The Extra's Rise-Chapter 805: Western Continent (1)

The first morning back felt like discovering a new form of magic.

I woke to sunlight streaming through the penthouse windows and the soft sound of Stella humming mathematical sequences in the kitchen. Through our bond, Luna was practically purring with contentment—apparently two years of demon-fighting had made her appreciate domestic tranquility more than she cared to admit.

"Daddy?" Stella’s voice carried from the kitchen with careful precision. "I made breakfast. Well, Reika helped, but I did the measurements."

I found her standing on a step stool beside the counter, wearing an apron that was too big for her and concentrating with intense focus on arranging pancakes into geometric patterns. Reika stood nearby with violet hair pulled back in a practical ponytail, letting Stella take charge while providing subtle guidance.

"Perfect circles," I observed, studying her work with genuine admiration. "And the spacing between them follows a mathematical progression."

Stella beamed with pride that made my chest tighten with emotions I had forgotten could feel this powerful. "I calculated the optimal arrangement for both aesthetic appeal and practical serving size. Rachel said the proportions would be more pleasing if I used the golden ratio."

"Where is everyone else?" I asked, accepting the plate she handed me with ceremonial seriousness.

"Rose went to handle guild business," Reika explained with gentle efficiency. "Cecilia had imperial obligations that couldn’t wait. Seraphina is training with the Eastern embassy guards, and Rachel is at the medical center treating overnight patients."

"They left?" I felt an unexpected stab of disappointment that they hadn’t stayed for breakfast.

"They’ll be back for lunch," Stella said with eleven-year-old directness. "I made them promise. And tonight we’re having family dinner with Grandma and Grandpa and Aria."

The week that followed established a rhythm I hadn’t experienced since before my magical training began. Mornings with Stella, who had appointed herself my guide to everything that had changed during my absence. Afternoons split between family time and catching up on guild operations. Evenings with all five women, sharing meals and conversation that gradually rebuilt the intimacy that two years of separation had strained.

Stella had grown into someone remarkable during my absence. Her mathematical talents had evolved beyond mere calculation into genuine theoretical work that impressed university professors. But more than that, she had developed the kind of quiet confidence that suggested she understood her place in our unusual family structure and found it satisfying rather than confusing.

"Tell me about the theorem you discovered," I said on the third day as we walked through Avalon’s central park, enjoying autumn weather that made the city feel like a painting.

"It’s not that complicated," she replied with modest precision, though her eyes lit up with enthusiasm. "I noticed that magical resonance patterns follow predictable mathematical relationships. If you can calculate the base frequency of someone’s mana signature, you can predict how they’ll respond to different types of healing magic."

"And this helps with medical treatment?"

"Rachel says it reduced average recovery time by thirty percent," Stella confirmed with obvious pride. "But I think we can do better. I’ve been working on applications for emotional healing too, based on some of your research into trauma treatment."

The casual way she referenced my work made me realize how much effort the others had put into keeping my memory alive during my absence. They hadn’t just maintained the guild and our relationships—they had made sure Stella felt connected to a father who existed primarily in stories and promises.

"I’m proud of you," I said, pulling her closer as we walked. "Really proud. You’ve become someone amazing while I was gone."

"I had good teachers," she replied with the kind of serious gratitude that made me understand how much love and support she had received from the women who had chosen to help raise her.

The guild headquarters felt both familiar and transformed when I finally made time to visit on the fourth day. The building itself was unchanged, but the scale of operations had expanded dramatically. Where once we had managed regional activities, now there were continental coordination centers and international liaison offices.

"Sir," Elias greeted me in my office with professional pleasure that couldn’t hide genuine relief at my return. "Welcome back. I trust you’ve found everything in order?"

"More than in order," I replied, studying the reports he had prepared with characteristic efficiency. "Expanded to every continent, partnerships with major noble houses, coordination agreements with political authorities I didn’t even know existed. How did you manage all this?"

Elias’s expression carried pride mixed with respect for the others who had made it possible. "It wasn’t just me, sir. Lady Reika provided the organizational framework and financial oversight. Prince Jin handled Western Continent negotiations—his family connections opened doors that would have remained closed to outsiders. And Lady Kali... well, her reputation for getting things done proved very persuasive with reluctant partners."

"Show me the numbers," I requested, settling into my chair for what I suspected would be a comprehensive briefing.

What followed was two hours of detailed reporting that demonstrated just how dramatically my absence had been turned into an advantage. Rather than letting the guild stagnate, my core team had used my reputation and their own capabilities to create something approaching a global organization.

"Every major guild on every continent now operates under Ouroboros coordination," Elias explained with quiet satisfaction. "Not ownership—partnership. They maintain their independence and cultural identity, but share resources, information, and strategic planning."

"What about political pushback? Governments don’t usually appreciate international organizations that operate independently."

"Jin and Kali handled most of those negotiations," Elias replied with obvious admiration. "Jin’s family connections provided legitimacy in the Western Continent, while Kali’s... direct approach... convinced skeptics that cooperation was preferable to opposition."

I could imagine what Kali’s "direct approach" entailed. The Maelkith family hadn’t built their reputation through diplomatic niceties.

"They did incredible work," I said with conviction that made Elias straighten with pride. "All of you did. I left you with a successful regional operation and came back to find a global network that most governments would envy."

"Thank you, sir. Though I should mention that they specifically requested recognition for their efforts. Not public recognition—they understand the value of discretion—but personal acknowledgment from you."

"They’ll have it," I promised immediately. "Whatever they want. They’ve earned it."

That evening, I made a point of thanking each person individually for what they had accomplished. Reika’s response was characteristically modest, but I could see how much my appreciation meant to her. The others, reached through secure communication channels, expressed similar satisfaction at knowing their work had met my standards.

On the seventh day, as I prepared for departure to the Western Continent, Stella appeared in my office with the kind of determined expression that warned me she had come to a decision I probably wouldn’t like.

"I’m coming with you," she announced with certainty that left no room for argument.

"Stella, the Western Continent isn’t safe right now," I began, but she cut me off with eleven-year-old logic that was impossible to refute.

"You said you wouldn’t leave me again," she pointed out with devastating accuracy. "You promised. So either you break your promise, or I come with you."

"This is different," I protested weakly. "This is dangerous work. There will be fighting."

"There was fighting here too," she replied with reference to the Order’s invasion two years earlier. "I survived that. Besides, you’re strong enough to protect me now, aren’t you?"

The complete faith in her voice made arguing feel impossible. She had spent two years wondering if her father would return alive, and now she was unwilling to let him disappear again without knowing where he was going and what he was doing.

"The others won’t like this," I said, grasping for practical objections.

"I already asked them," Stella replied with the kind of thorough preparation that reminded me she had inherited more than just mathematical talents. "Rachel said it would be good for me to see more of the world. Cecilia said travel broadens perspective. Seraphina said I should learn to adapt to different environments. Rose said practical experience is the best education. And Reika said she trusts your judgment completely."

"They set me up," I realized with growing admiration for their coordinated approach to family decisions.

"They love you," Stella corrected gently. "And they understand that you need to keep your promises to me more than you need their permission."

Standing in my office, looking at this remarkable young woman who had somehow become wise enough to manipulate adults while remaining innocent enough to believe in absolute honesty, I felt the last of my resistance crumble.

"Pack for two weeks," I said with resignation that carried undertones of pride. "Practical clothes, study materials, and your mathematical journals. If you’re coming, you’re going to help with calculations and planning."

"Really?" Her face lit up with excitement that reminded me why making her happy was worth almost any inconvenience.

"Really. But there are rules. You stay close to me at all times. You follow orders without argument. And if I say we’re leaving, we leave immediately."

"I promise," she said with the kind of solemn oath that children made when they understood the seriousness of what they were agreeing to.

That evening, as we prepared for departure, the five women gathered to see us off with expressions that mixed concern with understanding. They had all agreed to let me take Stella into potentially dangerous territory because they recognized that some bonds transcended normal safety considerations.

"Call us if you need anything," Cecilia said with imperial authority that made the offer feel like a command. "Anything at all."

"We can be there in hours," Rachel added.

"Take care of each other," Reika said with gentle intensity that encompassed both Stella and me.

As our transport lifted off from the guild’s private landing pad, I looked down at Avalon City’s lights and felt the kind of complete satisfaction that came from knowing I was exactly where I needed to be, doing exactly what needed to be done, with exactly the right person beside me.

"Daddy?" Stella said as the city fell away beneath us.

"Yes?"

"Thank you for keeping your promise."

"Thank you for giving me a reason to keep it."

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