It was late that evening.

  Harlyn and her mother had been home for a long time.

  Harlyn was reading quietly in her room while her mother washed dishes outside. Dinner was long finished.

  Only Hale’s meal remained untouched on the table.

  He still hadn’t come home.

  He had never been this late before.

  Click—

  A familiar voice sounded at the door.

  “I’m home…”

  Meryl continued washing the dishes without turning around.

  “You’re home late today. Sit down and eat quickly before it gets cold.”

  Harlyn’s ears perked up. She jumped to her feet and rushed out of her room.

  “Dad!”

  As always, Hale returned covered in injuries.

  But this time… something felt wrong.

  His expression was gloomy, distant. The injuries were more severe, bleeding profusely.

  Harlyn ran to him anyway, arms outstretched. Hale lifted her up, forcing a smile, as though his thoughts were somewhere else entirely.

  Knowing that her father is tired, hurt.

  When he set her down, she gently took his hand and led him to the dining table.

  She placed her palm against his stomach and closed her eyes.

  Slowly, faint green threads emerged, wrapping around his wounds.

  They faded.

  Healed.

  Harlyn opened her eyes, held her father’s hand, and pressed it against her cheek.

  “Dad, eat quickly. The food’s still warm!”

  Hale stroked her head.

  “Thank you, Harlyn.”

  Only then did she run back to her room to continue reading.

  Hale slumped into his chair.

  He scooped food into his spoon—but didn’t eat. He simply stared at it.

  Meryl noticed.

  She stopped washing the dishes, dried her hands, and turned toward him.

  “Was today’s work difficult?”

  Hale hesitated.

  If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

  “The goblin cave…”

  Meryl immediately gets furious.

  She slammed her hand onto the table.

  “I thought we already talked about this! You promised you wouldn’t touch that cave again!”

  Her voice shook.

  “You know goblins hold grudges!”

  Hale stood abruptly.

  “There were people in there, Meryl. Lives!”

  “More than a dozen young girls—kidnapped, tortured for so long they’ve forgotten who they even are!”

  Silence fell.

  “You used to value human lives too,” Hale said quietly. “You almost died saving me back then.”

  Meryl clenched her fists.

  “It took us so long to earn this peaceful life,” she said, tears spilling over. “So long to have Harlyn.”

  Her voice broke.

  “Finally… I can rest.”

  She looked up, meeting Hale’s reddened eyes.

  “Why don’t you find another job? I know you love being an adventurer—I do too!”

  “But it’s a small sacrifice.”

  Her voice caught for a moment.

  “I just want us to be happy. Safe.”

  Meryl’s tears fell silently.

  Hale’s hand reached out by reflex.

  Before his fingers could touch her, she turned away—rejecting.

  His hand lingered in the air—then slowly curled into a fist.

  After a long silence—

  He lowered his head.

  “I’m sorry,” he said hoarsely. “I was childish.”

  Meryl returned her sight, still resentful.

  Hale continue—

  “From tomorrow on, I won’t be an adventurer anymore. I promise.”

  “I’ll… start looking for another job.”

  Harlyn stood just in front of her door.

  She had heard everything.

  And yet, something still didn’t make sense.

  If it was just a mission, why did Dad look so different?

  Why was Mom so upset?

  Was it because of the wounds?

  Goblins…

  She stepped outside.

  “Dad… did something go wrong today?”

  “Why are you so sad?”

  Both parent looked at her.

  Meryl froze.

  She realized—this was the right question.

  She turned to Hale, her expression full of quiet pity.

  Hale sat heavily, lifted his wine, and took a slow sip.

  “I let the goblin king escape.”

  “…What?” Meryl said, worried.

  Hale continued.

  “To destroy a goblin lair, the king must be killed,” Hale said, slamming his hand on the table.

  “I was closest. I’m the only one who could have stopped it!”

  “But I couldn’t...”

  Harlyn rushed forward and hugged him tightly.

  “I don’t care!”

  She buried her face against his chest.

  “Dad, you’re the strongest person I know!”

  Meryl stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him as well.

  “It’s enough,” she said softly.

  “You came back alive.”