The next morning, I woke up before the sun had fully risen.
Silence still filled the mansion's corridors as faint light filtered through the bedroom curtains. For a few seconds, I simply stared at the ceiling, trying to organize my thoughts.
The past few months had changed so much.
Lands.
Alliances.
New kingdoms.
New responsibilities.
And now even the Kingdom of the Giants had, in a way, become part of my sphere of influence.
I let out a slow sigh before getting out of bed.
Scarlet was still sleeping peacefully, while Liriel was partially covered by the blankets. Elara looked like she had been tossing and turning all night. Rai'kanna slept with her arms crossed, as always. Lyannis had an open book beside her bed even while sleeping. Vespera remained quietly resting near the window, sleeping lightly while leaning against it.
That made me smile a little.
It was strange how even simple scenes like that could make me feel at peace.
I quietly walked out onto the bedroom balcony.
The sky was gradually beginning to brighten over Vailor. The streets were still relatively empty, but a few shops were already beginning to open.
I took a deep breath.
For some reason, I felt that this peace was about to end.
And I hated that feeling.
A few minutes later, I heard footsteps behind me.
Scarlet appeared, still sleepy.
"You wake up way too early."
"You say that every day."
"Because it's still true."
She stood beside me, looking over the city.
"Going to the guild today?"
I nodded.
"I need to deliver the mission confirmation."
"It's going to turn into an event the moment we get there."
"I hope not."
Scarlet chuckled softly.
"You still haven't realized you've been famous for a long time?"
Unfortunately, I had.
After a while, the rest of the group also woke up.
We had breakfast together in the mansion's main hall while the servants organized the things that had arrived from the Kingdom of the Giants.
Lyannis was examining some land documents while eating.
"The contracts are all correct."
"You've already read all of that?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"During the night."
I looked at her silently.
Elara let out a small laugh.
"She probably never sleeps."
"I do sleep."
"Two hours doesn't count."
Liriel watched the conversation with a gentle smile while drinking tea.
Rai'kanna seemed more relaxed than usual.
"I'm still impressed that the giants actually agreed to open relations with other kingdoms."
"That probably happened out of necessity," I said.
"And because of you as well," she replied.
Vespera, quiet as always, simply commented,
"They trusted you."
It still felt strange hearing that.
But perhaps it was true.
After breakfast, I got ready to head to the Adventurers' Guild together with the girls.
As soon as we left the mansion, several people on the street immediately recognized the group again.
The rumors about the mission had probably already begun to spread.
When we approached the Adventurers' Guild, I noticed something strange.
The place was far busier than usual.
"This doesn't look good," I murmured.
Scarlet crossed her arms.
"Or maybe it looks exactly like what I said."
The moment we entered the guild, the entire hall fell silent for a few seconds.
Then it started.
"They're back!"
"It's the Hero's group!"
"They say they defeated the demon army in the Kingdom of the Giants!"
"In less than two weeks!"
I really hated too much attention.
The Guild Master quickly came down from the second floor.
As soon as he saw us, he smiled with relief.
"Takumi."
"We completed the mission."
I handed him the giant royal seal along with the official document signed by King Gromkar.
The Guild Master carefully examined the papers.
The more he read...
the more surprised he looked.
"You really eliminated every demon camp?"
"The main ones."
"In just a few days?"
"The demons retreated after that."
The entire guild seemed to listen to our conversation in silence.
Then the Guild Master took a deep breath before speaking.
"This is unbelievable."
Elara rested a hand on her waist.
"You asked us to solve it."
"I know, but..."
He looked at the documents again.
"The Kingdom of the Giants literally confirms that you saved their territory."
Scarlet answered naturally,
"It was just a mission."
Several nearby adventurers immediately began whispering.
"She called that just a mission..."
"This group is unbelievable."
"Not even Rank S parties normally accomplish something like that."
I ignored the comments.
I was already used to them.
The Guild Master then looked at me seriously.
"Takumi... honestly..."
He paused briefly.
"Your party is probably the strongest group in the world right now."
The entire hall fell completely silent.
I let out a slow sigh before answering,
"You're exaggerating."
"I'm not."
"There are people much stronger."
"Maybe individually. But as a group? No."
I glanced briefly at the girls around me.
Scarlet.
Liriel.
Elara.
Vespera.
Lyannis.
Rai'kanna.
Maybe he had a point.
Even so, it still felt strange to me.
Because I remembered perfectly the days when I almost died during simple missions.
Sometimes none of this felt real.
The Guild Master continued,
"You've already helped humans, elves, demi-dragons, cyclopes, and now giants."
"The rumors about your group have spread across practically every kingdom."
Lyannis calmly adjusted her glasses.
"Rumors tend to exaggerate."
"Not this time," the Guild Master replied.
Several adventurers began looking at us as though we belonged to an entirely different level than they did.
That bothered me a little.
I had never liked that feeling of separation.
I stepped closer to the main counter.
"Have the demon attacks increased recently?"
The Guild Master fell silent for a moment.
Then he nodded.
"They have."
The atmosphere changed immediately.
"In which regions?" I asked.
"Mainly in the north and in remote areas."
Rai'kanna narrowed her eyes slightly.
"They're moving faster."
"Yes," the Guild Master replied.
Liriel spoke calmly,
"That means the First General has already begun making his move."
No one answered for several seconds.
Because we all knew it was probably true.
The Guild Master then lowered his voice.
"There's something else."
"What is it?"
"Some adventurers have reported traces of demonic mana near Vailor's borders."
My expression immediately grew serious.
"Confirmed?"
"Not completely yet."
Scarlet crossed her arms.
"So they're coming."
"Maybe."
Maybe.
That word was beginning to irritate me.
Lately, everything seemed wrapped in uncertainty.
The demons weren't attacking directly.
Not yet.
But it was as if they were preparing something.
Something big.
After several more minutes discussing reports and strange movements, we finally officially concluded the mission.
The Guild Master still looked impressed.
Before we left, he spoke again.
"Takumi."
I looked at him.
"Be careful."
"What happened?"
"The demons have never been this active."
The hall fell silent once again.
"Something is changing."
I nodded slowly.
"I know."
When we left the guild, the city seemed normal.
People walking.
Merchants working.
Children running through the streets.
But now I could feel that sensation again.
That invisible pressure.
As if something were watching everything from afar.
Elara noticed my silence.
"What is it?"
"I don't know how to explain it."
Scarlet looked at me for a few seconds.
"You're feeling it too, aren't you?"
I nodded.
Liriel closed her eyes briefly.
"The demonic mana really has increased."
Rai'kanna looked up at the sky.
"They're preparing something big."
Vespera placed a hand on the hilt of her dagger.
"Then we'll wipe them out first."
Lyannis remained silent for a few moments before speaking.
"Maybe it won't be that simple this time."
I looked at her.
"Why?"
"Because strategically... they're moving like a real army now."
That stayed in my mind.
She was right.
Until now, the demon attacks had seemed scattered.
Small groups.
Isolated camps.
Specific invasions.
But now...
It looked like military coordination.
And that made everything far more dangerous.
We slowly walked back toward the mansion as the sun began to sink below the horizon.
The streets of Vailor remained busy.
But deep down... I could no longer see that city with the same peaceful eyes as before.
Because now I knew.
The war was coming.
And this time... perhaps not even Vailor would be able to escape it.