Lyon's POV
Light.
That was the first thing I noticed.
My eyes fluttered open, vision blurry for a second before slowly sharpening. The smell hit next— faint herbs and medicine.
"…Huh?"
A hospital room.
White curtains drawn halfway, moonlight faintly slipping through a nearby window. The steady, reassuring quiet was broken only by my own breathing and the soft rustle of cloth as I shifted slightly. My body felt… heavy. Like I was wrapped in lead.
I looked down at myself.
Bandages. A lot of them. Wrapped around my torso, arms, shoulder—hell, even my leg. The pain wasn't sharp, more like a deep soreness that throbbed when I moved, the kind that told me someone competent had already taken care of the worst of it.
…So I didn't die, I thought.
A slow breath left me, tension draining from my chest.
Guess I was rescued after all.
I let my head sink back into the pillow, staring at the ceiling as the memories came rushing back whether I wanted them to or not.
The cave.
The poison.
The collapsing tunnels.
That man—no, that monster—burning away his own life just to kill me.
I could still hear that distorted scream echoing in my ears, feeling the ground collapsing beneath my feet as I threw myself toward the exit with nothing left to give.
"…Crazy," I muttered, a tired chuckle slipping out despite everything. "I really went through all that… and lived."
The thought felt surreal. Like my brain hadn't fully caught up with reality yet. I closed my eyes, letting myself enjoy the stillness—the absence of screams, pressure, and burning air.
I'd almost forgotten what that felt like.
Then—
Click.
The sound of the door opening snapped me back to the present.
I turned my head toward it, blinking as a familiar figure stepped into the room.
Tall. Broad-shouldered. A calm presence that felt like solid stone.
"…Jura."
Jura Neekis.
His eyes widened slightly when he saw mine were open. "I did not expect you to be awake already, Lyon-dono," he said, his tone polite but genuinely surprised. "Given your condition, the doctors believed you would require more rest."
I shrugged lightly, immediately regretting it as my body protested. "I've been asleep long enough," I said. "Figured it was about time I rejoined the world."
He nodded once and fully entered the room, closing the door quietly behind him. "I see. Still… How do you feel? Are you experiencing any severe pain?"
I raised my hand as much as the bandages allowed and gave him a thumbs-up. "Nothing I can't deal with. Just sore. Everywhere."
That earned a small smile from him—subtle, but real. "That is good to hear," he replied. "Especially considering the state you were found in."
Yeah. I could imagine.
We fell into a comfortable silence after that, the kind that didn't feel awkward or forced. Just… peaceful.
Eventually, I broke it.
"…The people," I said. "The ones who escaped. They're okay right?"
Jura's expression softened. "Yes. They're safe," he answered. "Many of them will require counseling after what they endured, but thankfully, there were no casualties."
A gentle smile tugged at my lips. "That's good to know."
That alone made everything feel worth it.
"I'm guessing once they made it out, they contacted reinforcements," I continued. "That's how you found me."
Jura nodded, clearly pleased I'd pieced it together. "Correct. After reaching the town, they immediately informed the mayor. Upon understanding the severity of the situation, he sent an urgent request for assistance to Lamia Scale."
Ah. Figures.
"I happened to be at the guild at the time," Jura went on. "I led a small group of wizards to the location. By the time we arrived, the cave had already collapsed—but we were able to locate you in front of its entrance."
I let out another breath I didn't realize I was holding. "Thanks," I said quietly. "Seriously."
He inclined his head. "You need not thank me. Rest assured—everything has been taken care of."
Hearing that, really hearing it, let the last bit of tension finally leave my body. I relaxed back into the bed, staring up at the ceiling.
For a moment, it felt like things might just stay calm.
But of course, they didn't.
"Lyon-dono," Jura said, his voice shifting.
I glanced back at him.
His expression had changed. The warmth was gone, replaced with something firm—stern. Heavy.
"I apologize for asking this so soon after you have awakened," he said, "but I must ask… why did you act so recklessly?"
There it was.
I didn't flinch. Didn't look away. I'd been expecting this.
Jura continued, his voice controlled, but there was an edge to it now. "Once you discovered the enemy's base, you should have retreated to a safe location and requested backup. Instead, you chose to confront them alone."
I stayed silent.
"Even after realizing how unprepared you were," he went on, "you still pressed forward. You risked your life—and the lives of the captives—by acting on your own."
There was restrained anger in his voice.
That surprised me more than anything.
I'd never seen Jura angry before.
I sighed and stared at the ceiling for a moment before answering. "I know," I said bluntly. "I messed up."
His eyes narrowed slightly, but I wasn't done.
"I know it would've been smarter to pull back. To call for help. I get that." I turned my head back toward him, my expression sharpening just a bit. "But even knowing all that… I'd still do it again."
Jura stared at me. "Why?"
The determination faded from my face, replaced with something simpler.
"…Because I wanted to help them," I said casually. "Nothing more, nothing less."
Jura blinked.
"Sure, I wish I'd done it the smarter way," I admitted. "And I most definitely wished I was more prepared to deal with the situation, but if you're telling me that people are suffering and I have the power to do something about it."
I smiled faintly. "Then you best believe I'm going to try everything in my power to help them."
The room went quiet again.
Jura studied me for several long seconds before finally exhaling. His posture relaxed, some of the tension leaving his shoulders.
"You are far too stubborn for your own good," he said.
A small smile returned to his face. "Still… I'm glad that you made it out alive, and that you at least understand that your approach was flawed."
"I do," I replied. "Trust me. My body's making sure I remember it."
Another brief silence passed—until something clicked in my head.
"…Wait a minute."
I turned sharply toward him. "How long was I out?"
"Three days," Jura answered calmly.
"…Three days"
My face went pale.
Yukino.
Before I could even try to sit up, panic surging through me, Jura spoke again. "She is safe. During your absence, Yukino-dono has been staying with Lily-dono and her family."
I collapsed back onto the bed instantly, a frustrated groan leaving my throat. "I told her I'd be back by late afternoon…"
"You may wish to apologize properly," Jura says, amused.
"…Yeah. Definitely."
After that, Jura turned toward the door. "I will inform the doctors that you are awake."
He paused just before leaving, his back still turned to me.
"Despite your reckless actions," he said, "you did well. Many wizards would not have been able to handle what you faced. And I've personally known many that didn't come back after encountering such troubles…So take pride in what you've accomplished Lyon-dono."
He would tell me this, before then leaving the room.
I stared at the closed door for a long moment before letting out a quiet breath.
I've been beaten to a pulp.
I've been poisoned.
And I even nearly died.
But despite all of it…I somehow manage to make it out alive, and save those people.
That thought would remain in my head for a moment longer, before I allowed myself to relax, a gentle smile settling on my face as I closed my eyes.
Even if it's just for a moment, I decided to let myself enjoy my victory, as I decided to let myself rest for a bit longer.
—
Third Person POV
Two days passed quietly.
By the time the sun rose on the third morning, Lyon was fully recovered—at least as much as one could be after everything he'd endured. The lingering soreness had faded into little more than a reminder, and the poison that once threatened to shut his body down had been completely purged thanks to persistent treatment and rest. He could move freely again, breathe deeply without pain, and—most importantly—stand on his own two feet.
Now, he stood at the entrance of Brookworth.
The small town looked different in daylight, peaceful in a way it hadn't been when fear loomed over it. Shops were open again, people moved about freely, and laughter could be heard faintly from somewhere deeper within the streets. The scars of what had happened were still there—cracked stone, boarded windows—but life had already begun to reclaim its place.
Beside Lyon stood Jura, tall and composed as ever, his cloak shifting slightly in the breeze. The two of them were preparing to leave, their business here finally finished.
Several townspeople had gathered to see them off, offering bows, words of thanks, and well-wishes as they passed. Lyon waved awkwardly, still not used to this kind of attention, while Jura returned polite nods in his usual dignified manner.
Just as they were about to step onto the road leading out of town, hurried footsteps approached from behind.
"Please—wait!"
Lyon turned to see the mayor rushing toward them, his wife close beside him. The man looked emotional, his eyes glassy, his expression tight with gratitude he clearly didn't know how to properly put into words.
"Sir Lyon," the mayor said, bowing deeply. His wife followed immediately, lowering her head just as far. "We truly… we truly cannot thank you enough. Because of you, our people are safe. Our town still stands."
"You really don't need to bow like that," Lyon said, as his smile becoming strained at seeing the display. "I'm just glad I was able to help."
The mayor straightened, tears finally spilling over as his wife gently held his arm. Both of them looked at Lyon with the same thought in mind—that despite everything he'd gone through, despite the danger, he never hesitated to help them.
Such a kind kid… They thought at the same time.
Without another word, the mayor reached into his coat and pulled out a large, heavy bag, the sound of jewels clinking softly inside as he held it out.
"This is for you," he said firmly. "Inside are three hundred and fifty thousand jewels. Please—accept it."
Lyon froze.
"…Three hundred and fifty what?"
His eyes widened just slightly as he took the bag, feeling its weight sink into his hands. His mind immediately did the math on instinct.
That's… more than enough to keep me from taking a quest for at least 3 months.
For a split second, he hesitated.
Still, he thought. That's a lot of money. A much nicer man would probably try to turn this down…
Then, internally, a sly grin spread across his thoughts.
Good thing I ain't that nice.
"Alright," Lyon said casually, slinging the bag over his shoulder like it was nothing. "If you insist."
The mayor and his wife both laughed through their tears, relief and happiness written plainly on their faces.
With that, the goodbyes finally came to an end.
The people of Brookworth waved as Lyon and Jura turned and began walking down the path leading away from the town, voices calling out wishes for safe travels and thanks one last time. Lyon lifted a hand in response, glancing back briefly before facing forward again.
As they walked, Lyon's thoughts drifted.
During his recovery, Jura had filled him in on everything that happened after the cave collapsed. Once reinforcements arrived, the remaining portions of the cavern had been carefully excavated. What they found there confirmed just how dangerous the operation truly was—illegal magical items meant for transport, evidence of poison distribution, and even a few surviving members of the dark guild who had been hiding deeper within the ruins.
All of them had been taken into custody.
The operation was finished. Completely dismantled.
Jura himself had chosen to remain behind for those few days—not as an official duty, but to personally ensure Lyon recovered without complications. Thinking back on it now, Lyon felt a quiet appreciation settle in his chest.
Despite everything… he didn't regret taking the quest.
He'd helped people who needed it. He'd stopped something truly dangerous before it could spread further. And somehow—against all odds—he was still here.
Lyon lifted his gaze, eyes settling on the clear blue sky stretching endlessly above them. A soft smile crossed his face as the breeze brushed past, carrying with it the feeling of a fresh beginning.
"Glad everything turned out okay," he murmured.
Jura glanced at him briefly, saying nothing, but there was a quiet understanding between them as they continued down the road toward Lamia Scale.
The path ahead stretched onward—toward home, toward what came next.