The house was silent.
Too silent.
For the first time since arriving in that world… Aron was completely alone.
He looked at the closed door they had gone through.
The only sound left was the wind passing through the trees.
'Earlier… I felt like that plant was calling me.'
He frowned.
'Could this be connected to my past life… as a biotechnologist?'
Aron paused for a moment.
'No… that doesn't really make sense.'
He took a deep breath.
'It must be because of my elemental affinity.'
He looked at his own hands.
'If that plant can absorb mana… then I should be able to as well.'
He sat down on the floor, crossed his legs, and closed his eyes.
He took a deep breath.
Once.
Twice.
Until his mind completely calmed.
…
Seconds passed.
Then minutes.
And nothing.
Aron opened his eyes, irritated.
"Seriously…?"
"A plant can absorb mana… and I can't?"
He stayed silent for a moment.
Then—
A realization.
"That's it… idiot."
"The plant."
Aron quickly stood up and walked to the door.
He tried to reach the handle.
He couldn't.
"…"
He looked around.
With some effort, he dragged a chair to the door, climbed onto it, and turned the handle.
The door opened.
The cool night air touched his face.
He stepped outside.
The backyard was quiet, illuminated by the faint light of the moon.
Aron went straight to where they had planted the flax.
It was still there.
Swaying gently with the wind.
And… glowing.
Faint.
But unmistakable.
'…again…'
'That feeling.'
As if something was calling him.
He slowly approached.
Sat beside the plant.
Closed his eyes.
Took a deep breath.
And then—
He felt it.
Faint.
But unmistakable.
Like tiny drops of dew touching his skin… and passing through it.
'So… this is mana…'
It was light.
Refreshing.
Aron tried to pull in more.
But…
It was slow.
Ridiculously slow.
Like trying to fill a pool with a sponge.
He frowned.
'At this rate… forget awakening in five years. I wouldn't awaken even in ten.'
Besides…
That mana wasn't really his.
He could only keep it stored inside his body.
'Without a class… I can't turn this into something that belongs to me.'
Aron opened his eyes and stared at the flax.
It hadn't bloomed yet.
But it absorbed mana naturally.
'Since I can't use this…'
He moved his hand closer.
'Then maybe… you can.'
Aron touched the stem.
And then—
The mana was gone.
On its own.
Without effort.
His eyes widened.
"…huh?"
He stared at the plant.
'The glow… increased?'
He leaned closer.
'No… it's not my imagination.'
'Let's test it again.'
Aron closed his eyes.
Gathered more mana.
This time, he paid close attention.
When he touched the stem, the mana flowed away again, like water from a river rushing toward the sea.
It was natural.
Effortless.
He watched in silence.
Two things became clear.
The first…
The glow had increased.
Slightly, but visibly.
The second…
The plant had grown a few centimeters.
Aron stayed silent for a moment.
'…this is absurd.'
After a few more minutes of observation, nothing else changed.
He sighed and stood up.
'This method of absorption… is strange.'
He looked at his own hand.
'Even if it's not mine… the mana is still inside my body.'
Aron slowly closed his fingers.
'I can control it… to a certain extent.'
'But when I touch it… it's like the mana already belongs to the plant, and I'm just holding it.'
He frowned.
'And the strangest part…'
'The second time… I didn't even want to transfer it.'
Aron looked toward the forest.
'It's probably been about twenty minutes since they left…'
'I wonder how things are going over there…?'
---
A dry sound echoed through the cave.
Crack.
The monster's head split at the moment of impact.
The wolf's body collapsed onto the stone floor.
Sabrina swung her mace, casually shaking off the creature's blood.
"That's it. That was the last one."
"Now let's head to the boss room."
Arthur let out a light sigh.
"Dear, I know we need to be quick, but you could at least leave a few for me."
Sabrina glanced at him coldly and walked toward the stone gate, two meters wide and five tall, pushing the heavy doors open with a creak.
"I told you that 'something later' wasn't happening today," Matilda said with a cold smile.
"Ah, Matilda, you may be her friend, but I'm the husband. If there's anyone who knows how to calm that beast, it's me."
"As they say, the best part of an argument is the reconciliation," Arthur added confidently.
"You're hopeless. I feel sorry for my friend for falling for a swindler like you," Matilda replied, entering the boss chamber.
"A swindler? My love is as true and pure as crystal…"
"Not that pure, but it is true," Arthur muttered, walking through the gate.
The boss chamber looked like a separate room within the dungeon. The door they entered through closed behind them, sealed by glowing blue magical symbols.
On the other side, another door remained locked.
Between them… the creature.
A wolf-like monster, two meters tall and five meters long.
"Well, as expected… the boss is guarding the entrance to the core room," Arthur said.
"Dear, distract it. I'll blind it with my arrows. Then you break the joints in its hind legs, and Matilda finishes it by cutting the arteries in its neck."
"We're stronger than it, but we can't underestimate it."
"Alright. I'll start," Sabrina said, calmly walking toward the creature.
The monster growled threateningly.
"Matilda, wait for an opening."
"Got it," she replied, fading away like smoke as she moved along the side of the chamber.
Arthur nocked an arrow and whispered:
"Lightning Arrow."
The arrow began to glow softly, small arcs of electricity dancing across its surface.
The boss, focused on Sabrina, suddenly turned its head.
Danger.
Sabrina saw the opening and moved.
The monster lunged at Arthur, completely ignoring her.
At the last moment, Sabrina jumped.
The mace in her hand swung upward—
And struck the creature's jaw with force.
The impact echoed through the cave.
The monster staggered, stunned, sliding forward.
Before it could react—
An arrow of light cut through the air.
And pierced its right eye.
A howl of pain filled the chamber.
"Now! The legs!" Arthur shouted, already preparing another arrow.
Sabrina rushed forward again.
The mace came down hard on the hind joints.
Boom.
Crack.
The sound of bones breaking echoed.
The creature howled in agony and counterattacked, striking Sabrina and throwing her aside.
In that instant—
Another arrow struck the other eye.
Blind.
Furious.
The creature began attacking wildly, out of control.
Sabrina stood up, holding her injured shoulder.
"Basic Heal."
A soft light enveloped her body, quickly restoring the wound.
'I can't let my baby see that I got hurt by something like this.'
A few seconds later—
Silence.
The creature fell.
Lifeless.
In the center of the chamber.
"I can't believe you got hurt by that," Matilda said, appearing atop the boss's body, cleaning her daggers.
"Spend two years out of a dungeon raising a child… let's see if you don't get rusty," Sabrina replied.
"No, dear, you were amazing. Without you, that fox wouldn't have finished it so quickly," Arthur said with a smile.
"Too bad none of us has the Dismantler class. This thing would be worth a fortune."
"It's fine," Sabrina replied. "The entire dungeon is ours. We'll take what we need later. Now let's go to the core."
"One more minute. The runes are still active."
Shortly after—
Arthur pushed open the gate to the core room.
"Matilda… would you do the honors?"