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."

that, Sophia, here have

phone, Penelope showed Sophia an image of the

the photo, Penelope squealed

you can't tell me that's

photo,

"...Sure."

couldn't deny it. The girl

that the other group members huddled up together and stared at the image of

isn't that the girl

to see because of all the lights, but

how cute. Just

a cheerful atmosphere

look excited? ...You perhaps thinking of a

of the group members

at the girl, Sophia bluntly

"As if..."

she is, the ice

as she lowered her phone.

and popularity, I don't doubt the fact that you

"No thank you."

rejected. She

have time

a boyfriend, however, she just

idol activities, she had to focus on her academy

any free time for herself, let

...and.

Well.

are as good as

of her mind with a longing look on her

her mind when she thought about love, however, he was not someone that

shone on a brighter and more important stage than she had ever performed

on him, Sophia found all of the boys near her dull

bad that he's not someone I

not someone that she could casually talk

idol status, their achievements were worlds

do was focus on herself and maybe hope that

***

"We're almost there, Leopold."

I urged him to

to meet Leopold's daughter, Sophia Ray, and the group leader of

could use this as an excuse to

'How convenient.' I thought.

was one slight

are you so nervous

me a

was none other than Leopold who looked extremely nervous at the

This was understandable though.

not met her for almost two years, I'd also be nervous if

Click—! Click—!

then I suddenly heard a familiar clicking

"Stop that!"

no surprise, I found Leopold hunched up,

his direction, I snatched the lighter and cigarette from his mouth and pointed at Nola who

little girl over here, why in the world are

you know that they

looked at me with

put the lighter and cigarette

means no, let's

"Haaiizzzz..."

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

Leopold a special card that enabled

I don't

door,

I'm going to let that stop

shirt, I proceeded to

To Tok—!

stiffened, and I finally let go of his

'This guy...'

I couldn't

so nervous. Even when he was fighting against a horde of demons, and duergars

weird sight if

Clank—!

only after a couple of seconds had passed that

of the door, was one of the members of the

if I didn't remember

Wasn't really sure.

may I

"Hello, there."

a step forward and flashing a brilliant

here wants to

words left my mouth,

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

the changing room became visible

we instantly found multiple eyes staring in our direction. They were

"Father?"

sounded from

even more as

dear, it's

has indeed been a

said as she looked