I am the old, fiery-faced man from the senior department.

"When they leave this narrow cage, they will realize that all our conspiracies, power struggles, and exchanges of interests are trivial matters."

"We will meet, Fushimi. We will meet."

"Soon... we will be able to tear this sky apart."

The promise Bai made to her during the day was also a promise to himself.

……

"Ayu is fast asleep."

Seeing Bai Zhou enter the house, Xi raised her hand to signal him to be quiet.

"Um……"

Silently, Bai Zhou arrived at the cradle and watched the sleeping baby dragon with Xi.

"Ah Yu really likes this little doll and won't let go of it no matter what. The old man is so angry he's jumping up and down."

Looking at the orca plush toy the little guy was hugging, Xi remembered how Sui had been so angry that she had jumped up and down because the little guy ignored her after getting a new toy. A smile touched her lips.

"Um... Ah Xi..."

His waist was embraced, and his warm breath brushed against her earlobe. The tingling sensation made Xi instantly go limp in his arms.

"gentlemen……"

"Idiot, don't do it here... you'll disturb A-Yu."

Xi held Bai Zhou's hand and scolded him playfully.

"Go into the painting..."

He curled, wrapped, and pressed the bluish-white tail tightly together.

The emerald and amber angles are parallel, perpendicular, overlapping, and changing.

Two hearts, filled with love, slowly drew closer, until they were content and love overflowed.

“...I know you’re about to do something earth-shattering again, Ah Xi.”

Leaning against him, Xi spoke softly.

“You’re afraid we’ll worry, you don’t want us to be concerned. You’re always like this.”

"That was true then, and it's true now. You've never told me that before."

"Although I am not as strong as Ling, my abilities are not as practical as Nian's, and I do not know as much as my elder brother or that Felindo..."

She took his hand and looked at his face.

"But this time, Ah Xi, I want to face this with you."

“Ayu has so many people who love her, who accompany her as she grows up, and who will walk with her through life. But you…Axi, this time, you must not leave me behind.”

"...No, sir."

“We made a promise that we would watch Ayu grow up and spend a long time together.”

He stroked her back and kissed her forehead during the day, making promises to her.

"This time, we will not lose anyone. We will keep our promise, and we will keep the next promise... We will not be separated... forever."

Whether it's Sichen or Xinghai.

He will not lose any of those he cares about.

……

"Then we'll take our leave, Divine Lord."

Fu Xun pulled his head and said goodbye to Bai Zhou.

“Isha-mla, sister, we have found other compatriots, and I will let you know.”

"They trust you more than we do now... but not everyone will trust you. Take care of yourself."

"Also, your songs are great. I'm really looking forward to your next album, please leave me an autographed one."

"...Ugh. Too long-winded."

Skadi neither agreed nor refused.

What does Titi want to do next?

After seeing the two off, he returned and spoke to her during the day.

“There’s a lot to do, old man.”

Following Bai Zhou, the little orca counted on its fingers with a slight troubled expression.

"What Sister Youyi mentioned about the integration of singing and dancing, and the recording of the next song."

"Everyone must keep searching..."

Even knowing that I've been deceived all along, the feelings I've developed over so long... the feelings I have for my teammates and comrades-in-arms are real.

If she could… she also hoped to be like the old man, to ease the conflict between the two sides and peacefully enter the next era together with the world. Of course, she wouldn't forgive those who persecuted her and the hunters.

"Keep it up, I have high hopes for Skadi."

Bai Zhou gently patted the baby orca's head, offering encouragement.

"I will work hard."

The baby killer whale happily agreed.

Life is tough back home, my second brother sighed.

"Big Brother?"

The door was pushed open a crack, and the young dragon cautiously peeked its little head out to look inside.

"Your Highness, you are half an hour early again today."

The man who was making tea stopped and looked up to speak softly.

"There's still plenty of time before the afternoon classes, so you can rest a bit longer. We have plenty of time, so you don't have to arrive early every time."

"A half-hour nap is enough... that's what the doctor said."

"...Is that so?"

The hot soup curls up the tea leaves, and the clear water slowly turns amber.

"Why...why are you pouring it out?"

Young Dragon had always wanted to ask this question, and only dared to ask it this time, taking advantage of the fact that the other party seemed to be in a good mood.

"This is low-foaming... no, it's just an act based on personal preference."

The man looked at the young dragon in front of him, who was humbly accepting instruction, paused for a moment, and then changed his words.

"The various procedures of tea drinking were originally advocated by extremely bored people. They are tedious and pointless activities done in a leisurely and elegant manner. Ordinary people are busy with farming and construction on weekdays. How can they have the leisure to indulge in such so-called elegant things?"

"For ordinary people, drinking tea is no different from drinking water. For us, we can drink tea however we feel comfortable with."

"...Ugh, I don't really understand."

The young dragon sighed softly, somewhat troubled.

The man poured him a cup of tea and said, seemingly casually:

"Your Highness was born in the deep palace and has never been to the secular world to experience the joys and sorrows of ordinary people, so naturally you cannot understand."

"Does going outside really make you understand?"

The young dragon's curiosity and delight were clearly visible. The man picked up his tea, took a small sip, and closed his eyes.

"……nature."

……

"Teacher, what am I supposed to learn today?"

"...Has Your Highness made any progress in swordsmanship?"

"It's acceptable..."

"That's acceptable... but that won't do. If Your Highness wishes to travel alone, you must learn some self-defense techniques."

"Ah...is it dangerous outside?"

"The area around the capital is naturally safe... but it's hard to say about other places."

The young dragon looked at the wooden sword in its hand, then put on a resolute expression and looked at the man.

"Then let's practice our sword techniques more today and strive to achieve some success as soon as possible."

Watching the young dragon diligently reviewing the sword techniques he had been taught, the man leisurely leaned back in his chair, sipping tea and pondering the chess game on the table.

"Master... I've never been able to master these moves that Master taught me."

"Hmm? Which moves?"

The man responded by pinching a black piece.

"Nine Techniques for Exorcising Demons".

"The Nine Forms of Exorcism... huh?"

The man paused for a moment, then looked at the baby dragon with a strange expression.

"What's wrong with you, boss...? You taught me those moves so early."

Does he expect the little guy to go to the Northern Region right now and wipe out all those things?

Or is it that the little guy can no longer protect himself by learning ordinary swordsmanship and must learn his Heavenly Calamity Sword Technique to be safe?

"This thing..."

Looking at the young dragon, who was eager for an answer, and at his bright green eyes full of curiosity, the man adopted a thoughtful expression.

Good heavens! He doesn't know that stuff at all. He only has a vague understanding of the moves, let alone how to teach it.

But... if he says he doesn't know, wouldn't all the reliable, omniscient aura he's painstakingly built up be...