Morning came quietly to the cottage.
The brook outside flowed as gently as it always had.
Birds chirped among the trees.
The wooden house, which had been silent for years, still carried the faint echoes of children's laughter from the night before.
Constantine stood outside near the fence.
The sound of small hurried footsteps approached from behind.
Leon was the first to appear, already excited.
"Papa said we're leaving!"
Adrian followed more calmly, while Lina walked carefully beside them, holding a small wooden doll.
Jorin stepped out of the cottage last, stretching his arms as the morning sun warmed the clearing.
"Kids need to get back before their mother thinks we got eaten by wolves," he said with a tired grin.
Constantine nodded slightly.
Before they started down the road, Jorin paused beside him.
"…I came here a lot."
Constantine turned his head slightly.
"To the village," Jorin clarified.
"And to Harun."
His voice lowered a little.
"The old man never said it directly… but I think he liked having someone around who remembered you."
Jorin scratched the back of his neck.
"I was the one who arranged his funeral."
Constantine remained still.
Inside his chest, something stirred again.
A faint warmth.
Not strong.
Not overwhelming.
Just a quiet pressure beneath his ribs.
The system did not display any alert.
But Constantine noticed it.
Jorin continued.
"He talked about you every time I visited."
"He never stopped believing you were alive."
He sighed softly.
"…guess he was right after all."
The warmth in Constantine's chest spread slightly.
He did not comment on it.
Instead he turned toward the children.
They were already waiting impatiently by the road.
Leon waved enthusiastically.
"Come visit soon!"
Adrian nodded in agreement.
Lina just smiled shyly.
Constantine walked toward them.
The children looked up as he approached.
He crouched slightly so his voice would be closer to them.
Then he spoke quietly.
"If you are ever in danger…"
The three children leaned in.
"…find a mirror."
They blinked.
Leon tilted his head.
"…a mirror?"
Adrian frowned thoughtfully.
"Why?"
Constantine stood again.
"You will understand if it happens."
The children looked confused.
But children were also good at accepting strange instructions.
Leon shrugged.
"Okay."
Lina nodded seriously as if receiving an important mission.
Adrian simply crossed his arms and said,
"Got it."
Jorin watched the exchange with a raised eyebrow.
"…should I ask?"
Constantine answered calmly.
"No."
Jorin laughed under his breath.
"Yeah, that sounds about right."
They began walking toward the road.
Just before leaving, Jorin turned back.
"Oh right."
He snapped his fingers.
"Elara wanted to come this time."
"But she couldn't travel."
Constantine tilted his head slightly.
"Why?"
Jorin looked slightly embarrassed.
"…she's pregnant again."
Leon grinned proudly.
Adrian sighed loudly.
"We told them to stop."
Jorin's face turned red immediately.
"Hey!"
"Watch your mouth!"
Leon burst into laughter.
Lina giggled.
Adrian looked completely serious.
"You already have three of us."
"That's enough."
Jorin groaned.
"Unbelievable…"
Constantine watched the scene quietly.
Then something unusual happened.
His lips curved upward.
A small smile.
Jorin noticed it.
"…there it is."
Constantine tilted his head slightly.
"There what is?"
"Your smile."
Jorin shook his head with a grin.
"Thought that thing disappeared forever."
The children were already chattering again as they started down the road.
"Papa we should get a horse!"
"No we should get a bigger house!"
"I want another sister!"
Jorin waved lazily over his shoulder.
"Next time I visit I'll bring Elara."
Constantine nodded once.
"I will be here."
For a while.
Jorin and the children disappeared slowly down the road, their voices fading into the morning air.
Constantine stood there until the sound of their footsteps vanished completely.
The warmth in his chest lingered.
Quiet.
Unexplained.
Then he turned back toward the cottage.
Inside, Constantine began preparing for departure.
The items he packed were simple.
A cloak.
Travel supplies.
Basic tools.
A small amount of preserved food.
He did not need much.
His true equipment existed within his mind.
Thousands of skills.
Countless fragments of knowledge.
And the system guiding it all.
By the time the sun began rising above the trees, Constantine was ready.
He stepped outside the cottage with his travel bag.
But someone was waiting near the gate.
The village head.
An older man with a sturdy walking stick.
"Ah, Con," the man greeted.
Constantine stopped respectfully.
"You are leaving today."
"Yes."
The village head nodded slowly.
"We expected as much."
He reached into his robe and pulled out a small cloth pouch.
The coins inside clinked softly.
He handed it to Constantine.
Constantine took the pouch.
"…gold?"
The old man nodded.
"From the villagers."
"For your merchant trade."
Constantine tilted his head slightly.
"An investment?"
"Exactly."
The village head smiled.
"We figured if you're traveling around buying and selling goods…"
"…it wouldn't hurt for the village to have a stake in it."
Constantine held the pouch quietly.
Again—
That warmth appeared.
Slightly stronger this time.
Inside his chest.
He bowed respectfully.
"I will return profit."
The old man waved his hand dismissively.
"No rush."
"Just come back alive."
Constantine nodded once.
Then he stepped onto the road.
The sun slowly rose behind him.
Golden light spilled across the fields.
The village grew smaller as he walked away.
Ahead of him—
The world stretched wide.
Somewhere within it were the scattered traces of forbidden rune magic.
Somewhere within it was the demon prince Veyrath.
And beyond that—
The truth of the being whispered about in ancient records.
The one called—
The Ugly God.
Constantine continued walking as the morning sun climbed higher.
The road had begun again.