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Evan D. Sherden. Going to the Hot Springs (1)
On the way back, Evan wanted to ride a carriage with Shine, Belois, and Raihan.
The Marquis and Dain were disappointed, but when Evan said he wanted to discuss the Knight’s operating policy, Marquis was surprised and gave permission. Otherwise, Evan may have thought he was feeling petty inside.
“Are you sure a great crisis will come for Master Evan in the future?”
“Yes. More specifically, it’s that there will be a crisis several times in the future, aiming for the life of Master.”
However, there was a very serious conversation going on. A very important discussion about Evan’s future safety, to be accurate!
“Raihan-nim may have also roughly guessed the Master’s extraordinary abilities. I believe you got it.”
“I believe so.”
At Shine’s words, Raihan nodded straight away. From the conversations he had with Shine, Raihan could understand that Evan was not just a useless second son of a Marquis who only used his father’s authority, but the decisive thing that changed his mind the most about Evan was all the gold and silver treasures that Evan had brought back home yesterday.
“The ability to read the secrets of the world… Even if you call it that, there will be no shortages.  Evan has such a great personality that even if there are countless crises in the future, in return for carrying on our ability, it will make sense.”
“What did you say? Anyway, of course, we are aiming to protect the dungeon city, but before that, we must put our top priority in saving the life of the Master. The Dungeon Knights can’t be established if the Master is defeated.”
“I understand. No, even if it wasn’t for the Dungeon Knights, I would always raise my sword to protect Master Evan. He is the person who showed me a new life and hope. I don’t need any other reason to protect him.”
“No.”
Surprisingly, Evan stopped him in that part. Then he stared at Raihan and pierced his heart through his words without hesitation.
“You can’t deal with your brother like this. You will not lift the sword for me. Why? Would you die for me?”
“What!”
“Oh, this man’s mentality that had barely been recovered until now is done for again!”
It was fortunate that this was an artifact carriage. Had it not been, Raihan would have been thrown overboard because he could not overcome the shock of the moment he felt in his heart!
“Get your mind together, get your mind together! Usually, after saying these things, the Master says good things! If you’re just going to die, you should hear that and then go die!”
“Kuh, huh… !”
Evan and Belois looked coldly down on him, while Shine shook Raihan to help him find his sanity. Raihan, who barely stood up and sat in place, was worried about where his dignified expression had gone.
“Yes, I’ve forgotten for a moment that I’m incompetent because I was full of courage. Master Evan, sorry. I’m a pathetic guy who always talks. It’s already so ridiculous, the thought of me joining the Dungeon Knights…”
“It’s a real pity. Listen, brother. You told me once that you could not handle a sword, but you didn’t say you were incompetent.”
“But what else would it mean if a Knight can’t handle a sword?”
“Where’s the person who said he wouldn’t care how other people called him? You just heard that your brother Evan is a future knight, so you wanted to join the Dungeon Knights? Do you remember that you said you were going to protect the people?”
Raihan shut up again. However, the shock in his gaze lowered down quite a bit, and now he seemed ready to hear to what more Evan had to say. Evan nodded with satisfaction.
‘Although I have to do a little acting for the moment, you’ll eventually recognize your talent in the future.’
However, by doing this, he would surely be able to drastically reduce the time it took for Raihan to find his way and become strong.
Evan took a short deep breath, then spoke again.
“My brother’s talent is in Protecting. There must be a good reason for God to give you the Guardian protection.”
“But it’s not enough to be able to protect only. I should know how to fight too…”
“No, even when you first awakened your ability, my brother kept the people safe by using it.”
“It’s because other people who were even weaker than me came out to defend themselves…”
“That’s right, that’s it.”
Raihan still seemed to be insensitive about it. Honestly, this was also a problem on Raihan’s side. If he had to awaken in that way and suffer such an event, it had been no wonder that it was hard to realize his way naturally.
Evan spoke with a sneaky smile as if he was very evil.
“Since there is no skill in fighting, all you have to do is leave it to someone else and protect your brother.”
It was only then that Raihan realized what Evan was trying to say.
“No, but… Oh so that’s why.”
“Is there anything wrong with that?”
“No, that is…  It doesn’t feel right to leave the fight to someone else, and above all, that way I’ll just die right away, so in the end it doesn’t mean anything to me…”
Of course, several problems would arise. Raihan wouldn’t be able to fix them all right away. Evan nodded as if he understood it all.
“I already know roughly. My brother picked the wrong way to become strong from the start. There are two things to keep in mind. First, few people can do it all on their own. Second, in order to become stronger, you have to find a weapon that suits you.”
“Anyone who can do everything is rare… I need to find the way that suits me?”
Finally, Raihan got the correct answer.
“Do you want me to use a shield?”
“Have you ever used it?”
“Not yet. The Church only gave basic martial arts training, saying that the habit of trying to defend yourself from the beginning was not allowed during the training process…”
“So you don’t know your talent. It’s because you were not aware that the Church’s people were behaving ignorantly.”
Evan shook his head and talked about the Paladin education method, which was totally illogical and without any fragments of intelligence.
“The day when you first confronted the monster, you already found your way of fighting. Whether blocking or avoiding enemies’ attacks, you only draw the attention of all enemies to yourself. Meanwhile, others are relatively safe due to that and they attack and defeat the enemy. Is that not a good combat method? Why were you ignoring the memories of that day in the first place?”
“Because it’s embarrassing… But is that really possible? While I’m blocking for other people… Certainly, that’s the case, but…”
“The collective teamwork is what makes it possible. And you have a talent optimized for group battles. Ha, can you understand me now? See?”
Raihan heard Evan’s words, and he seemed to look angry, but actually, he was just silent for a second. Then he slowly nodded.
“Probably because of that reason, I was labeled as weak.”
“Hmm.”
“I thought that day’s memories were humiliating, and I felt pathetic about myself, that’s why I couldn’t put a knife through the monster. Through that, I thought I had to pick up a weapon somehow. Only now, I think I can overcome my past. I will be honest and say I have never given a glance to a shield before.”
“That’s good enough. So, is it like that even now?”
“… No. Because Master taught me that the past was a very proud memory that does not need to be hidden.”
Raihan looked up and met Evan’s gaze. Suddenly, his eyes were shining brightly.
“I thought I already knew I couldn’t be perfect myself, but I guess that wasn’t it. In the future, It’s going to be a little different… I want to use the shield. I want to be part of a group and go to battle. If that could lead to the consequential protection of my friends. then that is what I will do!”
“Good. If you focus only on protecting in the future, and the fight is left to others, we can surely be the perfect team.”
Silent Night and Blood Witch unite as a team with the unbreakable shield? Even if the last boss faced them, then it would have to run away on all fours.
Evan, who just imagined that, was already laughing. This was a dream team that could only be established because this world was not a game! Yes, the reality was beyond the game!
“By the way, we… Are you thinking about fighting too Master? No, since you are the Commander of the Dungeon Knights, is it right for you to fight?”
“Oh, then, it’s a real problem. If you become the head of the knights, do you have to fight too? No, it’s dangerous…”
“You don’t have to fight. You don’t even need to come, Master. If we learn to work together before that, that’s just it.”
However, the three, who were going to become the dream team, were each saying their part to convince Evan. In particular, at what Belois said, Evan laughed out of confusion.
“Don’t forget everyone, that I’m a nobleman in the dungeon city. I have to enter the dungeon, and I have to advance to the next floors and earn the proper achievements for attacking the dungeon.”
“Oh, it turned out to be like that. You are going to enter the dungeon with us.”
“But the dungeon is a very dangerous place…”
“That’s why we are trying to team up with such strong people.”
Evan said with a laugh and added.
“And I’m not saying I’m going to be on the front. I don’t have a talent for fighting. There are no weapons that can be handled properly by me.”
“Yeah? But at that age you are already very strong, and the Knights Commander praised you for being a natural genius for fighting martial arts.”
“That’s right. Obviously, I am very good at fighting, but it is very dangerous to confront an enemy without a single weapon. Therefore, I do not need to fight. I can leave it to you.”
When Evan said that it was absolutely natural, Shine tilted his head and tried to refute something.
Evan’s perception of his own level of strength compared to Shine’s and Belois’s perception was different. Raihan, looking at him, tilted his head.
Meanwhile, Evan spoke calmly.
“So I’m going to support the team from a direction other than combat. Everyone knows I’m learning alchemy from Grandpa Bernard?”
“You mean alchemy? Oh my god, you can learn that high-level knowledge professionally, are there still places left for that?”
When it came to alchemy, the perception of the Nobility was not very good. Still, Evan nodded satisfactorily.
“I’m learning because I’m lucky to have inherited some knowledge.”
“Master really is a special person. Surely you were learning a mysterious technique…”
There was a saying that a well-raised alchemist could fill in as one person in the role of healer, attacker, and a tank. Bernard Garcia from Yo-Ma Great War 2 was a prime example.
Suppose one used the alchemist’s various abilities, including healing potions, bombs, and other improvised things like smoke bombs and defense walls. In that case, they could accomplish more than just their role without dangerously fighting the monsters with a sword.
As he was even learning directly from Bernard Garcia himself, Evan’s confidence was tremendous. He would be able to play an active part, enough to be recognized for his contribution to clearing the dungeon!
“Anyway, don’t worry too much because I’ll be contributing through alchemy from the rear rather than actual combat.”
“If so…”
“We will do our best to make sure that you do not die, Master.”
“Huh? The wagon stopped?”
Suddenly the carriage stopped, and its door opened. His escort was politely bowing his head.
“Master Evan, we have arrived.”
Before Dain spoke, they smelt the smell of sulfur.
“This is the place…”
“Yes. This is the hot spring village Steama.”
Halfway through their way home, Evan had arrived at the most famous spot in the Yo-Ma Great War series. This was the place he was earnestly looking forward to.