The moment we returned to our own consciousness, the oppressive cold in the dungeon vanished. Elian slept peacefully in his bed, a small smile was held on his lips. Duke Valerius, who had been pacing anxiously on the main floor, rushed down the stairs, his face etched with worry. Original content can be found at novel★fire.net
"Is he alright?" the Duke whispered,then his eyes fixed on his sleeping son.
’He is in peace now,’ I projected, a wave of exhaustion washing over my core. ’The nightmare has been banished.’
A look of pure relief washed over the Duke’s face, so powerful it seemed to physically taken away the weariness from his shoulders. He bend to his knees beside his son’s bed, tears streaming down his face.
"Thank you," he choked out, his voice thick with emotion. "Thank you, Dungeon Core. You have saved his life. You have given my son back to me."
He remained there for a long moment, simply watching his child sleep soundly for the first time in over a year. The silence in the room was broken only by Elian’s soft, even breathing.
Eventually, the Duke rose, his expression now a mixture of gratitude and a newfound strength. He turned to me, his eyes filled with a deep respect.
"You said I will owe you a price," he said, his voice firm. "Name it. Whatever you ask, it is yours."
I considered his offer. I can ask for a fortune. Gold would be very useful and More DP would always be welcome. But something else felt more important.
’Your gratitude is reward enough,’ I projected, which was mostly true. ’However...’
I paused, gathering my thoughts.
’Your son was afflicted by a creature of darkness. An ancient, powerful entity. If such a thing can take root in a noble household, it could happen again. My Sanctuary is a place of healing, but it is also vulnerable. I would ask for your protection. A formal decree recognizing The Comfy Corner as a place of neutral sanctuary, under the direct protection of House Valerius. A decree that would deter any other such darkness from seeking refuge here.’
The Duke was quiet for a moment, thinking hard. Then he looked up and gave a single, firm nod.
"It shall be done," he declared. "I will draft the decree myself. Any who would harm this place, or you, will face the full might of House Valerius. You have my promise."
He then gestured to one of his guards, who come with a heavy pouch with gold coins. "And this," the Duke said, offering the pouch to the area where he sensed my core, "is a token of our immediate gratitude. Please accept it."
’Ooh, shiny!’ FaeLina couldn’t help but chime in.
I accepted the gold, a pleasant warmth spreading through my core as the system registered the influx of resources.
Duke Valerius spent the rest of the morning quietly watching his son sleep. Before he left, he approached me one last time, a small, intricately carved wooden toy clutched in his hand.
"My son made this, many years ago, before the nightmares took hold of him," he said, placing it gently near my core. "It is a small thing, but it is precious to me. A reminder of the joy that has been returned to our house. Please, keep it as a reminder of the good you have done here."
With a final, grateful bow, Duke Valerius departed, his guards followed after him. The heavy feeling that had settled over the dungeon lifted as they left, replaced by a renewed sense of peace and a surprising amount of shiny gold.
The "Private Wellness Retreat" was officially over.
FaeLina was practically bouncing with excitement. ’A Royal Duke protecting us! A fortune in golds! And you got a little wooden toy! This was a huge success, Mochi! We should put that toy on display! It’ll be great for the ambiance!’
’Let’s put it somewhere safe,’ I projected, already feeling the familiar pull of exhaustion. The fight with the Nightmare Parasite had taken a significant toll on my energy.
As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the now-empty lobby, I made a new sign and placed it beside the old one. It read:
THE COMFY CORNER IS NOW OPEN FOR BUSINESS! COME REST, RELAX, AND ENJOY A CUP OF OUR FAMOUS TEA!
Life was returning to normal. But things were different now. We had faced a true darkness and emerged victorious. We had the protection of a powerful noble house. And I had a small, hand-carved wooden toy, a quiet reminder of the boy who was finally sleeping soundly.
The Comfy Corner was still a sanctuary. But it felt a little more resilient now and a little more... capable.