’ve prepared is splendid, Tower Master. Thank you for the effort," Leon replied.
The Tower Master nodded, then turned to his niece. "Muse looks a bit sleepy. I’ll take her up to the third floor to rest. You can chat with my brother-in-law."
"I’ll have a servant arrange a guest room for her," Isha offered.

"No need. You all talk; I’ll take care of it."
Isha, ever quick-witted, seized the opportunity and made her exit, using Muse as a convenient excuse.
Leon grumbled inwardly, So she gets to duck out using her daughter as an excuse. What am I supposed to say to get away now?

The Melkvey sisters had never been fond of socializing, and Leon shared their disdain for such pretentious gatherings.
His master had once told him, You don’t need to please anyone. If you’re surrounded by good people, that’s more than enough.
With that thought, Leon exhaled slowly, setting his musings aside. He smiled at the two elders. "Tower Master, Elder Odin, what can I do for you?"

"How’s your recovery going?" the Tower Master asked with genuine concern.
Leon patted his chest. "Pretty well. Everyday activities are no problem at all."
"After receiving Rosvisser’s Heartshield Dragon Scale, General Leon’s combat stamina has been significantly reduced," Odin noted.

Although Leon rarely needed to go all out against most opponents, battles against figures like Odin drained him enough that he required months to replenish his mana.
Of course, that didn’t mean Leon was defenseless during his “magic cooldown” periods. Even without his most powerful techniques, his basic attacks were nothing to scoff at.
His recently developed Hyper Sensory Perception was enough to handle most threats on its own.
"How have you been recovering, Elder Odin?" Leon asked, shifting the focus.

"Some injuries, but I’ve managed," Odin replied with a faint smile. "It’s impressive that you, so young, have already unlocked Hyper Sensory Perception. Do you know how many centuries it took us old dragons to reach that milestone?"
Leon responded with a humble smile. "You flatter me, Elder. It was nothing more than a fortunate coincidence."
Odin fell silent, lost in thought for a moment, before speaking again. "After this battle, the Silver Dragons’ status within the dragon community will solidify even further. Future collaborations and resource exchanges will certainly become more accessible."

Leon understood the underlying meaning.
During the recent multi-nation tournament they co-hosted with Rosvisser, the Silver Dragons had gained immense prestige among the Dragon Kings. Leon, in particular, became a celebrated figure, earning the admiration of young dragons everywhere for his remarkable achievements.
However, despite these accolades, Leon was still a newcomer among the ancient dragon clans. He had yet to break into their deeply entrenched hierarchy.

In dragon society, the older the clan, the greater its wealth of resources and magical knowledge—far beyond what the younger generations could hope to achieve.
Still, through this battle, Leon not only unlocked Hyper Sensory Perception for himself but also secured a brighter future for the Silver Dragons.
Truth be told, the latter outcome was an unintended bonus. Neither Leon nor Rosvisser had planned to leverage the battle for their clan’s benefit.

Sometimes, opportunities arise where you least expect them, Leon mused to himself.
"Thank you, Elder Odin," Leon said sincerely.
A dragon of Odin’s stature wouldn’t make empty promises. If he said the Silver Dragons were poised to join the ranks of ancient clans, it would undoubtedly come to pass.

After a bit more polite conversation, the Tower Master and Odin took their leave.
Leon refrained from lingering on their words, knowing Rosvisser was still upstairs chatting with Charlotte. He didn’t want to risk drawing any opportunistic sycophants to their location.
Scanning the banquet hall, Leon spotted Noa and his master in a corner, engrossed in something. He quickly made his way over.

"Noa, Master, what are you two up to?"
"Oh, Dad! Grandpa and I are trying to figure out how this steak was made. It tastes different from Mom’s cooking, and we want to replicate it for Moon," Noa explained enthusiastically.
"Alright, let’s see."

Sunlight filtered through the banquet hall, casting a soft glow on the staircase across the room.
A woman wearing glasses stood quietly in the shadows of the staircase. She neither mingled with the guests nor ate any of the food, looking entirely out of place.
Leon recognized her. She was Noa’s teacher from the magic academy and her mentor in the Young Dragon Division.

"Noa, your teacher is here too?" Leon asked.
"Yes, I already greeted Ms. Sil earlier," Noa replied.
Leon nodded, paying her little mind as he continued to examine the steak with Noa and his master.

Meanwhile, the Tower Master and Odin ascended to the quieter fourth floor of the banquet hall. From there, they could observe the entire gathering without distraction.
Odin’s gaze fell on Leon below, who was deeply focused on the steak with his daughter and master. The sight prompted a wry sigh.
"In my memory, warriors as powerful as him were always stern and humorless."

The Tower Master laughed heartily. "Like you, perhaps? Come on, Odin. Don’t be so rigid. He’s one of the most talented of his generation, with limitless potential. We can’t judge him through the lens of the past."
After a pause, the Tower Master added, "You’re a father yourself, aren’t you? Spending time with your daughter isn’t unusual, is it?"
"Yuna rarely seeks me out."

"Do you think that might be the result of something on your end?"
"What problem could there possibly be?"
The Tower Master shook his head in exasperation. His time in Sky City, influenced by various cultures, had given him a broader perspective on parenting dynamics. Dragons like Odin, with their purely traditional approaches, now seemed almost alien to him.

"Let’s discuss something more pressing… the Child of Thunder," the Tower Master said, changing the subject.
Odin’s eyes lingered on Leon below. "You said this battle was meant to demonstrate to the followers of Ultimate Fear that we are prepared to face them. At the same time, it was a test to see if Leon qualifies as the prophesied ‘Child of Thunder.’"
"Exactly. What’s your verdict?"

Odin raised his gaze, contemplating for a moment before responding with a question of his own.
"My friend, do you know why we failed with the ‘Child of Thunder’ plan centuries ago?"
The Tower Master froze, surprised. "I thought you’d never bring that up again."

"We dragons do not shy away from confronting our failures," Odin replied with a heavy sigh.
"Back then, you all believed I could become the ‘Child of Thunder’ to defeat Ultimate Fear. But no matter how many resources we poured into the endeavor or how advanced the training, we couldn’t fulfill the ancient gods’ prophecy."
"The appearance of the ‘Child of Thunder’ is a matter of fate. It’s not something we can ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) create or control."

"So, while you may see Leon as the prophesied ‘Child of Thunder,’ you must avoid meddling too much in his life. Let fate take its course. Otherwise…"
"You’ll end up repeating our mistakes."
The Tower Master remained silent for a long moment before nodding solemnly. "I understand, Odin."

His gaze returned to Leon, who was now laughing with Noa over their steak experiments. For a brief moment, the image of his own daughter flashed in his mind, filling him with a strange mix of nostalgia and unease.
"Fate’s choice, huh… What an interesting notion," the Tower Master murmured.