Evan D. Sherden, Building on the Ground (3)
A battle with Leo Arpeta wasn't something that could be experienced every day, and Evan had to admit that his growth from the training had been incredible.
"Wow…" He could feel his muscles transforming and strengthening beyond their limits after he had finished training and went to the Brotherhood Bathhouse. His mind, body, and skill were developed in the process of hitting, evading, and countering Leo's sword until they reached a transcendent state. The effect had been doubled thanks to the Bathhouse. Now Evan, who had been cursing Leo during the duel, had no choice but to thank him.
"Grandpa, I will continue to train hard in the future."
"Ha, it would do you some good to be a little patient! I told you already, you'll grow up to be strong!" Leo Arpeta laughed openly while soaking in the bath with Evan. However, in truth, he was very nervous that Evan would soon catch up to him with his skills.
'It's not just Evan who's improved his technique. Fighting him…I feel that my skills have also grown a little. Just by making me realize I still have some growth left, this guy is amazing.' He realized that Evan wasn't called a fighting genius for nothing. The weight of his fists, unsuited for his age, wasn't a joke. His bold movements held no hesitation, and his punches and kicks shot out sharply like daggers in harmony with those movements. In the process of blocking those blows which came in unexpected ways, Leo had been able to discover new possibilities within his own abilities. He was approaching the age of seventy, yet now it felt like he had been born anew.
'In order to bloom this sense, I need to enter the dungeon as soon as I can.' Now was the time to talk. Leo soaked in the bath, just like an old man would, while he spoke with Evan.
"Evan, would you support me if I told you that I would be entering the dungeon?"
"Only if you don't drag me in with you," Evan responded without looking up. When Leo came to the Brotherhood Bathhouse before, explorers had flocked to him as if they had been waiting for him, so they had designated some time beforehand for only the Marquis's guests to be able to use the bath. Thanks to that, only knights and vassals of the Marquis were around them now. That meant they could converse openly.
"I can prepare a map, of course, but would you use it?"
"Oh, don't worry. It's up to Bernard, not me, to look at the map."
"I know he can use it without any problems. But will you take him into the dungeon with you?"
'That stubborn old man?' Evan was dubious about the possibility, but Leo smiled leisurely.
"I led him around the world. Can't I take him to the dungeon that's just right in front of us?"
"It's good to be confident. Then I'll ask. Still, I was wondering how to get my Grandpa back into the dungeon."
"Why?"
"As the dungeon level increases, ageing slows down. You get younger and live longer. Grandpa Bernard has to live for a long time to work with me for 50 years."
"What's that about?" Leo's eyes widened in response. It was the first time he heard something like this in his life. It wasn't just him. The others, who had been listening to their conversation, began to squeal and gasp. A cold sweat formed on Evan's forehead. It wouldn't be surprising that Evan and Bernard's 50-year contract would be left incomplete…
"Isn't it ridiculous that you don't know that you live longer if you level up?"
"I didn't know?"
"Right now, Grandpa Leo, Grandpa Bernard, and Aria are very young for their age! Why did you think it was all like that?" The knights around them nodded in agreement while Evan wondered if they were all fools. Leo carefully spoke up.
"Uh… Because you have a lot of mana in your body?"
"Oh, so that's part of the reason. Then it's a problem. What's the most effective way to increase the amount of mana in your body?"
"Ah… like that!" In this world of magic and myth, there were many ways, including the Elixir, to achieve the dream of extending life. The most obvious way was levelling up, however, with the exception of some uncertain elements. Whether the existence level or the dungeon level was raised, human ageing slowed, and one's lifespan was extended. Mana increased, and as the levels rose, the body became stronger. Leo and Bernard had a high level of existence as well as a dungeon level. Leo had a particularly high existence level, so it was likely that he aged slower than Bernard.
"Hey, the dream of extending life was created in the dungeon."
"Usually, those who enter the dungeon with such a dream won't make it far." Evan had attempted to enter the dungeon to escape from the crisis of death. As a bonus, however, he also wanted to extend his life as much as he could. Of course, raising his existence level by crushing slimes had proved to be effective as well.
"Then you, Evan, will live a long life."
"No, I'll be happy if I can just die in peace." That was a lie. Evan also wanted to live as long as possible. However, even though he had become quite strong these days, he thought he would have clear limits. So, he had given up on completely conquering the dungeon from the start. If he could safely go to the 70th floor or even to the 80th, he thought he could live for more than 120 years.
"Oh, then, in the end, how many floors did my Grandpa clear in the dungeon? I asked Grandpa Bernard many times, and he shut me up by asking me what I was going to do with the glory of the past."
"I agree, but you have to show off sometimes. We went to the 56th floor. That means my level is 57."
"Uh…" Evan's eyes widened. The Knights, on the other hand, began to flock around and clap in amazement at the words. Several of them spoke up in admiration, saying he was a hero.
"The 56th floor!"
"Now, the top two groups are advancing to the 46th floor, but to say you have already conquered the 56th floor more than a few decades ago! Really, heroes are in a different league!"
"If he conquers up to the 56th floor, will we be able to live long like you, Sir Leo?"
"Why do you look unsurprised, Evan? Did you know this beforehand?"
"Well…" Evan was gaining a sense of the reactions around him. It was natural, as the best in the current generation was blocked on the 46th floor. No matter how strong or heroic they were, the 70th and 80th floors seemed too far away to reach. He wanted to respond to Leo with a triumphant expression but didn't. Leo had decided to act as a teacher, so why not take care of his pride too?
"That's amazing. So, did Grandpa Bernard reach that point too?"
"Neither Bernard nor Aria or Iloin. However, whenever I explored the dungeon before, I had other colleagues. Now I've begun to get a little nervous when four people enter. Moreover, the dungeon environment has changed a lot since the last cataclysmic change, right?"
"Leo Arpeta!"
"Huh?" There was someone (naked) approaching them as they conversed. It was none other than Mikhail D. Airok, the knight commander of the Ironwall Knights. He approached Leo with a serious expression.
"Now, I am alone on the 45th floor. However, it is too difficult to go through the dungeon on my own. If Arpeta-nim guides me, I will surely grow into a helpful party member!"
"Eh?"
"Uh…" Evan was shocked at the knight commander's bold words, but Leo looked intrigued. He knew well enough how wonderful it was to reach the 45th floor on one's own.
"Have you been alone all this time?"
"I used to team up with others to challenge myself, but now I am. However, recently, I've been worried because I felt the limits of breaking through the dungeon by myself."
"That's obvious. No matter how strong the knight commander is, you can't do it alone," Evan replied in outrage. He knew that the knight commander was striving against the dungeon, but he didn't know he was doing it solo! No, even if it were said that he broke through the 30th floor by himself, Evan thought he would eventually need mercenaries or priests to accompany him.
"The effectiveness of the potions from the Brotherhood Pharmacy was so excellent that I didn't even need help from a priest until now. However, the 45th floor is a little different."
"I've known from before that you were a good person. Duelling you was also fun."
"Compared to you, I'm lacking. Arpeta's enthusiasm is second to none."
"Just call me Leo…so, Evan, what do you think?" Leo looked back to Evan with a twinkle in his eyes like he had found something very interesting. Evan shared his honest thoughts without sugarcoating them.
"The knight commander is a genius. If he keeps growing like this, he may one day beat you."
"Hahahaha! I'm sure you believe that. Actually, I was thinking the same. There are so many scary guys in the dungeon, including you!" They weren't empty words. Mikhail D. Airok was a man who managed the Four Heavenly Kings that could destroy dungeon cities alone. Even in the original history, if he hadn't existed due to a forced event in the early mid-game and had been able to level up steadily, he would've made his name among the armed forces ranking of the Yo-Ma Great War series!
"Your name is Mikhail? Good. You'll be my party member from now on!"
"Are you really accepting my offer?!"
"I like someone with both talent and resolve! Besides, you're stuck on the 45th floor, right? It will be a good experience for both of us to go back to the 56th floor while studying the dungeon changes. It'll also be an opportunity to review our teamwork." Leo nodded in satisfaction as he patted the knight commander on the shoulder. Meanwhile, Mikhail was thrilled to be able to explore the dungeon with the hero. He clenched his fists, still fully naked.
"Oooh! Not only Master Evan but even the chief!"
"Long live Leo Arpeta!"
"Thank you, Arpeta!" At the news that the knight commander had joined Leo's party, the knight commander himself and his knights cheered loudly. If their leader grew stronger, so too would his soldiers. If his soldiers grew stronger, then so too would the Marquis. Of course, the other vassals who had entered the bath couldn't keep quiet about the news either. Anyone there could roughly predict the impact Leo's declaration would have.
"But, Grandpa Leo, I actually know of one more talent who has resolved."
"Huh?" At that point, Evan decided to request Leo. Leo tilted his head as he looked at Evan.
"There is one more guy I want you to teach. I can assure you of their quality."
"Then, I'll let him come along!"
"Thank you, Grandpa Leo! That guy…I mean, Shine, will be very happy!" Evan smiled brightly at Leo's cheerful acceptance.
This increased the number of victims who would ride the Express to Hell with Evan in the future.