Chapter 51: In the End, We Are Equal

The entire twentieth floor of the dungeon trembled.

The echo of the explosion thundered through the upper tunnels,

while smoke seeped through the cracks that led into the worm passages.

Margaret froze for a split second.

Margaret:

“That was an explosion! Mia…!”

She rushed forward immediately, leaving Liz behind.

Margaret:

“Liz, stay here!”

She ran through the tunnels until she reached the mine’s entrance.

Dust filled the air, completely blocking her vision.

For a moment—

she feared she had arrived too late.

Then she saw Mia standing in the middle of the smoke.

Mia:

“Mom…”

She couldn’t finish the sentence.

Margaret hurried to her and pulled her into a tight embrace.

Margaret:

“Thank goodness you’re safe.”

Mia didn’t say anything.

She simply returned the embrace in silence.

After a moment, Margaret lifted her head and asked anxiously:

Margaret:

“What happened? Where is Y?”

Mia:

“He’s fine… inside.”

⸻

Deep inside the mine

As the dust slowly began to settle…

a faint blue light appeared within the smoke.

Then a familiar girl’s voice emerged from the haze.

Voice:

“What would you have done if I hadn’t shown up?”

Y stood amid the drifting dust, brushing dirt from his clothes.

A small fairy floated before him.

Her tiny body shimmered with a soft blue glow,

and six translucent wings trembled behind her like leaves in the wind.

A tense smile appeared on her face.

Y:

“Don’t worry, Kozie… everything is under control.

At least for now.”

Kozie raised an eyebrow.

Kozie:

“Under control? I can see that clearly.”

She added sarcastically:

Kozie:

“Which part of your plan involved collapsing a mine on top of your own head?”

Y shrugged lightly.

Y:

“The explosion hurts… but it’s not the worst thing I’ve experienced.

A meteor once fell on me, you know.”

Kozie crossed her arms.

Kozie:

“No wonder your body is always on the verge of collapse.”

Y:

“We can’t predict everything.”

Kozie sighed.

Kozie:

“Well… at least you’re still alive. That’s something.”

Y nodded calmly.

Y:

“I knew the consequences… and accepted them.”

He paused briefly before asking:

Y:

“How did you get here?”

Kozie floated slightly higher.

Kozie:

“I heard a call from an elf asking for help…

and the next thing I knew, I was in the middle of an explosion.”

Y:

“So you can only appear when an elf summons you?”

Kozie nodded.

Kozie:

“That’s right. But not just any elf.

Only one whose intentions are pure.”

She paused, then added:

Kozie:

“I am the Spirit of Wind, after all.”

Y tilted his head slightly.

Y:

“And must they possess wind magic?”

Kozie:

“That’s one of the conditions.”

At that moment, the Dungeon Guardian stepped out of the shadows.

Dungeon Guardian:

“Human… tell me why you withdrew from your decision.”

Y answered calmly.

Y:

“Simple. Mia’s solution was better than mine.”

He paused briefly before asking:

Y:

“But what about you?

I expected you to ignore her request.”

Dungeon Guardian:

“Her determination to take responsibility… was the reason.”

Y nodded slightly.

Y:

“So… are you satisfied with the outcome?”

Dungeon Guardian:

“Yes.”

The guardian slowly turned away.

Dungeon Guardian:

“Now… I will return to where I came from.”

Y spoke again.

Y:

“And what about the poison in your body?”

The guardian stopped.

Without hesitation, he raised his clawed hand—

and severed his other arm completely.

Poison flowed out with the blood from the wound.

Before the blood could even reach the ground—

a new arm began to grow in its place.

Y watched the scene calmly.

Y:

“That’s… pretty convenient.”

Dungeon Guardian:

“I hope you will respect the dungeon’s rules in the future.”

Then he disappeared into the shadows.

Moments later, Margaret and Mia approached.

Y turned toward them.

Y:

“How is the settlement?”

Margaret:

“Everyone is safe…

but it seems the poison affected several hunters.”

Y nodded.

Y:

“Then we need to treat them quickly.”

Kozie raised an eyebrow.

Kozie:

“When you say ‘treat them’…

you mean me, don’t you?”

Y smiled slightly.

Y:

“It would be wonderful if you helped us.”

Kozie sighed.

Kozie:

“Fine… I suppose that makes us even.”

Then she turned toward Mia.

Kozie:

“What’s your name?”

Mia:

“Mia…”

Kozie smiled warmly.

Kozie:

“Mia… you did well.

Your call was perfect.”

Mia nodded shyly.

Mia:

“Thank you for helping me… um…”

Y:

“Her name is Kozie. The Spirit of Wind.”

Mia looked surprised.

Mia:

“You’ve met before?”

Y:

“Yes.

We’ve encountered each other several times in the Fairy Forest.”

Margaret glanced around the unstable mine.

Margaret:

“Let’s get out of here before the place collapses again.”

Kozie drifted closer to Y.

Kozie:

“Come here, Y… I’ll treat you first.”

Y shook his head.

Y:

“I’ll be the last one treated.”

Kozie floated up and landed lightly on his shoulder.

Kozie:

“I expected that.”

Then she spoke with clear curiosity.

Kozie:

“Now… explain what’s going on.

I want the full story.”

A few minutes later, as they walked and Y explained everything that had happened,

Kozie let out a long sigh.

Kozie:

“What a mess.

Is your life always like this?”

Y shrugged slightly.

Y:

“Most of the time.

Sometimes I wish I could predict what’s coming next…

but that’s life.”

They soon reached the settlement.

Margaret stopped and gestured ahead.

Margaret:

“Here we are.”

Kozie floated above the injured hunters, observing them carefully.

Kozie:

“Let me see their condition.”

The air began to swirl gently around each wounded hunter.

Small spheres of blue light emerged from their exhausted bodies.

Slowly, the tension in the area began to ease.

After a moment, Y asked:

Y:

“Does the treatment include us as well?”

Kozie smirked.

Kozie:

“I simply do my job properly.”

Moments later she opened her eyes.

Kozie:

“Alright… everything is fine now.”

Y nodded once.

Y:

“That leaves only the hunters’ corpses.”

A heavy silence followed.

⸻

A short while later—

everyone in the settlement stood before the graves.

A long line of freshly turned earth.

One grave.

Then another.

Then another.

The line continued

until it reached eighteen graves.

Eighteen people

who had died that day.

Not a single resident of the settlement had fallen.

Everyone who died…

had been part of the expedition.

The hunters stood in silence.

Each of them held a cup in their hands,

and no one knew what to say.

Hector stepped forward slowly,

carrying a barrel of liquor.

He stopped at the first grave.

He poured the drink onto the soil.

Then moved to the second.

Then the third.

His voice was low when he finally spoke.

Hector:

“Despite our disagreements…”

He paused.

Hector:

“…in death, we are all equal.”

He continued walking along the graves.

Hector:

“Everyone here…”

He poured another drink onto the earth.

Hector:

“…was someone’s friend.”

Another grave.

Hector:

“A partner.”

Another.

Hector:

“And for some…”

He stopped at the end of the line.

Hector:

“…a brother.”

He lifted the barrel with one hand.

Hector:

“But this… is the life of hunters.”

He looked at everyone.

Hector:

“Each of us chose this path ourselves.”

Then he raised his cup.

Hector:

“This drink is for those who died…”

He paused briefly.

Hector:

“…and for us.”

His gaze moved across the graves.

Hector:

“Who will carry their memory forward.”

He raised the cup higher.

Hector:

“To you.”

The cups rose slowly.

Everyone drank.

But not a single word was spoken.

⸻

At the edge of the settlement,

Talia sat staring at the graves of her teammates who had died that day.

Mia sat quietly beside her.

Talia spoke softly.

Talia:

“We were planning to buy new equipment…

then go out for dinner after the mission.”

Tears began to fall slowly.

Talia:

“We were happy…

even with all the hardships.”

Her voice trembled.

Talia:

“And now… I’m alone.”

Mia moved closer and gently embraced her.

Mia:

“You’re not alone.”

Then she said quietly:

Mia:

“I’m here.

My mother is here.

Liz is here.

And Y is here.”

Talia looked at her.

Mia met her eyes.

Mia:

“We won’t leave you alone.”

Talia broke down in tears.

Mia stroked her hair gently.

Mia:

“Cry as much as you need… take your time.”

⸻

At a distant corner of the settlement,

Y sat alone at a table.

Kozie rested quietly on his shoulder.

Both of them silently watched the graves.

Margaret and Liz approached and sat beside him.

Margaret glanced toward Mia before speaking.

Margaret:

“How did you know about the worms… and the poison?”

Y pulled the Hunters’ Book from his bag and handed it to her.

Y:

“This book has saved my life more times than I can count.”

He tapped the cover lightly.

Y:

“On my first day in this world…

I woke up inside a dungeon.”

He lifted the book slightly.

Y:

“And this book… was my teacher.”

Margaret turned to the final page.

Y spoke calmly.

Y:

“The last page contains information about the worms.”

She read it slowly, her eyes widening.

Margaret:

“This is more information than we knew ten years ago.”

Y studied her expression.

Y:

“Then you’re the only person who faced the worms ten years ago and survived.”

Margaret didn’t seem surprised.

Y continued calmly.

Y:

“And if we connect that with the time you retired from hunting…

everything begins to make sense.”

Margaret looked toward Mia.

Then she spoke quietly.

Margaret:

“It’s a story from ten years ago.”

Silence settled around the table.

Margaret continued.

Margaret:

“I was part of a team…

one of the best at the time.”

She exhaled slowly.

Margaret:

“We were a balanced team.”

Margaret:

“And we had never lost a single member before that day.”

Then she continued.

Margaret:

“One day… we received a mission.”

Y spoke quietly.

Y:

“The mine.”

Margaret nodded.

Margaret:

“Yes… the mine.”

She paused.

Margaret:

“No one had ever come out of it alive.”

Her eyes lifted toward the graves.

Margaret:

“We were excited…

because we wanted to be the first team to complete that mission.”

She sighed.

Margaret:

“We entered the mine…

and went deeper.”

Margaret:

“We killed everything that appeared in our path.”

Her voice lowered.

Margaret:

“And that… was our fatal mistake.”

The poison and paralysis began spreading through the team.

And with the endless waves of worms…

her teammates died slowly—

one after another.

She closed her eyes briefly.

Margaret:

“All I could do…

was carry their bodies out.”

Her voice softened.

Margaret:

“And one of those bodies…

was Mia’s mother.”

Kozie tilted her head slightly.

Kozie:

“Do you mean… Fiora?”

Margaret looked at her in surprise.

Margaret:

“You knew her?”

Kozie nodded.

Kozie:

“Yes. Fiora was one of the warriors of the Southern Elves…

Mia’s mother.”

She paused briefly.

Kozie:

“She and her husband were hunters.”

Her voice softened.

Kozie:

“Her husband died shortly after their daughters were born.”

She folded her arms gently.

Kozie:

“Even after that… she never stopped working as a hunter.”

Margaret nodded slowly.

Margaret:

“That’s true… but she was never a negligent mother.”

Margaret glanced toward Mia.

Margaret:

“She visited them often… and trained them herself.”

Kozie smiled faintly.

Kozie:

“That sounds like her.”

Both of them looked toward Mia and Talia sitting together in the distance.

⸻

Mia spoke quietly.

Mia:

“After my mother died…

my sister and I decided to become hunters too.”

She paused.

Mia:

“We already had experience with combat and magic…

because she trained us.”

She lifted her eyes slightly.

Mia:

“And soon we gained a reputation among the new hunters.”

Mia sighed softly.

Mia:

“Many famous teams invited us to join them.”

Her voice grew distant.

Mia:

“In the end… we joined one of them.”

She paused.

Mia:

“Bram was one of its members.”

Her voice lowered.

Mia:

“We thought that team would be our big step forward.”

A short silence followed.

Mia clenched her fist slightly.

Mia:

“But it turned out to be…

the worst decision we ever made.”

She continued quietly.

Mia:

“In the middle of a mission… three of them attacked me.”

Her hand trembled slightly.

Mia:

“I fought them…

and barely managed to kill them.”

She paused.

Mia:

“After that… I ran toward my sister.”

Her voice caught.

The table fell silent.

Mia swallowed.

Mia:

“I thought she was still fighting.”

She continued slowly.

Mia:

“When I arrived…”

She stopped.

Her eyes closed briefly.

Mia:

“The place was quiet.”

Her voice dropped to a whisper.

Mia:

“Too quiet.”

Mia continued.

Mia:

“The hunters were lying on the ground… one after another.

None of them moving.”

Then she whispered:

Mia:

“And I saw her.”

Silence.

Mia’s voice trembled.

Mia:

“She wasn’t fighting.”

Another silence.

Mia:

“She wasn’t moving.”

Her voice fell even lower.

Mia:

“That’s when I realized…”

She stopped.

Mia:

“I had arrived too late.”

The weight of the memory settled over the table.

Then she continued in a colder voice.

Mia:

“And there was only one person still standing.”

Y looked at her.

Y:

“Bram.”

She nodded slowly.

Mia:

“Yes.”

She raised her eyes.

Mia:

“He was covered in blood.”

Her hand tightened into a fist.

Mia:

“I rushed at him without hesitation.”

Mia:

“And drove my sword into his chest.”

She paused.

Mia:

“And he fell.”

She exhaled slowly.

Mia:

“Or at least… that’s what I thought.”

She looked down.

Mia:

“I took my sister’s body…

and buried her beside my father.”

Silence lingered.

Mia continued quietly.

Mia:

“Then I surrendered.”

Her voice grew distant.

Mia:

“I had lost hope in life…

and waited quietly for death.”

Then she looked toward Margaret.

Mia:

“But… Margaret saved me.”

Margaret smiled faintly.

Margaret:

“Mia had been sentenced to execution.”

Margaret folded her hands.

Margaret:

“All her hunter privileges were revoked.”

She stared into the fire.

Margaret:

“I heard the news…

and saved her before the sentence was carried out.”

Then she added calmly:

Margaret:

“And from that day on we lived together.”

Margaret smiled gently.

Margaret:

“Mia, Elena… and me.”

She looked toward Liz.

Margaret:

“And after Liz joined us…

we settled in Mond.”

Her voice softened.

Margaret:

“As long as we’re together…

I can call any place ‘home.’”

Y nodded slightly.

Y:

“I agree.”

Liz looked thoughtful.

Liz:

“I didn’t know all of this…”

Margaret looked at her gently.

Margaret:

“I was afraid…

that you might end up like us.”

She smiled softly.

Margaret:

“But I’m glad you found the right team.”

Then she turned toward Y.

Margaret:

“Tell me, Y…”

Margaret:

“Why do you insist on helping everyone?”

Kozie crossed her arms.

Kozie:

“I’ve been wondering the same thing.”

Y:

“Not everyone.

Only those I believe deserve it.”

Margaret tilted her head.

Margaret:

“And why?”

Y fell silent for a moment.

Then he spoke quietly.

Y:

“Because I can imagine myself in their place.”

Silence settled around the table.

Y continued slowly.

Y:

“Sometimes… in random places…”

He lifted his gaze slightly.

Y:

“Someone asks for help.”

His hand paused over his cup.

Y:

“Everyone sees them.”

A brief silence.

Y:

“But no one steps forward.”

His voice softened.

Y:

“Because each person believes someone else will do it.”

He paused.

Y:

“And in the end…

no one helps them.”

Margaret froze.

Her cup stopped between her fingers.

An old memory surfaced in her mind.

A narrow alley in Mond.

Little Liz lying on the ground.

Blood flowing from her wound.

Her breathing weak.

People walking past her.

Some glanced.

Some turned away.

No one stopped.

Silence returned to the table.

Margaret slowly raised her eyes.

Margaret:

“…You speak as if you’ve seen that yourself.”

Y lifted his gaze toward the sky.

He was silent for a moment.

Y:

“Yes.”

Then he said quietly:

“Life never gave me the chance to ask for help in the first place.”

Kozie:

“Don’t tell me you refuse help too.”

Y shrugged slightly.

“In my previous world… asking for help meant putting others in danger.”

He paused for a moment, then added calmly:

“But this world is different.”

“Here… I can protect the people beside me.”

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

Y:

“As long as I can help without harming myself…

why should I hesitate?”

Then he added:

Y:

“But helping someone depends…

on the kind of person they are.”

Liz asked quietly:

Liz:

“Aren’t you afraid of betrayal?”

Y answered calmly.

Y:

“Betrayal…

only happens when you expect something in return.”

Y slowly stood.

Y:

“My work here is done.”

Y:

“I’ll return to Mond.”

Kozie stretched her wings.

Kozie:

“And you still need to take me back to the Fairy Forest.”

Y nodded.

Y:

“Let’s go.”

Liz stepped forward.

Liz:

“Can you help us with something?”

Y turned toward her.

Y:

“Is there a problem?”

Liz leaned closer and whispered something in his ear.

Kozie’s ears twitched instantly.

Kozie:

“That sounds interesting… I want to be involved!”

Y sighed lightly.

Y:

“…Alright. I’ll help.”

Inside the worn-down tavern,

after the hunters had begun to calm down and some had returned to drinking,

Hector sat alone at a table away from the others.

A voice came from behind him.

Voice:

“Drinking alone, Hector?”

Hector glanced sideways.

Hector:

“What a day…

First Margaret… and now you, Silva.”

A faint smile appeared on his face.

Hector:

“So who’s next? King?”

Silva sat down beside him.

Hector began pouring him a drink.

Hector:

“What is one of the leaders of the Hunters’ Organization doing inside a dungeon?”

Silva took the cup.

Silva:

“A leader should be the first to enter a dungeon…

before anyone else.”

Hector chuckled quietly.

Hector:

“Did you come to offer condolences to the hunters?”

Silva nodded slightly.

Silva:

“Yes.”

He exhaled slowly.

Silva:

“After all… I was the one who proposed the expedition.”

His voice lowered.

Silva:

“I never imagined something like this would happen.”

He looked at Hector.

Silva:

“How many died?”

Hector answered calmly.

Hector:

“There are eighteen graves…

one of them without a body.”

Silva frowned slightly.

Silva:

“How many from the twentieth floor died?”

Hector lifted his cup.

Hector:

“None.”

He took a slow drink.

Hector:

“Everyone who died…

was from the expedition.”

Silva exhaled deeply.

Silva:

“You held out well… good work.”

Hector looked toward the tavern door.

Hector:

“We would have joined them.”

He paused.

Hector:

“But someone managed to reduce the number of casualties.”

Silva raised an eyebrow.

Silva:

“Who?”

Hector answered without hesitation.

Hector:

“A hunter named Y.”

A brief silence followed.

Hector continued.

Hector:

“He had the courage…

to destroy the settlement’s only exit.”

Silva looked at him in surprise.

Hector added:

Hector:

“And he burned the worm corpses…

preventing the poison from spreading.”

Another silence passed.

Silva finally spoke.

Silva:

“Y is not a hunter.”

He leaned back slightly.

Silva:

“I asked several people about him…

but everyone refused to answer.”

Then he added:

Silva:

“They told me it would be better if I asked him myself.”

Hector smiled faintly.

Hector:

“Not a hunter…”

He spoke quietly.

Hector:

“But he behaves like one…

better than anyone else.”

Silva studied him.

Silva:

“What do you mean?”

Hector raised his cup again.

Hector:

“Do you know why we call ourselves hunters…

and not adventurers?”

Silva shook his head.

Silva:

“I’ve never thought about it.”

Hector spoke calmly.

Hector:

“An adventurer discovers the unknown.”

He lifted his cup slightly.

Hector:

“But a hunter…”

He paused.

Hector:

“…studies his prey first.”

He took a drink.

Hector:

“Then he moves.”

A faint smile appeared on his face.

Hector:

“That’s the difference between us.”

Silva watched him carefully.

Silva:

“Will you work with me?”

Hector raised an eyebrow.

Hector:

“On what?”

Silva leaned forward slightly.

Silva:

“I’m looking for a partner I can rely on.”

Hector chuckled.

Hector:

“That’s quite a sudden request.”

Silva remained serious.

Silva:

“This mission requires someone whose abilities I know well.”

Hector looked at him.

Hector:

“And what mission is that?”

Silva met his gaze.

Silva:

“To change the Hunters’ Organization.”

Hector slowly raised an eyebrow.

Hector:

“That could mean…

a war against all hunters.”

Silva nodded.

Silva:

“That’s why I need someone like you.”

Hector smiled slowly.

Hector:

“You certainly know how to get my attention.”

⸻

At the entrance of the settlement

Y, Liz, and Kozie stood before the passage.

The tunnel that had been destroyed earlier had already been restored by the dungeon itself.

Y stared at it for a moment.

Y:

“I’m sure I destroyed it.”

Kozie floated beside him.

Kozie:

“Dungeons always repair themselves… in their own way.”

Y nodded.

Y:

“That makes sense.”

Suddenly he heard someone calling his name.

He turned around.

A group of hunters approached.

They were the ones who had fought beside him against the worms.

Their leader stepped forward—a swordsman with a long blade strapped across his back.

Y:

“Did something happen?”

Swordsman:

“I wanted to apologize.”

He bowed slightly.

Swordsman:

“I doubted you when you suggested we cooperate…

but we owe you our lives.”

Y shook his head.

Y:

“There’s no need to thank me.”

He gestured toward the other three hunters.

Y:

“Each of us did our part.”

Then he added with a faint smile:

Y:

“There are only three of you…

but your coordination is impressive.”

The swordsman smiled.

Swordsman:

“That’s exactly why we made a decision.”

Y:

“What decision?”

Swordsman:

“From now on… we will become a single team.”

Y tilted his head slightly.

Y:

“Weren’t you already a team?”

Swordsman shook his head.

Swordsman:

“No.”

Swordsman:

“We were only part of the expedition.”

Swordsman:

“Each of us joined individually.”

Y nodded.

Y:

“I see.”

He thought for a moment.

Y:

“And because of what happened…

you decided to cooperate.”

Swordsman nodded.

Swordsman:

“Yes.”

He smiled.

Swordsman:

“From now on… we move forward as one team.”

Y smiled faintly.

Y:

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Then Y remembered something.

Y:

“Right… I promised to explain everything after the mission ended.”

The swordsman raised a hand.

Swordsman:

“That won’t be necessary.”

He smiled.

Swordsman:

“Next time… allow us to stand as your allies.”

Y extended his hand.

They shook hands.

Y:

“Then take care of yourselves…

until we meet again.”

Swordsman:

“We’ll see you soon.”

Y:

“Goodbye.”

The team departed.

Y, Liz, and Kozie began walking away from the settlement.

⸻

One hour later

Margaret, Mia, and Talia exited the dungeon.

Night had already fallen.

Margaret stretched slightly.

Margaret:

“Night already…

let’s buy what we need for tomorrow.”

Mia shook her head.

Mia:

“I’ll go alone.”

Margaret immediately grabbed her hand.

Margaret:

“No.”

She pointed toward Talia.

Margaret:

“You’re coming with me…

both of you.”

Talia looked surprised.

Talia:

“Even me?”

Margaret smiled.

Margaret:

“Do you know anyone here?”

Talia shook her head.

Margaret:

“No.”

Margaret nodded.

Margaret:

“Then starting today…

you’ll live with us.”

Talia hesitated.

Talia:

“I don’t want to be a burden.”

Margaret waved her hand dismissively.

Margaret:

“You’ll work with us…

and earn your keep like everyone else.”

Talia nodded.

Talia:

“That sounds fair.”

Then she asked curiously:

Talia:

“What kind of work?”

Margaret smiled proudly.

Margaret:

“At my restaurant.”

Talia blinked.

Talia:

“A restaurant?”

Surprise spread across her face.

Talia:

“That’s new to me.”

Mia chuckled slightly.

Mia:

“You’ll get used to it.”

Margaret clapped her hands.

Margaret:

“Let’s go before the shops close.”

After a short trip through the market,

they finally arrived at the restaurant.

Talia looked up at the building.

Talia:

“The lights are off…”

Mia nodded.

Mia:

“Yes. We usually close at this hour.”

She pushed the door open.

Inside, Elena and Liz were sitting at one of the tables.

Mia looked surprised.

Mia:

“Elena… you’re still awake?”

Elena stood immediately.

Elena:

“I was worried about you. I couldn’t sleep.”

Mia smiled softly.

Mia:

“Sorry for making you worry.”

Elena relaxed slightly.

Elena:

“Welcome back.”

Then she noticed the girl behind Mia.

Elena:

“It seems we have a guest.”

Mia gestured toward her.

Mia:

“Her name is Talia.

She’ll be living with us from now on.”

Elena smiled warmly.

Elena:

“Welcome to the family, Talia.”

Talia bowed her head slightly.

Talia:

“Thank you for accepting me.”

Margaret clapped her hands lightly.

Margaret:

“Perfect timing.”

Mia frowned slightly.

Mia:

“Perfect timing?”

Liz suddenly smiled.

Liz:

“Close your eyes, Mia.”

Mia blinked.

Mia:

“Why?”

Liz folded her arms.

Liz:

“Just do it.”

Mia hesitated… then closed her eyes.

Elena spoke softly.

Elena:

“Hold out your hands.”

Mia extended her hands slowly.

Something small was placed in her palm.

Liz smiled.

Liz:

“Alright… now open your eyes.”

Mia opened them.

Her eyes widened immediately.

In her hand—

was her sister’s pendant.

Mia gasped.

Mia:

“This…!”

Her voice trembled.

Mia:

“This is my sister’s pendant…!”

She looked at them in disbelief.

Mia:

“How did you find it?”

Liz answered calmly.

Liz:

“A while ago… a merchant named Krayden came to the Fairy Forest.”

She continued:

Liz:

“I asked him about the pendant.”

Liz smiled slightly.

Liz:

“And he recognized it immediately.”

Elena added:

Elena:

“He told us someone he knew had bought it… for a very cheap price.”

Liz nodded.

Liz:

“So we made a deal with him.”

Mia looked confused.

Mia:

“What kind of deal?”

Elena answered:

Elena:

“That we would pay double if he returned it.”

Mia’s eyes widened.

Mia:

“How much did you pay?”

Elena answered casually.

Elena:

“One hundred gold coins.”

Mia nearly dropped the pendant.

Mia:

“One hundred?!”

She looked shocked.

Mia:

“That’s almost the reward for ten A-rank missions!”

Liz laughed quietly.

Liz:

“But because of Y… we got a discount.”

Mia stared at them.

Mia:

“Fifty coins is still a lot!”

Liz nodded.

Liz:

“We paid the first fifty.”

Then she smiled mischievously.

Liz:

“As for the other fifty…”

Elena finished the sentence.

Elena:

“Y paid it himself.”

Mia froze.

Mia:

“Why would he do that?!”

Elena answered gently.

Elena:

“He said the pendant represents your sister.”

She paused.

Elena:

“And buying it at a discount… would be an insult to its value.”

Margaret laughed softly.

Margaret:

“What an incredible person…”

Talia nodded quietly.

Talia:

“Truly.”

Mia remained silent for a moment.

Then she slowly placed the pendant around her neck.

Her eyes filled with tears—

but a smile appeared on her lips.

Mia:

“Thank you… all of you.”

Margaret stood by the door watching them.

A warm smile spread across her face.

Margaret:

“Girls… come here.”

They stepped closer.

Margaret opened her arms.

Margaret:

“A little closer.”

Then she pulled them all into a hug.

Margaret:

“I’m happy you’re my family.”

The girls answered together.

Girls:

“Thank you for making us part of it.”

Margaret smiled.

Margaret:

“And now… let’s sleep.”

She pointed upstairs.

Margaret:

“We have a restaurant to run tomorrow.”

Girls:

“Yes, ma’am.”

⸻

That Night — Lara’s House

Three people sat quietly in the living room.

The atmosphere was calm,

yet the silence itself carried a clear tension.

Then—

the door opened softly.

Y entered with his usual calm steps.

Y:

“This atmosphere doesn’t suit this house… as you know.”

Ash sighed.

Ash:

“I agree… but we didn’t have another choice.”

Y pulled out a chair and sat across from them.

Y:

“What happened?”

Y looked at them.

Y:

“Did something go wrong?”

L spoke first.

L:

“We wanted to postpone this conversation until morning.”

Ash nodded.

Ash:

“We thought you should enjoy the celebration first.”

Then she asked:

Ash:

“Who told you we were here?”

Y answered calmly.

Y:

“I asked around.”

He paused briefly.

Y:

“Anna said you were busy with something.”

Y folded his arms.

Y:

“So… what’s the problem?”

Mirath silently extended her arm.

A faintly glowing mark appeared on her skin.

Y’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Y:

“The mark… activated?”

Mirath nodded.

Mirath:

“Yes.”

Y spoke quietly.

Y:

“That means Asuna’s father… has returned.”

Silence filled the room.

⸻

Ash broke the silence.

Ash:

“But why now?”

Ash frowned.

Ash:

“Could this be the Demon King’s doing?”

Y shook his head slowly.

Y:

“I don’t think so.”

He leaned back slightly.

Y:

“If it were him… he would have done it long ago.”

He looked at Mirath.

Y:

“Why wait until now?”

Mirath nodded.

Mirath:

“I agree.”

She sighed.

Mirath:

“The Demon King avoids direct confrontation.”

She looked at Y.

Mirath:

“And going after my husband personally… would cost him too much.”

L crossed her arms.

L:

“Then there must be another party involved.”

She thought for a moment.

L:

“Could it be the sorcerers?”

Y nodded slowly.

Y:

“Very likely.”

His voice lowered slightly.

Y:

“I feel like the countdown has started.”

The room fell silent again.

⸻

Ash spoke quietly.

Ash:

“So what will you do now?”

Y looked at Mirath.

Y:

“That depends on her.”

Mirath frowned slightly.

Mirath:

“What do you mean?”

Y raised three fingers.

Y:

“There are three possible parties behind this.”

Y:

“First… me.”

Y:

“Second… Soldan.”

Y:

“Third… Lucarion.”

He thought briefly.

Y:

“From my perspective…”

He spoke calmly.

Y:

“Fifty percent chance it’s Lucarion.”

Y:

“Twenty-five percent Soldan.”

Y:

“And the remaining twenty-five…”

Y paused.

Y:

“Someone we haven’t identified yet.”

Mirath spoke immediately.

Mirath:

“You can remove Soldan.”

She looked certain.

Mirath:

“I’m sure he knows nothing about my husband.”

Ash looked surprised.

Ash:

“And why are you so sure?”

Y answered calmly.

Y:

“Because Lucarion trusts no one.”

He paused.

Y:

“Ever.”

Mirath nodded slowly.

Mirath:

“That’s true.”

She spoke coldly.

Mirath:

“Even the demons don’t trust him.”

Then she added:

Mirath:

“And that’s why he deceived them…”

Mirath:

“and controlled them through contract magic.”

Y nodded slightly.

Y:

“Which is why I doubt he would personally bring your husband back.”

He looked at her.

Y:

“He must be extremely cautious of him.”

He continued calmly.

Y:

“Otherwise… he wouldn’t have taken you hostage before.”

L spoke thoughtfully.

L:

“That means whoever brought Mirath’s husband back…”

L paused.

L:

“…is not Lucarion.”

Y nodded.

Y:

“Exactly.”

Then he added quietly:

Y:

“And that’s what worries me.”

Silence filled the room once more.

Ash crossed her arms.

Ash:

“This is serious.”

Ash:

“We need to be extremely careful.”

Mirath looked at Y.

Mirath:

“What do you suggest?”

Y shook his head.

Y:

“I want to hear your opinion first.”

He watched her calmly.

Y:

“What do you want?”

Mirath didn’t hesitate.

Mirath:

“Of course I want him back.”

Her voice softened.

Mirath:

“For me… and for Asuna.”

Then she continued quietly.

Mirath:

“But what if this is a trap?”

Mirath looked directly at Y.

Mirath:

“What if Lucarion is trying to lure us out?”

Y nodded.

Y:

“That’s possible.”

Then he added:

Y:

“Or he may have nothing to do with it.”

Mirath lowered her gaze.

Mirath:

“My husband sacrificed himself to protect us.”

She sighed softly.

Mirath:

“And I became a hostage… for Asuna’s sake.”

Then she said honestly:

Mirath:

“This could all be a trap meant to kill you.”

She looked up again.

Mirath:

“And I don’t want you to die because of us.”

She paused.

Mirath:

“You were the one who saved us.”

Then she spoke firmly.

Mirath:

“So… I will trust you again.”

Mirath nodded.

Mirath:

“Do what you think is right.”

⸻

Y studied her expression.

Y:

“Are you sure?”

Mirath answered calmly.

Mirath:

“I have no other choice.”

Y smiled faintly.

Y:

“Alright.”

Y leaned forward slightly.

Y:

“Then it’s decided.”

Ash raised an eyebrow.

Ash:

“What’s the next step?”

A faint smile appeared on Y’s face.

Y:

“We go on vacation.”

Ash blinked.

Ash:

“What?!”

L looked confused.

L:

“…”

Mirath frowned.

Mirath:

“A vacation? At a time like this?”

Y shrugged.

Y:

“There’s no reason to move yet.”

Then he explained calmly.

Y:

“If Lucarion is behind this… he will wait for us.”

Y continued:

Y:

“But if he isn’t…”

A faint smile returned.

Y:

“Then he will be forced to move.”

Y leaned back.

Y:

“And we’ll expose him.”

Mirath narrowed her eyes.

Mirath:

“Psychological warfare?”

Y nodded.

Y:

“Exactly.”

Ash crossed her arms.

Ash:

“And what do you gain from that?”

L added:

L:

“Don’t forget Soldan is watching you too.”

Y shrugged lightly.

Y:

“I know.”

Y spoke calmly.

Y:

“It’s a game of probabilities.”

Y looked at them.

Y:

“And whoever predicts correctly first…”

He smiled slightly.

Y:

“Wins.”

Ash asked:

Ash:

“And who’s winning now?”

Y thought for a moment.

Y:

“You could say…”

Y raised a finger.

Y:

“Soldan has the upper hand.”

Another finger.

Y:

“Then me.”

Third finger.

Y:

“And finally Lucarion.”

L frowned.

L:

“But if this is actually Lucarion’s plan?”

Mirath added:

Mirath:

“Then you become the weakest side.”

Y nodded calmly.

Y:

“That’s true.”

Then he spoke quietly.

Y:

“The only thing giving me an advantage right now…”

He paused.

Y:

“…is that they still aren’t sure whether I can use magic.”

Silence filled the room.

Y continued.

Y:

“The moment that secret is revealed…”

Y looked at them.

Y:

“I won’t have any way to win.”

⸻

Mirath asked quietly:

Mirath:

“Do you really think you can win?”

Y smiled faintly.

Y:

“Yes.”

Ash leaned forward.

Ash:

“How?”

Y answered simply.

Y:

“I have a secret weapon.”

The room fell silent.

Ash asked:

Ash:

“What is it?”

Y looked directly at her.

Y:

“You.”

Silence lingered for a moment.

L smiled slightly.

L:

“Looks like he’s finally going to rely on you.”

Ash smiled confidently.

She stood up.

Ash:

“Then…”

Ash clenched her fist.

Ash:

“It’s time for me to become your magic.”

Ash smiled.

Ash:

“I’m ready.”

⸻

Mirath frowned.

Mirath:

“What do you mean?”

Y stood up.

Y:

“I have a crazy idea.”

Then he added seriously.

Y:

“But remember…”

Y looked at all of them.

Y:

“This plan is secret.”

Y:

“And if it’s exposed…”

He shrugged lightly.

Y:

“That means my death.”

Then he added casually:

Y:

“And by the way…”

A faint smile appeared.

Y:

“I wasn’t joking about the trip.”

Y walked toward the door.

Y:

“We leave tomorrow.”

Y opened the door.

Y:

“Get ready.”

Y:

“Good night.”

He stepped outside.

The door closed quietly.

⸻

L smiled faintly.

L:

“Even with all these problems…”

She looked toward the sky.

L:

“He still never misses the midnight moon.”

At that moment—

voices rose near the entrance.

The door opened again.

Lara entered carrying Diona on her back.

Leona and Lauma followed behind her.

Lara stopped at the doorway.

Lara:

“Did something good happen?”

Ash smiled.

Ash:

“Yes.”

She spoke confidently.

Ash:

“Finally… Y is going to rely on me more.”

Lara laughed softly.

Lara:

“I’m happy for you, Ash.”

L looked toward Diona.

L:

“Is she alright?”

Leona waved her hand dismissively.

Leona:

“Don’t worry.”

Leona:

“She’s just exhausted from the celebration.”

Lauma sighed.

Lauma:

“I told her not to get too excited.”

Ash laughed slightly.

Ash:

“True.”

Then she remembered something.

Ash:

“Y said we’re going on a trip tomorrow.”

Ash looked at everyone.

Ash:

“So we should prepare properly.”

Lara nodded.

Lara:

“That sounds wonderful.”

L stood up.

L:

“Let’s get some rest.”

She looked around the room.

L:

“It’s been a long day… for all of us.”

Suddenly—

someone knocked on the door.

L walked over and opened it.

Standing outside was the merchant Krayden.

Sweat covered his face.

And tension filled his eyes.

Krayden spoke urgently.

Krayden:

“Is Y here?”

He took a breath.

Krayden:

“I need to speak with him.”