"We couldn't find the Mahwas who fled from the battlefield. However, the knights who entered the dungeon finished spraying the drugs up to the 30th floor safely. With the help of the Paradise Wandering Guild and the Phoenix Guild, we found and destroyed the remnants of the Mahwa tribe in the dungeon."
"Up to the 30th floor, hmm… That would be enough for the time being."
Evan nodded at the Ironwall Knights' report. He ritually bowed his head once and continued with his report.
"The Knights Commander Mikhail D. Airock has gone beyond the 30th floor with the elites of Paradise Wandering and Phoenix. The rest continue to spray the medicine on the lower floors. After this work is over, I believe that the Mahwas will never be able to set foot in the dungeon city of Sherden in the future."
"But I'm not sure of that yet. I have personally confirmed the drug's effectiveness, but there are exceptions everywhere. For the time being, the security system will have to be strengthened to maintain strict vigilance."
"Yes, I understand!"
After reporting, the knight immediately saluted, then stepped back and left.
Only after the knight was completely gone from view did the Marquis shake his head with a deep sigh. Evan did the same due to exhaustion.
"I think it was all thanks to the quick use of your abilities and strategy."
"But I am worried about those Mahwas who fled from the battlefield. What if they went deep into the dungeon and attempted to possess more monsters?"
"We don't have to worry about that because the dungeon is being kept under very close watch, Evan."
Evan had built something of a reputation for worrying and getting overwhelmed. Of course, he did everything meticulously. It was also evidence of his caring personality…
"You're worrying needlessly, Evan," the Marquis said, shaking his head firmly.
"Moreover, the Mahwa, who had to shed their human bodies to escape from the battle with the heroes, could never have entered the dungeon. It is just reasonable to think that they have already left the city by mixing in with the crowd."
"Out of the city…"
"Yes."
The Marquis took out a map showing the surrounding terrain. He showed it to Evan and started explaining.
"Evan, look. There are six nearby dungeons that we are aware of. I'm going to clean up all of these places by calling out all the knights and the soldiers. But I am expecting that we wouldn't be able to find the Mahwas even here."
"Are you saying that they're already out of our grasp?"
"That's it."
There was no need to explain further because Queen Rose had already been killed here.
For the Mahwa, the dungeon city was currently the most dangerous place in the world, and they would want to escape it as soon as possible.
"From now on, they will try to go into hiding. Maybe someday they'll target the dungeon city of Sherden again, but at least not for now. That we can be sure of."
"…The other dungeon cities will still have to fight the Mahwas, though."
"The Rose Queen is dead. Neither the Pellati nor the Merdin family is weak enough to lose dungeons to the weakened Mahwas, so don't worry too much about it, son."
"Is that so?"
"Sure, it is."
The Pellati and Merdin families were already warned about the Mahwas. The Mahwas would wander without reaching any land and would eventually face complete extinction. It looked that way.
"And that's thanks to the potion you made, Evan."
"I made it with Grandpa Bernard's help. It's something I could never make by myself."
"Yeah. Yes, of course, I know. Anyway, you have had a lot of trouble, my son."
The Marquis patted Evan's back and said, "And I can't deny that your role has been extremely significant from the beginning to the end of this situation, so if you want anything, tell me. This time, I'm ready to grant you whatever you wish for, so don't hesitate to ask…"
"Then let me enter the dungeon again, Father."
The Marquis' mouth was left hanging wide open. However, Evan repeated his words, looking at the Marquis with serious eyes.
"Please let me go into the dungeon, Father. I want to be stronger. We all have to be strong. Shine, Belois, and Raihan, even more so than me."
"…Yes, I see. If your will is so determined, I won't stop you anymore."
The Marquis had no choice but to nod his head in the end with a bitter expression on his face.
Evan thought the dungeons weren't dangerous for him, and he found the Marquis' appearance quite funny.
"You're right, Evan. Go into the dungeon. Even though I'm leaning too much on you, who is already beyond the level of a child, it is harsh to put a child's standards on you when you're growing this much. Do whatever you want."
"Thank you, Father!"
"But not right now. There may still be Mahwas left in the dungeon, so please wait for a little while. And… Isn't there a day left for the festival? Go and have some fun as well."
"Ah… Yes."
It was morning. The last day of the festival had dawned.
Just yesterday, a person who was likely to lead the world to destruction had been killed in this city, but most people didn't even know it.
"All the people would be enjoying the grand ending to the festival today, Father."
"Yes, that's fortunate. It is up to the nobles and rulers to keep the people living in peace without knowing about stuff like that, Evan. Just as you always do."
"My father is always exaggerating. I am always borrowing the power of others."
After underestimating himself yet again, Evan replied with a bitter smile.
But the thoughts of the Marquis wouldn't change.
Evan was scared of the moment when the Marquis would be disappointed after realizing his limits. That his true role was that of an extra.
"I am just an unimportant person, Father. I am just someone playing a tiny part in the main story of the protagonist."
"Oh, yeah?"
But this time, the reaction of the Marquis was quite different.
The Marquis lowered his head and looked at Evan with a serious expression.
"No matter how people judge you, son, you don't have to pay attention to it; don't let yourself be directly affected by it. And Evan, you shouldn't think of yourself as nothing."
"That's..."
"Evan, everyone is the main character of their life. There is no such thing as a supporting role. No matter what anyone says, you are the protagonist of your life. Do you understand?"
"…Yes, father."
Evan was at a loss for words.
Here, he couldn't compare this world to a game anymore; because it wasn't. He could also no longer describe himself as an extra that always faced a miserable death.
Evan thought about the Marquis' words a little. Problems such as not loving yourself enough, not having faith in your possibilities, and underestimating your abilities didn't exist in lore only.
"Take on the challenge in front of you, but don't forget to take care of yourself. Don't step away… Whatever awaits you in the future, don't be afraid of it already."
"...…"
"Do you understand?"
"Yes, Father."
Evan wasn't sure yet. He could never convince and accept himself the way the people around him judged him, and he could not give up the idea that he was an extra.
But as he listened to the Marquis, he felt something stir inside him.
"I do… If there is anything I can do, I will do my best to do it."
"That's the spirit, son. Now, go enjoy this festival! I feel like I can feel the eyes of the children who are staring at me outside."
Evan laughed at the Marquis' joke and left the room. He was dazzled to find Shine, Belois, and Arisha waiting for him in their outing clothes at the door.
The Marquis wasn't telling a joke after all!
"Is it over now? Let's go out, Master. The kids are waiting for you, anxiously."
"You've been hard at work, Young Master."
"Evan, buy me the clothes you bought for the kids too."
Shine and Belois were wearing the clothes that Evan had bought from the Royal City.
Indeed, it was worth buying clothes that increased with the wearer's body changes. Even though both had grown quite a bit compared to the old days, the clothes still fit them perfectly.
"Buy some for me, too. I want to share memories with you."
And, perhaps, while waiting for Evan, Arisha had heard about the story of the clothes from Shine and Belois and kept asking for a gift from him in a rather strong tone, which was rather unusual for a simple girl.
"My birthday is in January. I'll be looking forward to it," she continued.
"When you present clothes to me on my birthday, I will feel like we have something really special between us! Therefore, I'll be looking forward to it."
Arisha once again spoke in a strong tone and turned. Evan was convinced that if he didn't give her a gift, something very dangerous would happen.
The only way to be safe was to give her clothes that matched the others on her birthday as soon as possible…!
"I should give a gift to the Rookie children at this opportunity too. We can say it is a gift from the Templars."
"Then it means that you have accepted Miss Arisha into the Dungeon Knights, Master."
"…I've already given up on kicking her out of the squad, Shine."
"Then why do you look so sad as if you've made the biggest mistake of your life?"
"Master Evan, don't pay too much attention to him."
Belois spoke firmly.
"If the lady tries to force you anyway, I will stop her. For you, I am not even afraid of getting any amount of blood on my hands."
"No, you won't do anything like that, Lua!"
"I'm sorry, Master…"
Belois always truly cared for Evan. Of course, it was difficult to kill people!
"Well, what about Raihan Hyung? Is he with the kids right now?"
"Raihan Hyung was taken by two dignified women. No one could stop them from taking him."
Shine replied, trying to hold back his laughter.
"The work is over now, but we still have one day before the festival ends, so I can't help but go out with you three. It's a pity that I couldn't see Raihan."
"…Please, leave all of your worries to us, Master!"
Evan was anxious. Raihan Drukas was the only one among them who could protect him from a flying knife attack.
Without him, there was no guarantee!
For a while, Evan had to lend Miraseul's necklace to Raihan, and now he regretted it.