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."

Sophia, here have

an image of the girl that they

photo, Penelope squealed

on, you can't tell me that's not

the photo, Sophia nodded

"...Sure."

it. The girl

up together and

isn't that the girl

see because of all the lights, but

cute. Just look

cheerful atmosphere prevaded over the

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

one of the

the girl, Sophia bluntly

"As if..."

she is, the ice

as she lowered

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

"No thank you."

rejected.

have time for things

however, she just

had to focus on

free time

...and.

Well.

them are as good

muttered inside of her mind with a longing look

when she thought about love,

a brighter and more important stage than

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

that he's not

not someone that she could

achievements were worlds apart from

could do was focus on herself and maybe hope that one

***

"We're almost there, Leopold."

in the back, I urged him to

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

this as

'How convenient.' I thought.

there was one

you

me

than Leopold who looked extremely nervous at

This was understandable though.

years, I'd also

Click—! Click—!

heard a familiar clicking

"Stop that!"

hunched up, trying to light

from his mouth and pointed at

why in the world are

know that they aren't

me

pleas, I put the lighter and

means no, let's

"Haaiizzzz..."

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

given Leopold a special card that enabled him private access, and thus, we

I don't want

moment we arrived at the door, Leopold suddenly

to let that

him by the back of his shirt, I proceeded to knock on the

To Tok—!

and I finally let go

'This guy...'

I couldn't help

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

a weird sight if

Clank—!

of seconds had passed that the

from the side of the door, was one of the members of

her name if I

Wasn't really sure.

may I help

"Hello, there."

and flashing a brilliant smile, I patted

guy over here wants

words left my

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

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

instantly found multiple eyes staring in our

"Father?"

sounded from the

stiff body stiffened even

it's been a

indeed been a

icily said as she looked at Leopold with