Chapter 110: Hungry?

Auris banked gracefully, the heavy steel armor plating on his chest and wings completely silent as he navigated the shifting thermal currents. The Glacial Sovereign aimed for the secluded clearing by the mana-waterfall, far away from the bustling center of the Azure Scale village, touching down with a soft, controlled thud that barely disturbed the vibrant green grass.

Leon dismounted smoothly, his boots hitting the earth. He didn’t immediately walk toward the beautiful, two-story estate. He turned back, waiting for his wife to climb down.

Snow Valestorm scrambled down the steel plating, her heavy white fur coat billowed around her, the silver cross-chains on her leather shorts chiming a bright, metallic rhythm. The moment her boots hit the grass, she didn’t rush to Leon’s side. Instead, she spun right back around to face the towering Level 100 High-Dragon.

"You are just the most gorgeous, terrifying thing I have ever seen," Snow cooed, her voice entirely devoid of the lethal edge she had displayed while bisecting Level 50 Iron-Spine Ursas.

She reached up, pressing both of her hands flat against the sapphire scales of the dragon’s massive snout.

Auris let out a low, vibrating grumble that sounded like shifting tectonic plates. The dragon’s cyan eyes narrowed, clearly unaccustomed to being treated like an oversized domestic pet, especially by a human who barely reached his knee joint. He snorted, sending a small, concentrated plume of absolute-zero vapor washing over her.

Snow didn’t flinch. She simply laughed, shivering playfully as the frost settled on her white hair and fur collar.

"Oh, don’t be grumpy with me, big guy," Snow scolded lightly, patting his snout with firm affection. "We are family now. So get used to the pets, because I’m not going anywhere."

Auris blinked slowly, looking over Snow’s head directly at Leon, projecting a profound sense of draconic resignation through their soul-bond.

Leon couldn’t suppress the faint smirk that touched his lips. She claims her territory quickly, he noted internally. He turned and walked up the wooden steps of the porch, sliding the heavy bamboo doors open. "Take your time, Snow. He isn’t used to affectionate physical contact that doesn’t involves fighting. He’s a High-Dragon afterall"

"He loves me, baby, he just doesn’t know how to show it yet!" Snow called back, giving the dragon one final, solid pat on the armor before turning and practically skipping up the porch steps.

She followed Leon into the pristine interior of the estate, sliding the doors shut behind her, cutting off the roaring sound of the mana-waterfall. The main room was bathed in the soft, natural light filtering through the paper windows, illuminating the woven silk cushions and the low mahogany tables.

Snow immediately slipped out of her heavy white fur coat, tossing it casually over a wooden chair, revealing her toned midriff and the sleek black crop top beneath. She stretched her arms high above her head, letting out a contented sigh.

"Okay, combat high is fading, domestic reality is setting in," Snow announced, turning to face him with her hands resting confidently on her hips. Her striking blue eyes roamed over his dark, gold-embroidered draconic garb. "So, tell me, baby. Are you hungry?"

Leon paused, briefly considering how he should answer.

Physiologically, I shouldn’t require sustenance anymore. My aura conceptually tethers my life-force to the ambient mana of the world. As long as there is magic in the atmosphere, my cells regenerate and sustain themselves automatically. I technically shouldn’t experience the sensation of physical starvation after I evolved my role talent to SSS+.

Ever since his Role Talent had evolved to SSS+ rank, Leon’s body had undergone changes that pushed him far beyond the limits of ordinary biology. With his SSS-Rank talent, Perfect Body, already enhancing his physical condition, his body had become increasingly self-sustaining. Starvation, fatigue, and other basic physiological needs should no longer affect him in the same way they affected anyone.

In truth, Leon wasn’t hungry at all.

However, explaining all of that to Snow seemed unnecessarily complicated, especially when she was simply asking him a straightforward question.

He glanced at his new wife and gave her a small smile.

"A little," he replied.

"And If I had to choose..." Leon continued slowly. "I would love to have cake. Chocolate, to be exact. A dense, dark chocolate cake."

Snow’s face fell slightly in an exaggerated pout. "Oh, baby. You really know how to aim for the impossible, don’t you?"

She crossed her arms, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "I’ve been in Sector 12 for a while, and I have scoured the merchant hubs and the markets. I haven’t seen a single cocoa bean in this sector."

"I figured as much," Leon nodded, unsurprised. "I have seen a vast abundance of apples in this valley. Sun Apples, the locals call them. They are infused with minor vitality magic and have a remarkably sweet, crisp profile."

Snow’s blue eyes lit up instantly, her natural enthusiasm returning in full force.

"Sun Apples!" Snow clapped her hands together. "Okay, I can absolutely work with that. It definitely won’t be a chocolate cake, but I can make a killer apple tart or a caramelized apple pie. My grandmother taught me how to bake before I got obsessed with karate."

She stepped right into his personal space, reaching up to wrap her arms loosely around his neck, looking up at him with absolute adoration.

"I want to start performing my duties as a wife immediately, baby," Snow whispered, her voice dropping to a low, intimate register. "So cooking for you is just the start."

Leon looked down into her eyes, feeling the genuine warmth radiating from her. He wrapped a hand around her waist, pulling her flush against him for a brief, reassuring moment.

"Perfect," Snow beamed, leaning up to press a quick, firm kiss against his lips before pulling away and heading toward the front door.

"I’m heading to the village market to buy some flour, butter, and a massive basket of those Sun Apples. How many Eternal Coins do you think that’ll cost? Judging by how things are around here, I doubt it’ll be much."

"You don’t need to worry about that," Leon instructed. "Go directly to the center of the village and locate Elder Vaelen. Tell him exactly who you are, and tell him that Leon sent you. He has sworn that the Azure Scale will provide anything I demand. They will sort out whatever ingredients you require without hesitation."

"Ooh, dropping the husband’s name for VIP treatment," Snow giggled, sliding the bamboo door open. "I love the perks of being married to you. I’ll be back soon, baby! Love you!"