Evan D. Sherden, Enters the Dungeon Again (1)

The dungeon festival finally came to an end. People went back to their daily routines quietly, looking forward to the festival that would come back three years later.

Count Melto von Pellati also headed for his home as he took a bulging bag of Mahwa anti-infection drugs with him. After the festival, the butler of the Marquis went directly to Merdin.

After the festival ended, and many knights and soldiers were mobilized to clean up the dungeon for a few days, Evan finally got permission from the Marquis to enter the dungeon again.

“And now, it will be fine for decades in the future,” The Marquis had declared proudly.

The night before entering the dungeon, Evan was with Bernard. Together they were checking the items in his inventory pocket.

Evan had barely used potions or consumables the last time he had gone inside the dungeon, so the only thing he had supplemented this time were Battle Beads.

“Okay, what floor are you aiming for this time?”

“If I leave the mansion for too long, my family will worry about me. There is work to be done outside too, so I don’t think it would be too much farther. So, I’m going to go to the 20th floor, which would be easy and quick. Just so that I can get one or two necessary skills.”

Bernard tried to process Evan’s response for a moment, thinking about whether he had misheard the word ‘easy’.

Dungeon explorers who attacked the dungeon’s 20th floor were recognized as the ‘middlemen’ in earnest.

Most of them had stable parties and had secured enough money to enter the Brotherhood Bathhouse.

“But first, it’s the 20th floor?”

“Yeah. Up to the 20th floor. Honestly, there is no danger in it at all. In fact, even going to the 30th floor will also be completely fine; but this time, I would be taking Arisha with me as well.”

Arisha had declared that this time she would definitely enter the dungeon with Evan and the others.

If Evan had rejected her request, she would have had to start the dungeon from the first floor by herself. It was better to let her join the party and progress through the dungeon from the first floor together.

“Of course, she will be much stronger later, but at this stage, she doesn’t know her ability. This time, we have to work together until the 20th floor, get some skills, grasp some basic abilities, and then train ourselves again until the next time we enter again.”

As she was the main heroine of Yo-Ma Great War 3, Evan was very familiar with Arisha’s aptitude.

She learned the magic of the wind and was a magical swordsman who had mastered Mana Sword of Wind along with a sharp rapier. Her stab attack skill with the Sword of Wind and the rapier were unmatched.

As the main heroine, of course, she was strong, and there was no limit to her growth. Unlike her older brother Crow, her skill level was already considerably better at this stage, and was at such a level that she could go through the dungeon without any major problems.

Nonetheless, she was still very inferior to Shine, Belois, and Raihan, who had been directly involved with Evan’s growth.

“But it will be different now. Anyway, I decided to accept her into the Dungeon Knights, so I’ll have to raise her properly too…”

“… Little boy, you’re really the perfect guy for the Knights Commander position.”

“Ah, I can also suggest a more efficient way of growing. This arrangement shows the individual’s aptitude. Anyone can do it with a keen eye and adequate prior knowledge.”

“… Ha, and now you’re talking ridiculously.”

Bernard said that he had the qualities of the Knight Commander.

Usually, the things that Evan thought was, ‘Isn’t this arrangement too natural for me to even mention?’ but there was always a high probability that the general public could never think of it!

“Apart from that noble child, are you satisfied with the other kids’ performances?”

“Yeah? I have no problem going to the 20th floor, and I also don’t need to worry about Shine or Belois.”

“…….”

‘I don’t know what is up with this guy! He always seems to be underestimating himself, but when someone talks about the dungeon, his sense of confidence suddenly soars! Even more precisely, his concept of thinking about dungeons is quite different from others!’ Bernard muttered inwardly.

“The dungeon needs tricks, Grandpa. Tricks.”

“Well, how do you know that, someone who hasn’t even been to the 20th floor of the dungeon?”

“Ah, you know.”

“I don’t know, boy.”

At Evan’s sassy remark, Bernard grunted and tried to hit him on his forehead but, as usual, missed. The tea in cups placed in front of them spilled on the ground.

Illoin reached for the teapot to pour some more into their cups. She was wearing casual clothes and was with Bernard all day, these days, and even went to the Pharmacy with him.

“Illoin?”

“I think the story is over to some extent. Drink up.”

Wearing a silky, soft one-piece dress, and then wearing an apron over it might have been disrespectful to her, but… together, they looked like a newlywed couple in a new home.

“Evan, I’m sorry that it’s not the only tea you drink all the time. However, I hope you would find it interesting the fact that the tea leaves of Elf Vision have been used to make it. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.”

“The Tea Leaves of Elven Vision… Is this what I think it is ?”

“Yes. It is Elven Tea, a tea made from the leaves of the world tree in the center of the ancient forest.”

“Wow, is it really Elven Tea!? The scent is also very unique.”

Evan had only seen it once in the Yo-Ma Great War series.

Elven Tyrani was the hero of Yo-Ma Great War Zero. He was a great ancient mage and affected the key character of the series. He was served this tea by the eternal elven princess, High Elf Mirroel.

‘It must have been the High Elf Mirroel. Such tea was made only for family. It was a really perfect love confession…’

However, the great ancient mage, the damn protagonist, couldn’t understand such a blatant signal and drank the tea and just said thank you. That stupid idiot!

The character’s origins were unclear and maintained a mystical concept not easily to get involved with other people… Still, he didn’t have any right to do that to a girl who had wanted to love him! If he didn’t like her, he could’ve simply refused her proposal!

“Elven tea? I’ve heard of it for the first time. How do you know about it, Evan? No, wait. Don’t answer. This behavior is not new, anyway.”

“I always wanted to give it to you, Bernard, but at the time, I was also wandering in the human world, so I didn’t have any extra tea leaves. I am so happy that the day has finally come that I am able to serve you this tea.”

A confession of love had just been made!? It looked like this elf was in deep love with Grandpa.

Evan’s hands trembled as he drank the Elven tea. Bernard felt embarrassed as he started scratching the back of his head to see, as if trying to think if there was anything he felt about her.

“Oh, oh! I’m surprised that this is such delicious and valuable tea.”

“That is served only to families. Now I’m ready to give it to you anytime.”

“Well…? Anyway, thank you. I’ll drink well.”

“Thank you, Bernard, Be careful. It’s hot. And tell me if it’s not enough.”

Evan was baffled at watching this idiot here. He wanted to cry out at Bernard. Had he not been his Grandpa, he would have hit him at the back of his head!

Even in such a situation, Illoin, who laughed saying it was good, seemed to be a saint!

Evan spoke sincerely to Illoin.

“Illoin, I’m completely on your side. Whenever you need any kind of help, you can ask me.”

“Woo, I’m a very lucky elf! How can I make a lot of human friends who support me like this… I am forever grateful. Whenever I think I’m going to be overwhelmed by myself, then Evan, I will rely on you by calling for your assistance. I would say thank you, but instead, I’ll give you more Elven tea. Now we are also a family.”

“Hmm!? Why are you being more friendly towards Illoin than me? Damn, is this all because of my face? I shall have to live in constant resentment my whole life!”

“Grandpa. It’s not like that. Just drink it.”

“This guy!?”

Bernard screamed bitterly at Evan while he sipped some Elven tea, and the tea was surprisingly delicious. Among the teas he had drunk so far, this one had a more subtle flavor. It was also sweet, and the savory taste was really impressive.

‘My mana and stamina seem to be recovering in real-time, and it seems that the body is being blessed… What is it exactly!?’

Evan was thrilled as he sipped the tea over and over again. Illoin laughed as she saw Bernard and Evan shudder together; this made her laugh.

Evan and Bernard had almost had the same reactions to drinking the tea.

They enjoyed it, but they were also curious about its ingredients and taste……. Their facial expressions were changed in the same way.

‘By the way……maybe not. I thought it was an opportunity to clear the mission, but it wouldn’t be the same.’

Illoin had a sparkle in her eyes as she drank the Elven tea, while she kept watching and admiring Evan.

It was the reaction of a person who drank Elven tea for the first time. As she was expecting a different reaction, she could not help but be disappointed.

Even if he wasn’t the person she thought he was, Evan was still a very nice and good child, and now she was also a good friend of his.

“Evan, if you like that, would you like to take some tea leaves with you?”

“Really!? Thank you!”

“You’re getting close to each other very quickly. Damn, it’s unfair. It’s unfair.”

“Don’t worry, Grandpa. You have nothing to resent.”

Bernard didn’t understand how they were able to get close to each other or what their sympathy was.

Evan was sure that it would not be changed even by this old, stupid grandfather Bernard.

“Well, don’t say anything weird and just go to the Dungeon. Leo is waiting to teach something to you.”

“Ugh, that’s… will you stop him, Grandpa?”

“It’s an opportunity for my precious disciple to become stronger, so I’m going to wait for you to come out. Just try to survive, and I hope you don’t lose your organs or intestines or something.”

“Don’t lie! You keep smiling!”

Evan was finally able to get out of the pharmacy after squabbling with Bernard. There was an envelope full of Elven tea leaves from Iloin in his hand.

“Is that you, Young Master.”

“Hello, Sis Hanna.”

Hannah, who he had thought had already gone home, was standing in front of the Pharmacy. Evan tilted his head while he looked at her. She seemed to be extremely uncomfortable at the moment.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’d like to ask you something…”

Evan knew that Bernard had begun teaching Hanna a little bit of alchemy these days, but… Was she going to ask him what he had in mind?

Evan shrugged, and Hanna, who hesitated, quickly closed her eyes and asked him. It was a question of a completely different nature than he had originally thought.

“You do know, don’t you? Who the hell is that beautiful elf woman?”

“She has been in love with Grandpa for a long time.”

“Is that so!?”

Hannah’s expression became even more disturbing. Evan contemplated what was happening and soon realized.

It was the look on the daughter’s face when her father brought home a strange woman, saying he would remarry her in a drama.

“I don’t know how to treat her…”

“You can just take it easy. Iloin would say that, too.”

“No, actually… and suddenly that beauty appears next to him, so I don’t know how to treat him.”

“That’s the point. Is it hard to pretend to be close to Grandpa?”

“I’ve never imagined it before, but……I might be misunderstood by him.”

Hannah had always been in his disciple’s position, learning about restrictions directly from Bernard, and was the person who would treat Bernard comfortably after Evan.

However, the difference between Evan and Hannah was that Hannah was a woman of the right age. Until now, she had been treating him like an elder, but suddenly if a young woman who started loving Bernard unrequited (it would definitely look like that) appeared, it would become difficult to keep a sense of respectable distance with Bernard.

But in Evan’s eyes, that wasn’t the problem at all. Bernard was something of a fool, but Illoin wasn’t.

“Sister, Illoin probably knows all about what you think. So you don’t need to worry about it. Besides, my sister is a human, not an elf. I know enough about the differences between the different races.”

“Are you sure it is? But it’s weird to say, ‘You’re just an old man to me!’ because it seems like I care about something… And the most annoying thing is…”

“What’s annoying?”

At that moment, Hannah’s mood shifted suddenly. She started stomping on the floor with her feet. She was as scary as a humanoid monster which appeared beyond the 60th floor of the dungeon.

“That old man… How did he even get the love of such a beauty like that? It makes me weird, he has been teaching me all this time!”

“Uh… Was that your point?”

“Oh, it feels weird! You won’t know that feeling, and it feels like my brother, who was treated as a fool, brought a nice, pretty, and well-going woman who is incomparable to me, saying she is a fiancée of his! I can’t even take out Raihan on another date!”

“But you’re treating him as an older brother, not a father, so…”

“Yeah, of course, I know. Actually, we know that Bernard is a great person and a foolish one too at the same time but… still! I still can’t understand. I feel like I lost something! Do you understand, Master!?”

“You are suffering a lot in many ways.”

Evan managed to soothe Hanna, who vented her anger by saying he would make a chance for her to go on a date with Raihan again later.

She might have been aiming for this from the beginning, but love is winning someone’s heart! Evan wished Serpina good luck!