[I hope the gradual improvements are noticeable. I believe that this prep-time is coming at a decent place in the plot.]

Evan D. Sherden, Training the Core. (4)

Jhin had been lonely since he was born. For him to live in harmony with other humans was a distant dream; everything he was born with was just so different.

His reptile-like yellow, vertically-torn pupils, even alarmed his parents, and moreover, the child had inherited the quality of an ancient race.

Rumor mongers spread that he was the offspring of a devil, which led to more discrimination and bullying of the entire family.

“All of it is your fault, Jhin.”

“I should have never given birth to you.”

“Why were we cursed with you! All we ever desired was a normal child!”

The parents, who moved away from the village and lived in hiding, blamed the child every day.

Just by not abandoning the child, they thought they had fulfilled their duties as parents and somehow received indulgence and physically and emotionally abused the child.

‘It’s all because of me. I shouldn’t have been born.’

The world’s hatred for him made him hate himself. He blamed his eyes and cursed his weak body.

However, when the child thought about finishing this once and for all, someone came looking for him. It turned out to be a middle-aged merchant.

“There is someone who wants to take you.”

“Nobody wants me.”

“Go and you will find out. He is never wrong.”

The parents were being compensated for eight years by a merchant for raising Jhin. They thought of it as a reward for enduring pain and suffering and didn’t hesitate to end their blood ties with him.

The child climbed into a carriage and headed for a city he did not know, sulking in the last moments with his parents, who left without any hesitation.

He met the person there.

“Just like the dragon’s eyes, it’s remarkable.”

“… Dragon?”

When Jhin had nothing to hold onto, this person brought meaning to him.

When Jhin opened his eyes, it was not a shabby cabin in some remote place in the woods, but a bedroom inside the Dungeon Knights headquarters building, which was the fanciest building in the dungeon city.

Sunshine was pouring over the window. It was morning. Jhin was grateful that he was once again safe and sound at this place.

“Jhin, wake up! Wake up!”

“Let’s go eat!”

Eight-year-old kids who couldn’t quite understand the concept of privacy came into Jhin’s room and began ranting.

“Jhin, come on, get up!”

“You’re such a sleepyhead!”

“… You guys are waking up way too early, you little rascals.”

As if they weren’t doing enough by incessant chattering, the two kids jumped onto Jhin’s bed and started harassing him. Jhin, who could no longer just lie in bed, sighed heavily and brought himself up.

“Don’t call me a little rascal!”

“Are you going to play with us today?”

“No.”

Jhin came down from the bed, responding to the twins coldly. These little rascals sure liked to play. If one started hanging out with them, there would be no end to it.

“You’re not going to play with us, not even today? Jhin, you’re so bad!”

“Stupid!”

“I need to do my morning training.”

“You’re stupid. You only care about training!”

It wasn’t that Jhin disliked the twin sisters. They always harassed him, but he could tell whether it was with good intention or not.

This made Jhin feel even more uncomfortable when dealing with these children. More precisely, he didn’t know how to react.

“… Let’s play next time when I am not occupied.”

“You always say that. Jhin, you’re stupid!”

“Stupid, stupid! I’m going to tell the Vice-Commander!”

Also, if he started hanging out with them, he wouldn’t have much time for training.

If he didn’t have time for training, he couldn’t become stronger and couldn’t become a dragon.

Therefore Jhin, just like any other day, pushed them off and left casually.

“Jhin, you woke up early as usual.”

“Commander.”

His eyes met Evan’s, who had been descending down the stairs. With just black cotton pants and a white silk shirt, there weren’t that many boys who could give off this elegant and classy vibe.

“How did you sleep? It seems like you were training till late again yesterday.”

“Oh, umm… I slept enough. I’m getting enough sleep.”

He was the person who rescued and brought him into this new world, and who said that his eyes looked like that of a dragon.

He just received so much from Evan so often. He didn’t know how to act around Evan.

“Maybe I’m not the best person to say this, but you’re still growing, so you should get plenty of rest.”

“Yessir.”

“Good.”

However, Evan just smiled lightly as if he understood how Jhin felt.

Jhin was, however, particularly shy because he didn’t know that he was part of the Immortality Project No. 5.

“Oh, it’s the Commander.”

“Commander, this stupid Jhin is not playing with us again!”

“Lin and Lan. when did you crawl into his room?”

At that moment, the twin sisters who followed Jhin out to the corridor lunged at Evan. Evan smiled bitterly as he gave a big hug like many times before.

Looking at such a sight, Jhin was envious of the twins who could express their feelings so freely, but as soon as he realized what he was thinking, he became startled and just shook it off.

In the meantime, there was something that caught his eye. It was the black leather boots that Evan was wearing. He couldn’t really say why, but it felt like he could feel some ominous energy from it…

“Master … Are those boots okay?”

“Huh? Oh, the boots? You really do have keen eyes!”

Evan smiled and answered Jhin’s question, “I found a way to use the evil energy magic inside this. So I’m in the middle of researching right now.”

“Use the evil energy…? But you said that it was already a cursed item.”

“You are talking about the curse that drops your stats, right? That’s true, but what triggers the curse is the evil energy within these boots. So, if there is a force that can control the evil energy, wouldn’t it be possible to change the curse into something else?”

“So, you are saying that you will be able to process a curse…?”

“Processing a curse… Right, that’s right.”

Evan’s eyes were dangerously sparkling, but he didn’t think too much of it. Whatever Evan did, it always worked out.

Jhin had never heard of processing a curse to make it one’s own, but everything Evan was doing was unheard-of anyway, so it was not much of a surprise.

“So, we might be leaving on an expedition in relation to this.”

“Is that so…”

However, Jhin was disappointed by what followed. It was because, like in the past, Evan had always excluded the kids, including Jhin, from important tasks.

Although he knew they would come back soon, being left behind was always terrifying.

“Until then, train well. The dungeons outside are different from the Sherden Dungeon.”

“… Are you taking me, too, this time?!”

“Yes, this time, we’re all going together.”

With Evan’s words, Jhin froze up. ‘Are we going together? Is he really taking me?’ Did that mean Evan trusted him and depended on him?

But the moment he lifted his head to ask for more details, the twin sisters started their fits.

“Really?!”

“We are going, too? Are we going together with you, Leader?”

“Lan, we’re not going out for fun. Just as I told Jhin moments ago, we will be going into the outside dungeons, so please do train hard.”

“Wow! We’re going on a picnic with the Commander!”

“Are we packing lunch boxes? Can I bring a big lunch box?”

“I just told you that we’re not going out for fun, you little rugrats…”

“What’s going on?”

“What… Oh, it’s our Leader!”

Because of all the fuss, Lin and Lan made doors of many rooms flung open. The two were exhilarated and shared the news; the entire corridor was going out of control.

“Yayyy!”

“We’re going out on a field trip with Master Evan!”

“We’re going outside the city for a picnic!”

“Those little rugrats!”

Evan sighed at the kids who were about to throw a big party, and spoke to Jhin, who was still frozen up.

“I will gather the children one more time later… but Jhin, please calm them down. Tell them to be prepared and stay alert as they will be entering the dungeon. And also tell them that playtime would be after that.”

“I will.”

Evan trusted him.

Evan depended on him! That fact itself made Jhin’s day, and with that, he saluted Evan and answered.

“I’ll get onto it, Commander.”

“Huh?”

Jhin nodded with determination and rushed to the ecstatic children. Then one by one, he calmed them down.

“Everyone quiet! Don’t twist the Commander’s words! I told you all to be quiet!”

“Jhin? Huh, Jhin’s firing an arrow!”

“Oh my, somebody stop him!”

“Stupid Jhin, stupid!”

“Ummm… Well, it was effective so…”

Evan never knew that Jhin would use physical force to calm the children down, but he didn’t stop Jhin.

He thought, ‘Yeah, it’s about time to show who’s who,’ and peacefully walked away to the diner.

Of course, he was later scolded by Shine and Raihan.

Jhin usually practiced with the other members in the morning, but after lunch, in the afternoon, he was to take private lessons in a different place.

The meeting place was a tall, long outer wall that surrounded the outside of the dungeon city of Sherden. His teacher was waiting for him up on the tall wall.

“You’re late, Jhin.”

A beautiful woman in light apparel standing proudly on the wall, her mysterious green hair swaying with the wind…

She was Jhin’s mentor and at the same time Evan’s mentor’s (the legendary alchemist Bernard Garcia) wife, the Elf Illoin.

“Sorry, I was being disciplined…”

“Disciplined? You were being disciplined?”

“I took some harsh measures in carrying out the Commander’s orders. But I don’t regret it.”

“I think I know what you’re talking about, so you don’t have to explain any further. I’m very much familiar with dealing with a man on a mission.”

Illoin frowned initially at Jhin’s words, but within seconds, she laughed and gestured him to come up.

“Urgh..ha!”

Jhin followed his teacher’s gestures and started climbing the wall. It was still difficult to jump up to the several hundreds of feet tall walls with a single jump, so he had to step off from the mid-wall several times, but it was still very impressive.

“I understand why you were late, but from now on, regardless of any reason, you will be receiving a penalty if you’re late.”

“I understand, master. I’m sorry.”

“Then let’s start. First, twenty laps.”

Training with Illoin always begins with running. It is because running was what she emphasized as the most important quality one should have to be an archer.

“Even if you are in a party with others, the archer always moves independently. The archer’s ideal role is to quickly assess the situation and take appropriate action to lead the party to victory.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“The most important of all is to achieve speed and stealth. Making yourself undiscoverable to the enemy’s eye. Letting other party members not be restricted by our actions and continue their path. These two are only possible if you have the necessary speed and stealth.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

He had heard it hundreds of times already, but Jhin responded with all seriousness every time and ran after her. It was similar to when he climbed up the outer wall, the way he was running with such speed on the top of the wall, nobody would believe that he was a 10-year-old boy.

“Ha… Ha… Ha…!”

“Phew, that boy is running again.”

“Is Ms. Illoin there as well? She truly is a hero.”

Although the two were running together on the outer wall, the patrolling soldiers could not see Illoin. They just assumed that she would be with Jhin, who had also been running fast.

“I would love to see Ms. Illoin sweat…”

“I heard Elven sweat has the fragrance of flowers.”

“Are you trying to get yourself killed by Mr. Bernard? Urgh!”

Jhin, who was running with all his energy, gave the patrolling soldiers a sharp look after hearing what they said.

However, Illoin, who must have listened to what they said, maintained her composure. She focused on instructing Jhin more, who was diverted by the ignoble talk of the soldiers.

“If you don’t control your breathing, you won’t be able to maintain your stealth. Be calm and take control of yourself!”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“You need to feel and use the wind more. You have the qualities to control the energy of the wind. Ask it to hide you. Align your breath with the wind.”

Jhin collected himself after hearing from Illoin, who was perfectly calm. It wasn’t acting, but she didn’t care about what she heard—his respect for her increased.

‘To her, the soldiers are not really something to care about, so whatever they do, they can’t have any effect on the teacher.’

Jhin admired Illoin differently from the way he admired Evan. She looked different from the humans, yet always acted with confidence in their presence, and she had the necessary strength to back up her confidence.

To Jhin, such a sight was just so brilliant and unreal. Would the day come when he could be confident in front of others like Illoin? With just his glare… No, just by his presence, would he be able to bend their knees to him? Would that day ever come?

“Stop. I think that’s enough. Your stamina has become better.”

[Catching his breath.]

20 laps of the outer wall that surrounded the entire city. Ordinary people, even the well-trained soldiers, would not be able to complete one lap, and Illoin never took any breaks and ran all the way, but there was not even a single drop of sweat on her.

“Control your breathing.”

“Hooo, Hoooo…!”

Jhin, who barely caught up with her, while being in such pain that he thought his heart was about to burst, tried to even his breathing and not fall down. Illoin grinned as she saw that.

“When it comes to having the will, you’re always the best. Make sure you maintain that.”

“Than…k you…”

*cough cough*

Jhin, who seemed like he was going to pass out any second, got back on his feet within minutes. Illoin nodded silently and turned around. Now that he has completed the basic training…

It was time to start archery training.

“Master.”

When Illoin tried to jump off the wall, Jhin called her up.

“Commander said that he will soon lead us to an outside dungeon.”

“Is that so? Please tell me the date later. At least for a while, I’ll be able to spend some pleasant time with Bernard.”

“Ummm… Will … I be able to do well outside?”

Illoin thought about it for a while, and then shook her head.

“You are still young and weak. You’re strong for your age, but that doesn’t mean you’re strong enough. The world is full of monsters that you cannot dare to touch. Just think that this time you’re going for the experience. Evan will protect you.”

“… Is that so?”

Jhin was somewhat disappointed by Illoin’s very realistic observation. He knew she would say this, but it would be a lie if he said he was not hurt by it.

“Hmm… But.”

Illoin realizing her mistake by seeing Jhin’s reaction, spoke again.

Of course, she couldn’t make stuff up, but she could talk about his potential.

“If you try hard as you are doing now, you will be able to surpass me in the near future, easily. Evan feels the same way, and that’s why he’s taking special care of you.”

“Really…?”

“Yes. You have that same man-on-a-mission type of vibe.”

It was something that he never imagined hearing her say. Evan was someone who got all the blessings in the world, and he was just the opposite. ‘But she’s telling me I resemble Evan? That Evan is taking a special interest in me?’ He couldn’t believe it, but the person who was saying it was an elf who never lied.

Jhin felt overwhelmed.

“Okay, let’s go. If you want to be stronger, you have to train harder.”

“…Master!”

“What is it now?”

“If so… could I be a dragon someday?”

“…Dragon.”

A moment of surprise passed Illoin’s eyes when she heard that.

“I didn’t imagine you to speak the word ‘dragon’, although you have the eyes of one. I’m surprised.”

“Have you seen it, Master?”

“Yes… No, I didn’t see a live one. I’ve seen a dragon’s carcass, which was stored in the forest.”

Illoin stopped talking after that. She thought that she shouldn’t say more to Jhin when she saw his twinkling eyes.

“I want to become a dragon!”

“Why?”

“No one will be able to bother me.”

“I see. If that is your plan, let me tell you one thing.”

She understood, at least roughly, what Jhin was trying to say and what he was thinking.

So, Illoin said the following without hesitation.

“Dragons went extinct, maybe because no one could bother them anymore.”

“Think about what it means on your own. Now follow me, class is beginning.”

“… But… but…”

Jhin was surprised by the words, but Iloin had already jumped off the wall and was not there.

If he didn’t follow, she would continue without him. He didn’t have time to think about what she said.

‘There is no one who can bother, then why…?’

Jhin was perplexed by the words Illoin threw at him. Nonetheless, he followed her and jumped off the wall.

It was a difficult riddle to solve for a little kid who had busied himself by running whilst looking forward.