["Papa!"]
"...Huh? Wait, is that you, Lene?"
["Yep!"]
The cheerful voice ringing through the phone didn't belong to Bianca, but her daughter, Selene.
Looking back, I realized just how naturally I had come to accept the child calling me 'Papa.'
["Papa, you took too long to answer!"]
"Ah, sorry about that. Papa forgot where he left his phone for a second."
The little girl giggled through the receiver before immediately scolding me again, as if the thought just occurred to her.
I couldn't exactly tell her that I had been hesitant to pick up because I thought it was her mother calling. So, I settled for a clumsy excuse.
["Hehe~ Then I'll forgive you! Because Selene is a good girl!"]
"Right, thank you~"
How should I put it? I could definitely feel that signature Kaslana confidence—or rather, shamelessness—in her tone.
Selene was quite different from the current, dignified Bianca. Aside from myself, Rita, Master Siegfried, and Lady Cecilia, most people said her personality didn't resemble her mother's at all, even if their looks did... But those in the inner circle knew the truth.
Selene's personality was a perfect carbon copy of Bianca's childhood self.
Especially that trait of leaping into action without overthinking and her sheer love for mischief.
The same went for Bronie; the more I watched them, the more I was struck by the mystery of genetics.
"Lene, honey, how did you manage to call me?"
["Mm, about that~ I watched Mama call you with this all the time, so I tried it myself and it worked!"]
"Ooh~ Look at you. That's impressive."
["Hehe~ Am I amazing?"]
"Of course you are. Beyond amazing."
Children that age usually try to mimic their parents' actions, but they rarely get it right—it's usually just pretend.
But Selene had actually pulled it off.
It meant she wasn't just observing people closely, but she was paying attention to everything in her environment as well.
["Hey, hey, Papa."]
"Yes, go ahead. I'm listening."
She kept bursting into fits of giggles, unable to hide how excited she was about something.
Did she even realize how her obvious joy made me want to laugh along more than it made me curious?
["Mama said she's going to Papa's house today!"]
"...Huh?"
["That's why I woke up so early this morning! I did good, right?"]
At those sudden words, I wasn't the only one who froze. My wife, who had been listening with a warm smile, and the Class Monitor both went stiff as boards.
So, you're saying she's on her way? Bianca? And with Selene?
["Papa?"]
"Ah, yes. Good girl, Selene. You did great. But... is it just the two of you coming?"
["Yep! Just me and Mama!"]
Was the silver lining that Rita wasn't coming along?
Still, the timing was incredibly suspect.
It felt as though Bianca had timed her arrival specifically for this moment. I had a nagging suspicion this wasn't a simple coincidence.
"What is Mama doing right now?"
["She went to buy a... 'tik-it'? She said she was going to buy one of those!"]
"I see."
In this day and age, there was usually no need to buy physical tickets.
Everything could be reserved via a smartphone.
The technology of this era was far more advanced; even standard smartphones were equipped with basic AI that could perform tasks automatically based on the owner's voice recognition.
However, there was one exception: traveling to Schicksal Headquarters. You had to purchase a ticket in person.
There was only one reason: identity verification.
One could only enter the Headquarters after a manual ID check and confirmation of Schicksal affiliation.
The reason for maintaining such an analog method was, as always, security.
Machines alone couldn't respond immediately if a high-level breach occurred.
Because of this, the personnel stationed at the airport were all B-Rank Valkyries.
A single B-Rank Valkyrie possessed combat prowess equal to an entire elite special forces squad, which justified their deployment there.
If they weren't that strong, they wouldn't even be able to stand against a Honkai Beast in the first place.
["Papa, Papa!"]
"Yes, Papa's here."
["I want to eat that!"]
"What do you want to eat, sweetheart?"
["Seafood Potato Pancakes!"]
Selene's sudden shout reached the ears of Bronie, who had been playing with Sushang in the distance. Her eyes immediately sparkled.
The last time Bianca and Rita had visited for a drink, I had used some leftover seafood from a paella, along with some green onions and potatoes from the pantry, to whip up some seafood potato pancakes.
It was a hit with the adults, but the kids had loved it even more—so much so that I had to make a second batch.
Well, originally I had only intended for us to have a small snack, so I could only make two before running out of ingredients. The kids had thrown a rare tantrum when I told them I couldn't make any more.
I promised to make them more later, but they wouldn't stop fussing until I had to firmly tell them I wouldn't make any at all if they didn't stop. That finally settled them.
It wouldn't have been out of character for them to keep whining, but they were so well-behaved after that realization that I ended up making them egg tarts as a reward.
"Alright, I'll make them for you."
["Yay!"]
"Seafood Potato Pancakes!"
Watching both Selene's excitement through the phone and Bronie's joy from across the room, I began mental cataloging the ingredients in the fridge.
Since everyone here would likely end up eating them, I figured it would be best to head out for some groceries soon.
...Ah, wait. If Selene is right, then Bianca is away buying tickets and isn't next to her, right?
Maybe this is my chance.
"Um, Lene?"
["Yeah~?"]
"Aren't you ever... sad that you don't get to see your real father?"
["...Hmph, I don't know. Lene only has Mama and Papa."]
She paused for a second before letting out a clear huff of indignation. I couldn't help but grasp the weight of her words.
No, it was impossible not to understand.
In that instant, I felt a wave of absolute relief wash over me—like the cooling sensation of taking medicine for a heavy stomach.
It wasn't just me. The Class Monitor, who had been grimacing and clutching her stomach as if she had a bitter heartburn, suddenly looked entirely at peace.
My wife also let out a deep sigh, clearly feeling a weight lifted from her shoulders. I spoke again.
"Why is that?"
["Daddy loves work more than Lene. He never comes to see Lene. So Lene only has Papa and Mama."]
"...Is that so."
Hearing the resentment and sadness in the child's voice, I fell silent for a moment.
Just what kind of situation had led her to speak with such gloom?
"Our Lene must have been very hurt. Then, should Papa make sure to play with you all day today?"
["Really?"]
"Of course. When has Papa ever lied to you?"
["Hehe~ Never!"]
I smiled as the child's mood immediately shifted back to bright cheer.
Yes, rather than seeing children in a dark mood, it was far better to see them laughing and happy, even if it meant more work for me.
["Lene? Were you on the phone?"]
["Ah, Mama!"]
Suddenly, I heard Bianca's voice over the receiver, sounding quite surprised.
Judging by her reaction, it seemed Bianca hadn't even known Selene knew how to use the phone yet.
Did that mean I was the first person Selene had ever called in her life?
Ugh, I really wasn't sure whether I should be happy or deeply troubled by that.
"Hey, Bianca."
["I was wondering who Lene managed to call... so it was you."]
"I was pretty shocked myself when I picked up."
["As was I. When she suddenly asked for the phone, I thought she just wanted to watch some kids' show, so I put one on for her and stepped away... I had no idea it was so she could make a call."]
"She wanted to let me know personally how excited she was to visit."
["I see. Lene, are you really that happy?"]
Bianca's question was met with an immediate, energetic response.
["Yeah! Because I get to see Papa and Bronie!"]
"Me too! I'm happy because I get to see Lene!"
["Bronie!"]
As Bronie rushed over to join the conversation, shouting with joy, Selene called back out to her with equal excitement.
Watching them, I felt a chuckle escape my lips. I patted my daughter's head and continued the conversation.
"By the way, is your husband not coming with you?"
["...Excuse me? My husband?"]
"Hmm?"
Bianca's voice was tinged with genuine confusion, which in turn left me puzzled.
But then, she let out a small gasp as if she just remembered something.
["Ah, come to think of it, there was a person like that."]
...Am I just imagining things, or is the treatment of her husband remarkably poor?