Chapter 148: Explorer

Kai was strolling along the front grounds of the mansion with Elara nestled comfortably in his arms.

They had finished dinner a little while ago. Jean was preparing to leave for the training session with Kai. And after some discussion they have decided to bring Elara along too.

Well, he hadn’t actually asked Adam for permission, but Kai was fairly certain the man wouldn’t have any objections.

For now, however, his attention was entirely occupied by the little girl in his arms. Elara seemed fascinated by the night sky, her eyes wandering from one cluster of stars to another. Every so often, she would point at something, seemingly eager to share her discovery with him.

"Over there? Oh, is that a constellation?" Kai asked, following the direction of her little finger.

"Papa..." she called softly, pointing at another spot in the sky.

Her tiny hand remained wrapped around his collar as she continued looking around, occasionally shifting her attention between the stars and the surroundings.

Kai couldn’t help smiling at her enthusiasm. There was something incredibly endearing about the way she tried to show him everything that caught her attention, as though she had discovered something extraordinary and couldn’t possibly keep it to herself.

However, his smile gradually faded when his gaze fell upon her arm.

The engraving was still there.

He let out a quiet sigh as the conversation from that morning resurfaced in his mind. For a moment, he simply looked at the little girl in his arms, taking in her innocent expression.

’I hope I can keep protecting that smile.’

Leaning forward, he planted a gentle kiss on her cheek before drawing her closer in an affectionate embrace.

Elara seemed to have forgotten all about the stars. She nestled against his chest, apparently content with simply being held by her father.

"What happened?"

Kai turned at the familiar voice and found Jean approaching them with the stroller.

"Nothing. Elli was just showing me something interesting."

"Oh? And what might that be?"

"The stars, of course. Aren’t they fascinating? I think Elara might have developed an interest in them."

Jean gave him a somewhat doubtful look. "Much like how she’s developed an interest in windows, curtains, and sunlight?"

"But they’re all connected!" Kai promptly defended his daughter’s interests. "I’m sure Elara will become a great explorer once she grows up."

Jean chuckled at his enthusiasm. "And I suppose she’ll keep all her discoveries to herself instead of sharing them with her mother?"

Both parents exchanged an amused smile. They were rather glad their little princess couldn’t understand what they were discussing. Otherwise, she would undoubtedly have started pouting at the words.

...

Not long after, the family set off for the gym.

It was roughly six hundred meters away, close enough that there was no need to take the car. They decided to walk instead, with Elara comfortably settled in her stroller.

Jean was chatting with Naomi over the phone as they made their way down the street.

"Oh, yes, I will. Not this weekend, though. I already have something planned."

As she said that, she glanced at Kai, only to find him looking back at her.

She offered him a faint smile before continuing the conversation.

"Hmm? Oh, yes, I’ll tell him. And don’t spend all your time worrying about everyone else. Make sure you get some proper rest as well."

After a few more words, she finally ended the call.

Just then Jean moved closer to Kai and slipped her arm around his, hugging it affectionately.

"Hmm? What happened?"

Kai looked down at her, momentarily surprised by the sudden gesture. He wasn’t particularly accustomed to Jean being this openly affectionate, at least not without some prompting.

Still, if she wanted to hold his arm, he certainly wasn’t going to complain even in his wildest dreams.

"She sounded so happy and relieved... I honestly can’t remember the last time I heard her speak with such a voice." Jean said with a fond smile, her expression softening as she recalled the conversation. "You’ve given them something to hope for again, Kai. You really are a wonderful man."

Kai responded by gently taking her hand, intertwining their fingers as they walked.

"Not that wonderful, actually. There are plenty of people out there who are suffering, and I can’t possibly help everyone. I chose to support them for a rather simple reason."

Jean’s cheeks warmed slightly. She returned his faint smile, already knowing what he meant.

"I know."

They soon arrived at the gym, having spent most of the walk lost in each other’s company. Neither felt the need to fill the silence with conversation. A glance, a gentle squeeze of the hand, or the occasional smile was more than enough for them to understand each other.

The establishment was considerably larger than one might expect for a facility meant to serve just two people.

It was, in fact, a community gymnasium, complete with a spacious arena at its center. Several sections had been set aside for different forms of exercise, including gymnastics, calisthenics, weightlifting, and various other forms of physical training. There was hardly a shortage of equipment or space for anyone looking to improve their physical abilities.

However, the couple’s attention was primarily drawn to the arena.

Jean had changed into comfortable athletic clothing that allowed her to move freely. After all, the purpose of their visit was to get a better understanding of her current strength, and she would need to put her abilities to the test.

Meanwhile, Elara’s stroller was positioned safely to the side of the arena, far enough from the training area to ensure she wouldn’t be disturbed.

Kai had also taken the precaution of activating the barrier artifact the system had rewarded him with back when he was securing their home.

Interestingly, he had discovered that the Veil could be manipulated in much the same way. What had initially seemed like an ability limited to protecting the mansion could be applied to other locations as well, provided he understood how to establish the necessary boundaries.

For now, he had extended its protection around the area where Elara would be resting, ensuring that nothing could accidentally reach her while they trained.

"Rest well, sweetie."

Kai gave his little girl a gentle wave. Elara, who had grown rather sleepy during their walk, barely managed to lift her hand in response.

He smiled at her drowsy attempt before turning around and making his way back towards the arena.

It’s time for some training.