"Being able to endure for five hundred years... that really was remarkable..."
Time slowly passed as Gwen and Yorktown communicated in secret, and the award ceremony soon came to an end.
When they arrived at the room where the three of them would rest after leaving, the white-haired little bundle who had rushed over the fastest was the first to reach Gwen's side. She puffed out her chest and raised her head, as though afraid he would miss the medal tilted upward on her chest.
"Gwen, look, look! I passed the assessment."
"Mm, Kiana did great."
Gwen helped Kiana smooth down the slightly disheveled hair caused by her overly energetic movements, then smiled.
"This year of hard work wasn't in vain."
"Hehe."
Kiana immediately broke into a delighted smile at his words and naturally wrapped her arms around Bianca's arm beside her.
"Wasn't it Bianca who said, 'You reap what you sow'?"
After Kiana moved aside, Raiden Mei, who had arrived afterward, was finally able to stand before Gwen.
"Gwen, I succeeded."
Though her tone was far calmer than Kiana's, Raiden Mei's undisguised gaze conveyed the girl's feelings to Gwen without error.
"You've worked hard this past year, Mei."
Gwen looked into Raiden Mei's eyes, which seemed to surge with blazing lightning, for a moment before smiling and nodding.
"You did very well. I look forward to the day when you can stand shoulder to shoulder with me."
Unlike the others who took the assessment at the same time, Raiden Mei had challenged the A-rank assessment, having already become capable of drawing upon her Herrscher Authority to a certain extent. As such, the sweat and effort she had put in over the past year far surpassed that of everyone else.
"Mm, I won't let that day come too late."
Raiden