"Everyone, we apologize for the delay. We share this news from the WAA with both pride and regret—pride because the Hadean Varsa-WAA Coalition has vanquished the enemy army and captured their leader, Dweezel Hawkins, who is set for execution in a year.
We recognize the risks but rest assured, he will not escape. The delay is necessary as we interrogate him to uncover his cris and possibly rescue any remaining prisoners. We appreciate your understanding. Lord Hale shall continue."
In Yon Augenn City, almost everyone was tuned in to the nearest holographic television.
They were eager to know what exactly happened.
"The Black Dragon was freed by none other than the brightest youth the world has seen—Shye Crowley of the Black Dawn. Regrettably, we lost this noble hero and could not recover his body.
Nevertheless, the WAA will ensure proper rewards and punishnts, including accountability for our own failures. A recognition ceremony will be held a year from now, with exact dates to be announced." Hale Eversong declared, his face unwavering despite the sha weighing on his heart.
Again?
Why a year from now? Can't they just hold it over the next few weeks?
These were the questions in the minds of the citizens.
After all, they wished to et their heroes—the noble souls who defied the odds to fight for what was right.
It was then that the head director continued:
"I know what you're all thinking, but properly assigning rewards and punishnts isn't easy. We need thorough verification, and with thousands of Hadean Varsa mbers, it will take at least a year. Additionally, one of the eleven young heroes involved in the unsealing operation is injured and requires a year to recover. This is another reason for the delay. We ask for your understanding."
Of course, Hale was lying.
The one-year delay was rely to allow Shirley ti to return from the monastery where she intended to retreat.
The head director respected her wishes but refused to let her deeds go unrecognized.
Thus, the council of directors chose to postpone the awards ceremony.
So truths were best concealed beneath a white lie.
Hale then proceeded to reassure the people that the WAA would fully reimburse property losses within the city.
However, residents would need to save for lost furniture and mana appliances, as the organization lacked the funds for such expenses.
Reimbursing residential houses alone was already a significant strain on their finances.
Displaced citizens would be relocated to a nearby town, which would be expanded with a new residential area under Yon Augenn City's full protection.
Over ti, as hos were reimbursed, this area would be donated to the town, fostering its growth into another city.
In the future, it could serve as a mass teleportation hub, ensuring Yon Augenn would not stand alone against similar threats.
The people were naturally pleased with the arrangents.
They weren't ungrateful wretches, recognizing the WAA's efforts.
Many would have been content with ager reimbursents just to start anew.
Learning that their hos would be fully reimbursed and rebuilt ca as an unexpected but welco surprise.
Unbeknownst to Yon Augenn's citizens, the WAA intended to extend this recovery effort to cities across the entire world, making it impossible to reimburse every lost belonging.
It was a colossal, noble project that would take decades to complete.
However, with adventurers driving the economy, it was expected to take no more than two to three decades—a small price for securing eternal peace and a future brimming with hope, dreams, and endless possibilities.
***
anwhile, on the outskirts of the city, an orange-haired maiden walked with nothing but a sack slung over her shoulder.
Suddenly, a few figures appeared behind her, prompting her to stop.
"Shirley, take care, alright? I hope the scars in your heart heal over the next year," Wendy said, resisting the urge to embrace her forlorn friend.
Siegfried, Ian, and the others also wished her well.
They'd been apart for longer periods before—a year was nothing.
In fact, they believed this was the right choice.
A retreat in a monastery was the best way to nd a broken heart.
"Make sure to return a year from now, if only to respect those geezers' wishes. After that, you're free to go," Ian added. "And don't worry about the whole divine guardians ss. We doubt there'll be another Dweezel-level threat anyti soon, anyway. We can handle the diocre ones ourselves."
With a lonely, forced smile, Shirley nodded and summoned Aemorus, who had surprisingly survived but was just as forlorn.
The white stallion's beloved duchess had not perished, but she had been sent back to Gomparo after her master's death—confirming Shye's fate.
Who knew how long it would take for the two to reunite?
Without a word, Shirley hopped onto Aemorus' back. The half-spirit stallion galloped forward, growing smaller and smaller until he vanished beyond the horizon.
The unsealing cohort mbers who were well enough to see her off let out heavy sighs before turning back toward the city.
While not as heartbroken as Shirley and Maia, they, too, mourned the loss of their friend.
Seira, in particular, ranked third in loneliness.
Shye had been her reliable boss, friend, and benefactor—likely the first true friend she ever had.
Losing him was a heavy blow.
They had won and saved the world, yet, they couldn't truly be happy.
'To hell with being a hero… Isn't this just bullcrap like that bastard said?' Ian sighed inwardly as he and the cohort disappeared into the city.
'Why do you always sacrifice yourself when you're the one who despises this hero nonsense the most? This is all so stupid…'
From then on, everyone carried on with their lives, awaiting the awards ceremony without a trace of excitent.
They grieved in their own ways.
So stayed together for comfort, while others retreated to adventurer zones or distant cities, seeking solace in their own way.
The world moved on, ever so slowly, as ti marched forward…
Unbeknownst to all, deep within what seed like a bottomless abyss—within the ruins of what was once a crystalline labyrinth—a fiery seed burned with undying vitality.
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