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,

of the girl that they had taken to

at the photo,

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

photo, Sophia

"...Sure."

it. The girl

that the other group members huddled up together and

isn't that the

of all the

Just

a cheerful atmosphere prevaded over the

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

of nowhere, one of the group members

the girl,

"As if..."

the ice

side as she lowered her phone. Her

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

"No thank you."

quickly rejected. She

have time for

a boyfriend, however, she

idol activities, she had to focus on

had any free time for

...and.

Well.

are as

muttered inside of her mind with a

one guy that come to her mind when she thought about love, however, he was not someone that

a brighter and more important stage than

set her sight on him, Sophia found

too bad that he's not someone I can

he was not someone that she could casually talk

status, their achievements were worlds apart from each

on herself and

***

"We're almost there, Leopold."

I urged

meet Leopold's daughter, Sophia Ray, and the

I could use this as an excuse to help Nola meet them and take photos

'How convenient.' I thought.

was

are you so

me a

looked extremely nervous

This was understandable though.

almost two years, I'd also

Click—! Click—!

I suddenly heard a familiar clicking

"Stop that!"

found Leopold hunched

lighter and cigarette from his mouth and pointed at Nola who was currently in Amanda's

here, why in the world are

boss, you know that they aren't

me

I put the

means no,

"Haaiizzzz..."

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

coming here, the manager had given Leopold a special card that enabled him private

second thought, I don't want to

moment we arrived at the door, Leopold suddenly started to get

if I'm going to let that

shirt, I

To Tok—!

body instantly stiffened, and I finally let go of his

'This guy...'

couldn't help but shake my

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

weird sight if I

Clank—!

a couple of

was

if I didn't

Wasn't really sure.

How may I help

"Hello, there."

a step forward and flashing a brilliant smile, I patted

wants to meet his

my mouth, Evylin's eyes

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

insides of the changing room became visible for

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

"Father?"

then, a familiar voice sounded from the

stiff body stiffened even more

dear, it's

has indeed been

as she looked at