Illyna showed a gentle smile, but if someone were asked to describe a situation scarier than an angry outburst, they’d describe exactly how she was in that moment.

Evangeline’s eyes quickly darted to the side. “Ummm. About that...”

“Yeah? Go on.”

She frantically racked her brain. Illyna, already holding Caldeiras, looked ready to punish her depending on how good her excuse was.

“It's... it's a type of investment!”

“Investment?” Illyna asked with a smirk.

“Y-yes! Remember when dad said that in order to achieve something, investment’s a must? So, I started. At first, it was a sponsorship... and... it looked like it could make a lot of money, you know?”

“Keep going.”

Evangeline, tense and trying to gauge her mother’s mood, started rambling out an excuse she hadn't even thought of at first. “So, this game has value beyond just being a source of entertainment. If you're lucky, you can flip small assets into huge assets.”

Her eyes spun like crazy, and cold sweat poured down like rain. Yet, she couldn’t stop talking. “So I invested! Yes, I used a lot more than I expected or planned for, but the return I got was more than three times the amount! That's right! I invested three hundred million won, but I gained a character value of nearly a billion won!”

Evangeline’s eyes widened further as she started to rationalize her actions to herself.

‘Yeah, it was an investment. Then dad will have no choice but to forgive...’

“Isn't that against the rules?”

“Ah.” Evangeline didn’t know what to say to that

“I’m sure you did it on the sly. But Eva, you’re not a nobody on Earth. You're a public figure there! Is your streaming career worth less than that billion won?”

“Ummm. Well...”

“Fine. You could make money by selling your account, but is it really worth the risk?”

Evangeline stammered, “W-well, under Korean law, it's...”

“Are you done with your excuses?”

“Damn it!!!” Evangeline quickly spun her body and flew up.

Crack!!

But alas, she couldn't get far.

The space in the sky she was heading for was torn open as if something had ripped it apart.

She turned her head, trembling, and saw nothing but a rakshasa demon with golden pupils, breathing out frost.

Illyna coldly said, “Alright. How about a game of tag with Mom? Make sure you try your best, because it'll hurt quite a lot if you get caught.”

“Kyahhhk!!!” Evangeline’s survival instinct pushed her powers to the limit. She flew upward, dodging the blade energies with godlike movements. She tried to get as far away from Illyna as possible.

Just then, dozens and then hundreds of magic circles appeared in the air as thick, gigantic, sharp black chains started pouring down toward her. The chains, which moved as if they were alive, instantly wrapped around her.

Illyna couldn't use magic. Even the Imperial Mages in the Lyndis Empire weren't capable of casting such high-level magic.

That left only one person.

“Uuuh. Uh-oh...”

The air tore open. However, unlike usual cases, the space slowly opened at a right angle, like a giant sliding door, and a huge, shadowy form like a black mist revealed itself from within.

“Yes, ‘uh-oh’ indeed. So, this is where you ran so hard to hide.”

The mere sight of it was terrifying. On the hand of that massive, grotesque form, a silver-haired woman, exuding an overwhelming pressure like a final boss, slowly began to open her closed eyes.

Evangeline gulped in horror. It was hard enough to escape Illyna alone, but Perserque had also jumped in.

Although Illyna and Davey were exceptionally strong, it was undeniable that Perserque was a powerhouse with virtually no one to rival her on the entire continent. It was especially so given the absurd purity and piercing quality of her power, making it easily fatal.

Evangeline shouted in a fluster, “Are you really going this far just to scold your daughter?!”

“Of course. What, should I let you go after coming this far?”

“Ah... Seriously!!!”

Perserque in front, Illyna behind.

If her father Davey showed up, she knew it’d truly be the end of everything.

“I felt a killing aura a moment ago,” Illyna commented.

“Davey has some business to take care of over there, so he won't be able to come immediately,” Perserque responded.

“Did he cause trouble again?”

“To be more precise, it was Eva who caused the trouble. She punched a member of the imperial family.”

“Haah. Will it be alright?”

“If Eva hadn't done so, Aeria probably would’ve gotten mad.”

She knew the whole story, but that still didn’t justify everything.

However, that wasn't important to Evangeline. The only thing she was thinking about at that moment was the fact that Davey wasn’t there.

A feeling of instinctive relief washed over her. If Davey had also joined in, the escape would’ve ended right then and there.

Perserque noticed her eased tension. “Hmm. Are you relieved?”

“Huh? Are you looking down on us right now?” Illyna asked with a smile.

Seeing the two of them unleashing a presence on a level above before, she choked back her tears internally and soared again. She figured they wouldn’t treat her as a sworn enemy they had to kill, so an opening would eventually appear.

Evangeline quietly manifested the power of ancient dragons without them knowing.

Boom!!

The moment they seemed too distracted, she created a sonic boom as she quickly fled the spot.

“She's running away?”

Crack!!

Blade energy sliced through the air in the direction she was flying.

“A-are you trying to kill me?!” Evangeline shouted.

“Then why don't you just stop running?”

“Mom, seriously!!!”

“So just come here nicely. Before you get punished even more.”

Rapidly evading the attacks, she screamed, “Come on, seriously?!! Just because I spent some money, you're going this f-AHHHH!!!”

Evangeline entered a state of concentration so deep that it made her wonder if she had ever focused so much in her life.

If she allowed even one attack, she wouldn't be able to escape, so she couldn't afford even the slightest mistake. Despite the pursuit and pressure from the two, Evangeline kept dodging and weaving, gradually picking up speed. She parried what she had to parry and dodged what she had to dodge.

It was at that moment the rigorous training she received from Davey truly paid off. It was a desperate situation driven by simple fear, yet that very situation pushed her further, raising her potential to an even greater level.

“Let's wrap this up.”

Evangeline sweated in a moment of despair, looking at the massive aura that was about to hit her.

At first, it seemed unavoidable. However, in the blade energy she was looking at with extreme focus, she noticed a certain anomaly.

When Illyna finally condensed and released the massive stream of energy, Evangeline took a short breath and then inhaled deeply.

When the blade energy flew at her—

Crack!!

“Huh?”

It was an unavoidable attack. Yet, with a blank expression, Evangeline unconsciously reached out her hand, which directly collided with the blade energy.

It was shocking for her to do so, but what happened next was even more surprising.

Even though Illyna had moderately held back, Evangeline knocked away her blade energy with just a small show of force. Not only that, she reversed the direction of the force and shot it back at her.

Although Illyna instinctively swung her sword and easily parried it, her expression was full of astonishment.

It was a powerful blade energy, not just some ordinary blade swing. Realistically speaking, it was impossible to deflect it. It was something only possible to perform when at a higher level, something the previous Evangeline could never have done.

Illyna was genuinely surprised. The divine feat Evangeline showed just then was similar to the unique movements Davey occasionally displayed. She then avoided even the black chains that Perserque shot out and fled at a speed that was too fast for the two of them to pursue anymore.

She didn't forget to flash a smirk at them for good measure.

Her smirk drove Illyna over the edge. “Does she think she can escape?”

She glared at Evangeline with wide eyes and constricted pupils. At the same time, her stance naturally changed. Even though only her stance changed, an overwhelming pressure began to burst forth.

“Stop.” However, Perserque stopped Illyna.

She shook her head, telling her not to do anything more. Only then did Illyna realize she had gone too far, and she covered her face with both hands.

“Shocking. To break through a wall in a situation like this? I can’t imagine how terrified she must have been to do so.” Perserque laughed helplessly and shook her head at Evangeline, who was disappearing into the distance.

Illyna commented, “Well, if she runs away, it'll be hard to catch her again.”

Instead of answering, Perserque smiled faintly and shook her head. “She's still in the palm of my hand.”

* * *

Evangeline was astonished at the movement and speed she displayed. She flew quickly, ripping through the sky, and looked down at her hand. “That was definitely an attack I couldn’t dodge...”

Basking in the euphoria that filled her whole body, she floated in the air and shadowboxed wildly.

“Kyaaa!! To think I broke through a wall!”

What she pulled off was only possible because she broke through the wall that had been holding her back. Though it had only been a single activation, that alone made her feel a surge of power throughout her body.

Unable to contain the overflowing joy, she squirmed and then cleared her throat, wondering if anyone had seen her. She was so high up that no one would’ve seen her, but she felt embarrassed for no reason.

“Since things have come to this, I should run even further away...”

“Eva.”

“Kyak!”

Startled by the sudden voice, she turned her head. There, a beautiful girl with black hair flowing in the wind waved her hand and smiled brightly.

“W-willow?”

“That sure was amazing. You just broke through a barrier in your power, didn't you?”

“Uuh... yeah. But I'm kind of busy right now, so...”

“Are you running away?”

‘Wait, she must’ve come to catch me too!’

She then considered running away again.

However, Willow shook her head. “I don't plan on catching you. I'll even help you.”

Evangeline didn’t get it. “Why...?”

“What do you mean, ‘why?’ Is there something weird about a sister helping her younger sibling?”

“You'll get scolded too if you get caught!”

“Then we just have to make sure we don't get caught.”

Her playful smile, with a hint of a smirk, somehow made one feel at ease.

Evangeline, who had been wary, slowly nodded and then approached her. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

“Being scolded is one thing, but congratulations. It's something you can be proud about,” Willow complimented.

“R-right?”

“Hmm. I should give you a present as your older sister. What would be good?”

“W-well, shouldn't we get further away first?”

“Nah. It's fine.” Willow waved her hand.

Then, she pulled out a piece of white paper from her pocket. It was none other than a VIP pass to Alfland, the theme park Davey owned.

“They say this place is really good. People who've been all say the rides are spectacular and shout about how much they want to go again.”

“Ugh?!” Evangeline instantly thought of the worst-case scenario and tried to flee in a hurry.

Yet—

Willow had already wrapped herself around Evangeline, restraining her so she couldn’t escape. “Sorry, Sis, but it'd be a shame to give this opportunity up, wouldn't it?”

“Y-you traitor!!!”

“Traitor? Did you really think you could run away after causing a commotion like that?”

Poof!!

At the same time, the surrounding scenery changed.

Evangeline realized there was no point in breaking through a barrier—things were already over the moment she let Willow get within a certain distance. It wasn’t long before Willow returned with Evangeline tightly bound by invisible chains. She dragged her toward Illyna and Perserque, who were waiting for her.

Evangeline tried to resist, lying flat on the ground, but Willow’s power was as heavy as a great mountain.

“I brought her back.”

“Good job,” Perserque praised

“It's nothing. I also received something from Dad. I need to go educate a disrespectful junior, so I'll get going first.”

“We're going on a family trip soon, are you coming?”

“Of course! That's what I'm living for.” She then flashed a smile and returned to her sanctuary.

Evangeline tried to scream traitor at her several times, but the formless power didn’t even let her speak. She continued to tremble from the betrayal, but she froze stiff when she heard footsteps approaching.

“So. Are you done running away?”

She tried to laugh awkwardly and shake her head, but they clearly weren't in the mood to listen.

“Come here, you brat.”

“Mmph!!!”

When Perserque grabbed her earlobe tightly, Evangeline kept trying to scream.

Poof!!

She eventually managed to break the silence that Willow had imposed with sheer force.

“P-parlay! I'm requesting a negotiation! The... the... Genovik Convention!!!”

“Genovik my ass. You’re finished today.”

“How can you not know that a fist is closer than an agreement?”

They didn't seem willing to listen.

A thousand punishments ran through her head, but one thing was clear—it was the end for her.

“What should we do? Should we hit her calves with a bamboo stick?” Perserque suggested.

“Hmm. Pampering Eva too much isn't good for her life,” Illyna responded.

‘Just pamper me!!! I won't do it again!!!’

She screamed internally, but they paid her no attention. Evangeline, in extreme panic, planned another escape attempt.

Slap!!

Then Illyna smacked her on her back, making her dizzy.

“Kyahhh!!!”

“That's a smart thing for you to do. Sis, she's still only thinking about running away.”

“O-oh, Mom, please! I'm sorry! Forgive me!”

“Fine. I’ll forgive you.”

Evangeline was stunned.

“But this friend says she can't forgive you, so I can't help it.” Perserque, holding a formidable-looking club that came from who knows where, muttered sadly, “I wish you could know the pain of my heart being torn into a thousand pieces.”

“Stop smiling before you say things like that!!!”

“Oh, did I get caught? Then you shouldn't have done anything wrong.” Perserque snapped her fingers, and the surrounding scenery changed once more. Since they couldn't make a scene outside and air their dirty laundry, they passed through space and entered Evangeline’s lair.

“Don't worry. At least you're not getting scolded in front of other people. See how generous your mom is?”

‘How’s that important when my life is on the edge right now?!’

“Should I do it?” Illyna offered.

“If you do it, she might get hurt,” Perserque responded. “As the delicate one, I should do it.”

“Delicate...?” Illyna looked dumbfounded, but then just shook her head.

Perserque probably intended to handle the entire situation alone. Even if Evangeline was in the wrong, scolding her didn't feel good.

She pretended to spit on her hand, gripped the club with both hands, and nodded. “What are you doing? Get down on your hands and knees.”

“P-please...”

Illyna shivered and backed away, watching the situation unfold. She knew very well how terrifying Perserque could be in such situations.

“Get down before I finally lose it and go into a frenzy, you lovely brat,” Perserque commanded resolutely, and Evangeline finally sobbed and went down on her hands and knees.

Her screams echoed throughout her lair for what felt like ages.