Victor's eyes were locked onto his father's, his usually calm expression hardened by something deeper—something unresolved.
His hands curled into fists at his sides, yet his voice held no aggression, only restraint.
Evan stood slightly behind him, observing the exchange with quiet intrigue.
This wasn't the reunion he had expected. If anything, he had braced himself for a cliché—an emotional, heart-wrenching prodigal son return.
Instead, Victor was met with rejection, plain and simple.
The elder elf took slow, measured steps toward them,his piercing gaze drifting toward Evan. The intensity of it made Evan's eyes to immediately dropped to the ground, avoiding the oppressive weight of the man's stare.
A beat of silence passed before the elf finally turned to Victor.
"You shouldn't have come back." His tone was firm, emotionless.
"You should have stayed wherever the hell they kept you."
Victor's expression remained unreadable, but Evan, standing close enough, could feel the way his breath subtly changed.
"I told you back then, all that's waiting for you there is pain and suffering." The elf's voice darkened, almost bitter.
"But I suppose you wanted to see it for yourself..and now look at you...broken, and battered...and you're supposed to be my heir."
Before Victor could respond, a new voice cut through the tension.
"Daddy, I'm done with the flowers!"
The voice was light, feminine, and cheerful—so out of place that Evan's head instinctively snapped toward the sound. His gaze landed beyond the row of servants standing behind Victor's huge father.
A woman had emerged. She was dressed in finely made clothes, carrying a wooden bucket filled half way with water. There was an air of elegance about her, though her face held a softness that immediately contrasted with the heavy atmosphere, along with her golden coloured hair.
And then Evan noticed her ears—long and pointed. An elf.
However, in that instant, her gaze fell upon Victor, and then, everything about her demeanor shifted.
The bucket slipped from her hands, hitting the ground with a dull thud, water splashing across the dirt.
Her lips parted slightly, her breath catching in her throat.
"V-Victor?"
Victor's eyes lifted. The moment they landed on her, something flickered across his face—surprise, recognition, perhaps even something more.
"Elsa?"
Then, before anyone could react, she moved.
She ran straight to him, the distance between them disappearing in an instant. And the moment she reached him, she threw herself into his arms, locking her arms around him in a tight embrace.
Tears welled up in her golden eyes as she clung to him, her voice trembling.
"I thought you were gone… Why did you leave Victor? Why?"
Victor stood still, his arms hanging at his sides for a moment before he finally, hesitantly, wrapped them around her.
"I'm sorry…" His voice was barely above a whisper.
Evan watched, silent, his mind racing. He had seen Victor fight. He had seen the cold precision with which he had cut through obstacles, both figuratively and literally. Yet now, standing here, holding this woman—he looked… different.
'Was this what he had been fighting for all along? The reason behind all the horrors he had endured?' Evan thought as he caught a glimpse of her beautiful nature.
The girl finally pulled away just enough to look at Victor properly. She reached up, touching his face with gentle fingers.
"Are you okay? You look so battered…"
Victor gave a small, tired smile.
"I'm fine. It's just been… a long journey." He exhaled.
"Nothing a good meal and one of your stories won't fix."
A giggle escaped her lips, lightening the air between them.
"A meal? Forget that! You're back! That's all that matters!" She turned excitedly.
"We should have a feast! Right, Daddy?"
The moment she looked at her father, however, the excitement wavered. The elf elder hadn't moved. His gaze remained on Victor, and just like before, there was something almost… painful in his eyes.
Victor, catching this, lowered his gaze.
The elder's voice was quiet but firm.
"I won't stop you," he said.
"But don't expect me to be part of this. I don't know why you're here, Victor. You fought so hard to leave, and now you're back?" A scoff.
"Life would have been better without you in it."
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving the happy reunion.
"Daddy—" Elsa called.
"It's fine." Victor cut in before she could say more. He forced a small smile.
"Let's not start anything."
Evan, who had been standing quietly throughout the entire exchange, finally let out a small breath.
He wasn't sure if it was because of the peaceful setting or because there were no immediate threats around, but for the first time in a while, his mind drifted to something else.
His gaze subtly moved, landing—unintentionally—on Victor's sister. Specifically, her chest.
The fabric of her dress clung to her figure, especially her hefty bosoms- her every movement making certain… things shift slightly.
'Ah, crap.'
Evan quickly tore his eyes away, cursing his instincts. But not before she caught him.
Her golden eyes flickered toward him, registering his momentary slip.
A faint blush dusted her cheeks, though she said nothing. Instead, she simply ignored him, turning back to Victor.
"None of that matters anymore." she whispered.
"Today… Today is the happiest day I've had in a long time. Because now, my brother has returned."
Atlast, it was the reunion Victor had desired and deserved.
And at that moment, it seemed just as though everything was starting getting to be peaceful. No more hunt, no more murder, no more criminals- just peace....until-
A system notification appeared.
A glowing golden screen materialized in front of Evan, displaying a new set of information.
[Congratulations, Player.]
[Your Third Trial is about to begin.]
The words blinked at him, sharp and clear.
'… my third Trial? So soon? You've gotta be kidding me.'
A second message followed immediately.
[Task 3: Conquer.]
Evan's breath hitched. His eyes darted across the notification, barely processing the words before a third message appeared beneath it.
[To complete the trial, the player must:
— Get stronger.
— Complete daily tasks.]
A list followed:
[Daily quest]
[— 100 push-ups.]
[— 100 sit-ups.]
[— 100 squats.]
[— 10-kilometer run.]
Evan's face twisted in disbelief.
'Daily quests?'
A final line appeared at the bottom of the screen.
[Completion of daily tasks will result in +1 gain in all stats.]
[Player must level up!]
Evan stood frozen, eyes locked onto the glowing text.
In truth, he had read about systems like this before—in mangas, and web novels back on earth. But his system had never functioned like that. Until now.
'it… wants me to get stronger?'
However, before he could dwell on it further, another notification popped up, which left him agaped in utter confusion
[Memory unlocked!]
[Player can now access his lost memories.]
[Memory: "The Scarlet Room."]