"Over the past year, you've both learned quite a lot from me—but in some ways, you're still a little too naive."
Looking at the two girls who had fallen silent, Evelina let out a soft sigh and said,
"I can tell. Orsaga may not bear us any real malice, but when he speaks, he makes no attempt to hide his sense of superiority or his cold indifference. He's selfish and self-centered—he doesn't even try to conceal it. People like that may not be outright bad, but they're definitely not what you'd call good people either. And with that air of mystery surrounding him—even I can't quite see through it—there's no doubt he's hiding something far beyond what you can imagine. That kind of unknown usually means danger."
"Maybe the danger comes from him personally, or maybe from something around him. That's why I want the two of you to keep your distance from him. At least until you're strong enough to protect yourselves."
With the wisdom of experience, Evelina could see things far more clearly than Iris and Kayla.
She understood that they might feel some admiration for Orsaga, but it was likely born more from that initial rescue than anything else. Add to that his striking appearance, refined demeanor, and eloquence—and the result was a favorable impression that lacked deeper substance.
That's why it was best to lay everything out now, before things got complicated.
Only by doing so could the girls gain a more accurate view of the situation—and judge with clarity, not emotion.
Faced with Evelina's heartfelt warning, Iris and Kayla listened carefully. This was, after all, the mentor who had guided them with care over the past year—almost like a guardian.
And much like Orsaga, Evelina had also once saved their lives—not just one of them, but both. They each owed her a life debt.
Given all that, they couldn't simply ignore her words.
So the two of them began to think deeply.
After exchanging a glance, they finally spoke to Evelina:
"We understand. We'll try our best to stay away from Orsaga."
Hearing their response, Evelina smiled with quiet satisfaction and said gently,
"I'm not saying you should never have anything to do with him. But once you're more mature, more rational—only then will you truly understand what your actions mean, and what kind of impact they could have on your future. By that time, if you still wish to approach him, I won't stand in your way. After all, your lives will ultimately be your own to decide."
She was an open-minded elder, unwilling to force her beliefs onto the next generation.
Of course, when it came to their safety and their future, the necessary warnings and reminders were still essential.
Evelina's words left the two of them deeply moved.
To Iris and Kayla, Evelina hadn't just saved them from spirits years ago—she had also passed down to them precious knowledge and cared for them like a true teacher.
A kindness so immense, they didn't know how they could ever repay it.
---
After parting ways with the three of them, Orsaga wandered the streets.
He had naturally picked up on Evelina's wariness.
No matter how well one hid it, no matter how neutral their expressions or words might be—in the face of overwhelming power, Orsaga, who possessed the ability to feed off negative emotions, could see through all pretense.
He could directly sense someone's truest feelings—whether they held goodwill or hostility.
And from Evelina, what he felt was rejection and vigilance—like a wild beast fiercely protecting its young.
It was a clear, unmistakable emotion.
He found it rather amusing, not upsetting in the slightest.
After all, she wasn't wrong.
He truly wasn't someone you could call "safe"—and he'd never tried to pretend otherwise.
So it was only natural for people to be wary.
He had a clear understanding of what he was.
If someone ever cornered him and beat him to death in the street, he wouldn't think it unfair.
He was fully aware of the kind of things he'd done.
Being feared, hated, hunted down—that was just part of the deal.
He just didn't believe he'd go down that easily.
Because when it came down to it, his strength wasn't some fragile illusion that could be shattered with a touch.
Whether he climbed to the top over the corpses of others, or became a stepping stone for someone else—it would all come down to whose strength was greater.
After casually buying a street snack that resembled skewered candied fruit, Orsaga looked around at the streetlamps glowing warmly in the night, and the bustling crowd living out their nightlife. He made up his mind:
"Guess I'll head to the library for a bit..."
And after that?
It'd be time to reap a fresh batch of monsters and spirits nearby.
He'd give them the privilege of spending the rest of their miserable existences working 24 hours shifts in Eternal Agony.
Seven days a week, full-day shifts!
Endless fun—they'd never get a break!
---
Across the ocean, in the nation of Monteferro.
Silas Gray was riding in a carriage on his way to the estate of a high-ranking official, to attend a formal banquet.
In this world, his background wasn't low. He was a descendant of an ancient noble family.
Though the family no longer held any real political power, their long and storied lineage still preserved a considerable amount of wealth.
And as everyone knew, those in power loved to flaunt a sense of age and heritage—clinging to family histories as a mark of taste and refinement.
So as a true blue-blooded noble heir, Silas Gray found himself enjoying certain social advantages. Most people instinctively viewed him with a bit more respect.
At the very least, they were willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
That was the main reason he'd received an invitation to such a high-level banquet.
Under normal circumstances, given the Gray family's current status, they'd have no access to this tier of the power structure.
Over the past year since his rebirth, he'd weathered several close calls, completed many missions, and earned himself a fair number of system points.
Along with the points he'd saved up from earlier, he had managed to exchange them for a decent level of strength and several emergency-use items.
While he still felt weak when facing anomalies—those irrational, nearly indestructible entities—he no longer needed to be afraid of your average spirits or Monsters.
Unless it was one of those that had gained significant power through large-scale slaughter, he had confidence in holding his own.
At least for now…
He was well aware that the monsters were still in their early stages. In a few years, once the supernatural tide surged in full force, their strength would skyrocket.
When that day came, his current power might let him deal with weaklings—but against a powerful spirit?
He'd be as good as dead.
Which was why increasing his strength had become an urgent priority.
____
T/N:
Hello everyone! My Patreon is just $3 — a perfect opportunity to access 80+ advanced chapters and support the translation.
🔗 patreon.com/user?u=79514336
Or simply search Translator-Sama on Patreon