The streets of the city were still bustling with anxious murmurs when Aiden, Chloe, and Clara finally reached their inn. The weight of the day's events pressed heavily upon them, each step feeling heavier than the last. Normally, the warmth of the inn, the scent of freshly cooked meals wafting from the kitchen, and the chatter of fellow adventurers would have provided some comfort. But tonight, none of it mattered.
Without saying a word, the three of them walked straight past the dining hall, ignoring the curious glances of other guests. The innkeeper, recognizing the distant, haunted looks on their faces, wisely chose not to ask any questions. Chloe and Clara had lost all appetite, their stomachs twisting at the mere thought of food after the gruesome scenes they had witnessed. Even Aiden, who had a stronger stomach, had no interest in eating. Right now, all he wanted was the quiet of his room.
As soon as they reached their respective rooms, the girls and Aiden bid each other a tired goodnight and disappeared inside. Aiden entered his own room, closing the door behind him with a soft click.
Lying back against the pillow, he exhaled deeply, his thoughts clouded with everything that had transpired today. The massacre inside the cavern, the way the shard had affected him, and the eerie ease with which he had slain so many without hesitation—all of it played over in his mind like a haunting melody. The crimson-stained cavern was a sight he wouldn't soon forget, but what disturbed him most was how little remorse he felt.
His fingers continued to idly stroke Ciara's fur as his mind churned. Was he truly unaffected? Shouldn't he feel guilty for wiping out those adventurers? Even if they were greedy, even if they were a threat, did that justify their gruesome deaths?
As if sensing his inner turmoil, Ciara nuzzled into his chest, her soft purring growing louder. Aiden glanced down at her, watching as she pressed her small head against his hand. It was almost as if she was telling him not to burden himself with guilt, as if she was comforting him in her own way.
Just then, a familiar voice echoed in his mind through their voice connection.
"Master," Lumina's voice rang out with a calm yet firm tone. "Outside, it's all about survival of the fittest. You already encountered those types of greedy adventurers inside the dungeon, so you shouldn't feel guilty about killing humans in there. Everyone who enters the dungeon knows its dangers and willingly stakes their lives on the line."
Aiden closed his eyes, letting her words sink in. She wasn't wrong. The dungeon was not a place of mercy—it was a battlefield. It was the nature of this world.
After a few moments, he sighed, his gaze softening as he glanced at Ciara. He felt thankful—not just for her, but for Lumina as well. Despite the darkness inside him, they were always by his side, grounding him in their own way.
"I'm fine now," he reassured Lumina through their connection, shifting the topic. "Let's talk about today's haul instead."
Immediately, Lumina's tone brightened. "Oh? Did you gather a lot?" she asked, a hint of excitement in her voice.
Aiden smirked slightly. "Over 50 human corpses and more than a hundred goblin corpses. Which ones do you want first?"
There was a brief silence before Lumina responded, her tone filled with satisfaction. "The goblins first. I'll use them to feed the already laid eggs. Keep the human corpses for later."
Aiden nodded to himself and sat up, placing Ciara gently beside him as he prepared for the transfer. He had six golden seeds remaining, two seeds capable of forming a link between his spatial storage and their spiritual connection. Of the remaining four, two of them were still on cooldown, and another two were already in use—one camouflaging his core and the other for Lumina's birth.
Activating the first pair of golden seeds, Aiden felt the familiar connection form, linking his spatial storage to Lumina's domain. Without wasting time, he instructed her to take as many goblin corpses as possible. A moment later, he felt a pull as 32 goblin corpses vanished from his storage, transported directly into her domain.
"Are those enough?" he asked.
"Hmm… can you send more?" Lumina inquired, sounding eager.
Without hesitation, Aiden activated another set of golden seeds, forming a new connection. This time, Lumina was able to transport another 34 goblin corpses.
"That should be enough," she finally said, her satisfaction evident. "66 goblin corpses will do for now."
Aiden leaned back against his pillow, feeling the exhaustion creeping in. He and Lumina exchanged a few words about his village and his parents before his eyelids grew heavy. Eventually, sleep claimed him, and the world faded to black.
.
.
.
While Aiden and the girls rested, the atmosphere elsewhere in the city was far from peaceful.
At the grand estate of Count Raven, a tense meeting was underway.
The main hall, adorned with rich tapestries and golden chandeliers, was filled with an air of unease. The long wooden table in the center was surrounded by noblemen, city officials, and high-ranking officers, all with grim expressions. At the head of the table sat Count Raven himself, a man of imposing presence. His sharp eyes were fixed on the knight captain standing before him, who had just finished delivering his report.
"You're telling me," Raven began, his voice slow and deliberate, "that fifty elite adventurers—some of the most powerful in our city—were completely wiped out in the dungeon, and we have no bodies to prove it?"
The knight captain lowered his head slightly. "Yes, my lord. The adventurers who returned reported that the boss's cavern was drenched in blood, but not a single corpse was found."
Raven frowned deeply, his fingers drumming against the wooden surface. This was no ordinary loss. Elite adventurers were the backbone of the city's defense against dungeon threats, and their sudden, unexplained disappearance was alarming.
"What of the other adventurers?" he asked. "Who else was inside the dungeon during that time?"
"We're in the process of compiling a list, my lord," the knight captain replied. "But with no physical evidence left in the dungeon, our only source of information will be from the surviving adventurers."
Raven exhaled slowly, his mind working through the implications. This was no simple dungeon accident. Something—or someone—had caused a massacre within those depths, and he intended to find out who.
"Double the patrols around the dungeon entrance," he ordered. "And I want that list of adventurers on my desk by morning. If we can't find proof inside the dungeon, then we'll find it among those who walked out alive."
The knight captain bowed respectfully. "Understood, my lord."