Kevin stayed back, letting the quiet linger. The smoke had already faded, but the weight of the moment was thick.
No one said a word. Hwan stood with his fists clenched at his sides, staring down at the scorched ground where the boy had vanished.
Kevin finally spoke.
"We've stayed here long enough."
There was no response.
His tone sharpened.
"Siegfried is still in danger. Every second we waste here could be another nail in his coffin. Whatever's waiting at the end of this dungeon… it's not going to show mercy."
Hwan let out a breath, but his eyes didn't leave the ground.
"Do you think we'll be fighting people? Not monsters. Real people."
He asked, quieter than usual.
Kevin turned his head slightly but didn't answer right away.
"I don't know. Maybe."
He said finally.
But from the tension in his voice, it was clear he had a good idea—and it wasn't something he wanted to confirm.
