Silence swallowed the room. Every Monster Girl fixed her gaze on Nathan, yet not a single voice dared to rise.
Ruby, once nestled safely in Lilith’s embrace, suddenly wriggled free. With a small leap, her tiny feet touched the floor. Then, with unrestrained eagerness, she dashed toward Nathan.
"Papa... go home?" Her innocent voice pierced the stillness as she clung tightly to his leg. Her round eyes lifted to meet his, shimmering with unshaken hope. "Ruby... gow with papa?"
Nathan froze. His body stiffened, his breath caught. His eyes swept over the gathered Monster Girls, but all he found were bowed heads and silent, unyielding faces. None spoke. None dared.
"What... do you mean... go home?" His words left him in a trembling whisper.
At last, Lilith stepped forward. Her black wings shifted, a shadow of solemn majesty trailing behind her. When she spoke, her voice was low—steady, yet carrying the weight of revelation.
"You are the Commander now. The authority to pass through the Tower lies with you alone. Do not fear the disparity of energies. Your body has transcended its limits. You will endure."
Nathan stood motionless, her words spiraling in his mind. Home... to Earth? To the place it all began?
Ruby’s laughter suddenly rang out, bright and careless, cutting through the heaviness. She climbed Nathan’s leg with childish determination, wrapping her small arms around his neck as if she would never let go.
"Ruby go with papa... hehehe~"
Nathan’s lips parted, but no words came. His gaze was distant, vacant, as if the world itself had slipped beyond his reach.
"Home..." he murmured, the word fragile, as though he was still trying to believe it was real. The rightful source is NoveI-Fire.ɴet
Nathan remained frozen, the word home echoing relentlessly inside his head, crashing against every corner of his thoughts. Yet the harder he tried to find a reason... the more emptiness he uncovered.
What is there to return to? To whom? Back there, I was nothing but a failure... no one cared.
Confusion, relief, fear, even strangeness all tangled within him. Until at last, a faint smile surfaced on his lips. He pulled Ruby closer into his arms, his chin resting gently against her soft hair.
"This is home," he whispered, quiet yet firm. "Here... with all of you."
Ruby’s laughter bubbled out again, as if those words were the happiest truth in the world. "Hehehe~ Papa home!" she chirped, patting Nathan’s chest with her tiny hands.
But when Nathan lifted his gaze, he met Lilith’s piercing stare. Those black eyes cut into him, cold yet heavy with unspoken weight.
"Don’t be selfish," Lilith’s voice rolled deep, her black wings shifting just enough to cast a shadow over him. "You must let your mother know. Your friends. Have you forgotten... how your mother’s voice trembled with worry the last time she called?"
The words struck Nathan like a blow. His faint smile faltered, his heartbeat quickened. The image of his mother surfaced—hazy, yet painfully vivid. That warm smile that had always welcomed him, only to turn into anxious frowns the day he left.
His chest tightened. Without realizing it, his fingers clenched Ruby closer against him.
Nathan fell silent, his eyes drifting blankly to the wooden floor of the cabin. Only now did a realization strike him.
"...it’s only been two weeks," he muttered faintly.
The Monster Girls exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of what he meant.
Nathan bit his lip. Inside the Tower... it’s only been two weeks. But outside? Time flows differently. Out there, it could already be months... or longer.
The image of his mother resurfaced—those long nights of waiting, her face etched with worry, her voice once calling his name in desperate fear. His chest tightened painfully.
But... here, I’ve changed. Here, I’m no longer a loser. I think sharper, I act decisively...
His fists trembled at his sides.
Out there, I was nothing but a failure. Someone forgotten. Someone who never mattered...
Nathan lowered his head further, shadows veiling his expression.
Suddenly, Validia stepped forward. Her hand—cold yet firm—landed on his shoulder. Her eyes locked onto his, steady and unwavering, her voice calm but weighted with an undeniable force.
"Nathan," she said. "Family matters. You’re no longer a child who can run away from responsibility. Don’t pretend you’ve forgotten... you still have a family."
The words struck Nathan like a blade driven straight into his chest—more painful than any sword could ever pierce.
Validia’s words pressed heavier against Nathan’s chest. His head sank lower, and without realizing it, his thoughts began to drift away.
Back then... I dreamed of becoming a famous Hunter.
Visions of the past flickered through his mind—him, still naïve, imagining his name carved onto the ranking boards, respected, admired, celebrated.
But reality? The moment he truly stepped into the Tower, that dream shattered instantly. The memory burned fresh—the hundredth floor, his breath ragged, his body frozen stiff with fear.
A Steelback Boar rampaged before him. Its armored hide glinted, tusks sharp and merciless. And all he could do... was tremble. Confused. Helpless.
When all I had to do... was think. Just find a boulder, drop it on its head... done.
A growl escaped Nathan’s throat. "Even something that simple... and I was too stupid to see it."
His head hung low again, shame and bitterness gnawing at his core.
But then—he drew a long breath.
Here... I feel different. Even if it’s filled with schemes, even if I’m toyed with, even if the path itself is vile... I feel more alive.
His eyes lifted toward the cabin’s small window, catching the faint glow of the Tower pulsing beyond.
More alive than endlessly scrolling through social media every night. More alive than grinding myself half-dead for a wage too pitiful to make me feel worth anything.
Nathan’s fist clenched... then loosened, his expression split between a bitter smile and deep confusion.
"Papa... family is Ruby family! Yeaaaah...!" Ruby threw both her arms high into the air before looping them tightly around Nathan’s neck, giggling in pure delight.
Nathan remained silent. All he could do was hug Ruby back, pressing her small, warm body against his chest. The warmth trembled through him, shaking something deep inside. He didn’t know what to do—what to say.
Now isn’t the time to be weak, he thought, clenching his teeth. I’ve hated being a loser my whole life... so this time, I can’t let myself be one again.
He lifted his head, forcing a faint smile. "Papa... euuhmm..." His voice faltered, eyes darting toward Lilith as though begging for an answer.
"Don’t worry," Lilith replied curtly. With a graceful motion, she reached out, gently taking Ruby from his arms and pulling her into the cradle of her black wings.
"You will go home," she said, soft but firm. "And Ruby... this rabbit-eared granddaughter of mine must stay here."
Ruby’s face crumpled instantly, her long ears drooping low. "Huuuuh? Nooo... Ruby want Papa!"
Lilith’s lips curved into a thin smile as she patted Ruby’s head. "Papa will be back. With a gift. So Ruby has to wait patiently, alright?"
"Gift...?" Ruby’s eyes sparkled for a moment, only to dim again as her cheeks puffed in protest. "Hmph!"
Nathan exhaled heavily, a cold bead of sweat running down his temple. Go home... how will I even face it? Fear gnawed at him. Especially... when my mother will surely notice I’ve been trapped here... with a woman.
His gaze flicked toward Lilith, but she only tilted her chin toward Validia.
Validia stepped forward. In an instant, the horns upon her head shimmered faintly before fading away completely. Her sleek black hair fell naturally around her shoulders, her face smooth, refined—indistinguishable from that of a human woman.
"She can change. No one will suspect. And she will go with you," Lilith declared.
Validia inclined her head, calm and resolute. "I agree. If it ensures your safety, then I will go."
Domina and Livia exchanged uncertain glances, their silence heavy with doubt. Neither dared interrupt.
Then, a voice broke the air—low, harsh, tinged with jealousy.
Morvessa strode forward, her black wings trembling with agitation. Her sharp gaze burned with envy, stabbing directly at Nathan.
Nathan flinched in surprise, but Lilith turned swiftly, her tone cutting and cold as ice.
"Humans quarrel over skin color alone. Imagine the uproar over a body as different as yours. You are far too conspicuous. You would only bring trouble."
Morvessa scoffed, lifting her chin high. "Tch... humans are disgusting. But Brother is not." Her eyes flicked briefly toward Nathan—sharp, resentful, yet unwilling to let go.
Nathan remained silent, his mind in turmoil after Morvessa’s words. At last, he drew in a long, shaky breath, his voice hoarse.
"...How... do I go home?"
The cabin grew tense. Every Monster Girl turned toward Lilith, as though the answer could only come from her.
Lilith stepped forward slowly, her black wings shifting with a soft rustle. Her gaze was calm—yet it cut like a blade.
"Talk to the System," she said, her tone sharp and final.
Nathan froze. Talk... to the System?
His hand curled into a fist. For a brief moment, his eyes darted to Ruby—her innocent gaze still locked onto him, full of hope. Then he straightened, shoulders squared, chest heavy with resolve.
He drew in one last deep breath... and spoke. Quiet, but unwavering.