Willow watched as Darian sat on the floor, having a blast with whatever was in his hands.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

Even when she called out to him, he stayed completely focused on slathering whatever he was holding all over his face.

“What is he up to...? Oh.”

Only then did she realize that what he was caking on was makeup that Illyna adored.

“All dan!!” he gleefully announced. His face was covered in white powder, but he looked perfectly satisfied. He set down the sponge and closed the lid.

Then, he offered it to Willow with a bright smile. “All dan!”

“You're finished?”

“Yah!!”

“You're giving it to me?”

“Yah!!”

“Okay!”

The way he used it all up before handing it over was frustrating, so say the least. Still, she knew a little kid wouldn’t know any better.

Willow carefully packed the makeup away and wiped his face clean. Then, she drew up her divine power to double-check what she'd seen from Darian moments before.

‘If I saw that right, he should show a reaction.'

However, as if to prove what she saw was a mistake, he didn’t react at all.

“That’s weird. I clearly saw divine power...”

Looking back, there had been a similar case before, but she was unaware of that. After all, she’d been pretty much outraged herself when Super Ribbon had gone berserk.

“Hmm.” She looked at Darian, who was gazing up with big, clear eyes, and felt conflicted. She patted him on the head and stood up.

Just then, she heard Illyna say, “Wait, is that my makeup...”

Darian sprang up, charging at her with a huge hug.

“Mommy!”

“Did you have fun, Darian? More importantly,” she began, turning to the side. “Willow?”

“Uh... huh?”

“What's that?” Illyna asked with a smile as she walked toward her.

Sensing the chill hidden within that grin, she realized something was terribly wrong and quickly handed the makeup back.

“Oh no... it's almost all gone. Davey went through so much trouble to make this for me...”

“Mom! I don't know what you're thinking, but I didn't take this! I didn't even use it!”

“Willow...”

“It was Darian! He took it and smeared it all over his face! I just saw him and took it away!” she yelled out in a panic, but that was a mistake. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

“His face?” Illyna asked, turning back to Darian.

Unfortunately for Willow, she had already meticulously wiped his face clean, and not a single trace remained.

Little Darian wouldn't be able to explain anything either.

“...I don't see anything on him.”

“I'm serious! I'm not lying!”

“And you really expect me to believe that?”

“Mom...”

“Haah. Whatever. I'm not going to be petty about makeup, but do you have a minute?”

“W-what for?”

“It’s been so long since I’ve gotten real exercise, and I feel like loosening up. You'll spar with me, right?”

Seeing the radiant smile on Illyna’s face, Willow broke out in a cold sweat.

* * *

Evangeline was currently streaming. She was drawing and casually chatting with the viewers, as usual.

Then, both she and the viewers suddenly saw Willow rush in with tears in her eyes.

“S-sis?!”

“It’s seriously so unfair!!”

Evangeline stared, bewildered, as she suddenly appeared and sobbed uncontrollably.

Everyone fell silent for a moment as Willow threw herself onto the couch like she owned the place and squirmed under the blanket.

At the same time, people started fiercely spamming the chat.

[Willow's here!!]

[You’re supposed to be doing your own stream!!]

“Everyone, please calm down! Willow, what are you doing?! Get out! Can't you see I'm streaming?!”

“I don't care! I'm going to sleep. Don't wake me up.”

Evangeline felt her temper flare as Willow wrapped herself up like a burrito and refused to budge.

“Seriously, what’s wrong with you?!!”

After some bickering, she finally managed to pull Willow out of her burrito and seated her nearby.

“I'm sorry, everyone. Give me a second to talk to her.”

[Yeah, go ahead.]

[Yeah, go for it.]

[Just watching you two talk can be fun.]

“So, what happened?”

“Well, here's the thing,” Willow began.

She went on to talk about how she had gone to ask Davey for something and caught Darian ruining Illyna’s favorite makeup. She tried to save it, but most of it was already gone by the time she reached it. She figured he was just a kid being a kid, so she wiped the powder off his face.

Right after that, Illyna caught them, assumed she was the one who ruined it, and forced her to spar as punishment.

“I will say, Mom does go all-out during spars. Honestly, she was probably just itching for a fight and forgot about the makeup. She has said multiple times that you just game and lounge around all day. Dad's actually really worried about you, too. You're going to get soft, you know.”

“You think I can get fat?” Willow snorted, which only made her look more obnoxious.

[So when are you going to stream?]

She read some of the chat messages.

“I said I'm not streaming...”

[Don't leave us hanging!]

[Stream! Stream! We demand a stream!]

“Why are you telling someone who doesn't even stream to stream?”

[Not streaming is a waste of talent!]

[Go stream! We're starving over here!]

Willow turned to her sister, exasperated. “Evangeline, your viewers are out of control. Are you really okay with this?”

“They've been like this forever. Just make your stance clear.”

“Alright everyone. I'm never going to stream, even if my life depends on it. So drop it.”

[You aren’t going to stream even after doing that whole concept? And with that skill and talent as a streamer?]

[What a total waste of potential.]

[Don't you want to be rich?!]

[TOTAL FLEX!! NOT!!!]

“I said it's not just a concept, and what does money matter?! You guys want to get banned?”

[Nice try, but this isn't even your channel OMEGALUL]

[Pfft!! You're gonna ban us?]

“Hey... Hey! Evangeline! Ban all of them!” she shouted with righteous indignation.

“Nope. Don’t want to.”

“Wha... what did you say?!”

“It's my stream. Why would I do that to my precious viewers?”

Her smile was the most infuriating thing in the world at that moment. Willow ground her teeth, but just as Evangeline said, she wasn't the one streaming, so she had no authority.

The viewers, sensing an opportunity, continued to roast her.

She was starting to get steamed up. Unlike Super Ribbon, Willow had a very low boiling point.

Shing!

Evangeline was startled by the sudden sound. “Huh?”

“So then, that's how you want to play.”

Seeing the atmosphere around Willow grow ominous, nearby objects even beginning to tremble, Evangeline shrieked and tried to stop her, “Willow, stop it! Don't bring on another ice age!”

“If the world’s only filled with people like this, it's my duty to clean it all up.”

“Stop!”

Despite the tense moment, the viewers didn't seem to realize that she was a being who could truly freeze the entire world over.

Evangeline had overwhelming physical abilities, but Willow currently possessed a level of control over her power that was incomparable to before.

She felt a wave of dread. If Willow lost her temper there in her lair, something truly catastrophic would happen. In the end, Evangeline had to bring out her stash of limited-edition snacks to finally calm her down.

Afterward, Willow waited for her to wrap up the stream, lounging on the couch and watching a movie for about two hours.

After finishing, Evangeline came in, stretching her arms.

“All done?”

“Yeah,” Evangeline confirmed.

“Are you going to drop by home?”

“I'll probably be there for a few days starting tomorrow, since I got chewed out last time for hiding in my lair all the time. Honestly, it’s ridiculous. I was just trying to give Mom and Dad some space to go on their dates and have some alone time. It feels so awkward to butt in.”

“Haha, yeah, that's true. But what have you been doing all this time?”

“Drawing, chatting... playing some video games.”

“Eva, would you wanna try a VR game?”

At the question, she narrowed her eyes.

“It's tempting, but I'm not really feeling it. The thought of you constantly meddling if I actually do it is terrifying.”

“You always put it that way...”

“And don't keep trying so hard for me. Nobody will dislike you, even if you just bum around like a shut-in,” Evangeline said as she opened a box of high-end cookies from the cupboard.

“What are you talking about? I just...”

“You think Mom and Dad don't notice, when even I can? It’s so obvious you're scared that if you don't keep achieving and trying, you'll drift apart from everyone. Isn't that right?”

She didn't argue back. In truth, she couldn't find the words to argue.

Even though Davey and Perserque had spent almost three years trying to help her, she was still afraid that the others might become tired of her. That was why she was always interrupting Evangeline during her stream or constantly trying to fix things.

It was the same fundamental reason she even considered creating a virtual reality world in the hopes of pleasing Evangeline.

The two looked at each other silently.

Willow, her inner feelings exposed, stammered, unable to find anything to say, and Evangeline simply waited for her in silence.

That was when it happened.

“Oh my! Those cookies look delicious.”

“Rinne evaluates honey cookies highly.”

Three foodies had come in before Willow and Evangeline even noticed.

They stared blankly at the three members of the Gourmet Research Society. They were the ones who were always in trouble and had just been scolded by Davey for the umpteenth time.

“Seriously, they're unbelievable. Just what you'd expect from the most notorious department in the territory.” Willow shook her head, showing a look of disgust.

“Rinne requests permission to eat as well.”

“Go ahead...” Evangeline answered in a reluctant tone, finding it hard to refuse Rinne’s sparkling eyes.

“Anyway, what brings you two here?”

Yuria Helishana smiled brightly and clapped her hands. “We came to hang out! We just happened to bring a famous fish species discovered on the Western Continent, and figured we'd share. We thought Gracious Savior might have a fit if he found out...”

“So you're deliberately going to have us eat it, thus making us your accomplices?”

“You definitely won't regret it,” Yuria promised. “Rinne.”

At that, Rinne manifested particles to create two sharp knives and held one in each hand.

Then, Marky waved her hand before the space opened, and a large, colorful, iridescent fish appeared in front of them..

“...Wait a minute. Is this the rare species that the Emperor of the West Continent issued a total ban on hunting?” Evangeline, who was well-informed on all sorts of news, asked with a disgusted face.

Yuria simply smiled quietly and spoke a load of nonsense. “Right now, it's just sashimi. It's fine as long as we don't get caught. Rinne, dear, show us what you can do.”

“Three thousand six hundred and eighty two simulation results confirm optimal sashimi preparation. Rinne evaluates sashimi knives highly.”

Sling!!

Thud!!

Just as she was about to slice the fish, Evangeline instantly blocked her hands and roared, “Arghhh!! You're gonna get blood everywhere! Go to the kitchen, right now!”

* * *

In the end, the iridescent fish became sashimi.

Willow and Evangeline were conflicted, but they also recognized Yuria's undeniable culinary talent. It tasted so good they found themselves reaching for more without thinking.

“Let's just keep this a secret. Yum! It's delicious.”

After Willow spoke, Evangeline also nodded, eating another piece.

The meticulous Gourmet Research Society had successfully secured their loyalty, making them accomplices in preparation for the worst-case scenario.

“Do you get tricked by the Gourmet Research Society every time?” Willow curiously asked Evangeline.

She responded, “I mean, the fact that it’s delicious doesn't change. Rinne, is there any more?”

“Rinne reports that was the last portion. If given orders, Rinne will capture more.”

“There's no need to go that far. Can't you just make more, Sis?” Evangeline asked, turning to Willow.

“I'm not a goddess of creation or anything. I'm in charge of harmony, and the population of that iridescent fish is normal. Without imbalance, I can't interfere.”

In Willow's opinion, there was nothing unusual about the population of the iridescent fish.

Just then, they heard someone trying to enter.

“Eva!” a voice called out through the door.

“Seriously, is today a club meeting day or something? Why are so many people showing up?” Willow frowned as she saw Super Ribbon walk in.

“Sister? What about your class—” Evangeline’s eyes widened, and she stopped mid-sentence.

Super Ribbon had brought a young man in, seemingly supporting him as he clearly looked half-dead.

Willow asked. “Did you... beat him up?”

“No way!” Flustered, Super Ribbon hastily refuted.

Evangeline jumped up and laid the young man on the floor. “Let's treat him first. Sis, can’t you just use your holy magic?”

“Umm. It’s not working for some reason...” Super Ribbon explained.

“Move over.” Willow slowly approached and silently glared at the bloodied young man.

“What are you doing?”

“He's rejecting the healing,” Willow informed her. “And what’s this? What's with this guy's awakened ability?”

She continued muttering calmly to herself, then waved her hand in the air.

She seemed to grasp something, then slammed her palm right onto the young man’s chest.

He involuntarily screamed out, “GAAAH!”

“Kyaaa! Willow! You're going to kill him!”

“He won't die. I’m trying to heal him now.”

At her words, Super Ribbon drew up her holy power. His wounds, which hadn't been healing moments before, slowly began to close.

“Are those bruises? What happened, if you didn't hit him?”

“I think he jumped off a building... He's a classmate of mine.”

“Jumped off?” Willow asked, shocked. “You mean he tried to commit suicide?”

“I think so. It was so urgent that I just brought him here...”

‘One should only be so kind.’

“You know you'll take the fall if this goes south, right?”

“But I couldn't just ignore him!” Super Ribbon definitely wasn't the type to ignore someone dying right in front of her.

“Wow... Seriously, the world is just full of surprises,” Willow muttered.

Yuria spoke up, “Miss? Is there anything we can do to help?”

“His energy’s really low, so just make some nutritional porridge or something.”

Receiving the request, Yuria led the Gourmet Research Society members to the kitchen, proudly announcing she'd show off her skills for a change.

The three sisters fell silent for a moment, surrounding the unconscious young man.

“Seriously, all sorts of things can happen.”

“Tell me about it.”

Then another brief silence fell.

“Come to think of it, this is the first time it's just the three of us, isn’t it?”

“It is,” Willow answered with indifference.

Super Ribbon bowed her head. “Ummm. Willow?”

“What?”

“I'm sorry.”

“Why are you apologizing to me?”

“That...” Super Ribbon began.

“It's fine. I have no intention of digging up the past, and I know you didn't do it on purpose.”

‘Wait, what happened between the two of them?’

Evangeline’s head tilted as she looked at her two sisters, sensing the awkward atmosphere.

Just then, Willow, who had been silently watching the young man, mumbled, “How far does someone have to be pushed for their soul to end up this worn out?”

“Worn out?”

“He's completely lost the will to live. It’s pitiful.”

She wasn’t just expressing how she felt after seeing the man. It was a factual statement of what had undeniably happened to him.