Ethan let out a tired breath. "It's exhausting. My mind feels stretched out. I hope I never have to fight like that again." His voice was calm, but the weight of the battle still lingered.
Randall gave a bitter smile. "This is the path of a fighter. It is always hard, and we must put our lives on the line. But once you gain more experience, you will not feel as shaken. Your emotions will stay steady, even in battles like this."
"I hope so," Ethan said quietly. "But from now on, I want to be strong enough to crush enemies with skill and power, so that I never have to fight so desperately again."
"It's better to be overpowered."
Randall nodded. He did not press further. Instead, silence hung between them until Ethan glanced around. The men near the fire had begun whispering. Then one soldier stood and bowed his head deeply.
"Lord Ethan… Thank you. If not for you, we would all be dead."
Another soldier followed. "You saved us. We owe our lives to you."
One by one, the men raised their voices, hoarse but filled with gratitude. "Thank you, my Lord. Thank you for not giving up on us."
Ethan opened his eyes, listening. For a moment, he said nothing. He only nodded, his face calm. Inside, however, their words strengthened his resolve.
Randall then reached into his pouch and pulled out a bluish crystal, faint light flickering inside. Ethan noticed it and raised a brow.
"What's that?" he asked.
Randall held it out. "An E-rank core. From the Ice Bear."
"Monster core?" Ethan asked, tilting his head.
"Can it help me improve my realm?"
"Sadly, no," Randall said with a small laugh. "But it can be used to craft artifacts. In the right hands, this would sell for around three hundred gold coins at auction."
Ethan scoffed lightly. "That's less than one of my designs."
Randall let out a grumble. "My Lord, your designs are unique. Women's vanity knows no bounds. It's not the design itself but the novelty and the desire to show off that makes them sell so highly."
Ethan gave a faint smile but did not reply. He closed his eyes again, letting his body rest.
Randall glanced at him once more, then at the men who still whispered among themselves, their eyes filled with respect. Tonight, they had witnessed both horror and salvation.
....
Ethan, after ensuring the battlefield was secure, told his soldiers to rest for the night. With steady hands, he wrote a short letter to Sophia, letting her know the danger was dealt with and she needn't worry.
Back at the estate, Sophia was a mess. For days she hadn't slept properly, nor eaten more than a few bites. Dark circles hung under her eyes, her hands trembled each time she thought of Ethan facing that monster.
The children, sensing her unease, grew restless. The youngest kept wailing, tugging at her dress.
The eldest, not fully understanding, cried simply because their mother did. Sophia tried to cradle them, humming softly, but the tears that slipped down her cheeks only made the children sob harder.
Nina, standing nearby with her arms crossed, rubbed her temple in frustration.
"This is chaos…" she muttered under her breath. "It's just three kids, yet it feels like a battlefield of its own. The smaller ones are easy to coax, but when my lady breaks down like this, the whole house loses balance."
Servants exchanged worried glances in the background. The maids whispered among themselves, their eyes flicking toward Sophia with pity, while the people in the mansion here and there, waiting for any word from Ethan.
Then, suddenly, Oliver's voice rang out, full of excitement.
"My Lady! A message from the Lord!" he shouted, rushing down the corridor. His words alone were enough to snap the oppressive atmosphere in the hall.
Sophia shot up from her chair, eyes wide.
"Quickly, give it to me!" she demanded in an authoritative tone,and her hands trembled as she reached forward.
Oliver handed her the envelope, nearly panting from running. Everyone in the hall fell silent, watching as Sophia tore it open with desperate fingers. Her eyes scanned the words, and the moment she read Ethan's handwriting, her lips parted in relief.
Tears welled again, but this time they weren't of fear.
"He's safe… He's alright now… He even slew the monster! Now… now we can finally mine the crystal!"
Her voice cracked but carried through the estate, and the servants who had been holding their breath released a collective cheer. Oliver laughed in relief, clapping his hands together.
Nina, who had been massaging her temples, let out a long sigh and muttered, "Finally…"
Joy rippled through the halls,maids hugging one another,and guards outside straightening with proud grins.
The suffocating gloom that had been surrounding the place had finally lifted.
Sophia, however, excused herself quickly, hiding her flushed cheeks. She entered her room, closing the door behind her. Moving to a hidden compartment in the wall, she pulled out a small, carefully concealed book.
Her fingers caressed the cover. [10 Ways to Pleasure Your Man.]
A faint smile curled her lips. "Since you've risked so much… Once you return, I'll make sure to reward you properly." Her cheeks turned pink as she licked her lips, whispering to herself, "This time, you won't escape me…"