Expedition Return (1)
Three weeks was an eternity for some, a mere blink for others.
As the predetermined deadline arrived, Eunhyeon led the expedition back to the Pernias Kingdom.
Reaching the Arkys Great Labyrinth had taken considerable time, but returning to the kingdom was instantaneous.
They used the Warp Gate artifact developed by Eunhyeon and Illyana, teleporting straight to Illyana's pre-installed house.
"This... it actually works...."
Yuria stared blankly at the sky, mouth agape, having just experienced the shift from deep inside the dungeon to the kingdom's heart in an instant.
Clap!
"Alright, everyone. Remember the promise we made? Everything you experienced and achieved over these three weeks—none of it leaves this group."
"O-Of course."
Yuria nodded in agreement, and the others followed suit, faces serious with resolve.
"Ah, the duke is the exception. I'll visit him soon—pass that along."
"Understood. It was a meaningful time. I'd love to host you here sometime."
"If our schedules align?"
Alex chuckled and nodded at Eunhyeon's reply.
"Then, Your Highness, allow me to escort you to the palace."
"Yes."
Yuria nodded and departed for the palace with her escort knights and the Armitas siblings.
"Erin, unpack and sort the gear. I'll drop Eira off at home first."
"Got it."
"Let's go, Eira."
"Yes."
Eunhyeon and Eira arrived at the Olivion Marquis Mansion only by late lunch, greeted in the central hall by Terezia.
"Mother? You knew I was coming?"
"How could I not worry when my daughter hasn't come home for weeks? I knew today's the day and waited. Welcome back."
"I'm home, Mother."
Eira rushed to her mother after three weeks apart and hugged her waist tightly.
"Your first expedition... it doesn't seem too grueling. You're not thinner—in fact, you've grown taller, filled out more...."
Terezia examined Eira closely. Just three weeks ago, her daughter had still borne the traces of girlhood, but now she was blossoming into a proper young lady, her features evoking her father's knightly bearing.
"It was tough, but the conditions weren't harsh. If anything, I feel like I came back too comfortably."
In truth, none of the participants—including Eira—had truly fulfilled their roles on this expedition.
Even Alex, who planned and led it, was little more than a figurehead shielding Eunhyeon.
They'd merely carried travel gear and walked while Eunhyeon swept away the dungeon beasts, conquered the labyrinth, built a house inside, and created a training environment.
He even handled all meals—breakfast, lunch, dinner—and laundry on schedule, like he had ten bodies to work with, freeing the party to focus solely on training.
That's why, despite the brutally intense drills that pushed them to their limits, no one complained or rebelled against Eunhyeon.
"Thank you so much for bringing Eira back safely. And... she's starting to take after her father, gaining a true knight's poise."
Terezia bowed gratefully to Eunhyeon.
"No need. I was just honoring Eira's request."
Eunhyeon waved it off modestly, but Terezia wouldn't relent.
"And... you seem to have filled Illyana's head with some unnecessary ideas."
Heh heh.
Eunhyeon narrowed his eyes and shot Terezia a sidelong glance; she responded with a mischievous smile.
"Huh? What do you mean, Mother?"
"That's for grown-ups only—too early for you. Go unpack and rest."
"Hmm? Okay."
Eira tilted her head but obeyed without question. Servants and maids followed her to handle the luggage, leaving Eunhyeon, Terezia, and the elderly head butler in the vast hall.
"He'll be back soon. Care to chat until then?"
"Sure."
"Butler, bring tea to his study."
"Yes, ma'am."
The butler bowed and withdrew. Eunhyeon followed Terezia to the study.
Seated on the sofa at her invitation, Eunhyeon thanked the butler for the black tea and cookies.
"Thanks. Dig in."
"Yes. I'll be going then."
The butler acknowledged the thanks with a nod, bowed to Terezia, and left.
"May I ask what happened?"
"What do you mean?"
Terezia smiled innocently.
"...You know exactly what I'm asking."
She nodded readily and spoke slowly.
"I first suspected it the day that girl Erin you entrusted to us woke up—overhearing you and Illyana arguing."
Terezia sipped her tea and continued.
"Recently, at the banquet celebrating Armitas's new sub-duke, Illyana and I got a chance to talk alone."
"—That guy... I have no idea what he's thinking anymore. Doesn't know how I feel? Or pretends not to? If he's faking ignorance, he's a total fucking asshole. If he really doesn't know, he's a hopeless fucking retard."
"—Truth is... twenty years ago, I tried confessing. He promised he'd hear me out if he survived... then he up and died. That bastard! After coming back to life after twenty years, shouldn't he at least ask what I wanted to say back then?! But no—he plants himself in my house and never mentions it once!"
"That's what she said."
Eunhyeon now understood why Illyana had occasionally eyed him with veiled frustration while he stayed at her place after reviving.
"Sigh... haaaaa...."
Covering his face with both hands, Eunhyeon drew a deep breath and exhaled. Shame burned so hot he couldn't lift his head.
"I'm truly, deeply sorry. Really...."
Her past as a friend turned lover now struck him as unbearably embarrassing.
And knowing he was the cause of her drunken rants filled him with humiliation he hadn't felt in centuries.
Heh heh. "It's fine. He was your friend, but she's a high-rank mage even the Pernias royals tread carefully around. Still, this expedition brought us closer."
"......"
"But you realize now... you're the real scumbag?"
Eunhyeon gave a wry smile and nodded at Terezia's merciless words.
"Realizing her feelings made me see how idiotic I've been."
He hadn't noticed her suffering because of him.
"All I did was advise her to seize her resolve."
"So that's why the potion?"
"That was a weapon, fair and square. It worked for me with him."
Oh, my God.
Eunhyeon stiffened upon hearing an unasked-for snippet of Riod's love life.
He'd long wondered how Riod snagged a perfect woman like Terezia, but the truth—that she pursued him—shocked him.
"Have you heard how he ended up marrying me?"
"No, never."
Marriage was an impossible dream for Eunhyeon.
His goddess-given mission and immortal nature meant inevitably outliving mortals, so after bitter lessons, he avoided deep bonds.
Thus, learning of Riod's marriage upon returning elicited congratulations, not envy.
His recent curiosity about Alex's feelings for Yuria signaled his healing heart.
"We had love, but plenty of obstacles. He was the empire's savior, a continental hero; I was a mere count's daughter. The gap between us was vast."
Riod's fame from ending the imperial war surely elevated Pernias across the continent.
Nobles likely pushed daughters at him to ride his prestige; he'd endured countless noblewomen.
"His family opposed our marriage. Things weren't smooth. Better offers came—higher-ranking noble daughters, even foreign princesses. From their view, a common count's girl like me was beneath notice; it was rational, so I held no grudge."
Terezia showed no bitterness toward Riod's disapproving kin.
Riod had even apologized to her after disappointing his own parents who belittled her, underscoring their trials.
Eunhyeon had assumed Riod chose the near-perfect Terezia; now he grasped their hard-won path.
As he listened intently to Terezia—his senior in love and marriage—
"So when he was drunk and impaired, I slipped him a potion and let him ravage me."
"...Pardon?"
Eunhyeon blinked, sure he'd misheard.
Terezia's face remained impassive, as if stating the obvious.
"That first time got me pregnant with Eira instantly. He insisted on responsibility, and we married."
"......"
Speechless, Eunhyeon stared at Terezia before hanging his head.
"So the advice to Illyana was..."
"Don't wait—create a fait accompli and force accountability. If the feelings are mutual, what's the issue?"
—Run if you really hate it.
He recalled Illyana's words before the dubious potion.
Did that mean this?
He'd accepted her, and they'd consummated.
Yet a strange sensation lingered—like he'd been ensnared by a scheme.
Was this how his own victims felt?
"Judging by your reaction, Illyana succeeded. Congratulate her—she finally claimed what she wanted."
"......"
Eunhyeon watched Terezia sip her tea silently, face conflicted.
Riod... who the hell did you marry?