Roman continued enjoying the celebration with the vilgers. For the first time in a long while, he allowed himself to forget the weight of his responsibilities.

  Music echoed across the open ground, nterns flickered in the warm night breeze, and ughter filled the air.

  Roman stood on the wooden stage among the vilgers.

  He danced.

  But his dancing… was terrible.

  His movements were clumsy, his steps completely out of rhythm, and he occasionally spun the wrong way while the music continued forward.

  Some vilgers stared for a moment before bursting into ughter.

  Children rolled on the ground ughing.

  A few men grabbed their stomachs while pointing at him.

  “Young master! Stop! Stop!” one of them shouted between ughs.

  Another shouted, “Please! My stomach hurts!”

  But Roman ignored them.

  Instead, he exaggerated his steps even more, waving his arms wildly and stomping the ground like a drunken soldier.

  The vilgers ughed even harder.

  For a brief moment, the Warherald of humanity looked nothing like a legendary figure.

  He looked like a fool dancing for children.

  And Roman didn’t mind it at all.

  Eventually, the music slowed.

  Roman jumped off the stage and waved to the vilgers.

  “Well then,” he said with a smile, “enjoy the rest of the night.”

  The children waved back energetically.

  “Come again, young master!”

  Roman raised his hand in farewell and began walking back toward the estate.

  As he walked through the quiet streets, he noticed workers still active across Presia.

  Some were reinforcing underground bunkers.

  Others were installing protective magic circles around the entrances.

  Roman slowed his steps.

  He walked closer to examine the structures.

  These bunkers were designed specifically for civilians during the upcoming dungeon breakout.

  Roman crouched beside one of the entrances and inspected the magic formation engraved on the stone.

  This was the barrier system he had designed together with Tower Master Velkan.

  A yered defensive spell that could withstand monster assaults long enough for civilians to survive.

  He activated his mana vision briefly.

  The magic circuits glowed faintly beneath the stone surface.

  Stable.

  Efficient.

  Operational.

  Roman nodded quietly.

  “Good.”

  Satisfied, he stood up and continued walking.

  The night sky stretched above him once again.

  Thousands of stars sparkled across the dark heavens.

  Roman looked up at them silently.

  Then he spoke softly.

  “I will protect this world… no matter what.”

  After some time, Roman finally reached the Crowell estate.

  The guards stationed at the gate immediately bowed.

  “Good evening, young master.”

  Roman nodded slightly.

  “Is the celebration over?”

  “Yes,” one of the guards replied. “All the guests have already left.”

  Roman exhaled quietly.

  “Good.”

  He stepped inside the estate.

  But the moment he entered, a sudden thought crossed his mind.

  Selena.

  Roman stopped walking.

  He remembered how he had shouted at her earlier.

  A chill ran down his spine.

  She won’t let this go…

  Roman gulped.

  He began walking slowly through the corridors… carefully… quietly.

  Almost like a thief sneaking through his own house.

  He reached his room door.

  Slowly.

  Carefully.

  He opened it.

  The room was dark.

  Roman stepped inside and reached for the light crystal.

  The room illuminated.

  And Roman nearly screamed.

  “AH—!”

  Jacob Crowell was sitting calmly in a chair beside the table.

  Roman clutched his chest.

  “Father! What are you doing sitting in my room like a ghost?!”

  Jacob looked at him calmly.

  “Waiting.”

  Roman sighed in relief.

  “Waiting… for what?”

  Jacob leaned back slightly.

  “Why didn’t you come to the celebration?”

  Roman scratched the back of his head.

  “I don’t like celebrations or parties. I was tired… so I didn’t go.”

  Jacob narrowed his eyes slightly.

  “I sent Selena to call you. The guests were waiting to meet you.”

  Roman sighed.

  “I know.”

  Jacob continued.

  “And I also heard you misbehaved with her.”

  Roman immediately raised his hands defensively.

  “It’s not like that!”

  Jacob remained silent.

  Roman quickly expined.

  “I just wanted some peace and quiet. But she kept saying she would drag me to the celebration if I refused. So… I shouted a little.”

  Suddenly…

  Roman felt a cold presence behind him.

  A terrifying chill ran down his spine.

  Slowly… very slowly… Roman turned his head.

  “Father…” he said nervously.

  “…is big sister Selena behind me?”

  Before Jacob could even answer—

  WHACK!

  A brutal hit nded on Roman’s head.

  “AHH!”

  Another strike hit his shoulder.

  Roman was thrown forward and colpsed onto the floor.

  He looked up.

  Selena stood there.

  Her expression was terrifyingly calm.

  Then she started hitting him again.

  “OW—!”

  “AH—!”

  Roman rolled across the floor trying to shield himself.

  “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”

  But the smacking continued.

  After several hits Roman raised both hands desperately.

  “I promise! I’ll never do that again!”

  Selena suddenly grabbed Roman by the colr and lifted him slightly.

  Her eyes were sharp.

  “Are you hiding something again from us?”

  Roman froze.

  “If you are,” she continued coldly, “I will hit you much harder.”

  Roman quickly shook his head.

  “No! I’m not hiding anything!”

  WHACK!

  Another hit nded on his head.

  Roman held his skull.

  “I’m telling the truth!”

  Selena leaned closer.

  “You’re lying.”

  “I saw you earlier.”

  “You were sweating.”

  “You looked panicked.”

  “And your eyes…”

  “…were filled with fear and grief.”

  She shook him slightly.

  “Say it.”

  Roman’s expression hardened.

  He grabbed Selena’s wrist and pushed it away.

  “Stop it.”

  His voice was firm.

  “I said I’m not hiding anything.”

  Selena stared at him in silence.

  Then Jacob finally stood up.

  “That’s enough.”

  Selena gnced at her father.

  Jacob spoke calmly.

  “If he doesn’t want to say it… leave it.”

  Selena clicked her tongue.

  Jacob then walked toward Roman and pced a hand on his shoulder.

  His voice softened.

  “But remember something.”

  “I don’t want you hiding things from us.”

  Jacob turned and walked toward the door.

  Selena followed him.

  Before leaving, she looked back at Roman.

  Their eyes met.

  She said nothing.

  But her gaze was filled with worry.

  Then the door closed.

  Silence filled the room.

  Roman slowly sat on the edge of his bed.

  He looked down at his hands.

  “How can I tell them…”

  His voice was quiet.

  “This burden…”

  “…is mine alone.”

  After changing into his night clothes, Roman finally y down.

  And soon after…

  He fell asleep.