Chapter 91: Truly Understand Now

“Leon’s childhood…?”

Teg’s originally meticulous face revealed a hint of confusion and surprise. He anticipated that Rosvitha might mention some conditions or requests, but this so-called price… What was it for?

What kind of life was that brat living over there?

Rosvitha said no more, patiently awaiting the impending feast.

Teg released the handle of the knife in his hand, “Your request is rather peculiar.”

Rosvitha smiled, “Isn’t yours peculiar as well?”

Indeed, the things they wanted to exchange were all abnormal to begin with.

The master hoped that the disciple would die again outside, while the enemy wanted to learn about the captive’s childhood.

However, since it had come to this, there was no need to ponder further. Let’s just make the exchange directly.

Teg breathed a sigh of relief, scratching the white hair at his temple, “Alright, wait here.”

With that said, Teg turned around, walked to the bedside, bent down, and pulled out a large wooden box from under the bed. He took out some papers and drawings from it, placing them all on the table.

Rosvitha was slightly surprised.

Goodness, did he actually keep so much dark history?

Leon probably never imagined that in addition to being betrayed by his former comrades on the battlefield, he would also be “betrayed” by his master in private.

Tragic.

Poor Casmode was either being betrayed or on the way to being betrayed.

“These are all the love letters Leon received from enrollment to graduation; I kept them all for him.”

Teg said solemnly, “Originally, these were meant for his future wife to see, but since his fate is now in your hands, you have the final say.”

With that, Teg pushed a stack of love letters in front of Rosvitha.

Ha, so you’ve also been through this ordeal?

Rosvitha looked at the pile of love letters before her, thinking back to how Leon must have felt when he saw the stash of love letters Isabella had saved up. It must have brought him such joy.

As Rosvitha flipped through the letters, filled with overly sentimental content, she couldn’t help but smile.

“And this one is a rather special love letter,” Teg said, holding up a white envelope.

“Oh? How so?” Rosvitha looked up.

“With other girls, he’d reject them in a second, not even bothering to give a reason. But with the girl who sent this letter, he hesitated for a full five seconds before rejecting her.”

The master said, “Do you know how important five seconds is to him? His exact words were, ‘Why waste five seconds rejecting someone? I could use those five seconds to memorize another alchemical formula, do a few more push-ups and pull-ups.’ So, this girl is very, very special.”

“Was she very beautiful?”

“Very beautiful. Silver hair, tall, likes to wear high heels and dresses, gives off the impression of being icy.”

Rosvitha narrowed her eyes suspiciously, finding it hard not to suspect that Teg was describing her appearance.

It wasn’t until he pulled out a portrait from a pile of sketches, a portrait that was so hilariously inaccurate—well, let’s just call it a portrait, because you could barely make out the eyes, nose, ears, and mouth—that Rosvitha couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“This is a portrait Leon drew of his dream girl when he was six years old. She shares distinct physical features with the girl he rejected five seconds later, ten years later.”

There was a pause, and then Teg suddenly tilted his head slightly, looking Rosvitha up and down as if he had just realized something. But he seemed reluctant to say it out loud.

Ah, it’s like… it’s right in front of me, even though it’s far away…

Although he knew his disciple was bold, it shouldn’t be to the extent of… what he was thinking, right?

Rosvitha looked at the abstract portrait, silently noting it in her mind. Even though she was laughing inside, she kept a straight face.

“Just these aren’t enough,” Rosvitha said. “Is there anything else? Like… what foods he hates, where he dislikes being touched, or any deep-seated aversions he has.”

Having finally met the captive’s relative, it was only natural to gather some dirt on the captive. How else would they control him in the future?

Teg thought for a moment before replying, “He hates carrots and eggplants. Carrots he can tolerate, but eggplants make him faint before he even eats them.”

“Faint… faint before eating them… Isn’t that a bit exaggerated?”

“It’s a bit exaggerated, but ever since Leon enlisted, the Empire’s Dragon Slayer Army’s instant meal packs have removed eggplants. Do you know why?”

Ha, as expected, behind every bizarre rule, there’s an even more bizarre reason.

“Alright, I understand,” Rosvitha said.

Teg folded his arms across his chest, carefully recalling more dirt on his disciple.

For some reason, even though this was a trade with a dragon, he found himself enjoying it. After all, as Leon grew older, the opportunities to prank him were becoming fewer and fewer.

The cave was suddenly filled with a cheerful atmosphere, and the tense and oppressive atmosphere seemed to lighten unconsciously.

“As for places he dislikes being touched… it’s his waist, it’s particularly sensitive,” Teg said. “As for deep-seated aversions… I can’t think of any at the moment, but I can tell you something similar.”

“Alright.”

“At two-thirty in the morning, if he’s in a light sleep, you can ask him any question. Whatever he says at that moment is definitely what’s on his mind.”

After a pause, the master added, “He even sleepwalks occasionally, following your commands. It’s not a hundred percent guaranteed, though; it takes a bit of luck. Anyway, I used this trick to make him do a lot of farm work in the past.”

Wow— afraid of eggplants, sensitive waist, and even playing truth or dare unconsciously during sleep. Why did it feel like the strongest dragon slayer, who could scorch the heavens, scorch the earth, and even scorch the air in between, had all these strange weaknesses?

No wonder his past enemies couldn’t defeat him.

“Alright, I’ve remembered all of that,” Rosvitha said, though she still felt it wasn’t quite enough.

Thinking for a moment, she took out a photo from her waist and waved it in her hand.

“This is a recent photo of Leon. I’ll add some more if you raise the price,” Rosvitha said.

Teg grinned, “You did come prepared.”

“Returning empty-handed isn’t my style.”

Teg glanced at the photo again, “Is that really a recent photo of Leon?”

“You’re tempted, so give me the information I want,” Rosvitha said, “If you don’t, I won’t show you a photo of your beloved disciple.”

Teg scratched his head, looking somewhat conflicted. It wasn’t because he was having trouble finding dirt on Leon.

But the dirt he had in mind was a bit… too explosive. After much contemplation, Teg sighed.

Ah, forget it. In order to let that brat continue freeload for at least another year, Teg (on behalf of Leon) was going all out!

“Wait here,” Teg said, turning around and heading deeper into the cave.

Clatter clatter—

Moments later, strange footsteps echoed.

Following the sound, Rosvitha looked over.

Black, long-eared, four-legged, with a tail.

Rosvitha gasped in shock.

She had just been curious earlier when Shirley mentioned that when Leon’s master and his family left the Empire, they sold everything and only took their donkey with them.

But after chatting with Teg for half a day, she hadn’t seen any sign of a donkey. It turned out to be waiting here for the climax.

Truly, seeing is believing.

The donkey, which had lived in the lines and occupied much of Leon’s early life, was led by Teg in front of Rosvitha.

“From childhood to adulthood, Leon has tamed many poultry and dangerous creatures, but he never managed to tame our donkey. And…”

“And?”

“If you carefully touch his nose, you’ll notice some slight indentations. That’s from the first time he tried to nail the donkey’s hooves when he was a child, and the donkey kicked him.”

So nailing hooves actually happened! Rosvitha had thought Leon was just teasing her with that.

“Since then, he’s been on the path of trying to tame the donkey but failing forever.”

“Teg said, ‘Leon considers the failure to tame this donkey as a blot on his otherwise glorious life, so he’s never mentioned it to anyone. That’s the most explosive piece of dirt I can think of.'”

Rosvitha took a deep breath, slowly accepting and digesting the enmity between Leon and the donkey.

“Alright, I understand. That’s enough. Here’s the photo for you.”

Rosvitha placed the photo on the table, but she didn’t immediately move her hand away. “I still need some memento from you or something else, anything that proves you’re still alive.”

“I’ve already prepared it.”

Teg opened a drawer and took out a letter, handing it to Rosvitha. “Give him this letter, and he’ll know.”

Rosvitha took the letter. “Alright.”

With the negotiation and transaction concluded, Rosvitha turned and walked to the cave exit.

She glanced back, speaking coldly, “This may be our first and last meeting. For Leon, I want more than just a year.”

With that, she spread her dragon wings, shook off the waterfall, and flew away slowly.

Teg breathed a sigh of relief and then picked up the photo pinned to the table.

Then his eyes widened involuntarily.

Defeated in battle and captured for two years, that rascal actually fathered twins with the Silver Dragon Queen?! What kind of prisoner of war unfolds like this?

Isn’t this a bit too abstract?!

Getting older, he couldn’t handle this kind of shock!

“You brat, I thought I’d be the most outrageous dragon slayer, but are you even outdoing me in this aspect?”

“Is… Leon okay?”

A woman’s voice came from behind. She had been there all along, just not visible.

Teg turned around and handed the photo to the woman. “I feel like just saying ‘good’ wouldn’t be enough to describe his current life.”

The woman looked at the photo, her pupils trembling slightly. After a brief moment of excitement, she quickly composed herself. “Have you also made up your mind?”

After a moment of silence, the former dragon slayer replied slowly, “There’s no reason to hesitate.”

Teg Lawrence picked up the dagger from the table, his gaze firm as he looked into the distance.

“Consider it a gift for the granddaughters’ reunion.”