The Dragon Lord System
DLS - 109

A week has passed since the terrible incident that almost took Rio's life.

Now, his condition began to improve, and his mind returned clear. Despite this, the shadow of trauma still haunted him like a hungry ghost sniffing good food.

One day, when Rio felt the turmoil of trauma creeping back, he knew he had to act. His eyes glanced around the quiet room, looking for something that could help him face his fears.

And there, by his bedside, was his beloved wife who slept soundly.

Rio smiled inwardly. The calm rest on the wife's face always brought calmness in her mind.

Slowly, Rio took a deep breath. He felt his breathing go out and in with a steady rhythm.

His gaze returned to normal, and an aura of tranquility filled the room.

Rio felt warm and grateful to have someone who was always there for him, even when he was dealing with his deepest fears.

The door was wide open and there was

The priest named Rufus sat beside Rio bed, his sharp gaze fixed on the man who had just gone through that terrifying experience.

And evelyn quickly stood up from her sleeping position back up.

"So, what did you see in that horrible place?" rufus asked in a curious tone, while provoking a conversation.

Rio closed his eyes for a moment, trying to recall the terrifying image that was still imprinted in his mind.

"To..utus... Ke.ma.tian," Rio muttered in a disjointed voice, like a sound carried by the night wind.

His breathing began to disordered, and a deep fear filled every inch of his body, like a ghost creeping slowly.

"Hey, relax. Remember your beloved wife," whispered Rufus in a gentle tone, trying to bring Rio back to reality.

However, Rufus' actions did not seem to be enough to ease the fear that struck Rio.

However, just as Rio was about to fall into a deeper abyss of fear, suddenly a soft hand grabbed his trembling hand.

Evelyn, his beloved wife, was beside him with a gentle smile and eyes full of warmth.

"I'm here, my husband," he said in a soft voice, filling the room with an aura of serenity.

Rio's breathing began to improve as the look in his eyes met Evelyn's gentle eyes. He felt crammed with irreplaceable support and strength. Even in his darkest moments, his wife was always by his side.

"Evelyn.." exhaled Rio tastefully, his gaze bound to the hand that was holding him.

Evelyn, with a smile as warm as the morning sun, responded to Rio's gaze.

The fear that haunted his heart seemed to evaporate with the presence of his wife, replaced by the warmth of love and abundant affection.

Their hands clutched in tight grip, as if they did not want to let go anymore. Rio's courage to face her trauma felt even stronger with Evelyn's presence by her side.

"Thank you, my love," Rio said with appreciation, his eyes glowing at his wonderful wife.

However, suddenly the voice of the priest named Rufus graced the room, with a distinctive intonation.

"Thank God, you can ease your deep trauma. Of course it's thanks to your wife and the help of a benevolent god." He said with a bit of humor, like embracing them with warm words.

Just then, the voice of the priest ranker named Rufus slid into Rio's ears, with a tone that was as usual. "Thank God you've been able to quell your deep trauma. Of course it's thanks to your wife and the help of a benevolent god."

However, as soon as those words reached Rio's ears, a feeling of anger seemed to burn within him. His eyes stared at Rufus intensely, and with a sudden, he released an outburst of emotion.

"God did you say?! Did he help me when I was in a place full of despair! I can see clearly and feel in my despair in that terrible place and there is no help from that entity you call 'god!"

Rufus, shocked by the sudden outburst of anger, was now standing within Rio's smoldering face.

He raised his brows in slight confusion before responding in a louder voice than expected.

"Do you doubt the gods?! You can still live for the good of the gods!" Rufus said firmly, his hand reaching for the necklace with a beautiful moon ornament on his neck, which symbolized the god Artemis.

However, Rio's anger still hasn't subsided. "Killness? Is it kindness that lets me feel all that despair, like I'm just a puppet in the hands of dark creatures?!" Rio was burning more and more, his emotional energy was almost as if it could be felt by everything in the room.

Rufus, who was also unwilling to lose in this debate, realized the situation was getting tense.

"You can't understand the god's grand plan. You're just a human who's vulnerable to narrow-mindedness."

However, before Rio could reply with further words, Evelyn's gentle hand touched her hand, exuding a soothing warmth.

Her loving eyes were gently swept towards her husband, as if sending a wordless message.

"My husband" she said in a soft voice, "are you conscious and aware? That you can get out of that horrible place and still be alive now, it's a miracle from the gods! Some entered the place of death, but never returned. But you're different."

Although doubts were still in his mind, but there was a real miracle in him that could not be ignored.

He tried to temper the anger and doubt in his heart, and tried to open himself to the possibility that perhaps, just maybe, there was an extraordinary entity that had affected his fate.

In his silence, he pondered about his journey across that terrifying place, an inner battle that might only be understandable to himself.

Seeing Rio's change in expression, Rufus heaved a sigh of relief.

It seemed, the doubts present in Rio's heart slightly eased, giving place for a new understanding.

"So how did you get out of that place alive?" rufus said, his expression full of curiosity.

"And besides, why are you so desperate to enter that place of death? Do you know that your actions are stupid and include suicide?"

Rio pondered for a moment, trying to recall the incident he had experienced. To be honest, he did not remember how he could get out of that terrible place with his life intact.

There was a piece of memory missing in his mind, like an incomplete jigsaw.

At that very instant, Rio recalled the event that hit him like lightning. The tragic deaths of his three friends are still vividly imprinted in his memory - horribly killed by the cruelty of the place.

However, for his two old friends Alex and Viona he does not know if they managed to escape after exiting the large gate that took them out of the place,

it was like a door to the god throne in that mysterious dungeon place.

Rio frowned, trying hard to recall further. But after all, his memory was unwilling to bring more answers.

He felt like he was stuck in a big puzzle, with only a few pieces in sight.

"Honestly, Rufus," Rio said in a doubtful tone, "I'm still trying to string together my memories of all that. I know something's missing, but I can't reveal it completely."

Evelyn removed her handrails from Rio and gave support to him with a gentle smile.

"You will definitely find an answer, dear," he whispered, giving Rio some calm.

Rio pondered for a moment, his eyes filled with hope. Although there are no guarantees, her belief in Alex and Viona's safety feels so strong.

However, his memory was so sharp about the final moments before he lost his consciousness.

The beautiful woman who suddenly appeared and suddenly just kicked him so hard, that he crashed into the wall.

Vomiting blood and pain suddenly hit him. There was no time to think, it vanished in the dark.

However, all of a sudden, he rose within this temple of God Artemis, accompanied by a sweet smile from his beloved wife, Evelyn.

How is this possible? It was as if he had experienced a miracle that he could not understand.

Rufus' second question opened up another memory in his mind. Why did he enter the place of death? Rio felt a bitter smile slip on his lips.

Of course, the answer was actually due to the orders of King Theovilus. Investigating the Elysian hideous place is a task that should not be ignored.

However, in her heart, Rio hid the truth mostly from Evelyn. No one knew that he was the right-hand man of King Theovilus, including his own wife.

Only the inhabitants of the palace knew what the nobles meant.

He had lied, saying that his job was still a high-ranking adventurer.

In these complicated circumstances, Rio felt that telling the truth would not only harm him, but Evelyn as well.

Life in a circle of nobility was full of intrigue and interests making him have to keep secrets carefully, even from those closest to him.

Rufus was still looking at him with a hopeful look.

While confirming his purple robe, he calmly drank the white water from the glass on the table near Rio's bed.

Then, he waited for Rio's reply patiently, unhurriedly.

"I don't know why I'm alive now... And as for the reason that I entered that terrible place, I was just on a mission for a very lucrative fee. I was forced to accept it," Rio said in a soft voice, trying to buy time while maintaining secrecy.

Just then, Rufus who was drinking water suddenly laughed, causing a mouthful of water he drank to slide out and wet Rio's mattress.

Wiping the drops of water on his lips, Rufus put the glass back with mixed feelings.

the atmosphere quickly changed when Rufus, in a tone of surprise and disbelief, reminded Rio of the risky choice he made.

"Are you crazy?!! You went to that place to do a mission?!" rufus said in a stern tone, his expression reflecting disbelief in Rio's actions.