CHAPTER 176: BACK AGAIN

For one heartbeat, the hall did not breathe. Then the whispers started to spread—first one, then two, and then it felt like a flood.

"Aiden?" Someone whispered in shock.

"Is that really him?! But how is that even possible?" one asked with widened eyes.

"He’s taller. Way taller!" A female hunter’s mouth was agape.

"Taller? I felt his shoulder had broadened. Look at the build." Her partner beside her added.

"Damn! What the hell happened?"

"Is it really him or someone is just wearing his clothes and mask?!"

It wasn’t just his height and wide shoulders that surprised everyone. Even the air surrounding him felt heavy. Many felt it too but they couldn’t quite put it in words.

Logan did not look left or right. He slowly marched toward the reception desk. His shadow slid over the polished wood.

The mana lights on the wall behind Elizabeth flickered once and steadied.

Elizabeth swallowed. "It... It’s really you." she couldn’t believe her eyes. How long has it been?! Just four months. But the changes felt like she was meeting him after years

"It’s me," Logan said with an awkward smile. He had no intention of startling everyone. But the changes were too drastic and his aura was totally new to this present era.

Up close, the difference was impossible to miss.

That increased height, minimum half a foot.

The lines of muscle sitting lean under the grey tunic.

The way he held himself....quiet, balanced, like everything inside him had clicked into place.

It wasn’t just the body. It was the presence.

Elizabeth blinked hard and found her voice. "Where had you been, Aiden? You vanished for four whole months. No message. No update. I almost thought you were gone for good."

"I didn’t think it would take this long," he said plainly. He had no intention of going into details.

"Is that so?" She didn’t pry further. It’s not like they were buddies or that close. Just comrades. "Do you want to meet with the guild master? He had been waiting for you"

Logan pondered for a while before asking. "Where is Gideon’s party? Are they on a mission?"

She nodded. "They took a dungeon in the mountain region. It’s a D-rank. They left... one and a half hours ago. Maybe two."

"Has there been any more anomalies in the dungeons recently?" Logan inquired further. He wanted to make sure that his party members were okay. Though he hadn’t spent a long time with them, they felt goodhearted and down-to-earth.

"Yes. There were many incidents. Your party didn’t face any of them though. At least after the one where Melissa was badly injured." Elizabeth explained the current situation.

It didn’t take long for Logan to decide.

"I think I’ll join my party first then. Please inform the Guildmaster that I will go meet with him after that."

"You’re heading out immediately?"

"Yes."

Elizabeth’s eyes narrowed. "Then take the fastest route if you really want to catch up to them. Main road, to the west, follow it until you reach a tri-junction. Take the leftmost route there. The trail climbs and bends into the mountain."

"Understood."

The whispers in the main hall were still blooming.

"The guild master had been waiting for him?! Why?" someone was flabbergasted.

"You still don’t know? The guild master has taken him as a disciple." His party leader explained.

Luckily Leonard and his party weren’t present at the moment. Or else, his blood would have boiled to the point of turning into vapor.

"Best of luck." Elizabeth raised her thumb.

"Thanks." With that Logan walked out of the guild under the watchful gaze of everyone.

The door creaked. Daylight spilled across the floor while he was stepping out.

Elizabeth kept watching the doorway for a long time even after it swung shut.

After a while, she tugged the bell rope for a runner. One hunter walked toward her.

"Message for Guildmaster," she said. "Aiden has returned. But he left immediately to join his party which went to a dungeon in the mountains. I’ll brief him when Aiden is back."

The hunter bowed with respect and headed toward Ali’s chamber.

Elizabeth pressed her palms to the counter, exhaled, and told herself to breathe.

Outside, Solvane moved like a living thing. Carts rolled. A baker shouted for warm bread. The blacksmith’s hammer rang in the distance, metal on metal, steady as a heartbeat. Logan walked across the courtyard and into the guild stables.

The stable boy jerked upright. "Aiden! You’re back!"

"My horse," Logan said.

"Yes! Right away." The boy ran to the last stall.

A black stallion tossed its head once and snorted softly into the cool morning air. Its ears pricked as Logan approached, and the restlessness faded as if it recognized the rider even before the touch.

It’s the one, Logan had bought after his 1st F-class dungeon raid.

Logan checked the girth. Tightened the strap. Palmed the bridle once. In one smooth rise, he was in the saddle. He guided the horse out with a knee and a low word.

Hooves first struck stone, then hit dirt.

The city gates faded behind him.

The road stretched to the west.

While he was riding on his horse, the wind pushed the cloak back from his shoulders, making it flutter in the air.

He rode at a sustained pace. Not reckless. But fast enough to close the distance as soon as possible. The world narrowed to breath and hoofbeat and the line of the road.

Soon a tri-junction arrived. Logan turned left and followed the leftmost route as Elizabeth had said. The path tightened and climbed. The mountain rose ahead in layered grey and white.

He did not slow down.

—————

At the same time inside a dungeon.

The environment was too silent. Thin frost lines covered the stone. Their breath came out as white mist and faded quickly.

Gideon’s party was advancing in a tight, sensible formation. Gideon was acting as the vanguard. Then Lilith was on his right, a little behind. Melissa and Ronald were in the middle, advancing and scanning the area at the same time. Jessi was guarding the rear. Luna was beside Melissa. Raphael was walking quietly with his eyes never still.