Goliath’s eyes flared at Bernstein’s indifferent words. Madness swirled in his bloodshot gaze.
He hadn’t felt this level of agony since the so-called ‘Child Test’ of his youth, nor had he ever tasted such bitter humiliation. Goliath had no intention of forgiving those who had tormented him. While he couldn’t start a territorial war single-handedly, he didn’t need to.
“Bring that brat before me. I won’t be satisfied until I rip her to shreds.”
“I will notify you if an opportunity arises. Please, focus on your recovery.”
Bernstein Crichton. He was the most superior model among the Head of House’s homunculi. Even the elders of Bellarion could not distinguish whether he was flesh and blood or a construct. His mission was to lurk within Pashayen and seize any chance to gnaw at that massive family—but that was merely the surface. He had a deeper, more vital directive: to weed out the overgrown grass.
Bernstein wasn’t taking Goliath’s side. He had simply judged Goliath’s stupidity a threat to the Head of House, and he intended to prune the liability accordingly.
*Stomp, stomp.*
He retreated, vanishing into the shadows. No one but Goliath knew he had been there.
However, there was something neither of them knew. Up in the night sky, the countless ‘eyes’ that had been watching from the start chuckled. This secret was theirs alone.
* * *
“Goliath is a dullard who doesn’t warrant further concern. He will self-destruct soon enough.”
In an elegant room done in shades of turquoise, a thirteen-year-old girl curled her lips upward. Her name was Dioroz Bellarion. She was an Awakener who had passed the ‘Child Test’ at the Eclipse Bellarion for the third time, becoming the third child and the only daughter.
“But who is this cute baby who messed with Goliath? I wonder. Diegon Pashayen’s daughter died long ago, after all…”
Her soft voice carried the scent of perfume and soap. The young girl, possessing a natural grace that colored even her simplest gestures, whispered to her own ability.
“She was cute, though. Really adorable. Don’t you think?”
Dioroz Bellarion also possessed a sentient ability. A shadow woman with her eyes bound in jet-black cloth hugged Dioroz, her own dark lips curling. Dioroz burst into laughter at the whispers only she could hear.
“Ah, what if Goliath ruins that cute baby with his second ability? I wouldn’t like that. Shall we save her?”
Bellarion’s ‘Child Test’ is a terrible, jagged thing. First, children who develop a *Bijou* are shoved into a pitch-black basement, forced to train until they are stained by the shadows. Life-threatening training. Once the *Bijou* sprouts, they are forced to butcher one another. There is only one condition for surviving that darkness:
‘Be a dual-ability Awakener.’
If an Awakener is pushed to the very brink of death, they awaken once more. That is how the second ability is obtained. All of Bellarion’s children possessed dual abilities; Goliath was no exception. Even without the Bogeyman, there were other measures remaining.
“Yes. Let’s keep watching and help her. Such a cute child must be protected. She even sang well.”
Was it *The Chick Went Peep-Peep-Peep*?
There had been ‘eyes’ inside the Bogeyman’s sack as well. Dioroz had seen Shuperti introduce herself and handle that terrifying situation. She had taken quite a liking to the child—a spark of innocence that Dioroz herself lacked. A little star she wanted to cherish rather than ruin, to value rather than discard.
“Soon, there will be an occasion to meet her in person…”
Dioroz, who had been stroking the shadow woman’s head, opened her mouth slightly and breathed, “Ah.” Even that motion was incredibly refined.
“But Rasepher Laximun was there, too, wasn’t he? Why on earth did that stuck-up brat crawl in there?”
Her eyes, red like high-purity rubies, narrowed. She couldn’t know the reason, but one thing was certain: if Rasepher Laximun was interested in Shuperti Pashayen, then that child—who had captivated both Goliath and herself—was definitely special.
If only to discover the root of that mystery, Dioroz made up her mind. She would meet Shuperti in person.
* * *
“Waaaaah, Young Lady!”
“Lina, ubb!”
“Young Lady, Young Lady, I was so worried! Waaaaaah!”
“Ubb-ubb.”
The next morning, I was bombarded by hugs. First from Lina, then Hans—the chef, his eyes rimmed with red tears—followed by the kitchen staff, and finally, the gardener, who hoisted me high into the air.
“Our brave little baby, you seem to have lost weight. Oh, my goodness, which wicked scoundrels!” Hans shouted, his voice trembling. He sneakily pressed a snack into my hands. “You’ve been through such an ordeal; you must eat better than usual. Please, have some of my special fluffy sweet potato cheese bread.”
“Ung!”
As I munched away, visitors arrived one after another, starting with Teacher Cedric and Carmine.
“Oh my, Young Lady. I heard you were very brave yesterday! This Cedric heard that you even saved the half-elves who were trembling in fear! Wow, you are truly amazing!” Teacher Cedric made a dramatic fuss, while Carmine remained steady.
“The Admiral is out at sea for training right now. I have sent word, so he will be here soon.”
“Uung. Is Micard brother okay?”
“He left for training as well. He is fine after a night’s rest. Young Master Neiad is still not in good condition, but the doctor is tending to him.”
Listening to Carmine’s calm explanation, I took a big bite of a glistening strawberry. Everyone was praising me as a brave baby, and I couldn’t help but puff out my chest.
“Um…”
I’d gotten strawberry juice all over my fingers. As I wiped them with a handkerchief, a small voice sounded from the doorway.
“Oh! Half-elf friend!”
“I heard you woke up…”
“Quickly, ah— do you want a strawberry?”
When I chose a large one and held it out, the half-elf friend’s eyes widened.
“What’s your name?”
“Joey.”
“Yes! Joey!”
I giggled and offered her the whole bowl. There was still plenty left. Joey hesitated, then hugged the bowl to her chest and hung her head low.
“…Thank you.”
“Ung?”
“Tha, thank you, human.”
Her pointed ears turned pink, perhaps out of shyness. I maturely pretended not to notice.
“Ah, right! Uncle Carmine.”
“Yes, Young Lady.”
“Is Joey going to live here now, too?”
“The half-elves you saved were living in the elven world, not the human one. We decided to give them time to adapt to human society. They will go through an adaptation process, and after that, we plan to see what roles they can take on within Pashayen.”
That’s a relief.
Seeing her in the bright light, Joey looked as delicate as a snowflake. It felt as if she had been fashioned from piled-up white snow, but as her ears and cheeks flushed, she looked just like a winter plum blossom. She had chopped her long hair into a blunt bob, which suited her perfectly.
“Joey, is there something you want to do?”
When I sat her down and asked, Joey, who was carefully eating her strawberry, nodded.
“I want to become a navy soldier.”
“Wow!”
“I know how to use a sword. I’m good at scouting, too. I’m confident in tracking. If I become a navy soldier, then I’ll protect you. So…”
As Joey continued, she glanced at Carmine.
“Haha, that is a matter for the Admiral to decide, but since you are a half-elf, your physical capabilities must be excellent. You can take the entrance exam, but… you have to be of age.”
At the mention of age, Joey sniffed. Then, she muttered in a small voice:
“Even though you’re younger than me.”