I still didn't like the silence.
An entire week had passed without any advance from the demons. No villages attacked, no significant movements, no signs of confrontation. To any ordinary commander, that might have seemed like a temporary victory, a relief after days of constant battle. To me, it was the opposite. It was like walking through a dark room knowing something was there, just waiting for the right moment to strike.
I was at the mansion in Vailor when the message arrived. The sun had already begun to sink toward the horizon, and golden light streamed through the tall windows of the main hall. The girls were spread throughout the room, each occupied in some way, but all staying close. Rai'kanna stood beside me, leaning against the back of my chair, watching my face carefully. Liriel was flipping through a book, though I knew she wasn't really reading. Scarlett stood against the wall with her arms crossed, as if she were always ready to act. Elara was speaking quietly with Lyannis, while Vespera remained farther away, silent as usual, but always attentive.
When the guard announced the arrival of an injured adventurer, I already knew it wouldn't be something simple.
He entered supported by another man, his clothes torn and his body covered in battle wounds. But that wasn't all. There was something different in his eyes. It wasn't just exhaustion. It was tension. Something I had seen before in people who returned from situations they couldn't properly explain.
I stood up immediately.
"Bring him here."
He was seated in a chair, breathing heavily. Liriel approached without hesitation and placed a hand on his shoulder. A gentle light enveloped the adventurer's body as she began healing his injuries. Little by little, his breathing stabilized.
"Speak calmly," I said. "What happened?"
He swallowed hard before answering.
"I... was captured."
Silence filled the room instantly.
Scarlett uncrossed her arms. Rai'kanna straightened beside me. Elara and Lyannis stopped talking. Even Vespera tilted her head slightly, focusing entirely on him.
"How are you alive?" Lyannis asked directly.
"I... don't really know," he replied, still confused. "They didn't kill me. They didn't torture me. They didn't do any of that."
That made no sense.
Demons didn't capture people to talk. They destroyed. That was how it had always been.
"Then why?" I asked.
He looked directly at me.
"Because they wanted me to deliver a message... to you."
The atmosphere in the room grew even heavier. I had already expected something like this, but hearing it spoken aloud made it more real.
"Go on."
He took a deep breath before continuing.
"The Second General of the demons... wants to fight you."
No one moved.
Not a single sound.
"A duel... one against one," he continued. "No armies. No interference. Just you and him."
I felt something inside me click into place immediately. As if all the scattered pieces had finally begun fitting together.
That was why.
The silence.
The retreat.
The absence of attacks.
"Did he say anything else?" I asked.
The adventurer nodded.
"He said he possesses an artifact called Bond. It links his life to the army. If he dies... all the demons under his command die as well."
Scarlett took a step forward.
"That could be a lie."
"It could," I replied.
But even as I said it, I already knew it didn't matter.
The adventurer continued.
"He also said... that he wants a fair fight. That you are a worthy warrior. And that he hopes you will accept."
Rai'kanna crossed her arms, clearly displeased.
"Demons don't make fair offers."
"I know," I replied.
Liriel removed her hand from the adventurer's shoulder, her healing already complete. She looked at me with obvious concern.
"Takumi... this isn't right."
Elara stepped a little closer.
"It's too convenient. They retreat, disappear... and then suddenly this appears."
Lyannis finished without hesitation.
"It's a trap."
Vespera said nothing, but her expression conveyed the same thought.
I remained silent for a few seconds, analyzing everything.
Every detail.
Every move.
And the more I thought about it... the more sense it made.
Not as something trustworthy.
But as strategy.
"Did he say where?" I asked.
"Yes," the adventurer replied. "An isolated region. Between the territory of the elves and the demi-dragons. A desert known as the Dead Region."
I nodded slowly.
An empty place.
No interference.
Perfect for a duel... or for a trap.
"When?"
"Five days."
Exactly enough time to prepare everything.
Or to flee, if necessary.
I looked at the girls.
All of them were tense.
All of them waiting for my answer.
And I already knew what it would be.
"I accept."
The words came out simply, directly, without hesitation.
The adventurer's eyes widened.
Scarlett didn't seem surprised, but her expression became more serious.
Liriel stepped forward.
"No."
I looked at her.
"This isn't something you can just accept like that."
"I can," I replied.
"Not alone," she shot back firmly.
Elara crossed her arms.
"If it's a trap, you'll be walking straight into it."
Lyannis nodded.
"And this time... it's not a horde. It's someone calling you out directly."
Rai'kanna moved closer to me.
"I don't trust this."
I took a deep breath before answering.
"Neither do I."
That made them all fall silent for a moment.
"Then why?" Liriel asked.
I looked at all of them.
"Because if this is real... it's the fastest way to end all of this."
No one answered immediately.
"No armies," I continued. "No casualties. No cities destroyed. Just one fight."
Scarlett finally spoke.
"And if it isn't?"
I gave a faint smile.
"Then I'll deal with it anyway."
Silence returned.
But this time... it was different.
It wasn't doubt.
It was acceptance of what was coming.
The adventurer lowered his head.
"I... delivered the message."
"You did enough," I said. "Get some rest."
He nodded, clearly relieved.
The girls were still there, each dealing with the decision in her own way.
I knew none of them fully agreed.
But I also knew they understood me well enough to know I wouldn't back down.
I looked out the window, the sun already nearly gone beyond the horizon.
Five days.
That was the time I had.
And deep down, I could already feel it.
This wasn't just a fight.
It was the beginning of something bigger.
And when I finally turned back to the group, I said only one thing.
"Whether it's a trap... or not... I'm going to end this once and for all."
And in that moment, I was certain.
The silence was over.
The next battle... had already begun.