Star Child's Parenting Diary - Chapter 20

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 20
Chapter 5. Sprout, Seed, Blossom (6)
But no matter how long he waited, the voice never came.
Of course, there was no hand to touch his cheek either.
Belle felt a sense of loss he couldn’t explain, and curled back up in his original spot.
That was when he noticed something—a tiny glimmer of green poking through the dark soil.
“Sprout!”
Belle’s voice rose with joy.
‘The sprout grew!’
“Yay!”
Belle grabbed the hand of a nearby knight and tried to jump for joy.
Or rather, he would have.
But the unconscious knight’s arm was so heavy that Belle’s own body toppled sideways along with it—otherwise he would have thrown both hands up in the air and savored this happiness to the fullest.
“Huh?”
“Ugh……”
“……Ngh.”
Today was especially strange.
Why were they all napping on the ground like this?
Belle gazed at the tangle of knights sprawled across the floor and let out a heavy sigh.
“Help!”
He’d lost count of how many times he’d called for assistance.
Fortunately, this time someone he recognized showed up.
“You knocked them all out?”
Ethan strolled over with his hands buried in his pockets.
His cold green eyes swept across the area, and his mouth twisted slightly.
“Slacking off in broad daylight, are we? Everyone must be quite free.”
He muttered darkly, though the unconscious knights had no hope of hearing him.
Ethan had just put Setia to sleep after her fit and was heading out to find Belle when he’d stumbled upon this scene.
All of this had happened in the brief time he’d been gone.
‘Everyone’s having the time of their lives, aren’t they.’
He decided to sort this matter out carefully later.
With that resolution, Ethan fixed his gaze on Belle.
“Leave them and come here. Come on, hurry.”
“Mister! Sprout!”
“What?”
“Sprout!”
Belle bounced on his feet and jabbed excitedly at the soil.
Bowing to the child’s insistence, Ethan looked closer and spotted a seedling no larger than a grain of sand poking through the black earth.
“…… Oh. It did grow, didn’t it.”
To think it had only grown this much after consuming the Ether from all these people.
The efficiency was remarkably poor.
‘Or perhaps Belle’s efficiency is simply far too good.’
Ethan swallowed his complicated feelings and gazed down at the child.
The boy seemed purely delighted by the mere fact that the sprout had grown.
“Yes, that’s good. Let’s come back this evening and make a wish again. It’ll grow even bigger. Won’t it?”
“Mm-hmm!”
“Come on then, let’s head inside. Time for a snack.”
“Okay!”
Ethan nudged the unconscious knights aside with his foot and simply scooped Belle into his arms.
With his arms wrapped tightly around Ethan’s neck, Belle pointed back at the scattered knights below.
“Mister, the uncles.”
The uncles are sleeping—is it okay to leave them?
Ethan caught the gist of what Belle was asking and let out a low chuckle.
“Never mind them. Let them sleep till their mouths go numb.”
“Mmm……”
“How many snacks do you want?”
“Four!”
Belle fell for Ethan’s distraction and spread both his hands wide.
“That many? I don’t think it’ll all fit in your belly.”
“It will.”
As they drew away in quiet conversation, the tender leaves of the sapling rustled softly in the breeze.
* * *
Another week had passed since the sapling first sprouted.
The young growth had flourished faster than expected, and now it had grown to the size of Bel’s fingernail.
Though still far too slow to bear flowers, certain truths had begun to emerge.
First: the sapling responded more strongly to the purity of Ether than to its quantity.
In fact, when Ethan’s high-purity Ether was infused, the sapling grew far more rapidly than when other knights had donated theirs.
Second: Bel’s Ether had already returned to normal.
The problem was simply that she couldn’t control it—it was leaking away uselessly.
It seemed likely that the Ether waste was connected to the absence of a Spirit Guide.
There was now all the more reason to master Ether Control for Bel as soon as possible.
And so the adults had gathered in the Reception Room.
They couldn’t leave the child alone, so naturally Bel came along as well.
“Wow. A family meeting, then.”
“Since when have I been family with this lizard?”
“Nor are such words welcome to me.”
“In any case, Bel’s inability to control her Ether is the most pressing matter.”
Setia simply swept aside the mutual objections of one man and one dragon, and continued.
Bel was too busy eating cake to join the conversation.
“Argares. When you were away before—was that for Bel’s sake?”
“Yes.”
Argares opened his mouth with a melancholy expression.
“Ether Training for young dragons requires Magic Stones. So I sought out suitable ones for her training and gave them to the child, but to no avail.”
“A lizard who’s only good at living uselessly long.”
“Ethan.”
Setia, chiding Ethan’s disgruntled murmur, took a short breath.
“I’ve learned something myself, actually.”
“……?”
“Ethan.”
The smile faded slowly from her face.
Seeing Setia turn serious, Ethan straightened in his seat.
“If my memory serves, the Temple once conducted research into Magicraft that could facilitate Ether Control.”
Having been frail since childhood, she had forgone the usual outdoor activities in favor of spending most of her time reading and studying.
As a result, she had read through nearly all manner of texts and documents.
From modest treatises to grand imperial law.
She recalled that one of the mages belonging to the Temple had conducted research into Ether Wavelength and published several papers on the subject.
“Bales Code.”
From research into Ether Wavelength and methods of wavelength interference, to amplification and control, and even the design of Magicraft to regulate them—
Bales Code was an exceptional mage and scholar who had left behind vast research records.
He’d had rather eccentric tendencies, so there were many intriguing studies; she recalled having read several of his papers.
“I see. So such research records existed in the Temple.”
“His research will surely prove helpful.”
“You’re saying we should construct the Magicraft that Bales Code researched?”
“Yes. The research records and design schematics should be stored in the Temple.”
“Setia. Manufacturing Magicraft requires Council approval.”
“I know.”
Setia nodded lightly and sipped her tea with ease.
“If I suddenly take an interest in magic, those old men will throw caution aside and come rushing in to interfere.”
“Of course. They dislike you, after all.”
“Do you have a way around it?”
At Ethan’s question, Setia’s lips curved upward in a smooth arc.
“Ethan. You haven’t forgotten that I’m of the Imperial Family, have you?”
“Of course not, no.”
Ethan’s eyes widened as understanding dawned.
Then they narrowed.
The Imperial Family was granted certain privileges and rights.
Even though marriage had cost her the use of the imperial name, her bloodline was hardly something one could simply discard—Setia retained her status as a member of the Imperial Family.
One of those privileges was the right to pursue knowledge.
The Imperial Family could engage in any scholarly endeavor without restriction.
That naturally included acquiring a degree from an academy, or gaining a researcher’s position at the Temple.
“So you’re saying you’ll participate directly in Bales Code’s research at the Temple.”
“Yes. The Temple won’t have any choice but to accept me.”
Setia spoke with absolute confidence.
And why wouldn’t she?
The knowledge she had accumulated over the years already rivaled that of accomplished scholars.
Even if she began her research at the Temple without warning, she would adapt quickly enough.
“You need to consider your health.”
“You said I’d be fine once the flower blooms.”
“And when exactly will that be?”
Yet Setia’s physical condition remained a grave concern.
They had identified why her body was weak and traced its cause, but they hadn’t solved it.
Even if helping Bales with Ether Control through Magicraft would aid Setia’s recovery, no one could predict what might befall her in the interim.
For Ethan, who had watched over her seizures since childhood, worry was inevitable.
“Besides, if you’re going to use your position in the Imperial Family, you’ll need the Emperor’s permission.”
“He’ll grant it.”
“That’s not the point.”
“Ethan. I understand your concern, but this is the best option we have right now.”
……
Ethan’s mouth pressed shut.
Setia was right.
There was no alternative at present.
The child was far too young to expect him to control his Ether on his own.
Now that he knew those dwelling in Dark Night had been hunting Setia, her recovery had to accelerate.
If Magicraft was the method that could resolve all of this, there was no reason to refuse it.

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