Chapter 121 - Evan D. Sherden, Enters the Dungeon Again (2)
"Evan, being in the dungeon for too long is not good for your health. So don't get selfish or greedy, and come out at the right time. Got it?"
"Yes, yes. I get it."
"Evan will be fine there, and you don't have to worry about him either. Belois, there will be no problems for you as long as you keep in mind what you have been taught."
"Everything is engraved in my mind, Madam."
The next morning, Evan and the group were finally able to leave for the dungeon. Of course, the Marquis didn't just let him go like that. The whole of the Marquis' family had gathered to bid them farewell and good wishes.
"In the dungeon, you always have to keep your eyes peeled. It's a place where you don't know what's going to happen the next moment."
"Okay, brother. I'll be careful enough."
Eric, meanwhile, was even sniffling with tears as he was worried about his brother. He had already explored the Dungeon to the 10th floor, so he was keenly aware of how dangerous the Dungeon was.
Evan thought that the 20th floor was for beginners. He could break through it alone without getting caught in any traps.
"Come back quickly, Evan. I want to start your classes right away. Or should I go with you?"
"If we go with Grandpa Leo, we won't have to do even a single thing. I'm not running away anymore, so please just wait here for me."
"Evan, goodbye! Belois, Shine, Arisha, and Raihan, take care of yourselves. May the grace of God be with you."
Leo and Aria had been staying there as the guests of the Marquis.
Leo, who knew about his abilities from when he had fought with Evan, wasn't worried about him at all.
He was one of the few people who knew that even if Evan walked through all the traps with his bare body, he wouldn't even get a scratch.
"Abu, Eva! Eva!"
"Yeah, yes, our Liz. Let's cheer up."
"...How can our Liz say Eva before she says Dad?"
"I can't wait to see her pronounce the whole name."
Elizabeth was continuously weeping. She rubbed Evan's face with her tiny hands. It looked like she knew that she would not be able to see her for a while.
Evan patted her a few more times and handed the child to the second wife, Miriam. The child had gotten one and a half years old by now.
She had also gained quite some weight. She also seemed to be bigger than a normal child of her age.
"I'll be back soon, Mother Miriam."
"Good luck Evan. Keep in mind that the more late you are, the more difficult it will get to take care of Liz."
"I will surely keep that in mind."
"Eva!"
Only after barely separating Elizabeth, who was clinging onto him and crying hysterically, they were able to get out of the mansion.
"Your family seems to be very nice. You have a good relationship with all of them."
"I think it'll be better to focus on other things now…"
Evan shook his head and muttered at Arisha's words.
It was a happy family, indeed. Evan wished none of them would get hurt when he was away.
"My family will be alright. Let's talk about some strategies for the dungeon."
"… Okay."
Evan's party crossed the street and headed to the dungeon in the centre of the city. They briefly talked about the guidelines of action within the dungeon.
It was still dawn, so there weren't many people out about. But some of the people who were already up and the people coming out of the dungeon widened their eyes as they watched the movement of Evan and the party.
"We have 5 members, but I'll leave everything to you, Arisha, from the first to fifth floors. I want you to judge and act by yourself… But I'll help you to find the right way. We can't waste our time."
"Will you serve as our guide?"
"Yes, you can say it's like that."
A guide was one who specialized in finding a safe and clear path in the dungeon and led the party. The guide's participation in the battle wasn't very high.
Usually, someone with a Rogue aptitude having good eyes and an agile body took on this role, and if the guide was good at his or her job, the dungeon attack time, as well as the safety, increased drastically.
'Of course, when a major dungeon change occurs, the guides also make another uproar that they would now have to adapt to the changed dungeon.'
What about Evan? Of course, he didn't have to behave like that. It was because he already had a complete grasp of the dungeons even after the transformation! In Yo-Ma Great War 4, a great change in the Sherden Dungeon took place!
"It is calculated that if I perform an assistant role with alchemy in addition to the role of a guide, we can proceed even beyond the 60th floor."
"But the Master's calculation does not include his combat skills, right?"
"My combat skills don't matter."
When Evan replied that as if it was absolutely natural, Shine turned to Arisha and said.
"Please try to remember that in the future, Lady Arisha. It's the same as I have always insisted. By keeping all of these things in mind, you have to contribute as much as possible to evolve properly."
"Yes, I get it. Not a day goes by without me having fun while in Evan's company."
"Don't you think you are being very rude to me right now…?"
The party soon arrived at the dungeon's entrance. The knight guarding the entrance politely bowed to them and guided them to the magic circle.
When the five people grasped each other's hands, the magic circle automatically revealed the limit of the floor, they could all conquer together. Of course, it was showing the first floor.
"Master Evan, you have to be careful inside. For Miss Arisha to be surely recognized for the contribution while attacking the dungeon, other people of the party shouldn't be too active."
"Thank you for your concern. I'll be careful."
When Evan responded with a smile, the knight felt slightly embarrassed and stepped back.
Of course, the knight didn't know that Evan could quickly raise the dungeon levels of his companions as he had mastered Yo-Ma Great War 2, 3, and 4!
"… Whoo."
"What is it, Arisha? Are you feeling nervous?"
Before entering the dungeon, Arisha breathed out loud enough to be heard by Evan. Arisha, who usually didn't show such emotions at all, seemed to be quite anxious right now.
It seemed to Evan that she was finally doing something that suited her age. Seeing Evan smile at her, she said.
"… The dungeon itself is not scary. What if I don't meet Evan's standards? That is what I'm a little scared of."
"Don't worry. It's nothing like that. You may very well be able to exceed my expectations too."
How could he even dare to compare the abilities of the main heroine with an extra!? Well, of course, compared to Shine and Belois, the Rookie children, her skills might have been less powerful but still…
However, among the Yo-Ma Great War series's main heroines, Arisha was praised for her unique visuals, importance, and outstanding ability.
She was a character that received an evaluation that the triple beat fit well.
Moreover, she had both magical and physical capabilities so that she could be active in all situations!
'Is she being more timid than I remember?'
She was extraordinary, and Evan already had a rough idea of her current capabilities.
It was really amazing that she, who did not know the games, had such power at this age. And her next words were even more surprising.
"I have always evaluated others from a superior standpoint. It's because I haven't met many people who are better than me. So this is a new stimulus. Everything I do comes back to me someday, now I know it."
"So, what are you going to do?"
"… I must prove that I deserve to be cocky in the future."
At that moment, when Arisha muttered in a strong tone as if vowing to herself, her whole body trembled slightly.
Overcoming her body with just a will, she was absolutely not an ordinary twelve-year-old!
"I know that I have the qualities worthy of being a member of the Dungeon Knights."
"It's enough already."
"And that Evan is a fun person that should not be lost."
"No, you don't need to prove that. And isn't that premise wrong?"
"But Evan is really fun. I want to keep watching him from the sides."
"I don't need that kind of attention!"
A series of serious questions and answers were being exchanged until a while ago, and now Arisha was again looking at him with a creepy gaze.
Evan simply couldn't be off guard when he was with her!
"The two of you look good together… No! Belois, what are you doing!"
"Silly Shine."
Shine has been admiring the exchange between Evan and Arisha, and when he said that, Belois nudged him with an elbow in the ribs. Shine fell to his knees due to the pain. Although, he was fortunate that he didn't get hit by the fox fire.
'Well… It's a bad game.'
Seeing the four children who he had to enter the dungeon with, Raihan made a secret pledge.
'I should always keep upright! I must protect these children at all costs!'
"Okay, the stairs will be located at the end of the first floor. There are no traps on the first floor."
However, to begin with, at least, there was no immediate danger for Raihan to deal with.
He didn't even need to lift the shield once.
"Because we have already taken all the achievements that can be won, those which have already been found are invalidated… Let's see, I cleared it in 2 hours."
"Is this really the dungeon?"
It was so easy for Arisha in the beginning.
She simply went as quickly as Evan led her.
Next to him, Shine said with a wide smile.
"Congratulations on following the smartest guide, Miss Arisha."
"It's too early to be happy. Clearing the dungeon quickly means that there is no additional reward for you on this floor. You've only levelled up, haven't you? We've already gotten extra skills at this point."
Arisha nodded silently at Evan's blunt remark. She got a little protection, but it must be different from what Evan meant by rewards.
Of course, Arisha, who conquered the first floor of the dungeon according to Evan's directions, was able to casually achieve an overwhelming level of achievements compared to other dungeon explorers.
However, since it was the first floor of the dungeon, she did not get additional rewards, and the last dungeon exploration that had acquired the skills on the first floor of the dungeon was strange, but Arisha did not realize that.
The criteria for her to recognize dungeons were becoming similar to Evan's!
"In other words, for you, the real dungeon starts from the 6th floor, right?"
"I'm already prepared for that."
Arisha said, squeezing the handle of the rapier in her hand.
"I am ready to do anything, so help me evolve and get as many achievements as possible up to the fifth floor of the dungeon. I want to catch up as much with you guys as soon as possible."
"Okay, enough with that attitude."
In such a situation, the easiest and most effective way to get this achievement was to acquire an additional reward from God.
"I don't think we need more speed."
Evan laughed as he said so. Arisha also laughed weakly.
Five hours later, they were standing in front of the stairs leading down to the 5th floor of the dungeon.