As Evan finished his tale, he allowed a rare smile to cross his face, gazing at the reflection of the two won beside him in the still waters of the lake.
"So? How was my storytelling?" he asked, his tone light. "I know I'm not the best storyteller out there, but I'd say I spun that one pretty well."
Beatrix placed a hand on her chin, adopting a contemplative expression. Then, in an overly serious tone, she responded.
"Overall? I'd give you a six out of ten."
Evan turned to her, eyes widening in disbelief.
"Six? Talk about harsh."
"I'm a very strict critic," Beatrix replied matter-of-factly, wearing an almost self-important expression.
Evan chuckled at her words as she continued.
"Breaking it down, I'd give your plot a seven, your world-building a five, and—"
She suddenly paused, realization flashing in her eyes.
"Wait a second. Speaking of world-building… what world was this guy from?"
At that, Artemisia also raised an eyebrow in question.
That was true. Throughout the entire story, Evan never once ntioned the protagonist's ho world.
Hearing this, Evan blinked, then casually said, "Ah. I didn't ntion that, did I? Oh well."
He tilted his head back, eyes drifting toward the night sky, and then, with a faint smile, he spoke.
"The world that led to the artificial creation of the Aries constellation in this galaxy… Earth I."
The mont those words left his lips, Artemisia's expression shifted subtly.
"Earth I… Isn't that the one that was destroyed?"
In this universe, there existed planets known as Replica Earths—worlds terraford and sculpted to mimic the original Earth, a planet that supposedly existed sowhere in the vast cosmos.
These Replica Earths were crafted with such precision that even the alignnt of the stars visible from their surfaces matched that of the original Earth.
The sheer effort and power required to create them spoke volus about the terrifying capabilities of those from the original Earth.
But that was just background.
The important thing was that Earth I was the first Replica Earth discovered in this universe, hence its designation as 'I.'
There was a total of five known Replica Earths scattered across the universe, two of which—Earth I and Earth V—existed within this galaxy, the Orithyia Galaxy.
Of the two, only Earth V remained.
Earth I had been destroyed many years ago.
Thinking about this fact, Beatrix folded her arms, glancing at Evan.
"I guess you must've left before that mysterious disaster hit. To this day, no one knows how Earth I was destroyed."
Evan's response was calm. Almost too calm.
"Of course, no one knows," he said. "I was very thorough, after all."
Silence.
Then—
"Huh?"
A mont passed.
"HUHHHHH?!?!??!!"
Beatrix's eyes widened in utter shock. Even Artemisia, usually composed, couldn't conceal her reaction.
Evan's words just now…
"I was very thorough."
That was the answer to the long-standing mystery of Earth I's destruction.
It wasn't so unknown cosmic disaster—Evan had done it.
He was the one responsible for the annihilation of his ho world.
Ignoring the stunned expressions of the two goddesses, Evan idly toyed with the stick figure in his hands as he continued.
"I made sure to burn every single inch of that world's surface, reducing everything and everyone on it to ashes.
When I was finished, I conjured a supernova in my palm, descended into the Core Dinsion, and stuffed it down the throat of the planet's consciousness' incarnation—then sat back on the moon and watched the world explode."
Artemisia and Beatrix were speechless. Evan truly had been thorough.
"…you destroyed that entire star system."
Beatrix muttered under her breath, revealing that the other planets of the Sol I Star System hadn't been spared.
How could they be? Evan had ignited a SUPERNOVA.
The Sol I Star was obliterated in the explosion, its destruction triggering a secondary nova that blew the remaining seven planets in the system to smithereens, leaving behind only scattered stellar remnants and drifting rocks.
"Why?"
Artemisa voiced that one-word question and Evan shrugged as he responded.
"Simple. The people of that world secured their 'safety' by selling their Hero—a Hero who had spent virtually all his life fighting for them, only to be t with nothing but their curses and frustrations when he couldn't et their unreasonable expectations."
The 'world' itself had arbitrarily bestowed the title of Hero upon a helpless orphan, forcing him into a life of endless battles for their sake, yet without hesitation, it agreed to trade him away for its own survival.
I didn't like that, so I burned it all down."
Did it matter to him that planetary consciousnesses were 100% logical entities—entities that would make any sacrifice, including 'their' own Heroes, to ensure their survival?
No. He gave not a single fuck if the decision was logical or not.
To him, the planet's consciousness, the Unified Governnt, and the masses who cursed him for not saving them and spat on him for surviving the battle against the Infernal Devil Lord, saying he should have died fighting—were all the sa.
So, he burned all ten billion of them to the ground.
"…"
Artemisia regarded Evan in silence, then let out a quiet sigh as she turned her gaze toward the lake.
"Why so surprised? Did you really think I'd turn out to be so benevolent saint who forgave them after all that?
Yeah, right."
Evan rolled his eyes and crushed the stick figure in his palm.
"Their decisions are the reason I've spent the last 3,850 years serving the Kyrexi—assassinating gods from rival factions, fighting in intergalactic wars.
After all that, things like destroying a planet sound cute in comparison.
I didn't even feel any satisfaction from it—I just did it."
Evan rested his hand on his chin, pondering for a mont before speaking.
"A monk from Denerth Pri once told he couldn't wrap his head around how I still had a 'Neutral' Karmic alignnt after everything I'd done.
He was so sure I'd be the evilest guy around.
Guess he hadn't seen much of the universe. If I'm considered 'Evil,' then the Kyrexi belong in the ninth circle of hell."
The mood had turned sombre after Evan spoke.
Then, after a few seconds of silence, he suddenly snapped his fingers and clapped his hands before turning to Beatrix with an upbeat voice.
"Oh, yeah, Beatrix, I almost forgot. McEnda told you FINALLY got Alvey to see you as a potential romantic interest. Congratulations, girl."
He flashed her a thumbs-up, but rather than gratitude, Beatrix's brow twitched in irritation. Not that Evan cared—he kept going.
"Damn, girl, looks like your 3,800 years of hard work finally paid off. Oh, wait—was it actually 3,900? Considering you were chasing him before I was even born? Co to think of it, it might actually be 4,000 by now."
With each number he called, Beatrix's anger visibly mounted. Finally, she reached her limit, shot to her feet, and scread at him.
"Shut the hell up! For starters, Alvey and I are officially in a relationship now, okay?! He saw as a romantic interest centuries ago! We are now an official couple! Get your facts straight!"
Evan gave her a skeptical look.
"You guys are officially in a relationship? You sure it's not just you who thinks you're in a relationship?"
That did it. Beatrix snapped, shoving Evan off his stool and toward the lake. Fortunately, he caught himself at the last second, barely avoiding an impromptu night swim.
Still laughing, he climbed back onto his stool and waved a hand.
"Chill, girl. I'm just ssing with you." He leaned back and smirked. "But still, I gotta say, pinning after the sa guy for 4,000 years? Guess your wish has finally been fulfilled."
Beatrix blinked in confusion.
"What do you an, my wish has been fulfilled? This is just the beginning."
At the expression on her face, Evan covered his mouth, suppressing a chuckle as he thought to himself.
'Alvey Sargon, good luck—you've got an ambitious one on your hands.'
Sowhere in a distant galaxy, a certain Demon Lord scratched his ear, wondering why it was itching all of a sudden.
anwhile, back on Vuketis Pri, Evan asked another question.
"You guys planning to make your relationship public?"
The mont he said it, Beatrix's mood visibly darkened.
Artemisia, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up.
"Of course they can't. Interracial tensions across the universe have been rising lately.
Announcing sothing like that would be begging for trouble—trouble that could spark interracial conflicts, which could then escalate into a full-blown war between gods and demons.
And that war would also affect the vassal planets and galaxies under both races."
Evan blinked at Artemisia's explanation, baffled.
"All this... just because two people decided to date?"
The absurdity of it was almost laughable.
At his words, Artemisia gave him an incredulous look.
"Evan, are you forgetting who those two people are? If it were just so random god and demon, no one would care. But she, Beatrix—"
"Kirone!"
Beatrix cut in sharply, leaning forward as she repeated.
"KI-RO-NE!"
Artemisia sighed, rolled her eyes, and corrected herself.
"Kirone."
Evan chuckled at the little exchange but let Artemisia continue.
"Kirone is the daughter of the Supre god Queen—arguably the second most powerful god-race mber in the known universe.
Alvey, on the other hand, is an Upper-Class demon noble, a Lower-Second. He's also a 'Demon Lord', and not just any 'Lord', but the strongest of his generation.
He's closely tied to the prestigious McEnda household and personally sponsored by them. And let's not forget, Alvey has accomplished far more than demons thrice his age—and with half the effort.
The demons want to keep those exceptional genes within their own race."
Pointing at Beatrix, she continued.
"The sa applies to Kirone on the gods' side. If the two of them were to openly declare their relationship, the 72 Demon Kings and the gods of Aidos' Council of Kings—"
Artemisia paused, placing a hand on her chin before correcting herself.
"No, not just the gods. The entire Council would have sothing to say about it.
Bottom line? They won't let it happen."
Hearing this, Evan turned to Beatrix and spoke with a concerned tone.
"I don't really know what to say, but… good luck. Hope your relationship turns out well."
Beatrix let out a quiet sigh.
With her personality, keeping sothing like this a secret was beyond frustrating. She had fought so hard to finally get what she wanted, yet now she had to pretend it didn't exist.
But the logical part of her knew there was no other way—not yet. For both her sake and Alvey's, they couldn't make it public. Not when they still lacked the power to silence anyone who dared to oppose them.
Until they reached that level, their relationship would have to remain in the shadows.
"I guess that's part of why you guys are helping for 'tomorrow,' huh?"
Evan muttered, his voice thoughtful.
Beatrix, who had been silent, looked away before finally responding with a single word.
"…Yeah."
Her voice was flat, almost unreadable. Evan noticed, but he chose not to comnt on it. Instead, he simply moved on.
"Then I guess you guys should get so rest. Tomorrow's gonna be a long day, after all."
Just as he said that, space behind them suddenly tore open, and a voice echoed in the area.
[I should say the sa to you, Evan.]
All three simultaneously turned towards the new arrival, their eyes locking onto the familiar figure of a woman. Her long black hair cascaded down to her waist, curling slightly at the tips. She had a delicate, doll-like appearance, her noble gold eyes narrowing as they settled on Evan.
She was clad in a simple shift dress that reached just past her knees, dyed in a muted shade of deep indigo. A subtle embroidery of silver thread traced the hem, forming a pattern that matched that of the silver ornant perched on the side of her head.
Her feet were adorned with plain flat shoes, matching the dress in colour.
Seeing her, Evan broke into a smile and extended his arms for a hug.
"Kayla."
The woman—the Spirit Empress—caught his hands and pushed them down, but before she could say a word, he slipped free from her grasp and pulled her into a hug instead.
"Mhm. A Kayla a day keeps the terrors of the universe at bay."
Beatrix chuckled at Evan borrowing a page from her book, while Kayla gave him an incredulous look and echoed Artemisia's earlier words.
[What do you think I am, Evan?]
"Terror Repellent."
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