My Love Debts Are Everywhere! - Chapter 481

Chapter 481: Snowfall and Sudden Change of Landscape
“Tsk, tsk, tsk… They actually managed to defeat the barbarians in such a short time. As expected of Valen and Luna.”

Inside his room, Leon couldn’t help but smile as he read the white letter in his right hand.

It contained news of humanity’s victory over the barbarian army.

Although he had no doubt about the strength of the forces under Valen and Luna’s leadership, he was still surprised—and impressed—by how swiftly they had achieved it.

“Since they’ve already crushed the barbarian army, that means they’re just one step away from conquering them completely,” Leon muttered, nodding in satisfaction.

The letter also mentioned Arshley’s plan to launch an all-out offensive against the remaining barbarians. Given her ambitious nature, Leon wasn’t the least bit surprised.

Bringing the barbarians under humanity’s banner would be a significant advantage. They were renowned for their exceptional physical strength and combat prowess, making them valuable assets in the future battle against the Evil God.

Of course, as long as they cooperated, Leon was certain Arshley wouldn’t resort to cruelty. Instead, she would take a more strategic approach—using softer methods to bring them into the fold.

And once that happened, the barbarians would be fully under the rule of the Holy Orthodox.

Snapping out of his thoughts, Leon folded the letter and placed it on his desk.

His gaze shifted to the ever-growing pile of books on his desk.

“None of these hold the answers I need,” he muttered under his breath.

For the past two months, he had been tirelessly searching for the cause of Fiona’s condition. Yet, despite all his efforts, the answers remained elusive.

Even Miranda had found nothing conclusive.

This was enough to weigh heavily on his mind, causing stress and headaches. With his departure looming, the lack of a concrete answer gnawed at him, refusing to let him rest.

With a weary sigh, Leon shook his head. “I’ll take this one step at a time. If I can’t find the answer now, I’ll just have to hope it comes to me in the future.”

Setting the matter aside for now, he turned and stepped out of his room.

…

“Hahaha! Catch me if you can, Sister Iris!”

In the inner palace garden, Fiona giggled happily as she ran on her little legs.

Behind her, Iris chased after her with a pout and an annoyed expression.

“Humph! How dare you mock me, Fiona? Just wait—I’ll catch you!”

Having said that, she kept chasing, but it was futile. Fiona ran so fast that she couldn’t catch her at all!

“How strange… How can this smelly girl be so fast?” Iris wondered in surprise.

In the past, Fiona had always lost whenever she played chase with her. She had been slow, while Iris had always been faster.

But now… why was it different?

As an older sister, Iris had her pride—and a bit of arrogance. She couldn’t let this slide!

With puffed cheeks, she refused to give up and continued chasing after Fiona.

Meanwhile, on a garden bench nearby, Charlotte and Stella sat on either side of Leon, listening intently as he told them a story.

“So, did the princess sleep forever, Daddy?” Charlotte asked curiously.

Leon chuckled and shook his head. “No, she didn’t sleep forever. A prince will come to wake her up.”

“Prince?” Stella blinked in curiosity. “Is the prince handsome, Uncle Leon?”

Leon fell silent for a moment before finally answering, “Hmm… The prince is handsome, but unfortunately, he’s in the form of a buffalo.”

“A buffalo?” Charlotte and Stella exchanged stunned looks, their faces filled with disbelief.

They had imagined the prince in the story to be handsome, but… a buffalo?

Wouldn’t that be an insult to the princess?

As if reading their doubts, Leon smiled and explained, “The prince was cursed to become a buffalo. Once he kisses the princess, his handsome form will return.”

Pausing for a moment, he then added confidently, “Of course, that prince is still not as handsome as your daddy.”

“Pfft!” Charlotte and Stella couldn’t help but burst into laughter at his cocky remark.

Still, they didn’t deny it. To them, Leon was the most handsome man in the world!

“Daddy, can you tell me another fairy tale? I still want to hear more!” Charlotte pleaded in a spoiled tone.

“Me too! Me too!” Stella chimed in excitedly.

Faced with the eager requests of his two dearest little girls, how could Leon refuse?

With a small nod, he smiled and said, “Alright, I’ll tell you another one.”

And so, Leon began another fairy tale, just as exciting as the last.

Charlotte and Stella listened intently, their eyes shining with curiosity.

Before they knew it, fifteen minutes had passed. When Leon finally paused, he realized that both girls had fallen asleep, their heads resting on his thighs.

Leon chuckled softly and gently pinched their cheeks. “You little rascals… I was telling a story, and you went ahead and fell asleep.”

There was no frustration or scolding in his voice—only warmth and undeniable affection.

Just as he was indulging in the softness of their cheeks, something cold suddenly hit the right side of his face.

Surprised, he pulled his right hand away from Stella’s cheek and touched his face.

“Water?” He frowned and looked up, only to see the sky darkened with falling snow. “Snow? I didn’t expect it to fall today.”

He opened his palm, letting a few snowflakes land on it. The cold, wet sensation brought a small smile to his lips.

Among the four seasons, fall and winter were his favorites. There was no particular reason—those two seasons simply gave him a fresh and cozy feeling.

After a moment of enjoying the snowfall, he turned back to Charlotte and Stella beside him.

“Charlotte, Stella, wake up. It’s snowing, and we need to go inside before you catch a fever,” Leon coaxed, gently shaking their small bodies.

But to his surprise, no matter how much he tried to wake them, they didn’t respond at all.

Frowning slightly, he placed a hand near their nostrils and felt the faint warmth of their breaths.

“They’re still breathing…” he muttered in relief.

Once again, he gently shook their small bodies, but no matter how much he tried, they didn’t wake up.

A creeping sense of anxiety, fear, and dread tightened around his chest, draining the color from his face.

“I need to call Fiona and Iris!”

Carefully, he moved their heads off his thighs and rose to his feet.

But then—something changed.

In the blink of an eye, the lush green garden vanished, replaced by a vast, desolate land of red and black.

The ground was littered with corpses—humans, dragons, elves, demons, dwarves, giants, and countless other races lay lifeless, their bodies scattered in a nightmarish scene of devastation.

Leon stood frozen, his breath caught in his throat. Horror and disbelief twisted his features.

“W-What the hell is this!?”