"Dan Heng's storyline, at this point, would first show a conversation between Clara and Svarog."
"Then, naturally, the Astral Express crew and Seele would appear before them."
"And just as naturally, their ideals clash, leading to a fight."
"But now, in Leon's storyline, this CG gives me the feeling that Clara hasn't arrived yet."
"Could it be because Leon dealt with the rogue vagrants blocking the way, saving the time of detouring?"
???: "Ah—!"
Out of nowhere, a faintly familiar cry rang out, tinged with pain.
March 7th: "I think I heard someone shout?"
Stelle: "I didn't hear anything."
March 7th: "Maybe I misheard."
"There's noise from the high passage in the mining area to the left—a girl's voice. I'll check it out. Wait a moment."
Leon confirmed.
This time, Ah Xian finally saw her favorite scene.
A brief cutscene CG showed Leon unfurling his wings and soaring into the air.
Lasting less than three seconds, it was enough to spark her excitement.
"Being wrapped in Leon's arms and wings must feel so warm~~"
"Chat, who gets it? Those gorgeous, holy wings are right on my XP, stomping all over it. They just scream safety."
[Don't get it. Father's reliable, sure, but how do wings alone give a sense of security?]
[Ah Xian's XP comes with a filter—normal.]
[I've got a tricky question: Leon's wings aren't usually visible, so when he unfurls them, don't they tear his clothes?]
[Maybe they're energy wings, like fighting spirit wings or something…]
[No way. Leon has an idle animation where he preens his feathers. Why bother if they're not real?]
During the stream's discussion, Ah Xian finally remembered whose voice it was.
It was Clara, the one she'd just mentioned.
Before she could say it, the scene shifted to a semi-static story illustration.
Leon, holding a petite girl in his arms, flew back to the ground, slowly retracting his wings.
Red clothes, barefoot, white hair, red eyes.
[Here she comes—Clara! Pure white-haired, red-eyed loli!]
[So she's from the underground.]
[Barefoot… must smell nice, right?]
[Why are there Yostar bros everywhere?]
[Don't slander us—Yostar bros don't care for bare feet. The sweatier the stockings, the better.]
[Y'all are sounding a bit perverted…]
March 7th: "Who's she?"
Leon: "Ask later—she's hurt."
[Oh?]
[??]
The story illustration changed.
Seeing the scene, players were stunned for multiple reasons.
First, Clara's bare soles had bloody marks.
Second… she was sitting on a chair.
A chair everyone recognized, out of nowhere—a white plastic chair.
A staple of street food stalls.
But for some, this chair, like June 15th at 4:04 PM, was etched into their DNA.
More familiar than their own birthday.
Seeing it made them laugh uncontrollably.
[Holy crap, power!]
[Bushgomen, this game's stitching way too much.]
[Was feeling bad for the white-haired girl's injured feet, but this chair just made me laugh.]
Stelle: "So… Leon, where'd you pull that chair from?"
March 7th: "His inventory, duh. Is this really the time to care about that?!"
Leon held Clara's ankle, a warm, gentle breeze flowing from his palm.
"Don't be scared—it won't hurt soon."
The soft breeze enveloped Clara's injured foot, its strange power taking effect.
The wounds on Clara's foot healed at a slow pace.
Soon, they were fully restored.
"There, all better. What's your name, little girl? Why no shoes?"
Leon released her, giving her a careful look.
Her expression was still timid, but at least not as terrified as when she first saw him.
"Thank you, big brother. I'm Clara. I don't wear shoes because…"
Before Clara could finish, March 7th's sympathy overflowed.
She automatically assumed what she thought was the obvious reason.
"Are there really people in the underground who can't even afford shoes? So pitiful."
Clara: "No, big sister. Clara just doesn't like shoes—they make it easy to twist my ankle…"
"Uh—" March 7th's mouth twitched.
She couldn't help touching the cold ground.
Feet constantly freezing like that—wouldn't she get sick?
Leon paused at her words.
"But not wearing shoes makes it easy to get cut by sharp objects on the ground, like just now."
"Clara's usually careful. Today, I was in a hurry, so… I got hurt."
Clara explained, clearly embarrassed.
Leon: "Is your family inside? There's a conflict in the mining area right now—it's not safe. The danger could reach you."
Clara: "Well…"
Seeing her hesitate, Stelle bent down slightly, hands on her knees, speaking gently.
"It's okay if you don't want to say. Stick with us for now—big brother and sister will protect you."
"…Thank you, big sister."
Stelle reached out to pat Clara's head, smiling: "You're welcome."
Seeing this story illustration, players were about to go wild over Clara when a cutscene started.
"Careful!"
Leon unfurled his right wing at a speed invisible to the naked eye, enveloping the three girls.
An unknown attack slammed heavily into his wing, knocking off a few feathers.
The feathers floated chaotically upward with the camera, revealing Leon's raised face.
At that moment, his expression was something players had never seen before.
Cold, enough to make the faint-hearted tremble.
Clearly, Leon was genuinely angry.
Following his line of sight, only a few automatons were visible.
Warhounds, spiders, and the beetle players dubbed the Preservation Aeon—the traffic light.
The warhound attacked again, clearly responsible for the earlier strike.
"…"
Leon's eyes narrowed slightly. The feathers still floating in the air suddenly shot toward the automatons like swords.
With a single strike, they were reduced to scrap metal.
Seeing this, he retracted his right wing, looking at the people inside.
Confirming they were unharmed, he nodded slightly, as if relieved.
Throughout the process, Leon said nothing beyond "careful."
But his actions and micro-expressions had Ah Xian nearly filling a stainless steel basin with tears.
"AHHHH, Hubby, I'd let you bloat me to death!!"
"So reliable, so reliable! Love, love, love!"
"I want Hubby to treat me like a cream puff and stuff me full!!"
This time, when Ah Xian went wild, no one in the stream roasted her.
Most agreed, and some followed suit.
[Sorry, I spoke too loud earlier—Father's wings really do scream safety!]
[Leon's first glance was at Stelle, proving he got mad because she was ambushed, not because his feathers got plucked.]
[Questioned Ah Xian, understood Ah Xian, became Ah Xian—I'd let myself burst for Daddy Leon!]