Still, she nodded, barely satisfied.

"The undersea magma has been churning frequently of late. Even the coral in the Abyss is withering away in vast swathes. Things on the shore must be just as unstable. The Beast God is often angered, and I fear some danger may be approaching. You two must be extremely careful."

Recalling the news she’d heard recently, Rhea said with a touch of unease.

At the mention of this, Evangeline’s good mood vanished.

’A cataclysm was descending, and this small world was on the brink of collapse. Her progress on the mission had eased things somewhat, but she was far from finished with this wretched SSS-level task.’

Danton came forward and gently grasped Evangeline’s cool fingertips. "Let’s go."

Evangeline clasped his wrist in return and nodded gently.

After bidding farewell to their people, Evangeline and Danton left the Deep Sea.

*

「Zylos.」

Danton grilled a fish for Evangeline. The tender meat of the boneless Silver Fish was smooth and succulent.

Evangeline sat on a reef, leisurely nibbling on the fish. Its tender meat released a faint, savory aroma with every bite.

She glanced over at Danton, who was crouching by the water’s edge. His long fingertips had transformed into sharp Beast Armor, which he used to deftly gut a fish and devein a shrimp. His movements were practiced, and a pile of cleaned seafood was already stacked beside him.

Evangeline blinked, unable to resist asking, "I’m already full. Why are you preparing so much?"

Danton looked up at her, his pale blue eyes filled with tenderness. "We’ll be leaving soon. I’m stocking up."

Evangeline was slightly taken aback, but then a small smile touched her lips. ’Danton is so thoughtful,’ she mused.

’It’s true. The baby in my belly is a Merfolk hatchling. It might not take to food from the land, so we really do need to prepare extra.’

Evangeline swallowed her last bite of fish, dusted off her hands, and stood up. "I’ll help," she said.

Danton’s brow creased slightly. He didn’t stop cleaning the seafood as he said softly, "Don’t! Just stay put. The smell is quite strong. I’ll be done in a moment."

Evangeline blinked. She couldn’t argue. Males on the Beastman Continent always treated their mates so carefully, as if they were made of fragile glass. She was used to it by now, but she still couldn’t help but smile, her eyes curving into crescents.

Sitting back down on the reef, Evangeline took out her egg.

The rainbow-hued shell shimmered with an iridescent light. It had grown several times larger since its appearance, now requiring both of Evangeline’s hands to hold. A far cry from its initial fragility, she could now clearly feel the energetic pulse of the hatchling within the shell.

Evangeline’s touch softened, her expression gentle. "You’re definitely going to be an impatient one," she murmured.

’The Everwake has a cold and violent disposition. His temper is on par with Thorne’s, but he’s even more ruthless. I can’t let him raise the hatchling. It would probably grow up to be the scourge of the Beastman Continent.’

As she always did, Evangeline fed the hatchling some Spirit Medicine Liquid. A stream of light seeped into the shell along its patterned surface, causing it to emit a soft glow. The little one was overjoyed. It wriggled more frequently and even nuzzled the soft flesh between her thumb and forefinger, as if trying to be affectionate.

Danton looked up just in time to witness this, and his expression softened even further.

However, he quickly thought of something and hesitated, "That time... was it Loras?"

Evangeline stroked the eggshell before returning it to her personal space. "It was," she affirmed quietly.

’She knew Danton was asking about the person who stabbed her at the tribal trade gathering. Coral Cetus and Stellan both knew about it too.’

Danton lowered his gaze and put the cleaned shrimp into his storage bag.

’He remembered Loras. The timid, weak Plant Beastman was quiet, like moss. The few times Danton had seen him, it had always been in the depths of a dark cave. The man would flinch and retreat at the slightest sound, leaving almost no impression.’

"Are you wondering what I’ll do to him?" Evangeline looked at the silent Danton and chuckled. Her voice was surprisingly light, and the corners of her eyes seemed to crinkle with a gentle glow, which took Danton by surprise.

He pursed his lips. "You... don’t hate him?" he asked, puzzled.

’The Evangeline of the past would have killed Loras without a second thought, probably after torturing him mercilessly.’

"Why should I hate him?" Evangeline met Danton’s eyes, her expression unhurried.

’I should be thanking Loras. He helped me see reality for what it is and accept my role as a Task Taker.’

’Besides, Loras only did what he did because of a cause sown by the original owner of this body. I inherited her fate, and I’m here to clean up her messes. That means I have to bear the consequences. It’s just cause and effect, perfectly logical. There’s no point in hating him.’

A smile bloomed on Evangeline’s lips as her gaze shifted. "I’m going to help him resolve his inner turmoil so he can live a proper life. His bleak, miserable past should be laid to rest. He deserves to live more freely."

Danton stared at her quietly and said softly, "You’ve changed a lot."

"And do you like this change?" Evangeline tilted her head, her eyes shining with unconcealed delight.

The sound of the tide ebbed and flowed. In the smile that reached her eyes, Danton thought he could see the Milky Way.

Danton rose and walked over to Evangeline. He leaned down and pulled her into an embrace, murmuring a low, "Mmm."

’I do.’

’Very much.’

He closed his eyes, pouring all his unspoken feelings into the hug.

’Eva, I’ll protect you. I won’t let anyone hurt you again.’

’And I’ll always be with you, with our hatchling.’

Evangeline wrapped her arms around his waist, her fingertips brushing against his cool skin. The faint, fishy smell lingered in the air, but strangely, it didn’t trigger the nausea her pregnancy usually brought.

’Maybe it was the clean scent of the sea breeze on Danton?’

’Or maybe, the little one in my belly just likes this smell?’

*

Once Danton had stored all the cleaned seafood in his storage bag, Evangeline unfurled a Teleportation Scroll.

The moment space distorted, Danton instinctively pulled her tightly into his arms.

When the two of them were standing on solid ground again and the dizzying sensation of the world spinning had faded, Danton’s face was as white as a sheet. But he gently cupped Evangeline’s cheeks, his voice full of concern. "Are you alright? Do you feel sick? Do you feel like throwing up?"

Evangeline shook her head, looking at the lush grassland before her.

The location she chose was not Blackwater Swamp, but the site of the tribal trade gathering where Loras had stabbed her.

There was no sign of its former clamor. New weeds had already grown over every trace of what had happened.

A breeze swept past, making the grass ripple like a turquoise sea dotted with the occasional wildflower.

"This was the site of the tribal trade gathering?" Danton frowned, looking out at the boundless grassland.

Evangeline nodded gently. "Yes. Knowing Loras, after making his move here, he might have also hidden here to lay low. Regardless, what happened, happened. It’s time to face it. He can’t just hide in his shell forever, can he?"

’And then there’s Nix.’ 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

A faint ache spread through Evangeline’s heart as she thought of that Beastman, whose paranoia bordered on madness.

She deliberately ignored the feeling that pierced her heart, but the image of those purple eyes, filled with a tranquil deadness, only grew clearer in her mind.

Evangeline closed her eyes and took a deep breath of the grassy air.

She raised a hand to gently stroke the small of her back. There, the purple, double-petaled Moonlight Flower Contract Mark pulsed with vibrant life.

"He’s close." Evangeline lowered her gaze slightly, her long lashes casting faint shadows beneath her eyes.

Danton took her hand, wrapping his palm completely around her cool fingertips. "I’ll look with you," he said softly.