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

Vol. 4 Chapter 45

After Leon stated his request, Claudia gave him such an eye-roll that it looked as though her gaze might disappear into the heavens.

”How many times are you going to come asking, kid? I already gave you *The Nine Gates of Hell* and *Soul Judgment*. That should be more than enough for you and Rosvisser for a lifetime, and yet here you are again!”

“No, no, it’s not for me or Rosvisser this time. It’s… for Konstantin.”

“For him? Why?”

Leon explained his promise to Konstantin, how he’d used the prospect of a library full of ancient texts to get him to help. Claudia sighed and rolled her eyes even harder.

“Nope, not giving you anything. Figure it out yourself,” she said, crossing her arms and spinning on her heel, walking out the door without looking back.

“Wait, Claudia! Please…” But the door shut with a loud *thud*, leaving Leon feeling deflated and at a loss.

Charlotte patted his shoulder with a gentle smile. “Don’t worry, Leon. My sister has a tough exterior but a soft heart. She’ll come around.”

Leon scratched his head. “I hate to keep troubling her like this, but she’s really the only one who can help with something like this.”

“Give it a little time. I’ll speak with her.”

Suddenly, the door swung open, and Claudia leaned against the frame, smirking. “Running to your mother for help at the first sign of trouble, Leon?”

“Claudia…”

She lifted her chin and gestured for him to follow. “Come on, I’ll let you pick out some original magic tomes.”

Charlotte gave him a little nudge and winked. Leon understood. Dragons were notorious for being outwardly stubborn and secretly soft-hearted—especially Dragon Kings, it seemed. Leon found himself wondering if this was a trait all Dragon Kings shared or if becoming a Dragon King somehow required a degree of stubbornness.

Shaking off these musings, he bid farewell to his master and mistress and followed Claudia out of the room.

“Thank you, truly,” he said as they walked down the corridor toward the library.

Without looking at him, Claudia replied, “You’re my sister’s mate, Leon. You’re family. This isn’t a matter of burden.”

Family. 

Claudia suddenly stopped, her gaze steady and clear. “But remember, this means you owe me another favor. And I won’t forget.”

Leon blinked, then smiled. “I understand, Claudia. I’ll repay the debt whenever you ask.”

Favors never disappear; they only change hands.

“Oh, and you said you needed these texts for Konstantin. Why’s that?” she asked.

“To fulfill a promise I made in return for his help. Originally, I’d promised him a whole library of original texts, but I figured that might have been a bit unrealistic…”

Claudia chuckled, “You’re too generous. These sorts of temporary alliances don’t really require that level of trustworthiness, you know. In these chaotic times, promises mean little.”

Leon’s tone was firm. “Yes, but he’s been a significant ally, and we may well need to work together again. Keeping my word seems best.”

Claudia gave an approving nod. “Good. I respect that quality. No wonder you managed to win over the Silver Dragon Queen.”

Leon let out a chuckle. “Please, don’t tease. My relationship with Rosvisser was honestly a stroke of luck…”

“Meeting might have been luck,” Claudia said thoughtfully, “but what brought you together was no accident. She was drawn to you for a reason, just as you were to her.”

At this, Leon found himself smirking. Maybe it was her old bunny costume?

“Ha,” he muttered to himself.

Claudia shot him a look but said nothing, murmuring to herself, “Youngsters…”

After a moment, she asked, “I overheard you discussing that ‘Shadow’ character with your master earlier. Are you planning to start investigating them in earnest?”

“Yes,” Leon replied. “My master suggested looking into the former king’s era for clues, and I think it’s worth pursuing. Once I take care of the tasks at hand, I’ll head back to the Empire to dig deeper.”

“Good. Often, the greatest dangers lurk in the darkest corners.”

He nodded. “You’re absolutely right.”

As they arrived at an ancient library, Claudia pushed open the door and led him inside.

The left side of the library held a finely crafted table and chairs, along with various ancient documents and handwritten notes—presumably, Claudia’s own work.

“The original magic texts are over here.”

She led him to a secluded corner where a single bookshelf stood, stocked with just a handful of books, each looking remarkably well-preserved.

“These are the original magic texts I’ve compiled over the past few decades. They’re handwritten copies. I’ve secured the originals in a safer location,” Claudia explained, a note of reluctance in her voice.

Seeing this, Leon grinned, “Well, it’s not such a bad deal if it means Konstantin now owes you a favor too, right?”

Claudia scoffed. “These are rare treasures, you know. And in the chaotic times we live in, they may prove essential to the right people.”

With a discerning eye, Claudia selected two books from the shelf and handed them to Leon.

“These should suit Konstantin. *Inferno* and *Heart of Fire.*”

Leon accepted the books. “What’s so special about these?”

“Inferno,” Claudia began, “is a powerful offensive magic with a sealing ability. It’s not purely offensive, but it should suit Konstantin’s fiery temperament.”

Leon tilted his head. “And *Heart of Fire*?”

“It’s more of a meditative practice to strengthen one’s mental resilience. Essentially, as long as he has the will to fight, *Heart of Fire* will sustain him.”

Leon raised his brows in surprise. “That strong, huh?”

Claudia shrugged, “Original magic is potent. For example, your wife’s *Soul Judgment* is one of the most formidable spells I’ve come across. These two aren’t on that level, but they’re still powerful.”

Leon looked down at the texts in his hands, feeling a tinge of envy. “Almost makes me want to try these myself…”

Claudia gave him a sharp tap on the chest. “Not possible. With your heart-scaled transplant from the Silver Dragon King, your mana reserves are incompatible with the techniques required for original magic. These spells require an immense, natural reservoir of mana, something you’re unable to cultivate.”

“Guess I’ll stick to my usual tricks,” he said with a sigh.

“If you’re really interested in something different, though,” Claudia continued, a smirk playing on her lips, “I may have something that fits you.”

Leon’s eyes lit up. “Really? What is it?”

“Oh, you’re quite shameless, aren’t you?” Claudia teased. “Two books weren’t enough?”

“Come on, Claudia! What’s one more at this point?” he laughed.

With a sigh, she relented, “Fine, but remember: within the last ten minutes, you now owe me two big favors. Start thinking about how you’ll repay them in the future.”

Leon gazed at the dragon princess in awe, realizing that Dragon Kings shared more than just a stubborn exterior—they also had an undeniable knack for strategic mischief.