Rio slowly left Azrith's room.
A small smile appeared on his face as he felt a familiar presence approaching from behind.
Someone trying—and failing—to sneak up on him.
Soon enough, a little girl with silver-white hair wrapped her arms around him from behind.
Rio chuckled softly.
"Lumine."
"Did I take that long?"
The little girl nodded immediately.
Tiny tears lingered at the corners of her eyes.
Rio sighed before gently patting her head.
"Sorry."
The moment his hand touched her hair, Lumine's expression brightened again.
Then another voice reached him.
"You're back."
Rio turned.
Jasmine stood nearby.
Her red hair flowed over her shoulders while her amethyst eyes carried a faint smile.
"Yeah."
But before Rio could say anything else—
his eyes widened slightly.
Two little girls were hiding behind Jasmine's legs.
Both possessed silver-white hair nearly identical to Lumine's.
Yet their eyes were different.
One possessed crimson-red eyes.
The other possessed sapphire-blue eyes.
The two girls peeked toward Rio before immediately hiding again.
"..."
"..."
Rio blinked.
"Uh..."
Even Jasmine looked slightly awkward.
"I finished training a while ago."
She rubbed the back of her head.
"And somehow I found these two sleeping next to Lumine."
She gently patted the head of the red-eyed girl.
"This one is Sumine."
The little girl immediately lowered her head shyly.
Then Jasmine pointed toward the blue-eyed girl.
"And this one is Rumine."
Rio stared at them for a moment.
The resemblance was impossible to ignore.
The same hair.
The same small stature.
The same strange presence surrounding them.
Even Lumine seemed unusually attached to them.
The silver-haired girl immediately ran toward the two newcomers and hugged them tightly.
The three girls huddled together almost instinctively.
From behind them, another voice suddenly appeared.
"It seems the Hydra Core has fully merged with Lumine."
Everyone turned.
Azrith slowly walked into the room.
His visible eye studied the three girls carefully.
"Interesting..."
"If my theory is correct, Lumine's complete synchronization with the Hydra Core has somehow led to the creation of these two."
His gaze lingered on Sumine and Rumine.
"As expected of an SSS-Rank mana core."
Rio frowned.
"Creati-?"
But before Azrith could continue—
Rio noticed something strange.
Azrith's hands were trembling.
A black cloth now covered his right eye beneath the mask.
His breathing seemed slightly uneven.
Rio's eyes narrowed.
"Huh?"
"Are you okay?"
Azrith immediately stiffened.
"N-No."
He quickly corrected himself.
"I mean—"
"I'm fine."
A cough escaped his lips.
Blood stained the corner of his mouth before he wiped it away.
Rio remained unconvinced.
Meanwhile, inside his mind—
Astarax snorted.
[Weak human. Hmph.]
[Though I admit... even I didn't expect this.]
The Chaos Dragon's voice carried a hint of curiosity.
[The Hydra Core truly is unusual.]
[But for it to create three existences from a single vessel...]
Astarax fell silent briefly.
[Whatever those three are... they are no longer ordinary.]
Rio's gaze slowly moved toward Lumine, Sumine, and Rumine.
The three girls were now sitting together quietly.
Almost like sisters reunited after a long separation.
Yet the mana flowing from them felt strangely connected.
Like three branches originating from the same root.
I slowly walked alongside Jasmine while the three girls ran ahead through the corridor, their laughter echoing through the mansion.
Lumine led the charge while Sumine and Rumine chased after her.
For the first time in a long while—
the atmosphere felt peaceful.
I glanced toward Jasmine.
"How has your training been?"
A small smile appeared on her face.
"It's going really well."
She looked down at her sword.
"I think I finally have a clear path forward."
"The sword no longer feels like something I'm merely swinging."
"I can finally see where I need to go."
I nodded.
"I see."
That was good.
A swordsman without a path would never reach the peak.
After a moment of silence, Jasmine glanced at me.
"So what do you plan to do now?"
Rio shrugged.
"Honestly?"
"I'm not entirely sure."
A small sigh escaped him.
"But I'll be heading back to Verilian."
"I found the answers I was looking for."
"And now it's time to return."
Jasmine nodded slowly.
"I see."
Rio looked at her.
"You should come with me."
She blinked.
"Huh?"
"To Verilian."
Rio smiled faintly.
"If you want to become stronger, that is."
For a brief moment Jasmine froze.
Then determination appeared within her eyes.
"Of course."
She clenched her fist.
"I'm the Queen of Kaelvaris."
"And one day..."
"I'll unite my nation."
"Once I'm strong enough."
Rio chuckled.
"Good."
Behind them—
Azrith suddenly spoke.
"Rio."
The masked man walked toward them.
A strange smile rested on his face.
"The three girls will be better off in your hands."
A drop of sweat slid down the side of Rio's face.
Something felt suspicious.
Very suspicious.
Is he plotting something?
Rio narrowed his eyes.
"Really?"
"I thought you wanted Lumine to become your weapon."
Azrith immediately coughed.
"Ahem."
"Other matters have caught my interest for now."
His answer only made Rio more suspicious.
"I see..."
Rio slowly shifted his gaze toward the three girls.
Lumine was currently dragging Sumine somewhere.
Rumine followed behind them while trying to stop whatever disaster Lumine was planning.
The sight made him laugh softly.
Then a realization struck him.
"..."
"..."
"So how exactly am I supposed to introduce these three?"
Lumine.
Sumine.
Rumine.
Three silver-haired girls.
Rio suddenly felt a headache coming.
...
Soon enough, Rio returned to the Verilian Empire.
The first thing he needed to do—
was meet the king.
The massive doors of the royal chamber opened.
Rio stepped inside calmly.
Several familiar faces were already present.
Elena Astra stood beside Aurelia Lioren.
Alaric Ryker remained near the windows, his arms crossed as always.
At the center of the room sat the rulers of Verilian.
King Altheris Verilian.
And beside him—
a woman with long flowing black hair and deep onyx eyes.
Her beauty carried a natural elegance that commanded respect.
Queen Elowen Verilian.
Standing nearby was the Crown Princess.
Ismeria Verilian.
Her golden eyes immediately landed on Rio, curiosity evident within them.
And next to her—
Reinhart Verilian.
The prince smirked the moment he saw Rio and casually waved.
Rio couldn't help but smile.
It had been quite some time since they last spoke.
The king leaned back against his throne.
"Noctis—"
He paused.
Then chuckled.
"No."
"Rio Valen, correct?"
Rio bowed respectfully.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"I apologize for hiding my identity while staying within Verilian."
Altheris rested his chin on his hand.
"Hm."
"Well, whatever."
"You've helped Verilian far more than you've inconvenienced us."
"So I suppose that can be forgiven."
A small laugh escaped him.
He then glanced toward everyone present.
"And all of you as well."
"Thanks to your efforts, Astryx has finally fallen."
"The war is over."
"A grand celebration will be held later."
"A proper ball."
The room remained quiet for a moment.
Then Rio stepped forward.
"Your Majesty."
Altheris raised an eyebrow.
"Yes?"
"Do you remember granting me permission to choose a reward from the Royal Vault?"
The king nodded.
"Of course."
"You still haven't claimed anything."
"Have you finally made a decision?"
Rio shook his head.
"No."
"I wish to exchange that request for something else."
The atmosphere immediately shifted.
Queen Elowen narrowed her eyes.
Even Ismeria looked intrigued.
Altheris simply smiled.
"Speak."
Rio took a breath.
Then calmly said,
"I request that the Valen Family be granted noble status within Verilian."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
The Valens.
A former Duke Family of Astryx.
Now being given a noble title within Verilian?
Such a request bordered on absurd.
It was unprecedented.
Even Rio himself wasn't entirely sure how the king would react.
Then—
Altheris laughed.
A loud, genuine laugh.
Everyone blinked.
The king pointed at Rio.
"Granted."
"...Huh?"
For the first time in a long while—
Rio looked completely caught off guard.