Adrian had returned to his life as a hero.
Every day, he took quests—stopping robberies, defeating gangs, hunting criminals. The work was exhausting, but it kept his mind busy. Slowly, almost unnoticed, he was getting stronger.
One day, his efforts were finally recognized.
He was promoted to an A-class hero.
The promotion increased his pay, his reputation, and the expectations placed on him. But inside, Adrian didn't feel proud. He only felt… tired.
That evening, he returned home, his body aching from another long day.
As he opened the door, a familiar voice greeted him.
"Welcome back! How was your day?"
Riley was standing in the living room, smiling brightly.
"…Great," Adrian replied quietly.
For a moment, he stared at her, confused by the strange warmth in his chest.
It's almost like she's my wife or something.
He immediately shook his head.
What am I even thinking…?
After dinner, Adrian lay down on the couch and fell asleep almost instantly.
The next morning, he headed to the Hero Headquarters again.
This time, he didn't choose an easy mission.
He selected an A-class quest—dangerous, high-paying, and brutal.
Target: A powerful mafia boss.
Within ten minutes, Adrian arrived at the location. The mafia's headquarters was a massive building surrounded by guards and security systems.
Without hesitation, he smashed through a window on the upper floors.
Before the nearby guard could react, Adrian knocked him unconscious.
Dragging the guard into a storage room, Adrian quickly changed into his uniform. Surprisingly, it fit perfectly.
Calmly, he walked through the corridors, acting like he belonged there.
Eventually, he reached the mafia boss's office.
Inside, the boss sat comfortably on a luxurious chair, with two women sitting on his lap, laughing and talking.
The boss frowned when he saw Adrian.
"Huh? What do you want? Didn't I say no one should enter my office?"
Adrian didn't answer.
In the next instant, he vanished.
Before the boss could even blink, Adrian appeared behind him.
A sharp flash.
The mafia boss's head rolled across the floor.
The women screamed in terror and ran toward the exit. Adrian didn't stop them.
Moments later, dozens of soldiers stormed into the office.
But Adrian had already flown out of the building.
Quest complete.
When Adrian returned home, Riley was there again.
After changing into his normal clothes, he walked into the living room.
"I'm going to eat at a restaurant," he said casually. "Do you want to come?"
Riley's eyes widened.
"C-Can I?"
"Yeah," Adrian replied with a faint smile. "Let's eat something good."
Her face lit up.
They soon arrived at a luxurious five-star restaurant and ordered their meals.
After a short silence, Riley spoke.
"So… why did you suddenly want to go to a restaurant?"
Adrian looked away slightly.
"I wanted to celebrate my promotion."
Riley smiled softly.
"Wow… you're amazing."
After a moment, she hesitated.
"Um… is there anything I can do for you? I feel kind of guilty just staying at home and doing nothing."
Adrian looked at her, surprised.
Then he smiled.
"You already did a lot for me," he said quietly. "If it wasn't for you, I probably would've fallen into depression. It's… nice to have someone at home."
Riley froze.
Her expression shifted—shock, happiness, and something deeper.
"…Is that so?" she said.
But before either of them could say anything else—
BOOM.
The restaurant exploded into chaos as a massive truck smashed through the front wall, glass and debris scattering in every direction. Tables shattered, people screamed, and the smell of smoke filled the air. By pure luck, the truck had narrowly missed Adrian and Riley, leaving them frozen in shock for a brief moment.
Before they could even react, several men stepped out from the smoke. Their expressions were cruel, their hands gripping knives and bats. Adrian's eyes hardened instantly.
"Get behind me," he said calmly.
Riley hesitated for a second but quickly stepped back, her hands trembling. Adrian stood in front of her without hesitation. "Don't worry," he added quietly. "I can handle a few thugs."
One of the men noticed them and walked forward with a disgusting grin. "Mind giving me that girl, little boy?" he said, licking his lips.
Adrian stared at him coldly. "No."
The thug's smile vanished. "Huh? You talking back to me? I'll teach you some manners, kid." In the next instant, all the thugs rushed toward Adrian at once.
But before they could reach him, Adrian moved.
His body blurred, vanishing from their sight. In a heartbeat, he was already among them. A punch sent one thug flying into a wall, a kick shattered another's ribs, and a sharp strike knocked a third unconscious. The fight ended in mere seconds, the thugs collapsing one after another before they even understood what had happened.
Just when Adrian thought it was over, a voice echoed from behind him.
"Don't move."
Adrian turned slowly.
One thug had slipped past him and was now standing behind Riley, a knife pressed against her throat. "Move an inch and I'll kill—" he began, but he never finished his sentence.
In the blink of an eye, Adrian disappeared again and reappeared right in front of him. The thug's eyes widened in shock as a sharp flash of steel cut through the air. The knife fell from his hand, and his body collapsed to the floor.
Silence filled the ruined restaurant.
Adrian immediately grabbed Riley's hand. "We need to go."
Before she could reply, the world around them warped. In the next moment, they were standing inside Adrian's house, far away from the chaos.
Riley was still shaking, her heart racing. She looked at Adrian, her eyes filled with fear… and something else.
"Y-you're… really strong," she whispered softly. "And… thank you. For saving me again."
Adrian smiled faintly. "It's fine," he said quietly. "It's my fault you got dragged into danger in the first place."
That night, neither of them slept peacefully.