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"Selfi, big brother seems tired. Let's go out first."

Perhaps out of consideration for Sagan, they nodded slightly and left the room.

Finally, Fael also left Sagan's side.

"Fa'er, where are you going?"

"...I'm going outside to enjoy the scenery."

Judging from her tone, she seemed less saddened by her inability to break the curse and more aware of her sense of responsibility.

—This isn't your fault.

This was the result of Sagan's negligence, and besides, Sagan couldn't possibly resent her own daughter.

However, even if Sagan tried to comfort her now, she probably wouldn't listen. Sagan could only silently watch Fael leave.

As a result, only Sagan and Nefertivskyi remained in the room.

Then there was a moment of silence.

However, Sagan is now grateful that it was Neferi who was silently by her side.

Finally, Sagan spoke:

"I'm sorry, Neferpitou."

"Why did Mr. Sagan apologize?"

Neferpitou stared wide-eyed, while Sagan, somewhat hesitant to speak, began:

"Because we're underwater, the feeling of the date becomes ambiguous, but... today is the day we agreed to have a date."

However, Sagan was unable to restore it to its original state.

He broke the contract.

Neferi pressed her hand tightly to her chest, then responded with a gentle smile.

Please don't worry, I will keep waiting.

"...It will take me almost ten years to grow to my original age, you know?"

Sagan wasn't even sure if it would grow.

However, Neferi shook his head, as if he didn't care about it.

"Yes, I will wait for you no matter if it takes ten or a hundred years. Because for a magician, ten or a hundred years is not a long time, is it, Mr. Sagan?"

Sagan thought the same thing when Neferi was a child.

However, there are some things that cannot be made her wait ten years.

Sagan stood up from his chair and turned to face Neferpitou.

"Nefi, bend down."

"...Is that so?"

Neferpitou lowered his white head, while Sagan took out a necklace pendant from his robes. It was a magical silver necklace pendant left behind by Orion, and he placed it around Neferpitou's neck.

Nefi stared in astonishment.

"Mr. Sagan, what is this...?"

"This is what I found in the elven village. It seems to be the only item Nefi was wearing when she was brought to that village."

Sagan lowered his head and clenched his fists.

Actually, I wanted to give it to her in person at the end of our date.

But Sagan couldn't keep Neferi and Orion waiting for ten years.

Sagan looked down, tears streaming down her face.

—This is the first time I've felt so useless.

This was probably the first time he couldn't hold back his tears.

Neferpitou, however, embraced Sagan tenderly.

"Thank you for giving me something so precious, Mr. Sagan."

Then she comforted Sagan, rubbing her cheek against Sagan's cheek.

"But it's okay, because I understand the efforts Mr. Sagan has made for me, so at least for now, you don't have to force yourself."

Her embrace was so tender that, at her urging, Sagan buried her head in her chest.

—So warm…

And it's very soft.

Perhaps this was the first moment when Sagan, who couldn't let anyone see her vulnerable side, showed weakness after finding someone she loved—no, after finding someone to protect.

Sagan clung to Nefi without moving until the tears welling in his eyes stopped.

I don't know how much time has passed.

The tears finally stopped, and Sagan sniffed, looking apologetic.

"Um... I'm sorry, I showed you an embarrassing side of me."

"There's nothing to be ashamed of. On the contrary, I'm quite happy to see a new side of Mr. Sagan!"

—I really lost to her…

Although her stance was completely reversed from usual, surprisingly, Sagan did not feel unhappy.

No, perhaps it was always like this from the beginning. Neferpitou was willing to stay by Sagan's side because she understood everything about him and affirmed his beliefs.

Sagan felt incredibly ashamed, and just as he was in agony, Neferpitou said:

"And I think Mr. Sagan probably didn't break the contract, did he?"

"……?What's the meaning?"

Just as Sagan pressed for an answer—

Suddenly, a sharp pain, as if his heart had been pierced, struck him, and Sagan collapsed.

"Goooooo?"

"Mr. Sagan!"

Neferi cried out in anguish, but Sagan could not answer her.

—What is causing this pain?

Sagan felt a wave of exhaustion, as if magic was being drained from his heart; he was drenched in sweat and even breathing was difficult.

Then, as if by signal, the door to the room opened without any knocking.

"Sagan, something terrible has happened!"

It was Shestia. Seeing Sagan being held by Neferpitou, she was speechless.

"Miss Shestia, something terrible has happened! Mr. Sagan has collapsed..."

Perhaps she hadn't heard Neferpitou's voice, for Shester said in a groan-like voice:

"—? Does it have anything to do with 'that'?"

"What do you mean by 'that'? Has something happened outside?"

Upon hearing the question, Shestie finally snapped out of her reverie and nodded in affirmation.

Then, pale-faced, he said:

"There are monsters outside—possibly demons like those from the time of Bivron."

Sagan was transformed into a child and lost the Celestial Phosphorus. This was the last thing he wanted to happen, but it had finally come to pass.

◇

Let's push the timeline back a little.

Far left Sagan's room and wandered aimlessly to the outside of the temple. She left the temple, left the town, and walked on the empty seabed.

She remembered the ballad Lilith sang.

The father in the song was both great and someone she was proud of, however—

—But I am the dragon.

Sagan is cursed, and unlike in the stories, there is no way to undo it.

She had intended to help him and become stronger, but the result was the opposite.

Upon hearing that there was no way to break the curse, Sagan's expression at that moment was deeply imprinted in Far's eyes, lingering there. That powerful Sagan had actually shown an expression of impending tears.

"It shouldn't be like this..."

She thought that as long as she became stronger, Sagan would be happy for her.

But that's not how it turned out.

As her body grew, her strength did increase, but that did not equate to becoming stronger. Even with this power, Fa'er was unable to destroy the Night Clan, who were of lower status than herself.

Moreover, even as a child, Sagan remained strong. He did not appear weak, but rather open and fearless, and he would readily respond to anyone who asked for his help.

The reason you can't become stronger is because you are weak.

If someone can't understand or accept such a simple principle, and is causing trouble for those around them, what else can they be but a child?

"What should we do now?"

Even after becoming a child, and even after learning there was no way to restore her, Sagan never blamed Fale.

If he yells and curses at Fa'er, Fa'er can still comfort herself in her pitiful state.

But Sagan would never do that.

Sagan will protect Fal with both gentleness and strictness. He will teach Fal thoroughly if she makes a mistake, and praise her when she does well.

Although it has only been a few months, the warmth he has given to Fa'er has begun to gradually surpass the warmth given by the Dragon Father.

Therefore, Fa'er was able to rely on him sincerely and also respected him very much.