Licht and Alysa heard the whole conversation from the outside.
Alysa said, "Well… what just happened was tragic."
Licht said, "There was nothing to be done. The Captain could have stated the truth. And even if she said, 'I will give my power to Marks despite the fact you were chosen by the power and the beloved grandchild of Domr Faust, who entrusted everything to you,' Liebe still would have forgiven everything in the past decade. But she was the one who tried to protect Liebe by telling a lie."
Alysa said, "Yeah. That's just Liebe. He gave everyone a chance. But I wanted to ask… exactly when did he find out the mask chose him?"
Licht said, "A few days ago, when he was in the Chamber of Einherjar. He told me he could feel it, and he tried to test the theory, and it worked. And now, whenever he feels like it, the mask will be by his side. But even if he died, he will never use it—because it's Black Rose's greatest treasure, and it's something he couldn't care about, even though the fact is, it's one of the strongest powers in the world. Including the fact it can even rival the power of Excalibur that you wield."
Alysa said, "Even at 66%, I know he is still far away."
As Liebe came out and said, "What are you two doing here?"
Alysa said, "We… we were working on something."
Liebe said, "What?"
Licht said, "I needed to have a word with the Captain."
Liebe said, "Well, feel free to."
Licht said, "By the way, what now?"
Liebe said, "Easy. Train till I can reach Mother in strength, and then bring her down from the altar of strength and become the Captain of Black Rose."
Licht said, "Even if she herself won't be happy?"
Liebe said, "The way things are here, the child will just be crushed by the weight of expectations, and all my strength would be pointless."
Licht said, "I see."
Liebe said, "Tell Isurugi to clear my schedule for today. I have something to take care of."
Licht said, "Sure."
Meanwhile, inside the tent, Lilith said, "What now?"
Gelda said, "Well, I doubt anything can be done now. How unfortunate. He tried, yet you failed. It wasn't even that hard."
Lilith said, "I just thought… since I planned to make Marks the heir, it's best if I could give a logical reason."
Gelda said, "And look where that has gotten you."
Lilith said, "I don't know why, but I have to do something for Marks. He is just two. As a mother, it's my job to take care of my weaker son. I just have decided."
Gelda said, "Why are you putting such BS in the statement? Just say what you want to say—that his feelings don't matter because he is strong, and you want to coddle the two-year-old because he is weak and helpless."
Lilith said, "Thank you for not sugarcoating it."
Gelda said, "Sure. But for the most important part—it was supposed to be a conversation, not you nervously saying whatever you needed. You didn't ask much of how he felt about it. He still needs time."
Lilith said, "I know. How did you do it?"
Gelda said, "Do what?"
Lilith said, "Raise all four of them."
Gelda said, "Easy. Babysit. And when Elizabeth was born, the other three kinda ended up babysitting her, so it was just me watching them play with a baby. Easy. But your case is worse."
Lilith said, "I know."
Gelda said, "Only 24 hours a day, and you have a two-year-old who needs affection to grow up, and a 17-year-old—almost a hero—who lost you for 10 years and who deserves to be treated with affection the most. But again, if you ask for my opinion—just throw Marks for adoption and become a mother for Liebe."
Lilith said, "I refuse."
Gelda said, "Did I strike a nerve? At least you beat me at something."
Lilith said, "I'm sorry for losing my cool. And no—there are several things I have you beat at."
Gelda said, "Of course. And the majority of them include being a muscle-brain, brute, idiot, dumbass, muscle-for-brain, air-brain, dignity as a lady, posture, brains, thinks, and what else?"
Lilith said, "Okay, okay, that's enough. Don't elongate the list."
Gelda said, "You sure? I was just getting started. Some of the good ones are still further down: 'old baby,' 'needs diaper change,' 'dumbass wrong-time famiholic on the wrong side.'"
Lilith said, "You sure have been waiting a while to say all those things now, haven't you?"
Gelda said, "Of course. Five years, four months, two days, one hour, six minutes, and 23 seconds."
Lilith said, "Okay, that's a long wait, just saying."
As Gelda was stepping out, Lilith said, "Where are you going?"
Gelda said, "I feel quite tired, so I'm taking the day off."
Lilith said, "What about my schedule and the piled-up work?"
Gelda said, "Do it yourself."
Lilith said, "But how?"
Gelda said, "If Liebe can do it alone, so can you, you big dumbass baby. Unlike you, I actually have a personal life where all four of my children love me, and I love all of them equally—even if three of them may not be biological."
Lilith said, "You done rubbing it off?"
Gelda said, "No, but I'm off then. And see you at tomorrow's ceremony."
Meanwhile, in the mountains, as Liebe crushed boulder after boulder for training.