Chapter 31: Sweetheart, let’s show more concern for Daddy.

Leon stood on the balcony, gazing solemnly at the distant dark clouds.

“It’s going to rain,” he muttered.

Today, Noia didn’t come for tutoring. According to Rosvitha, Noia had a physical training session, so the tutoring was postponed to tomorrow. Perfect timing. It granted Leon a day of personal time.

In the morning, he attempted to concoct the dragon strength following the instructions in the medicinal book, but it ended in complete failure. Leon had anticipated this and analysed the reasons behind it.

As the book stated, the difficulty was extremely high, whether it was high-temperature or physical separation. The slightest mistake could lead to complete failure.

If the temperature was too high, it caused all the nutrients in the medicinal residue became inactive. It was impossible to refine enough medicinal residue if it was too low. Physical separation required specialised instruments, and Leon’s attempts without them proved futile.

The distant dark clouds were getting closer, and a suppressed atmosphere came with them. Leon closed the window, returned to the bedroom, and sat in front of the desk, contemplating.

How can I effectively separate the final medicinal residue? he pondered.

Leon sat cross-legged on the chair, absentmindedly picking up a pen from the table and biting its tip. This was his habit when thinking, effective for increasing concentration.

Biting the pen, Leon blinked, “Noia seems to like biting pen tips while doing problems, too?” He chuckled softly, “Truly, my daughter.”

Cracking a small joke, Leon refocused on his contemplation.

In a moment of distraction, Leon recalled his old mentor’s words. Many years ago, unable to master a magic type, the mentor advised, “If one path doesn’t work, explore other paths, kid.”

Leon whispered, “If one path doesn’t work… explore other paths…”

While contemplating, a strong light suddenly appeared outside the window, followed by a thunderous explosion.

Rumbling as if trying to punch a hole through the sky.

Leon tilted his head, looking at the lightning that pierced through the distant dark clouds.

“Lightning… thunder…”

Leon muttered, “Perhaps… I can try using the lightning element, which was never mentioned in the book?”

If high temperature and rotation cannot separate the medicinal residue, Leon thought of trying a different approach with the Thunder element. Coincidentally, his expertise lay in lightning magic.

Without hesitation, he held a test tube in one hand and emitted a faint blue light with the other. Despite his weakened state, a small-scale lightning spell was within his capabilities.

Leon, skilled in the delicate control of lightning, gained admiration for it. Lightning elemental magic was primarily used for offence, but proper control could be used for more delicate tasks.

The powdered medicinal ingredients inside promptly showed a reaction.

Leon’s eyes lit up, “It really works.”

He wanted to increase the infusion of magical energy but realised his frail body could only achieve this level for now.

The magic, originally intended to torment enemies, might be mistaken for mere itching if used at this intensity against an opponent.

Leon sighed quietly, realising that he could only proceed slowly. After about forty minutes, the powdered medicinal ingredients in the test tube were distinctly separated into two layers.

Crafting this small pill with the lowest cost and a basic alchemical setup, Leon marvelled at the makeshift process.

Leon held the pill between his index finger and thumb, examining it carefully.

“Medicine for the dragon race, it’s quite simple to make.”

As he marvelled, a knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.

Leon stashed the Long Dali medicine in a drawer and opened the door.

It was Muen.

“Dad!” she exclaimed happily, raising both hands as if asking to be held.

Leon bent down, scooping her into his arms. “Good morning, Muen. What brings you to Daddy?”

“My sister said she’s going for physical training today, and Daddy, you should have free time, so Muen came to find Daddy.”

Oh.

No wonder Muen had been absent during the day these past few days except for dinner.

Seemed like she didn’t want to disrupt Leon’s teaching schedule. Who said only the elder daughter was sensible? This little daughter was still her old father’s little comforter!

Leon carried Muen into the room, and the father and daughter chatted about interesting things that happened these past days.

As they chatted, Muen sniffed, “Daddy, why is there a smell of medicine in your room?”

Leon was speechless.

Wait, were the noses of your dragon kind so sensitive?

Yesterday, Rosvitha also smelled the medicine. Today, she smelled it too.

“There’s no medicine smell, Muen. You must have smelled it wrong,” Leon said.

But Muen stubbornly shook her head, “No, it’s not wrong. There’s definitely a smell of medicine.”

Muen jumped down from Leon’s lap, followed the scent to the drawer, and pulled it open. Leon wanted to stop her, but it was too late.

Leon wanted to stop her, but it was too late.

Muen took out the dragon strength that Leon had just crafted, tilted her head, and asked, “Daddy, what’s this? Is it a chocolate candy?”

Seeing his little dragon daughter’s excitement, Leon quickly walked over and gently held her small hand. “Th-this isn’t chocolate candy.”

“Then what is it?”

Leon’s brain worked quickly as he tried to come up with a reasonable explanation.

After a moment of hesitation, Leon spoke seriously, “This is medicine I made for Mom.”

Muen was momentarily stunned, immediately putting aside his playful demeanour, and asked with concern, “Medicine for Mom? What happened to Mom? Is she sick?”

“No, Mommy isn’t sick. She’s been feeling unwell lately, probably from overworking. So Daddy made this medicine for her to help her relax. I’ll give it to her tonight.”

Muen nodded as if she understood, “Daddy, you must take good care of Mommy, okay?”

“Yes, Daddy will.”

The father and daughter chatted a bit more, and then Muen skipped away.

She mentioned that Daddy has been busy with Sister’s school entrance tests, so she didn’t want to disturb him.

This time, she only came because Daddy hadn’t spent much time with Muen lately, and she missed him a lot.

Darn it.

This little dragon daughter really knew how to tug at her old father’s heartstrings.

She was even more heartwarming than the Black Gold War Machine!

(Black Gold War Machine: I will burn your dreams, Cosmod!)

In the evening, after a busy day, Rosvitha arrived at the sisters’ room where Muen and Noia were.

Noia was still in the practice arena of the temple, undergoing physical training. Although it was already somewhat late, Rosvitha understood her eldest daughter’s temperament. Unless she were tired to the point of being unable to get up, she wouldn’t stop.

In the sisters’ room, only Muen was present. She was sitting on the carpet, playing with her large tail and looking bored. Various small toys had been tossed aside.

Upon seeing her mom, Muen immediately stood up and approached.

“Mom~”

Her address to Rosvitha had changed from “Mother Supreme” to “Mom.”

Just as Leon said, she preferred such an affectionate address.

Muen ran to the hem of Rosvitha’s skirt, hugging her legs and looking up, “Mom, is your body feeling better?”

Rosvitha blinked, puzzled, then crouched, asking, “Mom’s body has always been fine. Why would you ask that?”

Muen was shocked, “Dad said you’ve been working hard lately, and your health hasn’t been great. He even specially prepared medicine to help you!”

Rosvitha raised an eyebrow, “He prepared medicine for me? What kind?”

“Um… it’s dark brown, like chocolate candy, very shiny.”

“Dark brown… chocolate candy… body supplement…”

Rosvitha pondered these keywords, then somewhat incredulously muttered, “That guy can prepare a medicine that even alchemists can’t handle in a nursery…”

“Mom?”

“Oh, nothing.”

Rosvitha paused, recalling a few days ago when she mentioned, “Your body is not as strong as before.” She probably guessed the reason behind Leon concocting the medicine for enhanced strength.

The mischief inside the queen’s belly started to stir, and she told Muen.

“Mom is doing well. It’s Dad who isn’t feeling great.”

“Is it Dad?”

“Yeah, Dad is a man, and men must support the family, so they can’t admit to being sick. Therefore, let’s not expose Dad but care more about him, okay?”

Muen suddenly understood and nodded her little head, “Muen understands! Muen will care more about Dad!”

Rosvitha smiled and pinched her daughter’s chubby cheeks, “Muen is really good. Mom will go check on Dad now. You be a good girl and wait for your sister to return, okay?”

“Okay, Mom, you must take good care of Dad!”

Rosvitha stood up, gently smiling, “Don’t worry, Muen, I will definitely take good care of your dad.”