A month had passed since the great incident that shook the world. Linggis, once considered a high-level threat, now found himself in an unexpected position. Thanks to the statements and undeniable proof presented by Hunter Elyssia at the global press conference, the world finally understood that Linggis was not the threat they had feared.
Elyssia's declaration, backed by strong evidence—including battle recordings from the sacred SS-rank artifact and the intervention of the Goddess—completely overturned public opinion. Even the Rank 1 Hunter—the most respected figure in the world—personally vouched for Linggis's innocence, providing irrefutable testimony. With the Goddess's undeniable support, the hunt for Linggis was called off. Though the world remained confused, it had begun to accept this new reality.
In a small café on the corner of the city, Linggis sat alone at a table near the window, enjoying a cup of warm coffee. His head was still wrapped in white bandages, a sign of wounds that had yet to fully heal. In his right hand, he held a cane—simple in appearance, yet covered in scratches from past battles.
He lifted his coffee cup with his left hand, sipping slowly. The strong aroma of coffee filled the air, but his expression remained blank, devoid of emotion. His gaze drifted outside, watching the bustling streets, as if the chaos of the past few weeks had been nothing more than a distant nightmare.
"So... everything's back to normal, huh?" he muttered, almost as if speaking to himself.
A young waitress approached, placing a small piece of bread on Linggis's table with a hesitant smile. "This... is from our kitchen. Thank you for stopping by, sir."
Linggis turned to look at her, his sharp eyes making the waitress take a small step back. But instead of responding harshly, he simply gave a small nod. "Thanks," he said flatly, his voice neutral but not hostile.
The waitress gave an awkward smile before quickly leaving. Linggis glanced at the bread, raising an eyebrow, but didn't touch it. Instead, he returned his gaze to the window, savoring the rare moment of peace.
Across the city, a massive screen displayed footage from Elyssia's press conference a month ago.
"Linggis is not a threat to humanity," Elyssia's firm voice echoed. "I have witnessed the truth firsthand on the battlefield, and this statement is supported by the Goddess herself. The world must stop hunting him and focus on the real threat—the Demon King."
The screen shifted to show the Rank 1 Hunter, who added his endorsement. "With this valid evidence, I guarantee that Linggis is innocent. All previous accusations were the result of the Demon King's manipulation to divide us."
Back at the café, an old man in worn-out clothes sat at a nearby table, glancing at Linggis with curiosity. "You're... Linggis, aren't you?" he asked in a hoarse voice.
Linggis slowly turned to him, expression unreadable. "Maybe," he replied curtly.
The old man let out a small chuckle, though his hands trembled slightly. "Don't be so modest. The whole world is talking about you now. Even the Goddess herself supports you... That's something incredible."
Linggis didn't respond, simply taking another sip of his coffee.
The old man continued, "I just wanted to say... thank you. For... well, everything."
Linggis finally turned his sharp gaze toward him. "Thank you? For what?"
The old man gave a tired but sincere smile. "For saving the world from the demon general, even though the world never asked you to."
Linggis let out a long sigh, setting his cup down. "I didn't save the world," he said coldly. "I only saved myself. It just so happened that the outcome benefited all of you."
The old man chuckled softly, shrugging. "Maybe. But for some of us, that's enough."
Linggis didn't reply. He simply stared at the old man for a moment before turning back to the window, enjoying the fleeting peace. Deep down, he knew another storm would eventually come.
But for now, he would savor his coffee and the rare tranquility while it lasted.