Maria straightened her back and looked at the girls.

But...before anyone could react she bowed her head.

It was not a hurried motion, not stiff or forced.

Instead it was slow and calm.

As if she had practiced it many times in her life.

As she bent forward, her golden hair slipped gently from her shoulders.

It kept flowing down like soft threads of sunlight.

The strands caught the light in the room and shimmered faintly.

The strands framed her face as they fell.

Even in that lowered posture, she looked regal.

Is was as though bowing did not lessen her presence but instead emphasized it.

There was a quiet dignity in the way she held herself.

A natural grace that remained untouched even while she apologized.

When she lifted her head again, her expression was steady.

Her eyes clear, and her posture straight.

It carried the same noble air she had before.

"I'm sorry for everything my sister put you through," Maria said.

Her voice was calm but heavy with meaning.

The words settled in the room like dust after a sudden movement.

The girls all fell silent, none of them knowing what to say.

No one interrupted, no one shifted uncomfortably.

And no one laughed it off.

They simply stared.

Each of them processing her words in their own way.

The air felt thicker, almost tense.

As if everyone was holding their breath at the same time.

Then Aria, who had been watching Maria closely finally broke the silence.

And tilted her head slightly and murmured,

"Sister?"

Her voice was soft, almost uncertain.

As if she was testing the word before fully accepting it.

Maria nodded without hesitation.

"Yes," she said.

"Rebecca, or as you know her, Leviathan, is my sister."

She paused briefly, letting the name sink in, then continued speaking.

She went on to explain the same story to them.

She repeated the truth she had already told me.

Laying it out carefully and clearly.

Her tone remained even as she spoke.

And she did not dramatize anything.

She simply told it as it was, one part flowing into the next.

Her words was steady and honest.

As she spoke, her hands remained still at her sides.

Her gaze moved slowly from one face to another.

She has was Making sure they were listening.

Making sure they understood.

I sat on the couch, leaning back comfortably.

Looking at all of them as they listened to her story.

I found myself enjoying their different expressions.

A kaleidoscope of emotions of that appeared on their faces as her explanation unfolded.

There was surprise, disbelief, confusion, and even a bit of frustration.

All flickering across their features in turn.

Some widened their eyes, others frowned.

And a few pressed their lips together as if holding back comments.

Watching them react like that was strangely satisfying.

I could not help it.

Seeing them hear everything for the first time reminded me something.

It reminded me of how it felt when I first learned it all myself.

I smiled faintly to myself, enjoying every second of it.

I murmured quietly, almost to no one.

That if I were in their place, hearing it for the first time.

I.... would probably look the same.

Their reactions felt real, raw, and honest.

Which made the moment feel alive.

I was sitting there, taking it all.

And most importantly...enjoying the scene more than I probably should have.

Lucy walked over and sat down beside me.

She did it casually, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Then, without asking, she lifted her legs and gently pushed her feet.

They were still covered with stockings, fell onto my lap.

The movement was smooth and confident.

Her legs were long and slim.

They were wrapped in thin black stockings that clung closely to her skin.

The fabric was slightly sheer, just enough to show the soft shape beneath.

It kept catching the light in a subtle way.

The stockings followed the curve of her calves and ankles perfectly.

Only to end neatly around her feet.

They looked warm and soft.

The contrast of black against her pale skin made them stand out even more.

Lucy looked at me and said, "Ragnar, please massage them."

I did not argue.

I simply took her feet into my lap.

And with one hand supporting them while the other began to move.

Slowly, I rubbed the soles of her feet.

My thumbs pressing gently at first before applying more pressure.

I might not have looked like it. But...

Back on Earth, in my previous life.

I had inherited a massage parlor from my grandpa.

He personally taught me his skills.

Spending years correcting my posture.

My hand movements, and my sense of pressure.

Those lessons stayed with me.

And over time they helped me very much with women.

As I kept moving my hands.

Working carefully along the soles and arches.

Lucy released involuntary moans.

They were soft at first, barely noticeable.

But soon enough, then they became clearer.

Her moans kept slipping out before she could stop them.

Every single person in the room stopped what they were doing and looked at us.

The serious atmosphere that had filled the space changed.

It's shattered instantly.

They all deadpanned at us, staring without blinking.

Their faces were flat, unimpressed, and almost offended.

Here they were, listening to a serious story.

Dealing with heavy truths.

And me and Lucy were over here being completely naughty.

The contrast was sharp and almost ridiculous.

No one said anything, but the silence spoke louder than words.

Lucy stiffly took her legs off my lap.

Her movements quick and slightly embarrassed.

She cleared her throat and said,

"Ragnar's massaging skills are impressive, the best I've experienced."

Her words landed heavily.

Everyone looked even more surprised now.

They all knew Lucy was an archmage who had lived a very long time.

Such a declaration from her was no small thing.

It was a massive feat in itself.

The weight of her statement lingered in the air.

Then Kalia clapped her hands together sharply.

She broke the moment.

Then she grabbed Maria by the wrist and pulled her toward the kitchen.

"Food heals wounds," she said brightly.

"I know you've been through a lot, so let's cook."

Maria nodded happily, her expression softening.

They soon all rushed to the kitchen.

Their voices overlapping as they talked and began trying to cook together.

The tension eased, replaced by warmth and movement.

At the same time, my system chimed in.

Ding!

Congratulations! host.

+1 super evolution chance.

I felt my body rush with excitement.

Energy surged through me, making my heart beat faster.

Now I had at least a guaranteed way to attack the Hydro Kingdom and Leviathan.

The thought alone was enough to make me stand up.

I grabbed my jacket and walked toward the door.

The jacket was dark and sturdy.

It rested comfortably on my shoulders as I slipped it on.

It felt familiar, protective, like a second skin.

I adjusted it slightly, then looked down at my shoes.

They were worn but reliable, fitting snugly as I stepped into them.

I opened the door, the hinges creaking softly, and stepped outside.

The cool air brushed against my face as I walked toward the forest.

The door closed behind me, and the sounds of the house faded.

I kept walking for a solid ten minutes.

The ground crunching beneath my feet.

Until I felt certain I was far enough from Lucy's house.

The forest surrounded me, quiet and patient.

Then I tapped the 1 super evolution chance and just then…..

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