anwhile, in the Streets of Protha...
While a horrific silence gripped the estate, the rest of the city erupted into a frenzy of noise.
Word of Captain Erwin’s return and his grand proclamation at the Guild swept through Protha like wildfire. Within seconds, the news was carried from mouth to mouth, spreading faster than a ssenger bird across every district.
"Did you hear? The Hero’s son is back!"
"They found the source! They destroyed the Demon Lord’s army!"
For the past two weeks, a heavy anxiety had hung over the city. Erwin’s elite party had vanished into the deep caverns without a trace, leading many to whisper that they were gone forever—dead in the dark.
Before Johnn’s recent sudden rise to fa, Erwin’s team had been the people’s first and greatest hope. Hearing that they were alive, and victorious, brought an overwhelming wave of relief.
Down every crowded street, the gossip grew louder. Neighbors leaned out of their windows to shout the news to those below. In the bustling markets, rchants stopped haggling to exchange stories of the pulsing black steel, and shoppers gathered in tight groups, their faces bright with newfound pride.
Up in the grand square, a cheer began to rise, echoing off the stone monunts. The people of Protha finally felt safe, completely convinced that the great evil beneath their feet had been thoroughly erased by the lineage of their greatest protector.
Inside the grand cathedral, the celebration was even more intense. The holy sanctuary had beco a refuge for hundreds of people fleeing the south, where the terrifying mana distortions had ruined their lands. They had crowded into the cathedral to take shelter, praying for the chaos to end so they could finally return to their hos. Now, that desperate hope felt real.
The loudest response in the entire hall ca from a notoriously sharp tongued nun. Dropping her usual strict deanor, she gasped as the whispers reached her.
"Erwin is back? Captain Erwin is back?! Oh, praise the Fla God, he is finally back! I knew the heavens wouldn’t abandon us to that darkness!"
Her sudden outburst ignited the rest of the room. Tears of relief stread down the faces of the refugees as they hugged each other, chanting prayers of thanks. The cathedral, once a place of tense silence and fearful prayers, was instantly transford into a hall of overwhelming joy, all because one man had claid victory over the evil.
While the rest of the city celebrated the Hero’s son, a different kind of feast was happening inside the quiet inn.
Night had fully fallen, and the table in front of Maddy was piled high with a massive, steaming banquet. The girl Maddy had secretly saved was moving around the table with incredible energy, completely fully recovered. She kept adding platter after platter of roasted ats, fresh bread, and thick stews.
"You have to eat more, Lady Maddy!" The girl insisted, placing another heavy bowl down. "You look so pale, and you saved my life! If it weren’t for your magic flower, I wouldn’t even be standing here. Please, eat until you physically can’t anymore!"
Maddy stared at the mountain of food, a slight frown crossing her face.
"Julie, this is far too much," she replied, a bit worried by the girl’s frantic pacing. "You only just woke up today. Your body needs rest, not work in the kitchen."
"Nonsense! The ’Blooming Life’ magic made feel stronger than I have in years!" Julie cheered, entirely determined to keep Maddy’s belly full.
On the other side of the table, the mood was a total contrast. Johnn wasn’t just eating; he was practically inhaling the food, sniffing each dish with wide, ecstatic eyes.
"Oh, gods, this is heaven," Johnn mumbled around a mouthful of roasted potatoes. He looked up at the girl, wiping grease from his chin. "Your na is Julie, right? Man, I’ve gotta say... I am so grateful you ca back to life, mostly because it ans you can serve us this incredible food."
THWACK!
Underneath the table, Maddy’s boot connected hard with Johnn’s shin.
"Ow! What was that for?!"
Johnn wheezed, rubbing his leg and dropping his fork.
"For having the social awareness of a brick," Maddy said flatly, giving him a piercing glare for making such a dark joke to a girl who had nearly died.
Instead of being offended, Julie just let out a bright, lodic laugh. She wiped her hands on her apron, her eyes crinkling with genuine happiness.
"No, it’s alright, Lady Maddy! Honestly, seeing him eat like that is the best complint a cook can get. If my near death experience brought this much joy to the table, then I’m just glad to be of service!"
Right on cue, Julie’s father called out to her from the kitchen door, shouting that the dessert was finally ready. Julie smiled, bowing politely before walking away to help him bring out the sweets.
Johnn’s eyes lit up instantly.
"Dessert? Yes! Please tell there’s sweet juice coming too!" he called after her, grinning like a kid. For a hardened adventurer, he had a massive, unapologetic sweet tooth.
Maddy rested her chin on her hand, watching his childish excitent with a look of pure exhaustion.
"Why are you even here, Johnn?" she asked, her voice dropping into a quiet, serious tone. "Shouldn’t you be at the tavern right now? The entire city is throwing a massive festival to celebrate the hocoming of the Hero’s son. You love attention. Why miss it?"
Johnn stopped scanning the kitchen door and looked across the table at her. His playful grin softened into sothing surprisingly genuine.
"Eh. I preferred to celebrate with my partner," he said, shrugging his shoulders. "Besides, today was our very first quest together. We didn’t just complete so random A rank mission; we pulled off a job that everyone else thought was practically impossible. That deserves a real toast, not a crowded room full of drunk strangers."
Maddy didn’t answer right away. She let her gaze wander over the rest of the inn.
The dining hall was completely dead. The tables were empty, the chairs were stacked, and the usual nightly chatter of the tavern was gone. It was just the two of them, sitting in the quiet warmth of the candlelight.
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