Until Leon leaned close to her ear and softly said, "Thank you."
Only then did she stop, letting him hold her.
Compared to Rebecca, or Tiger, or Charlotte and the others, Rossweise might not be the one who had spent the most time with Leon, but, she was definitely the one who understood him best.
What Leon needed now wasn't comfort, nor encouragement, nor goading.
What he needed was... companionship.
And Rossweise's attitude, as always: No matter what happens, no matter the result, I will face it with you.
Just like the family sports meet at St. Heath Academy, just like the battle with the Star Dragon King, just like the "trip" to the Far North, just like... every time in the past.
After hugging enough, Leon let go.
Rossweise immediately pushed him away and tidied her wig, "Really now, you're such a grown man and still not ashamed."
"Got carried away, honey."
Rossweise shot him a mock-disgusted glance, "Don't call me honey. And don't sound so affectionate."
Leon spread his hands innocently, "Didn't you say yesterday that outside, you're my wife?"
"Yesterday was yesterday. Today is today. Today, you are my prisoner, and I am your queen."
"...Such a quick change of face."
"None of your business."
Her unwavering stance of standing by Leon was the same as always. And this speed of changing faces... was also the same as always.
As the couple bickered, Leon suddenly felt a breeze pass by him.
But he didn't pay it any mind.
However, Rossweise's expression changed subtly.
"If you ask me, Mother Dragon, your mouth is so stubborn even my Chidori can't break through it."
Faced with the mutt's teasing, Rossweise ignored him, only listening behind him.
"If the Chidori can't break through, could it be a matter of speed?"
Leon froze. What, was the great mother dragon really trying to discuss magic application with him?
"Uh... You've seen my speed, it's very fast, su~per fast."
At this moment, Rossweise slowly raised her hand, pointing behind Leon, and asked calmly, "If you're that fast, then surely you can catch that thief who just stole your wallet, right?"
Leon: 'Nani?' (ΩДΩ)
Leon hurriedly turned around and saw a black figure darting into a nearby alley.
Rossweise leisurely patted his shoulder, "Just reminding you, that wallet has the purchasing funds Rebecca gave us. We still need to buy some of the paper lanterns."
Leon curled his lips, "Just a petty thief. Watch me catch him in no time and bring him to justice."
Rossweise covered her mouth and giggled, then clapped and pretended to admire him, "Wow~ Hubby is amazing~"
"So now I'm your hubby again, not your prisoner?"
"Whether you're hubby or prisoner, that's for me to decide."
Leon waved his hand, stopped bantering, and turned to chase after the thief.
Rossweise followed close behind.
Honestly speaking, the former Empire's strongest dragon slayer and the queen of the silver dragon clan, famed for her speed, teaming up to catch a thief was like—
Using a cannon to shoot a mosquito.
Overkill.
That's how this unlucky couple was. They only needed to think about how to overthrow the dog emperor. We petty thieves, on the other hand, had a lot more to worry about.
The thief zigzagged through alleys in the central district.
One look and you could tell he was experienced, he couldn't be this skilled otherwise.
But he overlooked one thing:
Leon had also grown up here.
As the three dashed about, Leon and Rossweise soon saw the thief's back.
The group rushed into a narrow alley. Leon caught a glimpse of a wooden stick leaning against a wall and had an idea.
Leon grabbed the stick and charged at the thief!
"Hmph, trying to run. Lightning, Whirlwind, Oof!"
Before General Leon could even finish shouting the move's name, the thief suddenly turned a sharp corner ahead. Leon couldn't react in time, rushed straight ahead, and faceplanted into a pile of cardboard boxes.
The thief got away.
Rossweise walked over slowly, glanced at the thief's disappearing figure, then looked down at Leon lying in the boxes. She crossed her arms, the corner of her mouth smiling,
"Lightning Whirlwind what?"
"Slash!"
"Wow, what a cool move. Is the effect to slash yourself into a pile of boxes?"
Teasing him, Rossweise extended her hand and pulled the fool out of the cardboard.
Leon turned his head toward the direction the thief fled, and said gloomily, "I changed my mind. Besides bringing him to justice, I'm gonna shove his head into a cardboard box."
Rossweise chuckled, "Sure, let's continue. Let's see who catches him first."
Leon raised an eyebrow, his newly ignited fighting spirit now surged even higher thanks to Rossweise's provocation.
"Fine, let's compete!"
'Mister thief, why on earth did you provoke me?'
———
Will didn't think of himself as a thief.
Because he never stole from regular folks, only from the rich, especially the officials and nobles strolling through the central district.
So, his actions were widely known among the people as, robbing the rich to help the poor.
Of course, Will was robbing others' riches to help his own poverty.
Just like that couple who were hugging and flirting in the middle of the street, they were obviously from an upper-class household in the upper district.
They might even be royal aristocrats.
Though they were dressed plainly, every movement and gesture radiated elegance and grace.
After ten years of roaming the central district, Will could easily tell who was rich.
And once again, facts proved that "hero thief" Will had picked the right targets.
Thanks to his excellent understanding of the map, Will easily shook off the dumb couple.
Before getting away, he even heard the guy yelling something about lightning and whirlwinds—
'Heh, so cringe!'
"I already outgrew my chuunibyou phase, and he's still stuck in it," That was Will's genuine comment about the man who dove into the cardboard boxes.
After putting some distance between them and confirming they hadn't caught up, Will found a corner and opened the wallet he had just snatched.
The sight of the gold coins inside nearly blinded him.
"Damn, so much money, I couldn't earn this in twenty years as a warehouse clerk."
Will hummed smugly, "Told you I picked the right target, this must be money squeezed from us commoners by those royal bastards!"
He was just about to quietly stash away this fortune robbed from the rich, but then he suddenly remembered what that mysterious man had told him:
("Kid, wanna join the Lionheart Society? Go do something big first, consider it your entry pledge.")
Entry pledge.
Will understood that.
Back in the day when he roamed the streets, kids aged eleven or twelve also formed gangs. If you wanted to join someone's crew, you had to do a "big thing" as a pledge, otherwise, no deal.
And according to rumors, the Lionheart Society was founded by the Empire's former strongest dragon slayer, Leon Casmodeous.
The Society was full of people with the will to defy fate.
Though the Empire labeled them with charges like "treason" and "rebellion," everyone knew how the Empire treated its people nowadays.
Will had long admired Leon Casmodeous's name and had always wanted to join the Lionheart Society.
But the organization was too mysterious. After all this time, the only potential member Will had ever spotted was the "beggar" Nacho, who often roamed the central district.
So Will had always been trying to show loyalty in front of Nacho.
But Nacho always laughed it off and avoided the topic.
But this time, Will weighed the wallet in his hand.
"This entry pledge should be heavy enough. Nacho, let's see how you'll turn me down now."
Will was just feeling smug when suddenly a male voice came from above him.
"Hey kid, done looking? If so, hand the wallet back."
Startled, Will quickly looked up.
There stood the very idiot he'd stolen from, on a low wall, arms crossed, looking down on him.
Will instinctively backed up two steps, a line of cold sweat running down his forehead.
'Damn... how'd he catch up so fast?'
The speed wasn't the main issue. The issue was, this guy had appeared in front of him completely silently.
That put some pressure even on Will, who prided himself on being a "phantom thief hero."
"Heh, if you want it back, let's see if you've got what it takes."
With that, Will turned and tried to run again.
But the moment he stepped out, he saw a tall, graceful figure standing ahead.
Black hair fluttering in the wind, slender waist and upright posture, arms crossed.
Even though she had little expression on her face, her silver eyes exuded tremendous pressure.
Will nervously swallowed and quickly turned to run the other way.
Rossweise walked over in her heels, slow and steady, "He really won't stop until he hits a wall."
Leon jumped down from the low wall, hands on his hips, standing beside Rossweise, watching Will's fleeing back.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, estimated the distance, then said, "Still want to keep competing? I feel like I've already won."
"You'd better not sprain your tongue from bragging too hard."
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