Evelise pushed open the door and carefully helped Sid sit down on the wooden chair near the table. His breathing was ragged, but he managed a tired grin.

"Well, that was one hell of a day."

"Don’t even start,"

Evelise muttered, already preparing her healing herbs. She knelt beside him, inspecting his knee.

"This will dull the pain, but it won’t fix the damage."

Sid smirked weakly.

"So, a natural painkiller but not in a bottle or with a prescription?"

Evelise froze mid motion, then glared up at him.

"You’re joking? Now? Seriously?"

He raised his hands defensively.

"Hey, I’m just saying— your medicine’s more effective than half the stuff in pharmacies."

"Unbelievable,"

She muttered, pressing the herbal patch a bit harder than necessary.

"You’re lucky you’re not unconscious."

The healing glow spread faintly around his knee, the pain slowly fading from his face. Evelise sighed softly, brushing away a strand of hair from her forehead.

"If I still had the equipment I used to work with... maybe I could’ve healed you completely."

Her voice dropped to a whisper.

"Maybe I could’ve done more."

Sid tilted his head, but before he could speak, Evelise stood and grabbed him by the arm.

"Wha—hey, where are we going?"

Sid asked, confused as she half-dragged, half-carried him toward the living room.

"Shut the fuck up,"

Evelise said sharply.

"You’re my patient now."

Sid blinked, startled.

"Wait, what? Patient? Me?"

She ignored him and guided him toward the personal space room, lowering him carefully onto the bed. It was the first time she’d ever let him rest there.

"Stay put! If I see you standing up, I’ll throw you into a brazen bull myself."

Sid’s face went pale.

"Wait— what?! Why do you even know what that is?!"

Evelise just smirked faintly.

"Don’t test me."

He gulped and immediately leaned back, deciding that arguing with her was a bad idea.

After a few minutes, she returned, holding a makeshift support brace — crafted from cloth, bark strips, and a bit of salvaged metal. She knelt beside him and began securing it around his right knee with careful precision.

"This will keep it steady. You’ll still need to rest. No more running around saving giant birds, got it?"

Sid looked at her, smiling faintly despite the situation.

"Yeah... got it."

Evelise tightened the last strap of the brace and leaned back, studying Sid’s leg carefully.

"There. It should hold for now."

Sid nodded, exhaling as the pain began to dull.

"Thanks. Guess that thing really messed me up, huh?"

Evelise’s eyes flicked toward the window, where the faint outline of the Nexus Tree glowed in the distance.

"That guardian... Haribon. Its wounds were still fresh. I’ve never seen anything like that. Something must have attacked it."

Sid frowned, his brow furrowing.

"You guessed it too, huh? A creature that massive, flying that high... what could even hurt it?"

He scratched the back of his head, frustration clear in his voice.

"Argh, there are too many classifications of zombies. Maybe something with range or claws big enough to tear through feathers that thick."

Evelise shook her head slowly, her unease deepening.

"There shouldn’t be anything out there stronger than a guardian. It doesn’t make sense. What happened to this world while I was gone?"

Sid leaned back in the chair, staring at the ceiling.

"Well, whatever it was, that bird’s lucky we showed up. I thought seeing the guardian was supposed to be a blessing, but no— turns out he was the one blessed."

Evelise blinked.

"What do you mean?"

"We saved his ass."

For a moment, Evelise tried to keep a straight face. Then her lips twitched, and she burst into laughter, covering her mouth.

"Y-You’re impossible! That’s not even funny!"

"Then why are you laughing?"

"Because you’re so stupid,"

She said between chuckles.

"Only you would make a joke about saving a divine creature after nearly breaking your leg doing it."

Sid smiled, watching her laugh. It was rare seeing her like that — relaxed, almost carefree. But soon, Evelise straightened up, brushing away the smile and clearing her throat.

"Anyway... after all that, I’m starving."

Sid agreed.

"I could eat too."

He started to push himself up from the bed, but Evelise spun on her heel and glared at him.

"Don’t you dare move!"

Sid froze halfway up.

"What? I was just—"

"Stay. Still. You’ve done enough for one day. Let me care for you for once."

The air chimed softly as a blue interface flashed before Sid’s eyes.

[SYSTEM MESSAGE!]

[New Task Acquired!]

[Task 7: Let Me Care for You]

[Objective: Allow Evelise to take care of you.]

Sid stared at the floating text, then laughed.

"Oh, come on. This is the most straightforward mission I’ve ever seen."

"What’s so funny now?"

He waved the screen away and leaned back, grinning. "

Nothing. Just— guess my tsundere bunny finally got a mission to make me rest. After all the times you worked me to death, now you’re the one taking care of me. I’ll enjoy this task."

Evelise rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath as she walked toward the kitchen.

"You’re unbelievable."

Sid chuckled softly to himself. As he rested, his mind drifted back to the Haribon. The image of its fierce eyes and the sound of its wings cutting through the air replayed in his mind. Something about the way it attacked him didn’t sit right.

"That beak... Wait."

His brow furrowed.

"The zombies back in the forest — their skulls had holes. Big ones. Almost like..."

He trailed off, his mind racing through possibilities, but before he could piece it together, the soft clatter of dishes interrupted his thoughts. Evelise returned, carrying two wooden bowls and plates.

Steam curled faintly from the food — a mix of warmed canned foods and a bit of dried meat she’d found in their storage. She placed everything neatly on the small table beside him, her expression proud but trying to act casual.

"There. Simple as always but it’ll do."

Sid smiled faintly, his stomach growling as he eyed the meal.

"Looks good to me."

"Eat,"

Evelise said as she sat down beside him, her voice softening.

"And don’t even think about moving that leg."

Sid grinned, lifting his spoon.

"Yes, ma’am."