…Hmm?
He knew her identity—
That alone was shocking enough.
But he also knew her condition?
A faint light appeared in Firefly's eyes.
Rare.
Too rare.
"…I'm one of the remnants of the Glamoth Iron Cavalry."
"All of us were born for the Empress… and for war."
"For the Glamoth Empire…"
She let out a soft laugh.
"…Turns out, there was never any 'Empire' to begin with."
"It was all just a lie."
"Before Kafka found me…"
"I didn't even know what my existence meant."
"…Or if it meant anything at all."
She gently put the pizza down.
A clear bite mark remained—
Along with the faint imprint of her lips.
Evan's gaze lingered there.
And immediately—
A blush crept onto her cheeks.
Why is he staring at where I bit…?!
But strangely—
Sitting beside him—
All her tension…
All her vigilance…
Had disappeared.
As Sam, a Stellaron Hunter—
She had heard of the Genius Society.
Every member—
Was strange.
Proud.
Eccentric.
Unlike the Intelligentsia Guild—
Who merely chased knowledge—
These were people who truly changed the universe.
Even someone like the infamous Primitive Doctor—
Despite his reputation—
Still reshaped entire research directions.
And yet—
This man…
Was different.
Calm.
Gentle.
Willing to sit—
And quietly listen to her.
"…Entropy Loss Syndrome. Right?"
Evan asked softly.
"…Yes."
"It's embedded in every Iron Cavalry's genes."
"A virus… or rather—"
"A curse."
"Once it starts…"
"The body begins irreversible structural disintegration."
"…Slowly disappearing."
This wasn't just illness.
It was control.
A failsafe.
From the Glamoth Republic.
Every Iron Cavalry soldier—
Was a cloned weapon.
Born with a predetermined end.
No escape.
Evan silently recalled everything he knew.
Glamoth's origin—
Was tied to the Swarm.
The design of Sam.
The scorched-earth tactics.
All built to fight them.
And they won.
The Swarm was repelled.
But—
Glamoth didn't fall to the Swarm.
It fell—
To itself.
War didn't end.
It escalated.
The Iron Cavalry multiplied—
Until even normal humans became the minority.
And people—
Began to fear them.
The same way they once feared the Swarm.
Eventually—
The sky filled again.
Not with insects—
But with Iron Cavalry.
Luckily—
Firefly never witnessed the end.
She lost consciousness in battle.
And later—
Was picked up by Kafka.
"…So I came here."
"To search for a possibility."
"Even if it's just… a tiny bit of hope."
"I want to live—"
"One day…"
"Without the armor."
"To feel the world."
"That's all."
"…Just a small wish."
She finished.
And looked at him.
There was no pity in his eyes.
Only—
A quiet smile.
"That's why I came to you."
"Silver Wolf said you're a genius."
"So you must know others like you."
"I just want an answer."
"Even a sliver of hope."
"I want to know…"
Evan smiled.
"Then you found the right person."
She froze.
Because—
That answer—
Was something even Jade had once given.
But her method—
Required a price.
A very specific one.
And Firefly—
Had nothing to offer.
Later—
Even Stelle asked Jade:
"What would it take to cure Firefly?"
And Jade answered—
Pom-Pom's tail.
The price of a miracle.
Was the soul of the Astral Express.
Because to the IPC—
Everything had value.
Firefly—
As a Stellaron Hunter—
Was valuable.
She just didn't realize it.
But Evan?
He didn't need that.
"Once a soul dissipates—"
"It can't return."
"The universe allows consciousness to enter new vessels."
"But not to gather what's already gone."
He extended his hand.
"Give me your hand."
"…Okay?"
She hesitated—
But still reached out.
He held it gently.
Warm.
Alive.
"If this body can't bear the lie carved into your genes—"
"Then we replace it."
Her eyes widened.
"You can choose."
"A newly cultivated body—"
"Or a liquid soulsteel construct."
"The difference is simple."
"If soulsteel breaks, you just make another."
"But if it's a biological body…"
"We'll need Ruan Mei."
"A genius in life sciences."
"A small genetic flaw like yours?"
"Trivial."
He stood up—
Still holding her hand.
Then added—
"…Though…"
"That woman…"
"Would probably be more interested in experimenting on you."
He paused.
Then said casually—
"Don't be surprised if you end up with wings…"
"Or nine tails…"
"Or three heads."
"…???"
Firefly blinked.
Completely stunned.
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