What does it mean that the Demon King was killed by a wheelchair?

The icy ocean current seeped in through Doan's fingers, and the cold seawater would quickly steal away a person's body temperature.

Not to mention the children in their teens, even adults like Omia and House were quite cold.

But as wave after wave of seawater pounded against his face, even though his hair was completely soaked and his body was shivering with cold...

The children, however, tried their best to remain quiet and still, embracing each other for warmth...

Because they knew that the mysterious giant who was now swimming desperately in the sea must be even more severely frozen.

Because the shores of the White Whale Sea are close to the north, they even freeze over in winter. Every breath Doan took felt like his lungs were filled with ice shards, and Kiaran was really afraid he would faint.

But this usually unreliable Kraken suddenly unleashed an astonishing will. He spread his mighty arms and charged forward madly through the surging sea.

No one knew how much time had passed, but when Kiaran looked back, there was nothing left but the sea.

"Hey! That's enough, Doan! Doan! Let's get ashore! We've swum far enough!"

Kiaran shouted frantically in his ear, but Doan, already exhausted, didn't have the strength to respond.

He gritted his teeth and changed his swimming style to backstroke. Then he swung his legs wildly, using his broad back to push through the waves, moving forward like a surfboard.

This will slow down the dissipation of his energy.

Maintaining this posture, the group finally began to approach land again.

I don't know how much time has passed since I escaped from the Forest of Fallen Giants.

Kiaran looked up at the sky; the sun was already beginning to rise.

Finally, when House heard a loud 'boom,' Doan's fingers, which had been clenched for hours, finally loosened.

Exhausted, Mr. Kraken collapsed to his knees on the beach, his chest heaving wildly.

He frowned in pain, his huge mouth wide open, and he inhaled a massive amount of air into his lungs. Lying down like this after strenuous exercise would only cause more harm, but Duo'an understood this principle. However, he simply didn't have the strength to move at all.

Seeing this, Omia quickly took out six bottles of milky-white potion from her pouch and handed them to House, saying:

"Mr. House! These are some [Circulation Potions] I concocted. They can enhance blood and respiratory circulation. Quickly, give them to him; they can save his life!"

House was also a bit confused: "How...how many bottles? Should we just force-feed them all to him?!"

Omia bit her lower lip as she pondered:

"Hmm... most humans would drink half a bottle or more... but this Mr. Doan is so big... oh well, he'll drink it all!"

"Okay, got it!" House quickly wheeled his wheelchair next to Doan's large head. "Alan!"

Kiarlan nimbly jumped over, took the medicine bottle House handed her, and pulled out the cork completely.

As the thick, white liquid flowed into the giant monster's mouth in one gulp, Doan frowned and coughed violently.

"Cough...cough cough cough! Cough cough cough!"

His massive body undulated on the beach, but the convulsions lasted only a dozen seconds. When the ground beneath Kiaran's feet settled again, Doan's chest finally stopped heaving violently.

"..."

"..."

House was shocked: "Holy crap! Something's not right! It can't be completely flat! Brother Doan!? Brother Doan!!"

Swish!

Suddenly a huge arm rose from the ground, startling House.

Doan gave a thumbs-up, closed his eyes, and whispered:

"I...I feel much better...Just let me rest for a while, and I'll be able to...cough cough cough...stand up again soon."

"Phew... It's alright. You swam from dawn till daybreak, and those goblins say they can't catch up with us for now. You should rest for a bit."

House wrung out the water from his clothes, exchanged a glance with Chiarand, and then turned his wheelchair to check on everyone's condition.

House felt a pang of heartache looking at the little ones clutching his clothes tightly.

"you..."

House, who had no experience taking care of children, was a little speechless. He wanted the little girls to take off their soaking wet clothes to prevent hypothermia and colds, but he was also a little embarrassed to speak up...

Just then, a girl struck up a conversation with him.

Actually, these children had been wanting to ask this question from beginning to end.

But because they were very sensible, they held back until now before daring to speak to House.

The girl had long, curly, reddish-gold hair, paired with large, sky-blue eyes and thin lips.

She'll probably grow up to be a very beautiful woman.

A trembling sound came from her nose, and her eyes and nose were red and swollen, but no tears came out. Had she already cried herself dry?

The girl's aggrieved gaze held the last glimmer of hope:

"Big brother...Mom, Dad...aren't they coming back?"

These words instantly made House put on a mask of pain.

He didn't want to deceive these children... but he simply didn't have the courage to tell them the cold truth.

In reality, how could these sensible children not know the answer to this question?

But such a huge change occurred in just a few hours.

The village they depended on for survival was destroyed, and all their beloved family members were separated by death...

They are still children who are not yet adults. Even if they know the answer rationally, they still cannot accept the fact emotionally.

They endured the pain and asked House again to confirm.

It was just an attempt to confirm that sliver of "impossibility" once again.

The other children, who were also silently bowing their heads, were waiting for House's reaction.

But House's silence... was already the answer.

He didn't want to lie, even though it was cruel, but from now on these children would be all alone.

They need to grow up earlier...

House exhaled with a trembling breath, his face contorted in pain:

"I'm sorry... I couldn't save your parents..."

Upon hearing this, the girl's body jerked violently, and her vision went completely black. An overwhelming sense of dizziness spread from the top of her head to her entire body, and she almost collapsed to the ground on the spot.

But she held on. She was a strong girl. She tried her best to straighten her distorted features and responded to House with a bitter smile through her sobs:

"No...no...I know...big brother...waaaaah...I've already...tried my best...waaaaah...waaaah ...

But the girl ultimately couldn't bring herself to say the word of "comfort." The last string in her heart finally snapped under the strain.

Overwhelmed with pain and grievance, the children could no longer suppress their overwhelming sorrow and burst into uncontrollable tears.

But their cries couldn't even move the sea.

The sound of the waves crashing on the beach was deafening, instantly drowning out the children's cries.

Upon seeing this scene, a loud buzzing sound pierced House's eardrums without warning, making him dizzy.

He had a sullen face.

I don't know if it was the sound of the waves or the crying that caused his tinnitus.

"Miss Omia..." House said softly, "Why don't you take the children to change their clothes... so they don't catch a cold."

Omia wiped her reddened eyes and sniffled:

"Okay... everyone... you're all amazing, but you'll catch a cold if you keep wearing soaking wet clothes... I'll help you..."

Kiaran, his face grim, walked over from the side, carrying the wood twigs he had just picked up.

"...Let me help you. Do you know fire magic?"

When Omia saw Kiaran come over to help, she was taken aback. After all, the two of them were not familiar with each other, and Omia had previously thought that this receptionist was unusually difficult to get along with.

But seeing the other person's nose also stained red, Omia forced a bitter smile:

"Um...!"

House, pushing his wheelchair away from the crowd behind him, watched as the sounds faded away, his expression a complex mix of emotions as he looked at the large words that appeared before him:

Main quest completed.

[We have assisted Kiaran in recovering the royal artifact]

【...】

[Task rating: E-]

Mission failed.

[You gave the lowest possible score, you didn't protect anything... and you still dare to ask for a reward? How shameless... You don't deserve anything.]

[Hmph...full of loopholes.]

House has never hated the system as much as he does now.

On one hand, he was already in a terrible mood because of his failure, and on the other hand, this damn system was adding fuel to the fire and rubbing salt into his wounds.

On the other hand, House's inner turmoil also fueled his anger...

Although he was extremely reluctant to admit it, it was indeed the truth...

If it weren't for my help to Rudik, none of this tragedy would have happened.

The inner conflict made him clench his fists so tightly they cracked.

"call......"

But after letting out a long sigh of relief, he put on a different expression.

He stared with contempt and rage at Trettor, who lay sprawled on the beach, barely clinging to his last breath.

"Alright, fucking... now I have time, you little bastard... shall we talk?"