The Author's POV

"Thank you all for coming, and we hope you enjoyed the show!"

Doing her signature pose, Sophia waved at the crowd causing them to cheer even more loudly.

Unfortunately for them, it was already the end of the show, and therefore, giving them one last goodbye, Sophia quickly headed back to the changing rooms with her group.

Upon entering the changing rooms, Sophia slumped down on her chair and let out a long and tired breath.

"Haaaa, I'm tired."

"Tell me about."

Slumping down on the chair next to her was Penelope, her other group member.

Taking a wet towel, she covered her eyes with it and leaned her head back.

"Ugh, my legs are hurting like crazy..."

"Same."

Sophia replied in agreement.

"...but, I'm used to it by now "

Raising the towel on her face and uncovering her eyes, Penelope skeptically looked at her.

"Stop pretending, I know that you're not tired at all. You are one of the star students at the Lock, you don't need to be humble."

Sophia merely smiled in response to Penelope's comment. She then added.

"Just because I'm a student of the Lock doesn't mean that I'm immune to tiredness."

"Yeah, yeah."

Penelope completely dismissed her comment. Sophia shook her head when she saw this.

In a way, what Penelope was correct.

Thanks to her training at the Lock that she was now able to keep her stamina in check during her performances.

She also wasn't wrong when she said that she was one of the star students at the Lock as she was in fact ranked in the top fifty in her year.

An achievement that was quite considerable.

"Say, I've always been meaning to ask..."

Putting the towel down, Penelope suddenly sat up straight and looked at Sophia.

A frown appeared on her delicate face.

"Is money still a problem? I know that the Lock costs a lot of money, but if you spend your time with us, won't you fall behind the others in your year?"

"It's fine."

Bending down and taking a similar wet towel, Sophia covered her eyes.

Feeling the cold towel on her face, Sophia smiled in pleasure.

"Money is not really a problem..."

This was a bit of a difficult topic for her.

The main reason why she was an idol in the first place was because of her family's past situation.

Although they lived comfortably, they weren't particularly rich.

At least not to the point of being able to pay the Lock's yearly tuition fee which was incredibly expensive.

Despite making 7 million U per year herself, she was still unable to pay the whole tuition fee.

Had it not been for her father, she probably wouldn't have been able to attend the Lock.

Thinking about her father, Sophia felt a mixture of different emotions.

She couldn't quite explain what happened, but one day while she was still a trainee for her idol group, she came home to find that her tuition for the Lock had already been paid in advance by him.

Before she could confront him about the situation, she found out that he had gone on a long trip.

A trip that lasted a whole two years.

During that time, Sophia panicked a lot as she thought that in order to pay for her tuition fees her father had decided to undertake some extremely dangerous job, and only recently did she finally receive a call from him.

Though relieved, she was still very angry at him.

How could he just leave her like that? Without any explanations and making her worried sick for the past two years?

Unknowingly, Sophia's teeth clenched and she secretly swore to herself.

'He said that he's coming to visit me today, when he comes I'll let him have a piece of me.'

"Hey Sophia, what did you think about the girl you brought on stage today? Wasn't she just adorable?"

It was then that she suddenly heard Penelope's excited voice.

Raising the towel in her head, she found Penelope's face a couple of inches away from her.

Sophia quickly moved her back.

"Wow, move back a little."

be like that, Sophia,

of the

the photo, Penelope squealed in

on, you can't tell me that's

photo, Sophia nodded her

"...Sure."

it. The girl was indeed quite

members huddled up together and stared at the image

isn't that the girl from

get to see because of all the lights, but she's quite the

Just

atmosphere prevaded over the

why don't you look excited? ...You

of the group

at the girl, Sophia bluntly

"As if..."

she is, the ice

the side as she lowered her phone. Her lips

one you are interested in, Sophia? With your looks and popularity, I don't doubt the fact that you

"No thank you."

rejected. She

time for

didn't want a boyfriend, however, she just didn't

had to focus on

had any free time for herself, let

...and.

Well.

of them are as good as

inside of her mind with a longing

thought about love, however, he was not

a brighter and

Sophia found all

bad that he's

was not someone that

her idol status, their achievements were worlds

she could do was focus on herself and

***

"We're almost there, Leopold."

I

moment we were currently headed backstage to meet Leopold's daughter, Sophia

this as an excuse to help Nola meet them and take

'How convenient.' I thought.

there was

you

me

other than Leopold who looked extremely nervous at the

This was understandable though.

I'd also be nervous if I

Click—! Click—!

then I suddenly heard a

"Stop that!"

no surprise, I found Leopold hunched up, trying to light up a

from his

why in the

know

looked at me with

his pleas, I put the lighter and cigarette

no, let's

"Haaiizzzz..."

long and exaggerated sigh, I managed to drag Leopold all the way toward

security, however, prior to coming here, the manager had given Leopold a special card that enabled him private access, and thus, we were able to get

thought, I don't want to go

arrived at the door, Leopold suddenly started to get

if I'm going to let that

shirt, I proceeded

To Tok—!

instantly stiffened, and I finally let go

'This guy...'

couldn't help but shake

Leopold so nervous. Even when he was fighting against a horde of demons, and duergars he didn't look that

weird sight if I had

Clank—!

was only after a couple of seconds had passed that

of the door, was

her name if I didn't remember

Wasn't really sure.

How may I

"Hello, there."

flashing a brilliant smile,

over here wants to meet his

words left my

"Ah! You're Sophia's father!"

the insides of the changing room became visible for all of us to

instantly found multiple eyes staring in our direction. They were the other members of the

"Father?"

from the other side of the

stiff body stiffened even more

dear, it's been

has indeed been a

looked at Leopold with cold