The next morning, the family of four set off for their luxurious seven-day hot spring tour destination—Flowing Cloud Valley.
Even if Rossweise flew at her full speed, the journey from the Silver Dragon Temple to Flowing Cloud Valley would take at least six hours. It was too long for the children to endure comfortably. So, they had stopped overnight in Sky City, bought swimsuits, and held their celebration banquet.
Flowing Cloud Valley was a sacred place for the dragon race. Legend said its hot springs could not only relieve fatigue and soothe the mind but also nourish the body and cleanse the soul.
As a dragon slayer, coming to a dragon's sacred place to "cleanse his soul" felt like a hellish joke. But if these springs could heal a dragon's body, perhaps they could do something for a human one, too. Then the trip wouldn't be a complete waste.
Furthermore, Flowing Cloud Valley wasn't a place one could enter with just money. Only dragon kings and queens with power and status in their respective branches could apply. Rossweise qualified on her own, but that would only grant entry for herself.
This opportunity for the whole family came thanks to St. Heath Academy's sponsorship. So, while the second-place prize was a magical grimoire, the practical value of this seven-day hot spring tour was truly a rare treat.
The price, of course, was Leon's even rarer seven-day vacation.
After several hours of flight, the family finally arrived. Flowing Cloud Valley was shrouded in thick mist, creating an ethereal atmosphere. A magnificent waterfall cascaded down the valley walls, surrounded by lush vegetation, blooming flowers, and the sounds of birds, insects, and various animals.
Calling it a paradise on earth—or a dragon paradise—was no exaggeration.
Few dragons were coming and going. The valley entrance was unusually quiet, with only faint footsteps and the distant waterfall audible, exuding a profound sense of peace.
Noah and Muen stared wide-eyed at the misty, spectacular scene. The deep silence made them hesitant to make noise, so they only whispered to each other.
This was a "VIP membership" type of place. Having money wasn't enough; you needed prestige, Leon thought. Naturally, that meant far fewer visitors.
Passing through the thick fog, a castle even grander than the Silver Dragon Temple came into view. Its majestic layout and ancient architecture would draw praise from even the finest craftsmen.
Various dragon subspecies, whose names Leon didn't know, circled above the castle. A few roe deer ran past them. On a nearby lawn, some young dragons played together while squirrels watched cautiously from the sidelines, waiting to be fed.
"Why aren't you thinking about your first-class merits now?" Rossweise asked with a smile.
"Tch, even I need a break sometimes."
Indeed, the breathtaking scenery could temporarily make anyone forget their troubles and obsessions. Here, there were only two purposes: to relax and to enjoy.
The family arrived at the castle's main lobby to check in.
"Are you the exemplary champion family from St. Heath Academy?" the front desk staff inquired politely.
"Yes."
Champions are champions, why add 'exemplary'? There must be an ulterior motive! That vice principal must be up to his old tricks again. Leon angrily imagined packaging him up and hanging him from the empire's walls one day.
"Very well. St. Heath Academy will cover all your expenses for the next seven days. Please feel free to enjoy any activities you like."
As she spoke, the staff handed over several enchanted room keys.
Leon glanced at the number on his key, then sneakily looked at Rossweise's.
Sure enough, they were in the same room.
And that was precisely why he hadn't wanted this vacation. If he were spending these seven days at home, he could sleep comfortably in his own nursery. But sharing a room with Rossweise…
Even if she promised not to touch him, if she got in the mood and decided to act recklessly, who could stop her?
The staff noticed Leon's subtle expression. "Is everything alright, sir? Are you dissatisfied with the room arrangement? If you're unhappy with this hot spring suite, we can offer another type of room."
Leon's eyes lit up. "What other room?"
"A honeymoon suite."
"Thank you, but no need."
"Alright. Turn left ahead and go upstairs. Have a pleasant vacation."
Leon took the keys, patted his daughters' heads, and led them toward the staircase. Rossweise shook her head with a light laugh and followed.
On their designated floor, Muen, clutching her key, bounced excitedly. "Yay! I get to sleep in the big bed with Sis! Mom, Dad, don't disturb us at night~"
Thank you, Muen. You just cut off Dad's last lifeline!
"Aunt Isha told us before that both adults and children need their own private space," Noah added. "I can take care of Muen now, so you two can enjoy your time alone."
Thank you, Noah. Your intentions are great, but Dad suggests you reconsider.
Muen, already impatient, swiped her key and opened the door, calling from the doorway, "Come on, Sis!"
"Coming!" Noah replied, trotting over.
The two little dragon sisters held hands, entered their room, and closed the door.
Rossweise breathed a sigh of relief. "The children have grown up. But why do you look so unhappy?"
"Haha, can't you guess?" Leon chuckled dryly.
Rossweise clicked her tongue and didn't press further. She walked to their room door, swiped the key, and entered. Leon followed behind her.
Say what you will about St. Heath Academy's habit of challenging their family with various "new attempts," they were certainly generous this time.
They had booked the top-tier hot spring suite in Flowing Cloud Valley, even more upscale than their room in Sky City.
From the foyer, a hallway led to an open-plan kitchen and a rooftop terrace with large floor-to-ceiling windows. Further in was an incredibly luxurious bedroom. Pushing open the back door revealed a private hot spring. Steam rose from the water, and faint shapes of various fish could be seen swimming within.
The location was perfect. Lying in the spring, one could take in the entire sky over Flowing Cloud Valley, unobstructed by any buildings.
"Not bad," Rossweise gave a short, sincere assessment.
"Have you never been here before?" Leon asked.
Rossweise shook her head. "I told you, this isn't a place you can come to just with money. I won first place in the school sports meet before, but the prize then wasn't a seven-day tour; it was just a camera."
"A camera…" Leon's mind wandered, a sudden realization dawning. Alarm bells rang loudly in his head!
Back when Rossweise was unconscious, he had used a camera to secretly take photos of her in a bunny girl outfit. Could it be—?
"Perfect, I brought that camera with me this time," Rossweise said. As she spoke, she opened her suitcase and pulled out a classic-style home camera.
Leon nervously swallowed, silently praying that this mother dragon owned more than one camera.
Rossweise adjusted the camera settings, muttering, "It's been a long time since I used this. I wonder if it still works. I'll take some photos of Noah and Muen later."
Leon stared intently at the camera in her hands.
That was the very instrument of his crime! The bunny girl photos he took—especially the ones with him in them!—were still inside. He hadn't had time to develop them.
In Leon's hands, those photos were powerful leverage against the mother dragon. But if they fell into her hands, they would become irrefutable evidence of his guilt, warranting a death sentence!
No, his vacation had just begun. He couldn't die on the very first day!
Snap— Leon quickly grabbed the camera and held it tightly to his chest.
Rossweise looked puzzled. "What's wrong?"
"Uh, I… I'll be the photographer for this vacation. I'm a professional."
Rossweise looked skeptical. "Aren't you a professional dragon slayer? Since when did you become a professional photographer?"
"I've been taking pictures of my master's donkeys since I was a kid—"
"Alright, alright, you can take the pictures if you want. But do you even know how to use it?"
Leon nodded. "Uh, yeah, I know."
Of course, he knew. How else would he have taken those bunny girl photos?
"Great. Let's go out, take some pictures. Tonight, there's a barbecue and a fireworks show," Rossweise said, then left the room.
Meanwhile, Leon silently pondered how to handle those bunny girl photos. If he deleted them, he'd lose his leverage against the mother dragon once the vacation was over. But if he didn't, they could easily lead to his "disgrace" before they were even developed.
After much thought, Leon decided he needed to develop those photos as soon as possible. He could only hope there was a photo studio nearby.
With this plan in mind, Leon hung the camera around his neck and left the room.