Slacker Second Gen C50

Chapter 50: Dragon Dad 20

The Central Magic Academy’s uniform consisted of a black mage robe adorned with golden patterns. In recent years, students from other academies frequently came for exchange programs, and their uniforms easily identified which academy they were from.

When Lacia entered the classroom, a single glance was enough to notice that besides Central Magic Academy’s students, there were also several groups of students wearing different colored uniforms.

The students in green were from the Natural Forest Magic Academy.

The students in red belonged to the Muge Magic Academy.

The ones wrapped in colorful cloaks came from the Xidi Magic Academy.

The Xidi Magic Academy was relatively far from the Central Magic Academy and had maintained the least amount of exchange between the two institutions over the years.

Moreover, they were somewhat unique—the local students primarily worshipped “spirits” and studied both magic and shamanism as part of their curriculum.

Many students in the class were seeing Xidi Academy students for the first time, so they were inevitably curious.

However, their curiosity was instantly suppressed when Lacia entered the room.

Lacia also spared a few extra glances at the Xidi Academy students, who sat alone in a corner.

But it wasn’t out of curiosity.

It was simply because he knew his little dragon well.

Sure enough, as soon as Qian, who was clutching his ceremonial sash and following him into the classroom, saw those vibrantly dressed students, her interest was piqued.

Letting go of him, the child trot up the steps and sat down beside the group of Xidi students.

The other students were already used to her behavior, but the Xidi students, who were attending this class for the first time, were visibly nervous. They glanced up at the massive dragon teacher, then at the small dragon suddenly sitting beside them.

This time, the one leading the group was their senior representative, Denan, who was also the young chieftain of a Xidi tribe. He wore the most elaborate and vividly colored cloak among them.

Qian sat beside him and first stared into his eyes for a moment. Then she lifted a corner of his cloak and examined it closely.

Afterward, she pulled out her notebook and drawing tools and started sketching on paper.

This was one of her favorite pastimes. After all, she didn’t need to attend the lesson—she was merely in the classroom because being around people was fun.

Denan listened to Lacia’s lecture but found himself repeatedly distracted by the little dragon’s movements. He couldn’t help but sneak glances at what she was drawing.

She seemed to be sketching him, though he wasn’t entirely sure—apart from using the same vivid colors, the image she was drawing bore little resemblance to him.

The child drew with great enthusiasm, her large and bold strokes full of artistic flair, and her fearless use of color gave her an aura of a true artist.

Denan resisted several times, but eventually, his curiosity won. He peeked again—only to feel a sudden chill on his face.

Just a moment ago, Lacia had been standing at the podium.

Now, he had suddenly appeared behind Denan, pressing his fingers against the young man’s face and turning it forward.

“Do you know what happens to those who get distracted in my class?”

At that instant, Denan felt pure fear from the depths of his soul. He had no doubt he was about to face a severe punishment.

The other students thought the same.

But to their surprise, Lacia did not turn the classroom into an icy prison or freeze anyone solid before kicking them out the window.

Instead, he simply returned to the podium as if nothing had happened.

One of the students, who had been punished many times before, couldn’t help but protest indignantly:

“Teacher, why didn’t he get punished for spacing out?!”

Leaning casually against the podium, Lacia responded nonchalantly:

“Because Qian is too adorable. It’s normal for someone meeting her for the first time to be drawn in and unable to resist looking at her. I can understand that.”

The students: “?!”

Then Lacia smiled slightly.

“But next time, there won’t be any exceptions.”

The poor students could only silently endure their grievances, unable to complain.

The Xidi students, however, were so terrified that they dared not lose focus again, their eyes fixed rigidly on the front of the classroom without even the slightest deviation.

—

Once class was over, Lacia walked over to Qian, who had just finished the final strokes of her drawing.

Qian held up her artwork and showed it to him excitedly.

“Daddy, look! I drew a big butterfly!”

Lacia gently patted her fluffy hair, took the drawing from her hands, and examined it with the appreciation of a true art connoisseur.

Then he nodded approvingly.

“Excellent. Absolutely excellent. The colors and shapes blend together perfectly, surpassing reality and incorporating imaginative elements. This is a rare and outstanding piece of art.”

Hearing Lacia’s praise, the Xidi students craned their necks to get a look at the drawing.

And then they doubted their own eyes.

No matter how they looked at it, it was just a child’s random scribbles.

Was this really an “outstanding” masterpiece?

Lacia continued nodding in admiration.

“I’ll add this to my Gallery of Paintings, have it framed, and put it on display for everyone to see.”

—

A bit of background:

Thanks to his long lifespan, the great dragon Lacia had not only mastered magic but also perfected the art of painting.

Over the centuries, his artistic style had constantly evolved, allowing him to master every possible technique.

His paintings sold for astronomical prices, with many displayed in imperial palaces and noble estates.

The Central Magic Academy even had a special gallery dedicated to showcasing his works. Every year, there were designated days when outsiders could visit to admire them.

However, in the past century, Lacia had painted less and less.

Then Qian came along.

As soon as the little dragon started doodling, it seemed to rekindle his love for painting.

New pieces began to appear in the gallery—both his masterful works and, alongside them, dozens of Qian’s scribbles.

The first time Lacia framed Qian’s random sketches and hung them beside his flawless paintings, the academy’s art-inclined teachers could hardly bear to look at the contrast.

But no one dared suggest removing the children’s drawings.

Lacia, overflowing with fatherly love, lavished endless praise on Qian’s work, calling it abstract art that deconstructed reality into its purest form.

The students and teachers: “…”

At this point, they all realized something:

Their esteemed artist, Professor Lacia, was completely blinded by his love for his daughter.

They had a feeling that even if Qian pressed her dragon paws onto a sheet of paper, Lacia would still hold it up with pride and proclaim it the greatest masterpiece of all time.

The once elegant and expensive painting gallery was about to gain yet another children’s drawing.

The students of Central Magic Academy, who had already witnessed this sort of thing many times, showed no reaction. However, the students from Xidi Magic Academy, who had less experience with such matters, were astonished as they watched the dragon father and daughter, listening to their conversation with a newfound reverence for an art they did not understand.

“Daddy, hang it in the first row,” Qian tugged at her father’s sleeve, making a request.

Lacia sternly refused.

“The paintings in the first row are all exceptionally good. The ones of Daddy, dragons, and the tower, as well as our father-daughter portrait, are the best. They deserve the first row. This one can go in the second row.”

“Yay!” Qian raised her hands in celebration.

The Xidi students: That… sounds impressive!

In the next class, Lacia continued his lecture, while Qian packed her things and ran off to play.

She didn’t always follow her father and instead loved to run all over campus.

First, she went to the space of the wood elf, Lexul, where she ate the fruits Lexul cultivated and played with the rainbow unicorn that was fostered there.

Then, she ran to the magic towers of various teachers, watching them mix potions or craft alchemical items. If something interested her, she would trade her treasures for it.

Finally, she made a round to visit Headmaster Ude.

Aside from that, she also liked to go to the school lake to feed the swans and fish.

She picked flowers in the garden, played in the fountain pools… she was extremely busy.

While Qian was having fun, a blue light flickered beside her head.

【Being a dragon is great—you have immense power and a long life. So, Host, isn’t it nice to live forever in this world?】

【This time, let’s follow my suggestion, okay?】

Qian acted as if she hadn’t heard a thing and continued playing with the swan in front of her, grabbing its wings and letting out bright peals of laughter.

System 65 was completely helpless against her.

From the very beginning, this world had gone completely off track due to the Host’s chaotic actions. Plus, at the start, she had hatched from an egg and had been too dazed to communicate.

By the time she had grown enough to understand things, she didn’t like paying attention to it. Sometimes, even if it nagged her a hundred times, she wouldn’t respond once.

The system had a strong suspicion that she was holding a grudge over how things had ended in the last world.

Children were sometimes easy to understand, but sometimes, they were utterly unfathomable.

Seeing that the Host was still ignoring it, System 65 began to complain pitifully again.

【We’re a romance strategy system. Host, why are you like this? Don’t you want to experience sweet love? Look at this world’s protagonist—so beautiful!】

【According to my original plan, wouldn’t it be wonderful to fall in love with the domineering dragon professor? You could have entered the magic academy as a student, fought alongside your classmates, and saved the world together. A teacher-student romance in a magical setting is such a popular trope!】

Qian, who was hugging the swan’s long neck, finally turned her head and cast a disdainful glance at the flickering system beside her.

“You’re so dumb. Daddy doesn’t like students.”

Children were very clever. She knew for a fact that in this world, her dragon daddy loved her the most.

The system was struck by the child’s scornful gaze but had no way to refute her.

Wasn’t it obvious? Just look at how Lacia treated his students versus how he treated his child—the difference was like night and day.

Because the contrast was too glaring, and it couldn’t convince the Host otherwise, the system had gone into self-imposed silence for so long. Now that the affection score was nearly maxed out, it had no choice but to come out and do its job.

【Host, promise me that in the next world, you won’t do this again, okay?】

【Or maybe, in this world, you could accept the protagonist’s fate and live in their place…】

Qian didn’t want to listen to its nonsense any longer. She scrunched up her brows, puffed up her cheeks, and blew out a blast of icy dragon breath at the flickering light.

“Whoosh—!”

“Whooosh—!”

A series of freezing storms lashed out. Though they didn’t harm the system, the sensation of being attacked was definitely unpleasant, making the system flail around in the windstorm.

“Qian, what are you doing?” Lacia stepped onto the frost-covered grass and walked over.

As soon as he arrived, the system fell silent and stuck itself to Qian’s back, not making a sound.

Qian, whose cheeks hurt from all the blowing, replied in an indignant tone.

“I’m blowing away a bad thing!”

“Where is the bad thing?” Lacia scanned the area with a dangerous look.

“Daddy will take care of it for you.”

But now, the child didn’t want to say anything.

She gazed at her ever-indulgent and doting father, looking troubled.

“Hmm? My little blue dragon, do you already have worries at such a young age?” Lacia picked her up and asked with a chuckle.

“Daddy, will you die?” Qian asked, her big eyes looking pitiful.

Lacia: “……”

“Even dragons, with their long lives, will eventually face death. I have already lived for a long time. But my dear child, you have a beautiful future ahead, so do not fear death.” Lacia sang his words like a chant.

Qian grabbed his face with both hands. “Just promise me you won’t die.”

Lacia: “……”

Lacia sighed and relented. “Daddy won’t be at peace unless I see Qian grow up.”

Qian understood immediately and happily clapped her hands. “Then I won’t grow up! That way, Daddy won’t die!”

Lacia: “……”

“Qian, I promise you—I will stay with you until you become an adult.” He had no choice but to phrase it vaguely.

Qian thought about it and felt like that was still a long way off, so she temporarily agreed.

But adults always lied and didn’t keep their word.

So Qian added, “If you lie to me, I will…”

“You will?” Lacia looked at the little girl struggling to come up with a threat, amused.

Qian’s eyes swirled around in thought, then she suddenly grinned mischievously and loudly declared, “I’ll start dating early!”

Lacia: “?!”

The old father’s smile vanished instantly.

Who? Who was corrupting his precious child?!

Just thinking about it made Lacia furious.

If some cunning little bastard ever dared to steal his little dragon away, he would crawl out of his grave—even as bare bones—and freeze that wretch into ice dust!