"where's chilchuck?"

at that, everyone went silent, looking at laios in both confusion and sadness.

he didn't get an answer.

night approaches, and after they finished preparing the food, it was now time to feast.

laios surprisingly didn't eat anything, and he sat by the porch while staring at the sky with [name].

"only five more minutes before this year ends."

she commented, watching as marcille messed around with magic spells with falin and toshiro in the distance as an attempt to set off fireworks.

"yeah..."

laios muttered, distracted by the stars that twinkled in the darkness of the night.

"everything we went through... everything we've lost— everyone we've lost."

she paused, as if reminiscing something and a frown appeared on her lips.

"the sacrifices you've made, and the consequences that came with it... and yet still, we're here, together."

[name] looks up at him with a fond expression.

"i've said it before and i'll say it again— i'm glad it was with you."

that look of love. laios knew that all too well. after all, he had done it before with her.

"—five! four! three! two! one!"

"the fireworks! it won't work— GYAHHHH!!"

"happy new year!!"

everything was perfect. if he didn't know any better, he would've stayed and lived the rest of his remaining years here.

but he did. and so laios stood up and began marching off to the woods.

"laios?"

[name] called out to him, having been the only one who noticed him straying away.

laios looked back for the last time and he saw her face— pleading for him to stay, before storming off.

he ran and ran until he was out of breath, falling on his knees in the snow.

'how do i get out of here?'

his eyes darted all over the place, searching for a way out and even digging through snow, but to no avail, he found nothing.

that is, until he ran up a hill.

when he reached the top, he was greeted by a door.

the same white door he came through earlier.

without hesitation, laios threw the door open and fell through.

a blinding light flashed him, and before he knew it he fell forward face first on a stone-tiled ground.

wait, he's back!

laios looks around, quickly taking in his environment. yep, this is definitely the dungeon.

he quickly stood up, now wearing his usual armour. he reached behind him and sighed when he felt kensuke back in his place, and immediately rubbed his cheek against the hilt with a relieved sigh.

laios looked behind him to see if the door was still there, and to his shock, there was nothing.

it was as if nothing even happened.

he quickly made his way back to where his party was at, eager to tell them what just happened when—

"la.. ios..."

he froze as he was greeted by the sight of a large webbed hand grabbing him and lifting him up.

"[name]?!"

his brows raised in surprise. did she just speak???

"there you are! we were about to start looking for you. you've been gone for an hour."

laios looked down at chilchuck, and he didn't even bother to hide the grin when he saw him.

somehow, he missed the little guy.

"hey, did [name] just speak?! [name], say it again! oh wait— hey, laios! you're back!"

marcille rubbed her nape sheepishly, embarrassed that she was too distracted to notice that he was back.

"you look shaken up, laios. anything wrong?"

senshi asked him as [name] lifted him up and placed him in her arms as she lays back down on the floor.

"...no, i'm alright."

laios responded. this time, with a firm smile.

'i guess that place was nice... but...'

he glanced around him, taking in the sight of his friends, then to [name] who already had her eyes closed.

'i wouldn't want this any other way.'

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

sad to say but y'all know that chilchuck is the first to go in terms of aging, right guys? :(

ANYWAYS, happy new year everyone! it's a new year and a new start! watch me ruin my life BETTER this year lol

i'm gonna rewatch dungeon meshi again for the fourth time until season 2 is out ;-; LIKE I'M SO EXCITED EVEN THO I ALREADY KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WICHWHHSWHD ryoko kui i love u so much i hope u dont turn into sand :(((

guys farcille is real just like togachako BECAUSE I SAID SO, NO BUTS  >:(((

back to normal chapters after this :D let's hope I don't crash out and disappear for another three months or so ^^

anyways, i wanna thank you guys for sticking around even tho I'm M.I.A most of the time :') seriously, thank u sm, u don't know how much i appreciate y'all

i hope you guys had a wonderful christmas, and i'm wishing everyone a wonderful year to come!