“You're right. I will try to keep it that way”
Hearing Kiriha's powerful words and her expression, Daiha could feel his daughter had grown.
All of a sudden, the Kii that used to only cry... is just like her mother...
That was both reassuring and lonely. Any father wanted for their daughter to always remain as such. But Daiha also wanted to sit down with just the two of them so they could talk about how Kiriha had gotten so strong, once everything had become peaceful.
“Kiriha, I will send more personnel to you as well. You will need to strengthen your own defenses”
“That won't be necessary, we have enough here. Please use all of them at your end. In order to avert war, you would surely need as many people as possible”
“I'm not sending them because I'm your father. They're needed for you to avoid war as well. I can't afford to lose you”
“Then instead of personnel, please send over the heavy combat module that were being developed for Karama and Korama”
“If it works as designed, then it would indeed be more than enough for you to protect yourself... but it's incomplete, the spiritual energy necessary to move it is unrealistic. Even if I send it over, you won't be able to make use of it”
“I have an idea for the spiritual energy required on my end. I should be able to get it activated”
“I understand. We won't be able to finish it in time anyways, so I will send it over to you”
“Thank you very much, Chief”
There, their discussion stopped, the information exchange was over. Daiha's expression loosened up and returned to that of a father's as he smiled at Kiriha.
“Finally... Kiriha”
“Yes”
“... Do not under any circumstances die”
Even now as Daiha remembered his wife's funeral, he felt a pain in his chest. He didn't want to feel the same way for his daughter. If possible, he wanted her by his side, but he didn't have a commander more capable than her, leaving him with a feeling of impatience.
“I am not alone anymore. That's why, I'll be fine, father...”
Kiriha understood how Daiha felt, she was an intelligent girl capable of that. That's why she smiled one last time as his daughter.