Chapter 269

Chapter 269. Steadying the Heart

Pia, ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Wisdom’s Second Daughter, opened her eyes. She had kept them closed for some time, but she could not sleep.

Whenever ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍she closed them, she saw that man reaching out through the flames and emerging from them.

“How…? ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍How could he do that…?”

It ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had not been ordinary fire. It was the fire of a 6th Circle Fire Attribute mage.

She ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had heard that Millesdusk had made resistance potions to prepare against Fire Attribute magic, but there were limits to what those could do.

This ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍heat was beyond anything the resistance from a potion could withstand in the first place. The 6th Circle was not so easily dismissed.

Why did most people talented in magic stop at the 5th Circle?

The 5th and 6th Circles were one step apart, but a towering wall stood between them. Only those who crossed it could walk the path of a high-level mage.

“I’d become so much stronger than I used to be. I know I had….”

Pia raised one hand. The other naturally rose with it.

The Pursuers’ Binding Rope held her wrists together.

“…If I were at the 7th Circle like my sister, I could burn through even an artifact that seals my mana.”

From the 7th Circle, when one was recognized as a high-level mage, it became possible to control even specks of mana.

She could draw mana smaller than airborne dust into her grasp and turn it into a dying ember.

Then she could feed it again and again until it became a raging fire. That would be nothing to a 7th Circle mage.

To someone at the 6th Circle, however, it was little more than a fantasy. Just as what a 6th Circle mage could do seemed like a fantasy to someone at the 5th.

“Big Sister Cos….”

The name of a blood relative she usually hated even saying came naturally today. Perhaps this room made her feel differently.

“I always envied how nice your room looked. I never thought I’d end up living in it this way.”

Pia gave a self-mocking laugh.

The room the Fifth Son’s Head Maid had shown her was one the Master of the Tower of the Sky had given Cos.

Apart from being a prisoner, she had a spacious, cozy place to rest.

KNOCK, KNOCK—

“Second Daughter. I have prepared your meal.”

“…….”

Pia had not invited her in, but the Head Maid opened the door from outside and entered with a basket in one hand.

“It is Eastern food, and provisions made to keep for a long time. I do not know whether it will suit your taste, but it is nutritious.”

She placed the basket’s contents on the table, and Pia sat up from where she had been lying on the bed.

“Are you going to keep me tied up while I eat, too?”

“You are a 6th Circle mage, my lady. Perhaps you should be a little more aware of the danger you pose.”

“…All the Millesdusk blood relatives are here right now. I’m not that stupid.”

The Head Maid shook her head anyway.

“The Fifth Son ordered it. He told me never to remove the Binding Rope, and I am merely obeying.”

“He’s more of a coward than I thought, for someone who walked through my flames bare-skinned.”

“I will serve your meal.”

She set down toasted bread and butter, dried meat, cheese, water, and other drinks, then picked up a knife.

“Are you insane? Don’t tell me you’re going to cut it up for me.”

“I had intended to feed you as well.”

“Get away from me.”

“You said it was inconvenient to be bound. Very well.”

“That would be even more inconvenient.”

The Head Maid put down the knife and fork and took a step back.

“Please eat.”

“I said I would. Now leave.”

“The Fifth Son instructed me to watch you eat before I return.”

“…….”

Pia had to take back what she had said about him being a coward. The Fifth Son was a madman.

“Why?”

“You are a valuable prisoner, my lady. We are trying to keep you healthy. I ask for your understanding.”

“You talk about me like I’m an animal.”

“That is only my way of speaking. Please do not misunderstand.”

Of course. A psychopath at a madman’s side.

Pia sighed and awkwardly picked up a spoon with her bound hands. She scooped up the soup set before her and put it in her mouth.

It had little flavor, but her hungry stomach welcomed it all the same.

“Satisfied? Now go.”

“I suppose I should. I am relieved to see you can eat well on your own.”

So she was being treated like a baby rather than an animal.

Pia furrowed her brow, but she kept chewing and swallowing the food that had been prepared.

“For your information, the Fifth Son said he would accept you on the best possible terms if you decided to surrender to the East.”

“Tell him not to be ridiculous.”

“He added that Wisdom mages have already surrendered, as has an illegitimate daughter. He asked you to bear that in mind.”

“…An illegitimate daughter?”

Someone she had long forgotten suddenly came to mind.

A half-acknowledged member of the direct line, whom even her father had waved away and told her to forget as though she were nothing.

“Josephine is here on Sky Island…?”

“She is. She is one of the Young Master’s great strengths.”

“…Did Josephine say anything about me? No. Never mind.”

Pia stopped speaking and lowered her head again.

“Miss Josephine has said nothing about you, Lady Pia. She has not mentioned you or shown any reaction.”

“I… see.”

“Please rest.”

The Head Maid bowed to her, then closed the door and left.

Alone again, Pia stopped the spoon that had been moving so steadily. In the silence, she remembered the past.

It was a memory of childhood, when she had had no sense and the space where it should have been was full of inferiority.

***

Kairos rolled up his sleeve and exposed his forearm.

The Fire Dragon had grown used to Polymorph. When he took human form now, he had no dragon traits at all apart from his eyes.

Yet there was a single scale on his forearm. It was silver, the last color one would expect to grow on a Fire Dragon.

It was silver overall, but its brilliant sheen held five colors.

“…This….”

“Master, do you know what it is?”

“I think I do.”

Wisdom had a wealth of knowledge about dragons. The youngest son had also been a player of Wisdom, so he knew what the scale meant.

“Put briefly, this silver scale is a certificate.”

“…A certificate?”

The youngest son nodded.

“It is proof that this dragon has a strong chance of growing into an Ancient Dragon.”

“And something like that… appeared on me all of a sudden?”

“Yes. Normally, it does not appear all of a sudden. A silver scale is usually there from birth.”

Silver scales were innate. They could not be acquired later, which was why the youngest son was surprised.

“Then, Master, do you happen to know why I have grown one?”

“There is only one reason.”

“…Drinking blood?”

“That is what I think.”

Agreeing with Kairos, he recalled a conversation with Alicious, the Ancient Dragon and Yellow Dragon.

[Listen carefully. Kairos now has the vampire trait of growing stronger through blood. The crucial point is that it works only with dragon blood.]

[If he must face his own kind, first target a dragon against which a Fire Dragon has the advantage. Let him drink its blood. Each time, he will gain power that leaps across years.]

Power that leaped across years. To a dragon, years were strength. That strength had come to a young Fire Dragon who had yet to live through them.

Perhaps the silver scale had responded to it.

“Originally, Kairos, you would not have gained enough power to be acknowledged as an Ancient Dragon. Drinking blood changed that. Do you understand?”

“Yes. Dragon blood has become a tonic for me, has it not?”

“The more you drink, the more you can shorten the years a dragon would normally have to endure.”

“I understand. I will try, but I doubt it will be easy.”

It was dragon blood, of all things, that he had to absorb. It could hardly be easy, as Kairos had felt keenly in his recent fight.

“If the Wind Dragon had not let his guard down, I probably would never have had the chance to try it.”

“Drawing out an opponent’s carelessness and striking when it comes are part of your ability, too. And it will be easier from now on.”

There was only one dragon with a silver scale in the West.

Just as Alicious, the Ancient Dragon, protected the Imperial Family, a dragon protected Wisdom.

That dragon had not yet lived long enough to be called Ancient, but it had been born with a silver scale.

The Fire Dragon would have to face it one day. When he did, he would not be alone.

“Rest for now. You worked hard.”

“When will you rest, Master?”

“I’ve rested enough.”

“Are you lying even to me?”

The youngest son thought for a moment. Had his heartbeat betrayed the lie? Had blood-drinking given Kairos that ability as well?

His search for an explanation showed on his face, and Kairos pointed to the windows around them.

“Look at your own eyes, Master. They are drooping half again as much as usual.”

“Hmm. I see.”

Unable to deny it, the youngest son scratched the back of his head and nodded. But there was too little time to rest at ease.

“Wisdom will bring its mages back. We have to prepare.”

“Can you not have your Clone do the work?”

“There’s enough work that even with the Clone helping, it won’t be easy.”

“Tsk….”

Kairos was displeased, but he had no choice but to step aside and let him reach the door.

“I cannot tell whether this war is meant to kill Wisdom’s Family Head or to kill you, Master.”

“We’ll know at the end.”

The youngest son passed the Fire Dragon and took hold of the doorknob.

“I’m betting it won’t be me.”

“…Can you tell me when that gamble of yours will end?”

“Not today, at least. I’m sorry.”

“That only makes me feel I must work harder.”

The youngest son smiled a little bitterly and nodded.

“See you later.”

“Yes. See you later.”

The youngest son left Kairos’s room, deep in thought.

He was not thinking about whether he ought to rest.

‘At this rate, Millesdusk will have a guardian dragon of its own.’

That would be a very good thing. A guardian dragon was power and authority in its own right.

Having a dragon that could always be called on in human conflicts was an enormous advantage.

Even in the battle against Wisdom, without the Fire Dragon, there was no telling how many the Wind Dragon’s winds would have swept away.

‘I can’t face an unharmed dragon on my own yet, either.’

The more cards he had to face another of Wisdom’s strongest forces, a dragon, the better.

As he walked and put his thoughts in order, Enad spoke.

[From what you said to the Fire Dragon, I know you are not going to rest. Where are you going now?]

“You could say I’m going to rest in my own way.”

[How?]

“I promised to raise a celebratory drink with my elder brothers and sisters before midnight.”

[…That sounds dizzying just to imagine.]

The youngest son laughed soundlessly. In the past, he might have thought as Enad did, but he felt a little differently now.

“Why? They’ve each got something endearing about them.”

[I do not understand what you mean.]

Enad fell silent after that. The Fifth Son had stopped in front of a door with noise plainly coming from within.

RATTLE—

“You’re all here already.”

“Dante! Hey, come here! These Ghost Sisters are saying something ridiculous!”

“Your height has stopped right there. You’re the same as last year.”

“No! I’m still growing!”

Jamie threw both arms up in protest, but a raccoon dog was still a raccoon dog even with its arms raised.

The First Son clicked his tongue.

“Then there is no harm in your drinking. If you have stopped growing already, nothing can be done.”

“Th-that can’t be true! I’m going to grow more!”

“…….”

The youngest son, who knew how this story ended, remained silent.

As a player who had seen Acts 1 through 3 of Millesdusk, he could say it with certainty.

The Fourth Son would not grow any taller.

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