Vol 7. Chapter 22: Targeted. This Is a Setup

TL Note: Guys, in Chapter 20 of Volume 7, I mixed up the names (Olette, Wilson). I've fixed everything now.

***

One month later, Leon rode his eagle buddy toward Saint Heath Academy to attend the Vice Principal selection examination.

In the academy’s reception hall, the newly promoted Principal B-tier Dragon Wilson personally came out to greet him.

“Your Highness! It’s been far too long, Your Highness.”

Wilson grasped Leon’s hand tightly in both of his own, giving it a firm slap on the back.

“Your eldest daughter Noa recently represented the academy in the Youth Dragon Division’s combat tournament. First match, and she already brought home the championship. A true daughter of royalty!”

Noa had casually mentioned this tournament last week when she came home.

“All the young dragons competing were a bunch of rookies—nothing like the enemies she’s fought before.”

Leon agreed internally—of course they were no match. After all, his darling daughter had once fought Dragon Kings. These competitors? Basically just like Principal Wilson.

As Will led Leon into the reception room, he seated him properly and had someone pour two cups of hot tea.

“Honestly, when we sent the invitation to the Silver Dragon Clan, I was hoping Your Highness would consider taking the exam. Didn’t expect you’d actually show up.”

Leon smiled.

“Principal Wilson, you’ve looked after our Melkvey family all these years and even took the time to personally send us an invitation. Naturally, I had to give you the respect you deserve. My wife and I spent a whole month preparing for this.”

“Still knows how to say the right things, doesn’t he?”

Of course, what would really determine how difficult this selection exam was going to be—was the principal’s impression of him.

After all, he was aiming for the Vice Principal position.

Leon had always been highly competitive—only victory gave him that raw sense of being alive.

After some casual chatting, Leon asked:

“By the way, why did Principal Olette resign? Was her term up?”

“Oh, about that—Olette still had about seven years left in her tenure, but she chose to submit her resignation early to the board.”

Wilson explained:

“She wrote very clearly in her resignation letter: Now that Samael has stabilized, there’s no internal strife among dragonkind, and the Void has been sealed again, her years of field investigations can come to an end.”

“And she no longer needed the title of Saint Heath’s Principal to pull strings for certain classified matters.”

“She wanted to give the opportunity to younger dragons with more vision and potential, so she made a decisive choice to step down.”

“After resigning, she left with your maternal grandmother—Madam Veronica—to travel the continent together.”

“Just a few days ago, Olette even sent me a letter and a photo. They’ve already arrived in the southern part of Samael. Judging by the photo, she looks great—no need for us to worry.”

Leon nodded cheerfully.

“Seems like getting older makes people want to travel.”

His in-laws had also chosen to wander the world after resolving the Void crisis.

“Wonder if they’ll run into Grandma Veronica and Principal Olette by chance.”

Will chuckled heartily.

“I plan to travel too someday, Your Highness. Samael is vast—so many sights we’ve never seen.”

“With how long our lifespans are, we can really enjoy life after retirement.”

Leon touched his chest—the spot where Rosvisser had embedded his heart-scale.

“And now... maybe someday, many years from now, I can travel this continent with Rosvisser too... To meet people and witness things we’ve never seen before. You’re right, Principal Wilson.”

After a pause, Leon shifted the topic.

“So, which clans did the academy invite to this selection exam?”

“According to the academy’s tradition, we send invitations to clans that have made exceptional contributions to dragonkind over the last hundred years.”

The Vice Principal said:

“Needless to say, the Silver Dragons were on that list. As for the rest...”

At that moment, the Vice Principal suddenly stopped.

Leon raised an eyebrow. “And then?”

The Vice Principal gave a sly smile.

“It’s a surprise, Your Highness.”

Old B-Dragon’s playing coy now?

“But I can give you a little hint.”

“Oh? What kind of hint?”

“Among this year’s invited clans... you’ve got an old friend.”

Leon’s eyes lit up at those words. He softly echoed:

“An old friend...”

“Interesting. Now I’m really looking forward to this.”

Could it be Old Constantine or that geezer Odin—?

“Cl-Claudia-senpai?!”

“Why do you look so shocked to see me here?”

The blue-haired beauty leaned back into her seat with her arms crossed and long legs elegantly raised.

Claudia’s beautiful eyes gazed at Leon, smiling.

“My Sea Dragon Clan might keep to ourselves, but we’ve still contributed a lot to dragonkind.”

Leon’s eyelid twitched. “Uh... like what exactly?”

“I helped with your last few raid battles, didn’t I? Hm?”

“Well, that’s true...”

But if we go by Claudia the Multi-Battle Dragon Queen’s logic, then every single person who’s helped General Leon raid counts as someone who made great contributions to dragonkind...

“Don’t you agree, members of the Lionheart Order from the Human Empire?”

“How’s Senior Poseidon doing these days?”

Leon turned to another elder seated in the room and asked.

“Last I heard, he was ambushed by a swarm of Void tideworms from the North, which left him too injured to join the final battle.”

“I haven’t heard how he’s doing now.”

“Father’s already recovered. He’s the one who suggested I apply for the Vice Principal position.”

Claudia lowered her lashes, lazily rubbing her glossy fingernails as she added slowly:

“But if I’d known you were coming, Leon, I wouldn’t have needed his suggestion—I’d have rushed here myself.”

“Huh? Why?”

Claudia blinked. Just then, Will stepped out to greet the other candidates.

Taking the opportunity, Claudia suddenly leaned in close to Leon’s side, whispering with a wicked grin,

“There’s not a single dragon who could resist the chance to test the might of the strongest dragonslayer... outside the battlefield.”

“...”

“You dragons are all crazy.”

If someone else had said that, Leon would’ve just laughed it off.

But this was Claudia—a dragon who could quite literally beat him into the ground with her brain.

Still, Leon couldn’t help but feel secretly relieved:

“Good thing the ‘old friend’ Wilson meant was Claudia. Good thing only one dragon who can outwit me showed up...”

At that moment, a very familiar voice rang out from the doorway.

“What? My dear brother-in-law’s already here? Oi oi, why didn’t you say so earlier!”

“Ahhh, we should’ve come in together!”

Leon: ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) “?”

Principal Olette... You really didn’t tell that old geezer Wilson I’m human, right?

Why do all the invitees feel so... targeted, you bastard?!