Meanwhile, inside her home, Qwini Nanmaniverb was finally enjoying a moment of peace.
After an exhausting day filled with government work and her son's school meeting, she lay comfortably on her bed while reading several reports that had been delivered earlier.
Knock.
Knock.
A gentle knock sounded from the door.
Qwini smiled slightly.
"Come in."
The door slowly opened.
A small boy peeked inside.
It was Cherid.
"Mom?"
Qwini looked at him.
"Yes, dear?"
Cherid nervously rubbed the back of his head.
"Can I open the fridge and eat some ice cream?"
"Please?"
Qwini immediately shook her head.
"No."
Cherid's shoulders instantly dropped.
"But why?"
"Because I didn't buy ice cream."
"And even if I did, too much ice cream isn't healthy."
Cherid pouted.
"Mom, you always say no."
Qwini raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"My friends eat ice cream all the time."
"Their mothers allow them."
Qwini folded her arms.
"So what?"
"Just because other parents allow something doesn't mean it's good."
"I care about your health."
"Too much sugar is bad for your body and your teeth."
Cherid looked defeated.
Then Qwini changed the topic.
"Did you finish your homework?"
Cherid immediately nodded.
"Yes!"
"I finished everything."
Qwini smiled proudly.
"Good."
"Then it's bedtime."
Cherid froze.
"What?"
"It's still early!"
Qwini pointed toward the door.
"Bed."
Cherid sighed dramatically.
Then another idea appeared in his mind.
"Mom..."
Qwini narrowed her eyes.
The tone of his voice already told her trouble was coming.
"What?"
"Can you unlock the tablet?"
"Please?"
"I'll only play for ten minutes."
"I finished my homework."
Qwini instantly refused.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because it's already late."
"It's time to sleep."
Cherid clasped his hands together.
"Please, Mom."
"Only ten minutes."
"Just ten."
Qwini stared at him.
His innocent face made her hesitate.
Finally, she sighed.
"Fine."
Cherid's eyes sparkled.
"But only ten minutes."
The boy nearly jumped with happiness.
"Thank you, Mom!"
After unlocking the tablet, Qwini watched him run toward his room before shaking her head helplessly.
Children truly had endless energy.
A few minutes later, Qwini picked up her communication device and made a call.
The screen lit up.
A rugged-looking man appeared.
This man was Cherid's father.
An unofficial adventurer who spent most of his time traveling.
The moment he appeared, he smiled.
"Hey."
Qwini smiled back.
"Are you doing well?"
"Of course."
The man scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"Sorry."
"I couldn't call earlier."
Qwini shook her head.
"It's fine."
"I know you're busy."
The man nodded gratefully.
Then he asked,
"What about Cherid?"
"How's my son?"
Qwini smiled.
"He's doing well."
The man relaxed.
"What is he doing right now?"
Qwini glanced toward Cherid's room.
"Playing games on the tablet."
The man laughed.
"Oh."
"So you finally allowed it."
Qwini rolled her eyes.
"Only ten minutes."
The man looked shocked.
"Ten minutes?"
"That's too little."
"He's only five years old."
"Give him another ten or twenty minutes."
Qwini immediately rejected the suggestion.
"Absolutely not."
The adventurer laughed nervously.
Qwini crossed her arms.
"Do you know how many children in this city are addicted to mobile games?"
"I refuse to let Cherid become one of them."
The man scratched his head.
"I think you're worrying too much."
"He's still a child."
"An extra ten minutes won't hurt."
Qwini sighed.
"You always say that."
"That's because you're the fun parent."
The man laughed.
Qwini eventually softened.
Then her expression became slightly sad.
"By the way..."
The adventurer noticed the change immediately.
"What happened?"
Qwini looked down.
"Cherid keeps asking about you."
The man fell silent.
"He asks where his father is."
"And honestly..."
"I don't always know what to tell him."
The adventurer's smile disappeared.
Guilt appeared in his eyes.
"I know."
"I'm sorry."
Qwini sighed.
"I understand why you're away."
"But please."
"Try to visit."
"Even for a few days."
The man nodded firmly.
"Don't worry."
"Just give me a little more time."
His eyes became serious.
"After I finish this job, I'm taking both of you away from that city."
Qwini blinked.
"You still want to do that?"
"Of course."
The adventurer snorted.
"I don't want my son growing up in a city where people follow every trend without thinking."
"I want him somewhere better."
"Just trust me."
Qwini smiled.
"Okay."
Suddenly she glanced at a clock.
"Oh."
"The ten minutes are over."
The adventurer laughed.
"Poor Cherid."
Qwini stood up.
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight, dear."
The call ended.
A few moments later, Qwini entered Cherid's room.
The boy was still playing.
Completely focused.
"Cherid."
The boy ignored her.
"Cherid."
Still nothing.
Finally, Qwini walked over and grabbed the tablet.
Cherid immediately looked up.
"Mom!"
"Five more minutes!"
"Please!"
Qwini shook her head.
"No."
"Your time is over."
"But—"
"No."
Her voice became firm.
"You agreed to ten minutes."
"Now go to sleep."
Cherid stared at her.
Then he sighed dramatically.
"...Okay."
Qwini smiled.
"Good boy."
---
Meanwhile...
At Nightglass Covenant.
The sun was slowly setting.
Black ViSage stood in front of a group of nervous adventurers.
The rescue team he had agreed to help stood around him while carrying ropes, lanterns, and emergency supplies.
Black ViSage looked at them calmly.
"Be ready."
"We leave in two hours."
The adventurers nodded.
"Yes, sir."
---
Far away...
Inside the ruined hospital.
Darkness covered the ancient building.
Broken walls.
Collapsed ceilings.
Rotting corridors.
The entire place felt cursed.
Inside one room sat an incredibly beautiful woman dressed as a nurse.
Her name was Neisa Jeremy.
Blood stained her lips.
A human hand rested in her grasp.
She casually took another bite.
Crunch.
Neisa smiled.
"My."
"This is delicious."
"I love human flesh."
Nearby, several trapped adventurers trembled in fear.
Tears filled their eyes.
"Please..."
"We entered by mistake."
"We don't want trouble."
"Please forgive us."
Neisa laughed.
Her laughter echoed through the room.
"Forgive you?"
"Why would I do that?"
She stood up.
"Besides."
"My eating time is finished."
The adventurers looked hopeful.
Then Neisa smiled.
"Now it's entertainment time."
The hope instantly vanished.
Neisa pointed at them.
"Dance."
The adventurers suddenly stood up.
"What?"
"No!"
Their bodies moved against their will.
They began dancing.
One adventurer cried.
Another screamed.
Yet none of them could stop.
Neisa laughed happily.
"Confused?"
"Wondering why you can't control yourselves?"
She slowly walked around them.
"It's simple."
"In hospitals, patients listen to doctors and nurses."
"They obey."
"They trust."
"They submit."
Neisa spread her arms.
"This hospital is my domain."
"Inside this place, I am the nurse."
"And all of you..."
Her smile widened.
"...are my patients."
The trapped adventurers felt despair.
One of them secretly analyzed the situation.
Her power must be connected to the hospital itself.
As long as they remained here, they were completely under her control.
Neisa sat back down.
"Don't worry."
"I'm too full to eat you right now."
The adventurers almost cried from relief.
Then Neisa added,
"But after an hour..."
Her eyes gleamed.
"...I'll be hungry again."
The adventurers turned pale.
Neisa pointed at them.
"So keep dancing."
"Entertain me until then."
---
Outside the ruined hospital...
Black ViSage and the rescue team were already approaching.
The old building could be seen in the distance.
Broken walls rose from beneath mountains of stone and debris.
The place looked more like a tomb than a hospital.
One adventurer named Riph Coutrois nervously looked at Black ViSage.
"Mr. Black ViSage."
"Can I ask something?"
Black ViSage nodded.
"What is it?"
Riph pointed toward the ruins.
"Why do you always warn people not to explore ancient ruins?"
Black ViSage remained silent for a moment.
Then he spoke.
"Because ruins are dangerous."
Riph nodded.
"But monsters are dangerous too."
Black ViSage looked at the ruined hospital.
His voice became colder.
"Monsters are predictable."
"Ancient ruins are not."
The adventurers became silent.
Black ViSage continued.
"Many people believe ruins only contain treasure."
"That's foolish."
"Sometimes they contain things that should never be awakened."
The group listened carefully.
Black ViSage tightened the rope around his shoulder.
"In ancient ruins, there is always a possibility that a Sage, a Mage, or something even worse is still alive."
"Sleeping."
"Waiting."
His words sent chills down their spines.
"And when foolish adventurers disturb them..."
Black ViSage looked directly at the ruined hospital.
"...the lucky ones die first."