Evan POV

  I downed the recall potion and instantly warped back—straight into my bed in the mansion, like always.

  Aisha: “O-Onii-chan! BAKA!”

  Evan: “Acting cute still won’t get you a recall potion.”

  Walter: “Honestly? You kinda brought that one on yourself.”

  Aisha: “FINE!”

  I’ve got to do something about Aisha’s laziness before it becomes a full-blown national crisis.

  I hopped off the bed, and—of course—found myself smack in the middle of a full-blown emotional disaster.

  Everyone was here.

  By ’everyone,’ I mean the full boss squad: Nezha, Luna, Mia, and Tifa. All gathered in my room, hovering around Faith and Hope—who were both crying their eyes out on the floor like I’d just been erased from existence.

  “Uhhh... I’m back,” I said awkwardly.

  All eyes snapped toward me.

  The twins turned with tear-streaked faces, their eyes lighting up like two flickering lanterns—and then they launched themselves at me like I was a grappling point in Terraria.

  WHAM.

  I could barely breathe as I staggered back under the double assault of affection.

  What followed was a chaotic ten minutes of trying to calm them down while they absolutely refused to let go of me. They cried until they passed out, both curled up in my lap on the bed, still tightly clutching the hems of my armor like I might disappear again.

  I laid there gently running my hands through their hair as they laid down on my chest, letting out soft little snores and purrs—adorable, heart-wrenching, and exhausting.

  Meanwhile, the rest of the room looked like a silent tribunal.

  Nezha sat with arms crossed. Luna had that ‘I’m not mad, just disappointed’ look. Mia looked concerned alongside Tifa.

  They wanted answers.

  So I told them.

  About the Ice Orc village. About Zotl. About Zuri. About the diary page and the forgotten Heroes.

  As I spoke, Nezha’s expression shifted into recognition.

  “We had to remain neutral toward all races,” she said calmly. “The Ice Orcs were no different. But during your expedition to the snowy mountains, your team went missing. We requested help from the Ice Orcs for a rescue mission.”

  She paused.

  “By the time they agreed… your team had already returned.”

  “Huh? That’s weird. The Chief told me I came up there for diplomatic relations,” I said, confused.

  Nezha nodded. “Well, you were the squad leader and you did vanish for a whole day too. So, I suppose your actions were… justifiable.”

  All eyes shifted to me again.

  I scratched the back of my head, giving them my best sheepish grin.

  I glanced outside—sunset was already painting the sky orange.

  Evan: “Yo, Aisha, how’s your progress?”

  Aisha: “Thankfully, I’m no longer in the snow biome now... but it’ll still take me about three hours to get home.”

  …

  Is she actually an idiot?

  Walter: “Evan, c’mon. Can’t you just forgive her and pick us up?”

  Correction. They’re both idiots.

  Evan: “FLIPPIN’ GO TO A CAVE! At most, it'll take you 30 minutes to find one and 15 more to score a recall potion! And that’s seriously stretching it! On average, it takes like... 10 minutes, tops!”

  Aisha: “Oh... right. Didn’t think of that.”

  Walter: “Yeah, same.”

  Evan: “IT’S BASIC MATH, YOU NEANDERTHALS!”

  Aisha: “Alright, alright! Expect Walter to be revived soon.”

  Evan: “Good. I’ve got stuff to handle here anyway. Catch you both later.”

  Aisha: “Gotcha.”

  Walter: “Peace.”

  I let out a long sigh. Finally, some quiet—

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Oh right. That reminds me.

  “Hey Nez—uh, I mean Mom... where’s Dad?”

  Nezha looked up casually. “Hm? He didn’t tell you?”

  “Didn’t tell me what?”

  For a moment, I swear I saw a glint of mischief in her eyes.

  “Ohh! Then it must be a secret, isn’t that right, Luna?”

  “Huh? Ah... yes,” Luna answered, giving her mother a suspicious glance, then looking at me with a small, awkward smile.

  I narrowed my eyes. “Will he be okay?”

  Nezha’s smile turned nostalgic. “He was the strongest warrior in our tribe... second only to your actual father.”

  Wait, Reid’s dad?

  That guy. What was his name again?

  Name: Reid Sord (Evan Langford)

  Oh yeah—Sord.

  “My father was strong?”

  Nezha nodded proudly. “He was Helputt’s brother.”

  Wait… what?!

  My brain did a double take. “Hold up. That means... Luna and I are cousins?”

  Nezha tilted her head, looking thoughtful for half a second... before flashing a wicked grin.

  “Luna, isn’t being cousins better? That would make it so that you can easily mar-”

  “M-MOM!? What are you saying!?”

  Luna looked mortified, face flushing bright red as she shot a series of frantic glances at me.

  Meanwhile, Nezha was having the time of her life watching her daughter squirm.

  ...I had no clue what was going on, and honestly? I wasn’t sure I wanted to.

  Anyway.

  Back to business.

  I turned to Tifa, who had wisely stayed silent during the cousin scandal.

  “Tifa, can you go back to your kingdom and get those stars I asked for?”

  I had asked Elizabeth earlier to gather as many Fallen Stars as she could—with help from the other elves, of course.

  I could do the same with the human kingdom for help but I didn’t. Why?”

  Well, that’s simple.

  The elves trust me more.

  Tifa looked off to the side and mumbled under her breath. “It’s not my kingdom… but sure.”

  Hmm… it kinda is though, isn’t it? But hey, I still don’t really get how this world’s political hierarchy works, so I decided not to question it.

  I gave her a nod and finally stood up from the bed—moving carefully, very carefully. Wouldn’t want to wake up the two tiny ticking time bombs currently curled up and snoozing on top of me like I was their bed and pillow.

  “Once you get the stars, drop them into my chest over there,” I whispered, pointing to the golden one tucked in the corner of my room. “Then head back to the coliseum in the human kingdom—the one we just left—and meet me at the Adventurer’s Guild.”

  Since I’m going to grab both Lucy, Oswald, Aisha and Walter from there, it’s better if we all meet up there.

  “Of course, if you have other things to do then don’t mind me.” I said but she shook her head.

  “It’s alright. I’ll see you there. I don’t want to stay in my kingdom either way.” After speaking her mind, she quietly slipped out of the room.

  Honestly, Tifa is slowly turning into that cousin who just follows you around cause they don’t know anything. But since I know her pain, I’m a bit lenient with her.

  Now then…

  “Alright, I’ve got to go pick up my students,” I said, glancing at Nezha and Luna. “So I’m leaving the kids in your care again.” I made a peace sign.

  “Of course,” Nezha replied calmly.

  I looked at the bed and Faith and Hope were still sound asleep. Seriously, when I first got back, they latched onto me so hard I thought I’d need some pliers to pry them off. Not that I’d ever do that, of course. Hurting them, even accidentally, was completely off the table.

  But with their strength and talent….

  And a little training? Oh-ho-ho…

  I could create something that would surpass even Metal Gear…

  Weaponized. Cat. Girls.

  {Author Note: The Metal Gear to surpass weapon.}

  Now, I wasn’t going back just to collect my disciples.

  Oh no.

  It was also about payback.

  Time to teach that smug, pink-haired cultist brother of Daisy’s a lesson.

  “I also need to give a certain someone a visit and some payback.”

  Nezha tilted her head in confusion, clearly unaware of what I meant.

  But Luna? She got it. Her expression tightened with concern. “Evan… please be careful.”

  I gave her a confident smirk. “You bet.”

  I was going to be very careful.

  As in, I’m gonna carefully carve that dude’s heart out and feed it back to him.

  {Author Note: From 0 to 100 real quick.}

  Whoa, okay—almost let my true thoughts slip right there.

  Back to the hero act.

  I gave everyone a wave goodbye and swung out the window like Spider-Man, using my grappling hook to make my way toward the Kingdom.

  Then—

  As I was blitzing through the forest. I got a message from Aisha.

  Aisha: “Evan! I found a Magic Mirro—ARRRRGHHHAGHHHH!!”

  Evan: “Teh fuq?”

  Walter: “Yup. Pretty sure she’s puking all over her majestic bed right now.”

  Evan: “Wait, what the hell happened?”

  Walter: “She dug straight down, found a cave, got a nice haul of materials but no recall potions. After a while, she found a chest with a Magic Mirror and some other random goodies.”

  Evan: “Damn, that’s some sick luck. Still doesn’t explain the violent stomach rebellion.”

  Aisha: “G-Gah~ It feels like my organs switched places when I teleported! Same feeling as chugging a health potion. I ain’t doing that crap again.”

  Evan: “Wait... drinking health potions makes you puke too?”

  Aisha: “No, but it does make it feel like you’ve got a ticking diarrhea bomb inside you, just waiting to go off.”

  Huh… I didn’t knew that.

  Once again, Pain Immunity senpai is the MVP.

  Walter: “Alright, I’m still a bit away from Aisha, but I’ll be there in a few minutes now.”

  Evan: “Same here. Aisha, you’re in charge of fixing Walter. I’ve got to check in on my students… and pay our cultist friends a very personal visit.”

  Aisha: “Gotcha.”

  Walter: “We’re finally getting sh*t done!”

  Aisha: “Hell yeah!”

  Evan: “Alright. I’ll meet up with you guys soon.”

  I picked up the pace, leaping from trees to trees like a ninja, as I also kept buffing myself up with speed.

  Some time later

  I finally reached the Kingdom—whose name, let’s be honest, I’ve completely forgotten.

  {Author Note: It’s Etalethien, but no one really cares, do they?}

  Evan: “I'm here!”

  Walter: “Me too!”

  Aisha: “Alright! Let's get this party started!”

  Evan: “Give me a minute.”

  I bolted straight toward the Coliseum—where Lucy and Oswald should be. Why? Well, two reasons.

  One, I’m their teacher. I need to know if they’ve “ascended” in their magician ranks or if they’re still throwing sparkles like low-level interns.

  And two, their mysterious grandpa supposedly knows a lot. And is one of my few leads in finding a way back home.

  It only took a minute navigating the maze of alleyways and corners... until I hit a wall. Literally and figuratively.

  The whole Coliseum was blocked off by guards.

  I asked around and apparently, because of the “unprecedented magical mayhem” (a.k.a. my doing), the place was closed off for the day and would reopen tomorrow.

  Which basically meant: I had no clue where Lucy and Oswald were now. They could be at the Adventurer’s Guild, with Daisy, or hanging out with their elusive Grandpa—who I still don’t know the exact location of.

  Oh, and that Masked Cultist Prince? Yeah, no idea where he got locked up either. Castle dungeon, maybe? Or spa day in a royal cell? Who knows.

  And just as I was gathering my thoughts—

  Aisha: “Evan. We have a bit of a problem.”

  I had a bad feeling.

  Evan: “What happened now?”

  Aisha: “Wellllll… to resurrect Walter... we need a Platinum coin.”

  …

  I really wanted to flip a table.