Chapter 191: Villa

I leaned down slightly, pressing my lips gently against Viora’s forehead right above her brow. She let out a small, contented sigh, her hands tightening against the fabric of my black shirt before slowly relaxing.

"Let me take us back home," I murmured softly into her soft hair. "It’s getting late, and the night air here is turning cold."

Viora gave a nod against my chest. "Okay."

I reached into my pocket with my left hand and touched the cool, smooth surface of the Kingdom Key.

’Close Spatial Gateway,’ I thought.

HUMMMMMM.

The giant golden archway standing behind us on the white marble street hummed loudly. The shimmering white light flared once, then folded inward like a closing curtain.

SWOOSH.

The dry, cool breeze of Elaria vanished in a fraction of a second. The smell of ancient stone and faint dungeon mana washed away, replaced instantly by the familiar scent of wet grass, pine needles, and fresh earth.

We were back in the back garden of the villa.

The silver crescent moon shone softly overhead, casting long shadows across the green lawn and the high brick walls covered in dark ivy.

I lowered my arms, but I didn’t let go of Viora’s right hand. I kept my fingers loosely intertwined with hers as we walked across the soft grass toward the rear glass doors of the house.

The glass doors slid open smoothly with a faint click. We stepped into the warm, carpeted hallway of the ground floor.

The villa was remarkably peaceful. The soft yellow hallway lamps cast a warm, golden glow across the polished wooden floors and silent doorways.

As we walked past the side living room, I heard the soft, rhythmic sound of steady breathing coming from the doorway.

I stopped and peered inside.

On the large, plush sofa, Leo was fast asleep, curled up under a thick wool blanket. His wooden toy sword was tucked safely under his arm like a precious treasure. Sitting right beside him, little Mia had her head resting against his shoulder, her tiny fingers clutching her favorite brown stuffed bear tightly.

Carmilla was sitting on the edge of the low coffee table in front of them, holding a small picture book in her lap. Her red eyes looked up as we stepped into the doorway.

"They collapsed ten minutes ago," Carmilla whispered, her voice surprisingly soft for once. "Leo tried to stay awake to show Raymond his new sword move, but his eyes kept closing."

"Did they eat their dessert?" I asked in a low voice.

"Every single bite of the berry pie," Carmilla replied, a faint smirk touching her lips. She set the picture book down on the table and stood up quietly, stretching her arms. "I’m about to carry Mia up to their bedroom. By the way where did you two went?"

"We went to check something," I said deadpan.

Carmilla looked at our joined hands for a brief second, then shook her head with a light chuckle. "Right... Goodnight, Woo Jin. Goodnight, Viora."

"Goodnight, Carmilla," Viora spoke softly.

Carmilla carefully scooped up little Mia into her arms, keeping the stuffed bear tucked under the girl’s chin, and walked quietly out of the living room toward the broad wooden staircase.

"I’ll carry Leo," I said.

I walked over to the sofa, slid my arms under the boy’s small frame, and lifted him up along with his wool blanket. He was light, mumbling something incoherent in his sleep about defeating dragon monsters before nestling his face into my shoulder.

Viora walked beside me as I carried Leo up the stairs. She didn’t say anything, but her hand stayed gently rested against my back, guiding our path through the dimly lit second-floor hallway until we reached the kids’ bedroom.

Carmilla had already tucked Mia into the left twin bed. I walked over to the right side of the room, laid Leo down onto his mattress, and pulled the thick covers up to his chin. I gently pulled the wooden sword out of his hand and set it on the nightstand beside his lamp.

We closed the bedroom door quietly and walked down the hallway toward the master study at the very end of the hall.

The heavy dark oak door of the study stood slightly ajar. A warm strip of light spilled out onto the hardwood floor.

I pushed the door open softly.

Aunt Elena was sitting behind her massive dark oak desk. She wore a sharp, dark blue blouse, her hair pinned up neatly as always. Her sharp blue eyes were fixed on a stack of thick, wax-sealed documents spread across the green blotter. A single glass of cold water sat near her right hand.

Standing beside the tall bookshelf near the window, Raymond was standing perfectly straight, holding a leather-bound ledger in his hands.

When the door creaked, both of them looked up at us instantly.

"Woo Jin," Aunt Elena spoke, her voice cool, crisp, and steady. "Viora."

"Auntie," I acknowledged, stepping into the room. "Are those the documents for the summit next week?"

"Yes," Elena replied plainly, setting her gold fountain pen down on the blotter with a light click. "The Central Bureau sent over the updated security clearance protocols and the list of attending S-Rank representatives. It is as tedious as I expected."

"The Director Summit requires heavy administrative verification, Young Master," Raymond added smoothly, bowing his head slightly toward me. "Lady Elena must review the classified monster outbreak statistics before we depart on Thursday."

I looked at my Elena’s tired face. Even though her expression remained completely sharp and composed, I could see the faint lines of fatigue around her eyes.

"Do you want me to bring you some hot tea, Auntie?" I asked, keeping my voice calm and plain.

Elena looked at me for a second, her sharp blue eyes softening just a fraction.

"Raymond has already prepared a pot," Elena said, waving her hand lightly toward the silver tray on the corner of her desk. "Go rest. You have been running all afternoon, and your body needs proper recovery if you intend to practice again tomorrow morning."

"I stated a fact," I said, repeating her words back to her with a tiny smirk. "Stating a fact isn’t getting arrogant."

Raymond let out a quiet, dignified cough to hide a sudden smile, while Aunt Elena merely narrowed her eyes at me without any real anger.

"Out," Elena commanded softly, though the corner of her mouth twitched slightly. "Both of you."

"Goodnight, Aunt Elena," Viora said politely. "Goodnight, Mr. Raymond."

"Goodnight, Miss Viora. Goodnight, Young Master," Raymond bowed deeply as we backed out of the study and closed the door behind us.

The hallway was dark and quiet now. Most of the wall lamps had been dimmed for the night, leaving only the soft moonlight shining through the tall arched windows along the corridor.

Viora stopped outside the door to her room. She turned around to face me, her purple hair catching the silvery light of the moon coming through the window.

She reached out with both hands, taking my right hand and lifting it up between her palms. She held my hand gently against her cheek, feeling the warmth of my skin.

"Are you going to train tomorrow morning?" Viora asked softly, her purple eyes looking into mine with that quiet, intense focus she always had.

"Yeah," I replied plain and simple.

Viora nodded slowly. "Then I will wait for you on the patio with your water."

"You don’t have to wake up early just for that," I said, stroking her soft cheek gently with my thumb.

"I want to," Viora said simply. Her voice was firm, leaving zero room for argument. She leaned in closer, pressing her forehead softly against my chest for three long seconds, breathing in the quiet stillness of the night.

When she stepped back, a small, beautiful smile rested on her lips.

"Goodnight, Woo Jin," she whispered softly.

"Goodnight, Viora," I replied.

She slipped into her room and closed the door with a quiet click.

I walked to my own room at the end of the hall. I pushed the door open, stepped inside, and closed it behind me.

I walked over to the window and looked out into the darkness.

I reached into my pocket, pulled out the white-gold Kingdom Key, and placed it neatly on the wooden nightstand beside my bed. The crowned castle top gleamed faintly under the moonlight.

I took off my black long-sleeved shirt, tossed it into the laundry hamper, and climbed into bed.

The mattress was soft, warm, and comfortable. I laid my head back against the thick pillow, staring up at the dark ceiling while pulling the blanket over my chest.

My mind automatically started reviewing the events of the day.

The C-Rank Scenario Gate. The giant circular roulette wheel. The Gambler’s mental pressure games. The 100 Stamina points ripped directly from his body. The clear reward. And the upcoming Director Summit next Thursday when Aunt Elena and Raymond would leave the villa.

’Five days,’