Chapter 37: Disbelief

When Luke returned home, the first thing he did was dismantle the fence. He did not want anyone accidentally walking into it later, so he spent several minutes removing it from around the entire house.

Before starting the work, he had already consumed the healing potions. The wounds across his body had sealed completely, and the stiffness in his muscles had faded away.

’The effect is impressive,’ Luke muttered as he pulled the wooden stakes out of the ground and carefully wound the steel wires around them.

As he worked, he asked the system, ’What are my stats now?’

[Stats:

Str: 13 → 15

Spd: 11 → 12

Def: 8 → 13

Int: 11 → 12

Gamma: 12 → 50]

[Attribute Points: 5]

[Gamma: 530]

Luke paused, surprised by the sudden improvement across every stat.

After a moment, he asked, ’Even fighting those beasts didn’t increase my stats this much.’

[That is the difference between battling enemies weaker than yourself and facing an opponent who challenges every aspect of your abilities. Your endurance and intelligence were both pushed to their limits, which accelerated your growth. Well done, host.]

Luke allowed himself a small smile before shaking his head and continuing his work.

He was quite satisfied with the outcome of that fight. Sure, he had to use the pepper spray worth 20G, but it had been worth every coin.

After all, when you are fighting a battle you are meant to lose, a few cheap tricks are more than acceptable.

Once he finished wrapping the traps and storing them in his Inventory, Luke finally stepped inside the house.

It was still early morning, so the place was silent. However, he noticed someone seated on a chair in the living room.

Her brows were slightly furrowed, her back resting against the chair, eyes closed.

Luke’s heart softened at the sight.

It seemed she had not gone to bed at all. She had stayed up… waiting for him.

He did not want to wake her. But seeing her like this, he could not stop himself from walking closer.

He knelt before her and gently took her hand in his.

The warmth and movement stirred her awake. Her eyelids trembled before slowly opening.

The first face she saw left her momentarily stunned.

She slowly lifted her hand and cupped his cheek.

“Luke… is that really you?”

Luke nodded, a gentle smile forming on his lips. “Yes, it’s me, Mother. I’m back.”

He pressed a soft kiss to her hand, assuring her that this was no dream. He was truly there.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Her eyes glistened with tears as she pulled his head against her chest and wrapped her arms around him in a quiet, tender embrace.

Luke whispered softly, “Didn’t I tell you? I would always come back to you.”

Monica sniffled and nodded. “You did well, son. I’m very proud of you.”

Luke let out a quiet sigh before suddenly rising to his feet. One arm slid beneath her knees while the other supported her back as he lifted her into a bridal carry.

“I’m very tired,” he said with a faint smile. “And I need my favorite person beside me for a good sleep.”

Monica’s cheeks flushed pink, but she wrapped her arms around his neck and rested closer to him.

“I’m all yours,” she murmured.

….

[Half an hour later]

Lex slipped on his sandals, preparing to leave the house. It was still early morning, but he had somewhere to be.

Not work.

He simply wanted to check if that bastard had finally lifted some useless weight off this world.

Just as he was about to step out, Dalia’s hoarse voice reached him.

“Where are you going?”

“Just to check the situation outside,” he replied casually. “Don’t worry. Get some more sleep.”

The blue-haired woman asked nothing further and simply closed her eyes again.

Lex stepped out of the room. His mother was not at the table, which meant she must have gone back to her room sometime during the night.

Shaking his head, he picked up a long wooden stick from the corner of the house and stepped outside.

He remembered the traps Luke had talked about repeatedly the previous day.

Even now, Lex could not shake the irritation. That bastard really thought they needed his protection?

Carefully, he checked the front area.

Nothing.

He frowned and examined the ground again.

Still nothing.

Yet he distinctly remembered seeing Luke setting something up yesterday.

’Did someone steal it?’ he wondered.

Shrugging it off, Lex stepped out through the main gate and began walking toward the chief’s house.

As he got closer, he noticed several horses tied outside and a group of men gathered nearby.

It looked like the chief had returned.

Then Lex’s gaze dropped to the ground.

Bloodstains.

Fresh ones.

His heart stirred faintly.

Something had clearly happened here last night.

A small spark of hope rose inside him.

Maybe that burden had finally been taken care of.

Just then, someone waved at him.

Lex looked up and raised a brow when he recognized the man.

Gary.

As Lex approached the short man, he spoke first.

“Is the chief’s family safe? I’m sorry if my brother couldn’t fulfill his job—”

“What nonsense are you talking about?” Gary cut him off.

“Your brother exceeded everyone’s expectations. He defeated the ambusher who came here last night to kill the chief’s family.”

“Huh?”

Lex’s lips parted in shock.

Gary nodded with a grin.

“Yeah. And that bastard was a known warrior from the Tarkaban tribe. Honestly, your brother has left everyone stunned.”

Lex stood frozen.

No, stunned would be too mild a word. He was completely flabbergasted by what he had just heard.

That weakling… had killed someone?

Before Lex could even process the thought, Gary added casually, “I have a strong feeling the Chief will summon Luke this evening. Tell him to be ready.”

Lex still could not form a response.

His mouth opened slightly, but no sound came out.

Gary, having said what he needed to say, simply walked off, leaving Lex standing there in utter disbelief.

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