Kael dismounted from his steed, sweeping his gaze over the wide cobblestone avenue leading to the Draven manor. The imposing estate, built from black stone and adorned with majestic sculptures, reflected the power and influence of the family. The large iron gates creaked open slowly, revealing a perfectly maintained garden.
"Finally home…"
Calvin, ever at his side, stretched and yawned.
"I thought we'd never see the end of that journey."
"You're the one who slept through half of it."
"Heroes need rest too, boss!" Calvin replied with a forced smile.
Kael rolled his eyes, but before he could say anything else, a translucent window appeared
before him.
[The story of the Novel has begun.]
[Restriction 3 has been lifted: You may now kill the protagonists.]
[A protagonist has appeared.]
[New Quest: Kill the Protagonist.]
[Reward: ???]
Kael blinked.
"What?!"
The sudden notification left him speechless. The system had just coldly announced that the real story had begun. And not only that, but it had directly assigned him the objective of killing a protagonist.
"A protagonist, huh? This doesn't sound good at all."
He furrowed his brows, trying to analyze the situation. Until now, he had managed to manipulate those around him and twist events to his advantage. But if a true protagonist had appeared, it meant he might soon face far more dangerous forces.
"Well. We'll deal with that later."
With a wave of his hand, he dismissed the notification and resumed his walk.
As they approached the grand entrance of the manor, the large doors suddenly swung open. A strikingly beautiful woman appeared on the threshold. Her long silver hair shimmered under the sunlight, and her golden eyes gleamed with a mixture of excitement and emotion.
"Kael!"
Without hesitation, Elyna Draven rushed toward him.
"Big brother!"
Kael didn't even have time to react before she threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly.
"Hey, easy, Elyna. You're going to crush me."
"Shut up! You have no idea how much we missed you."
She pulled back slightly to get a better look at him, her eyes scanning his face for any sign of injury.
"Are you alright? We've heard all sorts of stories about what happened."
Kael offered her a reassuring smile.
"I'm fine. I just had a few… misadventures."
"A few misadventures?!" a stern voice echoed from the entrance.
It was Kael's mother. Her severe expression and commanding aura sent a shiver down Calvin's spine, prompting him to discreetly try and hide behind Kael.
"Kael Draven, explain to me why you've returned with such a carefree attitude after everything you've done?"
A bead of sweat trickled down Kael's forehead.
"Uh, Mother… It's a long story."
She stepped forward, arms crossed. Despite her harsh expression, there was a glimmer of relief in her eyes.
"You're alive. That's all that matters."
Then, to Kael's surprise, she pulled him into a tight embrace.
"Welcome home, Kael."
A warmth spread through Kael's chest. Despite all the schemes and challenges he had faced, returning to his family brought a comfort he couldn't deny.
"I'm home."
As the family reunion continued, Kael couldn't shake the uneasy feeling creeping over him. The system had given no further information about the protagonist, but he knew he couldn't ignore the looming threat.
"A protagonist… Who could it be?"
He would need to stay vigilant. For now, he allowed himself to savor the moment, surrounded by his loved ones. But deep down, one thought lingered.
"No matter who you are… If you stand in my way, I will crush you."
After the emotional reunion, the Draven family settled comfortably in the grand salon of the manor. Luxurious velvet-covered armchairs surrounded a marble table, where tea and pastries were already served. A large bay window allowed the daylight to stream in, illuminating the golden ornaments on the richly decorated walls.
Kael, still accompanied by Calvin, sat across from his mother and Elyna.
"So, who is this boy?" Isadora asked, narrowing her eyes at Calvin, who was awkwardly trying to adjust his posture to appear more respectable.
"M-Me? I'm Calvin Jehlfeld, Lady Draven!" he replied, sitting up straight.
"I met him on the road," Kael added with a shrug. "He's had a bit of… misfortune."
Calvin attempted to maintain a dignified expression, though it was obvious he was resisting the urge to grab a biscuit from the table.
"I see. A young survivor, is that it?"
Isadora nodded slowly, paying little further attention to Calvin. Her gaze shifted back to her son.
"And you, Kael? Why haven't I received a single letter detailing your exploits?"
"Well…" Kael searched for an excuse. "Let's just say I've been… quite busy."
"I don't doubt it. But I'd prefer to hear the details directly from you."
Just as he prepared to briefly summarize his time in the Holy Kingdom and his adventures on the road, Elyna interrupted.
"Before that, Kael… There's something important you need to know."
The younger sister, usually cheerful and mischievous, wore a far more serious expression this time.
"What is it?"
Elyna took a deep breath.
"A man named Dorn Welfer came here a few days ago."
Kael narrowed his eyes.
"And what did he want?"
"To ask for my hand in marriage."
A heavy silence fell over the room. Calvin, who had finally managed to snatch a biscuit, froze mid-bite. Kael, meanwhile, stared at his sister in disbelief.
"Excuse me? He proposed to you? But why?"
"He claimed to be madly in love with me," she said, rolling her eyes. "But something felt off from the start."
"How so?"
"He said ridiculous things, like he was destined to marry me. He genuinely seemed convinced that some sort of 'divine revelation' had commanded him to do so."
Kael grimaced.
"A divine revelation… That reeks of protagonist nonsense."
Isadora then spoke up, her voice dripping with disdain.
"I saw through his little act immediately. That Dorn Welfer is nothing but an opportunist. I forbade him from returning here."
Elyna nodded.
"But he didn't give up. He sent letters every day, each one more pathetic than the last. Some even came with poems!"
Kael couldn't help but smirk.
"Poems? Seriously? And were they at least… readable?"
"Oh, you have no idea," Elyna replied, rubbing her temples. "They were atrocious. I nearly lost faith in poetry."
Calvin, visibly curious, leaned closer to Elyna.
"And did he try anything else?"
"Yes. He even came back several times to beg. He knelt before the manor gates, in the rain, screaming his love. A living tragedy."
"Pathetic," Kael muttered, shaking his head. "That guy's either a complete fool or utterly desperate."
"Or both," Elyna added with a sly grin.
Despite the humor of the situation, Kael couldn't shake off his concern. If this Dorn Welfer was indeed a protagonist, his persistence and obsession with Elyna could lead to far more trouble than it seemed.
And that "divine revelation"…
"The system said a protagonist has appeared."
The pieces of the puzzle were slowly coming together in his mind.
"I'll have to keep an eye on this guy."
But for now, Kael chose to lighten the mood.
"Well, at least he hasn't tried climbing the manor walls while reciting a tragic monologue. That's something."
Elyna burst out laughing.
"Don't give him any ideas, Kael."
Isadora, though relieved to have her son back, maintained her stern demeanor.
"If that man dares to return, I'll make sure he understands once and for all that the Dravens are not swayed by fools."
"Don't worry, Mother," Kael replied with a faint smirk. "If he tries anything, I'll take care of him."
And this time, he meant it quite literally.
Kael, now comfortably settled in a large velvet armchair, crossed his legs and addressed his mother and sister with a satisfied smile.
"Well! Now that I've heard your thrilling tale of poetic harassment, let me tell you about my own adventures."
Elyna leaned on the arm of the sofa, visibly eager.
"Oh, I can't wait to hear this. What did you do all this time?"
Calvin, who had already helped himself to more biscuits, shivered. He knew what was coming and avoided Kael's gaze.
"Well, to start, I saved a burning village."
"Really?" Elyna asked, impressed.
"Yes, but it wasn't without consequences. I also found this boy."
He gestured toward Calvin with his chin. The young man tried to maintain a dignified look, though his strained smile and the crumbs around his mouth didn't help.
"Oh, he looks… sturdy?" Isadora attempted to offer a compliment.
"Sturdy?!" Kael burst out laughing. "Mother, he ran away at the sight of a demonic rabbit!"
"I-It was a terrifying monster!" Calvin protested, his cheeks flushing. "It had… huge teeth!"
Kael shot him an exasperated look.
"Teeth? It was a rabbit! A RABBIT, Calvin!"
"But it had that look!"
"Oh, surely a starving rabbit's look! You ran so fast you could've passed for a legendary hero… making a strategic retreat."
Elyna giggled while Isadora sighed.
"And then?"
"Ah, after that, we encountered a mimic monster."
"A mimic?"
"Yes. It copied everything: appearance, skills, memories. Basically, a creature that finally gave me a fight worth my time."
"And Calvin? Did he participate?" Elyna asked with a sly grin.
"Oh, he participated, in his own way."
Kael rolled his eyes.
"While I was fighting for my life, the monster transformed and launched impressive attacks… and Calvin? He was shouting words of encouragement from behind a bush."
"I was supporting the team!" Calvin interjected, crossing his arms. "Moral support is essential!"
"Of course. It's always reassuring to have someone yelling 'Kael, don't die!' from the bushes."
Elyna nearly choked with laughter, while Isadora shook her head in exasperation.
"In the end, I won. And the monster? I adopted it as a familiar."
"Really?"
"Yes."
Isadora raised an eyebrow.
"And Calvin? Did he show any potential?"
Kael cast a mocking glance at Calvin, who tried to hide behind his teacup.
"Let's just say he showed incredible potential… for emptying the food reserves."
"That's a rare skill," Calvin added with a shrug.
"Indeed. If there were a competition for naps and meals, he'd be a 10-star ranked champion."
Everyone burst into laughter, even Calvin, who seemed to accept his role as the accidental jester.
"Anyway, now that I'm back, I plan to enjoy a few days of rest. And who knows? Maybe Calvin will find another demonic rabbit to face!"
"I… I'd rather not."
Kael sank deeper into his armchair, a satisfied grin on his face.
"And there you have it, the incredible adventure of Kael and the legendary Calvin, master of the bushes. A true heroic tale."
Elyna and Isadora laughed one last time while Calvin, both indignant and amused, grabbed one last biscuit.
The Draven household was far from done with lively days.