After half a day of climbing, with only short breaks to rest, we finally reached the top. The journey was grueling, made even harder by the massive mana crystal we had to carry with us.
By the time we emerged from the dungeon ruins, the sky had already begun to shift into shades of orange and violet.
"...It's already evening," I muttered, wiping the sweat from my forehead.
"I'll get our horse carriage. I left it near the dungeon entrance," Silver said, heading off without waiting for a response.
A few minutes later, he returned with the carriage, and together we carefully loaded the colossal mana crystal onto it. Once everything was secured, we climbed aboard. Silver took the reins at the front, guiding the horses, while the rest of us sat around the crystal in silence.
The rhythmic rocking of the carriage, the exhaustion from the dungeon battle, and the gentle evening breeze all combined into a lullaby I couldn't resist. Before I knew it, I had dozed off, my body leaning sideways.
My head landed against Lily's shoulder.
She didn't push me away. Instead, she let out a quiet chuckle. "This little kid, who looks like he's never fought in his life, was right there with us in the dungeon," she mused.
"Yeah..." Ramon agreed. "He might be a few years younger than us, but he never once complained. He adapted fast—and even helped us. If possible, during the blessing ceremony, let's ask Goddess Glyss to send him back."
Somewhere in my half-asleep state, I caught bits and pieces of their conversation. I wanted to respond, but my body refused to cooperate.
It wasn't until much later that I finally stirred, blinking the sleep from my eyes. I slowly sat up, realizing I had been leaning on Lily the entire time.
"...Sorry, I fell asleep," I mumbled.
She smiled. "It's alright. We're almost there now."
I looked out through the carriage window and saw the towering city walls in the distance.
### **Returning to the City**
As we approached the gates, Ramon stepped out to handle the formalities of my entry into the city. Soon enough, the guards waved us through, and the carriage continued its journey through the bustling streets.
For the first time since my arrival in this world, I truly took in the sights of a fantasy city. The streets were alive with merchants selling goods, adventurers sharing stories at roadside taverns, and children playing with wooden swords. The golden glow of lanterns and the fading sunlight painted the city in warm hues.
But before I could get too lost in admiration, Ramon gave a quiet order.
"Keep your heads down. Avoid showing your faces."
Silver pulled up his hood. "We don't want to attract attention, especially not when we're this exhausted."
"Yeah... good call," I agreed. The last thing I needed was to get dragged into more trouble before even reaching the palace.
After about twenty minutes of travel, we finally arrived at the grand royal palace. One by one, we stepped out of the carriage, our movements sluggish with fatigue.
Ramon turned to the nearby guards. "Gather a few soldiers to bring the dungeon core inside."
The soldiers quickly complied, hoisting the massive mana crystal with visible effort. Meanwhile, we made our way into the palace.
### **A Royal Audience**
Walking through the palace halls, I couldn't shake the uncomfortable feeling settling in my gut. My clothes were dirty, and still stained with blood. Compared to the polished floors, shining chandeliers, and noble banners, I looked out of place here.
The deeper we walked, the grander the palace became. Towering marble pillars lined the halls, and the number of knights standing guard increased with every step.
And then we entered the throne room.
It was massive. The ceiling stretched so high it felt endless, and banners of the royal crest hung proudly on the walls. Dozens of knights stood at attention, their eyes locked onto us.
At the center of it all, seated atop an ornate golden throne, was a man exuding authority. Other nobles stood below the throne, their gazes sharp as they examined us—and the enormous mana stone behind us.
A heavy silence filled the room.
"This is going to be troublesome," I muttered under my breath.
And I had a feeling I was right.