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Victory was theirs. The King and Queen of Frostbane had successfully slain the invading fragment of the Nightmare King with far more ease than most could have ever imagined. Their victory showcased the incredible strength of these powerful rulers, the proud parents of their beloved daughter, Elizabeth.
Elizabeth stood in silence, watching everything unfold in utter disbelief. Her eyes widened as her parents slowly descended toward her and pulled her into a tight embrace. The warmth of their hug made her smile, laugh, and cry tears of pure happiness.
What had started as her own journey had escalated far beyond anything she expected. She had slain the Nightmare Beast Kings, confronted the powerful Boss of the Nightmare Nest and defeated him, only to discover he was merely a distraction. Then her great-great-grandmother arrived to save her, and finally the fragment of the Nightmare King returned to threaten everyone once more. It had truly been a very long day.
Or rather, several days. Elizabeth had only just learned that she had been inside this realm far longer than she realized. Her parents told her that she had been asleep for days in the real world, her soul diving so deep into this realm that if she did not wake up in time, she risked falling into an eternal slumber, a fate no one wanted.
Once the celebrations wound down, her parents decided to wake her properly. However, for now, they decided to let her enjoy this unique moment together with her family.
Dragons, as it turned out, celebrated with great generosity. All the Ice Dragons gathered alongside a now-healed Nifl for a grand feast they had prepared themselves. Hundreds of gigantic soul and spirit beasts were hunted and roasted, while numerous other exquisite dishes were served, leaving Elizabeth pleasantly surprised.
"Wow, there's so much to eat!" Elizabeth exclaimed. She was starving, so she quickly began eating. She first picked up a giant roasted ice phoenix leg and gnawed on the soft, juicy meat, which had been perfectly cooked and seasoned. "I never imagined dragons would be so good at cooking! I thought most of you just caught your prey and ate it raw, except for a few exceptions."
"That was the case a long time ago," a familiar voice echoed behind her. Her father had arrived. "But that is no longer true. It is mostly thanks to your Great Grandfather, the Divine Dragon King. From what I've heard, he spread the Art of Cooking — and especially Cooking Magic — across many worlds. He was the first practitioner of this new magic attribute and even mastered it as a fighting technique, shockingly enough."
"Wow, for real?" Elizabeth asked in amazement. "That's awesome! I wonder when I'll get to see him, Dad!"
"Hm, it is unclear, though he seems happy that you were born healthy," her father sighed. "He does not seem interested in returning to our world yet."
"Why?" Elizabeth wondered. She gnawed on a second leg while sitting on a large ice chair and sipping the deliciously sweet Frost Pear Elixir Juice, which filled her with plenty of energy.
"It is mostly because of everything he went through," her father replied. "For most of his life, he was confined to Yggdrasil due to the nature of that world and his connection to it. His strength and very soul were deeply intertwined with that realm. But after many years, and after we defeated a great evil together, he finally found a way to leave. Having longed to travel the cosmos while serving as an eternal guardian, you can guess he will not return anytime soon."
"I see. So Grandpa spent most of his time confined to a single world," Elizabeth said. "I never knew that… I guess he must be happy he could finally leave."
"He was, but he also loved Yggdrasil and his family very much — he still does," her father said. "I cannot fully understand what goes on inside the thick head of that foolish old man, but I believe he simply wanted to feel free again."
"Huh…" Elizabeth nodded and swallowed her food. "And you're not bored of Earth, Dad? Of… us?"
Her father looked at her for a moment. His golden eyes gleamed with a brief cold light before he smiled gently, revealing the warmth hidden deep within his cold heart. He stepped closer, leaned down, and kissed her forehead.
"Of course not," he said. "The way I was raised was different from your grandfather's. We walked different paths for a time. Although we later joined hands to fight a common enemy and save this universe, allowing it to be reborn as you know it now, we remain vastly different. I was given his throne, and with it came many responsibilities. So when I seem distant or cold… I am simply a little exhausted, that is all. I love you, Elizabeth. You and your mother are what bring meaning to my life. I don't know where I would be if I had never met Mirai. When you were born, it was as if my entire being was rewritten. Now, more than ever, I live for you."
"Dad…" Elizabeth caught the subtle tones of old pain in her father's words. He had lived through a truly traumatic life filled with suffering and despair. He had overcome it all with blood and tears, clawing his way forward through countless regressions and watching everything he loved crumble hundreds of times. Yet he had persevered and helped create this new world with her mother and grandfather. "I see… I've heard you had a really hard life before, but I'm here now, okay? So don't worry. I will support you so you never have to suffer alone again!"
King Louis remained silent for a moment, clearly shaken by her words. Then he nodded and smiled softly. His usually expressionless face showed far more emotion whenever he was with his wife or daughter.
"Thank you, Elizabeth. Maybe you were exactly what I needed in my life… I wonder how different things would have been if I had a little heroine like you back then." Louis smiled as he looked up at the sky. "But that is merely wishful thinking."
"Huh…" Elizabeth thought about the past she had learned about her father, both the written version and the real one in this world. "If I ever get the chance to go back to the past, I will do everything in my power to stop the things you went through. We would write a happy ending together…"
"Hm? Is that so?" King Louis found her words adorable. "Well, thank you for the thought. Nonetheless, I wouldn't want to change anything. I am content and happy with the life I have now and what I have achieved. By the way, from whom did you hear about my past? I haven't told you about it yet."
"Um, I just heard about it!" Elizabeth nodded. "Internet."
"Internet, huh? You don't even have a smartphone yet," he narrowed his eyes. "Hah, well, whatever. I suppose I should indulge a little in this feast for once in my life."
"Yeah! Stop being so gloomy all the time, my great-grandson!" a figure emerged from the crowd. It was Nifl, who had reduced her size to that of a tall, four-meter-tall gorgeous Dragonoid lady. "Eat with us, laugh with us, and celebrate by our side. You've always been such a gloomy loner, but that loneliness comes from the walls you build around yourself."
"Great-grandmother, I would appreciate it if you didn't speak of me that way in front of my dear daughter," King Louis replied, growing slightly annoyed. A spark of youthful rebellion still lingered in his eyes after all these years. Despite his immense power, he was the youngest Dragon King in history — only in his late thirties, not even a hundred years old. If one counted all his regressions, he would be closer to five hundred, but only he and his wife knew that.
"Hoho, you remind me of Drake, my son," Nifl laughed warmly. She patted King Louis on the head and kissed his forehead. "Although you are much more serious than he was. At least little Elizabeth inherited my son's lively personality better."
"Grandma, don't be mean to Papa!" Elizabeth said angrily, stepping protectively in front of her father. "He saved us all! Be grateful!"
"Oh," Nifl covered her mouth. "I'm sorry about that. I might have become overly excited after everything that has happened. I have been slumbering for so long, you see. It seems your father really has changed."
"Was he rude to you?" Elizabeth narrowed her eyes as she glanced at her dad. "Daddy, are you a meanie with people?"
King Louis began sweating nervously and looked away, avoiding the question.
"Hahah, let's say he didn't have the best predispositions," Nifl said with a smile. "But we all recognize that he is a strong, proud, and kind dragon, and our new King after Drake decided to retire indefinitely to explore and protect the cosmos. I apologize, my King. I was rude."
"It's fine," Louis sighed. He closed his eyes for a moment and nodded silently. "I was indeed not the best person before. I was rude, even bloodthirsty. I did things I regret, but I am glad I never overstepped my boundaries. And I never truly harmed my family beyond… a few spars, I suppose."
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