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Evan D. Sherdon People (7)
Leo’s party had safely returned from the dungeon. Upon hearing the news, Evan tried to run straight to the Marquis, but there was no need to do so. They came directly to the Dungeon Knights’ new headquarters.
Grandpa!”
“Ah, as soon as you see me, you do something so silly.” As soon as Evan saw Bernard, he ran up to him and hugged him like a child. Bernard complained, but still stroked his head.
“It’s only been a few months, but you’ve grown a lot. Have you learned a lot about alchemy?”
“Absolutely. Were you injured?”
“I’m fine, the guidance you gave us was invaluable. Thank you.”
“Hmm, Evan. It’s good to see you.”
“Ah, Grandpa Leo.” Leo intervened at that point, perhaps a bit envious of Evan’s concern for Bernard. Evan turned to the rest of them only after confirming Bernard was in one piece.
“Young master, we have returned safely.”
“You seem to be doing well, Evan.”
“Evan, hug me too!” Bernard had caused him so much worry that there was hardly a day Evan didn’t wonder where the hell they were. His eyes narrowed as he stared at Bernard.
“Well, I said from the start that nothing would happen. Why’d you make me worry about nothing with your useless words?”
“Well, I did say I was just preparing in case, you damn thing.” Bernard replied to Evan’s blunt remarks, smacking him in the back of the head. In the meanwhile, Leo was checking out the knights’ HQ and was trying to bring his luggage in.
“Evan, I will live here too.”
“Why are you going in?”
“Aren’t all the guys I need to teach here? There a quite a few who look talented.”
“Oh…?” Did that mean Leo was going to look after Evan and Shine as well as the other kids? Evan, quick to assess the benefits, raised his thumb.
“Actually, I knew it, so I prepared you a room on the 6th floor in advance!”
“How great!” Now the training schedule of the children, which was already hell, had been upgraded! Aria followed him in a hurry as the knight commander surveyed the scene. He stepped back, saying he needed to return to the Marquis.
“He’ll raise the children to be strong.”
“It’s not like Grandpa Leo can stay here forever, but I’d be grateful if he could watch over them for now. Maybe they’ll thank me one day. One day!”
“Is that so.” Bernard patted him on the head.
“I have to check how much you’ve improved. Come over tonight.”
“Today? I’m fine with it, but you just left the dungeon. You’re old, you know.” He said as much, but in actuality, Evan was surprised to see that Bernard had looked like he had become fifteen years younger despite only going down four floors. Perhaps God’s blessing increased around the 60th floor.
***
That night, Evan headed off to find Bernard with Shine as his escort. After checking on Evan’s self-study for the three months he was gone, Bernard let out a sigh.
“Okay, you weren’t playing around. You also made an artifact?”
“Yeah, it was because I met a good blacksmith. I still played a significant role, however. Have I almost caught up to you now?” Evan wasn’t confident in other fields, but he was proud of his knowledge of alchemy. Bernard let out a laugh at him.
“You’re still decades away from me. I’m going to make the class even harder, so stay alert and follow me.”
“I’ll do as much as I can.” That class that day was exceptionally difficult for Evan. Was that the price of his arrogance? Bernard revealed tricks he hadn’t taught Evan before, forcing Evan to concentrate with all his might to remember and engrave them in his mind.
“Huh…”
“Do five more.”
“I’m at my limit, I’m out of stamina and magic…”
“How pathetic, you call yourself my disciple?”
“No one else wanted to be your disciple.”
“Even if though you look like you’re about to die, you don’t want to lose.” Bernard lightly flicked Evan’s forehead, then lowered his voice.
“It’s a joke, boy. This is enough. Your alchemy today was so good I can’t find any faults with it.”
“Really?” Bernard grinned at the sight of Evan, despite having no energy a moment before, jumping up excitedly.
“You know, I’m teaching Hannah alchemy too.”
“Is she talented? I was surprised to hear about it.”
“Compared to you, she’s lacking…but unlike you, she also has some talent with ranged skills.” Evan also knew. He had heard the news not long ago that Serpina and Hannah had formed a party and entered the dungeon. They hadn’t returned yet, but according to a party of explorers that passed them, they had successfully crossed the fifth floor. He had been surprised. He only thought they had been quarreling over a man.
“I wish I had a talent for it, myself.”
“You just need to take care of what you have right now. That’s enough. You already have more than one can accept.”
“You keep complimenting me for some reason.”
“…Evan.” Bernard’s voice sank, becoming serious.
“I’ve already taught you everything I can. I didn’t know there would be a guy who could absorb all of my knowledge and experience. I still lack much, but all I have is yours…if you devote yourself, you will surely surpass me.”
“Grandpa.”
“If I disappear, then you will teach Hannah for me. It will help you in your own work.”
“Grandpa, you’re saying the same sort of stuff you did before you left.” Bernard shook his hand to stop Evan. Then, suddenly, Evan saw a bracelet of thorns that dug into his wrist. A red bud was blooming at the end of it. The moment he saw it, Evan froze.
“Grandpa…”
“Tsu.” Bernard shrugged. He knew he had been caught.
“It’s nothing.”
“No, it’s not.”
“Is it possible to deal with the Rose Queen, who could have driven the entire world to destruction, with only one life?” Evan tried to reach out to the thorn, but Bernard shook his head firmly.
“It’s connected with my soul. You can’t remove it physically.”
“No, that’s ridiculous. Such a curse… when…?”
“When? That was probably when I first defeated the Rose Queen, forty years ago.”
“Forty…” They had all been mistaken. The curse had been conceived the moment she nearly lost his life decades ago, and perhaps Bernard knew it from the beginning. And, since then, he had intended to endure the curse of the Rose Queen alone.
“If we had known about the Elixir a little earlier, maybe it might be different…but now it’s too late.” It wasn’t until now that Evan realized Bernard’s excitement at seeing the Phoenix’s feathers wasn’t just because of his inquisitive nature.
“But how fortunate it is that I’ve endured long enough to leave the dungeon. Thanks to that, I was able to play one last time with my friend, and I was able to give my student one last class.”
“Grandpa…” Evan wanted to say something, anything, but there were too many things to say and not enough time. Bernard gently stroked his head, knowing all of his feelings.
“Evan, don’t be sad. I was satisfied. I met a dear friend, and I had an intelligent disciple…I even found love, though it took me a while. It was a pretty good life.” The moment Bernard said that there was a rattling sound beyond the door. It was clear who it was. Bernard glanced up with a slight smile and raised Evan up.
“Now go. Thankfully for Hannah, you’re a better talker than me…I have someone I need to talk to now.”
“Grandp…” Evan wanted to hold on somehow but couldn’t. He bit his lip and endured the tears that wouldn’t come.
“See you tomorrow, Grandpa.”
“…”
“See you tomorrow. I will see you.”
“…Yeah, see you tomorrow.”
“Yes. I will come early in the morning.” Evan hugged Bernard tightly before stepping out through the door. There was a shadow hiding in the hallway.
“Iloin, are you there?”
“…”
“I’m leaving.” The shadow did not answer as Evan left. He looked back at Bernard one last time before he went, going through the outer door and leaving only silence in his wake. Bernard remained like that for a long moment before opening his mouth.
“Iloin, can you talk for a moment?”
“…Bernard.” Iloin appeared only after Evan’s presence had completely disappeared. In her hand was a tray with a teapot and two cups. Bernard nodded, and she quietly came in and sat across from him. Her eyes were already red, having stolen bits of the conversation he had with Evan.
“I’m really stupid.”
“I was the fool.”
“Yes, you are, but I was as well.”
“Then we’re a pretty good pair.”
“Huhh.” Ilion laughed at Bernard’s joke, repressing the desire to hit him as she poured them tea. Bernard looked down at his own cup, emotions warring in his eyes before he brought it up to his lips.
“…I don’t really know if I can accept this.”
“I was prepared for it since I came to love a human…but the time is too early. It’s too soon, Bernard.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You’re a fool. Instead of apologizing, you should kiss me now.”
“… I’m sorry.” However, Bernard didn’t move. He knew well that it would become a deep wound to torment her if he did. Ilion, who knew his heart, lifted her teacup with a heavy sigh.
“You fool.”
“If there is anything after death, then I will definitely come to you.” The two lightly bumped their cups together.
“…It is a really nice tea.”
“It’s only natural. I brewed it by hand.” Bernard took a sip and let out a satisfied sigh, but his smile soon faded.
“… I’m worried about going without saying anything to Leo and Aria.”
“If you had chosen to talk to Leo and not me, I would’ve thought you loved Leo.”
“It’s fortunate I was able to avoid that misunderstanding.” Bernard put down his cup and slowly leaned back in his chair as Ilion just stared at him.
“The curse left by the Rose Queen is ancient magic that I cannot interpret…but at least it won’t hurt you or anyone else. It is a curse that is made for my soul.”
“That is…”
“Haha, the flower that blooms from this bud…it feeds off of my own soul. Actually, I’m a bit excited about what the outcome of it will be. The last bit of alchemy I’ll do in my life is a collaboration with the Rose Queen.” Would it make an artifact or some new sort of life? Whatever it was, he was glad to have something to leave for Iloin. He had left memories to Leo and knowledge for Evan, so why not something for Iloin? She was sulking as he sincerely thought that.
“If you have more to say, then do so. I deserve to hear all of it.”
“Oh, right…” Bernard hesitated. Even saying those words would hurt her…but, he firmed his resolve and opened his mouth.
“In the last moments of my life, I want to thank you for teaching me how to love.”
“…Ah.” Ilion stiffened, finally hearing the words she didn’t want to think about. She wanted to respond, but it felt like something was blocking her throat. Instead, tears began to fall down onto the teacup she had barely sipped at. Bernard pretended not to see them.
“Thank you so much, Iloin.”
“…Bernard, you, as well…”
“Iloin…” At that moment, the bud began to open up with a dazzling light. Having finished speaking, Bernard continued to sit with a small smile on his lips as he waited for his last moments. Iloin grabbed him, tears blotting her vision.
“Bernard. Bernard…!” The light intensified as a brilliant rose bloomed.
The next day, the sun rose to shine brightly on the blooming flowers.