Evan D. Sherden, Execute Human Supplementation Plan (2)

A truly strong-minded man would grow through defeat. For a person with absolute strength who had not been defeated in a long time, a single defeat could be the best form of shock therapy to shake up their identity. For Leo Arpeta, this defeat was indeed such a case. He felt like he was coming to his senses.

“Hey, vice-captain, my grandfather looks like he’s going crazy.”

Ran had been so close to Leo; it was as if he were her real grandfather as he trained her. Shine’s forehead had been sweating at Ran’s words.

“Crazy?”

“Yes, he is dancing weird.”

At the corner of the training camp, Leo was wielding several swords at the same time. Shine saw him and nodded right away. The reason for those bizarre movements was obvious to him.

“I understand what happened. Still, Leo is not crazy but acting crazy, so please be considerate.”

“Is that different?”

“They are similar, but when you call him crazy, he’ll get mad. So, just ignore it.”

“Yes, alright!”

As Leo Arpeta began the training method he learned from Evan, that training method was distributed first to the Marquis’ knights under the name Leo Arpeta. Of course, the knights couldn’t easily accept the new training method, but they followed it when their hero, Mikhail D. Airok, who had cleared the dungeon all the way to the 60th floor, took the initiative.

“Left foot there.”

“Then, the sword’s path will be twisted, boss!”

“Fool, this is a move to defend against the dragon’s brace! It’s no wonder you don’t understand now!”

“But will we have a chance to defend the dragon’s brace?”

“Maybe not. But now that we have had the experience of stopping it, our skills will grow greatly!”

“Well, there’s no dragon!?”

No matter how much they decided to comply with the boss, there were complaints at every step. At first, Mikhail had tried to explain the training method to them several times, but most of them couldn’t understand, so he finally came to this method compliance.

“Are you guys against the teachings of the hero, Leo Arpeta? Just shut up and follow it!”

“Yes, sir!”

From the beginning, he was relying on the effect that Evan had intended! If they went against it, it meant they were protesting against Leo Arpeta. So, the knights, who considered him a hero, couldn’t dare to resist!

“All Ironwall Knights should aim to break through the 40th floor before two years pass! You got it?!”

“Forty floors?!”

“What is the answer?”

“Yes, sir!”

Of course, the Ironwall Knights was already one group of the elites that had grown up with rigorous training since childhood so that the training wouldn’t affect them right away. However, Evan’s training method included swordsmanship, shield skills, and horsemanship. So, those who showed poor performance in one of those various fields could quickly feel the training method’s effect.

“Huh, I never thought I’d master the javelin throw skill, but there was a way!”

“Same here. I still don’t understand how this new training has elevated my shield skill, but…”

“You’ve still a long way to go. Next, practice the skills for combat and survival in the dungeon!”

“Yes, sir.”

As the knights’ training was overhauled from the basics, their daily routine became increasingly difficult, but they managed to survive thanks to the Brotherhood Pharmacy’s low-priced potion and the Brotherhood Bathhouse. Thus, they were able to master stronger skills more efficiently, which meant they were becoming the main characters of the game without even noticing it. As that was happening, however, Leo and the knights were not the only ones who were undergoing a drastic change in their training system.

“The hero, Leo Arpeta, personally improved your training style, saying he would give thanks to the Marquis family. Don’t ask any questions and follow the instructions until you are all used to it!”

“Praise Leo Arpeta!”

“He cared about us, too?”

Yes, there had also been changes in the basic training the soldiers received. Strengthening the entire army was more important than solely training the knights. Compared to the knights, they were less talented, and their expected roles weren’t important, so they had more free time than the knights. However, there were still some big changes in the entire training process. For example, they received detailed instructions on footwork, breathing, and how to run.

“Our training never betrays us. Do you remember the recent events of the Mahwa race? What we protect are our family and friends! Even if the Demon King comes in himself, we will stop him with our strength. We’re about to become heroes!”

“Yes, sir!”

“I want to be a hero, too!”

Persuading the soldiers was simpler than the knights. Most of them were not familiar with the martial arts, so they just followed what they were told. The trainers were frustrated by how easy it was, but they couldn’t help but be convinced that Leo Arpeta’s name was just that great.

“You’re doing great. A little more will help you fully master it.”

A week had passed since the implementation of the Human Supplementary Plan. Evan, who was touring the training ground for knights and soldiers with the Marquis, was satisfied that most of them were following along well with the training, albeit not perfectly.

“If I had known, I would have started this sooner…”

“It’s not too late now. No, this is actually early enough.”

The Marquis, who was listening to Evan, said so with a loud laugh. His second son was always ready for everything, but that also meant he always worried about things that had never happened before.

“Think of your duel with Lord Leo, Evan. You’ve always thought yourself lacking, but you never lacked any. Haven’t your efforts paid off enough?”

“Yes…”

Many questions arose after he had defeated Leo, but it was certain that Evan’s training had achieved the desired result. Evan couldn’t deny that, at the very least.

“The same goes for them. The training devised from your knowledge will harmonize with what they have built so far to make them stronger. So you don’t have to be so impatient.”

“…Yes, that will be the case. It has to be.”

At last, Evan nodded. He had intended to train the Marquis soldiers quickly, whether by the use of alchemy or artifacts. The Human Supplementation Plan to prepare mankind had only just begun.

“I’m already talking to Pellati; he’ll fully understand and do what he can for you. You can trust him; he’ll never betray us.”

“Please. How about Merdin?”

“He still seems to be very busy. I can’t get in touch with him. The butler, who has been there, spoke that his successor, Shilan, is immature and has a lot of pressure from the lord’s work.”

“What?”

Evan tilted his head. There was a sense of incompatibility in his words… Hmm, the heir

“Isn’t the name of Merdin’s successor Ludden?”

“Ludden? You must have been mistaken. The successor to Marquis Merdin, the Grand Duke, is Shilan. He turned nineteen this year. The second son is Ludden.”

“I see…”

Evan tilted his head again. Perhaps the history of the Yoma Great War had been changed? Otherwise, it might simply be that time had not yet passed enough, and the heir was not yet determined. The lord of Merdin was Ludden, at least in the third game. There were almost seven years left so that he would see…

‘So what happened to the Shilan in the original game? …I’m sure nothing will happen.’

However, like Sherden and everyone else, Merdin might have a somewhat different history from what he remembered from the game. There was nothing wrong with being careful, though.

“Please pay attention to Merdin for the time being, Father. As soon as the chances arise, I’d like to form an alliance with Merdin.”

“Yes, I see. Let’s focus on Merdin as soon as things progress in our city and Pelati. Come to think of it; you’re going to make a deal with the Duke’s family?”

“Yes, I’m thinking of dealing with Princess Anastasia. It will bring us a large amount of profit soon.”

“Then, how about the Duke family…?”

“I’m going to take a little time to judge them.”

Although it was still only a small change, the Human Supplementation Plan was finally aiming at strengthening the entire human race! The extra, Evan’s grand goal was now only at the first step.

***

Evan returned to the Dungeon Knights headquarters that evening. Ironically, the Dungeon Knights headquarters, which had only just been built, felt more like his own home than the residence of Sherden, which he had lived in for more than a decade. Was it because he participated in the construction?

“The boss is here!”

“Dear boss!”

“Master.”

Perhaps it had become a common event now. When Evan returned, the people in the living room and the children in their rooms rushed out to greet him. Evan told them they didn’t have to be so polite, but they didn’t change. At this point, it was clear that everyone was enjoying it… and Evan didn’t feel bad about it either, so he didn’t want to stop them actively.

“Evan, let’s put a big sofa in our living room! The lounge is nice, but I think the living room is the best for all of us to chat together.”

“Please don’t call it the living room, but the lobby on the first floor. Anyway, let me think about it.”

“Hurrah.”

Serena ran out of her room as soon as she heard that Evan had arrived. Evan took up all the children (including Serena) clinging to him and turned to Shine.

“What about Grandpa Leo?”

“He’s still in the basement training center.”

“I gotta go see him. Lua, you’ve done a good job, too. Would you like to rest here?”

“Okay, master.”

Evan patted all the knight members once and went down to the basement training center in his active clothes. In the corner, Leo was still swinging the two swords in his hands in a complicated pattern. Nearby, Aria stood still and watched him.

…Grandfather.’

Leo had smiled cheerfully before, saying, “I lost,” but had it been too shocking? Ever since that day, Evan had not been able to find the normal Leo. The intensity of the Dungeon Knights training had grown even stronger, but Leo had been training himself even more than that. If it weren’t for Aria, who was always with Leo to support him, Evan would have stopped him.

“Have you come?”

“If you talk while moving so fast, you’ll bite your tongue, Grandpa.”

“Hah, how can I bite my tongue in such training? Argh.”

Leo bit it and stopped training. Evan looked at him calmly.

“Grandpa, have you been waiting all day to show me that comedy skit?”

“Guaaaaaaaaaaa.”

“You are always stupid.”

Evan couldn’t help feeling sorry for Leo, who was rolling on the floor in pain. However, Evan was amazed at how Leo did not drop the swords in his hands yet. Aria’s unshakable appearance despite Leo’s foolishness was all the more admirable.

“Aria, quickly, heal. Heal.”

“I’ll heal you. Take a break, Leo.”

“No, that’s enough.”

As soon as Leo got some healing from Aria, he jumped up in a lively manner and said,

“I’ve found a path I didn’t know, so I can’t stay still for a moment. To catch up as much as I am behind, I have to swing my sword for a year.”

“What an excuse. You’re just embarrassed to lose to your student, aren’t you?”

“Of course, it’s embarrassing, isn’t it?”

Leo yelled this and cleared his throat.

“Just pretend you didn’t hear this, Evan. I’m not the kind of man who is stuck on one defeat.”

“You have already shown enough. And at that time… I just won it because I was lucky.”

Evan was sincere. Although he had won the battle, he never once thought Leo was weaker than he was.

I could only win because I knew everything about Leo. Nevertheless, his sword, which contains his innate sense and decades of experience, had something special in it that the system itself could not distinguish.’

The fact that the game did not necessarily coincide with reality was a truth that no one could argue with now. Leo overcame the crisis that hit the continent decades ago with much less power than the Leo Arpeta in Yoma Great War 2, and he finally defeated the Mahwa at that time. Leo was a great man who couldn’t be judged by only one defeat. Neither Bernard nor Aria nor lloin could be either.

“What luck is that? If you win, that’s your skill. It’s the truth, so remember it.”

“Leo’s right. Winning is a skill, and surviving is a skill.”

“Winning is a skill, and surviving is a skill… that’s a scary thing to say.”

“Huh, just knowing that it’s scary deserves a pass, Evan.”

However, Leo and his team of warriors, including Bernard, must have suffered much worse than Evan could know in performing the feat that they did while lacking the abilities from the game. They had gone through an adventure with no save files and where death awaited them around every corner.

‘Now… I hope you don’t.’

He hated it when someone died. It was good to be comfortable and feel pleasant. He wanted to cope with every crisis with such overwhelming composure that they didn’t even feel like a crisis. Evan was the type of person who only went to catch the last boss after reaching the top level and farming the strongest equipment. He was the type to choose a longer, bumpier way without any hesitation to save even one extra. Such a person couldn’t understand the pain of Leo’s party by even 1%. He couldn’t even accept it.

“Why do you look at me like that? Creepy, I’m not interested in it.”

“Leo, you should keep your mouth shut… Evan, you are thinking of our past, right? But you need not worry. It’s all in the past. We are happy just with your heart.”

Unlike stupid Leo, Aria was quite sharp. Evan stared at the two without answering for a while before speaking.

“I don’t want you two to be in danger from now on.”

“Do you mean, don’t move? You want me to die trapped in here?”

“No, I mean, train harder so that you aren’t in danger under any circumstances, grandfather and Aria. I hope you become stronger. I hope you’re stronger than I am.”

“Ha, you bastard.”

With Evan’s bold words, Leo burst out laughing, but Aria smiled softly.

“That’s why you’re training?”

“Yes.”

“That’s why you beat Leo.”

“Yes.”

“Ah.”

Aria smiled at Evan. It was similar to when she looked at Leo, but it was subtly different… Yes, it was a smile as if she were looking at a brother or a son.

“Leo, we can’t even die on our own anymore. Evan says, don’t die.”

“Hmm, I don’t want to die anyway.”

Such words were exchanged between the husband and wife. Evan was worried that he might have offended them by talking so boldly, but fortunately, they weren’t.

“Evan, stop talking and come over here. Let’s spar again.”

No, perhaps Leo felt offended. Evan looked briefly for a way to retreat, but there was no way to escape as Aria was now completely blocking the area, determined to hang out with her husband.

“Well, all right… I’m not going to take off my boots.”

“Okay, then I’ll take them off!”

In the end, Evan stayed up all night fighting with Leo. Of course, Evan didn’t take off his boots, but he was beaten to the point he thought it might have been better to take them off. When Aria saw it, she thought Evan was also a fool as Leo’s disciple, but she endured it without saying anything.