At Kollam's house, two days had passed since Kollam and Houn left. The family's worry deepened with each passing second.

Esha sat on a bench near the house, idle, as there were no customers - everyone was out searching for Kollam and Houn in the areas outside the city and between the villages.

Another day later, on the road to Daek Town, a dwarf with sweat streaming down his face shouted, "We didn't find them!"

A man nodded and replied, "Where could they be? We've searched..."

He trailed off, and the dwarf called out, "Sir Val?"

Val looked at the dwarf and said, "Send orders to the knights! Half should continue the search, while the rest search Brunnenheim City and the woods nearby!"

The dwarf looked confused and asked, "Sir, our city is safe, and the woods are even safer. Kids play there at night by themselves!"

Val nodded. "I know, but those are the only places we haven't searched yet. And if I'm wrong, then we'll have to search the entire region."

The dwarf nodded again. "All this for Kollam, a simple man."

Val replied, "As are we."

Two days earlier, Joe stared at Houn, who was crying over Kollam's body. Joe could hardly believe that the ghoul had forced himself to crawl with such a severe injury.

Joe walked over to Houn and pushed him aside. He had already collected all the metal tags, but then he spotted another one attached to Kollam's shoulder.

Joe grabbed his dagger and was about to cut into the flesh when Houn, with a desperate cry, tried to snatch the dagger from him. Tears streamed down Houn's face, but he couldn't speak-his voice choked by pain and trauma.

Joe struck Houn hard, knocking him aside as he yelled, "He's gone! He won't feel a thing!"

Joe then cut into the flesh and pulled the bloody tag from Kollam, slipping it into his pocket with the others. He stood up and walked toward his bag.

Houn forced himself to crawl back to Kollam's corpse, hugging it tightly as tears continued to fall.

Joe grabbed his bag and glanced at the last hellhound, its injuries making it faintly visible. The creature was alive but suffering, whimpering like a wounded pup.

Joe looked at the hellhound and sneered, "All that terror, all those monstrous sounds, and you end up whimpering like a puppy? You cost me a lot and fled when I needed you, you filthy beast!"

He picked up a rock and crushed the hellhound's skull, ending its misery.

Joe then picked up his bag and walked back to Houn, who was still clinging to Kollam. He grabbed Houn by the hair and yanked him up.

Houn looked at Joe, who said, "Look at me and remember every word. You will never find me-don't even try. This is the last time we'll ever meet, and if... if by any chance you do find me, I'll kill you. I'll kill your family, and I'll cook your damn kids alive! You hear me? He killed people dear to me, and I killed him. That's where this story ends. Understand?"

Joe let go of Houn, placed a healing scroll over his wounds to stop the bleeding, then turned and walked away, leaving both Houn and Kollam's body behind in the forest."

After that, Joe left immediately. He mounted his horse, which he had left near the forest's entrance, and rode away, his breath laboured from the pain.

Two days later, the knights found Kollam's cart flipped on its side. Val started running forward, with the knights following closely behind.

After a short sprint, Val came to an abrupt stop. He saw Houn and Kollam lying on the ground. A smile briefly flickered across his face as he ran toward them, but he froze when he saw that Kollam was dead, his neck wide open. Val turned to the knights, his voice filled with disbelief. "Send the healer... send the healer."

Three hours later, Esha sat outside on the bench. She hadn't eaten or slept, her eyes fixed on the distant sky. The world seemed muted; even the voices of her family inside the house were nothing but a distant murmur. Iga and Gor watched her from the window, their expressions filled with worry. Jina and Rona were weeping, their husbands silently sitting by their sides, while the children sat with bowed heads, tears streaming down their cheeks.

Iga stepped out and walked over to Esha, who remained motionless. Leaning down, she whispered softly in Esha's ear and hugged her tightly before walking away, tears flowing freely down her face.

Esha kept her gaze fixed on the sky, her face expressionless.............

Until a single tear slipped down her cheek.

Then, more followed as she covered her face with trembling hands. Kollam was dead-those words were all she could hear, all she could understand. Kollam was gone, just like that, so suddenly. Her partner, her husband, the other half of her soul and life... gone.

Esha's sobs grew louder, and Jina rushed out of the house, tears streaming down her face. She wrapped her arms around Esha, who clung to her tightly, sobbing uncontrollably.

An hour later, Houn was brought back on a cart. Gor and Iga tried to help him walk, but he couldn't even stretch his legs. Eventually, Gor and Jina's husband lifted him up to the second floor and laid him on a bed.

A day later, in the Temple of Light at Brunnenheim City, Esha sat silently; she hadn't spoken in two days. She was with her sisters and parents, while Houn sat with his wife and children on the other side. Grief was etched on every face, even the citizens and the adventurers, who sat in respectful silence for Kollam.

After the burial, Esha remained by the grave. Iga approached her and softly said, "Esha?"

Esha looked up, the signs of exhaustion evident-she hadn't eaten or slept. Iga forced a smile and continued, "Daughter, if you don't pull yourself up, his children and yours will die. My little ghoul, just this once, for him and for me, you have to keep going."

Esha turned back to face the grave, sitting there silently for a moment. Iga smiled gently and helped her to her feet, guiding her back to where the family was gathering.

At the tavern, where adventurers and merchants mourned, the owner shouted, "All food and drinks today are on me, for Kollam!"

People nodded and ate quietly. After a few moments, a female ghoul-the adventurer who often shared stories with Kollam-called out, "Everyone! He may have left us, but remember what he always said: 'Good people will meet again!' So, do good, and you'll see him again!"

A dwarf teased with a grin, "And you're doing us no good by hurting our ears!"

The people laughed, raising their drinks and shouting, "To Kollam!"

At Kollam's house, Esha was eating while Iga sat beside her, urging her to eat more to keep her pregnancy safe. Esha finished another plate and pleaded, "Please, Mother, I can't eat any more, or I'll throw up!"

Iga frowned and replied, "One plate in nearly four days? You'll harm your babies if you go on like this!"

Esha nodded weakly, tears forming in her eyes. "I can't..."

Tears fell as she hugged Iga tightly and whispered, "I want to meet him, Mother... I want to die and see him again."

Iga cupped Esha's face and looked at her. Esha gazed back, seeing the tears in her mother's eyes. In a voice filled with pain, Iga said, "And you would leave me here alone? I can't... I can't lose my daughter, not when I have years left to live!"

Esha looked down and murmured, "But you have our family..."

"No!" Iga interrupted firmly. "I will not bury you! I won't... Children are supposed to bury their parents, not the other way around! I've already buried a son-don't say this, daughter!"

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Esha lowered her head, and Iga continued, "Live and raise your children to be better than their father... Raise them to be good and kind, and I will be with you. We will all be with you."

Esha's eyes were bloodshot as she hugged Iga, who held her tightly.

After that, Iga left Esha to eat alone and walked to Houn's room, where the whole family was gathered, waiting for Gor, who had gone to buy vegetables.

But Gor had instead gone to Kollam's grave. He smiled softly, placing his hands on the headstone. "Don't worry, I'll take good care of your children, Kollam, my son. And when I meet you again, we'll have more to talk about, alright?"

Half an hour later, Gor returned home. He set the vegetables down and went to Houn's room. Sitting beside Iga, he looked at Houn and gently asked, "Son, please tell me everything."

Houn glanced around at his family, and flashes of that horrible day flooded his mind. He saw Kollam fighting desperately against the hellhounds-the chaos, the fear-and then Joe's cold voice echoed, "I will kill your family and burn your kids alive!"

Houn then recalled Joe's smile as he spoke to Kollam: "He was a bandit, a good one too! Tell him, Dan, a tale or two!"

He couldn't forget Kollam's response: "I killed good and kind people. Do you think God will save me?"

Joe's voice echoed in his mind: "You will never find me. And if you do, I will kill everyone!"

Houn faced his family, saying, "It was the hellhounds. They killed him, and we couldn't even see them. They toyed with me like a plaything. If Kollam hadn't saved me, I'd be dead too. Now I'm alive, but with shattered knees."

The family, including Iga and Gor, nodded in sadness. Houn's mind replayed Joe's threat, "I will burn your family!"

He thought to himself, Only the grave will know the full truth. And that's for the best.

A month later, Esha safely delivered twins, a healthy baby boy and a girl. She named them Lifa and Don.

Val, the knight commander, ordered his knights to patrol the forest periodically and warned the children never to go there again.

Meanwhile, Joe travelled to Roxana City and stayed in a small inn. Exhausted from the long journey, he collapsed onto the bed, still aching from old bruises that were beginning to heal.

"I'll sell the horse," he muttered to himself. "I don't need a hindrance that needs feeding and might get spooked along the way."

He lifted his left arm, revealing a large wound wrapped in bandages. The injury was from when his horse had bolted after seeing a snake. "Walking and paying for carts is less of a hassle," he continued.

After bathing, Joe sat on the bed's edge, his mind weighed down. "I really did it... I killed Dan..."

Joe glanced down at his trembling hands and legs, murmuring, "How do bandits manage this? He was the first man I've ever killed, and I'm about to collapse... He fought those damn dogs till the very end... I wasn't prepared for that."

He tried to shake off the thoughts, struggling with the reality of having taken a life for the first time. The weight of it hung heavy on him, especially knowing he hadn't just killed-he had let the hellhounds rip apart the man alive.

Joe let out a long sigh and closed his eyes. "Move forward," he whispered to himself. "Just move forward, like I always have."

His body trembled as he lay on the bed, understanding all too well that life would not be easy from this day on.

"Wake up, Joe!"

Joe's eyes snapped open to see Lana shaking his arm, shouting, "Joe! Wake up, it's time for breakfast!"

Joe sat on his bed, still dazed, and lifted Lana onto his lap. She smiled and said, "Joe, your beard is big!"

Joe chuckled and patted her head. "Four months in his capital will do that. Of course, I'd grow a beard."

Lana giggled. "Yory cut his! I told him he looked handsome, but he cut it anyway!"

Joe smirked. "He's ugly regardless, but don't worry, I'm keeping mine."

Lana smiled and playfully tugged on Joe's beard. "Joe listen to me! He always does!"

After breakfast, Joe grabbed a purse filled with gold coins and headed to an alley in the western part of the city. He heard drunken laughter and chatter as he approached a group. "Which one of you is L?" he asked.

One of the men grinned and pointed to the end of the alley. "The guild's down there, Joe Gostave."

Joe nodded and made his way to the small, broken door at the end of the alley. After a moment, the door creaked open, and he stepped into the thieves' guild.

Later, Joe, holding a small box, met Jogo, who greeted him with a smirk. "Brother, your letters are as short as ever."

Joe chuckled. "At least I stay in touch. I'm not much for writing."

Jogo nodded. "Fair enough. So, what do you need?"

Joe placed the box in Jogo's hands. "Take this to your mother and tell her Joe is sorry, alright?"

Jogo frowned, looking at Joe. "No, you do it yourself."

Joe raised an eyebrow. "Why? Just-"

"Take it to her yourself," Jogo insisted. "Mother misses you and wants to see you."

"I can't," Joe replied. "I stole from her, Jogo. The shame and embarrassment of facing her... it's already enough just imagining it, and-"

"I won't do it," Jogo cut him off. "Sorry, but I won't, and not a single servant will help you either."

Joe stared at the ground, deep in thought. Jogo continued, "I've already informed the guards. If they see you, they'll let you in."

Joe's face tensed with desperation. "And what if Father doesn't want me there?"

"Then you leave," Jogo answered. "But at least he'll know you're alive. The nobles are already talking about you-you fought the ghouls when people needed you. That will count for something when it comes to taking over my father's place."

Joe laughed mockingly. "In your dreams. I'm a merchant, and I'll always be one. Keep his noble title for whoever cares, because I don't."

Jogo nodded. "And I won't be the head of this family either. I just can't."

Joe patted Jogo's shoulder and said, "Brother, if not you, then who? You're capable and skilled, wise beyond your years. You have my support, for whatever that's worth, alright?"

Jogo looked at Joe and patted his shoulder. "Brother... what if I'm not right for this? What if I end up hurting our people? Will you be there to stop me if I become a bad person?"

Joe gently patted Jogo's head. "If you ever stray from the right path, I'll be there, just like always, to help you find your way back. You're my light, as much as I am your guide. Alright?"

Jogo nodded, and Joe added, "Besides, most nobles aren't cut out for it, to be honest. So, that's another thing to take off your worry list."

Jogo grinned. "Thanks, I'll think about it."

Joe smiled. "And don't stress. It's not like our father is dead yet. You've got plenty of time before that old man kicks the bucket, and by then, you'll have grown into a man with even more wisdom."

Jogo then looked at Joe and teased, "But I'm still not taking that to Mother."

Joe sighed. "I'm disappointed, but not surprised."

Jogo then said, "And fix your beard. You look awful with it-either adjust it or cut it off."

Joe smiled. "I'm turning 30 this month, so I'm keeping it for now."

Jogo smiled back. "I wish you a long life, brother."

Joe patted Jogo's head. "And the same for you, brother."

Later that evening, Joe lay on his bed at the inn, having taken a bath, his thoughts drifting back to early morning when he first entered the thieves' guild. The interior had been modest-a chamber with two levels: the lower level was a tavern filled with customers, while the guild master's office was likely on the upper level.

Joe went to the tavern and asked, "Sir, where's L?"

The bartender nodded. "Joe Gostave, L is waiting for you in the back."

Joe nodded, then opened the door leading to the area behind the tavern. There, he met a dwarf with a short brown beard, two knives strapped to his belt, and a few scrolls. Small scars dotted his neck and left shoulder, and he wore a faint smile as he welcomed Joe.

Joe looked at the dwarf and asked, "L?"

The dwarf nodded. "Joe Gostave, you hired me for this job, and I delivered."

Joe sat down on a chair across from the dwarf. "Actually, I've put this quest in every guild for four years, but no one managed to complete it."

L smiled. "You gave it to the White Fang years ago as payment. After that, it became a tangled mess of who bought it and who it was sold to."

Joe nodded. "No guild could untangle that, except the thieves' guild. I knew you people were up to the task."

L held out a box and handed it to Joe. "Check it over, so we can close this deal."

Joe opened the box and said, "I don't think you'd try to trick me..."

After a quick inspection, he continued, "It's the right one. Here's your payment."

Joe handed over a purse, and L took it with a curious look. "Why were you so sure? I'm intrigued."

Joe met his gaze and replied, "Because you all know what happened to the White Fang. If you cheated me, no hole or shadow could hide you from me. I would hunt you down."

L nodded seriously as he counted the last gold coin. "It was a pleasure doing business with you, Joe Gostave."

The next morning, Joe arrived at a small mansion in the nobility district of the capital. The guards didn't give him any trouble, thanks to Jogo, but a few cast doubtful glances, wondering if someone like him belonged in the noble area, given his unrefined appearance.

Joe recalled Jogo's words: "I can't accompany you now, but remember to ask the guards where the Gostave mansion is."

Joe nodded, then asked, "Why is my father even in the capital?"

"Business," Jogo replied. "The ghoul invasion made the king call all the regional leaders. After those long talks, he decided to take a vacation with my mother and the rest of the family."

"And you? Where are you going?" Joe asked.

Jogo whispered with a finger to his lips, "It's a secret," and walked away.

Joe sighed as he approached the guards, who nodded at him as he passed. He knocked on the door, which was opened by a young maid who welcomed him inside.

Joe made his way to the kitchen, where he found more maids chatting and preparing food. He asked a few questions and then left them to their work.

Climbing to the second floor, he passed by two rooms before stopping at the third. He took a deep breath, then knocked.

After a moment, he opened the door and saw.......

Evangeline sat by the window, lost in thought. She turned around, startled to see young Joe, only ten years old, standing in the doorway with a shy look in his eyes. His legs trembled slightly, and he clutched a small box in his tiny hands.

Evangeline smiled warmly at him. "Joe? How are you doing... son?"

Joe, his innocent face downcast, slowly walked toward her. When he reached her side, he stopped and held out the box, his eyes red, barely holding back tears.

Evangeline gently took the box, placed it on her lap, and opened it. Her smile grew as she lifted her mother's necklace, still as clean and beautiful as it had been years ago.

As she admired the necklace, Evangeline's mind drifted to Agatha's words from the cart, "Why do you always defend him? Just why?"

Evangeline looked at young Joe, tears streaming down his innocent face as he tried to cover his crying. She gently set the necklace aside and knelt on the ground, pulling him into a comforting embrace. Joe hugged her back tightly.

"I... I'm sorry! I regret it... please forgive me!" Young Joe sobbed, his voice breaking. "Please forgive me, Mother! I'm so sorry, Mother!"

Evangeline held him closer, her voice soft and soothing. "Don't cry, Joe, my boy. I love you so much, my son. So much!"

She repeated with a reassuring smile, "We are safe and together, always together as a family, my son!"

Then, turning her gaze to Agatha, Evangeline said firmly, "Because he is my son, that's why. And I will always stand by my children-all of them, without exception. There is no difference between my own son and an orphan from the cruel streets. They all have my love, and I won't rest knowing even one of them is starving. Never!"