(Paul POV)
The journey back to the hut was slow, grueling, and unbearably quiet.
I gave Rudy my mantle — his clothes had vanished while he was trapped in that cursed crystal. He didn't react, not even when I carried him on my back. His grip on that damn staff never loosened, like a child clinging to a toy.
He was light. Too light. It felt like life itself had been drained from him, leaving behind an empty shell.
Whenever we stopped to eat, Zenith tried to coax food into him. He barely reacted, his lips parting only when guided. He looked starved already, and this made it worse.
Everyone else was shaken. Eris, usually too headstrong to falter, walked beside me in silence, her gaze flickering toward Rudy, her face tight with pain. Zenith was worse — trying so hard to hold it together, but I saw her trembling hands, her glassy eyes.
It took days. And when night fell on the third evening, we made camp in a small clearing, exhausted in body and spirit.
The fire crackled softly, its dim light casting shadows over our worn faces. Rudy lay beside Zenith, his eyes half-lidded, empty. She stroked his hair, whispering words he couldn't hear. Finally, her tears broke free, sliding down her cheeks as she cupped his face.
"Why…?" she choked out. "Why is this happening to him?"
No one had an answer.
I stared at my son, once so full of life, sharp and unrelenting, now reduced to this.
"…Could this be a curse?" I muttered, voicing what had gnawed at me for hours.
Elinalise, sitting cross-legged, fingers running through her tangled hair, shook her head. "Too early to say." She sighed. "Could be anything. We won't know without time… or a specialist."
My fists clenched. "Kagami."
Ghislaine, silent until now, looked over. "The same Kagami who healed Elinalise?"
I nodded. "If Rudy's cursed, Kagami's the only one I trust to break it. The problem is… he shows up when he feels like it. Can't call him. Can't write to him."
Ruijerd, keeping watch nearby, finally spoke. "That magic…" His eyes flicked to Rudy. "I've never seen plants move like that. Was it something he developed before?"
I hesitated. "I don't know," I admitted bitterly. "I don't know a damn thing about magic."
Roxy, silent until now, stirred. "Maybe it wasn't him." She gestured to the staff still clutched in Rudy's hand. "It could've been that."
I frowned. "The staff?"
Ghislaine grunted. "I recognize it. Or… what it used to be."
Eris's eyes widened. "Wait — you mean the one I gave him on his tenth birthday?"
"Yes," Ghislaine confirmed. "Back then, it was a Water Saint's staff. Dark wood from an Elder Treant. Blue crystal from a Sea Dragon. Rare, expensive. A hell of a birthday present."
I blinked. Holy hell… both A-rank monsters. And here I was, proud of the gauntlets I got him.
"But now," Ghislaine continued, "it's changed. Different color, different feel."
"Could it be…" Roxy murmured, "From high mana exposure? Items like staffs can evolve under high mana density."
"That'd explain the change," Ghislaine agreed. "But could it cause the plants to move like that?"
"I don't think so." Roxy frowned. "I think that green light was Healing Magic."
"Healing Magic?" I echoed. "How?"
"You can use it to mend a broken branch. Maybe Rudy's developed it to the point of manipulating plant life."
"I've never heard of such use of Magic," Ruijerd said.
"There was a professor in Ranoa who tried. The Millis Church's restriction of Healing Magic suppressed his research, though," Roxy replied. "Instead, he used Water Magic to see the effects it has compared to using normal water. It's actually great to see that high-class Healing Magic has such effects on plant life that it-"
"How does that help Rudy?" I interrupted, irritated.
It may have been rude of me to get upset, but we were getting off topic with nonsense that got us nowhere, especially with the holy bullshit of church.
"Paul!" Zenith snapped at me.
"All I'm hearing is that my son became some super Magician in exchange for his mentality."
"Wait—" Roxy faltered. "I didn't mean it like—"
"What's your problem?" Eris growled, stepping forward.
"My problem?" I snarled. "My problem is standing here while Rudy — my son — is turned into an empty shell, and none of you can tell me how to bring him bac-"
*POW*
A sharp impact hit my jaw, throwing me back. I rolled, drawing my sword by reflex, eyes darting for the source.
And then I saw it.
A translucent arm, fading into nothing, retreating into Rudy's hand that pointed to where I was sitting.
"…Did he just—"
Was this another blessing? More magic? What was this?
I rubbed my jaw, feeling the dull ache. But I wasn't angry. I was relieved.
It was small — barely a flicker — but it meant something. He wasn't completely gone.
Zenith, still at his side, didn't notice. She cupped his face, whispering his name, tears falling freely.
I swallowed hard. What the hell was I doing?
I stepped back, forcing the frustration down.
"…I'm sorry," I muttered. "I shouldn't have snapped."
The tension in the air eased a little. Eris lowered her fists, still glaring. Ghislaine gave a slight nod. Ruijerd said nothing.
But Roxy… her head lowered, her fingers clutching her robe. "No — I should apologize. I… got caught up in theory. I wasn't thinking about you, Zenith, or Rudy."
"You were trying to help," I said quietly. "I just… I hate this feeling. Not knowing what to do for my own son."
Zenith sniffled. "We'll figure it out. We have to."
I clenched my fists. She was right. No matter how lost Rudy seemed, he was still here. And I wouldn't give up.
***
When we finally arrived back at the hut, the exhaustion was crushing, even with Rudy on my back.
Tallhand stood outside, his broad frame rigid with alertness, as if he were standing watch. His eyes scanned us, and for a brief moment, his expression turned puzzled.
"No one's missing?" he murmured.
"Yeah... kind of a miracle, honestly," I answered, but the lack of enthusiasm made him suspicious.
His eyes searched our faces. "Then why do you look like you lost someone?"
None of us had the energy to answer immediately. Zenith wrapped her arms protectively around Rudy, who was still unresponsive, his eyes staring into nothingness. I sighed, running a hand down my face, but didn't respond. There was no simple way to explain this other than to tell the whole story.
Once inside, warmth welcomed us, but it did nothing to ease the heaviness in my chest. The familiar scent of home, the sight of worn furniture, and the presence of our loved ones should have been comforting. Instead, it felt distant.
The moment we stepped in, Norn ran straight to Zenith, throwing her arms around her waist. "Mom! You're back!" she cried, relief evident in her voice.
Aisha, her expression brightening upon seeing me, darted forward and latched onto my leg. "Dad! We were so worried!"
I placed a hand on her head, mustering a tired smile. "We're back," I said softly. "We made it."
Lilia approached, relief flickering across her face — until her gaze landed on Rudy.
"What happened?" she asked, her voice lowering.
The room grew silent.
I exhaled deeply, glancing at Zenith before stepping forward. "Everyone, gather around," I said. "You all need to hear this."
The group settled, the air thick with unease. I began recounting our time in the Labyrinth—the relentless monsters, the treacherous terrain, and the desperate struggle for survival. I spoke of the challenges we faced, the way the place twisted everything against us. But most importantly, I told them about Rudy, how we found him, how we freed him. And how, in the end, something had been taken from him.
By the time I finished, Lilia was pale, her hands clenched at her sides. "No..." she whispered, shaking her head. "Rudeus..."
Zenith, who had been silently stroking Rudy's hair, finally spoke, her voice trembling. "He's still here, but it's like he's not. His mind, his soul... something happened to him in that place, and we don't know how to bring him back."
Lilia's eyes welled with tears, and she reached for Zenith's hand, squeezing it. "I'm so sorry," she whispered, her voice breaking. "No parent should have to see their child like this."
No one knew what else to say. No words could make this better.
After a while, we focused on settling in. The exhaustion from our journey was catching up with us, and everyone needed rest. Lilia helped Zenith clean Rudy, wiping away the dirt and grime from his skin and changing him into fresh clothes. Rudy, as expected, remained completely unresponsive, allowing them to move him as if he were nothing more than a lifeless doll.
Meanwhile, the rest of the group gathered near the center of the hut to discuss our next steps.
Roxy was the first to speak. "We need to get back to the Central Continent. There's nothing more for us here." She hesitated, then added, "Rikarisu is the closest place where we can find work to fund our journey back. Though I don't know how many jobs are left after the monsters got attracted to the Labyrinth."
"Crossing through Millis isn't an option," I pointed out. "The Millis Church is going to be spreading wanted posters of me. They've probably already sent notices to the port cities between the Millis and the Demon Continent. If we try to travel through normal means, we'll be walking into a trap."
Elinalise, who had been deep in thought, finally spoke up. "Then we don't take the normal route," she said. "There are smugglers operating west of the continent. If we can hire one, we can sail along the edges of the Divine Continent and find a safer way back."
Ruijerd frowned but nodded. "It's risky, but it may be our best option."
Ghislaine crossed her arms. "Then it's settled. We find a smuggler and get off this continent."
I glanced back at Rudy, still sitting in the corner of the room, eyes void of recognition.
***
We spent the next two days resting—well, most of us, at least.
Lilia dedicated herself to caring for Rudy as if he were an infant again. Words can't express how grateful I am for her devotion.
Zenith tried to integrate Rudy into Norn and Aisha's lives, but his complete lack of response made things painfully difficult.
Norn was too shy, scared by his vacant stare. I didn't blame her. How do you reconnect with a ghost of a brother you barely remember? The last time they saw each other, she was only a year old.
Aisha, on the other hand, reacted differently. She flipped between indifference and curiosity, and I swear I caught her muttering "pervert" under her breath when she thought no one was paying attention. Where did she even learn that?
Meanwhile, Eris was intensely sparring with Ruijerd and Ghislaine, still fuming over being the first to get knocked out in our fight against the three-headed Black Dragon. That girl has too much energy and an even shorter temper… No wonder Ghislaine took a liking to her.
The rest of us spent our time recovering and gathering strength before setting out for the city, a few days away.
As for me? Well, the young lady wasn't the only one struggling to stay still after what happened underground.
***
Behind the hut, within range of the Barrier Magic setup, I gripped a sword nearly identical to the one I'd lost—only this one was forged from a durable black metal, one of the weapons Kagami had left us.
I had considered taking it when Zenith and I went through our recovered gear, but Roxy had pointed out the shortsword with a special skill, so I had chosen that instead. Now, I wonder if I made the right choice.
Holding the blade with both hands at my side, I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, trying to recall the vivid sensation of summoning that strange sword and landing the final blow on the boss monster.
Slowly, I channeled mana through my body, not just coating it mindlessly but focusing on key areas. The knees, hips, elbows, and shoulders needed to remain flexible for speed and precision.
Once I was ready, I leaned forward, braced the tips of my feet against the ground, and kicked off, swinging my sword in a wide horizontal arc as my eyes snapped open.
After completing the swing, I shifted my footing, kicked off in a different direction, and executed another horizontal slash.
For the final strike, I raised the sword above my head, tightened my stance, and then propelled myself forward one last time. The blade came down in a controlled descent, stopping just before it touched the ground.
I stood still, letting the moment settle.
Then, with a quiet exhale, I allowed myself to feel the rush of blood flow in my veins.
I had moved in a triangle, each corner marked by a different variation of [Longsword of Light].
It was nothing compared to what I had done in the labyrinth city. Back then, I had executed this amount twice—no, thrice —all while striking a moving target that actively resisted my attacks.
"Not bad."
A familiar voice called out from behind me. I had sensed Ghislaine watching since my first swing.
Eris stood beside her, arms crossed, looking grumpy.
"Three consecutive [Longsword of Light] strikes with less than a second delay between them," Ghislaine remarked, smirking. "Not only have you regained your strength, but you've surpassed it by a mile."
"Well, you're half right," I replied, finally lowering my sword and letting it rest in one hand.
"What do you mean?"
I looked down at my clenched fist, thinking of how foolish I was and how much I still needed to learn.
"It's like you said back then—I was relying too much on raw power. Only recently have I fully understood my Touki, how to control it, how to use it properly."
"So you stopped relying on instinct and started focusing on technique," she mused. "Now you're definitely worthy of the Sword Emperor title."
"Nah, still doesn't feel right," I said, brushing off her attempt to convince me of a rank I didn't feel I deserved.
But as we talked, I couldn't ignore Eris's glare. Her stance hadn't changed the entire time—arms still crossed, expression still sour.
"Something wrong, young lady?"
She scoffed. "Hmph. You're only this strong because Rudeus is lending you his power."
Did she not realize I hadn't asked for this connection? She'd only been given a brief summary of what had happened.
"If I had that power instead, that monster wouldn't have stood a chance!" she declared.
"Somehow, I don't doubt that," I joked, earning myself a punch, which I blocked effortlessly with my Touki. I didn't even feel it.
Eris winced, pulling her fist back and rubbing her knuckles, giving me something to laugh off.
'Rudy, I wish you the best of luck with this one from the bottom of my heart.'
***
Once we regained enough strength, we packed our things and set out for Rikarisu, the nearest city.
The children and Lilia rode atop the lizard Ruijerd and Eris had brought, with Ruijerd walking ahead to guide it. The rest of us followed on foot.
The trip would take about three days—the same amount of time it had taken to reach the Labyrinth from the hut. Had Kagami planned that on purpose? I couldn't help but wonder.
As we crossed the wasteland, Eris entertained Norn and Aisha with tales of her monster-hunting adventures alongside Ruijerd. Her storytelling was… chaotic, to say the least.
Aisha listened with wide, sparkling eyes, utterly captivated. Norn, on the other hand, looked like she wanted to crawl under a rock. I had nearly forgotten she took after her mother—who had never been fond of horror stories.
Rudy's condition hadn't changed. He'd gained a little weight, but barely. Feeding him was still a struggle for Zenith and Lilia, though at least he was eating something now. Mentally, though… he remained silent. Empty.
Watching him sit there, staff in hand, eyes dull, made my chest tighten. I remembered when he used to run outside to play, when he'd train with Sylphiette. Were she and her parents even alive? The thought of finding out terrified me.
And what about Laws? One of my only real friends back in Buena Village… There was no way of knowing if he was alive or gone, or what had happened to the survivors we rescued in Millishion.
I sighed. "So much to do."
"You look troubled," Elinalise said, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Cut me some slack," I grumbled. "I've got a lot on my plate."
She glanced over at Rudy. "Yeah, I can tell."
I hesitated a moment, then stepped closer, lowering my voice. "Can you tell me more about what happened… when you were freed?"
Her expression darkened. I knew it was a sensitive subject, but I had to ask.
"If you're looking for signs of a curse, there's no clear answer. These things… take time to show. But I agree with Roxy. The only obvious change is that his magic seems stronger."
"Yeah… aside from his terrifying soul-manipulation powers," I muttered.
I still couldn't wrap my head around that nightmare in the Labyrinth. Every monster we faced had been altered, twisted. I didn't even want to imagine what could have happened if those things had escaped into the world outside.
Elinalise leaned in, giving Rudy a quick glance before turning back to me.
"Did your son inherit your… naughtiness?"
"Yes," I answered without thinking—and immediately regretted it. I prayed no one else heard, especially Zenith.
Rudy had always been a little too interested in women, even when he was barely old enough to talk. He obviously got that from the blood of a Greyrat. But now was hardly the time for that conversation.
"You better explain yourself," I growled.
She just smirked. "Just a suggestion. It worked for me, back when I was in his state."
This woman hasn't changed a bit. The idea of anyone trying that with Rudy while he could barely speak for himself made my blood boil. He was already broken enough.
And then—
"A RED DRAGON!" Eris's shout snapped us all to attention.
I grabbed my sword instinctively, my heart pounding in my chest. Ghislaine and Ruijerd moved instantly, flanking the children, weapons ready. Even Elinalise stepped forward, scanning the sky.
But then, the ground rumbled.
We froze. Thin clouds of dust rose as the earth split open just a few paces from the lizard. Something massive began to emerge.
A head—red, horned, gleaming like a polished ruby.
My blood turned to ice.
Until the rest of it appeared.
It wasn't alive.
It was a statue. A perfectly detailed, life-sized red dragon, its scales gleaming, its golden eyes sharp and fierce. It looked so real that it might start breathing at any moment.
"What… the hell…" I muttered, lowering my sword just a little.
We all turned to the children, and there they were.
Norn was cradling a small dove-shaped figurine in her lap. Aisha held up a delicate butterfly carved from translucent light, its wings catching the sun like shards of stained glass. And Rudy, still silent, staff in hand, was pointing directly at the statue.
A cold twist of fear knotted in my stomach.
That was his magic.
I sheathed my sword and stormed toward them, eyes locking onto Eris. "What did you do?"
Her arms shot up as if I'd just accused her of murder. "Nothing bad! I didn't tell him to do that!"
Aisha spoke up, swinging her legs casually over the lizard's back.
"When Eris was telling stories, she said Rudy used to make little statues with magic. So I asked him for a butterfly. See?" She held it out proudly. "Then Norn asked for a dove. He made it right away—he didn't even say a word."
I looked down at the figurines. Beautiful. Perfect. Still and lifeless, and yet… almost alive.
Aisha continued, shrugging innocently. "Then Eris shouted that she wanted a Red Dragon. And bam, it came out of the ground."
I turned my gaze back to the statue, towering beside us like some ancient monument. The detail was flawless, right down to the shimmer of its scales. And Rudy… hadn't flinched. He hadn't hesitated.
Was he responding to their requests? Or was it something else?
I faced Eris, my voice hard as steel. "Don't give him ideas like that. Not until we understand what he's doing. That goes for all of you. No more requests."
Aisha's eyes went wide, nodding fast. Norn ducked her head apologetically.
Eris… grumbled. "But my dragon…"
I sighed, then turned to Rudy. "Rudy," I said softly, stepping closer. "Can you make it go away?"
No response. But in the next moment, he moved his staff.
A faint white and yellow light flickered at the tip. Then, the dragon shimmered. And in the space of a heartbeat, it crumbled. Not like a stone falling, but like ash blowing apart in the wind. In moments, there was nothing left but smooth, empty earth.
I stared at the space where it had stood, silent.
I didn't know what it meant. If it was a sign he was waking up… or something else entirely.
But one thing was clear.
Rudy's magic hadn't faded. If anything, it had become something far beyond what any of us had ever imagined.
***
We finally reached Rikarisu after three long days. The city was alive, bustling with demons of every shape, size, and color. Horns, multiple sets of arms, tails, animal heads — it was overwhelming. After so long on the Central Continent, surrounded by humans, it felt like stepping into another world.
Norn clung to my hand, wide-eyed. Aisha gawked openly, while Eris scowled, clearly unsettled by the unfamiliar. Even I felt it — the unease of being a stranger here.
Roxy noticed our reactions and smiled.
"Relax," she said. "Demons are people, too. Be polite, don't make assumptions, and you'll be fine."
We moved through the winding streets, passing strange spired buildings and glowing signs I couldn't read, until we reached an inn Ruijerd recommended. The demon innkeeper greeted us with a curious smile but no hostility, and soon we were settling into a large, warm common room with enough bedrooms for everyone.
The room was cramped, with four stiff beds barely softened by our blankets. I sorted out where everyone would sleep.
***
It was sometime in the dead of night when Zenith shook me awake. Her face was pale in the dim light.
"Paul… It's Rudy. He's… doing something weird."
My head was still foggy, but I forced myself up. Over at the ground, Rudeus was sitting on the floor, his back pressed against the wall, both hands tightly gripping his staff. He looked like a statue from how unmoving he was.
"What happened?" I asked.
Zenith knelt beside me, her voice low. "I tried waking him… but he… retaliated. His magic shifted the floor when I got close. I think… he's afraid."
I rubbed my face, trying to clear the sleep from my eyes. "It's okay. Go back to bed — I'll stay with him."
She hesitated, clearly torn, but finally nodded and returned to the others.
I made my way to Rudy's side and sat down beside him, leaning against the wall. The stone felt uneven, subtly reshaped by his magic. He was preparing for an attack.
He didn't do this when we were in the hut. Was it because of the city? It must have been his detection that there were a great number of people all around him. Even I have trouble taking it all in. How much must he be taking in?
He must be feeling as though he is still trapped in that nightmare. Or what it was before he reformed it. Multiple signals all around him, not knowing which one will come after him.
Slowly, I put my right arm around his shoulders, careful not to startle him.
"You're safe now," I whispered, pulling him closer to me. "It's over. I'm here… I won't leave."
He didn't respond—not with words, not with a glance. But little by little, I felt the tension ease beneath my arm, and he was leaning into me a little.
And so I stayed, holding him close, letting him feel he wasn't alone. Not tonight.
///