After completing their exploration, Kellan and Aveline returned to Lumina City, the capital of the Rothnia Kingdom.

They were tired, but the mission had been successful—satisfaction glowed quietly on both their faces.

As soon as they stepped into their mansion, Kellan carried the ancient relic they had recovered and headed straight for the Relic Room—a secure chamber where all their rare and powerful discoveries were kept safe.

The room had a calm, almost sacred atmosphere. Every shelf held a silent story from their past adventures.

As Kellan placed the relic on its shelf, Aveline walked in behind him with a soft smile.

“And there it is... a brand-new addition to our collection.”

Kellan smiled faintly and turned toward her.

“Yeah... another adventure complete. I think we’ve earned some rest, don’t you?”

Aveline chuckled softly and leaned against his shoulder.

A peaceful silence filled the room—the kind that only comes after a long, hard battle.

Just then, the mansion’s butler entered, bowing gracefully.

“Lord Kellan, Lady Aveline... dinner is ready,” he said calmly.

“Thank you, Alfred. We’ll be there in a moment,” Aveline replied.

Kellan stretched his arms and sighed.

“Finally... some real food after all that chaos.”

They walked together through the grand hallway toward the dining hall, the golden chandelier light shimmering along their footsteps.

After dinner, the mansion grew quiet once more.

Kellan and Aveline were in their room—the soft glow of warm lights and the gentle breeze through the curtains gave the space a serene warmth.

Aveline had already drifted into sleep, her face calm and peaceful, as if she had found a world free of worry.

Kellan sat at the edge of the bed, reading an old adventure book, though exhaustion was clear in his eyes.

After a while, he yawned softly, closed the book, and placed it on the bedside table.

His gaze drifted toward Aveline’s face—her quiet breathing, the faint smile on her lips.

A gentle warmth touched his heart.

Even in her sleep, she looks so beautiful, he thought.

Leaning closer, he kissed her forehead softly and whispered,

“Good night, Avi.”

Then he lay down beside her.

The only sounds in the room were the ticking of the clock and their calm, steady breaths.

Outside, the night deepened.

Only the rustle of the wind and the faint chirping of crickets filled the air around the mansion.

Kellan’s eyes were closed, yet his heart began to stir with unease.

Something felt... off.

There was a strange vibration in the air—something that didn’t belong.

He shifted slightly, opening his eyes. The room was dim, bathed only in pale moonlight filtering through the curtains.

Yawning, he sat up slowly—still drowsy, but suddenly alert.

He focused his senses.

Then he felt it—faint movement coming from the garden.

Soft footsteps... or maybe something else.

He frowned.

“Who could be out there at this hour?”

He glanced at Aveline. She was still asleep, her breathing gentle and steady.

Quietly, Kellan picked up his coat, opened the door without a sound, and stepped into the corridor.

The moonlight followed him down the hallway, and with it came a heavy, suspenseful silence.

As he approached the garden, the air grew thicker—charged with an unnatural mana presence.

His instincts tensed. Without hesitation, he drew his Magic-Enchanted Pistols, gripping them firmly in both hands.

The garden lay still and shadowed. Mist curled between the plants, and the night breeze whispered faintly.

“Strange... there’s no one here,” he murmured, scanning his surroundings.

Then—

a sudden rustle in the hedges.

Before he could react, a demon lunged at him.

In a split second, Kellan jumped back and fired a mana bullet midair.

The glowing shot flashed past the demon’s skull.

The creature dropped to the ground—motionless.

Kellan landed lightly, now fully alert. His senses sharpened, every muscle ready.

But another presence was already closing in.

A second demon came from behind.

Without even turning, Kellan spun his body and struck the creature’s jaw with the butt of his pistol.

The demon crashed to the ground with a heavy thud.

“How many of you are there?” Kellan growled through clenched teeth, reloading both pistols with calm precision.