Chapter 303

Evan D. Sherden, Reinforced Fighting Power (3)

During the four days when Evan was away from Sherden, the Louise Party devoted themselves to camp training. They conducted individual weapon skills and party tactical training to deal with enemies on a party basis.

"Wow, I think we will clear the dungeon without any mistakes."

On the morning of the last day of the promised camp, Renail woke up early in the morning to work together for the last time and said so with a look of satisfaction. But Louise shook her head firmly, wiping the sweat off her forehead with a towel she had prepared.

"Training isn't all-around, Renail. Now we're just training not to repeat the mistakes we've already made. But we have to think that if we're in a new environment, we'll adapt from the beginning again. If you're as proud as you are now, you're going to get worse."

"Ugh, yes, I got it!"

As Renail had firmly believed that the party's activities were a test for joining the Astray, she apologized quickly. However, it wasn't known whether the appropriate reflection accompanied that apology. Louise turned to the other side, thinking she still had a long way to go. Save was calmly wiping his face with a towel soaked in cold water beside her.

'I don't like this one...'

Unlike Renail, who was often mischievous due to her young age, Save acted as a warrior with a great mission. He had terrific potential and worked hard, so he should be considered perfect as a party member. But it made her honestly a little unhappy for him to act as if he was chosen by himself, along with trying to make Evan a religious object.

"Take a break. I'll be right back from the Astray headquarters. Master came back from the expedition."

"Yes, ma'am!"

"I'll be waiting."

When Evan was mentioned, their attitudes immediately changed. Just by looking at their sparkling eyes, they seemed to have changed completely. Renail had explicitly expressed her desire to follow Louise, but Louise ignored it and left. She wiped off her sweat and dressed up before she left.

"Huh, it's tough to meet the Commander."

Renail remained still until Louise's back was completely invisible, then sighed and grumbled as soon as Louise was out of sight. Renail had the illusion that once she met Evan, she would join Astray, as many others with uncontrollable ambitions often felt.

"What a fool, he can't meet a normal person like you."

"Huh, he won't meet you either. You're a normal person like me."

When Save calmly criticized her, Renail retorted back, but Save laughed as if he had been waiting for it.

"I'm always listening to the Commander, so I don't have to see him in person."

"You have a great concept...oh, that's enough. Catch the bear before you sell his skin. There is no point in talking about it."

"We're still under his guidance, and what's the matter with you? Face reality, Renail. We're closer to him now than anyone else in the dungeon city."

Save just felt sorry for Renail.

If he closed his eyes, he could still feel it right now. The power from an indescribable existence that surrounded him...it had an overwhelming warmth! His presence, which encouraged him and nourished him to grow faster and more robust, was the source of his boundless confidence.

"You're talking nonsense again..."

Renail sighed, muttering to herself.

'He would have been pretty good if it weren't for that strangeness.'

Save's appearance wasn't bad. He was handsome, especially his deep olive eyes that attracted people's attention. Even if he stayed still, the women came to him.

'But you're always speaking nonsense.'

She didn't want to date a man who served a living person as a god and talked nonsense. Renail was daydreaming again.

"You don't know?"

"Yeah, I don't know."

"But I didn't expect you, a Wizard, to not know. No, maybe you are still not blessed because you have a weak faith...well, you're still a party member, so I'll help you."

Save sighed and reached out to Renail. Surprised, she tried to avoid his hand, but Save boldly held her hand.

"What, what, it's bad to do this all of a sudden? I wouldn't say I like it. No, I don't hate it, but the order..."

"Be quiet and feel it."

"Feel?"

Save slowly released his energy, ignoring Renail's hoarse voice. To her surprise, light purple energy began to fog up from his fingertips. Of course, it wasn't mana power. From the moment he had acquired a job, it started within him. It was a flow of power that surrounded him!

[Active Skill Blessed Aura Lv.1 was mastered.]

[Activate the power of all passive buffs applied outwardly. All abilities are rapidly increased in a short time, but the reaction disables all buffs that were used for ten times the time the Bless Aura is activated.]

[When used simultaneously with Active Skill Blow of Faith, it dramatically amplifies its power.]

'Um.'

He just wanted to make Renail feel a little bit of the blessing he was given, but he didn't expect it would have this effect. Even Save flinched away for a moment. The skill, Bless Aura, turned a passive buff's power into an active attack assist for a short time. Since it had penalties, the skill had pros and cons, but he liked the fact that it could turn his blessing, which had encouraged his physical condition and promoted growth, into a visible form.

'This is all his guidance. Thank you very much. I will follow your words from now on.'

After a few more seconds of the light purple aura, Save gathered it back up and thanked Evan. Evan would be surprised to hear what it was, but fortunately, he had yet to predict the birth of this fundamental skill. Louise's surveillance system, which was reported in real-time, wasn't being applied.

"You, you, this..."

"You must've felt it, didn't you?"

"That doesn't make sense..."

Renail murmured in a haze. She was also proficient in all kinds of magic as someone dealing with demons, but she had never seen such power until now. No, come to think of it, she might've noticed it at the last minute when she killed the boss monster on the fifth floor of the Sherden dungeon...

"Is that a divine power? No, that can't be true. It feels a little different from what I know..."

"It's the power he gave me. You know that I'm not the source of this power, right?

"No, wait a minute..."

Renail was lost! Save waited for her to calm down as if he had expected this reaction.

"No, it must have been some special skill. The special processing of mana power is difficult, but it's not impossible. It's probably mana which has been corrupted by the influence of the job you earned. That's for sure."

Renail, who somehow regained consciousness, denied the reality before her. That was because she couldn't change her attitude about Save, who she was used to treating as a lunatic. But in her mind, the question of 'If it's true......?' kept ringing through her head. Save was satisfied with that.

"Yeah, you'll find out sooner or later. Let's talk seriously again when that happens. About the purpose of his enlightenment, and why he's watching us..."

"No, I don't. I won't."

Renail shook her head like a scared baby. She must have been a little out of her mind after witnessing such a shocking truth, but it was okay. She would soon be able to accept them all and make herself comfortable. Save was still smiling kindly.

-Opening

"Hey, I'm back. Did you have breakfast?"

Just then, Louise came back to the inn. Compared to when she had left, her face looked much brighter. Renail was frankly jealous when she saw Louise. Some people had been suffering from their pseudo-faith since the morning, and some had had a good time with such a handsome man as Evan...

"No, I haven't eaten yet. Let's eat together!"

However, of course, she didn't reveal her true intentions.

'If you meet Evan in person one day, you will turn this relationship around in a second! It will be me, not anyone, that will be loved by Evan!'

"Yes, that's great. Master gave me something to eat."

"Wow, Evan is the best!"

"Let's go up to the room first."

Eating outside food was prohibited in the restaurant on the first floor of the inn. Louise entered the second floor with Renail and a silent Save behind her.

"Well, then...it's made of precious ingredients, so thank you all for this."

"Yes, sir!"

Louise's basket was packed with sandwiches. They were hot sandwiches with steak and cheese inside and pressed bread that looked delicious! The sandwich had such a wonderful smell that Renail instinctively reached out and picked up one. Louise took her own with admiration, and Save...

[Dragon Steak Hot Sandwich]

[Completion Level - SS]

[Red Dragon meat cooked by a top-notch magician and made into a sandwich. The breathing buff of the Red Dragon is permanently applied when ingested.]

[Red Dragon Breathing - 5% increase in all status, corrected to occupational skills and weapon skills]

[*Evan D. Sherden gave this. The impact of your job doubles the effect of buffs.]

Save shed a tear.

"Huh..."

"What? What's wrong with Save?"

"Save? Are you okay?"

The two women stopped eating and shouted in surprise. However, Save shook his head with tears still falling from his eyes.

"I was just thrilled...! I didn't expect him to think of us like this!"

"No, it's just a sandwich, isn't it!?"

"Well, Master emphasized that it's precious, but..."

Renail and Louise, who couldn't even imagine the meat inside the sandwich belonged to a dragon, were too embarrassed. But Save shook his head again and picked up the sandwich.

"I will accept your gratitude, thankfully."

"Another strange phrase...hmm!?"

As soon as he finished the sandwich, which he picked up with reverence, purple energy rose from Save.

[You have received the Red Dragon's Red Breath Buff. All status is increased by 10% and is heavily calibrated for all occupational skills.]

[All skills have been raised by two levels. The level of the skill Blow of Faith increases by an additional three levels.]

[Bless Aura Skill Leveled Up to 4]

A buff that was overwhelmingly enhanced, more so than what Evan and everyone else received, was applied to Save. Moreover, since he could pull the buff's power out by using his Bless Aura skill to exaggerate only a little bit, he could say that his strength increased by more than 50 percent.

"You, you..."

"Huh...did you feel that?"

However, only Save would've been impressed if it were usual, but this time it was a little different. This was because Renail remembered the power that Save had shown her earlier. The fact that it was greatly amplified at this moment wasn't lost to her.

"Eat, Renail."

Save said in a soft voice, looking at Renail with olive eyes.

"You'll find out."

"..."

Renail looked down at the sandwich in her hands with trembling eyes.

"...Guys?"

Not understanding the situation, Louise tilted her head and called the two, but of course, they didn't respond. This was because it was a sacred baptism.

"Okay...you can eat it."

Renail closed her eyes tightly. Her head felt too complicated.

'But let's take a bite of the steak sandwich.......'

All that confusion disappeared, and soon a cozy peace came to her.

***

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