Chapter 221

Evan D. Sherden, Preparing for a journey. (1)

"Hey... Bernard?"

"Hmm? What's wrong, Illoin?"

On a clear morning during May, a big bomb exploded at the Garcia residence.

"I think I'm pregnant."

"Oh, my God."

A little over a year after the Indian rainmaking ritual, heavy rain finally poured over the dry land!

[Humans are uncomfortable creatures. To continue the generations, you have to have a stomach ache for months.]

"Rose, it's hard to understand, so stop crying and tell me."

[Ah, I didn't cry. Why will I cry about that? You're saying something I can't understand.]

Illoin just cheered, and Bernard was blinded by the thought of seeing a child at the age of seventy, saying that he was not sure what to do with the overwhelming emotions rising, and after seeing the two, Rose ran straight to Evan and cried.

[I really didn't cry. I don't know what crying is in the first place. I don't even understand it. Okay, Evan?]

"Yes, yes. It's okay, it's okay."

[Well... I thought you said you didn't cry...]

Evan lifted Rose's body for a while and changed her wet handkerchief with a new one. Rose's tear glands did not dry out. Evan didn't know how much tears could fall out of this little fairy-like body.

[This, this body is strange. It wasn't like this when I had the strong body of the Mahwa people, but weak humans bound me. That's why it's like this.]

He could understand this.

Evan smiled bitterly, gently sweeping her little head with his index finger. He couldn't believe that this was the last boss of Yo-Ma Great War 2.

Wasn't it because Rose had changed under the influence of Bernard? Evan, who had seen Rose's vulnerable state, was now unlikely to be intimidated by her.

[Ber...Bernard is bad.]

Finally, she had become a little honest.

[I want Bernard so badly...... But he made a child with some other lowly being.]

"I knew from the beginning that it would be like this."

[I was always wanting Bernard. I hated him enough to want to kill him. But I also liked him enough to want to be killed by him.]

"Your taste is really dangerous."

Evan heard this scary confession for the first time. However, it was clear that she had a love for him. In a sense, he was infinitely right. He gave her a bitter smile and patted her.

"What are you going to do? Then, will you give up?"

[My fate is in his hand, so how could I give up...]

"But someday, another love may appear. That's what emotions are like. It's like fate when you come, but when you leave, it's a mistake."

[Evan says funny things sometimes. He has only lived 15 years, and he says something that surprises me.]

"I think it's just because you're ignorant of humans."

Other than that, there was also a saying that love was more than a state. For reference, it was even more reliable here, and some high-ranking monsters and demons had a state of 'fascination', led by the succubus race. It was treated as a curse, so if you only developed curse tolerance, you could prevent it without problems!

[But Evan, maybe you're right.]

"Huh. That's because nothing is forever."

[I can't let go of my destiny just because I might be mistaken.]

"Well... Well, that's also true."

Evan was trembling and agreed. Rose's fate wouldn't disappear even if the person she liked married another woman and even made a child.

[Besides, if I were destined to leave because of an illusion, I wouldn't have caught it in the first place. I am confident in my eyes. No man is as good as Bernard.]

"Ha ha ha ha ha."

Evan burst into laughter at the appearance of her praising Bernard, opening her heart up to the subject when she had just been depressed because of him just a while ago. He spoke, looking at the open door.

"That's what she says, Grandpa."

"I really can't control you kid, can I?"

[Huh? Ber...Bernard......!]

Rose lifted her head, and she screamed silently as she looked at Bernard standing in front of the open door. She was very cute as her cheeks turned red in an instant. If she were human-sized, she would have definitely knocked out a bunch of guys in her horror.

"I struggled to find you, you wretch. Let's go back."

[Can't the two just be together? I'm not that clueless. That elf girl wouldn't want to share with me the joy of having a child.]

"Of course, I think so, too. I cannot separate you. I'm just worried about you harming humans."

[Uggghhhh-]

Rose looked so angry that she was about to cry again. Evan knew very well the pain when a person's heart was not understood by the person they liked.

"I'll hang out with you until you leave me. So come here."

[You're mistaken! It's an illusion. Who would like you? You are like a cruel man! Fooling around with her while I'm staring at you!]

Evan, who didn't want to see inappropriate words coming out of her, blocked her mouth and delivered her to Bernard. Bernard hugged her, and Rose, who had been struggling, soon became calm.

"Grandpa, you have had a lot of trouble."

"It ain't as bad as yours."

Evan kept his mouth shut. He wondered if Bernard knew that Maybell tried to break into Evans's room last night, then got caught by Belois and was almost turned into barbecue.

Anyway, this topic was not in his favor. He quickly changed it.

"Anyway, congratulations. When can I see my nephew's face?"

"Why does my child become your nephew? Just make it your younger sibling. If a girl comes out, make her your wife. The child is a mixed elf, so she must be pretty."

"Grandpa, I sincerely ask, but please do not bother me more than this. Really sincerely."

"Oh, come on. I'm sorry."

Bernard said it quite sincerely, but it seemed to hurt Evan all the same.

"Anyway...... So she must leave the dungeon city for the time being."

"Huh!? Why!?"

"It seems that there is a custom for elves to practice for prenatal education in the ancient forest. Moreover, if you have a child, they must be baptized by elves in front of the world tree."

"It's the day after tomorrow."

It was like thunder in the dry sky.

"What if you don't come back? Like Grandpa Leo."

"After giving birth to the child, and when the child's body becomes strong, I will return. So, do not worry."

"But I heard that elves are slow to grow."

Even so, Evan psychologically leaned on Bernard more than his real father. However, when he suddenly said that he was leaving the dungeon city, he could not control his feelings. Bernard patted Evan's head, but he was already starting to shed tears.

"You're all grown up now, so you aren't supposed to cry so easily."

"But..."

"I will return. Aren't I doing Elixir research with you? Do I look like someone to abandon such research?"

"Grandpa...?"

Bernard spoke once more as he stroked Evan's head a little roughly, "I'll come back before you're 18. It's a promise."

"If you don't come back, I will curse you."

"Yes, I will come back."

[Hey, Bernard!]

Then Rose, who had escaped from Bernard's arms, cried as she climbed the top of his head.

[No way are you going to leave me apart too! I can't!]

"I told you that I can't separate from you, Rose. You are always with me."

[Ugh...!]

[This is a weak spirit! Weak! Where did the Rose Queen's fame go? This is weak, weak! To be pleased with the words of such a stupid man, like a fool! A lowly girl!]

"Don't take it too far, Rose."

[Uggggghhh!]

Then, as she slapped herself on the cheek and swore at herself, Bernard sighed and put her back in his arms.

"I am going now. I have quite a few people to say goodbye to besides you."

"Everyone will be sad. Especially Sister Hannah."

"It's not like I'm not going to see everyone again."

Bernard waved his hand and left. Evan suddenly realized that Bernard had come to say goodbye to him before anyone else and became a little happy, but soon fell back to the thought that Bernard really was leaving the city...

Two days later, the day came when Bernard and Illoin left the dungeon city 'for a while.' On that day, the North Gate was stocked with people who had come out to see him off.

"Sir Bernard, I have been in great care. I will never forget your grace of raising Evan into a wonderful adult."

The Marquis, Sorain, bowed his head to Bernard. Bernard grinned as he helped him stand back up.

"I didn't raise him. He took care of himself. You must have felt it too. Do you think he's a boy that'd be raised by someone?"

"Haha, our Evan really is great."

"I'm sure it's been a hassle for you to take in an old man like me. I am not leaving forever, so I will return soon with a present."

"Thank you, Sir Bernard. Many people in the city have been favored by you."

"Lord Bernard!"

"Didn't you know that he continued to be a mercenary because of his father? Don't go and die. Make sure that you come back!"

"I love you, Illoin!"

"Grandpa Bernard, I'm not going to forgive you if you let this young one cry!" Here and there, people threw blessings to Bernard and Illoin. There was also a mixture of harsh words, but he decided to move on.

"Evan, I was able to have Bernard's child like this because you moved his heart. Thank you."

"I didn't do anything."

Meanwhile, Illoin lovingly touched her belly, which had not grown at all yet. And then she thanked Evan sincerely.

"If you were still the Bernard before you met Evan, you would never have thought of making a family with another person. Right, Bernard?"

Bernard did not deny this, either. It was also because of Evan that he decided to settle in one place.

"Even though we can't pay back Evan's grace, Bernard and I will make a promise that we won't take long."

"Yes, Illoin. I'll be waiting."

"And... Jhin."

"Yes, Master."

Jhin, who would turn 11 this year, was the only child in the Dungeon Knights who grew up quickly and had an adult-like impression.

Jhin approached the teacher with a dignified expression, but Illoin understood a lot about him during a long time with him. He was one of the few who still knew he was a child.

"You are a child who can do anything on your own. But that is why I will tell you. Never try to do anything on your own."

"Yes."

"Good. This is your homework. As soon as I return, I will check your growth, so never forget my words."

"Mmm!"

Although Jhin responded vigorously and looked like he didn't know what was going on, Evan seemed to know roughly. 'After all, he has a great teacher,' he thought.

"Then, I will go."

"Everyone, please stay healthy. Hannah, I'm going to leave the Brotherhood Pharmacy to you. Do a good job."

"Hmm, grandfather, just don't forget to watch your step while walking. And don't stumble anywhere. When you return, you need to be healthy so that you won't leave the pharmacy to me again without any remorse."

Hannah replied while wiping her tears with the sleeves of a man that was standing next to her. Raihan felt embarrassed because he had just become Hannah's handkerchief. As for Serpina... she let her get away with that just for today.

"Alright. That's it."

"What do you mean "that's it"? Without you, the pharmacy will not operate properly, so come back as soon as possible."

Hannah cried out at Bernard until the end, blowing her nose through Raihan's hem. Raihan quietly and continuously cleaned his hem with divine magic.

"...It's a really nice city, Bernard."

"I think so too."

"Yes, so let us come back quickly with our child."

[Bernard, I just came up with a good idea. While this elf is busy raising a child, can I solve your sexual desire with me?]

"You're really only picking sounds that are good for prenatal education, you rot."

Evan wanted to keep holding his hand, but the moment they had to leave came.

"Come back, grandfather."

"Okay. I will come back."

"I'll be back too, Evan."

Bernard and Illoin once again hugged Evan. Tears came out again because it was really goodbye now.

[Evan, you are the only human I accepted other than Bernard. So take care of yourself.]

"Thank you, Rose."

[When we meet again, I will bring Bernard's child with me.]

Rose remembered something. As if she had a change of heart after the incident that happened the other day. She asked Evan to give her one of his fingers.

[Give me your hand.]

[Yes, the middle finger should work.]

Rose grabbed Evan's middle finger and whispered something small. At that moment, she grew a rose vine, and she settled in a ring on Evan's middle finger.

"What is this?"

[It's an artifact. In terms of grade, it will be about a legendary grade.]

"That's the top level!"

[Well, it is. As Bernard grows, my strength is quickly returning, so I could create something like this.]

Rose had just said something scary.

[There is a defense function that you like so much, and there is a function that boosts mana. But that's just a side leg. The real ability is the demon specialty.]

"What?"

It would help with inflicting an effective attack on a specific target. In other words, if you wear this ring, you could attack the demons more effectively!

[There is no problem with Bernard because he'll be next to me, but Evan might meet the Mahwa tribe and suffer harm while I'm not present. In that case, you will be able to find and punish them with my power as a queen. So always wear this.]

A woman who was once the Queen of the Mahwa had created an artifact that made it easy to deal with the Mahwa! Evan and Bernard were staring at Rose with expressions of surprise, but she looked confident.

[Bernard and Evan are more important to me now. It's just you guys.]

"Oh yeah... Thank you."

[You better be thankful.]

Rose nodded her head proudly, and she climbed back onto Bernard's head. Evan touched the rose vine ring with a complex expression.

'The fact that I received this means that there might be a moment when I need to use it.'

Of course, that only happened in games, not in reality. It wouldn't happen.

...Would it?

Evan sent Bernard's group away with anxious thoughts. It was a truly sunny afternoon in May.