The Record of Hyoren Enjo’s Journey in Another World

Chapter 158

Things That Couldn’t be Refused

Date : Day 4 of Lunaeve 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.

Fiona leaned back comfortably in her chair, letting out a long breath.The wooden frame creaked softly beneath her weight as she folded her arms across her chest.

”A first floor, and there’s already a regenerative Guardian with a last resort skill?”

She clicked her tongue.

”This fucking dungeon is really more trouble than we thought.”

Ina tapped the end of her pen against her chin thoughtfully. The small instrument produced a soft rhythmic sound against her skin.

”Yeah…”

She lowered her gaze to the notes she had been writing. Her amber eyes moved across the paper.

”Usually, a first floor Guardian isn’t that much harder than the dungeon floor itself. Complications like this normally only arise on deeper floors.”

She looked up at Fiona.

”We might need to reassess this dungeon sooner or later. Though at least we know how to deal with it now.”

She tapped the report lightly with her pen.

”Poison and debuffs are important. We’ll notify adventurers attempting to defeat the Guardian.”

Fiona nodded once.

”Do it.”

Her attention returned to Hyoren. The shift was immediate and complete, her crimson eyes settling upon him.

”This information is precious…”

She paused for a moment.

”Okay… What about the other reports you have?”

Hyoren glanced toward Elise.

Elise immediately understood. She gave a small nod before looking at Ina.

”Ina, could you give me high-quality paper and a pen? I’ll draw the complete map of the first floor. Including the hidden chamber.”

Ina stood up and walked toward one of the nearby shelves. Her footsteps were light against the wooden floor. After searching for a moment, her fingers tracing along the edges of various documents and supplies, she returned with several sheets of thick paper and a quality pen.

”Here, Elise.”

Elise accepted them with both hands.

”Thanks, Ina.”

She immediately sat down and spread the paper across the table.

The sheets settled onto the wooden surface with soft sounds, the edges aligning themselves as she arranged the workspace. Her fingers smoothed the paper flat.

Hyoren watched her for a brief moment before turning back toward Fiona.

”While Elise is drawing the map, let me explain it briefly.”

Fiona rested one arm on the table.

”Go on.”

Hyoren nodded.

”The first floor is quite vast.”

He recalled the seemingly endless stone corridors.

”It took us around four days to map the entire floor.”

He gestured with his hand while explaining. His fingers traced patterns in the air.

”The labyrinth is confusing. There are many intersections, dead ends, and branching paths. Without some way of keeping track of your route, it’s easy to get lost. So Mapping Skill is extremely important to have.”

Fiona listened quietly. Her crimson eyes remained fixed on Hyoren throughout his explanation.

Beside her, Ina’s pen continuously moved across the paper, recording every important point.

Meanwhile, Jackey sat quietly on his chair. His eyelids slowly drooped after sitting through the long report. His head occasionally bobbed before he quickly straightened himself again.

Hyoren continued.

”Then we found the hidden chamber.”

He smiled faintly.

”We found it by chance.”

His gaze shifted toward Elise. The look was brief but meaningful.

”And because Elise’s eyes are sharp.”

Elise continued drawing without looking up. Her attention remained fixed on the paper before her, her focus unwavering. Her hand moved steadily across the paper.

Thanks to her Mapping Skill, the layout remained perfectly clear inside her mind.

The corridors and chambers that they had explored over the course of four days existed within her consciousness. Every corridor, every intersection, every room was transferred onto the paper with remarkable precision.

Hyoren looked back at Fiona. His dark eyes returned to the Guild Master’s crimson gaze.

”The hidden chamber was opened using a small, hidden pressure plate. And inside... there was a Monster Room.”

Fiona immediately stood up. The chair scraped against the wood with a shriek.

”What the fuck?”

Her eyes widened. The crimson irises expanded with genuine shock.

”A Monster Room on the fucking first floor?”

Ina glanced at her without lifting her pen.

”Language, Guildmas.”

She calmly added another line to her report.

”Also, let Hyoren finish.”

Fiona clicked her tongue loudly before sitting back down again.

”Fine… Go on.”

Hyoren continued.

He explained what the Monster Room was. A room containing a massive runic array that continuously spawned goblins. The spawning only stopped after they had killed a total of three hundred goblins. Then he explained about the treasure chest they received afterward.

Fiona’s eyes narrowed.

”You fuckers actually cleared a Monster Room?”

She pointed a finger toward Hyoren.

”With just the three of you? Why do you keep spewing bullshit?”

She paused halfway through the sentence. Then she groaned.

”But every fucking report you give sounds like bullshit…”

She rubbed her forehead.

”And then it turns out to be true…”

She looked back at Hyoren.

”Fuck… Tell me how you did it!”

Hyoren smiled.

”First of all, we knew barging into the Monster Room would be suicide.”

He folded his hands together.

”So we used a different approach. Almost the same strategy we used to dismantle the Goblin Settlement. We used their numbers against them.”

Hyoren then explained how they never actually entered the Monster Room.

Instead, they waited inside the narrow corridor leading into it. The passage had provided natural chokepoint. The corridor was so narrow that only one or two goblins could attack at the same time.

Behind him, Jackey and Elise calmly eliminated the goblins one after another.

The battle took a long time. Fatigue gradually accumulated. But strangely—the longer the battle lasted, the easier it became.

Fiona leaned forward.

”How did the fight become easier?”

Hyoren smiled.

”Because the loot became obstacles for them.The magic stones. The crude weapons. The armor. They kept piling up inside the corridor.”

He chuckled softly.

”The goblins started tripping over their own loot. They couldn’t advance properly anymore.”

He spread both hands slightly.

”After we killed around half of them… It wasn’t really a fight anymore. We were just systematically culling them.”

Hyoren finished his explanation.

The office became quiet again. The silence stretched between them, filled only by the soft scratching of Elise’s pen as she continued her work on the map and the distant sounds of the guild continuing its operations beyond the office walls.

Fiona slowly crossed her arms.

”Hyoren…”

She stared at him for several seconds. Her crimson eyes remained fixed on his face.

”What the fuck is inside your brain, for real? I’ve never heard of anyone clearing a Monster Room like that…”

She looked genuinely exasperated.

Beside her, Ina put down her pen.

A smug smile slowly appeared on her face. The expression was subtle but unmistakable.

”Hyoren is truly something, right?”

Jackey, who had almost fallen asleep moments earlier, suddenly sprang to his feet as if he had never been tired.

The transformation was instantaneous and almost comical, the Beastkin’s exhaustion vanishing like morning dew beneath the heat of sudden enthusiasm. He raised his fist high into the air with the explosive energy.

”YES! Big Bro is not only strong! He is also so smart! Best Big Bro in the world! WOHOO!”

THUNK.

Without even looking, Ina threw her pen. It flew straight across the room and hit Jackey squarely on the forehead.

”Ow! Big Sis!”

Jackey rubbed the spot immediately.

Ina sighed.

”Jackey… Be silent.”

Fiona completely ignored the cat-clan beastkin’s complaint. Instead, a wide grin slowly spread across her face.

Her crimson eyes once again burned with excitement.

”You are truly something.”

She leaned back comfortably in her chair.

”I can’t wait to see what surprise you’re going to pull off next.”

***

Elise finished drawing the map of the first floor.

After checking it one last time, her emerald eyes scanning the paper with the careful attention, she carefully gave the paper to Ina.

”Ina, here…”

She pointed at several locations on the map with the tip of her finger.

”This is the completed map of the first floor. I also marked the hidden chamber and how to open it. I didn’t mark every trap, but I wrote a note that there are many traps inside the hidden chamber, so anyone entering should proceed with caution.”

Ina accepted the map with both hands.

”Thank you, Elise.”

She lowered her gaze and carefully examined the drawing. Her amber eyes moved across the paper.

The lines were neat. Every corridor, intersection, and dead end was easy to distinguish. The symbols were simple, yet clear enough that even someone unfamiliar with the dungeon could understand them.

Hyoren also glanced at the map for a moment.

Seeing the entire first floor laid out on paper made it much more apparent just how enormous and confusing it really was. The countless branching paths and dead ends formed an intricate maze that would easily mislead anyone without proper preparation.

Fiona nodded in approval.

”Good.”

She pointed toward the map.

”Ina, make copies of those and start distributing them… With this, the progress of other adventurers will be much faster. It was been stagnant for the past five days.”

Her eyes sharpened slightly.

”Also make a note about the hidden chamber. Everyone is free to attempt it, but caution is needed. And don’t try to monopolize it.”

A smirk appeared on her face.

”We won’t tell them Hyoren’s strategy. Let those fuckers think for themselves.”

Then she looked back at Hyoren and chuckled.

”You Freedom Party is truly something… Akela won’t become boring with you guys around. Hahahaha.”

Her laughter gradually faded before she looked at Ina again.

”Ina. They said they won’t sell this information.”

She shrugged.

”But I, as Guild Master, would set a bad example if we didn’t properly reward them for it.”

Hyoren, Elise, and Jackey all looked surprised.

Hyoren scratched his cheek awkwardly. His clawed fingers rasped against the stubble that had accumulated during their dungeon dive.

”Guild Master, we truly don’t ask for compensation.”

Fiona scoffed.

”Oh, shut up.”

She waved her hand dismissively.

”Fine if you don’t want compensation.”

A grin slowly spread across her face.

”Then, Ina. Create a brand-new quest.”

She leaned back comfortably.

”As they’re all Bronze Rank now, they’re subject to mandatory quests issued by the Guild Master.”

Her grin widened.

”And let Freedom Party officially accept it.”

Ina smiled immediately.  She already understood what Fiona was planning.

Within the Adventurer’s Guild, Bronze Rank adventurers and above could receive mandatory guild quests.

The system had been established as a mechanism for the Guild to mobilize its more experienced members when circumstances demanded action that could not be achieved through voluntary means alone. Refusing one without a valid reason would result in penalties that could range from temporary suspension to permanent expulsion depending on the severity of the refusal and the importance of the quest.

This authority was rarely used.

The last time it had happened in Akela was several years ago, when every capable adventurer had been mobilized to defend the city against the Goblin Army.

Ina pulled another sheet of paper closer and prepared her pen.

”Yes, Guildmas.”

Fiona continued without hesitation. Her voice carried the confident authority.

”A quest to explore Akela Dungeon, map each floor, and scout the Guardian.”

She crossed her arms.

”For every floor they clear and report… They’ll receive five million Kres and two hundred Contribution Points.”

She smirked.

”Starting for this first floor. Process their rewards.”

Hyoren and Elise both widened their eyes.

The reaction was immediate and synchronized, their expressions shifting to shock as the implications of Fiona’s maneuver registered upon their consciousness. If the reward was framed as compensation, they could politely refuse. The option had been available to them.

But if it became an official mandatory Guild quest—they couldn’t.

The two exchanged glances. Their eyes met briefly, the silent communication passing between them with the ease of people who had learned to understand each other without words.

Elise was the first to smile.

”Guild Master truly knows how to use her position.”

She tucked a strand of silver hair behind her pointed ear before looking at Hyoren.

”We can’t refuse this.”

A small amused smile remained on her lips.

”Forcing us to accept the reward, huh... Clever.”

Ina giggled softly.

”Fufufu.”

She looked at Hyoren warmly. Her amber eyes softened.

”Now you can’t refuse the reward, Hyoren.”

She gently tapped the report with her pen.

”Just accept it. The information you brought back is incredibly valuable. It will help many people. Not only adventurers. The Guild will benefit. So will the city.”

She continued calmly.

”If dungeon exploration becomes easier, the supply of magic stones will increase. And when more money flows into Akela… More people will come.”

Fiona leaned back again and crossed her arms.

”Yes.”

She smirked confidently.

”Take it. You all deserve it.”

She looked directly at Hyoren. Her crimson eyes settled upon him.

”And from now on… After you clear a floor, report directly to me or Ina.”

Her grin widened once more.

”And you’ll get rewarded again.”

Hyoren let out a helpless sigh. There was no arguing against a mandatory Guild quest.

He smiled wryly.

”Okay… It seems we should accept it.”

Jackey nodded enthusiastically. His head bobbing with the energy of someone who had been waiting for the conversation to reach a conclusion he could understand and support.

Truthfully, he hadn’t followed most of the discussion.

The nuances of Guild policy and mandatory quests had largely escaped his attention. But one thing had caught his attention. Reward. He immediately raised his fist.

”YES! We are getting richer!”

***

The report finally concluded.

Ina immediately began processing their rewards with practiced efficiency.  Across the desk, Fiona leaned forward and rested one arm on the tabletop.

”Good. You all deserve some rest. Now scram.”

Hyoren almost chuckled.  Fiona truly never changed.

He exchanged glances with Elise, Jackey, and Ina before slowly standing from his chair.

”Thanks for your time, Guild Master.”

He gave a respectful bow.

”We’ll report back after we clear Floor 2.”

Elise followed with a graceful bow.

Jackey also bowed. The attempt was earnest but the execution was—considerably less graceful.

Fiona merely snorted.

The three of them then left the Guild Master’s office, with Ina walking alongside them.

The office door closed softly behind them. The heavy wood settled into its frame with a muffled thunk.

Outside the office, Hyoren turned toward Ina. His dark eyes met her amber gaze.

”Ina, how about we go home together? What about your shift?”

Ina held the report and Elise’s map carefully against her chest.

”Give me a few moments ”I need to hand these over to the other clerks first so they can process everything.”

A cheerful smile spread across her face.  Her cat tail swished energetically behind her.

”Then we can go home together.”

Hyoren nodded.

”Okay, Ina.”

The four of them headed back toward the first floor.

The wooden stairs creaked softly beneath their footsteps as they descended. Each step produced a familiar groan from the wood. Once they reached the guild hall, Ina immediately trotted toward the clerk area.

Fern happened to be organizing several documents behind one of the counters. The brown-haired clerk was sorting through a stack of papers with methodical attention, her fingers moving through the pages with the practiced efficiency.

Ina called out to her.

”Fern.”

The brown-haired clerk immediately looked up.

”Yes, Senior Ina?”

Ina handed over the report and the neatly drawn map.

”Please copy this first floor map along with the notice. Then distribute them to the Dungeon Town Branch. And brief Sherly about everything.”

Fern immediately accepted the stack with both hands. Her expression became serious the moment she realized she was holding important guild documents.

”Will do, Senior Ina!”

She nodded confidently.

”Leave it to me!”

Ina smiled with satisfaction.

”Good girl.”

She nodded once.

”Okay, Fern, thanks. Now, I’ll clock out early.”

From where Hyoren stood, the exchange looked almost comical.

The one giving orders was the smallest person there. Ina’s petite frame barely reached Fern’s shoulder. Meanwhile, Fern stood straight, obediently accepting every instruction from the petite Vice Guild Master. The brown-haired clerk’s posture was attentive and respectful.

Fern then glanced toward Hyoren.

A faint blush immediately appeared on her face.  It seemed she still remembered what had happened earlier—the hug.

She quickly looked back at Ina.

”Okay, Senior Ina… Please rest well. Good work.”

Ina nodded warmly.

”Good work. See you later!”

Then she turned toward Hyoren, Elise, and Jackey.

”Let’s go?”

The three of them nodded.

Together, they headed toward the guild entrance. Their footsteps fell into a natural rhythm as they crossed the guild hall.

The heavy ironwood doors slowly swung open. Then it closed behind them with a deep, solid sound.

The cool evening air immediately greeted them. The scent of the city filled their nostrils—smoke from countless hearths, the distant aroma of cooking food, the earthy smell of streets that had been trodden by countless feet throughout the day.

The atmosphere around the Adventurer’s Guild District felt noticeably different from usual.

Quieter. Less lively.

The words seemed inadequate to capture the full scope of the change, but they were the most accurate descriptions available. Many storefronts had already closed earlier than normal. Even the number of street vendors had decreased considerably.

Most merchants had followed the flow of money. And right now—the money was gathering around the newly established Dungeon Town.

Hyoren looked around in surprise.

”Wow… It’s sparse. This district doesn’t usually look like this.”

Ina giggled softly.

”Yeah. Most people really moved to Dungeon Town.”

Her tail continued swaying lazily behind her.

”The ones who stayed are mostly parties specializing in other kinds of quests.”

She paused briefly.

”Or newcomers who still can’t enter a Bronze-tier dungeon. Iron Rank and below.”

Hyoren, Elise, and Jackey nodded in understanding.

***

The walk home was quick.

With fewer people in the district, moving through the streets became noticeably easier. The usual crowd of adventurers was gone, leaving the roads quieter than they had been just a week ago.

Before long, they turned into Wyvern Street. The familiar side street where their house stood waiting.

Unlike the Adventurer’s Guild District, this street was still lively. Laughter drifted out from the bars. Music could be heard from inside the brothels, while escorts—both female and male—stood outside greeting passersby and advertising their services.

The Freedom Party ignored them all and continued walking at a steady pace.

Even Jackey didn’t spare the beautiful escorts a second glance this time. His shoulders drooped, and his usual energetic steps had become sluggish. He was simply exhausted.

After walking for another few minutes, they finally stopped in front of their mansion.

 Hyoren quietly looked at the familiar entrance. It had only been five days. Yet somehow—it already felt nostalgic.

A small smile appeared on his face.

“Finally... home again...”

Beside him, Elise tucked a strand of silver hair behind her pointed ear. She looked at the mansion with a gentle smile.

“Yeah… It feels good to be back home. Fufu.”

Jackey nodded weakly.

Compared to his usual self, his voice lacked its normal excitement.

“I want to eat!”

He stretched both arms dramatically.

“Then sleep until tomorrow night! Soft bed... here I come!”

The other three couldn’t help laughing.

Together, they stepped inside.

The warm scent of dinner immediately greeted them.

Lena and Vina, the fox beastkin mother and daughter who took care of the house, welcomed them with smiles.

Lena stepped forward first.

“Dinner will be ready soon.”

She glanced at their dusty equipment and dirt-stained clothes.

“Please take a bath first.”

The moment the word bath was spoken, both Hyoren and Elise visibly perked up.

After five days inside the dungeon, they had only managed to clean themselves with cold water. The thought of soaking in hot water again sounded incredibly inviting.

Hyoren could almost imagine the fatigue melting away.

Jackey, however, immediately shook his head.

“I’m not going to bathe. I’ll wait in the dining room.”

His stomach growled loudly enough for everyone to hear.

“I don’t even have the energy to bathe.”

Without waiting for a response, he slowly headed toward the dining room.

Ina watched him leave before exchanging a meaningful glance with Elise.

Then she casually grabbed one of Hyoren’s arms.

“Then how about the three of us take a bath together?”

Almost at the same time, Elise gently took his other arm.

“That sounds like a good idea, Ina. Fufu.”

She smiled playfully.

“Let’s go, Hyoren.”

Before Hyoren could react, the two women had already started pulling him toward the main bathroom.

He blinked several times.

“Huh?”

Lena and Vina simply smiled knowingly before returning to the kitchen to continue preparing dinner. 

Inside the changing room, Ina and Elise began getting ready for their bath. They quickly removed their dirt soaked clothes. The fabric rustled as they were put on the laundry basket one by one. After the clothes were gone—they were ready for bath— and they each took one of the small towels prepared nearby.

Hyoren remained standing near the entrance for a moment, unsure how to react.

Ina placed her hands on her hips and looked at him with an amused expression.

“Hey.”

She tilted her head.

“Dinner is waiting. Don’t just stand around, Hyoren.”

Elise let out a quiet giggle. Her pointed ears twitched lightly.

“Fufu. Ina is right. Why are you acting shy, Hyoren? The three of us have already slept together anyway.”

Hyoren rubbed the back of his neck. After a few seconds, he finally let out a helpless sigh.

“Oh well… Fine…  Let’s take a bath together.”

He quickly added, trying to sound as practical as possible.

“Together means saving time and water anyway...”

Both Ina and Elise immediately giggled at his obvious attempt to justify himself.

A short while later, the three of them entered the bathroom together.

Warm steam filled the room, carrying away the lingering chill that had clung to them throughout their long dungeon expedition.

After five exhausting days underground, simply washing away the dust, sweat, and grime felt more refreshing than any luxury. The hot water gradually melted away the fatigue clinging to their bodies. Their stiff muscles relaxed. The soreness from five days of constant fighting eased little by little beneath the comforting warmth.

But as the exhaustion faded—their hunger returned all at once.

The three of them quickly finished bathing, changed into comfortable clothes, and headed toward the dining room.

The moment they entered, they found Jackey already sitting on one of the chairs. Or rather—sleeping. His head rested on the table while soft snores escaped from him every few seconds.

Meanwhile, Lena and Vina were busy arranging dinner. One tray after another was placed neatly onto the large dining table. The aroma of freshly cooked food quickly filled the room.

Hyoren, Ina, and Elise took their seats.

After placing the last tray onto the table, Lena and Vina also sat down.

Ina looked at the sleeping beastkin before smiling helplessly. She reached over and lightly smacked the back of Jackey’s head.

“Jackey. Wake up! Let’s eat.”

Jackey jolted awake.

“Huh?! Food?!”

Everyone around the table laughed.

Still rubbing his head, Jackey quickly straightened his posture and blinked several times before looking at the feast in front of him.

Hyoren smiled before picking up his glass. He looked around the table.

“Okay… It seems most of us are tired.”

He smiled warmly.

“Let’s just make a simple toast before we eat.”

He raised his glass slightly.

“To our successful dungeon dive.”

A small smile appeared on his face.

“Cheers.”

“Cheers.”

The others raised their glasses as well. The glasses gently met in the middle of the table.

Then everyone began eating. The atmosphere remained peaceful. Not many words were exchanged.

Hyoren, Elise, and Jackey were genuinely exhausted after spending five days inside the dungeon, while Ina, Lena, and Vina quietly understood that.

The silence never felt awkward. Instead, it was calm. Comfortable. The occasional sound of utensils touching plates, quiet chewing, and soft laughter was enough to fill the dining room.

After dinner ended, Jackey slowly stood from his chair. It was like his body was moving purely on instinct. Without saying much, he dragged himself toward the stairs leading to the second floor.

Hyoren, Elise and Ina also followed him. They dragged their own tired bodies to the second floor.

They saw Jackey didn’t even bother closing the door to his room. The door to his room was wide open—howing the hulking cat-clan beastkin who usually had limitless energy dropped face down on his bed. And a few moments later—soft snores could already be heard drifting out into the hallway.

Hyoren couldn’t help chuckling.

“His energy is completely gone.”

He smiled helplessly.

“That Jackey… But I understand.”

He let out a quiet breath.

“Five days of dungeon diving is tiring.”

He looked toward Ina and Elise.

“It was our first time too, so we still aren’t used to it.”

Elise nodded in agreement—her silver hair swayed with the motion. Then she smiled at Ina.

“Okay… I’ll also retreat to my room.”

Hyoren blinked in surprise. He had assumed the three of them would sleep together again tonight.

Before he could say anything, however, Elise had already guessed what he was thinking. She smiled gently at him.

“I already monopolized you for five days inside the dungeon, Hyoren.”

She leaned forward slightly. Her pointed ears twitched.

“Ina needs your time too. Fufufu.”

Ina’s cat ears twitched slightly. Her tail swished slowly.

She looked at Elise with gratitude before giving her a small nod.

Hyoren also nodded in understanding.

“I see…”

Elise waved lightly.

“Okay then. Enjoy the time.”

She walked toward her own room. After opening the door, she paused for a brief moment and looked back at the two of them.

“Night, Hyoren. Night, Ina.”

She smiled warmly. Then she quietly entered her room—her silver hair fluttered with her every step. The door closed softly behind her.

Hyoren watched the bedroom door close behind Elise before turning toward Ina.

”There she goes…”

A small smile lingered on his face.

Then he gently reached for Ina’s hand and led her toward the master bedroom. His fingers closed around hers with the careful warmth of someone who was handling something precious.

The door closed behind them with a soft click, shutting out the quiet sounds of the house.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence stretched between them, filled with the quiet anticipation of two people who had been separated for five days and were now finally alone together.

Hyoren stepped closer and wrapped his arms around Ina, pulling her into a gentle embrace. The motion was instinctive and unhurried, his arms encircling her small frame with the care of someone who understood the value of what he was holding.

Ina naturally leaned against him—she didn’t resist in the slightest—she relaxed into his chest and let out a content sound.

”Munyaaa…”

Hyoren smiled.

He loosened the embrace just enough to look at her face—the slight change in position which allowed him to see her features without releasing her entirely.

”After five days... I truly missed you, Ina.”

His voice was quiet, almost a whisper. He paused before smiling sheepishly.

”And... the hug back at the Adventurer’s Guild wasn’t enough.”

Ina couldn’t help giggling. Her voice was soft and almost musical, her amusement carrying the affection of someone who found his admission endearing precisely because it was so honest. Her cat tail swished lazily behind her.

”I thought you were tired, Hyoren...”

Hyoren nodded slightly. The gesture was small but certain.

”I am tired, yes…”

He gently brushed a few loose strands of hair away from her face before placing a light kiss on her forehead.

”But the feeling of missing you was stronger...”

Ina’s cat ears immediately perked up—the motion carrying the unmistakable sign of genuine happiness. A warm smile spread—the expression transforming her features with the radiance that seemed to emerge whenever she was truly content.

She looked up at him before tip-toed to return the affectionate gesture with a gentle kiss.

”I missed you too, Hyoren...”

For a few moments, they simply remained close to one another. The silence that enveloped them was comfortable. No hurried words. No need for lengthy conversation. The warmth of their bodies and the steadiness of their breathing communicated more than any words could have conveyed.

After spending five days apart, the quiet warmth between them already said more than enough.

Eventually, the two of them walked toward the bed together. Their footsteps were soft against the wooden floor.

Beyond the window, the three moons of Kresneger—Azure, Crimson, and Ebony—cast their gentle light into the room. The celestial bodies hung in the night sky like three watching eyes.

And just as before—the three moons once again became silent witnesses to two people who had dearly missed each other.