Lavena couldn't believe what she was seeing.
Right there on the counter lay a dungeon core.
She had thought he was joking — maybe he had just come to ask another question.
But no. He had actually finished the mission in a single day.
And the most irritating part? He wore the expression of someone who found it completely unremarkable.
"Y-you're already done? That fast?" she stammered, eyes wide.
"Hahahah, I know what you're thinking, but— Harrrr…" He sighed. "I just got lucky. The dungeon had only one floor, full of Corrupted Spirits. The area was small, and all the monsters were grouped together. Made things easier."
"Even so, that's incredible…" she admitted, finally accepting the truth.
She took his card and the core and began processing the mission completion.
While she worked, Evo casually pulled out a skewer of grilled squid, its delicious aroma drifting toward Lavena, who turned to him with curiosity.
He smiled warmly and handed it over.
"Here. Bought it for you near the port," he said, offering it.
She accepted it with a charming smile. "Thanks, Evo. It smells amazing."
She placed it on a small plate beside her and handed him his card.
"Here you go. Your points have been added to the Guild's bank."
Evo suddenly remembered something.
"Oh right, one more thing. How many points do you usually need to buy something decent at the Guild store?"
"Hmmm…" She tapped her chin. "For a decent purchase, around a hundred thousand points."
"Fiuuu…" He whistled. "That's a lot. I'll have to take on a ton of missions."
After saying goodbye, Evo headed toward the office of the two women who constantly robbed him of his peace and sanity — and, in more ways than one, his self-control.
"Hahaha, I bet she's already drinking," he muttered, imagining Ravina lecturing while Freya sipped something strong.
He knocked on the door.
"Come in!"
The moment he stepped inside, he nearly fell over in shock.
Freya was working.
Yes — actually sitting at her desk, focused.
No alcohol. No lounging on the couch.
It felt like witnessing the impossible. Evo froze in disbelief, which immediately drew a scowl from her.
"What's with that face, you evil? I can work too!"
"You?" he asked, stunned.
"Don't insult me, mutt!" she snapped, throwing her pen at him.
"Ow—! Sorry, sorry! Haha, I was just surprised!" He bent down, picked up the pen, and placed it back on her desk.
Then the reason for that miracle became clear. He turned his head and spotted Ravina on the sofa, arms crossed, glaring daggers at Freya — who was sweating bullets.
Ah. That explained everything.
"HAHAHAHAHA!" Evo burst into laughter. "So that's it! For a second, I thought you'd actually matured—but no, you're just being supervised!"
Freya's face turned crimson as she crushed her pen between her fingers.
"Don't laugh, idiot! You're awful! Both of you!"
"Hahahah, come on. For a moment, I really thought you'd changed. But it was just a sermon and surveillance duty."
"You're saying I'm not mature?" she hissed.
"Well... maybe in appearance. But the rest? Nope." He shook his head. "Totally childish."
"I agree," Ravina added calmly. "Evo's right."
Evo shot her a discreet wink, and she smirked back, clearly enjoying the scene.
Freya's lips trembled. "You two are against me! You planned this, didn't you?!"
She began smacking Evo's chest lightly, half crying in frustration.
He laughed uncontrollably.
In that moment, he didn't look like the usual distant, cold Evo.
With those two, he was… happy. Genuinely happy.
The air felt warm, almost like home.
"Alright, alright, I'm sorry, my little stalker," he said, chuckling.
"I'm not a stalker," she muttered with a pout that made her lips look even fuller.
"So cute," he mumbled, grinning. "Anyway, I brought some food for us. Come on, both of you — to the table."
Freya immediately dropped the act, jumping on his back like a monkey. Evo sighed, though internally, he didn't mind the "soft pressure" against him.
He held her by the thighs and placed her down in a chair as she giggled like a kid.
"I went to a dungeon south of the capital and bought these."
He unwrapped the food, and the scent filled the entire office. Even Ravina, who was usually composed, looked like she was about to drool.
He set the skewers on a small tray.
"Hahahah, what's with those faces? Go on, eat — they're for you."
"Thanks, Ev! You're the best!" Freya said, biting eagerly.
"Thank you, Evo. It smells wonderful," Ravina added, taking one as well.
Evo watched them in silence… and then something stirred inside him.
A warmth — gentle, strange, comforting.
Seeing them smile, laughing, enjoying themselves, filled him with a deep sense of peace.
It was rare. Foreign.
Maybe because he'd never known what genuine companionship felt like before.
Without realizing it, Freya and Ravina were becoming his anchors — the light that would remain even when everything else fell apart.
A small tear rolled down his cheek.
"What's wrong, Evo?" Ravina asked softly.
"Huh?" He blinked, confused.
Freya leaned forward. "Why are you crying, Ev?"
He touched his cheek, feeling the dampness.
"Haha—crying? Nah. Probably an eyelash in my eye, that's all. Don't worry. Keep eating."
He forced a smile and stood up. "I'm gonna rest a bit. See you later."
He left quickly, almost running.
The two women stayed silent, staring at the door.
Neither could explain what they had just witnessed.
Evo, who always radiated pride and confidence, who always stood above everyone else...
had looked fragile. Vulnerable.
Like even a feather could shatter him.
Neither of them believed his excuse.
"What was that, Ravina?" Freya asked softly.
Ravina sighed. "Honestly? I don't know. He's never acted like that before. Not with us, not with anyone. It was… new. Let's just wait. Maybe one day he'll tell us."
"I'm worried…" Freya murmured, her voice barely audible.
If Evo could have seen the heavy mood he left behind, he would've hated himself for ruining such a peaceful moment.
Back in his room, he collapsed face-first into his pillow.
What was that? Why did I act like that in front of them?
Obviously, they hadn't believed his lame excuse.
He groaned, burying his face deeper.
He turned over, trying to make sense of that emotion — that warmth that scared him.
The truth was, he was terrified.
And the more he tried to forget, the more it lingered.
Eventually, exhaustion took over.
He dreamed that night — but couldn't remember a thing when he woke.
By morning, his usual expression had returned… though colder than before.
Inside, however, he was mortified.
He didn't want to see either of them — afraid he'd freeze up and not know what to say.
He dressed and went to class, looking completely drained, dark circles under his eyes.
It wasn't even a mandatory lecture day, so the classroom was nearly empty.
He didn't even know why he'd gone — maybe just to keep himself busy and forget the embarrassment.
When Blanche, Lívia, and Professor Elizabeth saw him walk in, they froze.
The ever-proud, ever-composed Evo looked... wrecked.
Slouched posture, messy hair, tired eyes — like he'd come back from an all-nighter.
He ignored everyone and sat in his usual corner, resting his head on his folded arms.
A week passed like that.
Evo avoided Freya and Ravina at all costs, throwing himself into the Order's assignments instead.
He spent his days circling the Academy, memorizing every corridor, every corner — until Saturday, the day of the next meeting.
Standing before the hidden entrance, he checked his pocket watch.
"Well… it's time."
And with that, he stepped inside, heading to his seat — ready to wait for the others.