Time slowly passed.
Inside the room—
Aldric and Lyriana remained seated on the couch.
The television continued playing in the background.
Every so often, Aldric reached for another snack while Lyriana quietly watched the screen.
Ryke, on the other hand—
had completely given up.
He was sprawled across a nearby couch, fast asleep.
His body was stretched out comfortably, and his breathing was steady.
Beside one of the beds—
Vaelith sat quietly with her eyes closed.
She appeared to be resting.
On the bed behind her—
Draven lay with his eyes closed.
Both babies were sleeping peacefully beside him.
Kaelira had also fallen asleep.
The room had finally settled into silence.
---
Outside—
down the hallway—
one of the other rooms remained occupied.
Its door was firmly closed.
Inside—
the same person who had visited the bar in the Night Market stood near the center of the room.
She glanced around.
Then—
she raised one hand.
"Let's make sure..."
Mana began gathering around her fingers.
**FZZZZT!**
A magic circle appeared beneath her feet.
A moment later—
a wave of mana spread outward.
**WHOOOOOM!**
It flowed through the entire room, covering the walls, ceiling, floor, and every corner.
The spell settled.
The woman slowly lowered her hand.
Then—
she sighed.
"Alright."
She raised both hands toward her face.
Her fingers touched the edges of her skin.
Then—
she began pulling.
**SHLCK!**
Her entire face came away.
What remained underneath was completely different.
The face she had been wearing was nothing more than a mask.
An artifact.
The mask began to glow faintly before gradually disappearing.
The figure standing in the room was no longer the man who had visited the bar.
She was a woman with brown hair and unusual pink eyes.
She looked down at the mask in her hand.
Then—
a smile appeared on her face.
"Heh."
She casually tossed it aside.
"Well..."
She stretched her arms slightly.
"I'll be camping here until tomorrow's auction."
Her pink eyes narrowed.
"But first..."
She reached into her belongings.
"I should report in."
She retrieved a crystal orb.
Its surface glimmered faintly.
**FWOOM!**
A magical projection appeared above it.
A figure dressed entirely in black robes materialized.
The woman immediately straightened.
She lowered her head.
"Greetings, Lord Ghorm."
The figure remained silent for a moment.
Then—
a voice emerged.
"Taysia."
She raised her head slightly.
"Yes, my lord."
"Have you found the item?"
Taysia smiled.
"Yes, my lord."
She paused.
"I've located it."
Her expression became more serious.
"It's been confirmed that the item will be put up for auction tomorrow."
She continued.
"The auction is scheduled to take place at twelve in the third district."
The figure in black robes remained silent.
Taysia continued.
"I intend to participate and acquire the item."
She briefly glanced toward the window.
"Once the auction begins, I'll make sure to win it."
She paused.
"However, if you wish, I can move immediately and acquire it before the auction."
The figure shook his head.
"There's no need to rush."
His voice remained calm.
"As you said, the auction will take place tomorrow."
He paused.
"Proceed with your original plan."
His tone became slightly firmer.
"Acquire the item without causing any unnecessary complications."
Taysia lowered her head.
"Understood, my lord."
"Contact me once you've acquired it."
"Yes, my lord."
The projection flickered.
**FZZZT!**
Then—
it disappeared.
The crystal orb's glow faded.
Taysia lowered her hand.
The orb vanished into her belongings.
She stood quietly for a moment.
Then—
she turned toward the couch.
A relaxed smile appeared on her face.
"Well..."
She walked over.
"There's still an entire day to go."
She dropped onto the couch.
**THUMP.**
Taysia stretched her arms across the backrest.
Then—
she leaned back comfortably.
"Guess I'll just kick back and relax until tomorrow."
Her pink eyes shifted toward the ceiling.
"After all..."
A faint smile returned.
"There's no reason to wear myself out before the auction even begins."
---
The following morning—
the sun slowly rose over the city.
Golden light spread across the streets as the city gradually came to life.
Merchants opened their shops.
People filled the streets.
Carriages moved through the roads while the morning's activities continued.
Inside the hotel room—
everyone was still resting.
Lyriana sat on the couch with her eyes closed.
Her head rested comfortably on Aldric's lap.
Aldric also had his eyes closed, seemingly enjoying the quiet.
On the nearby couch—
Ryke was still fast asleep.
Pythia had fallen asleep on the bed beside Nia, who remained unconscious.
Vaelith was resting near the other bed.
And on that bed—
Draven sat quietly.
His two younger siblings were sleeping beside him.
Kaelira was also asleep.
Draven, however, was wide awake.
He held his black blade in one hand, examining its surface.
Crimson cracks spread across the weapon.
They ran along its length, branching in different directions.
Draven stared at them.
*I thought this thing was damaged.*
*After that fight with the princess, I was sure it was about to shatter.*
His eyes narrowed slightly.
*But that doesn't seem to be the case.*
He slowly turned the blade, examining it from another angle.
*Even though it's covered in cracks, it doesn't look like it'll break.*
He paused.
*And I can still feel my mana inside it.*
*What's that about?*
Draven stared at the weapon.
*I already knew it wasn't an ordinary blade.*
*But I still can't figure out what it actually is.*
He raised his other hand.
A faint amount of mana gathered around his fingers.
Then—
he allowed it to flow into the blade.
**FZZZZT!**
The crimson cracks immediately began glowing.
A faint red light spread across the weapon.
Draven watched carefully.
*I only infused a little mana.*
*But the effect is almost as though its power has been doubled—perhaps even more.*
His expression became thoughtful.
*It wasn't like this before.*
He slowly turned the blade again.
*Something changed.*
He paused.
*Or was I simply unable to use it properly before?*
A voice suddenly interrupted his thoughts.
"Will you tone it down?"
Draven's eyes shifted.
Aldric was still lying on the couch.
However, his head had tilted backward against the backrest.
His eyes were now open, and he was staring directly at Draven.
"Or better yet..."
Aldric glanced at the blade.
"Stop doing that entirely."
Draven looked at him.
Aldric continued.
"You're only going to draw unwanted attention with that thing."
Draven glanced down at the weapon.
"That thing?"
Aldric sighed.
"Whatever you want to call it."
He narrowed his eyes.
"That thing you're releasing..."
His expression became slightly annoyed.
"It shouldn't even be called anything other than mana."
Draven stared at him for a moment.
Then—
he stopped infusing the blade.
The crimson glow gradually faded.
"...Is it really that unusual?"
Aldric looked at him.
"You think?"
He raised his eyebrows.
"Did you forget where you got it from?"
Draven remained silent.
Aldric continued.
"If someone senses that thing, they'll get curious."
He paused.
"And curiosity makes people do stupid things."
His gaze remained fixed on Draven.
"Especially when they don't understand what they're looking at."
Draven stared at him.
Then—
he casually replied.
"Take your own advice sometime."
Aldric's expression twitched.
"...What?"
But Draven had already returned his attention to the blade.
He examined the crimson cracks one more time.
*Well, whatever.*
His fingers tightened slightly around the handle.
*As long as I can still use it, I don't really care.*