The morning felt quieter than usual.
Not peaceful.
Just… cautious.
Ethan stood near the window, watching the street below.
People were moving.
But differently.
Slower. More aware.
Some looked around more than they walked.
Others avoided eye contact completely.
Fear had settled into the world.
Not chaos. Not yet.
But it was there.
A soft knock came from the door.
Krishara turned immediately, her expression tightening.
Nethan moved closer to her without a word.
Ethan didn't react right away.
He already knew who it was.
"…I'll handle it," he said calmly.
He walked toward the door and opened it.
A man stood outside.
Mid-thirties. Calm face. Slightly tense posture.
The neighbor. He lived just a few houses away.
Ethan had seen him before. But never like this.
"Ethan…" the man said, hesitating slightly. "Can I talk to you for a moment?"
Ethan stepped aside.
"Come in."
The man entered slowly, his eyes briefly scanning the room.
Not aggressively. Just… carefully.
Krishara gave a small nod in greeting.
Nethan stayed silent. There was a short pause.
Then the man spoke.
"…I saw it."
Ethan didn't respond.
"The dungeon," he continued. "It appeared near your house."
Another pause.
"I also saw you enter."
Krishara's hand tightened slightly.
Ethan remained still. The man exhaled slowly.
"I waited outside."
His voice lowered.
"…You came out alone."
Silence filled the room.
"And then…" he continued, "the dungeon disappeared."
His eyes met Ethan's.
Not accusing. Not aggressive. Just searching.
"I'm not here to cause trouble," he said quickly. "I just… needed to understand."
A brief pause.
"…How did you survive?"
Ethan looked at him for a moment.
Measuring. Evaluating. The man's posture.
His tone. His intent. No hostility. No greed. Just curiosity. And caution.
Ethan spoke calmly.
"It was an F-grade."
The man blinked slightly.
"…So it's true," he murmured.
"I didn't go deep," Ethan continued. "I tested it. Cleared what I could."
Not a lie. But not the full truth.
The man nodded slowly.Trying to process it.
"…So people can survive," he said.
"Yes," Ethan replied.
Another pause. The man hesitated again.
"…Others weren't as lucky."
Ethan didn't respond.
For a moment, the room fell silent.
Then Ethan spoke again.
"Don't spread this."
The man looked up.
"For now," Ethan continued, "it's better if people don't know too much."
His voice remained calm.
But firm. The man studied him for a second.
Then nodded.
"…I understand."
And he meant it.
"I'm not stupid," he added quietly. "If people find out… things will get messy."
Ethan didn't disagree.
The man turned slightly toward the door.
But paused.
"…If something like that appears again…"
He hesitated.
"…can I ask for your help?"
Krishara glanced at Ethan.
Nethan looked between them.
Ethan answered without hesitation.
"If it's within reason."
Not a promise. But not a rejection either.
The man gave a small nod.
"…That's enough."
He walked toward the door.
Then stopped once more.
"…Ethan."
Ethan looked at him.
"You're stronger than you're showing."
It wasn't a question. It wasn't an accusation.
Just a statement.
Ethan didn't respond.
The man gave a faint smile.
"…Don't worry. I won't say anything."
Then he opened the door and left.
Silence returned. Krishara spoke first.
"…Can we trust him?"
Ethan looked toward the door for a moment.
"…For now."
Nethan tilted his head.
"Is he strong?"
Ethan answered simply.
"No."
Then, after a brief pause
"…But he might become useful."
Outside, the man walked back toward his house.
His steps slow. Thoughtful.
"…So that's how it is," he murmured.
His gaze shifted briefly toward Ethan's home.
Not with fear. Not with greed.
But with something else.
Determination.
Inside the house, Ethan returned to the window.
Watching. Thinking.
Because the world wasn't just changing.
People were changing, too.
And that would be far more dangerous.
End of Chapter 6