"...Old man?" Evangelina said, her eyes widening. "...You're still alive!?"

A very old man wearing a thin straw hat and vacation-like clothes stood before her, holding a drenched and half-naked Verity under his arm.

"Tsk. And your mouth is still as foul as always, snot-nosed brat," the old man answered.

—

After some bickering, the two of them, the old man, and Evangelina, sat across a small wooden table holding cups of tea.

Evangelina looked at the old man, an incredulous expression still etched on her face. "...Seriously, you were already old when I was a child…I'm surprised you're still around."

The old man shot her a glare. "Not only have you forgotten your manners, but you have become insolent, you brat!"

Evangelina shrugged. "Am I wrong?" She then leaned forward, whispering with a hint of tease in her tone. "Tell me, what's your secret old fart?"

The old man let out a low grumble, somewhat regretting having come all the way out here only to be insulted, and he slammed his teacup onto the table. "If this was back then, I would have made you hold the crane position until tears welled in your eyes, you arrogant thing!"

Evangelina scoffed. "...Well, you're welcome to try."

For a moment, the tension in the room rose drastically, the overbearing pressure of the two competing for dominance, but the old man quickly shook his head. "...And you were once such a cute little girl, just where did it go wrong for you to turn out like this…"

He glanced toward Verity who was laying on the couch, covered in medicinal talismans that supposedly helped with the fatigue. His wounds had already been healed with multiple potions and the minor ones that remained were covered in bandages, to be healed naturally.

The old man narrowed his eyes as he looked at Verity, and then turned back to Evangelina. "Shouldn't you at least thank me for bringing this one back? He is your disciple, after all."

She did not need to ask how he knew. At their level, simply glancing at someone, their muscles, the way they held themselves, and even their lingering intent, was enough to glimpse into their style, and there were few styles as distinct and famous as the Nine Hells.

Evangelina was not completely shameless, so she cleared her throat. "That is… somewhat correct, though he's more of a probationary disciple."

The old man raised an eyebrow, but ultimately did not reply. Regardless of their relationship, he was waiting for something.

Soon enough, Evangelina let out a long sigh, stood up, and reached into one of the cupboards above her stove. She whispered to herself as she did so, ensuring the old man would not hear. "This is why no one takes you seriously…old fart."

From it, she retrieved a heavy pouch and tossed it to the old man. When he opened it, his lips curled into a smile, and he stored it into a small bag attached to his waist. "Ha! That's more like it! At least you still have some decency!"

Evangelina rolled her eyes. "Anything else, old man?"

The man turned to Verity once more, then to Evangelina and his demeanor completely changed. His face hardened, he placed his elbows on the table, and he leaned forward, his voice no longer carrying any hint of playfulness.

"That disciple of yours, there's something wrong with him."

Evangelina narrowed her eyes. She had an inkling of what he meant to say, but pretended to be oblivious. "Are you referring to his mental state?" She probed.

The old man exhaled sharply. "Well… yes, in a sense that is also of concern. Your disciple is, simply put, insane." He recalls the events on the island.

"I watched him out of curiosity for a few days on that island, and even when he crossed the Solemn River, what I saw couldn't simply be described as perseverance or bravery.

He lifted his tea cup, staring into it. "...It was 'obsession'"

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To the old man, even 'obsession' was not strong enough for what he had felt back then. It was more than that, stronger, deeper, but he simply did not have the word to describe it.

How could one focus on a single task for days on end without sleeping, eating, speaking, or deviating from his goal at all?

Back on that island, as the old man observed Verity, he could only conclude that besides unwavering determination, there was no place for any other emotion in the young man's heart. Despair, fear, worry, joy, satisfaction, they had all disappeared. To the old man, Verity had become nothing short of an inhuman

He sipped his tea. "I'm not certain, and I cannot fully put it into words, but looking into his eyes, that 'obsession' sent a chill down my spine. It wasn't that he wished to do it, nor that he needed to, but rather that he he 'had' to."

The old man's expression darkened, and he sipped his tea quietly. "It was… unnerving."

Evangelina's expression remained impassive. This was something she had already noticed, but that she had decided to put aside for now. "...Like I've said before, perhaps it's time for you to retire old man…your mind isn't what it used to be," she told him.

The old man scoffed. "So that is how you're playing it… Fine. In any case, there isn't a single one of 'us' who is not insane." His gaze rose to meet Evangelina's eyes. "But that is not what I came here to say. You must have felt it too right, that energy within him?"

There was a pause, a silence.

Evangelina once more did not reply. There was no need to. It was not a real question, simply an excuse to approach the subject.

The next words that came out of the old man's mouth did surprise her, however.

He stroked his chin, laid his tea cup on the wooden table, and intentionally released a malicious intent. "I see.." He began. "...Then, won't you give me your disciple? I think he'll learn a lot more from me." He said with a smirk.

The room shuddered. Evangelina's tea cup shattered in her hand. "Sky-Threading Spear, Transcendental Master Muriel Riverborn, you have crossed a line." She took a step forward, her foot sinking into the floorboard. Her Aura surged and through her presence alone, she seemed to grow larger. "I will give you five seconds to rescind your insult."

Muriel, the old man, immediately raised his hands in surrender. "Alright, Alright! No need to get so serious, geez! You really have lost all your cuteness," he said as he jumped to his feet and stepped back, clicking his tongue.

Evangelina retrieved the pressuring aura she was exuding and clicked her tongue. "I'm in a bad mood now. If you have nothing else to say, leave."

Muriel was promptly kicked out of her home without another word, but despite this, he wore a smirk as he stood beyond her doorstep.

"Her temper is still as bad as ever…" He adjusted his thin straw hat. "But I'm sorry Evie, I don't think I can step back this time."

Using his secret art, he soared into the sky, stepping on air as if it were the ground and uttered a few words while throwing Evangelina's residence a last parting glance.

"That kid… even now, he still madly swings his spear." He let out a hearty laugh. "He's perfect! I need to have him!'"

Back in her kitchen, Evangelina picked up the broken shards of her tea cup. "That damn old man, no dignity at all."

She then glared toward Verity who was resting on the couch. "I know you're awake."

Verity did not move, his eyes remaining closed.

"...I'm going to hit you."

"..."

Verity pretended to yawn, and straightened upon the couch. He rubbed his eyes, and looked around him, feigning disorientation. "Oh…! Master! It's great to see you again, really. How did I–"

THUD

"Ouch!! What did I even do!?"

Evangelina narrowed her eyes. "I'm not sure. Your face is annoying?"

Verity rubbed the top of his head. "Is that how a master should speak to her disciple?"

Looking at him, Evangelina became even more annoyed. The reason wasn't necessarily his face, but rather the faint smirk etched onto his lips.

Evangelina raised her fist. "I'm going to hit you again…and don't forget you're nothing but a probationary disciple."

Verity couldn't help but allow his lips to curl into a wider smile. Is that so…You sure care a lot about this probationary disciple then." He recalled the first thing he heard after coming to. " What was it again? 'I will give you five seconds to rescind your insult.'" Verity said, imitating her.

THUD

"OUCH DAMMIT!" A tear welled in his left eye. "That really hurts!"

Evangelina raised her fist again. "Are you asking for more?"

Verity averted his gaze and lowered his head. "No, no, I'm okay…"

Then, Evangelina exhaled sharply and turned away. "Well…it's a good thing you're well enough to act like a fool I suppose."

A silence filled the room.

Verity tightened his lips.

He had not forgotten Jerin's death, far from it. How could he forget?

But in the time he had spent on that island, and in the time he had spent under the old man's arm, he came to a realization.

His only sin was his weakness.

Too weak to defeat the demons.

Too weak to save Jerin without killing him.

Too weak to even bring Jerin's body back to his loved ones without external help.

And so, Verity would do everything to become stronger. Wallowing in despair and self-hatred would only be a hindrance to that. To Verity, the only way to truly atone was to pour sweat blood and tears until he was strong enough for it to never happen again.

To that end, he would never stop swinging his spear.

That was his sentence.

Until he was strong enough, Verity would swing, and swing, and swing, until neither his body nor soul could bear it.

"Master." He finally said. "I… need to beco–"

Evangelina waved her hand. "Ah. No need to make it so intense. I'll just beat my spear techniques into you as I've been doing, as for the rest… I was planning to visit an old friend of mine. See if you can find something useful there," she said, cutting him off.

Verity sat there, mouth agape.

'Way to ruin my cool main character moment…'

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