Vol. 2 Ch. 87

As it turned out, Leon’s “never leave empty-handed” strategy was absolutely the right call.

After successfully stealing the Heartscales and returning to the ‘secret base,’ Aurora tested a few of them. At first, there were no signs that the reversal magic was working. It wasn’t until she had tried more than ten scales that they finally found one with a magical property similar to Lavie’s.@@novelbin@@

The first test of the reversal magic was a success.

Now that the energy source was secured, all that remained was fine-tuning and adjusting to ensure that no unexpected mishaps occurred during the reversal process—like tearing her dad into shreds or sending him back in time without his clothes.

The workload was immense, and Aurora couldn’t afford any mistakes. She worked tirelessly, day and night, perfecting the reversal magic.

With less than three months remaining, she had to send her dad back in time before it was too late. Only then could they prevent the battle that left her mother in a coma.

During this time, Leon was also diligently practicing the *Nine Gates of Hell* technique, as taught by his youngest daughter, putting in extra hours whenever he could. He never neglected his mana refinement and storage either.

The Space Rift battle had caught him off guard last time, which allowed Lavie and her allies to trap him in a space barrier after he defeated Stal. But this time, with half a year of preparation and significant progress in the *Nine Gates of Hell,* even if the three Dragon Kings attacked him directly, Leon would only smile and say, “Time to eat.”

Meanwhile, Noa and Moon continued their regular missions, ensuring that nothing went wrong in the critical final months.

The four of them, father and daughters, each played their part, all working toward the day when the reversal magic would be complete.

But... not even the busy and intense preparations could keep Leon’s mind entirely focused. He often found his thoughts drifting toward one thing—Rosvisser.

The night before the final deadline, with less than 24 hours to go, Leon went alone to the room where Rosvisser’s crystal was kept. He dragged a chair over and sat beside the crystal.

Inside, his beautiful wife lay peacefully, her brows relaxed, looking serene and lovely. Her hands were folded over her abdomen, resting atop a photograph.

It was a photo taken by a sneaky photographer during a family portrait session—a "couple’s photo" where Leon and Rosvisser were gazing into each other’s eyes, love evident in their expressions.

On the back of the photo were the words Leon would never forget:

"May the silver light always shine in the eyes of those we love."

Leon believed that before Rosvisser lost consciousness, she didn’t know whether she would ever wake up again. She had chosen this photo as her sole companion for this unknown, endless sleep.

Noa had said that their mother didn’t understand emotions well and wasn’t good at expressing them. But Rosvisser knew what she cared about and what she couldn’t live without.

In a world where "Leon didn’t exist," she had stood her ground alone for six months. She was the most solitary queen on the throne, the saddest and most sorrowful wife.

Up until the moment she fell into a coma, did she still believe... that Leon would return and save everything?

For the past few months, Leon had visited this room almost every night, spending long hours alone with Rosvisser. He didn’t speak, didn’t do anything—he just sat there, silently watching his sleeping wife.

But...

Every time he entered this room, it took him a long time to mentally prepare himself.

He was scared. Terrified. Sometimes, his legs even trembled.

At first, Leon had managed to keep a decent mindset.

But as time passed, especially in these last few days, he found himself increasingly afraid to stand by Rosvisser’s side, to look at her, to share his deepest thoughts with her.

Leon was a man with a sensitive heart, prone to overthinking, but not very skilled at managing his negative emotions.

Much like years ago, when the temporary Dragon King of the Red Dragon Clan, Augur, had told him that "the dragons will take everything from you." Leon had spiraled into self-doubt and reflection.

That time, he had managed to pull through.

And the one who helped him was Rosvisser.

Though she wasn’t good at expressing her feelings, she understood Leon. She knew how to reach into the darkness of his heart and pull him out of it.

So many times, she had been his "emotional guide."

After all, the queen hadn’t lived over two hundred years for nothing. Her life experience far exceeded Leon’s.

But now, with Leon overwhelmed by longing and worry, what could he do?

Without Rosvisser, his heart felt like a tangled mess—impossible to unravel.

He pushed aside his sinking thoughts, inhaled deeply, and slowly exhaled.

Then Leon reached out and placed his hand gently on the crystal.

It was cold, like the harsh reality he now faced.

“I miss you... so much.”

If everything went well, he would be able to see her in just 24 hours.

But... who could guarantee that everything would go smoothly?

Leon was rarely so unsure of himself.

Because he never feared failure.

Fail, and you try again. Fail once, try once more. Fail countless times, then try countless times more. He was the guy who never went down easily.

But.

This time was different.

If he failed now, he might never be able to hold his beloved again.

The weight of it pressed down on his chest like a mountain, nearly suffocating him.

This wasn’t just a race against time—it was a love that transcended time and space, one he had to save.

Could he really do it?

“It’s late, get some rest.”

Noa’s voice came from behind him. “Aurora says the reversal magic will be ready in just a few hours. You need to conserve your strength.”

“I’m fine. I feel okay.”

Leon didn’t turn around. He continued to quietly watch Rosvisser, his voice calm, though Noa could hear a faint tremor in it.

Noa hesitated, then walked over to stand beside him.

That was when Leon noticed, out of the corner of his eye, that she was holding a small, intricately carved wooden box. Though it was delicate, it looked worn and aged.

“What’s this...?”

Noa opened the box, revealing an assortment of seemingly unrelated trinkets.

There was a black fragment, a Rubik’s cube, a note, an essay, and a family photo.

“These are things that are really important to me,” Noa said.

Leon looked at the items, recognizing them. The Rubik’s cube was something he had made for Moon, and he had given one to Noa too, even though she had acted aloof and hadn’t wanted to acknowledge it at the time.

The note had “Noa K. Melkwe” written on it, probably from when he had been teaching Moon to write and had written Noa’s name on it as an example.

The essay recorded an account of a date Leon and Rosvisser had gone on in Sky City and Noa’s thoughts about their love.

And, of course, the family photo.

“I had planned to collect a lot more things to fill this box.”

Noa continued, “But in the twenty years since you disappeared, nothing new has been added. Each thing has its own meaning, but when tragedy strikes, those meanings become torment. So...”

Noa conjured dragon fire in her hand and set the wooden box, which she had kept for two decades, alight.

The items inside—the Rubik’s cube, the note, the essay, the photo—burned away, leaving only the black fragment, glistening in the flames.

Leon was startled, trying to stop the fire.

But Noa threw the box onto the ground, letting it burn.

She held her father’s hand, tears glistening in her eyes, her voice choking up.

“Whether you succeed or fail, I don’t need this anymore.”

“If you change the past and restore the original timeline, the box will return to me, and everything I cared about will come back.”

“But if you fail... you and my sisters will be all I have left.”

“So, go ahead. Do what you need to do, Leon Kasmode.”

“No matter the outcome, you’ll never be alone.”

A few months ago, as Leon had opened up to his daughter, the future version of her and the past version had started to merge.

And now, Leon saw the reflection of Rosvisser in Noa.

The person who had always pulled him out of the darkness seemed like she had never truly left him.

...

A few hours later, in the crystal room, Aurora was preparing to activate the reversal magic.

The Heartscales floated quietly in the magic circle, supplying energy to the spell.

The runes began to glow, and the swirling energy in the room picked up speed, creating gusts of wind that clashed in the confined space.

Aurora brushed her hair back, smoothing it as it blew wildly in the wind. She turned toward Leon.

“Stand here.”

Leon stepped into the center of the magic circle.

“If all goes well, the reversal magic will be complete in ten minutes. That means... in just ten minutes, you’ll see Mom again.”

“I understand.”

The wind howled, and Aurora stood before Leon, her head slightly bowed. “Dad.”

“What is it?”

“I... helped, didn’t I?”

Leon was taken aback, not quite understanding why his youngest daughter was asking such a question at the last minute.

“Twenty years ago, I didn’t get your approval before you disappeared

.”

Noa explained from behind them, “So now... praise your youngest daughter.”

Leon finally understood.

He looked at Aurora, stretched out his hand, and ruffled her pink hair.

“You did great, Aurora. You’re Dad’s most amazing daughter.”

“Really—”

“Ahem.” Noa cleared her throat, pulling Moon into a hug.

Leon quickly corrected himself, “One of the most amazing daughters.”

Aurora smiled, took off her glasses to wipe her eyes, and put them back on.

“When you get back, make sure to remind me not to stay up late reading. I don’t want to wear glasses anymore.”

“I’ll remember.”

Moon, nervously tugging at the hem of her shirt, quietly approached Aurora. She stared at her father, bathed in the glowing light, unsure of what to say. Normally the most talkative of the three, she found herself at a loss for words.

Was this a farewell...

Or the beginning of a reunion?

Moon didn’t know.

But she knew one thing—

“Dad, you... you’re going to save the world, right?”

In her eyes, her dad was a hero—a hero who could do anything.

Twenty years ago, he had been. And twenty years later, he still was.

“I will. I promise, Moon.”

“Then, when you come back, make me lots of steak. Your steak is my favorite.”

“Sure, I’ll make it with Mom.”

“Yay!”

Moon’s excitement poured out in a rush, but she knew the remaining time belonged to her eldest sister.

She and Aurora stepped aside, allowing Leon and Noa to meet each other’s gaze from across the room.

Noa stood, arms crossed, leaning against the wall.

She looked into Leon’s dark eyes and smiled softly.

“I’ll be waiting for you in the past, Dad.”