Bruce didn't respond immediately.

His eyes skimmed further down the announcement.

[Note: All released footage will be reviewed and edited to comply with guild regulations and public safety standards.]

Bruce exhaled quietly through his nose.

'…What are they planning to do with the part where I killed Ozai?'

The thought surfaced instantly.

That wasn't something meant for public eyes. Not politically. Not socially. Not with Ozai being who he was.

Bruce leaned back slightly, expression calm but distant.

'It's not really my problem,' he decided after a moment.

The Adventurer Guild had deep ties with the Thorn family. And Ozai, despite everything, still carried the weight of a future heir. There was no chance they would let footage of his death circulate publicly.

The cleanest solution was also the simplest.

Cut him out entirely.

Edit every clip. Remove every trace. Let Ozai report to his family that he chose not to join the adventurer trial.

He'll be punished for that yeah. But by doing that he'll avoid major trouble...

Bruce nodded faintly, satisfied with the conclusion.

Lucy glanced at him. "Is that… bad?"

"No," Bruce replied calmly. "They'll handle it."

He straightened, gaze drifting back to his own bracelet as the V-Net continued to update in real time.

The world was moving.

Fast.

And whether people realized it or not,

They were already stepping into a new era.

But for now,

That could wait.

Lucy lowered her bracelet and exhaled softly, shaking her head as if trying to clear it. "This V-Net thing… it's overwhelming," she said, half-amused, half-dazed. "One moment I'm checking news, the next I'm talking to merchants from the northern trade routes."

Bruce smiled faintly. "You adapt fast."

"That's because I have to," she replied lightly, then glanced at Lily. "Someone here keeps growing faster than I can keep up with."

Lily puffed her cheeks. "Mom, I'm still small!"

Ash, who had been quietly gnawing on a large piece of meat nearby, lifted its head and nodded solemnly.

Lucy stared. "Did… did it just agree with her?"

Ash wagged its tail.

Bruce chuckled. "Don't worry. He sides with whoever feeds him last."

"That's betrayal," Lily gasped dramatically. "Ash, I thought we were friends!"

Ash tilted its head, then scooted a little closer to Lily.

"…Okay, maybe you're forgiven," Lily said magnanimously.

Lucy couldn't help but laugh. The sound was soft, tired, but genuine. "I still can't believe all of this happened today," she said after a moment. "Dungeon outbreaks, dragons, V-Net… and you," she looked at Bruce, "acting like it's just another long day."

Bruce shrugged. "It kind of was."

Lily leaned forward eagerly. "Big brother, big brother! Mom, did he tell you about the flying part? Ash went whooosh, then down, then up again!"

Lucy sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "She already told me. In great detail. With sound effects."

"They were important sound effects!" Lily protested.

Ash let out a small growl that sounded suspiciously like agreement.

Bruce laughed quietly. "See? Even Ash agrees."

Lucy looked between the three of them, her daughter, her son, and the strange little dragon curled comfortably on the floor, and shook her head. "I swear… if anyone told me a year ago that this would be my life now, I'd have laughed them out of the house."

"And yet here we are," Bruce replied.

For a moment, silence settled again, but this time, it was warm.

Safe.

Lily leaned back in her chair, patting her stomach. "Mom, the food was really good today."

Lucy smiled. "I'm glad. I tried something new with the stew."

Ash crawled over and rested its head near the table, eyes wide and hopeful.

Lucy raised a brow. "…You already had enough."

Ash's ears drooped.

Lily giggled. "Ash is pretending to be sad!"

Bruce reached down and tossed it a small piece anyway. "Don't tell your mom."

Lucy rolled her eyes but didn't stop him. "You're both terrible influences on each other."

"But we're happy," Lily said simply.

Lucy paused.

Then smiled softly. "Yes," she said. "You are."

Outside, the city was still buzzing. News spreading. Rumors growing. The world shifting under everyone's feet.

But inside the house,

There was laughter.

And for tonight, that was enough.

Bruce had just finished cleaning up when Lily padded into the room, still holding her wooden spear with both hands like it was something precious. She hesitated for a second, rocking slightly on her heels, then looked up at him with bright, expectant eyes.

"Big brother," she said softly.

"Yes?" Bruce replied, turning toward her.

Lily lifted the spear a little higher. "Instructor gave us homework today."

"Homework?" Bruce raised an eyebrow, amused.

She nodded quickly. "Mhm! She said we have to learn a martial art that fits our weapon. Then tomorrow, we'll spar with each other and show what we learned."

She puffed out her chest a little, clearly proud. "I picked the spear."

Bruce glanced at the wooden weapon in her hands. It fit her height well, simple but balanced. He smiled.

"That's a good choice."

Lily's eyes sparkled. "Really?"

"Really," he said. "Spears are honest weapons. They reward patience and good footing."

She tilted her head. "So… can you teach me?"

Bruce paused for half a second.

Then he chuckled. "I could. But let's do it properly."

Lily blinked. "Properly?"

"Mm." He tapped his bracelet. "If you're going to learn, you might as well learn something good."

Her face lit up instantly. "Yay!"

Bruce stepped aside and activated his ThornTech bracelet. The familiar holographic interface shimmered to life as he selected a secure channel.

The call connected almost immediately.

"Bruce?" Bale's voice came through, sounding mildly surprised. "Whats up? By the way thanks for the help. You're rewards are coming soon don't worry... Though I'm not gonna lie I wasn't expecting your call. Though the fact you called so soon is it another dungeon—"

"No dungeon," Bruce interrupted calmly. "I just need a spear art manual."

***

A/N:

Sorry if it seems the plot is not progressing. After this Lily would get a major character development...

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