The cold mountain wind continued to pass slowly through the region as we observed the remains of the destroyed dungeon.
The entrance had completely collapsed.
Huge rocks blocked almost the entire passage, and the demonic mana was finally beginning to disappear from the environment.
I took a deep breath, trying to recover my breathing rhythm.
My body was still warm because of the use of the draconic flames.
Scarlet noticed immediately.
"You overdid it again."
I looked at her.
"Maybe a little."
"A little?" Elara asked, still sitting on the ground. "You practically set half the dungeon on fire."
Rai'kanna started laughing.
"But it worked."
Liriel silently observed the surroundings.
"The demonic presence is really gone."
Lyannis ran a hand through her hair while analyzing the remnants of mana scattered through the air.
"The Dragon's Breath flames completely consumed the core."
Vespera continued looking around even after the battle had ended.
She always did that.
Even during moments of rest, she still seemed prepared for any attack.
After a few minutes, we finally began descending the mountain.
The sky was already changing color.
The sun was slowly disappearing behind the clouds as we returned to Vailor.
The journey back was much calmer than the trip there.
Perhaps because everyone was tired.
Or perhaps because that mission had truly been heavier than we expected.
Scarlet walked beside me in silence until she finally spoke.
"That demon in the core..."
"I thought it was strange too."
Lyannis overheard our conversation.
"He didn't seem like a simple monster created by the dungeon."
Liriel agreed.
"His presence was different."
Elara crossed her arms.
"And he spoke as if he already knew who Takumi was."
The atmosphere became a little heavier after that.
Rai'kanna slowly let out a breath.
"The demons are probably starting to move again."
I looked ahead without responding.
Deep down, I felt that too.
From the strange dreams to that dungeon.
Everything seemed to point toward something bigger approaching.
But it still wasn't time to think about that.
Peace still existed.
Even if it was temporary.
When we finally caught sight of Vailor's gates, it was already night.
The city remained busy even at that hour. The lights from the shops illuminated the streets while adventurers, merchants, and residents moved normally through the main avenues.
As soon as we passed through the gates, several guards immediately recognized us.
"It's Takumi's group."
"They came back quickly."
"So they completed the Rank S mission?"
I ignored the comments as we continued walking toward the guild.
The building was still crowded.
Loud conversations echoed through the main hall while various adventurers looked over the mission boards.
But as soon as we entered, a large part of the guild fell silent.
Some adventurers looked directly at us.
Others immediately began whispering.
Scarlet sighed.
"I'm used to this by now."
Elara smiled faintly.
"You attract too much attention too."
I walked toward the main counter while the receptionist widened her eyes upon seeing us.
"You're already back?"
I nodded.
"The dungeon has been eliminated."
She was clearly surprised.
"Already?"
Lyannis placed the mission crystal on the counter.
"The threat has been completely neutralized."
The woman quickly took the report while another employee began checking the mission records.
The entire hall seemed to be paying attention.
After a few minutes, the man raised his head in amazement.
"The Scarlet Dungeon really disappeared..."
Several adventurers immediately began murmuring.
"That was a Rank S mission."
"They finished it in one day?"
"That's absurd."
The receptionist returned carrying a small metal box.
"The mission reward."
She opened the box on the counter.
Four thousand gold coins.
Even after so many missions, it was still an absurd amount.
Elara looked at the coins.
"This will help a lot with the cyclopes' lands."
I nodded.
A large portion of the gold would probably end up being invested there.
The crops were growing quickly, and the village was gradually developing.
The more those lands prospered, the greater the return would be in the future.
But more than money...
I was beginning to understand the weight of managing all of it.
Human lands.
Elven lands.
Half-dragon lands.
And now the lands of the cyclopes as well.
It was a tremendous responsibility.
I calmly picked up the box.
The receptionist still looked impressed.
"You're really on another level."
Scarlet gave a small smile.
"We're just doing our job."
As we stepped away from the counter, several adventurers automatically moved aside to let us pass.
The respect around us continued to grow.
But there was something else as well.
Expectation.
People were beginning to look at our group as something much greater than simple adventurers.
We left the guild shortly afterward.
The night air of Vailor was pleasant.
The streets were still busy, and some shops remained open.
Rai'kanna slowly stretched her arms.
"It's finally over."
Vespera looked at her.
"You enjoyed the battle."
"Of course."
Scarlet laughed softly.
"That was obvious."
As we walked through the city, many people recognized our group.
Some greeted us.
Others simply watched in silence.
The fame we had earned after the wars and important missions had already spread completely throughout Vailor.
When we finally arrived at the mansion, the servants immediately opened the gates.
As soon as I stepped inside, I felt my body relax a little.
After long battles, returning home always brought a different feeling.
Calmer.
Lighter.
Elara was the first to throw herself onto the sofa in the main hall.
"Finally."
Scarlet sat down shortly afterward.
"That dungeon was more annoying than difficult."
Lyannis walked toward a nearby bookshelf while looking over some books.
"The demonic presence in that core still bothers me."
Liriel silently agreed.
Rai'kanna crossed her arms.
"But we destroyed it."
"Yes," Lyannis replied. "But someone created it."
The room became somewhat quiet after that.
Deep down, we all knew she was probably right.
I went to a small room deeper inside the mansion where I kept part of the gold from missions and land rewards.
I slowly opened the vault.
The coins reflected the light of the oil lamps.
I placed the four thousand gold coins alongside the rest.
The amount was already enormous.
But it also revealed another reality.
The more power and influence I gained...
The more responsibilities appeared.
I slowly closed the vault before returning to the main hall.
The girls were chatting peacefully while some servants prepared dinner.
Scarlet looked at me as soon as I sat down.
"What are you thinking about?"
"It feels like everything is changing quickly."
Elara rested her face on her hand.
"You're becoming very serious lately."
"Maybe."
Lyannis closed one of the books she had been looking at.
"That happens because you're carrying much more than before."
She was right.
At the beginning, I only wanted to survive in that world.
Then came the battles.
The wars.
The alliances.
The responsibilities.
Now I needed to think not only about myself.
But about entire territories.
People.
Cities.
Kingdoms.
Liriel smiled softly.
"But you're managing."
I looked at her for a few seconds before responding.
"I hope so."
Shortly afterward, the servants announced dinner.
The table was quickly prepared, and the atmosphere became lighter once again.
We talked about the mission.
About mistakes during the battle.
About the group's growth.
Rai'kanna began arguing with Scarlet about who had defeated more monsters in the dungeon.
Elara laughed while teasing both of them.
Vespera simply watched in silence as always, but even she seemed more relaxed.
Lyannis commented on the effects of the draconic flames.
Liriel spoke about the purification of demonic mana.
That simple peace after a difficult battle felt far more valuable now.
After dinner, some servants began clearing the table while the group remained in the main hall.
A comfortable silence gradually took over the room.
I looked through the window.
The city of Vailor still glowed outside.
I slowly took a deep breath.
Then I felt it again.
The Dragon's Breath flames reacting within my body.
I slowly raised my hand.
Small flames appeared between my fingers.
This time more stable than before.
More controlled.
Lyannis noticed immediately.
"Your control has improved a lot."
I watched the fire burning calmly in the palm of my hand.
She was right.
During the battle against the Dragon King, I could barely withstand that power.
Now things were gradually beginning to change.
There was still difficulty.
It still consumed a lot of mana.
But I was finally beginning to understand how to use it.
Scarlet looked at the flames.
"So you really are getting stronger."
I slowly closed my hand, extinguishing the fire.
"Maybe."
Rai'kanna smiled.
"Not maybe. You are."
Liriel gently rested her head on Scarlet's shoulder while watching the room.
"But all of us are evolving too."
That was true.
The entire group had changed.
A lot.
The training.
The battles.
The wars.
Everything was gradually transforming us.
And even with that temporary peace...
Deep down, I felt that we would need that strength very soon.
Lyannis calmly stood up.
"We should return to the cyclopes' lands tomorrow."
I nodded.
"The crops should have improved quite a bit by now."
Elara gave a small smile.
"And the finances still need help."
Scarlet crossed her arms.
"Besides, staying still for too long is boring."
Vespera finally spoke after a long period of silence.
"The village is starting to depend on us."
I looked out the window once more as the night slowly advanced over Vailor.
She was right.
Those lands were changing.
And perhaps I was changing along with them.
After talking for a while longer, we began preparing to rest.
The day had been long.
Very long.
But before going up to my room, I paused once more, looking at my hands.
The draconic flames appeared again for a few seconds.
This time without instability.
Without explosions.
Just controlled fire.
Small.
But stable.
And at that moment, I became certain of one thing.
The power I received in the Dragon Kingdom was finally beginning to truly become my own.