The bond between father and daughter.

After wrapping up the conversation with everyone, including Ruel, Elen was sent back to the Spirit Castle earlier than Lovell.

But as soon as she arrived at the castle, she widened her eyes in surprise—she was immediately escorted into a room, surrounded by the Great Spirits.

“W-what’s going on? Everyone…”

“Princess, please come this way…”

They didn’t say why, but the Great Spirits looked tense, scanning their surroundings with wary eyes. Even a barrier had been erected around them. Something bad must’ve happened, Elen thought, her stomach twisting with worry.

“Mother? Is she okay? What’s going on?”

Her mind raced—had something terrible happened to her pregnant mother?

Still confused, Elen turned to the Water Great Spirit standing beside her.

“We’re fine, Your Highness. Origin-sama is unharmed. It’s just… we’re currently hosting guests.”

“Guests?”

“Yes.”

"...Do I really have to hide?"

That’s what it meant, wasn’t it? I’m not supposed to be found. Or maybe… maybe I’m just in the way? Elen walked to the sofa in the room and sat down quietly, like a good girl.

She felt a little sad—like she was being treated as a nuisance. Her shoulders dropped. She looked down.

Lovell still hadn’t come back from the castle. The information brought by Lyrul had been discussed between the head guard and Sauvel. Lovell, who’d been attending to the royal family, was supposed to join the discussion later.

By this point, Elen was no longer allowed to attend.

It had been King Ravisel himself who’d wanted her there. But she couldn’t just show up where the king wasn’t. That would’ve been rude.

Sauvel said he’d fill her in later. The sun had set, so she was sent home.

"…………"

I hadn’t expected to still feel that same awkwardness after returning home, even from the castle.

Maybe I’m just too young to be part of adult conversations.

No—she sighed. I *am* young. What else can I do?

“Your Highness…”

The elder spirits around her looked flustered. From their expressions, she could tell they didn’t want to exclude her at all. That made her smile wryly.

“I’m fine. Sorry. Just lost in thought.”

“Is that so?”

“Would you like something to drink…?”

“Shall I bring you something to eat?”

They kept rushing to attend to her, so she politely asked to be left alone in her room until called—just for a while.

So many things to think about. King Helgner, Amiel and Agiel’s hidden plans, what comes next for Lüel.

Lüel and Lore are the trump cards for the Kingdom of Tember. Lore’s presence—symbolic of the nation itself, as far as King Helgner is concerned—could not be more valuable.

The king’s collapse meant Elen never got to say it. Not another soul should be dragged into this human war. Not another spirit.

Lüel, left behind in Tember Castle, worries her too. Even if he offered help, he’s still nothing but a hostage.

…………ah

But no matter how it turns out, since the root of the conflict lies with the spirits, there’s no way to avoid getting involved.

And Lovell, above all, is the clear culprit. As the nation’s hero, the expectations from humans were immense.

(…wait)

Something’s off.

Amiel and Agiel’s schemes. Their intentions.

(Papa…?)

That’s why they teamed up with a neighboring country and betrayed us, isn’t it?

Oh right—Sauvel said something like that. According to the King, Lovell and Elen are the ones being targeted.

(But how?)

I could understand why I was being hunted, thanks to the whole Ruel and Lore situation, but even if Lovell’s half-spirit, how were they supposed to handle him?

The King said Amiel thought it’d be easy to manipulate things if she had a royal hostage—naive, really—but now I couldn’t help wondering if there was something more concrete behind it.

(Okay, I get why Sauvel’s teaming up with Helgner—Father’s existence is inconvenient for the King—but how the hell are Amiel and the others supposed to get to Father...?)

By the time I’d thought this far, there was only one possible answer. The thought hit me so hard I nearly dropped my thoughts—then, out of nowhere, the voice cut in.

“That’s right, Elen-chan. Things won’t end well if we keep going like this.”

“…huh?”

There she was—suddenly, right beside the sofa I was sitting on, a voluptuous woman with a face that looked remarkably like my mother’s.

She swept her golden hair back elegantly and introduced herself.

“Missed you, Elen-chan. I’m Vaul.”

“I’m Vaul.”

Elen, who’d been staring at Vaul beside her, jumped at the voice from behind and turned again.

Before I knew it, I was sandwiched between two women.

“Mother… mmmph!!”

“Ah~h, Elen-chan!! I missed you so much!!”

“Who’s this adorable little thing? She’s practically the spitting image of young Origin-chan!!”

Drowning in the deep cleavage of the two women, gasping for air, I heard Vinth shout, “That’s enough!!”

“No slack allowed!! Hurry up and call Lord Lovell!!”

“Y-yes!!”

"Ohhh. Caught red-handed, huh~"

"Ugh. Now there's another annoying one..."

The Dual Goddesses pouted, grumbling their complaints. Elen stared at them, wide-eyed.

"U-uh... it hurts..."

"Oh! Sorry, sorry~"

Both of them let go of Elen right away, and she finally exhaled, relieved.

"Um... so, about this guest..."

"Well, that's just what 'uninvited guests' mean, darling~"

"Fu fu fu, hiding Elen-chan won't do any good. We see everything, after all. The only one who could hide Elen-chan like that is Lovell, the one who directly received Origin-chan's power~"

The Dual Goddesses cackled uproariously. The Great Spirits in the room turned pale.

Elen finally realized it. The Great Spirits had been trying to hide her from the Dual Goddesses all along.

"Um... hello. I'm Elen, the daughter of Mother."

“Kyaa～～n!!”

“Mugyuu!!”

Pulled in from both sides, cooing and squealing over me.

Drowning again in this mushy, dreamy haze—then suddenly, Lovell’s voice cuts through.

“Let go of Elen!!”

“Father!!”

I reach out, desperate for help—then lock eyes with him, and his face goes rigid.

“Ah….”

“…Father?”

He hesitates, hand outstretched toward me.

I freeze, stunned. Confused, I call again—and his face twists in pain.

“F-Father…?”

His hand trembles, clenched into a fist as if fighting to hold back.

He covers his own face.

“…I’m sorry. Just… let me be alone for a moment.”

I gape at Lovell vanishing mid-transformation—my reflex is to chase after him.

“No, Elen-chan,”

Van gently grabs my shoulder and stops me. His voice isn’t the bright tone it had a moment ago.

“Leave us.”

At Voal’s words, the great spirits in the room vanished all at once.

I don’t understand what’s happening. All I can do is look up at the Dual Goddesses, my face twisted with worry.

“Elen-chan, there’s something very important we need to tell you.”

“It’s about Lovell, too. Listen to this first—then go to Lovell after.”

“…What… is this about?”

“Lovell already knows. That’s why he’s been acting strange. Well, that’s a separate matter, though. Let’s start with what’s urgent.”

“…………”

“Elen-chan, you noticed, didn’t you?”

“You realized what the royal family’s really planning behind our backs. You did, didn’t you?”

“Ah… yes…”

“If we don’t act, Lovell’s in danger. That’s why I’m asking you this.”

“…No… not this… not really…”

"Love’ll be the spark that makes Elen make up her mind. She’ll have no choice but to act. You realized that, didn’t you?"

"...!!"

My whole body trembles. My breath comes in shallow gasps. Yes. That’s exactly what I just realized about Amiel and the others.

If we tried to neutralize Lovell using the same cursed power as the King—

"That curse... it’s changed. Unlike the others, it’s warped. Lovell can’t possibly block it."

"Such... nonsense!!"

"Their twisted thoughts are shaping the curse. Just like other curses affected different people in different ways, their feelings shaped this one too. Nothing happened before because the focus wasn’t on spirits. They didn’t even know it was a spirit curse."

"Feelings...?"

"If Lovell gets captured... you’ll understand, won’t you?"

In Val’s words, Elen held back tears, her eyes welling up, and nodded faintly.

That was it. The decision had to be made.

To see humans as "enemies."

“Ugh….”

Val gently wiped away the tears spilling from Elen’s eyes.

“Don’t cry, Elen-chan. We don’t want this either.”

The great spirits, who hadn’t forgiven the slaughter of their kin, mostly hated humans.

Spirits who made pacts with humans were like newborn infants—completely ignorant of the world.

They entered the bond out of mere curiosity. Many of them only developed a self after the pact was made.

It was Lovell and Elen who had been convincing the great spirits.

Thanks to King Helgner’s constant targeting of Elen, the great spirits were already on the verge of exploding—anger packed like bullets in their hearts.

The moment Lovell was captured was the same as pulling the trigger.

If anything happened to Lovell, it was obvious the wrath of Origin—the Queen of all Queens—would be upon us.

"Can you... do something about this...?"

"That’s something only Elen can do."

"Eh...?"

"I have a request, Elen. This is something only you—someone who doesn’t have to weigh humanity against spirits—can accomplish."

"When Lovell was reborn as a half-spirit, they’d already made their choice. That’s why Lovell can’t do it."

Before Elen even fully absorbed the Dual Goddesses’ words, she swallowed hard, her throat clicking.

Her body trembled uncontrollably, but she clenched her fists, forcing herself to hold still.

"I understand. Please, tell me."

Elen looked ahead, resolve set in her eyes. Vaul and Vael gave her the faintest, sad smile, and said, “Thank you.”

＊＊＊

On the highest balcony of the Spirit Castle, Lovell stood alone, gazing into the distance.

The shock of realizing he’d been the reason Elen couldn’t grow.

The way he’d repeated it like a curse, over and over.

He hadn’t meant it—never meant it—but sweet girl, she’d unconsciously tried to fulfill her father’s wish.

“Elen…”

Lovell covered his face with his hands and sank to his knees.

His life, abandoned during the Monster Tempest. He’d believed happiness was beyond his grasp.

Only Origin, who’d stayed by his side, had been Lovell’s salvation.

At the very edge of exhaustion, when no magic remained, he’d asked Origin to let go of his hand.

Still remembers it—the world enveloped in light, the sensation fading like fingers parting…

It felt like liberation from everything that had束缚ed him, yet also the terror of Origin—the only being left—vanishing completely.

That feeling lasted only an instant. When he opened his eyes again, there was Origin, crying.

Apologizing to Lovell, who stood frozen in disbelief at why he was still alive, Origin clung to him, begging not to be let go. And so Lovell forgave everything. He chose to entrust his life to a spirit.

After some time passed, as if in celebration, Elen was born—something that should never have happened, never conceived by human or spirit alike.

"Elen…"

If Elen disappeared because of his own weakness…

If that ever happened, Lovell wouldn’t be able to bear it.

“……!!!”

He gritted his teeth so hard it hurt—then suddenly, a sharp jolt shot through his back.

“!?”

He turned around, startled—there she was, pressed right against his back, clinging to him.

“Eh… Elen…?”

"Ah~ I'll do this to you~! Just like this!!"

Giggling, Elen tickled Lovell’s sides, making him cry out in defeat.

"hehehe..."

"Wha—Elen?! N-no, stop it, please...!!"

"I'll stop if you surrender~"

"Y-yes! I surrender! I give up!"

"Alright then."

Elen looked down at Lovell, who was sprawled on the floor, panting heavily, and smirked proudly.

"...Elen."

"I just unconsciously fulfilled Father’s request, and honestly? That really pisses me off. So now, I’m going to grow up—no holds barred!!"

Elen declared it with a sudden, decisive flourish, making Lovell’s eyes widen in shock.

"I’m happy being Father’s daughter."

Smiling warmly, she suddenly wrapped her arms around Lovell.

"~...!!"

Lovell’s face twisted. He hugged his precious daughter tightly, murmuring an apology.

“Elen… thank you for being born. Thank you for being my daughter…”

“Yes. Thank you for being my father…”

Elen smiled, her face alight with happiness. Lovell, clinging to that warmth like a lifeline, smiled back.