Vezel, the Capital — Academy Federation

“In short, Avada Aziz intends to use the Competition to get his own people into the ranks of the Blade of Babel. Is that enough information?”

In Vezel, the Federation’s capital, on the top floor of the Academy Building, Edward looked straight at the old man seated across the table. His eyes were full of wariness and hostility. The tea in front of him sat untouched, still steaming, while Laplace leisurely sipped from his own cup.

“Yes. It’s no secret that Wilkin is always trying to place his own people in the upper ranks of other nations so he can gain a say in their affairs.”

Laplace set down his teacup, closed his eyes, and savored the taste for a moment before letting out a relaxed sigh. Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows behind him, Vezel, the capital of the Academy Federation, was beginning its orderly day beneath the first rays of the rising sun. The Tower of Babel stood silently on the distant horizon, its enormous shadow cast over the city.

“I just didn’t expect them to dare make a move against the Federation itself.”

Laplace sighed, lamenting the Wilkin royal family’s arrogance and pitiful nature.

“You’ve done well, Edward.”

Edward didn’t acknowledge Laplace’s praise. He stood, planted both hands on the table, and leaned forward, his silvery-white eyes fixed on Laplace.

“I’ve given you the information you wanted,” Edward said, a note of aggression creeping into his voice. “Now hold up your end of the deal and abandon your plans for Pollyce.”

Laplace didn’t answer right away. He picked up his teacup, took a small sip, then slowly began to speak.

“No. It’s not enough.”

“Not enough?” A dangerous glint entered Edward’s eyes. “I’m warning you...”

“This matter isn’t completely settled yet, is it?” Laplace set his teacup down on the table. “You haven’t forgotten the terms of the Blood Pact, have you?”

Edward slowly lowered his head and thought for a moment. When he looked up again, there was a little more weariness in his eyes.

“What else do I have to do?”

“It’s simple.”

Laplace rose to his feet and looked Edward straight in the eye.

“You’re to kill Avada Aziz’s Champion in the twelfth Competition.”

“Deal.”

Edward agreed without hesitation. Then he picked up the cup of tea on the table and held it between them.

“But this is the last time.”

Their silvery-white eyes locked. Something in the air shifted in that instant.

“If you dare go after Pollyce again after this—”

Under Laplace’s gaze, Edward slowly tipped his teacup over. The scalding tea spilled across the desk, sending up a wave of heat.

“I’ll burn your Federation to ash.”

With that, Edward set the cup down and turned to leave. A nearby attendant hurried over to wipe the desk, but Laplace remained unmoved. He watched Edward leave the room, a meaningful glimmer passing through eyes that seemed able to see through anything.

Laplace gave a slight shrug, as if nothing had happened, and went back to his tea. Behind him, the Tower of Babel gleamed with flecks of silver beneath the increasingly fierce sun. Its spire, reaching into the clouds, had never once looked ready to fall.

......

Wilkin

“Shave? Why’d you suddenly decide to shave?”

“Quit talking and lend me your razor.”

At the manor gates, Edward had just stepped out of the car when he stopped Aleph and held out his hand.

“Here. Take it. Use it if you don’t mind that it’s dirty.”

Aleph took a fully automatic electric razor from the storage basket beside the driver’s seat and handed it to Edward, looking rather puzzled. Edward accepted it and examined it for a moment. His expression gradually turned just as strange.

“An electric razor? Since when did you start using something this girly?”

“Hey, hey, if you don’t want to use it, then don’t, you jerk,” Aleph muttered, sounding a little defensive. “It’s really convenient...”

Edward didn’t dwell on it. Using the car’s rearview mirror, he carefully shaved his stubbly face, making sure to get rid of every last bit of stubble. When he was done, the mirror showed a handsome, clean-cut face.

“Wow, you really do look like a fresh-faced young idol after shaving,” Aleph said with a mischievous grin at Edward’s handsome face. “Planning to go into showbiz after this job? Getting a head start on your idol career?”

“Then I’ll have to ask our tough-as-nails Aleph for advice. Is he so afraid a sharp blade might hurt his delicate skin that he switched to an electric razor?” Edward shot back without missing a beat.

“Hey... are you never going to let that go?” Aleph looked both annoyed and amused. Then he remembered he’d been the one to start the teasing, so he couldn’t really complain. “All right, go on. I’ll come pick you up in a week.”

“You’re really not staying? There are spare rooms.”

“Come on, I can’t face that Little White Flower you’re always talking about. If I end up falling for her, her jealous dad might kill me.”

“You bastard...” Edward laughed and punched Aleph lightly on the shoulder, then tossed him the electric razor. “See you in a week.”

“Yeah, yeah. Go on, get going.”

Edward turned and walked away, his steps much lighter than before. Watching him go, Aleph sighed softly. Of course he knew why Edward had shaved, and he knew why Edward was returning to Wilkin.

He shaved so he wouldn’t scratch her, didn’t he?

“She’s made you soft, Edward.”

Aleph lit a cigarette. The skies over Wilkin were still clear, but he knew this good weather probably wouldn’t last much longer.

......

When Edward opened the door, the scent of flowers greeted him. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Their fresh fragrance filled his lungs, washing away the muddle in his mind left by the atmosphere of the Federation. This was the smell of home.

Edward looked around the neat, comfortable living room. Some strange fixation seemed to guide whoever maintained the house: clusters of white flowers filled every corner, turning it into a beautiful, pure garden.

Just like always.

Edward smiled wryly and stretched. It felt so good to be home and get some rest. No dealing with the Federation’s old fossils, no breathing in gunpowder as he walked the knife’s edge. This must be heaven...

But as the initial joy of being home gradually faded, Edward realized something was wrong. No one had come out to greet him.

Weird... Why’s it so quiet? Edward swallowed. He knew what the silence meant. After months away, tension surged through him once more, as if countless tiny ants were gnawing at his heart. That was hardly normal for the notorious Crimson Phantom.

“Um... Little White Flower?”

Edward called out cautiously, but no one answered.

Oh no... Don’t tell me...

A terrible thought surfaced in Edward’s mind.

The next second, he felt the air stir. Instinctively, he reached out and caught a sharp blade flying through the air toward him.

Just as I thought...

Edward’s heart sank. The thing he’d been dreading all along had happened—

“Edward... you’re a week late...”

The room seemed to darken all at once. Edward’s heart pounded as a small white figure appeared around the corner, peeking out from behind the wall, her blood-red eyes fixed on him.

“Ah... Little White Flower...” Edward gave her a nervous smile. “Well... I mean... haha... it’s just... I had a lot going on, so...”

“I thought you weren’t coming back.”

“...Huh?”

Little Pollyce slowly walked to the middle of the living room and stood there, looking at Edward. To his utter dismay, her beautiful blood-red eyes suddenly filled with tears.

“N-no, sweetheart...” Edward hurried over and crouched in front of Pollyce to look at her. “I... How could I...”

“I thought you didn’t want me anymore...”

Pollyce fought back her tears and lowered her head, looking hurt. In that instant, Edward found a thousand reasons to hate himself.

“I wouldn’t, I wouldn’t... Don’t worry...” Edward hugged Pollyce and gently patted her back. “When have I ever not wanted you? Daddy loves you so much...”

“Hmph... You’re late, so you’re a bad guy...” Pollyce suddenly began struggling, trying to wriggle free of Edward’s embrace. “Bad guys aren’t allowed to hug me...”

“Nope. Bad guys have to hug you.” Edward stood and picked Pollyce up, then smiled at her. “Can Little White Flower escape from the bad guy’s clutches?”

Unable to break free, Pollyce glared angrily at Edward, tears still clinging to the corners of her eyes.

“Mm... Edward’s so mean...”

“You’re one to talk, Little White Flower. You threw a knife at Daddy as soon as I came in. What if I hadn’t caught it?”

At Edward’s mischievous grin, Pollyce stubbornly wiped away her tears. The anger on her face gradually softened.

“...My dad isn’t that stupid...”

“Hahaha... The standards for being Little White Flower’s dad are pretty high, huh?”

Edward gazed at Pollyce in his arms. Her pure white hair rested softly against her cheeks, framing her young, adorable face. He’d made such an adorable daughter unhappy, and a wave of guilt suddenly washed over him.

“Um... Little White Flower, can you forgive me?” Edward’s voice suddenly softened. “I shouldn’t have...”

But before Edward could finish, Pollyce suddenly began pounding on his head with both little hands, making him laugh uncontrollably.

“Ow... Ow... What are you doing...?”

“I’m gonna hit you, hit you, hit you, hit you, hit you, hit you, hit you, hit you!!!” Pollyce hammered on Edward’s head at high speed, looking furious. “Liar, liar, liar, liar!!”

“Hahahaha... All right, all right... I’m sorry, I’m sorry...” Edward laughed, pleading for mercy.

“Hmph!”

Pollyce stopped hitting him, planted her hands on her hips, puffed out her cheeks, and turned her head away with her eyes shut.

“We’re even this time! Don’t let it happen again!”

“All right... As you command, my Little White Flower.”

Edward looked at his sulking daughter in his arms and let out a laugh and a sigh. She was such a tsundere. She could’ve just cried like any other little girl, but instead she insisted on giving her dad a way out.

I really am an unfit father.

Pollyce opened one eye and sneaked a glance at Edward. Seeing his troubled expression, she turned toward him to comfort him, then broke into a bright, carefree smile.

“Ehehe... Kiss!”

With that, Pollyce planted a little kiss mark on Edward’s freshly shaved cheek, then giggled foolishly, her face turning slightly red.

A Sea of Flowers swept past Edward like a wave, surrounding him. The one in his arms was the most beautiful and pure of them all. Pollyce’s smile melted him, and for an instant, Edward felt that if he could stay by his daughter’s side forever, nothing else in the world would matter.

This was the only thing that could make Edward von Valantia, known as the Crimson Phantom, lose himself in happiness: his daughter’s smile.

“Hehe, you little silly.”

Edward kissed Pollyce’s soft little cheek and smiled with relief. He held her close and silently vowed to protect his pure Little White Flower forever.

No one would be allowed to defile her or take her away.

Edward lightly flicked Pollyce on the forehead, then carried her toward the kitchen.

“All right, I need to get something to eat first. This time I can stay with you for a whole week and take you to play in the Sea of Flowers~”

“Yay, yay! I wanna pick flowers...!”

“We’ve already picked so many. You can’t pick any more, okay? They won’t survive...”

...END...