Star Child's Parenting Diary - Chapter 6

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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 6
Chapter 2. The Dragon of the Imperial Palace (3)
The Emperor hurried into the Underground Chamber, following close behind Ethan.
“Ethan!”
“You’ve arrived at a fortuitous moment, Your Majesty. Please, take the child and leave this place.”
“Have you lost your mind? If the Dragon population falls too far, the Aether will become far more unstable than it already is!”
The Emperor grew desperate, attempting to reason with Ethan.
Dragons were among the beings that maintained the Aether’s equilibrium.
If their numbers dwindled too severely, the already fragile world would grow perilously unstable.
But Ethan’s resolve would not bend.
In his eyes, a Cursed Dragon was nothing but a ticking threat, ready to rampage at any moment.
Besides, there were others of its kind remaining.
“This is precisely why I suggested we confine it far from the Imperial Palace!”
“If we confine an unpredictable Dragon somewhere other than the Palace, innocent lives could suffer!”
“Then we kill it now!”
Their voices rose steadily, growing heated.
It had always been this way, but on this matter alone, their opinions had perpetually clashed.
Until now, Ethan had respected the Emperor’s authority and willingly set aside his own convictions.
But now?
The child’s life hung in the balance.
“Ethan Aivek, Deputy Duke. Release your Aether at once and drop your sword!”
“I cannot obey. Imprison me for treason if you must.”
Ethan’s gaze fixed upon the Reverse Scale protruding from the Dragon’s neck.
The green Aether gathering around him began to gleam with razor-sharp intensity.
He was poised to pierce that scale and claim the Dragon’s life in an instant.
“No, stop!”
At that fierce momentum, Bel squeezed her eyes shut.
And then—
“Don’t!”
The darkened chamber flooded with Stellar Light.
Everyone held their breath at once.
Even the Dragon himself.
“No, stop!”
Burst—!
With the sound of air tearing apart, Ethan’s Aether was forcibly dispersed.
Ethan watched his own Aether scatter like mist, his eyes widening in shock.
‘Is this possible?’
A mere child of two years old.
A tiny thing, small as a pebble and scarcely able to speak, had interfered with his Aether.
And this Stellar Light flooding the chamber was unmistakably—
“…The Star Clan.”
The unique power possessed only by the Star Clan, whom everyone believed had been slaughtered to extinction.
The light in Ethan’s eyes, as he gazed at Bel, transformed.
The Emperor too, witnessing this miracle before him, underwent a complete change in expression.
“Your Majesty, the Underground Chamber is in danger!”
Sounds of people rushing from outside could be heard.
“Ethan.”
Emperor Fiderio called out to Ethan quietly.
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Seal the entrance. Destroy the entire Underground Chamber if you must!”
The Emperor’s command came down like thunder.
Ethan’s body responded to his order without hesitation.
Aether surged to the tip of his sword, then curved gracefully like a crescent moon and struck the ceiling with tremendous force.
With a deafening roar, the area before the entrance collapsed.
It was an uncompromising declaration: no one would be permitted entry or exit.
Bel’s body swayed from the building’s tremor and nearly fell backward, but the Dragon gently caught her with the flat of his claw, supporting her back.
Thanks to him, instead of landing hard on her seat, Bel simply plopped down onto the floor.
[Master of this place. Why did you order the entrance sealed?]
“Has your reason returned?”
[Only for a moment.]
Dragon gave a short nod to prove his harmlessness.
In that moment, Ethan moved toward Berdia, attempting to take the child away.
“Come here, Berdia.”
“No!”
But Berdia refused him.
It was a sign of protest against attacking Dragon despite Ethan’s warning not to.
“Come. You’ll get hurt.”
“No, no!”
Ethan simply hoisted the protesting child and tucked her under his arm.
Berdia thrashed her limbs desperately, but it was useless.
“Waaah!”
The child shrieked, nearly on the verge of tears.
“Bad! You’re mean!”
Ethan, of course, paid no attention.
Dragon, observing the commotion, turned back to the Emperor with another question.
[So you ordered the entrance sealed. Why was that?]
“If this child truly belongs to the Star Clan, few should know of it.”
[Why is that?]
“Those who dwell in Dark Night will hunt for the child. She must be protected.”
[……Have all the other members of the Star Clan perished?]
“Presumably.”
[I see.]
When Dragon slowly closed and opened his eyes again.
His gaze had fixed itself on Berdia, still squirming in Ethan’s grip.
[Are you preparing for when they come seeking her again?]
“Of course.”
[And you will use this child’s power for that day?]
“No.”
The Emperor shook his head firmly.
“The moment I tried, that treacherous Duke would surely aim for my neck.”
[……Then all is well.]
Dragon’s lips curved upward slightly, satisfied.
Then his entire form blazed with pure silver light.
His body, once enormous enough to fill the Underground Chamber, shrank, and a single figure emerged.
Hair of pristine white, radiating an icy luminescence, and eyes of mysterious blue. Towering above any human in height. Robes of unmarred white.
And across his entire form, the lingering marks of a black Curse.
It was known that Dragon never manifested before humans, but circumstances had changed.
Dragon stepped past the Emperor and stood before Ethan.
He gazed upon Ethan for a long moment, as though taking his measure, then gently stroked the head of Berdia, who was gnawing at his forearm.
“Sacred guardian of the stars.”
At his call, Berdia peeked her head up.
“After I have walked the future you must travel, I shall accept death. And so…….”
“Dragon?”
“Will you free me from this torment?”
Dragon asked with genuine courtesy.
Berdia beamed and grasped his fingers tightly.
“Yes!”
At that, Ethan coldly swatted Dragon’s hand away.
“Get lost.”
“Berdia!”
Berdia glared at the consistently uncooperative Ethan and sought out the Spirit.
“Doha!”
“Who are you calling?”
Ethan tilted his head in bewilderment, turning his gaze toward where Berdia was looking.
Summoned, the Spirit revealed herself among the stars.
[Rough-tongued human. Perhaps you could set down our little star? She doesn’t care for this.]
“What is that?”
When Ethan came face-to-face with the suddenly manifested woman, his brow furrowed completely.
Fiderio’s expression darkened in turn.
[Set down the little star, I said.]
Berdia also thrashed about, pounding Ethan’s forearms with her tiny fists.
The Emperor finally intervened.
“Ethan. Just put the child down for a moment.”
“Your Majesty wants me to listen to this ghost?”
“It’s clearly a Spirit.”
“It’s clearly a ghost.”
“No!”
Berdia shrieked from below.
“Berdia! No! No, wait!”
Pointing in turn at the Spirit and herself, Berdia puffed out her chest indignantly.
“See?”
The Emperor shrugged, taking the child’s side.
“Berdia’s a star, and she’s a little star. That’s what she’s saying.”
He gently slid his hand beneath the child’s ribs and set her down carefully on the ground, then bent his knees to meet her eyes.
“Little star.”
“Mm?”
“You want to cleanse the Curse?”
“Mm.”
Berdia placed her hands on her hips with decisive certainty, as if to say: leave this to me.
Seeing this, the Emperor’s mouth curved upward in a soft smile.
“Then I’m counting on you.”
“Mm!”
Stepping forward with confidence, Berdia reached out her hand to the Spirit.
The Spirit clasped the child’s hand, and Berdia revealed her true form at last.
A small night sky descended into the Underground Chamber.
A milky river of stars flowed across it, and from the Spirit’s body blazed light as brilliant as the sun itself.
[Youngest star born of calamity. And guardian. I receive your hope and dream.]
The stream of Stellar Light burned ever fiercer.
Whiiiine—!
[Purify the life of one who shall walk with you into that radiant future.]
Noticing her body grow transparent, the Spirit turned to Ethan with urgent words.
[This child’s power is not yet complete. After cleansing the corruption, she will surely exhaust herself—feed her plenty of good food, understand? You hear me, sharp-tongued human?]
“My mouth, what?”
[Little star. I will fade for now, but when night falls, I shall return to you. So do not worry. Understood?]
As if in final farewell, the Spirit pulled Berdia into a tight embrace and burst forth with blinding light.
The light streamed toward Dragon, and he did not resist—surrendering himself to it entirely.
A clear, ringing sound like glass marbles colliding rang out through the space.
The Stellar Light that had filled the dark chamber dissolved like snowflakes.
Dragon was finally, mercifully freed from the agony that had tormented him all this time.

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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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