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Yuli heard that Craig would be visiting during the festival, but she never expected to run into him like this.

Even Yuli seemed taken aback, her eyes wide open in shock.

“Father!”

Realizing she wasn’t seeing things, Yuli ran straight into her father’s arms.

Craig, seeing his daughter after such a long time, smiled gently at her while patting her back.

The emotional gap between the two seemed to have been filled, and compared to the past, Craig’s expressions had certainly become more varied.

“But didn’t you say you would be coming tomorrow?”

Yuli asked Craig, who ended up sitting next to me, facing him.

“Hmm, hmm… it just kind of turned out this way,”

Craig coughed behind his thick fists, then turned his head, diverting the conversation.

“Where are your escorts? You’re here all alone. I don’t see Sir Lupin either.”

“Ha ha… isn’t the fact that we’re having a father-daughter reunion the important thing?”

For some reason, Craig was dodging the question.

Yuli tilted her head, gazing at him to make sense of his evasion.

She was eager to hear a direct answer from Craig.

“…They’re managing the work in our territory for me.”

In other words, he had come alone. There was no real reason for Craig to attend the Celestial Festival; he had simply thrown all his responsibilities aside to see Yuli.

“More importantly, it seems both of you have been doing well. Especially Elysia. Her confidence seems to have improved tremendously. It’s hard to believe she’s still so young. And Yuli…”

Craig, perhaps feeling a bit embarrassed, shifted the subject.

However, even if he started off as a way to avoid embarrassment, his gaze toward me and Yuli became quite piercing.

After praising me a lot, Craig turned to Yuli, tilting his head slightly, an expression quite unlike his usual serious demeanor.

Though his head was tilted like Yuli’s, it felt entirely different.

“Hmm… I’m not so sure. Her outer aura and movements seem the same. It’s not that her energy has strengthened, but rather the quantity has increased…”

Linne and the Ghost Friends were hiding so well that even Sword Master Craig couldn’t detect them.

“Um… there’s something I need to tell you about that.”

“Hmm?”

Yuli checked the surroundings to ensure no one was watching and called upon Linne and the Ghost Trio.

—Ah, hello….

“Hmm…!”

Linne and the Ghost Friends suddenly appeared next to Yuli.

Craig squinted his eyes slightly at the unexpected appearance of the ghosts and looked them over.

“…I think an explanation is necessary.”

At Yuli’s gesture, she turned the Ghost Trio back to stealth mode, leaving only Linne as she slowly explained what had happened to Craig.

She recounted her visit to the old school teacher, where she met Linne and the Ghost Friends, and how she had given Linne a name and contracted with the other ghosts as well….

Of course, the contract was entirely up to Yuli, so there was no reason for her to seek Craig’s permission.

However, Yuli had not only given Linne a name but also granted her the family name ‘Atillea.’

The head of the Atillea family was Craig, Yuli’s father.

What Yuli did essentially infringed on the authority of the head of the family.

“Ha… ha ha… This is quite an unexpected situation, and it’s rather bewildering.”

As Yuli finished her explanation, Craig couldn’t hide his flustered expression and let out a nervous laugh.

While Yuli was still tense, Craig called to a passing waiter.

“Here, please set up the most expensive menu for three… no, four people. And I’d like a bottle of the finest wine as well.”

It was quite a typical rich person’s order, but perhaps due to Craig’s Sword Master stature, it didn’t come off that way at all.

Once the waiter took the order and left, Craig sank back into his chair, lounging comfortably.

“Alright. You’re Linne, right?”

—Yes, indeed!

Whether it was because she was nervous about meeting Yuli’s father or the sharpness that came from being a Sword Master, Linne’s answer was tight.

“Hmm… If you were around since the old school was built, then technically you’d be older than me, but… since you’ve only recently come into your own, can I speak informally?”

Even though the words were already informal, why bother asking for permission?

—O-of course!

“Thanks. Even if it’s common, it’s quite uncomfortable to speak formally to a girl around my daughter’s age.”

“I’ll bring out the first wine you ordered. This is our shop’s finest, Blue Rain aged 21 years.”

Craig received the wine bottle and glasses from the waiter, pouring a generous amount into each glass.

“I’ve never said this before, but… it’s quite difficult raising Yuli ever since her mother passed away. My son could manage on his own, but I’ve done so many things wrong with Yuli.”

“Father…”

Although Yuli’s relationship with him had improved dramatically recently, it seemed they had never had such a serious conversation before; she stared at Craig with a slightly taken aback expression.

“Still, Yuli seems to have a good eye for people, and thanks to the friends she’s brought, it seems she found a way to reconcile with me without even realizing it.”

This was probably about me.

“Yet, this daughter of mine has now brought Linne as her friend and family. The girl who used to only be stubborn has finally expressed what she wanted.”

Craig slowly brought the filled wine glass to his lips, taking a sip.

After savoring the taste of the wine in silence for a moment, Craig turned his gaze back to Linne.

“Though I don’t know much about you, Linne, your character and temperament seem so clear, almost like a tangible spirit, right? Apologies if I read your energy without permission. It seems to have become a habit by now.”

—No! Not at all!

“Anyway, Linne, you possess such a pure energy. Likewise, Linne must also be sincere with our Yuli, and they must both mean well for each other. Truly, our daughter has an excellent eye for people.”

I wished he would either talk about his family or tell stories, but I wasn’t bold enough to interject with the Sword Master in front of me.

Craig tipped the wine glass, emptying it in one go.

“Although it’s not easy for me to express my true feelings, I’ll ask for your guidance in the future, Lady Linne. No, Linne Atillea, my daughter.”

*

“I’m sorry to take your time, but would it be alright if we have a quick duel? I’m curious about the sword of the now-heroic Elysia.”

After finishing our meals, which took some time due to talking about Linne and various topics, Craig addressed us as we stepped outside the shop, specifically facing me.

“I would actually like to ask this of you. Isn’t that okay with you, Yuli?”

A duel with Sword Master Craig was something I welcomed.

Of course, Selian was also a Sword Master, but dueling with Craig, who wielded a completely different sword, would definitely be beneficial for me.

“…But it’s only for today that the two of you can be out together. I was hoping to spend a little more time with you just like this…”

But hearing Yuli saying she wanted to spend time with me made it difficult for me to insist on my way.

“True, the time for the duel is one thing, and taking a shower and changing clothes afterward would take some time. Then perhaps we should postpone the duel to another day…”

“Oh, no! If not now, when would I get to duel with Father and Elysia again! I’m fine with it, so just go ahead!”

Caught off guard by Yuli’s sudden change in attitude, I managed to peacefully finish the duel with Craig, thanks to her consideration.

*

“Then please wait a moment. I’ll wash up and be right out.”

Back in the dormitory room.

Since Selian and Anne had already left for their own plans, the room was empty.

Since we needed to hurry to cheer for Anne’s match in the afternoon after checking out the festival with Yuli, I grabbed an outfit and headed straight for the bathroom.

Click.

As usual, I locked the door and began peeling off my clothes layer by layer, tossing them into the laundry basket.

Splashing cold water over myself, I recalled the duel with Craig that had just taken place.

Though I had sparred with Craig a few times during summer break, the sensation during this duel felt quite different from before.

As I had become a hero and improved my skills through duels with Selian, my perception of the opponent’s sword had changed.

While I was cooling down my heated body with the cold water, reflecting on the duel,

Knock knock

“El? I’m coming in.”

Suddenly, there was a knock, accompanied by Yuli’s voice.

I needed to stop her immediately, but in the midst of my surprise at this unexpected situation, I heard the sound of the doorknob turning.

Phew, good thing I locked the door…

Click, creak.

The doorknob turned, and Yuli came in.

W-what an idiotic child! There’s a time for everything, but how could you forget to lock the door!