Feeney was stumped for a long while, but in the end, he still couldn’t manage to say anything else—after all, Amos was staring menacingly from behind.
Indeed, this little cub was easy to bully, but the huge presence lurking behind his tiny figure could really pack a punch.
Occasionally, the growing little one could land quite a savage blow on him if not careful.
That mischievous elder finally tucked his claws back, ever so cautiously.
He behaved himself.
This time, he really did.
Meanwhile, the entire special class was showing a completely different spirit from before.
Whereas before, they’d been reluctant to take part in such a campus celebration,
Now, no one even needed to say anything—one after another, they rushed to volunteer for something.
Their enthusiasm left the students from other classes dumbfounded, unable to react.
Of course, people had muttered about what was going on in these guys’ heads—until a few days later.
A hover car from the royal court stopped at the gates of the Holy Cas Empire’s First Military Academy.
Before anyone could react—the Crown Clan, who were mostly in the imperial capital waiting for their next assignment, had shown up in force.
The Dwight family had Amos, Frey, and Feeney; Anya had to leave the capital early due to a sudden task.
Meilun and Kaman were there too, while Hel and Morlo’s conditions were unstable, so they were still in the medical center.
Job and Joshua had come along to join the fun.
And so the Crown Clan guardians lined up in a crowd; the principal of First Military Academy came forward to personally greet them, quite giving off the vibe of a leader on inspection.
Students nearby watched, dumbstruck, still unable to react even as the principal led them inside.
“Don’t mind us too much.”
Amos clearly realized there were perhaps too many people with them this time.
He spoke casually to the leadership of First Military Academy.
“We’re here just as Zao Zao’s family.”
Leave anyone at home, and none would be happy.
So they all came together in the end.
At dawn, with the sky just turning light, Chu Zao was pulling Amos’s hand, traipsing ahead and almost dragging Amos along.
At this time, he really seemed like a little cub.
Everything he was curious about, had never seen, or found interesting, he was brimming with enthusiasm for.
“Yes, if Your Majesty and the princes need anything, please call me at any time.”
The principal was an old fox.
He could see that this Crown Clan trip wasn’t about politics at all—they had plainly come just to be with Chu Zao.
If they kept sticking by the Crown Clan, that would actually be bad.
Not that they were bad themselves, but it might spoil the experience for the Crown Clan’s majesty and princes.
After saying this, the school’s people quickly drifted away from the Crown Clan.
Chu Zao was already dragging Amos to the special class, everything ready and set.
The special class was jesting with classmates in neighboring booths that were still being set up.
“I saw you guys early this morning, you moved this much stuff over? What, are the folks at that breakfast stand taking the whole day off?”
“Hmph, you don’t get it.”
The special class kids hummed a tune.
Don’t get what?—the others had long been annoyed with these special class folks.
After all, there was a little prince in the special class. Although the little prince mostly studied within the royal court, at least the special class could see him from time to time. The rest could only stare at the royal court’s website or hope for pure luck.
“And you wanted to set up a breakfast stand before just so you could get it over with, then do something else afterward, right? So why prep so much stuff?”
If they’d known the little prince would show, they probably wouldn’t have hastily decided to do a breakfast stand, nor hoped to finish early and break up—if they’d organized a real event, the little prince might have stuck around longer—
So now, they were left hauling things.
“Hmph, you don’t understand—”
Passing students and those nearby: …
Could you not just say something else?
Is that all you know how to say?
And what’s so smug about it?
As if we’re supposed to envy you—just a temporary breakfast stand, you’re basically just working for that stand owner, who’s resting at home counting their money, and what have you guys got to be happy about?
Until the sound of gasps kept coming from all around.
The group turned and froze—one by one, they stared fixedly over there.
See, told you you didn’t understand.
“Are you ready yet?”
The little prince was pulling His Majesty’s hand, round honey-colored eyes shining, brighter than the dawn’s star source.
Noticing the crowd around, Chu Zao turned, his soft baby voice asking them—
“Do you want some breakfast?”
Holy—
Eyeballs went wide one by one, eyes nearly popping out.
There was no time to think, but the mouths responded first—“Yes!”
Yes, yes, yes!!!
The special class crowd hummed in triumphant delight.
See? We told you—you don’t get it, do you?
So, those students and teachers who arrived a little late or just came out of the dorms were left confused, watching people flocking in one direction.
What’s going on?
Ask around?
Oh, the little prince is here, too—
Damn!
Wait for me, I want to queue, too!!!
A whole bunch of folks with no previous interest in breakfast suddenly showed wild enthusiasm.
The special class moved swiftly, the little cub merely welcomed everyone simply.
In about two hours, everything wrapped up.
Their supplies were sold out, and what was left was just for their own class to divvy up.
Within the Crown Clan, aside from Job and Joshua, who went off exploring,
Most of the others hung around to watch Zao Zao.
When they finished, Feeney called the little cub over to stroll about the celebration together.
There really were a lot of strange and interesting things around.
Chu Zao stuffed the food he’d collected into his space button.
He turned to look at Yun Songquan, Peng Liang, and Chao Huangmu.
“Looks like sales are pretty good?”
Yun Songquan and Peng Liang answered Chu Zao while busy, preparing to return the plates and other things borrowed from the breakfast stand.
Chao Huangmu was talking with the stand owner.
The owner was amazed at how much they’d managed to sell in so short a time, trying to probe if they had any secret methods he could borrow.
As for secret methods? Chao Huangmu thought about it; he was crouched in front of Chu Zao, glancing up at Little Chu Zao.
And Chu Zao’s eyes curved in a smile.
“Zao Zao heard it was you, Brother Mu, who came up with the breakfast shop? Business really is pretty interesting.”
Chao Huangmu grinned widely as well.
“It’s all thanks to the little prince.”
He said,
“I’ve never had much luck, but after meeting the little prince, everything’s gone smoothly—I should be thanking the little prince.”
And that was certainly true.
If not for Little Chu Zao, things could not have gone so well.
The little cub blinked.
He raised his hand and gently tapped Chao Huangmu’s forehead.
The cub remembered Chao Huangmu really believed in fortune-telling and the like.
Softly, he lifted his little chin, looking like ‘since you believe in Zao Zao, then Zao Zao really is that awesome,’ and said, “Then Zao Zao wishes Brother Mu success in everything from here on.”
Chao Huangmu, touched by the soft little hand, was stunned, not even having processed things yet.
Behind him, Feeney was already calling—
“Zao Zao? Is it over?”
“Coming, coming!”
The little cub turned his head as he shouted, withdrawing his hand and waving goodbye to Chao Huangmu.
He spun and scampered off.
Leaving Chao Huangmu zoning out for a moment, touching where Chu Zao had poked him and, after a bit, something in his eyes seemed to light up—
Everything will go smoothly?
Yes, everything definitely will—
*
Chu Zao was already holding Amos’s hand as they made their way along the campus festival route.
The Crown Clan seemed to radiate naturally among the crowds; everyone unconsciously made way for them, staring in stupor before snapping to attention.
They wanted to follow but didn’t dare, only gazing from afar and going berserk in group chat on their communicators.
So classic Holy Cas.
The centenary celebration at Holy Cas Empire’s First Military Academy was spectacular.
There were all kinds of dazzling booths and events—
Of course, there were also competitive matches—virtual firearm events testing reaction and combat skills.
Winners could pick a favorite item from a giant prize trove—
Many of the items were weapons and training equipment the cadets seldom saw, some recently co-developed with the Holy Chalice Clan, offering big boosts to combat ability.
To military cadets, this was a huge draw.
This place was so lively, Amos, holding Chu Zao’s little hand, glanced over.
Little Chu Zao was still looking up, telling Amos about the morning’s events, the whole little one suddenly lively, beautiful and adorable. Feeney was peering all around, while Meilun and Kaman bickered—now and then Meilun bowed his head, poking the away-team Lien and others, cheerfully sending them some little Chu Zao photos.
The little cub hardly noticed.
But out the corner of his eye, he happened to glance toward the gift trove—he’d already looked away, but something pulled his attention back.
His big bright eyes blinked, fixed in that direction—
At the back of the gift trove, there was a huge black plush—quite exquisite, clearly hand-made, though not very popular, an odd-looking bear.
Even bear collectors wouldn’t normally collect one like this—it was obviously too expensive, and, compared to the gear and devices it sat with, not worth as much.
And in a military academy, winning a bear in a match? What, trying for a new nickname—Bear Bro or Bear Sis?
But—
But still—
Chu Zao’s eyes went round, and he couldn’t help but tug Amos’s hand.
“Baba—”
“Mmm?”
Amos looked down and met Chu Zao’s gaze.
The little one looked up, pointing to that huge bear.
He lifted his white, soft little face.
“Looks like the big ghost bear.”
Like Zao Zao’s bear!
And it was so big.
Little Chu Zao’s wings fluttered unconsciously; his little crown trembled atop his head, showing his feelings.
Looks just like Zao Zao’s bear—and Zao Zao’s bear was beautiful, too.
“Want it?”
Amos stopped and glanced over.
“Not especially—”
Chu Zao paused, shaking his little head.
After all—
The little cub measured the size of that bear—
It was just way too big, probably wouldn’t even fit in Zao Zao’s room.
Not to mention sleeping with something like that.
If it fell over, it could squash Zao Zao entirely, bed and all.
And Chu Zao’s eyes crinkled.
He still liked his own bear better.
For Chu Zao, his ghost bear carried special meaning—
But still—
“Wait here.”
Before Chu Zao could finish, Amos let go of his hand and promptly spoke.
Chu Zao: …Eh?
And Feeney heard, too.
“A bear, is it? Third Uncle can get it for you too!”
He followed after Amos, rolling up his sleeves with a smile.
Chu Zao: …Eh?!
When the host received the news, they were dumbstruck—What? His Majesty Amos and Prince Feeney want to compete?
Yes.
All for a plush bear—
We’re sending out the Crown Clan’s top lineup.
Chu Zao reached out his tiny hands, trying to tell the grown-ups he didn’t really need the bear, just wanted to show them.
But—
“It’s no use—Amos and Feeney’s competitiveness has kicked in.”
Meilun chuckled as he scooped up little Chu Zao.
“Sometimes I really admire Feeney’s mentality—”
Kaman laughed.
“He goes against his brother again and again, always losing and never discouraged. I’d say, if things went by the old rules, Feeney would probably outlive everyone else.”
A bit of a dark joke.
And soon, the match here would become a showdown between Feeney and Amos—for the giant plush bear.
Frey took a step forward to watch, but then retreated.
The little cub, unable to stop them, stared dumbly, putting his hands down and glancing at his own: “Uncle—”
“It’s alright.”
Frey said, lowering his head to comfort the little one.
Let them fight it out.
“Come on, come on, let’s try something else—what’s this? Ring toss?”
Meilun happily carried the cub away.
Over there, Amos and Feeney’s match was in full swing—
Soon enough, the arena was left with just the two of them—
That plush bear had basically already been won for little Chu Zao.
But now it was down to the title—who would give the big bear to Zao Zao.
Feeney figured, for a fight based on skill rather than numbers, he might have a chance—this was war!
About ten-plus minutes later—
After confirming Amos’s all-round excellence, Feeney was once again beaten into submission.
At that moment, he couldn’t deny it—Amos wasn’t just a stats monster, but the technical ceiling of Crown Clan combat.
In plain words—no way in hell could he win.
When Amos successfully had that giant bear sent to the royal court,
Feeney had already left the arena, searching for little Chu Zao.
At last he spotted the little one—
They were at a stall; Meilun and Kaman were laughing.
The vendor was mopping his brow—
It was a goose ring toss.
The remaining geese were all ‘boss-level’, almost impossible to ring with the light hoops no matter your aim, their movement lightning-fast, necks long and flexible.
The vendor was nearly yelling at his ‘ancestors’ not to mess around, but the geese darted around ga-ga-ga.
Clearly, the little cub’s own competitive spirit was flaring, going head-to-head with one goose.
He tossed all his hoops, then pulled off his own crown—
With a swipe, he hurled it out.
Kaman and Meilun, still laughing, jerked in unison, and even Frey, protecting the child on the side, froze.
Feeney winced in phantom pain, his brow twitching.
That gleaming crown flew out, curved mid-air, circled the big goose after it dodged once, swung back, and hooked right over the goose’s neck, dragging it back towards the little cub—
In the end, the little one grabbed the goose’s neck, and the crown flew back onto his head.
He said proudly, in his soft baby voice: “Hmph, got you—”
Yes, this was a baby who, in a fit of frustration, could even toss his own crown halo as a ring.
Who knew how many tricks Chu Zao had invented for the crown halos.
Some halos were guarded with utmost care, fearing contamination or being handled—like holding the ‘brains’ in one’s hand—while others charged about the ring-toss field—
Who would’ve thought?
So when Amos glanced over—what he saw was his kid grabbing a big goose by the neck, and his cousins frozen.
Amos: …?
When the goose too was sent home to the royal court, time was just about up.
Chu Zao had already done a lot that day and was a bit tired, but rare for a holiday, he was still thinking about his great-grandfather.
They’d agreed that later, Amos would take him to see the barrier front.
With the barrier built and a new direct route, the travel time from Holy Cas Star to the barrier had shortened significantly—a spatial jump saved most of the journey.
Much more convenient now.
By now, dusk was deepening.
Chu Zao, holding Amos’s hand, was looking for Job and Joshua.
Those two couldn’t beat Amos and Feeney, couldn’t out-seniority Meilun and Kaman, and weren’t as calm as Frey. After walking with Chu Zao for a while, they’d spotted something interesting and split off.
Chu Zao, seeing them from afar, noticed they were arguing again.
The ever-quarreling Crown Clan twins always managed to clash in odd places.
Chu Zao was used to it by now.
He raised his hand, and Cupid’s Bow appeared. He drew back an arrow—swish—
“Don’t fight!”
Judge Zao Zao’s “Love and Peace” was on its way—
Joshua was projecting his psionic energy, reaching to grab Job’s shirt in frustration, truly worked up—until he felt that familiar, spine-chilling sensation.
He and Job jumped apart, watching as the Love and Peace arrow smacked into the tree, fading quickly. Joshua stiffened for a moment.
Chu Zao, running toward them, also paused.
Eh?
Just now, Joshua’s spiritual energy flared as the arrow passed through, subtly drawing his power forward until the arrow vanished.
That fleeting feeling made Chu Zao pause, his little wings fluttering behind.
“That’s dangerous, Zao Zao—”
Joshua looked over, alarmed—
To stage a “brotherly love” scene in public was going a bit far, wasn’t it?
They were actual brothers! Actual!
Then Job grabbed Joshua’s collar.
Job turned, gloomy, and mumbled: “Your Majesty.”
“Mmm.”
Amos responded.
Little Chu Zao recovered and hurried over: “Really?”
Because they really used to argue so much.
Now Joshua said they hadn’t, and Zao Zao didn’t believe it.
Only then did Joshua sigh.
“Well—there was a small quarrel, but it was his fault. He should just do his work and not worry about me—my psionics are fine.”
Job started to speak, but Joshua cut in at once: “Alright, I know I need to rest—brother—don’t worry about me—”
Job nodded gloomily, saying nothing more.
“You should talk nicely.”
Little Chu Zao nodded.
Then Joshua, crouching down, tapped him gently on the head.
“Got it, got it—little judge.”
“All done?”
Joshua straightened up.
“Mmm, basically all done.”
Feeney chimed in right after.
“About time to head back—there’s a pile of documents to deal with—”
Amos nodded, but picked up little Chu Zao.
“Frey, go with Feeney and handle those urgent files.”
Frey responded quickly.
“Eh? Then what are you doing?”
“Going to the barrier.”
Said Amos.
Feeney followed: “Then I want to—”
Maybe it was Feeney’s unusual constitution, but all the Crown Clan looked over in unison—
“Third Uncle, the destination this time is very clear—”
The little cub peeked out.
Feeney: …
“Alright, I won’t go.”
Not going, okay?
Chu Zao smiled with curved eyes.
The soft little cub even comforted: “Next time, next time—”
Amos, carrying Chu Zao, walked away—
Tone calm: “Next time Feeney won’t go either.”
For a star wanderer, Feeney could experience it himself—
*
Barrier front.
Little Chu Zao was now with his great-grandfather.
It was late at night in Holy Cas; he pulled out each of his morning dishes to show the battered Ebinino—
“Zao Zao made this! Specially brought for great-grandpa—uh—”
Across the barrier, Ebinino let out a low growl—he couldn’t eat it.
The little cub cocked his head, then changed tack: “Brought for great-grandpa to see—Zao Zao will eat it for you to see!”
Ebinino: …
Ebinino, lacking consciousness, still felt something was off—but couldn’t quite figure out what.
Especially when the little one began munching and describing each dish for Ebinino, and even cleared his throat to serenade him.
Ebinino: ………
Thank you—
Even unconscious, Ebinino turned about, slightly agitated.
Wavering on whether to hide or not.
Amos wasn’t far behind, listening as Feiman muttered: “How come you all got to go with Zao Zao to the celebration? Why wasn’t I on the capital right now—”
They could hear the cub’s voice, exhausted now, emotions relaxed. It was his bedtime, well-fed and drowsy, murmuring—
“Zao Zao thinks he’s figured out a way to get you all back—but Zao Zao has to try again—”
“Great-grandpa, wait a little longer—If there’s a chance, Zao Zao will bring you some next time—”
The cub was sitting on a floor cushion; now, he was dozing off.
He also asked softly—“Did Zao Zao make enough? Maybe… should I do better—Will we win…?”
Will we?
It was still a moment when the path ahead was unclear.
But Amos had come up behind Chu Zao and picked the little one up.
“We will.”
He was calm, with great certainty—
As if it were only natural.
Because of the cub in his arms.
Because of this place.
Because of Holy Cas.
And because of this ever-stretching, star-lit barrier—
No matter the journey, we will reach the far shore.
Without question.