The cavern felt different now.
Empty.
Quiet.
Almost sacred.
Ren stood in the dim glow of his own mana, staring at the fragile skeleton—the last remains of a man who had lived, suffered, and died alone two hundred years ago. A man like him. A soul from another world.
He swallowed.
"…You carried your burden until the end," he whispered.
Ren had no idea why his chest felt tight.
Was it sympathy?
Recognition?
A strange kinship?
He didn't know.But he bowed his head in respect.
He raised his hand slowly.His mana responded instantly, swirling around his fingers in gentle red sparks. He didn't summon a fireball or a spell—just warmth. Controlled warmth. Like a candle flame guided by will.
The moment he released it, the fire drifted downward like a falling ember.
It touched bone.
FWOOOSH—
A soft, warm flame spread across the skeleton. Not violent. Not consuming. Almost… peaceful. Like the fire was lifting something invisible, releasing something trapped in silence too long.
Ash began to scatter.
Ren exhaled softly.
"…Rest well, predecessor."
But the silence didn't last.
CRk… CRKKK…
A sharp crack echoed through the cavern.
Ren stiffened.
The walls were splitting.
More cracks appeared—like veins of doom spreading across stone.
"…No, no—"
RUMBLE!!
The entire chamber trembled, shaking violently. Dust poured down from the ceiling. Stones shifted. Large chunks loosened above.
The ancient foundation was collapsing.
"Lyra!"
Ren sprinted toward her.
She lay on a stone slab, the bandages around her ankle still fresh, her expression peaceful… and completely unconscious.
He reached her just as a boulder crashed behind him.
Without hesitating, Ren lifted her into his arms, cradling her protectively against his chest.
Her hair brushed his chin.Her warmth pressed against him.Her breath was soft, steady—but unaware of the danger closing in.
"Hang in there," he whispered. "I've got you."
He gathered wind mana—fast and sharp—and pushed forward.
The cavern shook harder.
Debris rained from above.
Every footstep echoed with urgency:
RUN. RUN. RUN.
"Wind—assist!"
A burst of air cushioned his movements, helping him dodge falling rocks. He jumped over a collapsing ledge. Twisted midair to avoid debris. Shielded Lyra with his own body as dust clouds exploded around them.
His lungs burned.
His arms ached.
But he didn't slow.
He wouldn't.
Not with her life in his arms.
The entrance was only meters away—
CRAAAASH!!
The ceiling began to collapse, huge boulders breaking free.
Ren didn't think.
He threw himself forward with everything he had—
BOOOOM!!
The cavern mouth caved in behind them at the exact moment he burst through, rolling across the snow with Lyra shielded tightly in his grasp.
The ground outside was cold.The air was fresh.And they were alive.
Ren lay panting on his back, Lyra curled on his chest.
"…That was close," he exhaled.
He lifted his head, staring at the collapsed entrance.
Just like the golem.Just like the reincarnator.That entire place… was truly gone now.
He looked down at Lyra.
Her eyelashes fluttered softly.Her face was relaxed, unaware of the chaos she had escaped.
Ren brushed her hair gently aside.
"You really gave me a scare," he murmured.
She didn't answer.
But she leaned slightly closer, unconsciously seeking warmth. Her fingers curled lightly around his shirt.
Ren felt his heartbeat skip.
"…Let's get you out of this cold."
Only then did he notice something surprising:
A narrow ledge extended along the mountainside—half-hidden behind dead vines and sheets of old ice. A trail overlooked for who knows how long.
A trail leading downward.
Almost as if someone… or something… made sure he'd find a way out.
Ren inhaled deeply.
"…Thanks," he muttered quietly to the collapsed cavern. "For everything."
He shifted Lyra upright, letting her arm rest around his shoulders while he slid his arm around her waist, supporting her fully. Her injured ankle couldn't bear weight.
Her head rested weakly against him, her breath warm on his neck.
He felt her shiver faintly.
"Don't worry," he said softly. "I'll carry you as long as needed."
The wind picked up—cold and sharp from the lingering storm.
Snow swirled gently around them as Ren began the slow descent.
Each step crunched softly on frost-covered stone.
The sky above was a muted gray, heavy clouds winding between mountain peaks. The remnants of the ice storm lingered, but the worst had passed.
Ren kept one hand steady on the rock wall.His other arm held Lyra securely.
The path twisted and narrowed, sometimes only wide enough for one foot at a time. Ren took it slowly, carefully, never allowing Lyra to slip.
When a gust of wind tried to throw them off balance, Ren pressed her closer, planting his feet firmly.
At times, she murmured faintly in her sleep, her brows knitting in pain.Ren stopped instantly every time, adjusting her carefully, whispering—
"It's okay. You're safe."
After several minutes, the path widened.
The snow thinned.
And beyond the slope—A faint trail leading to the foot of the mountain.From there, the village would only be a short distance away.
Ren exhaled in relief.
"Almost home," he said with a tired smile.
Lyra didn't respond, but her hand tightened around his sleeve slightly—like she heard him, even in unconsciousness.
Ren adjusted his grip one final time.
Then, with the girl he was determined to protect held close to him—
He began the final descent toward home.
Ren adjusted his grip as he descended the narrow trail carved along the mountain's slope, Lyra resting securely in his arms. The afternoon sun filtered through the trees, painting the path in soft patches of gold. The wind was cool, peaceful—nothing like the suffocating stillness of the cavern they had barely escaped.
Lyra stirred.
Her eyelashes fluttered first, then her breathing shifted. A faint groan escaped her lips as her eyes slowly opened.
And she froze.
Her face turned crimson instantly.
"W–Wait… Ren?" she whispered, blinking rapidly before her gaze darted down—straight to the fact she was being carried in a full princess hold.
Ren felt her body tense in his arms and sighed.
"So you're awake," he said quietly. "Good. But don't move too much. Your ankle hasn't healed yet."
Lyra's blush deepened so much Ren thought she might burn up.
"U-Um… I… I can walk! You can put me down—"
"No," Ren said firmly—too firmly, he realized. He looked away, scratching his cheek with embarrassment. "I mean… you shouldn't. Your leg needs rest. And… this is the best position to carry you without causing more strain."
He said it as calmly as he could, but his ears were burning.Why does it have to be this position? Of all things…
Lyra felt his embarrassment even without him saying anything.And for some reason, that made her heart beat faster.
She swallowed, voice shrinking to a soft murmur.
"…Then… if it's better like this… I'll… stay like this a little longer."
Her fingers lightly curled into his shirt—not tightly enough to be noticed unless one paid attention, but Ren felt it.
Ren cleared his throat.
"Good. That's… good."
A painfully awkward silence followed.
Well, for Ren it was awkward.
For Lyra… it was warm.
Her head slowly leaned against his chest, her breath steadying as she relaxed for the first time since she had fallen unconscious. His heartbeat was there, firm, steady, strangely calming.
"Lyra," Ren said, as if remembering something, "the quest is completed."
She looked up a little, blinking.
"You got the Earth Golem Core?"
"Yeah," Ren nodded. "An E-rank top-grade core. It's safe in my inventory now."
He didn't mention the second one—the D-rank top-grade core the ancient golem left behind.He didn't plan to. Not until he understood exactly what it meant… and how dangerous it might be to reveal.
Lyra let out a breath of relief and smiled softly.
"That's… amazing. I knew you could do it."
Her trust in him came so naturally that Ren didn't know how to respond. So he simply turned his gaze back to the trail, tightening his grip around her just a little so she wouldn't slip.
As they descended, Lyra noticed something.
"Ren… you're trembling a little."
"I'm not," he said instantly.
She stared at him.He looked away.
"…It's just… carrying someone like this is a bit embarrassing," he muttered.
Lyra's cheeks heated again, but she also smiled—gently, warmly, in a way Ren didn't expect.
"…Thank you," she whispered. "For carrying me… and for saving me."
Ren stopped mid-step.
Her voice was so soft he almost thought he imagined it.But when he looked down, Lyra's eyes were sincere—quiet but shining.
He didn't know what to say, so he simply nodded and kept walking.
They continued down the mountain path, the village now visible in the distance, smoke rising from chimneys and the faint sound of people going about their day.
Lyra's arms subtly wrapped around his neck—not tightly, not in a way that demanded anything… but simply because she didn't want to let go yet.
Ren pretended not to notice.
But inside, his chest felt unexpectedly light.
Almost… warm.