Chapter 238: The Weight of Words

Gideon then purchased several tools, large sacks, and other supplies from the system for them.

Fortunately, they didn’t require vehicles. As system soldiers, they could march through the freezing wilderness without worrying about exhaustion or hypothermia.

Finally, he summoned a map from his system storage and unfolded it before them.

"This marks the route back to the Safe Zone. Deliver everything there. Understood?"

The fifteen soldiers nodded in unison without asking a single question.

"Good. I need to leave now. When you reach Cinders of Dusk, tell my people you’re working under the Chief’s orders."

Gideon turned toward the massive wall of ice and began carving through its base with the Unbreakable Sword.

Chunks of ice crashed to the ground one after another until a passage wide enough for two or three people to walk through side by side connected both sides of the canyon.

It was far more practical than forcing the teams to climb over it.

Satisfied, he returned to his vehicle.

By the time he started the engine, the newly hired personnel had already split into their assigned groups and begun carrying out his orders without hesitation.

Gideon gave them one last glance before driving back toward Cinders of Dusk.

By the time the Safe Zone came into view, night had completely fallen.

Dozens of aberrants had already gathered outside the barrier, clawing and slamming themselves against the invisible wall in a futile attempt to reach the people inside. The barrier remained unmoved.

Meanwhile, the Defense Towers continued their relentless bombardment. Cannons roared across the night as shells tore through the approaching aberrants, reducing them to mangled corpses before they could even reach the walls.

No one came to greet him at this hour. Only a few patrol members spotted his vehicle and offered respectful nods before resuming their duties.

As he drove deeper into the Safe Zone, the once-barren construction site had transformed into a simple apartment building, warm lights shining through several windows.

Tomorrow, the residential project will officially be completed.

Not every planned building had been finished, but there were finally enough homes for everyone to survive the winter without relying on tents.

Better yet, Gideon could dismantle the remaining tents and sell them back to the system, earning a decent amount of Love Coins to chip away at his ever-growing debt.

When he entered his own house—a modest Mediterranean-style villa compared to the grand mansions of the old world—he was immediately greeted by raised voices.

The warmth of the living room contrasted sharply with the cold silence outside.

Gideon quietly stepped inside and leaned against the doorway, deciding to watch without interrupting.

"What do you want from me?" Delilah shouted, her voice trembling despite her desperate attempt to stay composed. "I’ve already apologized! I’ve told you everything I can tell you! What else do you want me to do?"

Across from her, Freya had long since broken into tears.

"I want you to try harder!" she cried, her voice cracking. "Even if you had to do it in secret, you could’ve looked for him! You could’ve tried!"

"And get all three of us killed for betraying multiple factions?" Delilah shot back.

"Have you lost your mind, Freya? No matter what I do, I’m always the villain in your eyes! Your father is alive, and he chose not to come back. He didn’t want to see either of us! He’s selfish, he’s cruel, and everything you’ve believed about him is a lie!"

Freya stared at her through tear-filled eyes. Her shoulders shook violently as she struggled to breathe.

"...Maybe," she whispered. "Maybe you’re right. Maybe I don’t know who he really is anymore."

Freya’s trembling hands slowly clenched into fists.

"But I still wish..." Her voice broke completely. "I wish it had been you instead. I wish you were the one who died... not him."

The words hung in the air like a blade.

Delilah stood motionless, her face drained of all color.

Freya’s own eyes widened as the sentence finally registered.

"Mom... I..."

She instinctively reached forward.

Delilah flinched away. A sharp gasp escaped her lips as one hand flew to her stomach.

"...Ah..."

Blood slowly trickled down her leg before dripping onto the polished wooden floor.

Delilah suddenly collapsed to her knees, both hands clutching her stomach as an agonizing groan escaped her lips.

"Ah...!"

The pain was so intense that her entire body curled forward.

Freya froze for only a heartbeat before dropping beside her, panic replacing every trace of anger.

"Mom?! Mom, what’s wrong?!" She grabbed Delilah’s shoulders, her voice breaking into a scream. "Someone, help!"

Gideon was already moving.

In an instant, he knelt beside Delilah and supported her trembling body. The moment his eyes fell to the growing pool of blood beneath her, his heart skipped a beat.

No...

His breathing quickened, but he forced himself to remain calm.

"It’s okay," he said softly, placing a steady hand on her shoulder. "You’re going to be okay."

Then he raised his voice. "Elaine! Get down here! Now!"

The response came immediately.

Elaine’s room was on the second floor, and hurried footsteps thundered down the staircase before she rushed into the living room.

One glance at Delilah’s condition was enough for her expression to change completely.

"We need to get her to the clinic." Elaine knelt beside Delilah and quickly examined her. "It’s freezing outside. Cover her with your coat."

"It’s my fault!" Freya sobbed uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face. "It’s all my fault! I’m sorry, Mom! I’m so sorry!"

Gideon didn’t answer. He shrugged off his heavy winter coat and carefully draped it over Delilah before lifting her into his arms.

"Hold on."

Without another word, he sprinted out of the house.

The blizzard greeted him immediately, snow and icy wind slamming against his face, but Gideon ignored everything around him.

His eyes remained fixed on the path ahead while warm blood continued dripping from beneath the coat, staining the snow behind him with every step.

’No... Don’t think about it. Just get there.’

Moments later, he kicked open the clinic’s entrance and hurried inside before gently laying Delilah onto one of the examination beds.

Elaine arrived only seconds behind him, already preparing the equipment she needed.

"Gideon." Her voice remained calm despite the urgency. "You have to step outside. Let me handle this."

He hesitated.

"She’ll be okay, right?" His voice came out quieter than he expected. "The baby..."

Elaine met his eyes before giving a small shake of her head.

"I don’t know yet." She pulled a curtain around the bed. "The room is too cramped. I’ll do everything I can, but I need space to work."

For several seconds, Gideon didn’t move. Finally, he gave a silent nod and stepped outside.

The emergency room wasn’t actually small. Two people could work comfortably inside, but with him standing there, every movement became more difficult.

The curtain closed. The door remained shut.

And all Gideon could do now was wait and pray.