Raya Lucaria Academy was once the heart of the Carian royal family's rule. Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon, was not only the Queen of Caria but also the leader of the Carian Academy.
Her family had established a regime worshipping the stars and moon before the advent of the Golden Order. As a leader and a powerful mage, she personally led the resistance against the Erdtree army led by Radagon, Marika's other self.
In the end, she and Radagon developed feelings for each other, leading to peace and a marriage alliance.
After being abandoned by Radagon, she lost her sanity. She spends her days listlessly in the grand library, cradling the amber embryo of her youngest child, the "Unborn One", and thus lost her actual leadership over Caria.
In truth, the real authority within Raya Lucaria Academy has long since changed hands, and she has long been a figurehead.
One could blame Rennala for giving up. If she had emerged from her shadow, not to mention progressing further herself, the Carian Kingdom might have become even more prosperous.
Unfortunately, she became obsessed.
Her daughter, seeing her mother like this, placed a protective spell on the amber to guard her. It manifests the image of Rennala in her prime to attack anyone who harms her mother.
It was like this in the game; that stunning scene… Kaito still can't forget it.
Beautiful, truly beautiful.
In the depths of space, with an ocean beneath and the beautiful full moon as the backdrop.
The Queen of the Full Moon, truly worthy of the name.
Deep within her consciousness in the game, Rennala still watches over her daughter's journey, but this requires players to slowly understand through some hidden storylines.
Putting down some books about Rennala, Kaito sighed.
He hadn't expected such books to exist. He didn't know who had the connections to know these things, or even dare to write about her being a figurehead.
Maybe he knew, or maybe he guessed from the Academy's performance.
The strange thing is that the Academy has never explained or banned these books.
"My Lord, your friend has arrived."
"Hmm? I see."
At night, Hirano came again, piquing Kaito's interest.
He had thought he would just read his books and sleep early tonight, but Hirano had come again, just a day apart.
So, what was her purpose?
"Kaito, good evening."
"Mm, good evening. Please, have a seat."
Kaito invited her to sit. Hirano didn't stand on ceremony, sitting across from him graciously, waiting for Kaito to pour her tea.
Seeing this, the Fire Keeper and Melina silently returned to their room, having received a hint from Kaito.
For some reason, they both felt a slight dissatisfaction?
Melina hadn't reacted much yet, but the Fire Keeper seemed a bit mopey, as if her king was being taken away by someone else.
"Speaking of which, where's your Maiden?"
"She's training magic quietly, just like me."
"Oh? Convinced by you, or...?"
"Convinced by me. Ultimately, I was too weak, and so was she. After I decided to stay here and learn more magic, I convinced her to learn with me, using the excuse that she was also too weak to protect me."
"Haha, I bet you were tired of her nagging in your ear every day, right? So you used her weakness as an excuse to persuade her?"
"Yes. Honestly, I never really wanted to be a king. I rarely go to the Roundtable Hold either. That place... is too noisy."
The Roundtable Hold was indeed noisy, and how to put it...
Like a brothel, even noisier at night!
Fortunately, Kaito had gotten to know Fia early and made her [Bed's Blessing] his exclusive one. Otherwise, she would have ended up tragically like the other 'Deathbed Companions'.
Though he sympathized with their plight, Kaito's ability was limited. He could only save Fia; the others were beyond his help.
Even he couldn't risk inciting public anger, right?
Besides, the Deathbed Companions are currently important for the functioning of this world's rules. Acting rashly to disrupt them might cause bad things to happen?
Who knows?
In short, mind your own business if it's not your place.
Incidentally, there are only female Deathbed Companions, no male Deathbed Companions.
Also, [Bed's Blessing] can be triggered between women as well.
In the Roundtable Hold, Kaito had seen many female Tarnished.
Some were good-looking, but most were muscular women, or... just like the faces players create in-game, dreadful to behold.
Each feature was somewhat 'imperfect'.
"Speaking of which, have you met any other ladies during this time?"
Kaito asked a concerned question. He hadn't asked before because his attention had been on her.
"No, I haven't."
Hirano seemed a bit helpless. If she had met anyone, she would have mentioned it the first day they met.
In fact, she also missed the other ladies in the chat group.
For example, Akina, with whom she had a very good relationship, and Sayuri. They were very compatible and had a lot in common.
Especially Akina!
"Sigh, I wonder where they are now and how they're doing? But I guess they haven't been eliminated."
"Maybe. If they were eliminated, they would have lost a lot of points."
"Exactly. Points are too important."
"Hehe, I'm a newbie, don't tell me that."
"Come on, after this parent-child activity ends and we return to the real world for another month, you won't be a newbie anymore. You'll become like the others."
Clearly, Yor was the newer newbie!
After this parent-child activity ended, Kaito was determined to go to Yor's world and solidify her status as his woman.
Otherwise, the storyline might start.
He had to make Anya the peanut goddess his daughter, have her raised by Yor.
As for cooking and other issues, they could just hire a maid. And they would also find that big white dog, Bond.
"Kaito... about that new broth ramen from the night before last, do you still have the ingredients?"
As it got later and later, their chat continued until it was time to sleep.
But having a midnight snack before bed was also a good idea.
Remembering the delicious food from the night before last, especially the broth, Hirano's face flushed, and her fingers started twirling unconsciously.
"Hehe, of course! Come with me to the kitchen. We'll make the midnight snack faster together."
"Mm."