Lynen swung the magic sword a few times and said, “It’s not powerful enough to overtake the user’s consciousness. It won’t be able to eliminate you.”

“Still, we’re not talking about a dog or cat here—giving him a magic sword to raise seems a bit…”

As Calliphe hesitated, Noah quickly jumped in to persuade her.

“I won’t cause any trouble. I’ll train well too. Please?”

“That’s right! I’ll manage this small human well!”

“You’re the one being managed, you know?”

“Gasp. Evil human…”

It certainly didn’t seem intelligent enough to cause real harm.

Though still concerned, Calliphe wanted to grant Noah’s request since this was the first time he had ever asked for something.

Calliphe finally gave her reluctant approval.

“Fine. But if you hurt Noah, know that you’ll be thrown straight into a furnace, you piece of scrap metal. Got it?”

“Waaah. The yellow one is scary.”

Noah hugged the trembling magic sword tightly and chuckled.

“Thank you for allowing me.”

“But you’re forbidden from taking it to the martial tournament. Understood?”

“Yes. But, um…”

Noah hesitated before asking.

“Will you come watch the tournament?”

What a question.

Calliphe smiled slightly.

“Of course.”

Even at school performances, children look for their parents. How much more important would the Empire’s major Harvest Festival event be?

“I’ll definitely come watch. Promise.”

“…Yes!”

When Calliphe offered her pinky finger, Noah smiled brightly with relief.

* * *

Deep in the night, I tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep.

‘If the future I saw in the mirror is real… how can I protect Noah?’

Should I cancel his tournament participation?

‘No, no. Absolutely not. That would be the worst move.’

Noah had already tasted bitter defeat against Dillen. If I told him not to participate now, he would understand why.

It would ultimately cause him humiliation and hurt little different from the bad ending.

‘Besides, I need Marcel’s cooperation to secretly restore Marquis Offensa… so the prize is necessary.’

What are the chances of Noah defeating Dillen?

“Oh, I just realized I completed the filial piety quest!”

I forgot to check. I quickly opened the quest window.

[Filial Piety Quest Completed!]

[You experienced danger in the dungeon but sustained no notable injuries. Noah is relieved about your safety.]

[You gain 3 Filial Piety points as a reward.]

[Current Filial Piety: 41]

[Congratulations! For achieving 40 Filial Piety points, Noah’s abilities have slightly increased.]

[Noah’s Swordsmanship has increased by 20.]

[Noah’s Swordsmanship Ability: 219]

‘Already over 200!’

Noah’s swordsmanship improved rapidly while fighting skeletons. But there seemed to be a limit, as he couldn’t exceed 199 no matter what.

‘He easily broke through with the Filial Piety quest.’

If a “slight increase” means 20 points, would a major increase be possible?

Just then, the system gave me a new notification.

[From Filial Piety 50 and above, potential will be awakened rather than ability increases.]

Potential? Will it unlock some hidden talent?

“Well, it’s not like I can freely receive Filial Piety quests whenever I want… sigh.”

Back to square one.

How can I protect Noah while we’re separated? Leave him with Mihail?

No. Though power ab*se is his specialty, he’s still a child and I can’t put him in danger.

“Maybe I should go myself.”

It would have been good to know exactly how Noah got into trouble. Unfortunately, the mirror only showed the beginning and end without the middle process.

‘Would Lynen know a solution? But he looked busy too.’

I quietly abandoned my initial thought of heading to his room immediately.

‘…I should think more about this myself.’

I wanted to check the Mirror of Truth once more. I might discover clues I missed.

‘But why am I getting hotter?’

I stood up unsteadily, putting on my slippers. When I raised my head to look around the dark room, something felt off.

‘Is it because I’m dizzy? Why do the objects in the room seem higher?’

I did push myself today. Must be fatigue.

Thinking hazily, I lit a candle. I sat at the dressing table and took out the Mirror of Truth from the locked drawer.

“Show me my future again.”

But the mirror remained silent.

“It doesn’t seem broken.”

Could it be that I lack magical energy?

‘Well, the mirror did drain an enormous amount of my magic when I first held it.’

Perhaps the mirror was partly responsible for the deaths of princes during their power struggles? A reasonable suspicion.

I put the mirror back in the drawer and locked it.

‘I should keep it for now. We never know when something might happen in the future, like this time.’

Though I won’t be able to use it often due to the magic drain.

As I was getting down from the dressing table chair with these thoughts—

Hop.

‘…Hop?’

Strange. Was the chair that high before?

I looked at the dressing table and chair. They definitely looked taller than before.

“What’s going on?”

Am I seeing things?

I rubbed my eyes and looked again. The objects around me still appeared taller.

“…Sleep will fix this. Let’s sleep. Yes.”

It’s probably nothing.

As I turned toward the bed, suddenly my slippers felt too big, making me hesitate. Feeling something under my foot, I looked down to see the hem of my nightgown.

“Huh? What?”

Swish. The collar slipping down my shoulder.

A bad premonition struck the back of my head.

I quickly climbed onto the dressing table chair. After turning on all the lights, I checked my reflection in the mirror.

And there—

“…Eeeeek!”

* * *

“…The Special Monster Division using the imperial palace dungeon. And them possessing a special brainwashing substance. These two facts are certain.”

Lynen stood by the window with only one lamp lit.

He held a communication stone in his hand.

Heron’s voice came through:

“So that’s why they weren’t discovered. Honestly, it’s quite bold. They say the darkest place is under the lamp, but who would have thought they’d use a dungeon within the imperial palace?”

“The high-ranking palace official behind the Young Marquis.”

Lynen muttered.

“The boldness must be his.”

“What should we do, my lord?”

“They’ve been using dungeons like portals. There must be dungeons in the north that they’ve used as well.”

“Understood. We’ll search the dungeons owned by our family first. Other dungeons too, of course.”

“Good.”

Combining their travel routes would reveal it.

Where all the monster cores collected by the Special Monster Division ultimately gathered.

Perhaps even their purpose.

‘Making Caiman the Marquis Offensa must be just one step in their plan.’

After discussing the territory with Heron a bit longer, Lynen ended the communication.

As he was about to turn off the lamp while rubbing his tired eyes—

“Eeeeek!”

Lynen froze at the sudden scream.

‘…A child’s voice?’

Noah?

As Lynen was about to open the door to check, he collided with a small child running into his room.

The child grabbed Lynen’s clothes with both hands and hung on.

“L-L-L-Lynen! Something terrible happened!”

“…You are.”

Honey-thick golden hair and white skin. Red eyes like pomegranate seeds, upturned like a cat’s, giving her a haughty look.

Though still young, she looked like a high-maintenance child.

She resembled someone Lynen knew very well.

“…Who are you?”

“It’s me, me!”

The little girl jumped up and down in frustration. Eventually, she clutched Lynen’s clothes desperately.

“I’m Calliphe!”

“……Calliphe?”

“Yes! It’s me! I suddenly became younger!”

The girl exhaled sharply in frustration and swept her hair back with one hand.

That practiced gesture of showing temper—it was definitely Calliphe’s.

“Young… Calliphe?”

Lynen examined the temperamental child from head to toe.

Her upturned eyes were still fierce, but her round face and cheeks like white bread made her look like a kitten.

Her lips, which would turn crooked and wicked when displeased, were now pouting adorably.

‘…Did she look like this when she was young?’

Lynen found himself smiling without realizing it.

‘She was cute even as a child.’

Wait! What did I just think…?!

Lynen squeezed his eyes shut and grabbed his forehead.

“What’s wrong? I said it’s terrible! Are you listening to me?”

Only Calliphe, who didn’t understand what was happening, continued to fuss.