- Clang...!

    “Hmm...”

    A crisp, refreshing metallic sound echoed through the makeshift training area beside the cabin.

    “Frey, you’re truly amazing. To have grown this much in such a short time.”

    My father, who had lost his sword to my strike, looked at me with a newfound expression and murmured.

    “...Father, are you alright?”

    “I’m fine. This is nothing.”

    He waved off my concern with his hand, but to my eyes, he didn’t look well at all.

    It was inevitable.

    In the past, he was healthy, but ever since my mother died, he secretly suffered from a heartache, hiding it from me and Aria.

    Moreover, having been bedridden for a long time due to the system and suddenly overexerting himself, he was bound to reach his limit.

    I’m worried he was overexerting himself to help with my training.

    “Father, let’s stop for today. We’ve already practiced enough swordsmanship...”

    “Cough, cough... But the time we’ve had to practice is far too short.”

    Despite his tired appearance, my father waved me off as I tried to support him back to the hut.

    “Although you’ve adapted quickly... any misstep could endanger you.”

    It seems my father wanted to teach me as much swordsmanship as possible before the Academy Siege began.

    “And you haven’t tried the technique yet...”

    He was pushing himself without regard to his body.

    “Father...”

    “Hand me the sword. I’ll demonstrate the technique now...”

    What should I do?

    It seemed the only way to convince him was to show results.

    “Son?”

    - Crackle...!

    As I thought this and gripped my father’s beloved sword, instead of handing it back to him, I channeled my sword aura into the blade.

    Then, a shimmering silver energy began to flow through the entire sword.

    This was a sword aura imbued with the properties of stellar magic, a unique energy that only I could wield. It resonated with the sword and flowed into the ground. R?A?ObΕs??

    “Huff...!”

    After observing this for a moment, I took a deep breath and unleashed a strike toward the sea with all my might.

    - Crackle...!

    A brilliant, dazzling trajectory flew toward the sea.

    “...Ha.”

    My father, who had been staring blankly at the sight of my strike splitting the sea and scattering stellar magic everywhere, burst into laughter and turned his gaze to me.

    “When did you master this?”

    “...Last night, while practicing alone.”

    “Really? If that’s true, it’s truly impressive.”

    He continued, looking amazed.

    “This is a technique I barely mastered with a specific purpose in mind.”

    “...”

    “Moreover, its power, duration, and size surpass mine by several times. My son is truly extraordinary.”

    My father, with a proud expression, patted my head.

    “...Thank you.”

    I smiled at him, but my heart felt uneasy.

    I’m still not there yet...

    I didn’t master it because I’m extraordinary.

    I succeeded because of a desperate desire, just like my father’s at that time, to make everyone happy.

    And I still couldn’t unleash its full power because of my damaged left arm.

    Even if my arm were healthy, it seemed like a long way to go to reach the level where I could split the sun.

    To make everyone happy, I needed to be that strong. But was it even possible?

    “Father, can I split the sun with this technique?”

    “The sun?”

    I asked, feeling slightly frustrated, and he gave a simple answer.

    “Of course, you can. With the stellar magic you’ve acquired, it’s possible.”

    “...Really?”

    “But remember, stars come in various sizes.”

    He smiled gently and whispered.

    “There are stars bigger than the sun, smaller stars, and stars the same size as the sun. After all, the sun itself is also a star.”

    “...”

    “So you must become a star big enough to swallow the sun.”

    It was a simple yet difficult solution.

    Could I reach that level in time?

    “So believe in yourself and move forward. There will be light there.”

    “...I understand.”

    I had to set aside my doubts and face the challenge.

    Only then I could advance.

    I just had to believe in the infinite potential of the stellar magic my mother gave me and the swordsmanship my father taught me.

    As my father said, “believe in myself and move forward, there will be light”.

    “Herooo...!”

    As I put down my sword, someone came running toward us from a distance.

    “Lunch is ready! Come and eat!”

    “Really?”

    Glare, who had stopped in front of me while holding something in her arms, smiled brightly and said.

    “Oh, and here, take this!”

    “Hmm?”

    As I was about to stroke her head and walk away, she handed me what she was holding tightly.

    “I made a lunchbox! Eat it if you get hungry during night training!”

    “You made this?”

    “Yes! I made it myself!”

    Glare, with a steaming lunchbox, clung to me with a bright smile.

    “I made it with Kania’s help early this morning!”

    Her face was smudged with soot, and she looked a bit tired.

    She must have made it herself. I’m touched.

    “As a reward, give me a kiss!”

    “...Hmm?”

    I looked down at her with a proud expression, and she closed her eyes tightly and shouted.

    - Flick!

    “...Ouch.”

    I gently flicked her forehead and took her hand.

    “You cheeky little rascal.”

    “...Hmph.”

    “Let’s go eat.”

    Entering the hut, which was full of fierce beasts, with such a cute and pure child made me feel strangely relieved.

    “...That lunchbox, it’s filled with stamina-boosting food.”

    “Hmm?”

    “I’ve also suffered a lot from your mother... I know it well.”

    As we walked toward the hut, my father’s deep voice sounded from behind.

    “Be careful... son.”

    “...!?”

    “It’s only a moment, son.”

    What did he mean by a moment?

    “Ferloche completed her awakening last time... Sister Isolet too... Lulu is almost done...”

    Avoiding their stares, I mumbled to myself and finally turned to the last person.

    “Irina! How about you?”

    “...Hmm?”

    “How is your awakening going?”

    I asked a question just to change the atmosphere, to give a compliment.

    “...”

    “Irina?”

    But soon, I regretted asking that question.

    “I’m sorry...”

    “Hmm?”

    “I... I haven’t made any progress yet.”

    Irina, looking down, muttered in a dejected voice.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    A while later, after the meal was over.

    “...”

    The heroines, having sent Frey out of the dining room under the pretext of cleaning up, silently stared at each other.

    “...You all knew Father was going out today, didn’t you?”

    The first to speak was none other than Kania.

    “Why didn’t you tell me?”

    “Do I really have to?”

    “How could you not? I just wanted to do something nice for him.”

    “I can see right through you~”

    “Stop hiding under the covers, you thieving cat.”

    “Professor, how did you know?”

    “...”

    As the banter started, Ruby, who had been watching with a relaxed expression, and Serena, who was gently stroking her belly, both stood up and spoke softly.

    “It’s amusing to watch you play house.”

    “I need to go for some prenatal education.”

    The atmosphere quickly grew quiet.

    “But we can’t always stay on the same level.”

    “Should I play classical music today... or maybe an orchestra...?”

    Unlike when Frey was present, Ruby whispered with a chilling smile, and Serena cradled her belly as they quietly left the dining room, casting a cold silence over the room.

    “That’s right! We can’t always stay on the same level!”

    In that situation, Glare stood up with a slightly serious expression.

    “Frey isn’t a pervert who likes children.”

    “She’s cute... let her be.”

    “Right. Plus, she saved the Master’s life, after all.”

    “I used to be that young too...”

    The heroines looked at her with more affection than competitiveness or jealousy, petting her gently.

    “Um...”

    As she was surrounded by them, receiving their touches quietly, Glare tilted her head and asked a question.

    “When I become an adult, how old will you all be?”

    Everyone in the dining room froze.

    “...Oh.”

    Isolet, who was patting Glare’s head, froze a little more than the others.

    “I’m going to watch the Hero train~”

    Leaving everyone frozen behind, Glare dashed out of the dining room.

    “Lady Solar...? A drama? Leave it to the expert? What drama...?”

    “I’m still... still in my twenties... still... twenties.”

    Followed by Kania, who was staring blankly into space and started tapping something in the air. Then Isolet also began to stagger out of the room, mumbling to herself with vacant eyes.

    “M-master... Please take me for a walk tonight...”

    “...”

    As even Lulu left the dining room, only two girls remained.

    “...Ugh.”

    “...”

    Clana, who had turned back into human form, regretting not staying in her transformed state to avoid the heroines’ pressures.

    And Irina, who had been silent with her head down since her earlier statement.

    “Uh, um... Irina?”

    “...”

    “Why haven’t you left...?”

    “...Sigh.”

    “N-nevermind.”

    Clana, trying to start a conversation, quickly gave up and resumed eating her unfinished meal after Irina sighed.

    - Squeak...

    “You two.”

    “Eek?”

    Seeing Ruby suddenly enter the room, Clana, startled, tried to hide her food.

    “W-what’s going on?”

    “I have something to discuss with you.”

    “W-with us?”

    Clana, who had the least interaction with Ruby and found her slightly intimidating as she had been the Demon King not too long ago, started sweating nervously.

    “It’s something very important for both of you.”

    “V-Very important... ugh...”

    Clana, who felt scared and burdened by Ruby, shrank even more, looking as if she were about to cry.

    “Now... who should go first?”

    “T-then... maybe Irina should go first...”

    “Alright, Clana. You first.”

    “Eek.”

    Pointing at Irina nervously, Clana gulped when Ruby’s gaze fell on her.

    “Do you want to hear the good news or the bad news first?”

    “G-G-good news first.”

    Closing her eyes tightly, Clana chose to hear the good news first.

    “Alright, I’ll start with the good news.”

    The next moment, she could hardly believe her ears.

    “Clana, your mother is alive.”

    “...What?”

    Clana jumped up from her seat in shock, while Irina, finally snapping out of her daze, stared at Ruby with wide eyes.

    “What are you talking about...?”

    “And Irina, you are not actually human.”

    “...What?”

    Irina, looking just as shocked as Clana, stood up.

    “Sit down.”

    Ruby murmured in a low voice, watching them.

    “This will take quite a while.”

    Slowly sitting back down, the two girls began to listen intently to Ruby’s words.