Chapter 20 - life saver

My life in this world had turned drastically for the better. Once a lonely, forgotten hero, I now lived as a husband with a loving wife and three loyal companions. It was a dream come true, a life I had never imagined possible. My wife, with her radiant smile and unwavering support, made every day feel like a blessing. With her by my side, I couldn't care less about the chaos of the world. The adventures we faced together were unpredictable, often chaotic, but I loved every moment of it. Each day brought new challenges, new stories, and new reasons to cherish the life I had built.

As usual, I woke up early, kissed my wife, and enjoyed a hearty breakfast before heading to the guild. My daily routine involved dispensing demonic beasts that threatened the kingdom. It was a job I had grown accustomed to, one that kept me sharp and connected to the world I had sworn to protect. This morning, Lupin had decided accompany me. Our conversations were always lively, filled with laughter and plans for the future. Today, we discussed the possibility of starting a family, a topic that brought a sense of warmth and excitement to my heart.

---

Meanwhile, in the royal palace, the princess was in a state of distress. The kingdom was under threat, and she was determined to find Felix, the man who held the power strong enough to save the realm. Her frustration was palpable as she addressed her guards.

"We have to find Felix, as soon as possible. This kingdom can't suffer any more damage, or it will crumble under my care and I won't let that happen," she declared, her voice firm yet tinged with desperation.

"But, Your Highness, we haven't found any leads on Felix. Perhaps we should consider other options—" one of the guards began, but the princess cut him off.

"If you can't make progress, then I'll do it myself," she said, her resolve unshakable. The guards exchanged uneasy glances, but they knew better than to argue with her. The princess assembled the kingdom's best guards and set off on her quest, unaware that Felix was living a quiet life far from the capital.

---

Lupin and I arrived at the Tiger's Guild, greeted by Yumeko, the cheerful receptionist. Her smile was as bright as ever, and her enthusiasm never failed to lift my spirits.

"Good morning, Sir Fernando!" she said, her voice brimming with energy.

"Good morning, Yumeko. What do you have for us today?" I asked, leaning casually against the reception desk.

"Well, the tasks here are a bit too easy for someone of your caliber," she replied with a playful smirk. "But if you insist, there's a situation in Jornadas, the city near the capital. Psycho bears are on the loose, and the rewards are doubled for each one eliminated."

"Perfect. We'll take care of it," I said, already heading for the door with Lupin in tow. The mention of psycho bears didn't faze me, these days, most demonic beasts were no match for my skills. Whether the beasts were getting weaker or I was getting stronger, I couldn't say, but I welcomed the challenge nonetheless.

---

Using my teleportation magic, Lupin and I arrived in Jornadas within moments. The city was in chaos, with people fleeing in all directions. The air was thick with panic, and the sound of screams echoed through the streets. We followed the crowd, knowing that the source of the disturbance would be where the people were running away from.

As we approached the heart of the conflict, we saw a family trapped in a house surrounded by psycho bears. The bears were relentless, their eyes glowing with a feral rage as they attacked the building. Inside, a woman's voice cried out for help, desperate and pleading.

"Lupin, take care of the bears. I'll save the family," I said, gesturing toward the beasts. She nodded and sprang into action, her movements swift and precise. I leaped through a window into the house, cursing under my breath as I realized I hadn't asked how many people were inside.

"Might as well rescue everyone I see," I muttered, running up the stairs. The building was four stories tall, and I moved quickly from floor to floor, gathering as many people as I could. By the time I reached the top, I had a group of terrified civilians following me. Using my levitation magic, I guided them safely out of the building, releasing a sigh of relief as they reached the ground.

But before I could relax, a woman's scream pierced the air. "John?! Where's John? Where's my son?" she cried, her voice filled with panic. I turned just in time to see a young boy running back into the crumbling building, shouting about his toy, "Mr. Sprinkles".

"He went back in for a toy?!" I exclaimed, my frustration momentarily outweighing my concern. The building was on the verge of collapse, its structure weakened by the psycho bears' attacks. I couldn't let it fall while the boy was still inside.

"Holy Magic: Heavenly Guidance!" I shouted, activating one of my most powerful spells.

[Holy magic: Heavenly guidance activated!]

The building froze in place, held together by a shimmering aura of holy energy. But the spell came at a cost, I couldn't move without risking the building's collapse.

"Someone get in there and save that kid!" I yelled at the bystanders, who were standing frozen in shock. One man finally snapped out of his daze and ran inside, emerging moments later with the boy in his arms. I released the spell, allowing the building to crumble slowly and safely.

The boy's mother rushed to me, tears streaming down her face. "Thank you so much," she said, her voice trembling with gratitude.

"It's my job," I replied, brushing off her praise. I wasn't one for accolades, saving lives was reward enough.

---

Lupin had taken care of the remaining psycho bears, her skills as impressive as ever. She joined me as we made our way back to the guild, both of us exhausted but satisfied with our work.

"You're a life saver, Lupin," I said, giving her a tired smile.

"No, you are. You saved that family from certain death," she replied, throwing the praise back at me. We laughed it off, the camaraderie between us stronger than ever.

Using my teleportation magic, we returned to the guild quickly, too tired to walk the distance. Yumeko greeted us with her usual cheerfulness, handing over a bag of gold coins as our reward. The carcasses of the psycho bears were collected for their meat, weapons, and research purposes, a common practice in the kingdom.

"Good thing we got there on time," I said to Lupin as we left the guild.

"Yes, that's true," she agreed. We headed home, ready to rest and recharge for the next adventure.