Rise was eating with his father when the other suddenly spoke; there was also an obvious displeasure in his tone.

"That new rank signed with the Blue Guild. I haven’t settled with him trying to kill you." Niftan’s gaze was sharp, and it was obvious that he was already planning to make it hard for Epsilon.

He was a Union general, though Guilds had their certain autonomy. Most missions had to go through Union approval first. That included gate authorities.

Rise was not opposed to this. If his father helped him without him telling him to, then it might be more effective than when he intervened.

However, what he said was certainly news to Rise.

"He joined Blue? Just like that?" Rise frowned slightly. He wondered if something was at play here.

He knew that Epsilon’s possibility of joining Dark Crimson was zero, but he did not know that the other would join a guild immediately.

Rise was even prepared for Epsilon to join Union. In the end, he did not.

Niftan looked at Rise. He had the inkling that Rise seemed to know the new esper. Their confrontation yesterday was not just a simple duel.

His eyes darkened at the thought of it again.

"Yes. Every guild and the Union had the chance to show recruitment proposals. But he already said his willingness to join Blue."

This news was a huge letdown for everyone. They advised the new esper to think about it more, but he already signed the contract, and Guild Leader Mitchel already declared him a Blue Guild Member.

Niftan seemed the only one who did not express his disappointment about this.

Rise licked his lips. Mitchel...

Their meeting yesterday ended on a rather bad note. Mitchel’s wanting to recruit Epsilon was to be expected. Most guilds wanted a new S-rank in their midst.

However, he was more wary of Epsilon and the writer. What were they planning?

He needed to talk with Mitchel about this. Rise decided that, but he had no time to proceed with that talk for now. Since Kamille was returning to the headquarters, Rise wanted to spend time with him first.

Of course, Riri was coming with him.

"You’re leaving again?"

His father asked as he watched Rise packing Riri’s essentials again in his little bag. The other was not in his little suit but in a more casual sweatpants and hoodie.

Still looking adorable either way.

Rise nodded without looking at his father.

"We have to spend some time with his daddy."

Niftan furrowed his brows. At first, he found it funny, but now, was Rise serious after all?

Not hearing Niftan’s response but feeling his deep gaze, Rise grinned. He was not ashamed of this fact, so he was not deliberately hiding it.

He would not expose it blatantly either. For now, it was better this way. How could he explain that this child was his biological child and had no mother, but another father instead?

Niftan stared at Rise and eventually gave up. If Rise was not revealing anything, he would not be able to get any answers from him at all.

"We’ll be back tomorrow."

Rise wanted to sleep over there since Kamille would leave tomorrow. Kamille wanted to stay a few more days, but Hayes was already urging him.

Even now, as a noble, Kamille could only sigh at Hayes’s nagging. Rise wanted to see him too and tease that pretentious Vice Leader, but had no opportunity to do so.

Niftan did not ask in the end. He only lifted Riri and smiled at him. "Make sure you eat, okay?"

Riri nodded happily and leaned to kiss Niftan’s cheeks, which made him laugh. Rise watched them with a smile. Well, having a harmonious family seemed not bad.

He bid farewell to Niftan and went downstairs with Riri. As usual, he was in disguise. The discussions he heard along the way were about Epsilon.

As a new S-rank in a while, his popularity skyrocketed, and his immediate entry to the Blue Guild earned enough curiosity. What was Mitchel’s offer to him for the esper to not think twice and enter his guild?

Rise was only listening to them, but he was also curious. He itched to drag that Mitchel and asked him what that was all about. Was he taking revenge and now on the protagonist’s side?

Huh, there was no way.

Even in his past, Mitchel was on his side. Of course, after Thalia died, he had to push him away. He did not want Mitchel to die, either. Rise already had a premonition of his death that time.

In the original plot, Mitchel was more like a background character, and Rise thought he would not be influenced by the book much.

As he was thinking of this in his mind, they unknowingly arrived outside of Kamille’s room. This time, the other was inside and waiting for them. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Rise glanced at Riri. They talked last night, and again he asked him to do it. Riri held Rise’s hand tightly and looked at Kamille. He took a deep breath.

"Da... Daddy!" Riri’s tone was so low that he even looked like he was about to cry. When he said it, his face flushed, and he scooted closer to Rise’s side.

During these two days, he had already searched what it meant. While he could not fully comprehend the implications, Riri more or less understood this title.

Riri bit his lips and suppressed his laughter. His eyes did not leave Kamille, who suddenly flinched and blinked, surprised by what Riri just uttered.

Kamille stood there looking at Rise before shifting back to Riri. His silence was so deafening, and for Riri, it was so terrifying.

"You said... he won’t be angry?" Riri looked up at Rise, feeling so wronged. The corners of his eyes moistened.

Rising quickly, he squatted to him and wiped his eyes before his tears fell. He was so adorable! Rise did not tease him, though, and instead, he grinned and winked at Kamille.

"Of course, baby. Daddy isn’t angry, right, Daddy Kamille?"

Kamille knew this was Rise’s idea... He swallowed as his heart skipped a beat. What Riri called him lingered in his ears, and, added to by Rise’s words, was enough for him to spiral through several unknown emotions.

Yet, ultimately, it was summarized into one thing.

Kamille slowly approached them, and like Rise, he squatted in front of Riri. His hands trembled a bit as he held Riri’s hand. Riri turned to him and pursed his lips, waiting.

Contentment. Kamille felt so content. This was his family.

"I’m not angry." Kamille squeezed that small hand on his, but he loosened it, afraid that he might hurt him. Riri blinked and glanced at their hands before they looked again at Kamille.

Kamilel squeezed a smile out of him.

"You can call me that... every time, Riri."

Rise, watching this, bit his lips and slowly smiled.

This might not be the result he wanted, but it was better than he imagined.