Future Planning

Lucas returned home, feeling the weight of the day's exertions. As usual, he sat down to eat dinner and chat with his sister, Lucy. The conversation flowed easily, but tonight's topic was different. Lucy couldn't stop talking about the head of the notorious short man that had been displayed in the town center.

"I saw something strange in the town square today," Lucy said, her voice laced with curiosity and a hint of excitement.

"Oh?" Lucas replied, feigning ignorance as he took a bite of his food. "What was it?"

"It was that awful man—the one everyone hates," Lucy said, her eyes widening. "His head was on a pike! Can you believe it?"

Lucas nodded, encouraging her to continue. "Really? What did people say about it?"

"Most people were shocked at first," Lucy admitted, her expression a mix of confusion and satisfaction. "But honestly, it seemed like a lot of them were secretly happy. I don't know how to feel about it myself. He was such a terrible person, always causing trouble. Everyone knew about his misdeeds."

She paused, her eyes searching Lucas's face. "It almost feels... good that he's gone. Is that wrong?"

Lucas put down his fork and looked at her seriously. "It's not wrong to feel relieved when someone who caused so much pain is no longer around. It sounds like the town is safer now."

Lucy nodded slowly, her expression thoughtful. "I guess you're right. It's just so strange to think about. I never expected something like this to happen here."

Lucas shared her sentiment but kept his thoughts about his own involvement to himself. He was pleased that the townsfolk, including his sister, felt a sense of relief and justice.

After dinner, Lucas pushed back his chair and smiled at his sister. "I'm going to turn in early tonight, Lucy. It's been a long day."

Lucy nodded, her eyes reflecting a mix of curiosity and understanding. "Alright, sleep well, Lucas."

Lucas made his way to his room, the weight of the day's events settling on his shoulders. Once inside, he closed the door quietly and leaned against it for a moment, gathering his thoughts

Taking a deep breath, Lucas reached into the system and pulled out the Zeus Mask. He held it in his hands for a moment, feeling the smooth, cold surface beneath his fingers.

With a determined expression, he placed the mask over his face. Instantly, he felt a surge of energy as his senses heightened.

He moved to the window and peered out into the night, scanning the darkened village for any signs of movement. The world seemed sharper, more vivid through the mask's power.

He extended his awareness, searching for any lurking threats. The silence was deep and undisturbed, and no hidden auras revealed themselves.

Satisfied, Lucas removed the mask and placed it back in its hiding spot. He let out a long sigh of relief, feeling the tension drain from his body. "All clear," he murmured to himself, the lines of worry on his face easing.

Now, as Lucas lay on his bed, his thoughts turned to his sister. The threat posed by Black Claw didn't concern him much.

Their village was remote, and it had taken Black Claw six months to deal with the hobgoblin. Lucas doubted they had any two-star warriors or mages. As long as their adversaries remained one-star, he was confident in his ability to handle them.

What truly weighed on his mind was Lucy's future. This village, quaint and isolated, was not a place where they could stay forever.

He would take Lucy with him, of course, and he could protect her. But as he stared at the ceiling, his mind wandered to her feelings.

Lucy had always been the one to shield him when they were children. Now, with the roles reversed, she should be happy to see him strong. Yet, he worried she might feel an emptiness, as if she had lost her place.

"I wonder how she feels about all this," he murmured to himself, his brow furrowing in thought. "She's always been the protector. Does she feel displaced now?"

He sighed, not wanting Lucy to feel undervalued or unimportant. He wanted her to feel just as significant now as she had when she was looking after him. The thought of her feeling anything less gnawed at him.

As he brooded over this, the system suddenly interjected with a tone of almost smug confidence.

[Oh, I can certainly help you with that.]

Lucas bolted upright, his eyes wide with surprise. "What?" he whispered, his heart pounding.

---

In the dimly lit base of Black Claw, Voss paced back and forth, his face a mask of fury. The air was thick with tension as he addressed his henchmen, his voice a low growl. "What was my son doing on the day of his death?"

One of his henchmen, a wiry man with a nervous twitch, stepped forward. "Boss, your son was planning to kidnap a girl from the edge of town that night. He and two other bodyguards took the forest road in the morning to avoid drawing attention from the village."

Voss's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint flashing in them. "Is that so?" His tone was icy, filled with barely restrained rage. "Tell me more about this girl."

The henchman swallowed hard, his voice trembling slightly. "She's just a young girl, well-liked in the village. Nothing special, really."

Voss stopped pacing and turned to face the henchman, his expression dark and menacing. "Nothing special, you say? And yet she's the reason my son is dead."

The henchman flinched under Voss's glare, nodding quickly. "Y-yes, boss. It seems that way."

Voss's lips curled into a sneer as he processed the information. "I see. Then bring her here tomorrow. I want to see the girl who caused my son's death. Whether she was responsible or not, just bring her."

The henchman nodded vigorously, eager to avoid his leader's wrath. "Understood, boss."

Voss dismissed him with a wave of his hand, returning to his thoughts, his mind already plotting his next move. The room fell silent, the weight of Voss's anger palpable as his henchmen hurried to carry out his orders.