After a long week of work, Kollam finally reached his home in Brunnenheim City. He knocked on the door, juggling a bucket of fruits and sweets.

When the door swung open, he grinned and said, "I'm back, dear!"

His wife, with her silver skin and long black hair, wearing a modest green dress and two rings, greeted him with a warm smile. She hugged him tightly as he kissed her cheek, murmuring, "I missed you. It was..."

The ghoul, Esha, smiled and said, "Come inside. Let's get you settled before we chat."

Once inside, Kollam plopped onto the couch, stretching his arms. His back pain, worsened by years of travel, was acting up.

Esha handed him a large goblet of wine and settled beside him. She gently stroked his beard and asked, "Did you work hard? Tell me about your week."

As Kollam recounted his experiences with the orphanage kids he had helped, he spoke animatedly. He enjoyed reminiscing about the children and the time spent with his wife, who listened with a warm smile.

After a long bath, Kollam sat down at the table and began eating alongside Esha. She watched him with a proud smile and teased, "So, is the tavern's food better than mine?"

Kollam didn’t reply immediately; instead, he wolfed down everything on his plate, his hunger evident. He paused briefly to take a sip of water and gave a nod before returning to his hearty eating.

Esha, still smiling, said, "My mother wants to see you again. She visited a few days ago and was sad when she didn’t find you."

Kollam nodded as he swallowed his food. "I’ll visit her tomorrow before work."

Esha nodded, but a trace of sadness lingered on her lips as she asked, "Will you be gone for a long time?"

Kollam noticed the shift in her expression and reassured her, "No, just half a day. I’ve earned enough to keep us safe for three years."

Esha’s smile returned as she patted his shoulder, then she glanced down at her belly. "You’re really working hard for this child, aren’t you?"

Kollam smiled and nodded. "Yes, for him, for you, and for the orphan kids too..."

Kollam set down his spoon and fork, then gently cupped Esha’s chin, pulling her closer. "When you found me... I was broken, defeated, alone. You helped me, saved me, gave me a life and a purpose. Thank you, Esha. You’re a wonderful person!"

Esha smiled warmly and kissed his forehead. "But you’ve worked so hard, dear. You’re the one who’s a good person. Don’t forget that."

.

.

.

.

"

DAAAAAAAAAAN!!!!!!!!"

Kollam jolted awake, his heart pounding. He glanced over at Esha, who was sleeping soundly beside him. Shaking, he carefully got out of bed, trying not to disturb her.

He walked to the kitchen, his steps heavy and uncertain. After drinking a goblet of water, he sank to the floor, letting the coolness of the tiles ground him. As his breathing slowed, he closed his eyes, letting Esha’s comforting words echo in his mind: "You are a good person!"

Opening his eyes, he whispered to himself, “I did good. I helped kids, I helped old people. I’m not a villain anymore... I am a good person... I am... good.”

The words seemed to offer a fragile solace.

Kollam rose from the floor and walked to the couch, where he sank down, seeking comfort. He stared at the ground, tears welling in his eyes. His voice, choked with emotion, trembled as he whispered, “I... am a good person. I swear I am! I... am!”

At Cerulea City's adventurers' guild, Joe followed the guild master down the corridor to his office.

As he travelled through several cities before reaching Cerulea, Joe noticed that no bounty had been placed on him. This made him wonder why his father hadn’t pursued him, or if Evangeline might have had something to do with it. Despite the lack of a bounty and no apparent legal trouble, Joe remained cautious during his travels, finding that his carefulness provided a sense of safety and peace as he slept outside.

Upon entering the office, Joe’s gaze settled on a white-haired adventurer who sat with an air of calm confidence. The man wore light armour and had a small bow at his side. His face was smooth and unscarred, a sign of his skill and experience in the trade.

The white-haired adventurer looked up as Joe entered, rising with a slight bow and a charming smile. "Welcome, Noble Joe. My name is Theoden, at your service."

Joe returned the smile and nodded. "Thank you. You’re the one with the information, I presume?"

Theoden nodded. "Yes, someone like Dan can’t just vanish without leaving some traces behind."

Joe took a seat and said, "I have 600 golden coins on me right now. You asked for 900. Is there any way we can settle this so that we all leave this office happy?"

"I understand," Theoden said, massaging his chin. He thought to himself, *I really wanted the full 900 coins to leave this kingdom behind, but I need more for a secure future. Still, 600 is better than nothing. I’ll need to get as much as I can, especially since he’s a noble.*

Theoden looked at Joe and said, "I’ll accept 600 coins and will even assist you in reaching Dan’s city undercover. How does that sound?"

Joe raised an eyebrow in surprise. "You’ll accept the deal with 300 golden coins less? Why?"

Theoden smiled, thinking, *I’ll make him feel like he’s getting a deal and build a friendship without making it obvious. That way, he won’t be suspicious.*

Theoden looked into Joe’s eyes and said, “You want revenge, I want money, but I also need connections—something that will help me when no one else will. I’ll help you reach the city discreetly, and in return, someday you’ll help me. A favour for a favour. Maybe one day, we’ll even share a drink in a tavern. What do you say?”

Joe smiled, rising to shake Theoden’s hand with both of his. “I’d be honoured, Theoden.”

Joe sat back down, thinking to himself, *I’ve got an adventurer on my side. That’s good if I want to start over.*

Theoden then said, “With that settled, you mentioned in your letter that your payment is in the form of jewellery.”

Joe nodded. "Yes, but I can sell it for coins."

Theoden shook his head. "That won’t be necessary. In my deals, I prefer coins and save them as jewellery. You’ve already done the work for me here."

Joe raised an eyebrow. "But why not ask your clients to bring jewellery instead?"

Theoden smiled, thinking to himself, *Does this dipshit know anything about the black market?*

He then replied, "Because jewellery can be a scam. The verification process would give them time to disappear, complicating things. It’s not good business to treat your clients as potential thieves; that would harm your reputation."

Joe nodded and offered Theoden the box with the necklace inside. As Theoden reached for it, Joe asked, "And why trust me?"

Theoden paused, looking at Joe, who was eyeing him suspiciously. He thought to himself, *Because you’re desperate!*

Smiling, Theoden replied, "Because I know you really want your revenge. Men in moments of anger and drunkenness are often the most honest. So, I trust this necklace is valuable."

Joe nodded as Theoden took the box from him. Theoden shook Joe’s hand and left the office. The guild master, rising from his seat, served Joe some tea and asked, "Are you sure you don’t need any men to assist you? Dan is a dangerous man, after all."

Joe shook his head. "He’s in a new region in the east part of the kingdom, with a new life and probably a new name. I doubt he did that without official help. For years, guilds couldn’t assist me, and he must have people in authority backing him. It’s better to go alone to avoid raising any suspicions."

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The guild master nodded. As Joe took a sip of the tea, he continued, "I will find him, but is there a chance I’ll be arrested if I kill him?"

"Probably," the master said, massaging his chin contemplatively. "He has had authority helping him, so if you plan to kill him, you’ll need to do it quietly."

Joe nodded, drained his tea, and stood up. He shook the master’s hand firmly. "Thank you for all the help, sir. I really appreciate everything."

"It was our job," the master responded. "Take that monster down, and let his victims rest in peace."

Joe nodded and said, "It’s a pity his bandits escaped. His crimes weren’t committed alone, and I would have liked to capture them as well, Pan."

"Most of them are dead," Pan replied. "His bandits—or what was left of them after Goven's massacre—were mostly hunted down. Only two remain: one is serving a life sentence of hard labour until death, and the other will be executed next month."

Joe thought for a moment, surprised by this information. Then he asked, "Why is he the only one still free?"

Pan answered, "This group of bandits was like a family. They even had matching necklaces. From what I heard, no one ever gave him up—not even under torture. One of them died without saying a word, not even for the chance at freedom."

Joe nodded, then suddenly looked up in surprise. "Necklaces? I never know about those."

Pan met Joe’s gaze. "Small metal necklaces attached to their left shoulders. His bandits were known for them."

Joe leaned forward. "Can I have them? I’m willing to pay, even with what little I have."

Pan shook his head. "Keep your money; we’ve already taken enough. The necklaces are in different guilds across various cities. Give me two days, and the owls will deliver them all."

Joe sighed in relief as he left the office, heading to a modest inn where he would stay for a few days before Theoden would escort him to Brunnenheim.

As Joe settled in, he tried to clear his mind. Speaking to himself, he said aloud, "I hope Evangeline is alright. Jogo better be careful around the nobility! Is Urien alright? Ebe should be sleeping by now, I bet. Agatha must be teaching her kids before bed. And..."

Joe glanced out the window, continuing, "Is Father still working at this hour? I... I bet he is. I hope he’s not overworking himself, but Evangeline will help him. She always does."

Joe smiled as he pictured the scene in his mind—a scene so familiar it felt more like a memory than a fantasy. He could see Jeffrey working late into the night, with Evangeline by his side. Agatha would finish teaching her kids and arrive at the office, carrying cakes.

Ebe would then come in, groaning in exhaustion, holding little Ilana. She’d hand Ilana to Evangeline and sit beside Agatha, reaching for a cake while they chatted.

Urien and Jogo would enter next, taking their places on the second couch. They’d grab cakes too, joining the conversation, all of them smiling and talking about things they wouldn’t even remember the next day.

They laughed, shared surprises, expressed sadness, and supported one another—just as a family should.

Then, they all turned to look at Joe, distant as he always was. He gazed back at them, a smile forming on his lips as a single tear traced down his cheek. He bowed his head slightly in silent acknowledgement.

They smiled back and resumed their conversations, as if to say Joe was always part of the family—distant, but still one of them. Yet, despite this connection, Joe couldn’t bring himself to truly imagine being with them.

Meanwhile, In Brunnenheim City, Kollam made his way from Esha’s parents' home. They always welcomed him with open arms, and he genuinely enjoyed their company. As a religious family, their deep faith and kindness had been a guiding light for him, helping him find his way in the world.

When he returned home, Kollam found Esha reading, a smile playing on her lips. Her books were usually comedies—her favourite genre—and she had quite the collection. A few had been gifts from Kollam, but most were treasures she had collected herself.

Kollam smiled and sat beside her. "Another book? How many do you have now?"

Esha closed the book with a grin. "130, all comedy. But this one’s a bit different—it’s the first with a romance subplot."

Kollam whistled in surprise. "That’s a lot! So, what’s this one about?"

Esha smiled and moved closer to Kollam. "This book is about a couple who start off hating each other but end up married. The characters are hilarious! I bought it for 3 golden coins, but it’s worth every bit."

Kollam smiled, he kissed Esha’s forehead, and then got up. Esha looked up at him with a concerned expression. "Kollam?"

He turned around to see her worry. "At this time of year, you always have nightmares. Please, wake me up if you have them again."

Kollam forced a smile. "Yeah..."

"Please!" Esha’s voice was filled with concern. "Promise me you’ll wake me up next time, alright?"

Kollam nodded, and Esha smiled as she got up and hugged him tightly. Kollam closed his eyes, breathing slowly as Esha’s presence brought him peace. He embraced her back and rested.

Three months later, Esha, with her belly now fully grown, was talking to her mother, Iga. The two were seated, and Esha’s nervousness was palpable. "Mother, were you scared when you were pregnant with me?"

Iga, a ghoul with red hair and orange eyes, dressed in a blue gown with a long ponytail cascading down her back, smiled proudly. "Scared? You were my fifth! I had ten children, for God's sake!"

Esha, still anxious, replied, "I’m afraid, Mother. There are so many stories about mothers and their babies not making it through delivery. I... I..."

Iga patted Esha’s head, soothing her with her words. “Don’t worry, daughter. You’ll get used to it. We have skilled doctors and healers. You’re in good hands, and the twins will be born healthy, just like their dad.”

Esha nodded, feeling reassured as Iga hugged her tightly. “My dear little ghoul, you’re my daughter, and I love you. I pray for a long and happy life for you, so please don’t break your mother’s heart. Smile—God will bring those two into a wonderful world. Do you hear me?”

Esha nodded again, tears welling up in her eyes. Iga gently wiped them away, and Esha noticed her mother was also crying. She wiped away Iga’s tears, and they embraced even tighter.

Soon after, Rona and Jina, Esha’s sisters, arrived. They hugged Esha and their mother, and together they chatted and enjoyed each other’s company.

After finishing another goblet, Rona exclaimed in frustration, "That useless husband wants me to bear a fifth child, and here you are crying over just two? And you were supposed to be the bravest sister?"

Esha smiled, replying, "You weren’t afraid of pregnancy? The first time must have been scary!"

Jina shook her head. "You know my husband. We’ve had three kids, and I was just as calm as before. There’s nothing to fear. We’ll be with you, alright?"

Esha nodded as Rona and Jina embraced her. They shared a deep bond and were truly a close-knit family.

Near the lake, children played and swam while Kollam, Gor, Esha’s father, and Houn, Esha’s brother, relaxed and chatted. Houn asked, "What will you name the baby? I’ve got a few ideas. If it’s two girls, how about Jasmine and Violet—like the lovely-smelling flowers? And if it’s two boys, just pick damn names that sound good enough."

Gor and Kollam laughed. Kollam then replied, "I hope God gives me the strength to protect them and that they grow up to be good people, no matter if they’re girls or boys."

Gor nodded approvingly. "Well said! Houn, maybe you should take a lesson or two from Kollam."

Houn grinned mockingly. "I’ve got better things to do."

Everyone laughed as Kollam sat comfortably, lost in thought. He heard Houn and Gor arguing and laughing but couldn’t make out the words, only feeling the heat of the fire burning everything beneath him.

He lifted his head to see people from various raided villages lying on the ground. Their corpses were engulfed in flames, and their agonized screams pierced the air: “PLEASE! I HAVE A CHILD! SAVE US! WE WILL DIE! WE HAVE NOTHING LEFT! GOD HELP US! GOD! PLEASE GIVE US STRENGTH! GOD WILL BURN YOU FOR THIS! DAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!”

Kollam’s eyes darted to Houn and Gor, who were now looking at him with concern. Houn said, “This has never happened during the day before. Are you alright?”

Kollam stared at them blankly, as though unfamiliar with them, then glanced around desperately. Tears streamed down his face as he trembled. “W…where… is Esha?”

Houn and Gor quickly helped Kollam to the lake, where they poured water over him, trying to snap him out of his daze.

Kollam closed his eyes, tears streaming down his face as he whispered, "God help me! God help me! I’m a bad person! I... just want Esha! I... want peace... I... I..."

As he struggled to breathe, Gor and Houn rushed him to the healer.

After a long day, Esha, along with her sisters and mother, busied themselves preparing the tables for the family gathering. They readied everything for their husbands, the remaining brothers, and one sister who hadn’t yet arrived, and of course all the children.

At that moment, Gor and Houn entered the house with Kollam. Iga, noticing their arrival, scolded them, “You kids! It’s late—wash up and let’s eat!”

Gor and Houn nodded, giving Kollam a reassuring pat before heading off to clean up.

At the healer’s shop, Gor and Houn were informed that Kollam was experiencing fear episodes, which could be managed with a healthier lifestyle and proper rest. They learned that while Kollam needed to confront these issues, he could benefit from a supportive environment.

Kollam pleaded with them not to spoil the family gathering, wanting to deal with his struggles on his own. Gor and Houn respected his wishes, but they made it clear that they wouldn’t leave his side, ensuring he had support through this difficult time.

Later that night, all the women gathered in Esha's room, chatting and sharing stories while the men found their places to sleep—some in available rooms, others in the basement, or even outside in the garden like Gor and Houn. In Brunnenheim, where safety was a given, it was normal for residents to sleep outside their homes.

Kollam, however, sat alone by the lake, staring up at the moon. He took slow, deep breaths, closing his eyes as tears rolled down his cheeks. With his hands over his chest, he whispered, "God... please have mercy on me. I've done terrible things. Help me. I’m weak and afraid, just as I always have been. Please... help me."

He opened his eyes and saw his trembling hands, tears staining his beard and cheeks. He recalled Iga’s comforting words: “Remember, son, you never know when God might listen. Always pray for what’s best for you so that God can help make it happen. Do you understand?”

Kollam gazed up at the night sky for a moment before closing his eyes again. He placed his right hand over his chest and breathed deeply, murmuring: “God… if I could ask for just one wish… please grant it, and I won’t ask for anything more…”

Kollam recalled his past crimes—the killing, the thievery, and the suffering inflicted upon innocent people who might have been like this family, if not more. He remembered the villages he had ravaged: Tsvetoria, Morgenfeld, Drachenwald, Goven, Schattenheim, Lunagrad, and others.

The echoes of screams and desperate pleas haunted him, a relentless reminder of the lives he had destroyed as he plundered these villages and silenced anyone who dared to resist.

He thought of the bandits who had followed him—some driven to crime by poverty, others coerced by unscrupulous nobles and corrupt authorities.

Opening his eyes, he made his decision. With a trembling voice, he prayed softly, “God... please protect Esha and my children, and watch over Iga and Gor, Jina and Rona, Houn and the entire family. Keep them safe for me. This is my wish.”

Meanwhile, in Gelia City, a knock echoed at the door of Han, the renowned pet owner, just as midnight struck.

Han sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes. "Did the kids and my wife return?" he muttered to himself. "They weren't supposed to be back until morning."

He quickly got out of bed and hurried down the stairs to the first floor. Rushing to the door, he opened it.

To his surprise, Joe stood there with a white-haired man behind him. Han bowed slightly and stammered, "Noble Joe? I..."

"Han," Joe interrupted, "I want the three pets I bought from you."