Morning. Warm sunlight poured onto the bed, which was imbued with a sweet fragrance.

Lying on my back in Lili’s room, I stared at my outstretched hand. Small, frail fingers. Even though they were my own, they felt utterly unreliable.

“……”

“Something wrong?”

Lili’s voice brought me back, and I sat up.

She was already dressed, prepared to stand at the lectern. She wore a blue instructor’s uniform, woven with metallic thread just like our school uniforms. The male version had pants, while the female version had a skirt. A tie adorned her chest, though it was currently loosened.

“I was just thinking how pathetic my arms are.”

By the way, I was still in my sleepwear. Due to the recent dungeon curriculum incident, the students who had been caught in the collapse had been granted leave until today.

On that note, the dungeon curriculum had been temporarily suspended for all classes. It would resume once safety had been confirmed. Though, really, what does “securing the safety of a dungeon” even mean?

Surely, there wouldn’t be another two homunculi lurking inside. Most likely, the instructors just needed to verify that the dungeon was in its natural state.

Either way, it was dull. Utterly boring.

“I have no strength. My arms are like thin twigs. I can’t even swing a gladius properly without using both hands.”

Forget Oujin—Void made me envious. His physical abilities were like those of Blythe in his teenage years.

Lili put on her glasses.

She only wore them during lectures, but apparently, her eyesight wasn’t actually bad. It was just a matter of habit. Like how Blythe always wore red undergarments whenever he went to battle. Probably.

“That’s only natural. You’re still a child.”

“I know that, but…”

I found myself pouting. Just like a real child.

Lili gave me a reproachful look.

“If you train too intensively in a rush, it will only stunt your growth. Train appropriately according to your development. The length of your arms and legs is crucial in swordplay.”

“…Ugh…”

Her words caught in my throat.

Lili pushed her hair back and looked at me, puzzled.

“Did I say something strange?”

“No.”

Give me a break. Those were my own words from my past life—words I had once told ten-year-old Lili.

It wasn’t even proper teaching, just a way to soothe the young Lili, who desperately tried to keep up with her senior disciples and me, Blythe. She used to cry so easily whenever she couldn’t do something.

She couldn’t keep up when running, couldn’t lift a greatsword, couldn’t properly swing one, and in the end, always shed frustrated tears. Thinking back on it now, she really was an adorably determined girl.

Ah, right. That means the next thing she’ll say is—

“Then, you should refine your sword technique. By swinging your sword, you’ll naturally gain the strength you need. And techniques are never wasted, regardless of how much strength you have.”

“…I’ll do that.”

This wasn’t just a convenient excuse; it was something she truly believed.

Since I had hardly taught her anything, even a few words from me must have stuck with her. It was both touching and painful at the same time. My emotions were too complex to put into words.

But one thing had become clear.

To the now-adult Lili, I—Eremia, trapped in a child’s body—must have seemed the same as the young Lili once did to Blythe.

In other words, I was being treated like a half-baked, inexperienced brat.

Lili tapped her chin, looking thoughtful.

“Also, make sure to—”

“—Keep up with my stretching. I know.”

Her sharp eyes widened slightly.

“Oh? How obedient of you.”

“Obviously.”

After all, those were my own words to her in the past. If only I could say that out loud.

Somehow, it felt frustrating.

I was the one who had raised her. And unlike the young Lili, I wouldn’t cry or throw a tantrum just because something didn’t go well. Because I was an adult.

…A hollow attempt at bravado.

With my head hanging, I let out a sigh.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

As I brooded bitterly, Lili softened her expression and turned her back to me.

“Well, I’m off. Make sure to rest properly.”

“Quit acting like my mother.”

“If that’s what you want, I could be.”

—What!?

“D-Don’t joke about that! Quit treating me like a child!”

In my past life, albeit in a surrogate sense, Lili had been my daughter while I had been the parent.

“But isn’t this still the age where you want to be spoiled?”

“Of course not—wait… was that how you felt?”

Lili tilted her head slightly, looking off to the side in recollection. Then, with a small, bashful nod, she admitted:

“Yes. I wanted to be spoiled.”

“By me!?”

“How could I have been spoiled by the Eremia who wasn’t even born yet?”

She said it so matter-of-factly that I was at a loss for words.

“Ah, well, um, that is…”

So that was why she had clung to me like a stray puppy back then. The young Lili had wanted to rely on Blythe. No wonder she kept sneaking into my bed well into her mid-teens.

With a playful smile, Lili tilted her head.

“Just kidding. That part, at least.”

“You have terrible taste…”

“Hehe, your flustered face was cute.”

Somehow, we seemed to be opening up to each other a bit.

Before the collapse incident, Lili had apparently been putting on a front. Now, she seemed a little more human.

“But, if Eremia has nowhere to return to, that arrangement wouldn’t be so bad either.”

“You—”

“I don’t see myself getting married at this rate anyway. Living together wouldn’t be an issue.”

With a teasing smile, Lili waved and left the room.

A delayed reaction hit me, and my face erupted in flames.

She still hadn’t let go of her connection to Blythe—the vague, undefined family bond.

Alone in the room, I murmured:

“Damn it, Lili… At least let me have some peace of mind…”

Letting out another sigh, I sat cross-legged on the bed, thought for a moment, then punched my pillow.

“Wait, isn’t all of this just what I did to Lili in the past!? Damn it, Blythe, you idiot! Why did you pass on all this unnecessary stuff!?”

It was me.

I was the one who said it. I just remembered.

—‘I’m not the kind of man who will ever settle down, so it doesn’t matter if I have baggage or not.’

Only now did I realize how painful those words were to the one on the receiving end.

“Ahh…”

Stretching out, I started my routine.

Honestly, I wasn’t too worried about my lack of muscle.

Because right now, I was enjoying my student life to the fullest.