"Are you turning down our request?" Erika asked.

Agares nodded. He had his reasons for not wanting to help them. The matter in Berdiver City had nothing to do with him. Whatever happened to that city wasn't his problem.

He had no intention of risking his life to save it. Let the Kingdom of Caer Vireth handle their own mess.

He was also worried that if he got too involved, people might start suspecting his identity, even with the disguise earring he wore.

Agares walked past them and headed for Milenia's front gate. The two guards let him in, finding his face oddly familiar.

Even after he entered the house, Erika and her party were still trying to convince Rey and Milenia to help them.

"Miss Milenia… please, we need your help!" Erika pleaded firmly.

Agares entered the house and walked upstairs. There, he saw Milenia in her room, standing by the window, her eyes focused on Erika's party outside.

"What's going on?" Agares asked.

"Do you know them?" Milenia asked without turning away from the window.

"Erika and her party. They're Leon's friends," Agares replied.

"Leon? Cassandra?" Milenia asked. Agares cleared his throat and nodded.

"Yes."

He walked closer to the window while Aoi jumped off his shoulder and landed softly on the bed beside Aizen, who was fast asleep.

Aoi adored Aizen as if he were her own little brother, even though they were from different races.

Agares opened the curtain and looked out the window, now standing right beside Milenia.

"What do they want?" she asked.

"Berdiver City has been taken over by monsters. They want us to help take it back."

"I have nothing to do with Berdiver. Why should I risk my life for them?"

"I feel the same way."

"So… what should we do about them?" Milenia asked.

Agares didn't respond. He let out a quiet sigh, then closed the curtain again and walked toward the bed where Aizen and Aoi were.

"Let them be. I have no more business with House Thorn," Agares said.

He still clearly remembered the time Natalya Thorn—Leon and Erika's mother—tried to set him up, hurt him, and expose him to the kingdom.

That betrayal forced Agares into hiding, struggling to survive in the dungeon. The Thorn family were the city's protectors. If Berdiver had fallen, then the Thorn nobility was no more.

That would mean Erika was no longer a noble, just an ordinary citizen like him.

Milenia smiled brightly at his words. She hadn't expected that kind of answer from him.

"All right. I'll have the guards remove them," she said.

Right after giving the order, the guards forced Erika's party to leave Milenia's estate. Erika had no choice but to obey. To resist meant declaring herself Milenia's enemy.

Agares felt relieved.

Milenia walked back to the bed and lay down beside Aizen, who was still sound asleep.

She explained that Aizen was in perfect health now—there was nothing Agares needed to worry about.

The city's female healer had explained what foods and drinks were good or bad for breastfeeding mothers.

Milenia listened carefully and immediately bought what she needed to keep Aizen healthy. With all those supplies, she felt confident that Aizen would grow up strong and well.

Agares could see it too—not just in Milenia, but in Aizen. Both of them were healthy and doing well, just as he hoped.

If things continued this way, they'd be able to return to the dungeon soon—maybe in two or three days once they were done with everything in the city.

That day, Milenia and Agares rested after finishing their tasks. They all slept together in Milenia's bed—Aizen and Aoi included.

***

Five days later.

Midgard City.

As planned, Agares and Aoi had gathered the gear they needed. After spending two months in the city, Agares had decided it was time to return to the dungeon.

His goal was simple: to conquer floors 91 to 100 in the near future.

He understood the risks—being away from his family for months. But it was a risk he had to take.

He knew how difficult things were past floor 80. The difference in time alone was already a huge deal.

Milenia saw him off at the front door of their home. She wore a lovely dress and held Aizen gently in her arms.

She wasn't the only one. Several maids and guards were also there to see Agares off. As the city's ruler, his departure was important to them too.

"Stay safe, Agares," Milenia said.

He nodded, leaned in to kiss her lips gently, then placed a soft kiss on Aizen's forehead.

It was hard to admit, but he didn't want to leave them.

'I still want to stay with them—to watch Aizen grow, to be by Milenia's side.'

But he knew that if he didn't go back into the dungeon, he wouldn't get any stronger.

And if he didn't grow stronger, he wouldn't be able to protect Milenia, Aizen, or anyone else in the city.

"I'll be back soon. I promise!"

"It's okay. Just come back safe. That's what matters."

Agares paused, then smiled and nodded at her words. If that's what she wanted, then he would do everything to keep his promise.

To return to Midgard City safe and unharmed.

He summoned his black wings behind his back. With a powerful flap, he took off into the sky. Aoi flew by his side as they sped away toward the light stone.

Nan glanced up, smiling as he saw Agares and Aoi flying toward him. As the immigration officer, Nan understood what that meant.

Agares landed smoothly in front of the light stone, greeted by Nan's warm smile.

"So, you're leaving now?" Nan asked.

He nodded. Nan accepted the token Agares gave her and activated it. Her destination was not the 91st floor, but the 80th floor.

It was natural, the teleport token couldn't reach the area after the 80th floor, somehow the dungeon had no authority there.

That left Agares to arrive at the 80th floor and fly from the 81st floor to the 91st floor. Luckily, he had mastered the ability to manipulate gravity.

"All right then. Good luck, Sir Agares!"

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