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

Sophia an image of

photo, Penelope squealed

can't tell me that's not

at the photo, Sophia

"...Sure."

it. The girl was

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

isn't that the

of all the lights, but she's quite the cute one,

how cute. Just look

cheerful atmosphere

why don't you look excited? ...You perhaps thinking of

of nowhere, one of the group

at the girl,

"As if..."

is, the ice

lowered her

and popularity, I don't doubt the fact

"No thank you."

quickly rejected.

have time

boyfriend, however, she just didn't have

had to focus on her academy

had any free time for herself, let alone a

...and.

Well.

them are as good as

her mind with a

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

shone on a brighter and more important

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

too bad that he's not someone

that she could casually

her idol status, their achievements were worlds apart from

on herself and

***

"We're almost there, Leopold."

the back, I urged him

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

as an excuse to help Nola meet

'How convenient.' I thought.

there was

are you

give me a

problem was none other than Leopold who looked extremely

This was understandable though.

I'd also be nervous if

Click—! Click—!

heard

"Stop that!"

found Leopold hunched up, trying to

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

a little girl over here, why in the

come on boss, you know that

looked at me with a

his pleas, I put the lighter and

no,

"Haaiizzzz..."

I managed to drag Leopold all the way

times by security, however, prior to coming here, the manager had given Leopold a special card that enabled him private

don't want to go

we arrived at the door, Leopold suddenly started to get

to

his shirt, I proceeded to

To Tok—!

and I finally let go of his

'This guy...'

at him, I couldn't help but shake

was fighting against a horde of demons, and duergars he didn't

a weird sight if I had to

Clank—!

was only after a couple of seconds had passed that the door

the door, was one of

was her name if I

Wasn't really sure.

may

"Hello, there."

forward and flashing a brilliant smile, I patted Leopold's

guy over here wants to meet his

words left my mouth, Evylin's

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

the changing room became visible for all

eyes staring in our direction. They were the other members

"Father?"

then, a familiar voice sounded from the

even more as he

dear, it's

indeed been

she looked at Leopold with