Chapter 308

Evan D. Sherden, Passed Night (2)

That night, Belois' coming-of-age ceremony was officially held at the Bloody Apple Guild that Sherden's witches founded. The witch's coming of age ceremony wasn't just about growing older, but it was also about those who had established their way as one who awakened the power, Rune, of their species, with the help of other witches. Even if it were a formal training of witchcraft, it would take 30 years to hold the ceremony. Belois, who was only 16 years old, could be the strongest in the history of the witch race.

"I didn't expect that she could break Selune's record."

"I've interacted with other wandering witches before, but I guess sixteen is very early."

The story of Belois' coming-of-age was a hot topic among the witches. Although not all witches needed to gather for the ceremony, today, all the witches in Sherden had shown up.

"No, you fools. Belois is a powerful person. Even without the power of Rune, she can easily crush a witch. It's been possible for a while to have the coming-of-age ceremony."

"Whose daughter is Belois? If a witch had such a talented daughter, we might've heard about her."

"It must be a special mixed-blood."

Being both a witch and a rookie, perhaps the conclusion that she might be mixed-blood wasn't so wrong, but Evan was thinking about it and was nodding his head. He heard voices of other witches whispering next to him.

"Isn't it because she was by the side of Master Evan...?"

"Then won't we be strong if we are with Master Evan?"

"Master Evan looks particularly attractive today..."

"When doesn't he?"

"... yeah so that's what happened today. I almost died."

All the attention was on Evan! Evan, who was listening quietly, stroked his cape, ignoring the gaze that was gathering on him. After three hours of intense escape, he realized how to control the cape's additional functions, and he had blocked the charm function. Today, he realized how great the disaster would be if his already hit-the-sky charm were amplified. Perhaps the day wouldn't come when this additional function would be reactivated. The cape itself was pretty, so at least he would keep wearing it!

"Master Evan!"

"Oh, Selune."

Selune, who suddenly appeared from behind, hugged Evan, who was slowly moving as he wondered if he should move a little further away from the witches. A slight smell of herbs, a refreshing aroma of water over it, and finally, a pleasant touch hit his back. If Belois were right next to her, she would've stopped Selune. Still, unfortunately, now she was caught by Godmother Melonia because of her preparations for the coming-of-age ceremony.

"It's too bad you don't come even if I call you like that! I want to meet you every day, Master Evan..."

Selune, the Water Witch with gray eyes. She was the best young witch who made a brilliant debut with the overwhelming power of her Rune during the demon invasion. At the same time, she was an extraordinarily open-minded woman who only looked at Evan. That made Evan feel all the more burdened.

"Oh...I'm sorry, sometimes so many women approach me that I can't consider every single thing."

"Oh, cool...!"

"Cool!?"

Evan wanted to kick out as many as he could as he was responsible for too many women already. He was willing to talk as much as he could, but it seemed to be counterproductive when facing Selune.

"The man who covets other women looks better. In that sense, Master Evan is the most attractive man in the world."

"...I think Selune will have a hard time and be caught by a bad guy one day."

"If it's Master Evan, it's okay!"

Well, this was why Evan didn't want to come to the Bloody Apple Guild House. It was a place where many women who seemed to have actively evolved in the wrong way gathered. Evan waited for the ceremony to proceed, desperately pulling himself out of the playful touch of the witches, including Selune. Everyone was busy because it was the first time they held a ceremony after moving to Sherden.

"Whew, thankfully, it didn't start yet."

"Mo...mother?"

Meanwhile, the guild house's main gate was opened, and from beyond, Evan's mother, Redine D. Sherden, came in with only one female escort. Sensing her presence, Evan looked at her dumbfounded.

"Mother, how did you get here?"

"I'm here because I heard from Belois. I was the one who had raised her, and you didn't want to call me to this important ceremony? I'm disappointed."

Her eyes, which seemed to be made of melting emeralds, looked around the guild house and soon tilted nicely. The witches who had her eye on them were running wild with fright.

"Oh, she's here!"

"She's here personally?"

"I knew this would happen, so I wanted to get it ready quickly, you fools!"

Come to think of it, when the witches first caught the site of Sherden, Redine had caught the discipline of the witches herself. What the hell was Redine doing here? ...No, he had some idea now.

"But I think we're getting ready. I was worried whether she would get the right Rune...but, I don't think there will be a problem like that."

"You've looked around and figured it out, that's..."

"Oh, my God. Welcome, ma'am."

"Long time no see, Melonia."

Melonia, who must've been busy applying Belois' makeup, was already out of the preparation room to greet Redine. Evan decided not to care about their way of calling each other.

"Where is Belois?"

"You've come at a good time, ma'am. Belois has already headed to the ceremony."

That meant...Evan, who was listening next to them, looked up. Then, Melonia looked at him and nodded as if she had predicted it.

"Master Evan waited for a long time, too. Now that we're all ready, we'll start the coming-of-age ceremony."

Initially, no one except a witch could participate in the witch's coming-of-age ceremony, but Evan was excluded. Evan felt as if he had somehow become a socialite as he was mixed into an underground space prepared for the ceremony among witches with spooky candles lighting up the whole atmosphere.

"Evan, don't lift the candle; follow silently behind me."

"That's a relief."

There was a lighted candle in Redine's hand. The flames of the red-hot candle seemed particularly mysterious; it must be a magical item prepared for the ceremony.

"We've arrived."

Underground stood a massive iron gate that Evan had no memory of installing. When Melonia waved her hand, it opened and pushed away to the left and right, revealing the scene inside the huge ritual hall, where a delicate drawing of a witch's magic circle filled the floor, walls, and ceiling.

"Oh..."

"Pretty."

It wasn't a sight that could be seen often, and at its center was the figure of Belois standing still in the center. Perhaps she got makeup with the help of the witches because her exceptionally bright face was deeply engraved on Evan's retina. Belois was pretty without makeup, but she had somehow become even prettier with makeup. Evan realized the truth today.

'Damn, you're beautiful.......'

That wasn't all. She also wore a fluttering white dress prepared for today and a cape with the Astray Knights' seal on top of it. Her form stole Evan's gaze and didn't return it. Her breast swelled up like they were going to explode when touched, and her waist was too thin to support her body...unlike the maid's uniform that hid her body line to some extent, the tight-fitting dress revealed her fully. Evan thought he had become used to women's bodies by living with Diona in her bunny girl clothes, but now he found those thoughts ridiculous. He couldn't take his eyes off of Belois. Maybe it was because the target was Belois that Diona seemed to be upset when she heard it, but he couldn't help it because it was true.

"...Master is too much."

"Shall we take it off?"

"Shush, focus on the ceremony!"

Realizing Evan's blatant gaze, the witches began the ceremony, complaining that they envied Belois. The candles, which were carried in turn, were placed throughout the magic circle, and Melonia came forward and confronted Belois.

"We hold a ceremony for the Rune of Belois, our compatriots, who were born in different places, but who are certain of our countrymen, and the witch who took the blood of God."

"Where she stands—"

"—God's blood is flowing."

Under her leadership, the witches began to chant unknown spells, just like the Devils in the game.

'I swear the Devil is going to pop out.......'

When Evan watched them because he could not say such absurd things, Redine, standing next to him, smiled and comforted him.

"You don't have to worry because it's going well."

"I don't know..."

After Redine had laid the candle down, she stepped out of the ceremony a little like Evan and watched. She usually had a clear expression of her emotions, but now she just looked at Belois with an unknown gaze. No, he didn't even know that she felt so much emotion at once that she remained rather expressionless.

'She's probably in a situation where she can't use her energy.'

Evan once thought that she might be hiding her power simply because she didn't want to reveal herself. However, it was hard to understand that she was "hiding her power" when she couldn't use magic during the Demon attack when her beloved husband and countless other people were in crisis. So, it would be reasonable to think that there were special restrictions. In that case, he could understand that she left without any special show of force in Yo-Ma Great War 3. Perhaps that was also double for Yo-Ma Great War 5.

"Evan."

"Huh?"

Redine suddenly grabbed his hand hard, as if she knew what Evan was thinking about.

"It's very good of you to save her."

"I just bought her at the slave market, but I can't say I saved her."

"You didn't buy that kid as a slave."

"No, I didn't, but..."

Knowing her ridiculous potential, Evan had helped her grow up in the right way...no, no. Evan didn't want to let the Blood Witch go through the sad things she had in the game. If Evan had purely considered his safety, he might not have accepted her. Evan finally acknowledged it. That meant he had a crush on Belois from the beginning.

"Please cherish Belois in the future."

"Of course."

"I raised my son very well."

At Evan's immediate answer, Redine gave a satisfied smile. At that moment, the magic circle covering the underground space began to emit a unified light.

"Ah, ah...!"

"God's power is coming down. Glaringly enormous power!"

The Rune ceremony was completed.