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Chapter 48: The Journey Back—And the Capital’s Reaction

  The Gate of the Forgotten was sealed. The battle was over. But the world beyond these ruins had already begun to change. Ethan could feel it. The weight of the new title pressed against him. The whispers of the Forgotten One still lingered in his mind. The System’s silence unnerved him more than its warnings ever had. This wasn’t just about surviving anymore. This was about what came next. And Ethan had the sinking feeling that—whatever it was— It wouldn’t be waiting long. The Departure The trek back to Portland was silent. The S-Rank team led the way, their presence looming even in stillness. Ethan’s party followed, their exhaustion heavy in every step. No monsters attacked. No disturbances arose. It was unnatural. Like even the wilds could sense that something had changed. Or perhaps— Something was watching. Waiting. Letting them leave for now.

  By the third day of travel, the reality of what had happened settled in. Kara sighed, adjusting the strap on her pack. “Y’know, normally after we finish a dungeon, I like to celebrate.” Leah shot her a tired glare. “You nearly died.” Kara shrugged. “Yeah. Which is why I wanna drink.” Gareth let out a quiet chuckle. “You always want to drink.” Ethan, however, didn’t respond. His mark still pulsed faintly under his skin. A reminder. A warning. Because he knew— They had stopped it for now. But it wouldn’t hold forever. And when it broke again? No one would be ready. A Tense Arrival at the Guild By the time they reached Portland, word had already spread. The Adventurer’s Guild was buzzing with energy. Reports of the missing B-Rank team’s fate had leaked. Rumors of a sealed, ancient entity circulated the halls. And Ethan’s name was being whispered everywhere. He felt the stares. Not just at him. At all of them. But especially at the six S-Rank adventurers walking beside them. Because S-Ranks never showed up unless something truly dangerous had happened. And this? This was beyond dangerous. This was something else.

  The moment they stepped into the Guild Hall, Elias was waiting. The Guild master's sharp eyes locked onto them, his usually composed face grim. “Inside,” he ordered, motioning toward the Guild’s private meeting room. No hesitation. No questioning. The moment they entered, Elias closed the door. Then he turned to Veylan, arms crossed. “Tell me,” Elias said, his voice cold. “What the hell happened out there?” The Report Veylan didn’t waste words. He explained everything. The disappearance of the B-Rank team. The Gate of the Forgotten and its breaking chains. The ancient being that nearly escaped. The sealing ritual—and Ethan’s unexpected role in it. Elias listened without interruption. But the more Veylan spoke— The darker his expression became. And when the report was finished— Elias exhaled deeply, rubbing his temples. “This is worse than I expected.” The Guild’s Decision Elias looked at Veylan. “Did the capital send you to assess the ruins or to eliminate the threat?” Veylan’s silver eyes hardened. “Both.” Silence. Then Elias turned to Ethan. “You understand what this means, don’t you?” Ethan nodded slowly. He wasn’t stupid. The Guild wouldn’t just ignore this. The capital would demand answers. And Ethan? He was now a piece in a much larger game. A game he hadn’t agreed to play. But one he was stuck in nonetheless.

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  Elias’s gaze softened—just slightly. “You’ve done good work, Ethan,” he said. “You all have.” A pause. “But you’re not just an adventurer anymore.” Ethan’s stomach twisted. He had known that. But hearing it out loud made it real. “You need to be careful,” Elias continued. “The capital will want to control you.” Veylan nodded. “They’ll want to study you,” the S-Rank leader said. “Use you.” Kaela sighed. “They’ll probably send someone to ‘invite’ you to the capital soon.” Orin smirked. “And it won’t be optional.” Ethan exhaled. Of course. The moment the System gave him a title beyond their understanding… The moment the gate recognized him as its Warden… The moment he changed— The world took notice. And now? It was only a matter of time before they came knocking.

  Leah frowned. “So what do we do?” Elias crossed his arms. “For now, nothing.” His gaze flickered toward Ethan. “Lay low. Keep working. Don’t draw attention.” Kara scoffed. “Kinda late for that, don’t you think?” Elias sighed. “Just… don’t make it worse.” Ethan nodded slowly. For now—he had no choice but to wait. But deep down? He already knew. This wasn’t over. Not even close. And when the capital finally made their move— Ethan would have to decide his next step. Before someone decided for him.

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