The royal carriage passed through the wrought-iron gates of our noble estate precisely as the first stars began to dot the night sky of the Kingdom of Vailor, bathing the imposing façade of the mansion in a welcoming silver light that conveyed an immediate sense of peace after weeks of intense battles in the depths of the tower. As soon as the vehicle came to a gentle stop before the main staircase, the residents and servants of the household were already waiting in formation with expressions of sincere joy and respect, led by the head butler, who stepped forward to open the door with a ceremonial and impeccable movement. I disembarked first, extending my hand to assist Scarlet, followed by Rai'kanna, Elara, Vespera, Lyannis, Liriel, and the assistant, forming a group whose firm steps upon the courtyard slabs echoed as the reflection of a victory achieved through the collective effort and unwavering dedication of everyone present.
I allowed a serene, deep, and analytical thought to occupy my mind as I contemplated the harmony of that warm reception: the true reward of a leader after facing the most extreme dangers of a deadly dungeon does not lie in the material treasures accumulated on the upper floors or in the honorary titles granted by royalty, but in the priceless privilege of returning to a home warmed by genuine affection and the tireless care of those who sustain the invisible machinery of everyday life on the surface, proving that the greatness of an epic journey is sustained both by the bravery of the battlefields and by the harmonious simplicity of the bonds we nurture with our fellow human beings. Every employee who bowed their head with a welcoming smile represented a living reminder that our mansion was not merely a refuge for rest, but the beating heart of a family united by loyalty and mutual respect.
"Be immensely welcome back home, Lord Takumi and esteemed ladies," the head butler said with a voice choked with restrained emotion, bowing respectfully as he led us into the vast hall illuminated by chandeliers of pure crystal. "The banquet celebrating your glorious achievement up to the thirty-fifth floor is already fully prepared in the main dining room, and all preparations have been personally supervised to ensure that you will enjoy a night of absolute rest and celebration."
"I am immensely grateful for the effort and exemplary dedication you have maintained throughout all these weeks of our absence," I replied in a welcoming and warm tone of voice, taking a velvet pouch filled with pure gold coins from the magic bag and promptly handing it to the butler to be distributed as a generous reward to the entire staff of servants. "The care with which you have looked after our estate and the attention to the smallest details demonstrate that you are fundamental pillars of our household, and this bonus is merely a small acknowledgment of the magnificent work you carried out in our complete absence."
The atmosphere of the main hall instantly transformed into a warm and relaxed festive scene, where the maids openly smiled as they watched the girls move about with ease, exchanging impressions about the drastic change between the humid gloom of the basalt ruins and the luxurious comfort of the mansion. The companions temporarily spread out to remove their travel cloaks and freshen their faces after the carriage journey, while I checked the final details of the arrangements with the kitchen staff. Within a few minutes, we gathered around the immense solid-oak dining table, richly decorated with silver dishes, crystal goblets, and a colossal variety of culinary delicacies carefully prepared by renowned chefs, whose inviting aromas filled the air and awakened everyone's appetite.
"Nothing compares to the comfort of sitting at the table with a real meal after spending weeks thinking about every gram of dry ration and stamina potion in the depths of that freezing and gloomy tower," Scarlet commented with a gleam of pure satisfaction in her reddish eyes, cutting a juicy piece of roast meat with fine herbs and serving herself generously. "Although the adrenaline of the battles against the automatons was stimulating, I admit that the peace of a family dinner in our own dining room is an infinitely greater reward than any treasure the thirty-fifth floor could offer us."
"The diversity of nutrients and the caloric balance of this banquet are exactly what our metabolisms needed to repair the muscular micro-wear accumulated from the mana drain of that damned ancient temple," Elara observed, adjusting the cutlery with surgical precision before tasting an aromatic broth of wild roots. "Alchemy is fascinating, but homemade cuisine prepared with fresh ingredients from the surface possesses regenerative properties that no chemical reagent can replicate with the same effectiveness."
"The most important thing of all is realizing that we managed to maintain our structural integrity intact, without suffering any casualties or permanent injuries that could compromise our tactical cohesion for the next stages," Liriel added with a gentle smile, raising her glass of lightly fruity wine to propose a silent toast to the group. "Every conquered floor taught us valuable lessons about cooperation, and this banquet is the deserved celebration of our unwavering unity."
The night passed amid restrained laughter, lively conversations about future plans for exploring the floors that extended beyond the thirty-fifth, and spontaneous displays of mutual affection that dispelled whatever remained of the lingering fatigue. The servants moved around with discretion and agility, refilling the glasses and ensuring that nothing was lacking for the full enjoyment of that historic moment of fellowship. At the end of the dinner, with our hearts warmed and our minds completely rejuvenated by family companionship, we rose from the table in perfect harmony, ready to retire to our private chambers and enjoy the well-deserved rest that would prepare us for the dawn of a new day of peace on the surface.