Chapter 222

Evan D. Sherden, Preparing for a journey. (2)

In June, after Bernard, Illoin, and Rose had left, an inseparable emptiness came.

Evan's older brother, Eric, married his fiancé, Count Milia de Letron.

"It would have been nice if there had been a coming-of-age ceremony."

"What can they do if they can't live without each other? Moreover, the age of 18 for women is not so young here in the Silk Line."

The Marquis quietly supplemented Evan's murmurs as he watched a man and a woman enter the venue side by side.

"Moreover, it is quite worthwhile to have a couple's coming-of-age ceremony together. As adults, two people rely on each other to walk on the path where they don't know what would await them. It's pretty romantic."

"I didn't think he would take someone as his wife."

"...Hmm, not necessarily two, but three or four can walk together."

The Marquis said this as he put his hand on Evan's shoulder. For reference, on the other side of him, Serena was standing and holding on to Evan's hem, and just behind him were Belois and Arisha.

Maybell said that if she saw this wedding, she couldn't stand it anymore, so she went up to Menaton one day earlier. Evan was afraid of what she couldn't stand, so he didn't bother to ask.

"Maybe our Evan will make the same choices as his father."

"What is love, father?"

"The answer must be different for each person. Perhaps, for the vast majority of nobles, love is a promise. It is also an ideal that cannot be achieved. For me, it was understanding and companionship. Furthermore, it was also about trust."

"What is it for me?"

The Marquis laughed as he saw his poor son, who was tightly surrounded by three women and had no way to escape.

"Isn't it an inevitable fate?"

"Please say that isn't true," Evan replied with a sigh, and Serena's eyes sparkled as she squeezed her hand while grasping onto Evan's shirt hem.

"The Marquis of Chimpanzees is saying some cool things today. This is fate. I will call you father from today."

"That's Your Majesty's wish, right?"

"Then, shall I make a child with Evan? Will that be fate?"

"Serena, that's it."

"The process is in progress, Your Majesty."

Even today, the alliance between Arisha and Belois was strong. Evan also understood that if Maybell were added to these three women, there would be an invisible war between the four of them.

'Perhaps the Marquis is right. Is it fate? I might not be able to escape. Unless I don't choose anyone, I may have to embrace them all.'

...When Evan thought so, his stomach hurt.

'Stomach training... Let's do it more intensely starting today.'

This was okay. He didn't expect that he would be able to navigate the swamp of romantic relationships easily. Evan understood his dangerous charm more than enough while playing Yo-Ma Great War 3.

The life that would continue from now on was a slaughterhouse where blood and flesh splatter even with the most minor of misunderstandings. He had no choice but to train hard so that he could survive, even if he was pierced in the stomach with a knife made of legendary magic metal.

'I have grown up to Cheonjung 6. Also, the demon's boots' power is gradually strengthening, and I have a ring with a shield function that I got from Rose, so it's okay. I will be able to withstand it...!'

Evan had grown up to the level to withstand even the attack of a demon, but his phobia of kitchen knives still showed no signs of improvement. Whether or not they knew his anxiety, each of the three women only added strength to the hand that held his sleeve.

[I will hold an oath ceremony.]

It was the wedding of the successor of the dungeon city. In charge of blessing their marriage was the Archbishop of the Earth Church, located at the royal road.

"Unlike grandpa's wedding, everything is proceeding normally."

"It... it was a pretty happy wedding. Oh, it seems like my turn is coming up, so I'll be heading off."

"Yes, father."

When the Marquis disappeared, the vacancy was filled by Belois and Arisha. As it wasn't enough with just Serena, the beautiful girls, Belois and Arisha, were with him, and he got stares from everywhere. But it wasn't new, so he ignored them.

"The bride is really so pretty."

"Yes. But my brother also looks dashing."

"Ah, you look really happy."

Count Milia, who would be Eric's wife, was blonde and looked like she came straight off a painting, and she looked so beautiful with a pure white wedding dress on. The sight of when the groom faced her in a neat tuxedo was truly spectacular!

"I want to wear a wedding dress too, Evan."

Serena looked at the bride and leaned on Evan with a sweet sigh. Evan was a little surprised.

"Rei also knows how to say such pure words."

"Am I always pure?"

"Pure people don't say that with their own mouth."

"I purely like Evan."

"More than an earthworm?"

"It's different from liking earthworms."

That was funny. Since they had first met, the only thing she'd talk about was earthworms. However, Evan didn't bother with it. This was because he instinctively knew that digging beyond this would be dangerous.

"Ahh, I really love that you are so blatantly scared and back off."

"That's why I say some parts of you aren't pure."

Serena laughed at Evan's words and leaned closer to Evan. However, the other two who were supposed to stop her were distracted by the kiss of the groom and bride's oath and couldn't interfere with Serena's flirting.

"Hey... Evan, sometimes you look at me with a sympathetic expression, right?"

"Which guy would act that rude?"

"I am happy that Evan is just looking at me, but these days it feels a little bit hurtful. I love that you care for me, but at the same time, I am frustrated and upset."

Evan silently pretended to focus on the wedding, but his ears were open. Serena knew it too.

"So I want to change it. Maybe that's why I try to be strong."

"Yeah, I just wanted to tell you, seeing such a happy bride. I want to be able to laugh without thinking like that next to Evan."

"Is that so?"

"I'm going to be strong enough that Evan doesn't have to worry about me. And I will definitely take off my veil in front of Evan."

Serena said this and held Evan's hand tightly. Evan couldn't say anything to her innocent confession, he just held her hand, and Serena smiled brightly, looking at the other side.

"Thank you for watching without disturbing me."

"You owe me one."

"Please remember."

Evan didn't know when they'd started watching, but Arisha and Belois were looking a bit off.

Arisha even spread the barriers of the wind and prevented Serena's words from leaking out. Really, the relationship between these women was unknown.

"Oh, and that's why, Evan."

"What, what is that, Arisha?"

A little while ago, when he received a confession from Serena, he was ashamed to death even if he did not express it. Then Arisha's words came to him. It was natural for Evan to think, 'Is it Arisha this time...?'

"I forgot to say it. Let's go to Pellati in July this summer."

It was an early invitation.

"Pellati? The dungeon city of Pellati?"

"Yeah, my hometown Pellati. Due to some circumstances last year, the Dungeon Festival will be delayed, so it will be held in July of this year."

"I see."

She was probably referring to the dungeon backflow. In the dungeon city, the Dungeon Festival was usually delayed by the dungeon backflow. Fortunately, it seemed that the festival would be held this year.

"It's because my father seems to be determined. Especially this year, the Dungeon Festival will be held in Sherden, so he's putting his spirit into it."

"Hmmm..."

To be honest, he really wanted to go. Some artifacts could only be obtained from Pellati, and so many quests and events can only be performed there. If he had more time, he would be able to visit the nearby dungeon.

It was not just for such practical reasons. Evan was also looking forward to the dungeon festival to be held in Pellati. Moreover, Pellati was a city facing the sea! There would be no better place to feel the exotic atmosphere...

"It's a great place. Sherden is also a great place, but Pellati has its own charm. Evan, I want to show you my hometown."

"I'm sure... it must be a good place."

"...Arisha, you are coming out quite hard. Even if I owe it to you."

Evan's ears wriggled at Arisha's words that followed, while Serena and Belois seemed to be in a bad mood for some reason. Evan glanced at her and gave Arisha a positive answer.

"Yes, I want to go too. Let's go together."

"Okay, I'll tell my father. He's a good person, so he won't disappoint you. Mother also wants to see you."

"Since I'm in charge of her daughter, I should say hello to her. Still, if you officially engage in the Dungeon Knights' activities, there will be a lot of work to be dispatched to Pellati. And you'll be visiting there often."

"Well, that's nice."

Arisha smiled brightly and grabbed onto Evan's sleeves. What kind of feelings could these women express without holding onto Evan's clothes? Evan swayed his shoulders. There was something that had come to mind.

"By the way, Arisha, are we going to take my father and mother with us?"

"I think so. It is because of this wedding that my father asked in the first place."

"Huh? Wait, what? ...Ah."

Evan groaned as he watched the young royal couple receiving blessings from everyone hosting their wedding. That was right. Eric became an adult this year, and he was now officially married.

In the absence of the Marquis, no one would make a sound even if he performed the ruler's tasks.

"Because there is a tendency in our country to be recognized as adults only when we get married."

'Wait, then, did my brother marry early because he wanted to relieve my father's burden as soon as possible?'

Thoughts were flashing in Evan's head, but seeing Eric kissing the bride with a very happy expression, he concluded that Eric just wanted to get married early.

"Wait a minute. Then it's a surprisingly big event. If I'm going with my father, we'll have to move as fairly large units. There must be a lot to think about in advance."

"Yes, I thought you would want to prepare a bunch of things anyway, so I told you in advance."

"You all really know me very well.'

Evan smiled bitterly at the appearance of Arisha nodding her head as if she was waiting for Evan's words.

However, Arisha was definitely right. They needed to be prepared for any emergency that may occur in Pellati, while they must also be prepared for any event that may occur in Sherden without Evan and the Marquis!

"Strict power distribution is essential."

"...It would be very unfair for the people to remain in Sherden."

"Wait a minute, Arisha? Why are you looking at me with those eyes? You guys aren't going to leave me here, are you? It can't be! I have to go on a date with Evan in a bikini on the beach? Evan, you'll let me go with you, right?"

In fact, Arisha was only thinking about leaving Serena behind. Serena already stated the reason. The summer of Pellati facing the beach is a space where girls' clothes become thinner!

In such a space, she couldn't leave Evan with a well-developed child like Serena because it was not good for Evan, who was afraid of the excessive approach!

...It was not just because Arisha herself is a slender type. And it was never because she was scared that she would be compared to Serena.

"Serena, you owe me. You have to yield it to me this time."

"I can't let you, even if I owed something to you!"

"...Then we have no choice. We have to draw straws."

"Then there is half the odds I might end up staying here!?"

Serena screamed. It was fortunate that Arisha had not lifted the barrier of her wind. Evan gave applause to his brother, who was leaving with the bride in his arms.

As a result of the straw, Serena had to be left behind in Sherden...