Published at 25th of August 2026 9:06 am

Volume 8, Chapter 43: Fear of Wife Level Code

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In the end, there was no dodging that question.

As a system administrator, Rosvisser could do whatever she wanted within this virtual world—but she couldn’t simply ignore the “NPCs” living in it.

Their words and actions didn’t lack influence on this timeline—on the contrary, they were crucial to how it developed.

Especially Leon.

This particular timeline existed precisely because Leon hadn’t been betrayed. Everything that unfolded after revolved around him as the core.

The more Rosvisser interacted with him, the more this timeline changed.

And by now, this “Leon not betrayed” worldline had already shifted drastically because of one simple thing—Rosvisser’s surrender.

Because if it were the old her, Rosvisser would never have surrendered. She would have fought Leon, unstabbed and unbroken, to the bitter end—and then lost instantly, of course.

So in truth, the worldline they were in now could no longer really be called the “no betrayal” timeline. It was something new—an offshoot built on top of “no betrayal,” but influenced by Rosvisser’s awakening and the interference of the Infinite Administrator.

Rosvisser herself didn’t know where this would lead. It had already diverged from the flow of the Web of Time.

What came next would depend entirely on Rosvisser’s choices.

Meanwhile, the girls watching the playback crystal were waiting eagerly to see how their mother would answer their father’s question.

“Ugh—this is so awkward,” said Aurora.

“At this point in time, Dad didn’t have an ounce of mercy for dragons. No matter what excuse Mom gives, he’s not gonna believe her.”

At first, Aurora had thought her mom’s “surrender” was just to play around—to tease Dad a little—and she herself would get a fun show out of it. And sure enough, there had been plenty of fun to watch.

But the real question was still hanging in the air. It was like a comedy that couldn’t end until all the punchlines were tied back to the plot.

There was no skipping the serious part.

“No mercy, huh? I wouldn’t be so sure,” Noa said, smiling faintly. “We just fast-forwarded through a month of this world, but they didn’t.”

“You mean—?”

“They’ve actually been together, day and night, for a whole month.”

“Put two frogs together for that long,” she added, “and they’d already have a pond full of tadpoles.”

Aurora blinked. “Excuse me? What do frogs have to do with—”

“It’s just a metaphor!”

Truth was, she was still underestimating her parents’ speed.

Forget a month—back then, from the moment they met to the moment they conceived Noa and Moon, it had taken less than one night.

Frogs had nothing on them.

So yes, Noa’s confidence in her parents’ relationship development wasn’t exactly baseless.

“It all depends on how Mom plays it from here~”

...

...

“Melkvey, you clearly had the chance to escape—and yet you didn’t. Tell me why.”

Faced with Leon’s question, Rosvisser lowered her gaze. After a moment’s thought, she answered softly,

“I just wanted to prove one thing.”

“What thing?”

“......”

Silence.

After a long pause, Leon pressed her again.

“Why aren’t you talking? What are you trying to prove?”

“You wouldn’t understand even if I told you.”

“Heh. So you mean you just haven’t come up with a decent excuse yet?”

“I don’t owe you excuses,” Rosvisser said evenly. “You’ll understand soon enough.”

“I don’t have the patience for riddles. If you won’t answer, I won’t ask again. Once we’re back in the Empire, we won’t see each other anyway.”

At that, Rosvisser lifted her head slightly.

“Won’t see each other? Why not?”

“I’m only responsible for slaying and capturing dragons. What happens after they’re delivered to the Empire is royal business—none of mine.”

...

Rosvisser knew exactly what happened to captured dragons back then.

The Empire stripped their Heart Scales—those glittering cores that extended a human’s life span.

And to keep that supply constant, the royal family had colluded with certain dragons, manipulating the war from the shadows to keep it going endlessly.

That, of course, was only the surface. The true cause lay in the Shadow—and the Ultimate Fear.

But for now, Rosvisser knew the Shadow wouldn’t appear as long as Leon didn’t go to direct war with the Empire.

Still... maybe that was her chance—her opening to change Leon’s perspective.

He was loyal to the Empire only because he didn’t know the truth. He didn’t know that the royals intended to have him killed to prolong the war.

If she could make him see that—everything could change.

“How long until we reach the Empire?” she asked.

“A week. Finally, I’ll be free of your torment, she-dragon.”

Rosvisser’s brow twitched. A big “ vein popped on her forehead. Through gritted teeth, she hissed:

“...Casmod, I dare you to say that again.”

Maybe it was something in her tone that tripped some deep, hardcoded instinct in Leon’s system—

because he instantly blurted out, “I’m sorry, wif—” and barely stopped himself mid-word.

He froze, dazed.

“What the hell... why is there ‘wife’ code in this?”

“Hmph. Single dog.”

Leon: “?”

“Don’t act like you’re any better. The intelligence reports say you’re single too.”

Rosvisser’s eyes widened, half laughing, half exasperated.

“You even have that in your reports?”

“Of course. The Empire’s intel network—omniscient and omnipresent,” Leon said proudly, puffing out his chest.

Rosvisser opened her mouth to retort, but then closed it again.

Her eyes gleamed mischievously, and a sly smile tugged at her lips.

“Well, looks like your intelligence was wrong this time. Because I’m married.”

“......”

She clearly saw his shoulders stiffen at that.

Which only made her want to tease him more.

“Oh? What’s wrong, great hero? Heartbroken now that you’ve heard I’m married?”

“...What nonsense are you spouting?”

Leon said flatly:

“I’m human. You’re dragonkind. We’re natural enemies. Even if you were married, even if you already had children—twins, triplets, hell,a foster kid on your back—it wouldn’t make me even the slightest bit heartbroken.”

How did he manage to hit every single member of the Melkvey family with one line?

Was this what it meant to be the strongest dragon-slayer alive?

Rosvisser silently made a note in her heart. Fine. When she got back to the real world, she’d make sure to settle this score.

But for now, there were more important matters. In just one week, they’d reach the Empire. Once they did, she wouldn’t see Leon again.

So whatever she wanted to show him—whatever truth she wanted him to see—had to happen within this week.

After a brief thought, Rosvisser said slowly:

“Sigh, hero, let’s talk about something heavy.”

“I don’t want to talk to you.”

“Then let’s talk about Victor’s betrayal.”

Leon sighed. “...Didn’t I just say I don’t want to talk to you?”

But Rosvisser ignored him and went on:

“Why do you think he tried to stab you?”

Leon exhaled heavily.

For some reason, whenever this she-dragon drove him to the brink of rage, his anger always fizzled halfway out—like an invisible hand pressing it down.

Fine, he thought. He might as well humor her.

“He was bought by your Silver Dragons. There’ve been cases before—nothing new.”

Leon spoke evenly. “I’ll give you that—you Silver Dragons are impressive. You even managed to infiltrate my own squad. My deputy commander, no less.”

Rosvisser arched a brow.

“But the ivory dagger he used to stab you wasn’t made by the Silver Dragons. And we didn’t know the composition of your black armor, either. How could we be sure that dagger would pierce it—and kill you? Because if the assassination failed, he’d be exposed, and whoever sent him would lose their inside man. No one would risk that lightly. So whoever ordered Victor to kill you must’ve been someone who knew you—and your armor—very well.”

As she spoke, Rosvisser leaned forward, closing the distance between them until her lips were just by his ear through the iron bars, her voice low and coaxing, like a whispering devil:

“So now think carefully, my great hero—who would want you dead?”

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