The warm glow of the restaurant's lanterns painted the evening in gentle shades of amber as laughter echoed across the dining hall.
After the intense sparring match between Ryūsei and Catherine, the atmosphere had changed completely. The crushing tension that had filled the palace's training grounds had been replaced by warm smiles, playful teasing, and the comforting aroma of freshly cooked food.
The group occupied nearly an entire side of the restaurant.
Large platters filled the center of the table—grilled meats, roasted vegetables, steaming bowls of soup, seafood freshly caught from the Kingdom of Ryūgū's lakes, rice seasoned with herbs, sweet desserts, and, much to Kasai and Shadow's delight, several overflowing baskets of crispy chicken nuggets.
Even Ryūshi and Jikan, beings who had lived for centuries, quietly enjoyed the peaceful meal.
It was a rare kind of silence.
Not one born from tension.
But from comfort.
For the first time since Catherine had arrived from the future...
...she looked like an ordinary teenage girl enjoying dinner with her family.
Shizen watched Catherine carefully while taking another bite of his meal.
The way she carried herself.
The precision in her posture.
The elegance hidden beneath every movement.
Even when eating, she possessed the composure of someone who had undergone countless years of disciplined training.
He finally broke the silence.
"So, Catherine..."
He smiled gently.
"Who taught you to fight like that?"
Everyone looked toward the young girl.
Even Ryūshi and Jikan quietly listened.
Catherine paused.
The smile on her face weakened slightly.
She lowered her chopsticks before answering.
"...It was my aunt."
Her voice was calm...
...yet noticeably softer than before.
The table became quiet.
Ryūsei noticed it immediately.
That sadness again...
Every time Catherine talked about her future...
...her expression always darkened.
Yuki noticed it too.
She leaned forward.
"How about your father?"
Her tone was much gentler than usual.
"Doesn't he spend time with you?"
For several seconds...
Catherine didn't answer.
She stared silently into the soup before her.
"...Dad..."
She forced a small smile.
"...he's kind of..."
"...busy."
Her answer was barely above a whisper.
CRACK.
The wooden table shook.
Yuki had slammed both hands onto it.
"Busy?!"
Her voice echoed throughout the restaurant.
Several nearby customers instinctively turned their heads.
"What's more important than spending time with your own family?!"
She stood up.
Then—
Without hesitation—
She glared directly at Ryūsei.
Ryūsei nearly dropped his drink.
"W-Why are you looking at me?!"
He pointed at himself repeatedly.
"What did I do?!"
Yuki folded her arms.
"If Catherine's father is your son..."
"...then clearly somebody failed to raise him properly."
Ryūsei almost choked.
"I told you already!"
"That's me—but it's NOT me!"
Kasai immediately nodded with exaggerated seriousness.
"That's true."
He placed a hand on Ryūsei's shoulder.
"It isn't you."
He paused dramatically.
"It's Future You."
Shadow nodded beside him.
"Completely different irresponsible person."
Ryūsei stared blankly.
"...That..."
"...doesn't make me feel any better."
The table erupted into laughter.
Even Catherine couldn't help giggling.
Watching everyone bicker over someone who technically hadn't even been born yet...
...felt strangely comforting.
Shizen scratched his cheek.
"I still don't understand how someone can say 'It's me, but not me.'"
Ryūsei sighed.
"I don't understand it either."
Realizing the conversation was heading toward another round of Ryūsei abuse...
Ryūsei hurriedly changed the topic.
"So..."
He looked toward Catherine.
"...what's the future like?"
Instantly—
Catherine froze.
Her smile disappeared.
"I..."
She looked toward Jikan.
"...I'm not allowed to say."
"If I reveal future events..."
"...the timeline could change."
Everyone nodded.
That much they already understood.
To everyone's surprise...
Jikan suddenly spoke.
"I suppose..."
He smiled.
"...a few harmless details should be acceptable."
Everyone looked toward him.
Catherine blinked.
"Really?"
Jikan nodded.
"I'll simply compensate using my Time Dragon."
"My Elemental Art can stabilize small fluctuations in the timeline."
"As long as nothing major is revealed..."
"...history should remain intact."
Yuki leaned toward Ryūsei and whispered.
"...Can he actually do something like that?"
Ryūsei answered just as quietly.
"...Pretty much."
Yuki slowly looked back at Jikan.
"...Being the Crowned Dragon of Time is ridiculous."
Catherine smiled warmly.
"Then..."
She folded her hands together.
"In the future where I come from..."
"...Demons are no longer the greatest threat."
Everyone became serious.
Ryūshi stopped eating.
Even Jikan quietly listened.
"The current danger..."
"...is Corruption."
Her words carried an unexpected weight.
"The corruption of Elementalists has become the greatest crisis facing the Elemental World."
Ryūsei frowned.
"...Is it really that common?"
Catherine slowly nodded.
"Yes."
"In our era..."
"...it's treated almost like a pandemic."
The table fell silent.
"It happens so often that emergency response teams deal with corrupted Elementalists almost every day."
"There are special organizations dedicated solely to rescuing corrupted victims."
"It causes destruction..."
"...panic..."
"...and countless casualties."
She lowered her gaze.
"But..."
"...everyone has learned to live with it."
The room became deathly quiet.
To them...
It sounded impossible.
A world where Corruption had become normal...
...was terrifying.
Yuki asked softly,
"Have you..."
"...ever become corrupted?"
Catherine immediately shook her head.
"No."
She smiled faintly.
"Dad always taught me..."
"No matter how painful things become..."
"...never surrender to negative emotions."
"He always told me..."
"'Even when all hope seems gone..."
'...never give your heart to despair.'"
Her gentle smile returned.
"So..."
"I've never been corrupted."
Kayosha smiled warmly.
"Your father sounds like an amazing man."
Catherine nodded proudly.
"He is."
Yuki immediately looked at Ryūsei again.
"...Too bad somebody didn't raise him properly."
Ryūsei nearly slammed his head onto the table.
"Are we STILL talking about this?!"
Everyone laughed again.
Kasai leaned back in his chair.
"The future sounds awesome."
"I seriously can't wait."
He casually wrapped an arm around Sora's shoulders.
"Right, honey?"
Sora's entire body froze.
"K-K-K-Kasai..."
"N-Not now..."
Her face instantly became bright red.
Kasai grinned mischievously.
"You know..."
"I've been thinking."
He looked directly into her eyes.
"How many kids do you think we should have?"
Sora's brain completely stopped working.
"C-C-C-Catherine never even said..."
"...that we're together in the future!"
Her voice squeaked.
Kasai simply smiled.
"She doesn't need to."
Everyone blinked.
His expression became unusually sincere.
"Because..."
"You're the only girl I want beside me..."
"...in the future."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Even Shadow stopped eating.
Kayosha's jaw slowly dropped.
"...Wait."
She blinked several times.
"...Was..."
"...that just a confession?"
Sora looked ready to faint.
Steam might as well have been rising from her head.
Her entire face had turned crimson.
"K-K-K-Kasai..."
She couldn't even finish a sentence.
Ryūsei sighed dramatically.
"Enough flirting already."
"I came here to eat."
He pointed across the table.
"And unless you plan on eating..."
"...Shadow's about to finish all the chicken nuggets."
Everyone immediately looked.
Shadow had somehow accumulated nearly every remaining nugget onto his own plate.
Kasai's eyes widened in horror.
"...Shadow."
Shadow looked up innocently.
"...Yes?"
"LEAVE SOME FOR ME!"
Kasai launched himself across the table.
Shadow grabbed the basket.
"No!"
"The nuggets are mine!"
The two immediately began fighting over the last serving.
The entire restaurant filled with laughter once again.
Even Ryūshi chuckled.
Jikan quietly smiled.
And Catherine...
...laughed harder than she had since arriving in this era.
Several hours later...
The meal finally came to an end.
The bill was paid.
The night had grown quiet.
The group slowly returned to the royal palace beneath a sky overflowing with stars.
For Catherine...
It had been one unforgettable evening.
A family dinner...
...with the grandparents she never had.
The Next Morning
Before dawn had fully broken...
A loud voice echoed throughout the palace.
"EVERYONE!"
"WAKE UP!"
The peaceful silence vanished instantly.
Kasai slowly opened one eye.
"...Five more minutes..."
Yuki's voice immediately answered.
"No."
Moments later—
The entire household had gathered inside the palace's spacious living room.
Some were still rubbing their eyes.
Others were barely awake.
Ryūsei yawned.
Shadow looked half-asleep while standing.
Kasai still carried his blanket over one shoulder.
Only Ryūshi, Jikan, Catherine and Shizen appeared fully awake.
Kasai let out another yawn.
"Why..."
"...did you wake us up this early?"
"The Grand Shōtotsu doesn't even start for another few hours."
Shizen leaned against a nearby wall.
"It's always better to prepare early."
"Especially before something this important."
Shadow proudly crossed his arms.
"I'm always ready—"
He immediately tripped over a chair.
"Aaaah!"
He fell directly onto Yuki.
"SHADOW!!"
"GET OFF OF ME!!"
The entire room burst into laughter.
Shizen couldn't resist smiling.
"You were saying?"
Shadow slowly stood up.
"...That never happened."
Kayosha sat comfortably on the sofa.
"I still can't believe today's finally the day."
"The Grand Shōtotsu..."
Her eyes sparkled.
She had dreamed about participating in this tournament for years.
Kasai cracked his knuckles.
"I can't wait."
"I'm going to beat everyone."
Kayosha smirked.
"...Or get your butt kicked."
Kasai pointed dramatically.
"I challenge you to moral support."
"Denied."
Shizen looked toward Yuki.
"Any information from Father?"
Yuki sighed.
"Nothing."
"He refused to tell me anything."
"He said..."
"...he wanted the tournament to be a surprise."
Ryūsei laughed.
"That sounds exactly like Dad."
Shizen nodded.
"Being King hasn't changed him at all."
Yuki turned toward Ryūshi.
"What about you three?"
"What will you do today?"
Ryūshi answered immediately.
"Jikan, Catherine and I won't be participating."
"We'll spend the tournament searching for the Corrupted Elementalist."
Jikan nodded.
"I'll patrol the Kingdom itself."
"Ryūshi will remain inside the arena."
"If our enemy appears..."
"...we'll respond immediately."
Ryūshi suddenly frowned.
"...Wait."
"Why can't I patrol the Kingdom?"
"I wanted outside duty."
Jikan answered without hesitation.
"Because you'll attract attention."
Ryūshi sighed dramatically.
"...Fair."
Ryūsei looked toward the three travelers.
His expression softened.
"...Ryūshi."
"...Jikan."
"...Catherine."
"Thank you."
"Really."
"You've done far more for us than I ever expected."
Jikan smiled gently.
"You don't need to thank us."
"If anything..."
"...this entire situation started because of us."
Ryūshi nodded.
"And besides..."
"We can't enter the Grand Shōtotsu."
"As members of the Crowned Dragons..."
"...it wouldn't be fair."
Kasai tilted his head.
"What about Catherine?"
"Couldn't she participate?"
The room became quiet.
Jikan's smile faded.
"...No."
Everyone noticed the seriousness in his voice.
"If Catherine participates..."
"...there's a high possibility the timeline will diverge."
"My Time Dragon can correct small distortions."
"But..."
"...not catastrophic ones."
His voice grew heavier.
"If history changes too much..."
"...not even I can restore it."
Everyone stared silently.
Even Ryūsei felt an uneasy chill.
Kayosha finally spoke.
"...Why?"
Jikan remained silent.
His eyes slowly lowered.
The room grew unbearably still.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
The cheerful atmosphere that had filled the palace only moments earlier vanished completely.
Yuki was the first to notice.
"Catherine..."
Her voice became gentle.
"...What's wrong?"
The young girl had lowered her head.
Her hands trembled slightly.
She was trying desperately to hide it.
Ryūsei slowly stepped closer.
"...Catherine?"
Jikan quietly closed his eyes.
"If the timeline changes beyond my ability to repair..."
He stopped.
Before he could continue—
Catherine spoke.
"I..."
Her voice shook.
"...I'll disappear."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
"...from this world."
A tear rolled down her cheek.
The words struck everyone harder than any spell ever could.
Jikan slowly continued.
"If history changes beyond recovery..."
"...Catherine will cease to exist."
"The future she came from..."
"...will disappear alongside her."
"You'll remember meeting her..."
"...but she will no longer exist."
"Not in the present."
"Not in the future."
"Not anywhere."
No one could respond.
Even Ryūshi stood frozen.
For someone who had lived countless centuries...
...even he found those words difficult to hear.
Ryūsei slowly looked toward Catherine.
His chest tightened painfully.
This cheerful girl...
This granddaughter he had only just met...
...was gambling her very existence.
For them.
For her friend.
For a future that might never belong to her.
"Catherine..."
His voice barely escaped.
She looked up.
Her eyes were still wet.
Yet...
She smiled.
A beautiful...
fragile...
painfully brave smile.
"It's okay, Grandpa."
"I'll take the risk."
She placed a hand over her heart.
"I have to save my friend."
"If I don't..."
"...no one else can."
The room remained silent.
No one knew what to say.
Because at that moment...
Every person present finally understood.
The Grand Shōtotsu was no longer just a tournament.
It had become the battlefield upon which the fate of countless lives...
...and even the future itself...
...would soon be decided.