The Useless Extra Knows It All....But Does He?

Chapter 465: Chapter 464 - Night Calls!

The night over Arcadia Academy had settled into a gentle tranquility.

The chaos of lectures, training sessions, and bustling academy life had long since faded, leaving behind only the soft silence that accompanied the late hours. Moonlight streamed through the window of Luca’s dorm room, bathing the wooden floor and neatly arranged furniture in silver light while a cool breeze occasionally drifted through the slightly opened window.

For once, Luca was not buried beneath ancient mysteries.

Not thinking about the abyss.

Not thinking about the silver-haired figure.

Not thinking about the Vice Dean.

Instead, he sat comfortably at his desk with a small smile on his face while a communication crystal rested before him.

The crystal glowed softly.

Then suddenly—

A burst of golden light filled the room.

A tiny holographic figure appeared above the crystal.

The figure was small enough to fit in both hands.

Golden hair cascaded down to her shoulders.

Large ruby-red eyes sparkled brightly.

Two tiny dragon horns poked out from her head.

Small wings fluttered excitedly behind her back while a little tail swayed from side to side nonstop.

The moment the connection stabilized—

The little dragon girl practically launched herself toward the crystal.

"PAPAAAAAA!"

The adorable shout echoed throughout the room.

Luca couldn’t help laughing immediately.

"There she is."

The tiny dragon girl puffed out her chest proudly.

"Astra is here!"

"I can see that."

The little girl’s wings fluttered rapidly.

Then her expression became serious.

Very serious.

At least as serious as a six-year-old dragon could manage.

"Papa."

"Hmm?"

"You missed three whole days."

Luca blinked.

Then coughed awkwardly.

"Was it three?"

"It was."

Astra crossed her tiny arms.

"I counted."

The accusation carried such conviction that Luca almost felt guilty.

Almost.

Then Astra immediately forgot she was supposed to be angry.

Her face lit up again.

"Papa! Papa! Guess what happened today!"

Luca leaned back in his chair.

"I have a feeling you’re about to tell me regardless."

Astra nodded enthusiastically.

"Grandma

taught me how to use a fork properly!"

Luca smiled.

"That’s good."

"I only dropped it six times!"

"...That is also good."

The little dragon nodded proudly.

Then her tiny face scrunched up.

"Actually maybe it was seven."

Luca laughed.

Astra immediately launched into a long explanation of her day.

She spoke about breakfast.

Then lunch.

Then a cat she had seen in the gardens.

Then a butterfly.

Then another butterfly.

Then apparently a very important disagreement she had with one of the manor maids regarding whether cake qualified as breakfast.

Luca listened patiently throughout all of it.

Every word.

Every tangent.

Every completely unrelated detail.

Because despite the absurdity of the conversation, he genuinely enjoyed it.

The little dragon’s excitement was contagious.

The way her eyes sparkled while talking.

The way her tiny wings fluttered whenever she became emotional.

The way her tail swayed whenever she thought she was making an important point.

It was impossible not to smile.

"And then," Astra continued dramatically, "I defeated the evil villain."

Luca immediately raised an eyebrow.

"The evil villain?"

"The evil villain."

"Should I be concerned?"

Astra shook her head.

"It was a pillow."

Luca stared.

The little dragon nodded seriously.

"It attacked first."

"Of course it did."

"I was very brave."

"I never doubted you."

The praise immediately made her beam.

The tiny dragon straightened proudly.

Then leaned closer toward the crystal.

"Papa."

"Hmm?"

"Did you eat properly?"

Luca blinked.

The sudden question caught him off guard.

Then a warm smile appeared on his face.

"I did."

"Vegetables too?"

Luca hesitated.

Astra narrowed her eyes immediately.

The resemblance to certain people Luca knew was becoming increasingly concerning.

"...Yes."

"Papa."

"Yes?"

"That wasn’t convincing."

Luca laughed.

The tiny dragon pouted.

A truly terrifying sight.

At least in her opinion.

Then she pointed a tiny finger at him.

"You need to eat properly."

"I know."

"And sleep properly."

"I know."

"And not get hurt."

The smile on Luca’s face softened.

For a brief moment, he simply looked at the tiny dragon.

Then nodded.

"I’ll do my best."

Astra seemed satisfied with the answer.

For approximately three seconds.

Then she immediately launched into another story.

This time involving a gardener.

Three chickens.

A flower pot.

And circumstances that somehow resulted in her being chased around the manor courtyard.

Even Luca struggled to understand how one event led to another.

By the end of the explanation, he wasn’t entirely convinced Astra understood either.

Yet somehow—

That only made it funnier.

The conversation continued for quite some time.

Luca occasionally asked questions.

Astra eagerly answered all of them.

Then answered several questions he hadn’t asked.

Then answered entirely different questions that nobody had mentioned.

As the moon climbed higher outside the window and the warm atmosphere filled the room, Luca found himself relaxing completely.

No academy politics.

No prophecies.

No ancient horrors.

Just a father listening to a little dragon proudly recount her adventures.

Eventually Astra yawned.

A small.

Adorable.

Completely unintentional yawn.

The moment it escaped her mouth, she immediately looked offended.

As though her own body had betrayed her.

Luca chuckled.

"Tired?"

"No."

The second yawn arrived instantly.

Larger than the first.

Luca raised an eyebrow.

Astra looked away.

"I might be a little tired."

"A little?"

"Maybe."

The little dragon rubbed her eyes.

Her wings had stopped fluttering.

Even her tail moved more slowly now.

Luca’s expression softened.

"Go get some sleep."

Astra pouted.

"But I want to keep talking."

"We can talk tomorrow."

The little dragon considered this.

Then reluctantly nodded.

Before the connection ended, however, she suddenly leaned forward again.

"PAPA!"

Luca blinked.

"What is it?"

A bright smile appeared on Astra’s face.

The kind of smile capable of melting anyone’s heart.

"I missed you."

For a moment—

Luca simply smiled.

Then he replied softly.

"I missed you too."

The little dragon immediately looked pleased with herself.

Then she waved both hands enthusiastically.

"Goodnight Papa!"

"Goodnight Astra."

The communication crystal gradually dimmed.

The tiny dragon disappeared.

And the room fell quiet once more.

Yet as Luca sat there beneath the moonlight with a small smile still lingering on his face, he realized something.

No matter how complicated his life became—

No matter how many ancient mysteries appeared—

No matter how many disasters he somehow stumbled into—

Moments like these made everything feel worth it.

The dorm room had finally grown quiet.

The communication crystal rested peacefully upon the desk once more after Astra’s call had ended, while moonlight continued spilling through the window and painting the room in soft silver hues. Outside, Arcadia Academy had largely fallen asleep. The distant sounds of student activity had long since faded, leaving behind only the occasional rustling of leaves carried by the night breeze.

Luca stretched lazily.

The conversation with Astra had done wonders for his mood.

After ancient prisons, mysterious entities, and world-shaking revelations, listening to a little dragon passionately explain her battle against a pillow had been exactly what he needed.

Now, however, exhaustion was finally beginning to win.

His body still felt tired from the expedition.

His mind felt even worse.

All he wanted was sleep.

Luca let out a long yawn before standing up and making his way toward the bed.

Then—

The communication crystal rang again.

A faint blue light began pulsing across its surface.

Luca stopped halfway.

For several moments, he simply stared at it.

Then sighed dramatically.

"...Why."

The crystal continued ringing.

Relentlessly.

Without mercy.

Luca briefly considered ignoring it.

Then remembered that anyone contacting him this late was probably important.

With the enthusiasm of a man being led toward his execution, he turned around and walked back toward the desk.

The crystal continued glowing.

Luca barely glanced at the caller identification.

Far too tired.

Far too exhausted.

Far too done with the day.

Instead, he activated the connection immediately.

The projection appeared.

And Luca spoke first.

"Who is it?"

His voice carried all the grumpiness of someone who had been one step away from sleep.

Then—

A delicate cough sounded from the projection.

The effect was immediate.

Luca straightened so quickly that he nearly knocked over his chair.

The exhaustion vanished.

The grumpiness vanished.

The desire for sleep vanished.

Everything vanished.

Because standing within the projection was a woman whose presence alone commanded attention.

Long golden hair flowed elegantly past her waist.

Piercing crimson eyes regarded him calmly.

An imperial gown woven from white and gold emphasized an aura of authority that seemed almost impossible to conceal.

Even through a communication crystal—

The pressure of her presence remained overwhelming.

The Empress of the Empire.

Celestia Dragonair.

For several moments, Luca simply stared.

Then a thought surfaced instinctively.

"They really are mother and daughter."

The resemblance was impossible to ignore.

The same crimson eyes.

The same golden hair.

Unfortunately—

He may have muttered that thought aloud.

Because one elegant eyebrow rose slightly.

"Did you say something?"

Luca immediately smiled.

The smile of a man attempting to preserve his life expectancy.

"Nothing at all, Your Majesty."

The crimson eyes remained fixed upon him.

Suspiciously.

For several long seconds.

Then Celestia finally allowed the matter to pass.

Luca released an internal sigh of relief.

Meanwhile, the Empress observed him carefully.

"You look tired."

Luca almost laughed.

Almost.

"That would be because I am."

"I imagine so."

The statement carried surprising understanding.

Then again—

If anyone had already received the reports from the expedition, it would be her.

Luca straightened properly before offering a respectful greeting.

"Good evening, Your Majesty."

A faint smile appeared on Celestia’s face.

Elegant.

Controlled.

Almost invisible.

"Good evening, Luca."

The atmosphere settled comfortably.

Not entirely formal.

Not entirely casual.

A strange middle ground that seemed to characterize many of their conversations.

Eventually, Luca spoke.

"I assume Your Majesty didn’t call this late simply to check whether I was sleeping."

Celestia’s smile widened slightly.

"A reasonable assumption."

Then her expression gradually became serious.

The warmth disappeared.

The ruler returned.

And suddenly the room felt colder.

"I have received several reports regarding your expedition."

Luca nodded slowly.

"I thought you might."

"The reports are incomplete."

Of course they were.

Luca had already expected as much.

Many details from the sanctuary were likely being withheld even from official documents until the academy completed its investigation.

Celestia folded her hands together.

Her crimson eyes never left him.

"I would like to hear your account."

The request sounded polite.

Luca knew better.

It was not really a request.

The Empress leaned back slightly in her chair.

Golden hair cascading over one shoulder.

Her gaze remained calm.

Patient.

Observant.

The gaze of someone accustomed to extracting truth from incomplete information.

Then she spoke again.

This time more directly.

"Tell me everything that happened during the expedition."

The room fell silent.

Moonlight filtered through the dormitory window.

The communication crystal glowed softly between them.

And as Luca looked into the piercing crimson eyes of the most powerful woman on the continent, he suddenly had the distinct feeling that sleep would not be arriving anytime soon.