Evan D. Sherden, Parting With The Legend (1)

Evan responded reflexively, unsure if he had heard them properly.

“Rune?”

[Well, don’t you know about runes?]

Rather, it was a problem he knew it too well. Runes were divine characters, it belonged to the highest level of all magic characters in the world of Yoma Great War, and humans couldn’t dare to handle them! Of course, artifacts with runes were ranked at the top of the Yoma Great War Series, and they were precious treasures that could only be acquired with luck. It was so rare that Evan had reacted so sensitively to the unknown Devil Rune…

“But… can I already get a rune from the 25th floor…?”

[Considering your achievements so far, isn’t it natural?]

[I didn’t know you would be so surprised by it… I’m kinda happy now.]

[It’s worth the effort. Do you understand our dignity now, kid?]

However, the gods who were listening replied to him. From their perspective, Evan was a monster who thoroughly broke through all the dangerous traps and secrets of the dungeon that had never been revealed before at a record speed. Certainly, the original rune wasn’t worth appearing as a reward on the 25th floor, but it was a level that was possible if one considered the total amount of blessings that should be given to Evan.

[Of course, I can’t provide all the abilities at once. There is only one now.]

[Whenever there is a surplus of blessings given to you in the future, we will give the glove a new rune.]

[It is another work of art that we are making together.]

A small rune was engraved on the back of the black leather gloves he was wearing on both his hands. It was a character that resembled a chain. Evan, the Yoma Great War fanatic, quickly realized that it was a rune called ‘Zera.’ Certainly, the origins were different, but they had the same pronunciation and appearance as the earth runes.

[Zera, it’s a power that doesn’t fade.]

[Zera, it’s an infinite life force like the earth.]

[While this rune shines, you will never fall.]

Zera’s rune was, simply, a life-sustaining force. An artifact engraved with it had the effect of greatly increasing the recovery rate of stamina and magic. It was the moment when Evan’s durability, which was already monstrous, further increased.

[I will give this artifact a new name, ‘Black Cloud.’]

“Black cloud…”

‘At once, the value of it has skyrocketed.’

Evan stretched out his hands, examining the faint purple rune. Of course, it was a great pleasure, but did he have to keep wearing these gloves? He thought someday he could find a weapon that fit his aptitude…no, actually, he had already halfway given up.

“Is it a divine revelation to change my job to a bare-handed fighter…”

[That’s not it.]

[We’ve never made such a revelation, so forget it.]

Damn it!

[I say in the name of *%&*$$, the artifact has been prepared for you.]

“I’m not very happy to hear that this eerie artifact is my fate!”

It was one of the artifacts that had killed Evan in the game! Of course, trying to find one that didn’t would be a difficult task.

[However, if you harness the power of a rune like this, it will become the best weapon that shall transcend any other.]

“Right. As long as I wear this artifact, I’m still bare-handed…hmm?”

However, an idle thought passed his mind. The bare-handed skill had become popular on the bulletin board of the Yoma Great War Forum.

‘In the series, there are skills that were made half as a joke, and there were skills that the developer made to escape the confines of practicality completely. A typical one is a bare-handed skill. Like the throwing skill, it isn’t handleable even with bare hands, but it is also a skill that cannot be used at all without bare hands. It was treated like a shit skill…’

The power of the skill in the Yoma Great War Series was determined by adding or multiplying the ability of the weapon you had in your status and the basic skill level, such as swordsmanship or spear. But were there any skills that could only be used without weapons and basic skills? At the time of creating the skill, there was no point. Only a small amount of perverted players and fanatics tried to explore bare-handed skills.

‘But it had a fatal flaw that couldn’t be accepted even by them…because it was a joke skill in the first place.’

Among them, there were many skills that were nothing more than simple gestures, and many were dangerous skills not subject to copyright. In addition, there were even ones that had a curse on the skill itself, which would weaken the power and increase stamina consumption as the skill level increased. But, if one’s fighting skill level were high, it would be properly reflected in the skill, and they would become stronger. There was one skill that required those perverted players to learn the bare-handed skill, that could benefit from their fighting skill level.

‘Skin Blade.’

Commonly known as S-blade, it wasn’t a sword skill at all but a complete bare-handed skill that didn’t do much! Obviously, the attack was like swordsmanship, but strangely, it was a grotesque skill in which damage correction only took place when you learned fighting skills! Evan thought it was unnecessary to learn such a joke, but now that his artifact was strengthened, his mind changed a little. Anyway, he didn’t even know if his aptitude would be right, and the only thing he dealt with well so far was fighting and throwing…he wondered if there was no need to avoid the bare-handed skill.

“…Now, it’s the main battle to come. Skill quest, let’s start it.”

[This child seems to be thinking about something else.]

[Are you going to recall a very old legend that we have already forgotten?]

[Think on your own later. Oh, maybe I can strengthen you again on the 30th floor.]

“I mean, don’t tell me in advance. It’s not exciting….”

No, he didn’t even know it could be strengthened!

***

Two days later, Evan and the party came out of the dungeon a day before his birthday. As the gods assured, Evan’s Cheonjung 4 was safely reinforced to Cheonjung 5. He was a little curious about how far it would go.

“We’ve confirmed the highest reached floor. The 31st floor. Sir Evan, congratulations on your return.”

“Outside, ahhhhhh!”

“Serena, stop being so noisy. I said we should move quietly now.”

“Hmm, I think Evan is also a good guy even though he was pressing down with his power right away once he was promoted to a high level…!

“Well…”

Even though Evan’s party had run from the 11th floor to the 30th in a few days, the priest’s expression was cool as he greeted them at the entrance, thanks to his pre-training from Serpina.

“Congratulations on your return.”

“Thank you. Did everyone else return?”

“Except for the two, all have returned safely after reaching the 21st floor.”

“Thank you for letting me know.”

Evan laughed in satisfaction as he listened to the priest’s report. This meant that all of the dungeon knights and Anastasia had safely reached level 21…

“Wait, except for two? Not one?”

“Yes. Your butler, Shine, and Princess Anastasia L. Leonine have yet to return. According to those who returned first, they decided to explore the dungeon together…”

“Oh…”

Evan sighed and wiped his face. As soon as he heard that, he understood roughly what was going on. After safely breaking through the 20th floor, Anastasia had decided to hold onto Shine instead of returning with the rest.

‘Of course, it’s not dangerous at all to Shine, but I should’ve expected that!’

It was surprising to Evan, who only recalled the weak Anastasia from before. Had she been so bold originally? Or perhaps the witch’s blood made people act that way!

“Oh, I’m envious. I want to go in with Evan.”

“Just because a man and a woman are in the dungeon does not mean it is a date.”

His head was burning. He didn’t think Shine would be in trouble, but would Anastasia, who had been training in the druid skills for less than a year, be able to handle it? No, how could the princess do such a dangerous thing, especially when she had been trembling in fear of being sent to the dungeon before?!

“Don’t worry too much, master.”

Belois gently pulled at his sleeves, noticing his concern. Her eyes were filled with confidence.

“The witch’s power isn’t so simple. Even when she was unaware of it, her power had been growing steadily, so she isn’t the mere novice druid you might consider her to be.”

“…Is that so? I don’t know anything about witches.”

Evan, the fanatic of the Yoma Great War, couldn’t refute it. He scratched his head in embarrassment, and Belois continued with a faint smile.

“The witch’s magic seems to match well with the druid’s ability. There is also Shine, so it’ll be fine. Maybe that will speed up their attack…she, too, can at least achieve enough to level up.”

“If Lua says so…okay. I’ve no choice but to believe and wait anyway.”

He still couldn’t understand, but now he quietly decided to wait for their return. Even if he weren’t sure of Anastasia, he could trust Shine’s skills.

“Evan, I’m tired. I want to wash up.”

“Yes, it was a lot of trouble. Let’s go bathe.”

“If I go into the bath with oppa, I think my fatigue will be washed away.”

“I respect your untiring spirit of challenge.”

Evan laughed at Serena, who had not yet tired of clinging onto him. Arisha appeared immediately from behind to arrest her, fortunately enough for Evan. He was very grateful for her crackdown on Serena these days, but at the same time, he felt a bit scared.

“Evan, are you back?”

“Oh, Grandpa, Leo.”

However, a familiar person appeared before him after he returned to the HQ after taking a bath. It was Leo, who Evan was glad to see hadn’t disappeared. However, Leo’s own expression seemed a bit forlorn.

“As you said, did you clear up to the 30th floor?”

“Yes, I’ve reached level 31. But Grandpa, why are you fully armed…?”

“That’s good. I’ll give you a birthday present a day early.”

“A birthday present?”

“Yes.”

Leo nodded at Evan’s question, drew his greatsword, and pointed it at him.

“It’s a duel. Let’s test each other, putting our powers and lives on the line.”