Evan D. Sherden, Execute Human Supplementation Plan (5)

“Morning. Everybody wake up!”

“Wake up!”

The Dungeon Knights’ daily routine was very disciplined. The schedule from wake-up to sleep was thoroughly organized on a minute-by-minute basis, with no waste of time in terms of education efficiency.

“Morning, master.”

“Huh? Uh-huh… okay, I’ll get up… hua.”

“Let me help you wash your face.”

“Okay, thank you.”

That schedule also applied equally to Evan, who had left the mansion and was now living in the Knights headquarters. There was a slight difference in that Belois woke Evan up a little earlier than the others and helped him get ready. Evan told her he would do that on his own, but Belois did not back down on her honor as his maid. It seemed to be a matter of pride.

“Food, please! I’m hungry!”

“Even if you’re hungry, you should do morning exercises first.”

“Foooood!”

After waking up together, all of them gathered at the training center to exercise for about an hour. They stopped by the Brotherhood Bathhouse to wash lightly before having a nutritionally balanced breakfast. After their breakfast, they took a break until they had finished digesting the meal and then went to their literature and culture classes by age. Dungeon Knights’ virtues included studying the dignity and culture derived from a wide range of knowledge. The education was designed to broaden the children’s insight and foster a more mature self.

“Phew, I came here because I didn’t want to study. Why do I have to study here too?”

“You won’t be free from studying as long as you say stuff like that.”

“I have to continue studying as long as I don’t want to study. Life is full of contradictions… Evan, what do you think about the problem of mental poverty in the process of learning that human knowledge is increased to enrich your life?”

“Your mind is not poor, but it is sick. Let’s break away from the mindset that once you enlist such intelligent words, you will be able to convince anyone.”

A tutor no longer taught Evan and Arisha because their knowledge was already beyond the level of being taught by someone else. Instead, they became teachers for the reserve members of the knights.

“Captain, hurry up for the grappling lesson…”

“Okay, I will once I’ve solved this problem.”

Most of the children had been grumbling but following the education well, but Jin was so interested in being strong that he couldn’t focus on the classes. If the teacher weren’t Evan, he would’ve run away already.

“It’s time, let’s go eat!”

“Grandpa Leo, no cutting in line!”

After finishing theory class, they usually had lunch with plenty of meat that strengthened their stamina. Then, they had free time for about an hour. After that free time, the afternoon training would begin in earnest. The first class was grappling training with Evan. The most efficient training had been created by adding Evan’s game knowledge to Mikhail D. Airok’s teaching method! Instead of only being twice as hard, it was the best hellish training in this era that enabled trainers to grow their students three times faster.

“Enna’s getting used to grappling now. What do you think of that combined with spearmanship?”

“If the monster I met in the dungeon last time were my opponent, I would…”

“You mean, it’s not enough. It’s okay; let’s take it slow.”

“Oh, huh…”

“Paul, breathe. Don’t forget the breathing I taught you.”

“Oh, huh… yes, yes, yes!”

Grappling was a martial art without characteristics. However, there was a difference in the speed of learning for each child because they had personal differences in handling their bodies. Perhaps the kids on the front were better than the ones in the back… of all of them, Paul, who had a strong talent to be a pure wizard, was having a hard time. Nevertheless, he didn’t give up until the end of the class.

“Jin, can you do more?”

“Huh… yes!”

“Okay, you’re growing strong.”

“Thank you!”

Meanwhile, Jin, a year younger than Paul, had been following along with Evan’s education even though he had not yet entered the dungeon. The phrase ‘going beyond one’s limits’ fit him the best.

“But if you overdo it and get hurt, it’ll only cost you more in the long run. You know that, don’t you?”

“I know. It’s okay!”

Evan was well aware of how weak the bodies of the rookies who hadn’t raised their dungeon level were. Of course, Jin must’ve overcome his body’s limitations by performing the Rookie Training, but there had to be a limit to his progress. However, it had been less than a year since he started to follow along with the training.

‘Is this the result of his willpower…?’

Jin’s talent and drive had been comparable to those of Silent Night Shine, the greatest assassin of Yoma Great War 3. His drive had been the best before, but after Evan said he would take him to the dungeon if he worked harder, it had only increased. Now Evan couldn’t say it was a joke; he thought he’d have to take Jin to the dungeon sooner or later. And there was one other thing.

“Jin, you’re going to have more special classes after this afternoon.”

“Special classes…?”

“Yes. You’re practicing archery as I taught you, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

Training equivalent to dual dagger training was possible in archery as well. In short, Jin was training archery at the highest efficiency. Even accounting for that, the speed of his training was absurdly fast. That wasn’t bad, but just like in Shine’s case, Jin also needed a qualitatively different approach to his training.

“Of course, you can be strong just by doing it as it is, but you need more hands-on training. So, I was going to ask a bowman of Ironwall Knights to teach you, but I happened to find a better candidate.”

“..I think what you taught me is enough.”

“Thank you for treating me so highly, but he’s an expert I can’t compare to, at least with a bow. Trust me.”

“If you say so…”

Jin nodded with an unsure look. He probably didn’t understand how lucky he was. Evan just smiled and headed off to teach the other children.

It was about 3 p.m. after the grappling class concluded. Then, the selfdiscipline would begin. Every student knew what they were to do, so they focused on training.

“Huh, haha!”

“Ahhhhhhh!”

“…Paul, cycle your mana a little faster.”

“Yes, yes!”

Although it wasn’t as bizarre as it looked, everyone grew their abilities quickly while wielding their weapons with strange movements. With his fire magic and earth magic aptitude, Paul was helped by Belois and Arisha, who had similar aptitudes. Rin and Lan, the reserve priest and knight, respectively, were intensively managed by Leo and Aria. Shine usually served as an instructor for children with talents in close-quarter weapons, but Evan was temporarily in charge since he was off on Maybell’s business trip.

“Ruby, attack me! Lucy and Rudy protect me! Don’t look at me and aim boldly at the blind spots! Formation change, from D to E! Then, G to A!”

Argh!)

Argh!

Argh!

Serena was the most noticeable among them as she was freely controlling three slimes and training her monster taming! The slimes moved at a ridiculous speed in response to her telepathic command. It was like they were slime planets orbiting a star called the Serena. Except for Evan, no one could even guess what she was doing. But now that everyone was used to her, they were used to ignoring her. Serena, who liked to be in the spotlight, seemed a little dissatisfied with that, but it didn’t matter.

“Excuse me. Evan, are you there?”

“Oh, come on!”

But today, a new guest had arrived at the underground training center. Evan welcomed ‘her’ with a wave of the hand, but most of the children in the training camp had figured out who the visitor was and stiffened.

“Uh, lloin?”

“Oh my God, Iloin came here?”

Because the Elf Iloin was a top-notch exotic beauty, they could not get used to her presence.

“Leo and Aria are also training here. I look forward to it from now on.”

“From now on…?”

“Huh, you mean you will train here too?”

“Yes, I will train. There are things I have to do with him.”

lloin greeted Leo and Aria, who seemed slightly surprised to see her. She then walked softly toward Evan, who pushed Jin forward.

“Is this boy the genius archer you told me of, Evan?”

“Yes, his name is Jin.”

The boy and Iloin’s eyes met

“E, Elf…”

“…As I expected.”

Among the Elves of the forest, Iloin was especially famous for her natural archery skill, and she had the nickname of ‘Draw-and-fire.’ It would be hard to find a master of archery like her considering the differences between their races. Evan had asked Iloin if she could teach Jin even if Bernard could not join due to his participation in the Human Supplementation Plan, and Iloin gladly accepted his request.

“lloin, I am sure that you’ll see how special this guy is.”

“I’ll have to check it out now. Nice to meet you, Jin.”

“Uh, ugh…”

Meanwhile, Jin was still intimidated by the overwhelming beauty of the Elf stood in front of him. Evan had a small smile at the sight of the innocent child.

“Greetings, Jin.”

“Uh…hi. How do you do?”

lloin also had a faint smile at Jin’s shyness. However, when she saw his golden pupils slit vertically, she seemed to have something in mind.

“Originally, Elves don’t pass on the vision to other tribes. But Evan is a dear friend of mine, and I wouldn’t hesitate to give him a piece of the vision if it were his request. But what you get depends on your ability and your will.”

“If I could be strong… I would do anything.”

“Is that your goal? I’m glad you have a clear one.”

lloin was able to read the desire for strength in Jin’s eyes. If he weren’t Evan’s student, she might have been on guard toward him. It was that strong a desire.

“I didn’t know the day would come when I met a person with a royal countenance… it is meant to be. Evan, first of all, I’d like to test him. Would that be okay?”

Royal countenance. Iloin already knew about it. Evan nodded right away.

“Yes, but as I told you yesterday, Jin is still weak. Please keep that in mind.”

“He won’t use his stamina… Jin, follow me.”

“…Phew.”

Jin saw lloin beckoning for him and casually turned to Evan. He hadn’t expected that he would be training outside. But Evan was looking at Jin with an unchanging and gentle look.

“Show her your ability, Jin.”

“…Okay, sir!”

Jin couldn’t betray Evan’s expectations. He nodded firmly and ran after Iloin. Evan shouted briefly at Iloin as she walked out of the underground training center.

“lloin, come back in two hours. I’ll teach you a new skill, too!”

lloin waved her hand in answer and left the training camp. Jin, who had all his hesitation blown away, followed after Iloin bravely. The training bow on his back shook with each step he took.

“It was a good idea…to make the strongest sniper of the Yoma Great War 4 a disciple of the strongest archer of the Yoma Great War 2. It is as groundbreaking a combination as Shine becoming a disciple of Leo…!”

Evan secretly cheered, clenching his fists. Thus, the first phase of the Human Supplementation Plan had been fully implemented. The ‘minimum’ preparation that Evan could do had been accomplished!

***

A month later, Maybell and Shine returned with the lukewarm winds of early summer with the news that the Brotherhood Corporation had been successfully established in Menaton, Princess Anastasia’s place.

“I’m not leaving your side anymore, master! Never!”

“Yes, but you have to go on a business trip again in a few months.”

“No, no, no, no!”

Summer came and went, as did fall, and then, winter arrived.

Finally, spring came soon after winter.

In March, Evan turned fourteen years old.”Morning. Everybody wake up!”