Ignis reached the door of the drawing room, his steps light against the polished floor. Just as he was about to step into view, he paused—his ears catching the low murmur of conversation inside.
He stayed by the side of the doorway, pressing his back lightly against the wall. Eavesdropping on his parents wasn't something he normally condoned, but the tone of their voices told him this wasn't an ordinary discussion. And when the topic was him, he couldn't help but listen.
Evan's voice was filled with frustration. "We don't have enough left. I can afford maybe three more potions for Ignis—after that, we'll be out of money."
A quiet sigh followed before Alenna responded, calm but resolute. "Then ask the Count for a loan. That should give us time to gather enough funds to continue buying potions. In the meantime, I've been thinking… maybe I should return to adventuring. As a 4-Star Vitalist, any party would offer me a sizable share. It won't take long before we're financially stable again."
"No." Evan's voice was firm, almost pleading. "I promised I'd give you a peaceful life. I don't want you risking yourself out there again. I'll think of another way."
There was a pause, then the soft rustle of movement. Alenna's tone turned gentle but unwavering. "This isn't about comfort, love. It's about practicality. We both know Ignis has extraordinary talent. He needs those potions to train safely, to grow stronger. It's our responsibility to support him—together. Whatever it takes."
Evan fell silent, the weight of her words sinking in. Ignis could almost see his father sitting there, head bowed in thought.
Outside the door, Ignis clenched his fist. A quiet resolve settled over him.
No more burdening them, he thought. If I can refine mana from monster cores… then I'll find a way to train on my own. I'll grow strong enough so they won't have to sacrifice anything more.
And with that, he stepped away from the door, determination burning in his chest.
Ignis gently knocked on the door before stepping into the drawing room. His parents, seated side by side on the sofa, quickly turned toward him. The moment they saw him, the tension on their faces vanished, replaced by practiced smiles.
But Ignis saw through them.
Behind those smiles was worry—sadness, even. He didn't blame them. He only felt more determined.
"Dad, Mom," he began calmly, walking toward them, "I… heard everything you said just now." He bowed his head slightly, sincere. "I'm sorry for listening in, but since it was about me, I couldn't just walk away."
Alenna and Evan exchanged a glance—one of quiet guilt. They hadn't wanted their son to carry the burden of their financial troubles, especially at his age. But they said nothing, waiting for him to continue.
"You don't need to worry," Ignis said, lifting his gaze. "In fact, I have good news—really good news."
That caught their attention.
Evan leaned forward slightly. "Good news? What do you mean?"
"Remember the mana cores I took from the storeroom earlier?" Ignis asked.
Evan smiled faintly, nodding. "Yes, I figured you were just fascinated by how they looked. Children are often drawn to shiny things."
Ignis smiled a little in return, but shook his head. "That's not why I took them," he said. "Something inside me—maybe the dragon blood—was drawn to them. It wasn't just curiosity. It felt like… a pull."
He didn't mention the Hogyoku. His parents believed his talent came from his dragon blood, and for now, that was a truth he'd let stand.
He continued, "After returning to my room, I felt a strong urge to absorb the mana from the core. So I did. And with the help of the artifact (Zanpakutō), I succeeded. It refined the violent mana into something I could safely absorb."
Alenna and Evan's eyes widened in surprise, but they remained quiet, letting him finish.
"My mana circuit wasn't harmed at all," Ignis said, excitement creeping into his voice. "Not only that, but the absorption was twice as fast as my normal training speed. If I combine this with potion use, my daily training efficiency will literally double. One day of training will be worth two."
He paused, then looked at both of them seriously. "That means… I don't need to rely so much on expensive potions anymore. I can make faster progress without putting more pressure on you."
Evan's expression shifted as he looked at his son—equal parts pride, worry, and a flicker of anger. His voice was firm, laced with restrained frustration.
"Son," he began, "I'm glad—truly glad—that you managed to absorb the mana from the core safely. But something that dangerous… you should've told us first. What if something had gone wrong? What would we have done if you'd been hurt?"
Alenna nodded, her eyes clouded with concern. "Your father's right," she said gently. "We're proud of your courage, but you mustn't take risks like that without telling us."
Ignis lowered his head, genuinely remorseful. "I understand. I'm sorry—I should've informed you first. I just... I was confident it would work."
Evan's voice softened, the edge of anger fading. "What's important is that you're safe. And now that we know you can absorb mana cores… that's incredible. I'll organize a hunting party immediately. We'll gather cores for you—enough to last for months."
But Ignis quickly shook his head. "There's no need for that, Father. I've already made a plan."
Both Evan and Alenna looked at him in surprise as he continued.
"I've decided to go to Eldermere," Ignis said with resolve. "It's a city near a monster-infested forest, and there are multiple Adventurers Guilds stationed there. If I join one, I'll be able to earn money, gather mana cores for training, and sell monster materials to eventually afford potions. The guilds at such locations also provide potions to their members at cheaper rates—it's all in the book I read."
A heavy silence fell over the room.
Evan abruptly stood up, his voice sharp. "No. Absolutely not."
Alenna's face had gone pale. "Ignis, you can't be serious," she said, rising as well. "That place is dangerous—too dangerous for someone your age."
"I know it's dangerous," Ignis replied calmly, but firmly. "But it's a risk I have to take. I've already started walking this path. If I want to grow stronger, I can't stay protected behind these walls forever."
But his parents weren't ready to accept that—at least, not yet.
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