Roman woke up early the next morning after a deep and restful sleep.
For a moment he simply stared at the ceiling of his room, letting the quiet morning settle around him. The previous night’s thoughts still lingered faintly in his mind, but he pushed them aside.
He slowly rose from his bed and stretched his arms.
“Another day,” he muttered quietly.
Roman headed toward the bath house.
The cold water running over his body washed away the lingering fatigue from yesterday. After finishing his bath, he dressed in his usual attire and stepped out of his room.
As he walked down the corridor, he saw Maid Lyra preparing the morning arrangements.
“Good morning, young master,” Lyra greeted politely with a bow.
Roman nodded.
“Good morning, Lyra. Has father and big sister arrived for breakfast?”
“Yes, young master,” Lyra replied. “They are already waiting in the dining hall.”
“Alright,” Roman said calmly.
He then walked toward the dining hall.
Breakfast Tension
A moment ter, Roman entered the rge dining hall.
The long table was already prepared with a full breakfast.
Jacob Crowell sat at the head of the table discussing something quietly with Head Butler Adam.
Across the table sat Selena.
She wasn’t eating.
She was simply staring at Roman.
Her gaze was sharp.
Cold.
Roman pretended not to notice it.
He walked forward calmly.
“Good morning, father. Good morning, big sister.”
Jacob looked up and nodded.
“Good morning, Roman.”
Selena said nothing.
She simply continued staring at him before slowly looking away.
The maids began serving breakfast.
The three of them started eating in silence.
After a few moments, Roman spoke.
“The preparations for the second dungeon breakout are going well in our region of Great Presia.”
Jacob listened carefully.
Roman continued.
“But there are still many things left unfinished in Ephor. The defenses there are still weaker compared to Presia.”
He paused briefly.
“So I would like to ask for your permission to move to the Ephor pace for some time.”
Jacob stopped eating.
Roman calmly continued.
“I want to personally oversee the preparations there. Time is limited, and we cannot afford mistakes.”
Before Jacob could answer
Selena suddenly smmed her hand on the table.
“Enough, Roman!”
Her voice echoed through the hall.
Both Jacob and Adam turned toward her.
Selena stood up.
Her eyes were burning.
“So that’s your pn?” she said sharply. “You want to leave this estate and stay alone in Ephor now?”
Roman frowned slightly.
“It’s not like that—”
“Don’t lie!”
Selena shouted.
Her voice trembled slightly.
“Are you doing this because of yesterday?”
For a moment her eyes glistened faintly, but she quickly held herself back.
Roman sighed quietly.
“It’s not about that. I’m simply doing what needs to be done.”
He looked at her seriously.
“We saw what happened during the first dungeon breakout. Thousands died because we were unprepared.”
Selena clenched her fists.
“Don’t make excuses,” she said coldly.
“You’re not going anywhere.”
Roman’s patience began to wear thin.
He had already pnned this decision long ago after seeing the conditions of Ephor.
Finally he spoke firmly.
“Big sister… remember something.”
His voice grew serious.
“I am the Warherald. The chosen warrior of Goddess Aria.”
Selena froze.
Roman continued.
“It is my duty to protect humanity.”
The dining hall fell silent.
After a few seconds
Jacob spoke.
“You may go.”
Selena turned to him in shock.
“Father!”
Jacob calmly wiped his mouth with a cloth.
“I will give you full authority over Ephor and its nobles.”
He looked at Roman.
“But who will accompany you?”
Roman replied immediately.
“I will take Knight Captain Allen and Mage Jeremiah with me.”
He paused.
“And I will also need a butler like Adam.”
Jacob nodded.
“Very well.”
He looked toward Adam.
“Adam, send your eldest son Isaac. He is well trained and capable.”
Roman nodded.
“That will be sufficient.”
Selena suddenly stood up again.
“But father—!”
She tried to speak again.
“He can manage Ephor from here too! Why must he leave?”
Inside her mind, worry surged.
Warherald…
Chosen by the goddess…
Which means he will always walk into danger.
And now he wants to leave the estate too…
She bit her lip.
But Jacob’s voice cut her thoughts.
“That is enough, Selena.”
His tone was firm.
“This matter is closed.”
Selena froze.
She slowly turned away.
Without saying another word, she left the dining hall.
The door shut behind her.
Jacob looked back at Roman.
“So when will you leave?”
“This afternoon,” Roman replied.
Jacob nodded.
“I will inform Allen and Jeremiah.”
The two of them finished breakfast quietly.
Afterward Jacob left for his office.
Roman changed into training clothes and headed toward the training grounds.
As Roman entered the training area
A powerful red aura exploded in the distance.
BOOM!
Practice dummies shattered one after another.
Roman froze.
Selena stood in the center of the training grounds.
Her sword moved like lightning.
Each strike destroyed a dummy instantly.
Her movements were sharp.
Precise.
Violent.
Roman gulped.
“…Today is not a good day to train.”
He slowly turned around.
“I should leave before she sees me…”
He began walking away quietly.
Suddenly—
A sharp killing intent shot toward him.
Roman instantly dodged.
CLANG!
A sword embedded itself into the wall beside him.
A voice echoed.
“Hey, Warherald.”
Roman sighed.
Selena stood behind him with burning eyes.
“Come here and duel with me.”
“With real swords.”
Roman immediately replied.
“I just remembered I have some work pending—”
A rock flew straight toward his head.
He caught it.
“Big sister…”
Roman forced a smile.
“I know I shouted yesterday but please spare me.”
Selena pointed her sword at him.
“Are you coming here or not?”
Roman nodded slowly.
“…Yes.”
He walked toward the training grounds and grabbed a sword.
Meanwhile the knights nearby gathered excitedly.
A duel between the Crowell siblings was rare.
Head Knight Captain Zion stood beside Allen.
“Well well,” Zion said with a grin.
“Long time no see.”
Allen nodded.
“Yes, Head Captain.”
“I heard you’re going with young master to Ephor,” Zion said.
“Are you refusing?”
Allen shook his head.
“No.”
“I actually hoped he would choose me.”
Zion raised an eyebrow.
“Oh?”
Allen smiled faintly.
“At first I hated him… I thought he was just a zy noble.”
“But everything he did in the past three months changed my mind.”
He continued.
“How he exposed Noah Rockson.”
“How he brought justice.”
“And how that bastard was publicly hanged.”
Allen looked at Roman.
“I want to serve someone like that.”
Zion ughed.
“But you know he stepped down as deputy duke.”
Allen replied without hesitation.
“Even if he isn’t duke, I will still follow him.”
Zion smiled.
“Good.”
He crossed his arms.
“Now let’s enjoy this fight.”
Selena stepped forward.
Her red aura surged violently.
Roman sighed.
“Big sister… please go easy on me.”
“Shut up.”
Selena attacked instantly.
Her sword descended like a bzing comet.
Roman barely blocked.
CLANG!
The impact shook his arms.
“Whoa—!”
She didn’t stop.
Strike after strike rained down like a storm.
Her movements were fierce and relentless.
Roman retreated step by step.
The watching knights gasped.
“Lady Selena is serious!”
“Poor young master…”
Selena spun and unched a powerful ssh.
Roman barely dodged.
The ground cracked.
Roman sighed again.
“…Alright.”
His golden-bck aura slowly appeared.
The air shifted.
Selena narrowed her eyes.
“Finally.”
Roman raised his sword.
“Now it’s my turn.”
Their swords cshed again.
CLANG!
This time the force was equal.
Roman began moving faster.
Selena attacked with overwhelming power.
Roman countered with precise technique.
Their bdes fshed repeatedly.
Shockwaves spread across the training ground.
The duel intensified.
After several minutes
Selena unched one final powerful strike.
Roman stepped aside.
He twisted his sword.
CLANG!
Selena’s sword flew from her hand.
Roman’s bde stopped just before her neck.
Silence fell.
Roman lowered the sword.
“I win.”
Selena stared at him quietly.
Then she turned away.
“…You’re still annoying.”
The knights erupted in cheers.
Zion ughed loudly.
“That was a good fight!”
Allen smiled proudly.
Roman scratched his head.
“…I think I’m going to regret this ter.”
And Selena’s gre confirmed it.
The Crowell siblings’ battle had only just begun.
