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"This… this is it! The House of Evolution!"
Staring at the massive structure built right into the side of the mountain, Ethan couldn't hide the excitement creeping across his face.His second maid was in there. Finally—finally, she was here.
"I didn't expect you could actually fly, Mr. Ethan! That's amazing!" Genos said with his usual earnest admiration.
"Oh, that? I just got tired of walking—so I figured I might as well fly."
"Oh? I see! That's what evolution is, right? Creatures develop wings when they're too lazy to walk! Just like how sea creatures evolved legs so they could live on land—truly fascinating!"
"Genos," Saitama deadpanned, "you really think Ethan evolved flight because he didn't feel like walking?"
"Isn't that how evolution works?" Genos blinked. "Actually, I'm surprised, Sensei. I thought you could fly too—but you ran all the way here just like me!"
"Humans can't fly, you know."
"Hey, hey, Baldy, I think I just heard something rude in there!"
"Er—right. Everyone except Ethan, I guess…"
"Alright, enough chit-chat! Let's head in! My second maid is calling for me!" Ethan's excitement was palpable. Was this it? The end of his lonely, single life? Just thinking about it made his heart race.In both his old world and this one he'd somehow ended up in, he'd been single for over twenty years. Now, finally, there was hope.
But before he could take another step forward—
Genos raised his hands without a word. Twin cannons flared to life, and an instant later, a blinding burst of flame reduced the entire eight-story building to rubble.Smoke. Fire. Silence. Not a single lifeform left.
Ethan's smile froze.
"Genos—what the hell, man?! Why would you do that right off the bat?"Even Saitama looked mildly surprised.
"I determined that this was the most efficient method," Genos said calmly.
Ethan's body trembled. He dropped to his knees, clutching his chest in agony."My maid… my second maid! Damn you, Genos! You—you blew her up! She was in there! Don't you understand?! My second maid was in there!"
"Uh… I mean, maybe you shouldn't be looking for maids among monsters?" Saitama offered awkwardly.
"You idiot! You don't understand what it's like to be single for over twenty years!" Ethan ranted. "You—you're just bitter! Is that it?! You got turned into a cyborg so you can't get a girlfriend, and now you're taking it out on the rest of us?!"
Genos bowed slightly, his face sincere."My apologies. As a human, I cannot comprehend the feelings of… a 'single dog.' I regret my mistake."
"…Something about that doesn't sound right," Ethan muttered, twitching.
"Hey, over here!" Saitama called out. He'd kicked aside some rubble and uncovered a metal hatch. "There's a passage underground! Guess this is where the real 'House of Evolution' is."
"For real? That's perfect!" Ethan's eyes lit up again. "That means my second maid isn't dead! Yes! She's alive!" He coughed dramatically and pointed at them. "Saitama! Genos! You two—listen carefully. You are not to lay a finger on my maid, got it?"
"Yeah, yeah, sure," they both said half-heartedly, already heading down the tunnel.
Ethan hurried after them, determined not to let those two ruin his chance at happiness again.
And sure enough, the place lived up to its name. All the way down, the trio ran into strange, grotesque creatures—clearly hybrids made from splicing human and animal genes.They weren't much trouble for the three of them, but for normal people, these would've been terrifying monsters.
Ethan, however, was on high alert for something else entirely.His second maid.He refused to believe she'd already been destroyed. No—she had to be somewhere deeper in the lab.
But as they cut down monster after monster—dozens, then hundreds—there was still no sign of her.
"Damn it, when is she going to show up?!" he muttered. "Ah, right! The strongest ones always appear last! My maid must be powerful and beautiful. She has to be!"
He was practically hypnotizing himself with hope.
Then suddenly—
"Huh? Is that… a human?" Ethan spotted a man in what looked like a prison jumpsuit, marked with the number 375.
With a flash, Ethan appeared right in front of him. "Hey! You there!"
"W-what the—! You're intruders!" 375 backed up, eyes wide with fear.
"Kind of," Ethan admitted casually. "Anyway, most of the monsters here are already toast. Tell me—there's still one left, right? A strong, beautiful one?"
"Strong and beautiful…?" 375 frowned. "I suppose so, but her personality was… problematic, so she was never activated. Not that it matters! You're all dead anyway! The Asura Rhino Beetle's been released! He's out now—you'll all die for sure! Absolutely!"
Ethan's eyes gleamed."Knew it. Strong and beautiful. Ha! My maid! My second maid!" He turned to his companions, flailing his arms. "Saitama! Genos! Don't you dare kill her! I'm serious!"
"Yes, yes, we'll behave," Saitama said lazily. "But honestly, I think your little dream's doomed."
"Shut up, Baldy!"
"Don't call me Baldy!"
"You are bald! Bald! Bald! Bald!"
"..."
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