Chapter 151………………………………………………………
“Really?”
“Yeah, really.”
With eyes sparkling, I asked, and Zion’s dad gently patted my head, repeating his words once more.
“I’ll make sure the other dads can’t interfere, so from now on, train together with Per.”
“Dad, you’re the best!”
Having received the perfect answer, I jumped up on the spot and hugged Zion’s dad around the waist.
As expected, it’s Zion’s dad!
Honestly, I thought Zion’s dad would feel the same as the others.
And this time, even Mom was on board.
I had been thinking that I wouldn’t be able to meet Per for a while!
“Oh? You like that much?”
He lifted me again and asked.
“Of course! Because—”
“Because the only friend you have here is Per?”
Gasp! He interrupted me mid-sentence.
I widened my eyes for a moment, then slowly nodded.
Zion’s dad smiled warmly again and poked my cheek.
“Before, you said it was fine even without friends, because you could play with us. You’ve changed, haven’t you?”
“Nooo, that’s not…”
I had said that, true.
And honestly, playing with the dads had been fun too.
But that was only when I was at home.
“Right now, Mom and Dad are all busy.”
The only one who’s not that busy is Derek’s dad, but there’s nothing fun to do with him here.
Usually, we’d climb the hill behind the palace together.
And to be honest, playing with Per is more fun anyway.
But if I said that out loud, Dad would be disappointed, right?
He was being so kind, trying to protect my innocence…
“Just having fun with Per, huh, C.C.? I get it all.”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
No need to hide it then.
I stared into Dad’s blue eyes and let my true feelings slip out.
He already seemed to know everything, so what’s the point of lying further?
“Anyway!”
Still, I didn’t want to see Zion’s dad disappointed.
I jumped down from his arms and deliberately changed the topic.
“Since you finally gave me permission, I should tell Per this news.”
But I had no idea where Per was.
Mountain after mountain…
Feeling more helpless by the minute, I let out a heavy sigh.
Should I go to the palace magic research lab where I met Per last time?
But I heard they hardly go there anymore.
-What are you worrying about, yep?
While I was lost in thought, Yeppi, who had quietly followed behind us the whole time, landed on Dad’s head and spoke.
-Are you trying to find a way to contact that guy, yep?
“Yeah, exactly.”
Wait.
Yeppi can track magical power.
If anyone can find Per and deliver the message, it’s Yeppi!
“Yeppi, I need a favor—”
Just as I opened my mouth,
-Are you trying to ask me to bring that guy here, yep?
Yeppi tapped her feet and tilted her head before I could continue.
She clearly didn’t like my request.
And not just a little.
“…Can’t you?”
I tried to look as pitiful as possible.
Yeppi tilted her head in the opposite direction and then spoke, flying lightly around me.
-I don’t need to, yep. That guy is already right by your side, C.C.
And at that moment—
“Now that’s some welcome news.”
A voice I knew all too well suddenly came from behind.
“Waaah!”
I jumped in surprise.
Appearing out of nowhere like that!
But why does everyone else act as if they expected it?
“Hmm.”
Even with Per’s sudden appearance, Zion’s dad didn’t flinch; he smiled gracefully.
“I knew someone was watching over C.C., but I didn’t expect such skill.”
“You knew?”
I didn’t even know!
“Thank you for allowing me.”
Per smiled politely at Zion’s dad and bowed.
It was clear he had heard all the conversation between me and Dad.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have appeared so confidently.
But…
“Then… have you been by my side all this time?”
I parted my lips slightly, pointing my trembling fingers toward Per.
As always, Per gave a kind yet playful smile and nodded.
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“How… how did you?”
“Simple.”
Per clapped his two fingers together, and suddenly he disappeared.
There was no magic circle beneath him, so it probably wasn’t teleportation.
-C.C., feel it properly, yep.
While I turned my head in confusion, Yeppi perched on my shoulder and said:
-If you focus on the flow of magical power, you’ll find where it’s concentrated. After visiting Pardes, you should be able to sense it now, yep.
“The flow of magical power…”
I closed my eyes slowly and inhaled, trying as I had before to sense magic.
I felt the energy around me, and I noticed it was unusually concentrated in one spot.
-That’s it, yep.
Yeppi’s proud voice encouraged me.
-By sensing the flow of magic, you can find where a barrier is. Of course, you won’t know who set it, but…
“At least you’ll know something’s there.”
At the same time, Per withdrew his magic.
I blinked in realization.
Right, Per had previously set up a barrier so the dads wouldn’t notice him, not even a sound would escape.
And he stayed by my side within that barrier all this time.
“So, even the dads…”
Did they know Per was near me?
I mumbled at Zion’s dad, who shrugged.
“Not really. I just assumed that would be the case.”
“…”
“If he could fool my senses, the others wouldn’t notice either.”
Phew.
Thank goodness.
I let out a sigh of relief and looked back at Per.
So he’d been by my side all this time.
He must have seen me sulking in his absence…
…Wait a minute.
“Hey! You can’t just sneak around by my side like that!”
Overcome with embarrassment, I slapped Per’s shoulder, venting my frustration.
Per smiled lightly, as if tickled.
“Don’t worry. I kept proper boundaries.”
“That’s a relief.”
Hearing Per, Zion’s dad smiled coldly, almost teasingly.
“If not, I would’ve seriously regretted my words.”
“Gasp.”
He meant it.
Per’s life might’ve been in danger otherwise.
“Anyway.”
Zion’s dad quickly returned to his friendly smile, looking at us both.
“You two, have you resolved everything between you?”
A small warning bell rang in my mind.
“Then let’s start training.”
I had a feeling the training ahead wouldn’t be easy—but that was probably just my imagination.
Please…
