Evan D. Sherden, Apart from Legend (6)

“….Artifact?”

“Yes, Lord Leo.”

Leo, oblivious to what Evan planned for him, forgot what he was going to tell Evan and responded back to Horta instead. Horta held out the curled sword in the cloth toward Leo.

“It’s yours.”

“Oh, mine?”

“It’s a gift, Grandpa.”

Evan had already returned to his usual condition. Just in time, Belois, who came up from behind, wiped his hair with a handkerchief and neatened his look overall.

Evan himself tidied his clothes, coughed, and turned towards Leo once more.

“Of course, you probably own a lot of weapons, but it’s not bad to have extra ones. I broke one when we were fighting yesterday.”

“It’s a great sword…”

“Yes, it’s made of a material called EB metal, a mana alloy developed by Grandpa Bernard and me.”

“Ah, alright…”

Leo took the sword, appraised it for a long time, and then pulled out the cloth to see the shape of the black and purple great sword. It wasn’t something he should’ve done at the party; drawing out the artifact-sword attracted unwanted attention towards them.

However, Leo didn’t care about people’s attention. He swept the sword and examined it carefully, judging the artifact’s performance.

“It’s heavy, but it’s not dull. Delicate, but not complicated. It’s perfect for me.”

“You’re surprisingly self-assessing, aren’t you?”

“What does that mean? Huh?”

Evan ignored Leo’s words. Horta, however, kept his head clenched as if Leo was right.

“When I saw you both battle, I understood well what qualities you both might need in your personal weapons. Of course, I’m wasn’t sure if I’d be able to put it all in this sword… At least, it will serve you better than ready-made weapons.”

“Well.”

Leo looked very satisfied. A silent acknowledgement passed between Horta and Leo, to which Evan was oblivious.

“You have a knack for it. It’s been a long time since I saw such a remarkable craft. I hope you will continue to do your best.”

“It’s my honor.”

“…”

Leo, who praised Horta, carried the great sword on his back. Then he gently closed his eyes and looked back at Evan as if he were cleaning up his feelings.

“Thanks for the gift. I’ll cherish it.”

“No, just use it well. And if it breaks, visit me, please. I’ll make another one.”

“I won’t break this, so don’t worry. However, do you have anything for Aria?”

Evan glanced back at Horta. Horta nodded in silence. Then he drew another iron rod wrapped in a cloth on his back, but it didn’t contain the same presence as that of the great sword.

“I completed this first. I don’t really understand the structure of divine power well, so I failed to create an artifact. But with how much the mana metal was refined, it will help those who deal with mana.”

“That’s sufficient. It might become an artifact if Aria uses it.”

“That might do the trick, Grandpa.”

“I’d be most pleased if it does, Master.”

Leo got the iron rod without any hesitation. Horta’s expression, which had been clouded, brightened up again by his positive response.

Indeed, Leo was a hero. Evan realized this then.

“Then Master, I must say goodbye.”

“Thank you, Horta.”

“It was an honor for me. I will never forget the blessed opportunities of crafting you brought to me.”

“Thank you, but you will make a lot of them in the future, so let’s get used to it.”

“Of course. Then…”

Horta, who had appeared out of nowhere with artifacts, attracted many people in the hall. But it was not a big sensation because some knew he was Evan’s exclusive blacksmith.

Recently in Sherden, there had been an unspoken rule that no matter what happened to Evan’s relations, associates or objects, they silently observed and did not intervene unless Evan himself allowed it!

“Oh, you’re giving this to me? It’s Evan’s birthday. I didn’t give him anything, but I got a present in return.”

And when Aria saw the commotion that Evan and Leo had caused, she quickly came to them. Leo handed the stuff over to her as if he had been waiting for her. Aria was very surprised at being handed the invaluable gifts.

“It’s a separate gift. You’ve both been a big help to the Dungeon Knights, and it’s too sad to say goodbye like this.”

“Oh my God.”

Evan’s reply made Aria speechless.

She assumed Evan had realized their will through yesterday’s duel, but she didn’t expect Evan had known it before.

“How can a child like this exist?”

“I just heard it from Bernard.”

“So you’ve been preparing to give these to us since then.”

“But that was also possible thanks to Horta’s help.”

“Haha. Evan, come here.”

“……!?”

Aria, who was close, pulled Evan and held him in her arms.

Embraced by the hero’s disciple, Evan gave an embarrassed, agonizing scream that went unheard because of the warm bosom that held him, but she still did not let him go.

“Thank you, Evan. Both of us will never forget your generous heart. I’m so proud of you… We wish we had a child like you. Oh, Evan, do you want to be our son? We’ll travel together. How about that?”

“Oh, no!”

“I see. That’s a shame.”

Evan thought even though Aria knew the answer, it might not be right to ask and make fun of him.

Aria stroked Evan’s head with a very pleased look on her face, even though she had just gotten rejected.

“This city has showered us with so much. I’m really sad to leave this place.”

“We will return later.”

Leo, who was pleased to see her that way, said briefly.

“That’s why I’m leaving.”

“…Yes, you’re right.”

She laughed at Leo’s words and finally freed Evan. Evan, whose face was as red as a tomato, was hurriedly secured by Belois, glaring at Aria with an envious look.

“You’re not good at making contact with women. Even if it’s just Aria…”

“Are you jealous of a seventy-year-old woman? Oh, my lord. But relax, Evan is like our son.”

At Aria’s words, Belois closed her mouth, her anger evident. She seemed to understand Aria’s words, but couldn’t accept them.

Aria burst into laughter once more on seeing Belois. She was fond of Belois, too.

“Truly, all of you are such cute kids.”

“I’m sure there will be more lingering feelings. Aria, let’s get ready to leave.”

“Yes, we should. I’ve already packed my stuff, so let’s get out of here.”

“Ah……Before that, I need to go to the training camp for a while.”

“Hmm?”

At Aria’s perplexed expression, Leo pointed to one place with his finger. Aria nodded when she found Shine, a boy standing there quietly and staring at them.

“Goodbye. You had something to give Shine, right?”

“Right. Then, Evan, I’m going first. Take good care of Lin and Lan.”

“Grandpa…”

Evan came to his senses. Perhaps Leo intended to get out of the city as soon as he finished his sparring with Shine.

Evan was a little jealous that he had lost his last time with Leo to Shine, but it would be greedy to hope for more than that.

“Well… Grandfather.”

“Huh?”

Evan already got a lot from Leo and had given a lot in return. It might be enough now.

There was only one thing left. It was the promise of reunion.

“Take care.”

After all, Evan’s last greeting was a light hug. Leo softened a little with Evan’s embrace, but soon he stroked Evan’s head roughly and grinned.

“Okay, I’ll be right back.”

* * *

A few more hours later, the party ended.

The performance of the Lute Girls had livened everyone up.

“Call us again. Let us know, and we’ll perform anywhere you like!”

“I want to go into the Dungeon with Master Evan! Would you like to get my buff? Serenade only for Master Evan…”

After the party, the Lute Girls, who remained there and had a passionate approach toward Evan, were eventually dragged away by Maybell’s hands.

Evan, who saw them off with a bitter smile, turned around. There was Shine with a calm look on his face. However, there were scratches here and there, and his clothes were all messed up.

Evan then asked briefly.

“Did you win?”

“I’m not like you, Master. How can I win against that monster? …But I succeeded in giving him a blow.”

“That’s amazing.”

Though Evan’s compliment was sincere, Shine harbored a bitter smile.

“He had seen through every part of the fight. He almost pushed me to my limits. If the fight had lasted longer, I might have awakened monstrous strength thanks to him. I am amazed at how he can force people to break through their shells and go beyond their limits.”

“It’s because he’s a hero.”

Evan smiled and replied to Shine, who was trembling. Listening to what he said, Shine also seemed to have gained something equivalent to his unique skills.

Leo had managed to teach them both great lessons.

“So, what skill did you get?”

“That’s a secret. Once we get back to HQ, we’ll fight, and I’ll give you a glimpse of it.”

“Oh, you’re very cocky. I’m the one who beat that monster who you could barely scratch.”

“I’ve been observing you for years now, and when you’re this proud, it means you feel flustered in reality. I think that, if I dig through that gap, I could win against you.”

“Shine, Leo must have destroyed your common sense alongside that weak body of yours. I’ll make up for your lack of ability.”

“Whoa, the more you talk now, the more embarrassed you will be later.”

Evan and Shine walked out of the garden with jokes, as usual. Belois, Raihan, Serena, and Arisha, who were nearby, also followed.

“Evan, are we going home now? I’m coming with you!”

“Evan, you still have tear marks on your face. Have you gone soft?”

“Oh, no.”

“…I should have learned martial arts as well. I feel very isolated today.”

“When you get back, you’ll have to wash your hair again, Master.”

Members of the Dungeon Knights were naturally gathering and chatting.

‘Don’t devalue yourself, Evan. It’s rude to others who acknowledge and look up to you.’

Evan recalled Leo’s words again in the warm air. His stern yet caring words seemed to release Evan’s twisted ego a little.

“…Master?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Evan pretended to act okay to Belois, who looked back at him as he had stopped walking.

Then, he took a brave step toward the headquarters of the Knights, setting all his thoughts aside.

It had been a spring day when Evan D. Sherden turned 14.