Star Child's Parenting Diary - Chapter 18

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 18
Chapter 5. Sprout, Seed, Flower (4)
Aspe stood beside him, continuing the report.
“According to Argares, it should work if we inject a sufficient amount of Ether into the Seed.”
“So originally one strike from Berdia’s ability would’ve done it, but because of the Ether Instability problem, I have to handle it myself?”
“Yes.”
“Where’s that dragon now?”
“He left early this morning. He didn’t mention where he was going.”
“It seems he went to investigate something. He said he’d return tomorrow, and he’s already injected a small amount of Ether into the Seed, so we don’t need to worry about it today.”
At Setia’s clarification, Ethan gripped his head and closed his eyes.
‘In the end, there’s only one answer.’
He had to find a way to control Berdia’s Ether, no matter what.
It was necessary for the child’s sake.
For Ethan to inject Ether into the Seed in Berdia’s place wasn’t particularly difficult.
He could endure the terrible headache, and since he’d done it once already, he should be able to control and inject the Ether properly.
The real problem that troubled him lay elsewhere.
That he already had to demand of a mere two-year-old child—control your Ether, do this, do that.
It was pathetic.
‘Maybe I should try some training.’
Ethan glanced sideways at Berdia sitting beside him, moving only his eyes.
Watching the child tear into duck legs without noticing the sauce smeared all over his face, Ethan could only sigh.
‘This little pea.’
“Sigh.”
Ethan squeezed his eyes shut and gulped down cold water.
“Ethan, are you alright?”
Setia, watching her husband with concern, handed him Headache Medicine.
“Argares said to take it if you need it. He said it works well for headaches.”
“Thanks.”
Ethan immediately tore open the medicine packet.
Berdia, watching intently, quickly opened his mouth.
“Bweh-doo. Ah.”
He wanted some too.
“It’s medicine, medicine. Kids don’t like it.”
“Ah!”
……
Ethan stubbornly shook a little medicine powder onto Berdia’s tongue as he held his mouth open.
“Ugh.”
Berdia startled and thrust his tongue out, scrunching his face in disgust.
“See? I told you it tastes bad.”
A smile tugged at the corner of Ethan’s mouth as he watched.
For some reason, even the headache seemed to have eased for a moment.
He chuckled wickedly and poked Berdia’s cheeks as the child screwed up his face, then gave him a few sips of fruit juice.
After rinsing his mouth with the juice, Berdia glared reproachfully at Ethan.
“Weren’t you the one who asked for some?”
……
The child had nothing to say in return.
Ethan shook his head at Berdia in exasperation, then fell back into thought.
‘There’s almost nothing I can do to help Berdia with Ether Control.’
Human Ether and Spirit Folk Ether operated on different wavelengths.
Since Spirit Folk Ether was more complex, it was difficult for Ethan to influence Berdia’s.
Yet he couldn’t simply wait for Berdia to awaken naturally either.
Argares had expressed some reluctance as well, so the odds were high that even the dragon had no clear solution.
‘Better not to hold onto false hope.’
It would be wiser to hope that the Spirit Folk returned instead.
Ethan glanced down at Berdia, who was focused on eating beside him.
Uncontrolled Ether seeped from the child’s body in thin streams.
“Sigh. We have a long way to go.”
* * *
The afternoon was peaceful.
Setia was entertaining Berdia by drawing pictures together.
A child lay sprawled on the floor, her bare legs dangling in the air as she dragged a crayon across the page with reckless abandon.
“Wow. What’s this?”
“Nng!”
“Blue eyes, is it? Then…”
Setia pretended to think for a moment, then suddenly stretched out her index finger.
“Correct! It’s Argares!”
“Yay!”
“You got it. Kiss.”
Setia pointed at her own cheek.
Shusu quickly set down the crayon and scrambled to her feet, pressing her lips to the soft white skin with a loud smack.
A delighted giggle.
The two of them dissolved into laughter together.
Shusu traded the blue crayon for green and returned to her drawing.
“This! Pointy!”
“Hmm? Who are you drawing this time?”
“Mister Ethan.”
From the hands of the two-year-old artist came jagged peaks of green.
It seemed to capture Ethan’s sharp, slanted eyes—and somehow it was eerily accurate.
“It’s Ethan? You really drew him just…” Setia’s laugh broke into a cough.
Her hand went to her mouth as she turned away from Shusu’s drawing.
Shusu’s hand froze mid-stroke.
There it was again.
‘Uh-oh.’
Setia’s Ether Core was fracturing faster and faster.
“I’m sorry, Shusu. Just a moment…”
“Miss, shall I prepare a snack for you? Would you like to rest?”
At Setia’s gesture, a handmaid approached and asked gently.
But Shusu shook her head firmly.
“No.”
She couldn’t bring herself to leave Setia alone when she was suffering like this.
Snacks were wonderful, but Setia was more wonderful still.
“Hurts?”
Shusu drew closer to Setia, who was coughing constantly, her small brow furrowing with concern.
“I’m all right. Sorry for scaring you.”
“Here?”
Shusu pointed directly at Setia’s chest.
Near her heart, where the Ether Core was housed.
There, something round and fractured glimmered with a precarious, flickering light.
Shusu stared at that unstable glow and came to a quiet resolution.
‘I have to help her.’
Shusu had come to understand that she possessed special powers.
She could banish the Black Smoke, for one.
When she cleared it away, the world bloomed with color.
And when she borrowed the strength of spirits, even sickness vanished in an instant.
If Setia’s pain came from that broken circle, then calling on Shusu should fix it.
“Shusu!”
Shusu called out desperately into empty air.
“Shusu! Help!”
Please do something about the hurting.
But no matter how urgently she called, Shusu did not appear.
“Huh?”
That was strange.
Normally, Shusu would manifest the instant something went wrong.
Why wouldn’t she come now?
“Berdia!”
Then it was time to call on Berdia instead.
She still remembered the promise—that Berdia would only be gone for a short time.
So when called, she would come running.
Since Berdia and Shusu knew each other, perhaps Berdia could summon Shusu in her place.
“Berdia!”
“What’s wrong?”
But it was Ethan who burst through the door instead.
He strode over, checked on Setia’s condition once, then scooped Berdia up into his arms.
“Mmph.”
“‘Mmph’ what.”
Berdia dangled limply from Ethan’s grip as he ushered her out into the corridor.
“Just play with Aspe for a bit.”
“Eeyah.”
“If you dislike me this much already, I’m quite hurt.”
Aspe chattered indignantly at Berdia’s complaint.
‘I like you better than him.’
Berdia cast one last look at Setia through the closing door, then heaved a heavy sigh.
She hoped the older girl would recover soon……
Berdia’s head, which had drooped despondently, suddenly perked up.
“Aha!”
If she just made the Seed grow faster, that would do it.
The Seed grows more with each wish, so if she went day and night wishing with all her heart, flowers would bloom before long.
She’d drag Aspe along right now and get started.
Berdia quickly grabbed Aspe’s hand and pointed down the corridor.
“Come on.”
“Would you like a snack?”
“Mm? Mm.”
Aspe, who’d misunderstood Berdia’s words, pulled a small Strawberry Jam Cookie from her pouch.
Berdia’s eyes went wide at the sight of it, and she thrust out her hand eagerly.
“Here you go.”
“Ahh.”
“Oh, it’s delicious.”
“Mm. More.”
It really is good. So sweet.
Crunch crunch.
Having devoured one cookie in an instant, Berdia opened her mouth again.
“There aren’t any more.”
“Eeyah.”
“Would you like to check the kitchen?”
“Mm.”
Berdia had nodded absently at the thought of more sweet cookies when she suddenly came to her senses.
‘Wait! This isn’t the time for that!’
“No. Never mind.”
I need to go make the Seed bloom faster.
Berdia tugged insistently at Aspe’s sleeve.
“Let’s go.”
“Ah. You want to go see the Seed?”
“Mm.”
Aspe readily led Berdia away with a spring in her step.
The Garden, bathed in bright sunlight, was the kind of place that lifted your spirits just by looking at it.
Berdia’s pace grew lighter as delight filled her heart.
“Butterfly!”
“Yes. A butterfly, indeed.”
“Flower!”
“Yes. Flowers, that’s right.”
“Wormy!”
“Wormy? What’s a wormy?”
“Mm.”
Berdia’s steps halted as she finished pointing out the fluttering butterflies and colorful blooms.
On the damp soil—freshly watered, it seemed—an earthworm was inching along.
Kind and brave little Berdia promptly snatched up the earthworm.
“Wormy.”
“Eek! An earthworm! A wormy, wormy!”
Aspe shrieked and leaped back, flailing in panic.
She quickly brushed the earthworm from Berdia’s hand and pulled out a handkerchief, scrubbing at her palm frantically.
“Shoo.”
Berdia laughed brightly, teasing Aspe.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————