Chapter 189

Evan D. Sherden, Carrying Out A Quest (1)

It quickly became known that the heroes, Leo Arpeta and Aria Arpeta, had left the dungeon city of Sherden. Their personalities were so remarkable that their absence was felt by everyone.

Of course, the members of the Dungeon Knights felt the most shocked.

"There's no Grandpa Leo..."

"There's no Aria..."

From all the members of the Dungeon Knights, there were two who felt the most disheartened: Lin and Lan. Leo and his wife did not announce their farewell beforehand because they were worried that the two kids would make a fuss if they found out.

It was a reasonable judgment because the twin sisters would have cried and hung on, asking them not to leave if they had known it in advance. Yet, the sight of the two lonely children despairing was eye-tearing.

"Lin and Lan, don't worry too much. Grandpa and Grandma will be back soon."

It was up to Evan, the Captain, to take care of the members' mental health. He warmly embraced Lin and Lan.

Lan, who followed Leo by learning the Grand Sword's technique, began to ask Evan, wiping her runny nose.

"How many nights will Grandpa Leo sleep before coming back?"

"Well... about two thousand nights long?"

"Two thousand nights!?"

The shocking declaration made Lan tremble; Shine, who was in a hurry, hugged the kids and got angry at Evan.

"How could you tell them that?"

"But what if I tell them it would take a short time, and then Lan gets disappointed later?"

"They are disappointed now. Now!"

"Two thousand nights... Hu-eh-eh-eh."

Lin and Lan were getting desperate; their two hands and feet were not enough to count to two thousand. Evan, who unexpectedly informed the children of the cold reality, had to work hard with Shine to soothe them.

"You've made the kids cry, so you'll have to be prepared for a big fight today."

"Even after Leo left?"

"Oh, didn't we keep the tradition even before Leo was here?"

"It's only been a year since I started this."

"That means it's a tradition."

The struggle between all Knights members, which would be conducted as the last course of the Knights' Training, was an excellent course to boost their real fighting skills and train Evan's reflexes.

It was not fair to Evan. The description of the training was "Everyone vs. Everyone", but what it really meant was that it was "Evan vs. Everyone".

"But let's skip it for today. Rather, only for the time being."

"Oh, what's wrong?"

"I need to go out for a while. Take good care of the kids in the meantime."

"Do you have to go out by yourself?"

"Yes."

Evan was serious. In a way, it might be more important than when he had left for the Duke Leonine a year ago. Perhaps...

"Because there's a quest."

"Quest...Did you sign up for the Union?"

The Union was a huge confluence that united all the corporations and combat guilds of the dungeon city.

People used it to do things that couldn't be solved by the guilds' internal personnel alone, or when there were discoveries or quest requests from other guilds. Brotherhood Corporation sometimes used mercenaries from the Union.

All the individual explorers who did not belong to any guilds were enrolled in the Union.

It could be said that Sherden's explorers could not live without the Union because it helped them join temporary parties.

'What the hero of the Yo-Ma Great War Series 3 did first when he came to the dungeon city was register to the Union. That introduction still makes my heart beat faster.'

When Evan nodded and recalled the memory of the Union, Shine asked Evan with a serious look.

"Which guild is involved in the Union's quest?"

"Huh? What's wrong with you, acting like an amateur? Of course, it's my quest."

"I thought it was something like that, but just in case..."

Evan smiled and spoke once more, looking at the embarrassed Shine.

"And I can't sign up for the Union. One of the Dungeon Knights' missions is to manage and monitor whether this Union is doing well."

"I see."

"It's also the best way to look at combat guilds. Suspicious bastards like Thunderbird."

When Evan had entered the Dungeon last time, he had not met them. However, if a guild like Paradise Wanders warned them to be careful, it was highly likely that Thunderbird Guild had already been involved in suspicious things.

"I will be careful from now on. So, what's the personal quest about?"

"To acquire a new skill."

"Skill...?"

"Yes."

Evan replied with a grin.

"Also, I need to secure a new blacksmith."

"Skills...and a blacksmith...?"

Did Evan plan to learn some blacksmithing skills? Shine wondered about this, but Evan didn't explain any further.

"You don't have to follow me. As long as Anastasia is staying in the dungeon city, escort her."

"Uh... I see."

Anastasia L. Leonine, who had succeeded in clearing the Dungeon, decided to stay for a few more days. She said she wanted to tour the city before returning.

Evan accepted it on the condition that Anastasia would join the morning training with the Dungeon Knights. It was Shine's role to look after her during that period.

"Then, cheer up for your date."

"It's not a date!"

"Date!? Vice-captain, what's going on?!"

"Oh, no. Master!"

"I'll be going. I'll be back in three days."

Shine was in a panic and looked at Marie approaching him once she heard the word 'date'. Evan waved his hand away and went back.

Looking at Evan's meanness, Shine vowed to train harder so he can give Evan a harder time.

* * *

The quest, which led to the Skin Blade, could be obtained from one of the hidden species of the Yo-Ma Great War Series 3, the Land Fairy (Dwarf).

The Land Fairies were a rare species that lived only deep inside the Dungeon and were a blacksmith race especially skilled in producing weapons and liked soil and minerals.

"Frankly, it's a common dwarf setting. It was the same as the Elves, who live to protect the World Tree. I don't understand why the Yo-Ma Great War Series doesn't put much effort into setting up the different species."

"Master, are you looking for a Dwarf?"

Raihan, who was accompanying Evan, asked with a curious look.

"I've heard that they are not easily discoverable."

"You are right. They only live deep inside the Dungeon, and if they sense humans, they quickly disappear."

"Yes, I've heard that traces of a workshop could be found, but it is very hard to meet a living Dwarf. How..."

"Oh, that's... It's something I've foreseen."

"How many more fantasies do you intend to make up, Master? You almost convinced me."

The wagon with Evan and his party was running down the road belonging to the Sherden territory. However, it was a quest that could only be obtained from Yo-Ma Great War Series 3. It was also a Dungeon located near the dungeon city.

"Oh, just a second...... Dungeon? Is it a new one? Then, it should be a big sensation in the dungeon city!"

"I've foreseen it."

"I see. Almost had me again."

Raihan had always tended to accept Evan's words, even if Evan had cried wolf too many times.

"I'm sorry, Master, but I'm not capable of combat. You said you needed me, but I find it so hard to understand."

At that time, someone intervened in the conversation between Evan and Raihan. It was Horta Beanus, Evan's exclusive blacksmith.

He had a rather sulky expression as Evan had called him while he had been making a new weapon.

"Horta, you can stay out of combat. I've brought you along because I intend to find a Dwarf blacksmith; I'll be needing you for communication."

"......I am ready to risk my life for you since you have opened a new path for me, but I'd rather not die a dog's death."

"Don't worry. You won't be the monster's target. Raihan will guide you."

"I've heard about Lord Raihan's reputation as a 'Steel Shield'."

"Wait. How did you come to know that title?"

Evan and Horta together became silent. Only the other, Belois, who was riding in the carriage, gave a light smile.

They soon arrived at a new hill. It was a small-scale mountain owned by a mid-rank vassal of the Sherden family. Evan had already been granted permission to enter the mountain.

"This mountain has no monsters or goods. It was forgotten a long time ago."

"It's suitable for an excellent hiding place."

"We should explore it. Shall we put the carriage in?"

Evan picked up the wagon skillfully in an inventory pocket without saying a word. After all, this carriage automatically moved without a horse.

"It's not new, but it's an incredibly good artifact."

"I couldn't do anything without these mobile artifacts because of the increased travel distance in the Yo-Ma Great War 3 game. Oh, that's what I predicted."

It was the Ghost Wagon, in which Evan got as a birthday present from the Marquis for his 14th birthday.

It was an artifact in the form of a carriage with four wheels that automatically moved according to the owner's will, recently collected by a combat guild from the achievement box on the 50th floor.

Most of the items that could be used for military purposes were naturally collected by the Marquis' family with some compensation. And the Marquis had chosen to give these to Evan, whose birthday was near, as soon as he collected them.

"Thank you for this great artifact, Thunderbird Guild!"

"...I just thought they might have ill feelings for you, Master."

"Tell them to be Lord of the dungeon city if they don't like it."

Evan led his party around for a while and found a small tunnel. Is that the destination? Raihan's eyes glistened, and Evan suddenly took a sack out of his inventory pocket and began pouring the contents into the tunnel.

"What... what's that, Master?"

"Oh, it's a simple chemical compound. If it gets hardened by mana, it will become so hard that it cannot be crushed unless it passes through the mana again. It's often used to build solid buildings and secure the convenience of security."

It was a new substance. Players called it magic cement.

"Well, why are you pouring it into that hole?"

"Because I'm blocking the escape hole in advance. I have to block six places in total."

"What do you mean by escape holes...?"

"Well..."

Evan smiled and began.

"We're blocking the hole that Dwarves use to run away. If we do this, we can meet the Dwarves in the Dungeon."

"..."

"I've foreseen this."

"That's not why I was silent!"

Raihan already missed Shine's presence.

Shine was the only one who could tackle Evan on time! Would he be able to hold out until he returned to the dungeon city with a Dwarf?

After blocking all the holes in the tunnel, Evan proudly led his party to find the hidden Dungeon entrance. They then entered it.