Evan D. Sherden, Reinforced Fighting Power (1)

“Oh, my God! A Dragon Heart!”

Bernard cried out because he couldn’t believe the reality before him.

“A Dragon Heart!”

“You’re so noisy, Grandpa. Everyone in the neighborhood will know.”

“No problem the sound is being kept in, you punk. But… it’s a Dragon Heart!”

“Oh, Grandpa.”

Evan fully understood how he felt. Perhaps now Bernard was more excited than when he had discovered Phoenix’s feathers, which was a key ingredient for the Elixir. No wonder since dragons were legendary, and Dragon Hearts, which would only be obtained by killing them, were definitely considered a rare treasure in human hands. It was different from Phoenix’s feathers, which were only vaguely absent.

“I should’ve followed you! I should’ve seen the Dragon myself!”

“I’ve never seen you use such a violent expression, Grandpa.”

“Isn’t that a Dragon, after all? Anyway, is this all? Of course, you’ve got something else, haven’t you?”

“Of course.”

Evan took various items out of his inventory pocket in order not to betray Bernard’s anticipation. Apart from what he had given to Horta and Ella, these were kept separately for alchemy purposes, such as scales, leather, bones, and tendons. Bernard didn’t hide his joy.

“Great, great. As my disciple, you’ve taken samples carefully.”

If metallurgy aimed to create good armor using the material itself, alchemy aimed to analyze the material’s ability and reproduce it or improve it using different means. The body parts needed were only slightly different.

“And there it is.”

“Ooooh!”

The last one Evan took out was a test tube containing a bright red liquid. Of course, Bernard was able to figure out what the liquid was right away.

“Dragon’s blood… you’ve definitely succeeded in looting it.”

“It’s not a success. It’s a good way to get rid of all the meat and bones that flow out. I think I’ve got about 50 liters.”

“50 liters!”

Blood contained a lot of information. In particular, Dragon’s blood was the best ingredient, and with proper treatment, it could create the best potions that could rapidly restore mana.

“Of course, it’s such a waste to spend it like that. This blood contains the secrets of the Dragon’s body as well as its magic. It could also help with the study of the Elixir.”

“Only then can we get the secret right.”

Whether he could make a potion with the Dragon Heart or make an artifact or another mana tool, efficiency would inevitably decrease without a deep understanding of the Dragon.

“Okay, let’s start on it! Let’s recreate the Dragon’s power with our own!”

Bernard, who was presented with a lifelong research project, shouted in energetically. However, Evan shook his head firmly.

“You should have dinner before that. Let’s eat dragon steak together, too. The owner must have prepared it by now.”

“Oh no, you…”

Evan then responded with a refreshing smile to Bernard’s shocked eyes, which said, “Is it a waste of time to butcher the precious dragon’s body?”

“…Oh, my God.”

Evan pulled his hand back again as Bernard retained his ridiculously beautiful smile, one that only those who had no regrets about their actions could make.

“Come on, let’s go get some meat! Take Illoin, Rose, and Eir with you…”

“Huh, I wanted to bury myself just three minutes ago. I’m proud to have taught my student so well.”

Bernard finally declined the offer because he had already had dinner. However, deep inside, he felt different. He believed that eating the meat would make them sympathize with Evan. If he knew the effects of dragon meat, he would eventually change his mind!

“Well, then I’ll be working on it by myself for now. I don’t think I can put this research off.”

“Well, there’s nothing we can do. I’ll help you from tomorrow, so don’t rush.”

“Okay.”

Evan said he was sorry and promised to send him four portions of dragon meat with Eir the next day. However, Evan, who was about to leave the pharmacy, turned around because he had suddenly remembered something. Bernard, who had just opened the cap of the test tube, tilted his head, which meant, ‘Is there anything left for you to say?’

“What?”

“Grandpa, have you heard from Grandpa Leo?”

“I haven’t heard from him since I last told you. Why?”

“No, perhaps I understand a little bit of why Grandpa went to the mana world.”

“Why are you telling me that important thing now?”

“That’s…”

That was because there was no way to explain it in detail. Now that the cracks had begun to open again, Leo’s companions had gotten sucked into the mana world because they had been unlucky. It was just that. They might not know how to get them back from the mana world or how to find the crack. Evan shrugged before responding in a soft tone of voice.

“Anyway, with that, you might have to go back to active duty soon. Grandpa, you’d better be prepared.”

“You mean you’re going to treat this old man as a fighter now?”

“Yes.”

Evan snorted at Bernard, who looked only thirty years old. Evan already knew how young and healthy his body was!

“Think of it as the price to get valuable research samples. I think this is going to happen again.”

“…Huh. Was that the story?”

Bernard recovered a little bit of his sanity at Evan’s words. The Dragon had indeed possessed him. He noticed that Dragon’s presence in the world was more important than the Dragon Heart they had acquired.

“Mirole must know this fact…”

“Of course, she’ll be with us. Perhaps there will be enemies who might excel, not only Queen Rose but also the Demon King. Maybe you should start physical training again.”

“Don’t look down on me, kid.”

At Evan’s words, Bernard, who regained his original coolness, snorted right back at him.

“Do you think I can survive the night with Illoin and Rose without constant training?”

“You’re talking in a very formal manner, but you’re still a terrible person.”

*

* *

“Master!”

“You’ve had a long walk, Evan. We’re almost ready, so wash your hands and come right back.”

When Evan returned to the headquarters after talking with Bernard, Belois and Arisha, who were waiting, greeted him as he got closer to the restaurant. The pleasant sounds of conversation and the scent of meat spread out before him.

“Welcome, Commander. Let’s go straight to the restaurant!”

“Here comes the Commander! Today’s meat party is prepared with meat the leader has hunted for us. So, everyone, please thank him!”

“Thank you, Commander Evan!”

“Let’s all go to the restaurant!”

Even though it was midnight, the restaurant was still quite noisy. In addition to the Senior and Junior groups, Horta and Ella, who were usually confined to their studio, were present as well.

“Wow, I’m finally eating meat!”

“Come here and sit down by Lan, Captain!”

“But what kind of meat are we eating?”

“Oh, someone would think I don’t usually feed them meat. They’re all sitting still and waiting!”

Arisha, who was in charge of the military base of Astray with Shine, calmed down the fussy children before she sat down. Except for the youngest Lin and Lan, they were all at least 14 years old, but they were still mentally pure children, perhaps because they had only practiced fighting at the headquarters every day except when they went to the Dungeon.

“However, I think it’s about time to let them have an independent life.”

“I think you’d better give it up. It’ll be a disaster if even one of us goes out of Astray.”

“Well, you’re right.”

Evan decided to agree with Shine. The members of the Astray were human weapons. Now, even if they tried to live everyday social life, there would be nothing left around them.

“What’s the meat we have today, Captain?”

“It’s a Drake. It’s the largest and most powerful lizard monster.”

“Drake……!”

As expected, Jhin, who was listening quietly, began to blink. If he knew that he was eating a dragon, he would probably faint.

‘If Ray succeeds in hatching the dragon egg anyway, he’ll know.’

Even if there was no problem with the baby’s size, its natural characteristics couldn’t be glossed over. In the world of Yo-Ma Great War, a dragon had four legs and a pair of wings, but a Drake had no wings! On the other hand, Wyvern had wings but no forelegs. Thus, he couldn’t say that it was a Wyvern. Depending on the media, a Drake or Wyvern was described as just a small, magical dragon, but not in the Yo-Ma Great Wars!

‘Well, that’ll be all right… they’ve never seen a Dragon or a Drake in real life!’

Jhin had already seen a Wyvern. He had been responsible for flying monsters in the Monster Corps invasion of Sherden three years ago. That was why Evan lied to him that it was Drake.

“It’s all right, and I can make it up. Perhaps…”

“What are you trying to make up for, Evan?”

Serena asked as she approached Evan with the dragon egg in her arms. It would be great if the Dragon could be hatched just by hugging it like that, but Evan stroked Serena’s head with that ridiculous thought.

“The egg you’re holding. You’d better think about what to call it when it hatches.”

“Wing worm.”

“…Wing worm?”

“Yes! And the guy I made last time is Sea worm.”

…And at least it wouldn’t be revealed by name. Evan sat down, smiling silently at Serena, who was waiting to hear his response.

“Hm! Sorry to keep everyone waiting. It’s ready!”

“Wow!”

Soon the door opened, and the owner appeared with a large tray. There were about ten plates with steaks cut and baked, all large enough for several people to eat together. The tray below was also prepared with soup flavored with broth and bread made with dungeon flour.

“I’ve done my best to cook, so try it. I took the juice from the herb on the 50th floor and mixed it with honey strawberry wine for the sauce. The garnish is a dungeon sweet potato mousse full of dungeon berries and silk line nuts. I think the meat fits well with the sweet one, so you’d better eat them together.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but you’re saying it’s delicious, right?”

“Oh, that’s all you need to know.”

When Evan gave his permission, the owner also sat down. Exactly twenty people had gathered in one place, including the Junior group, Senior group, honorary member Anastasia, apprentice Mirole, exclusive blacksmith Horta and Ella, Evan’s maid Diona, and the owner.

“Oh, come to think of it, why isn’t Louise here?”

There was nothing wrong with the last report he received through the communication box last night. When Evan asked with his head tilted, Shine shrugged his shoulders and replied.

“She must be staying with the party members. Didn’t you know that?”

“I’ve heard that she’s working hard on training, but I didn’t know that she was also staying there. Okay, I got it. I’ll talk to her later.”

It was possible that she wasn’t aware of Evan’s return to Sherden. Evan planned to keep enough meat for her to eat with her party members early tomorrow. But now, before that, it was time to eat his share.

“Okay, then…”

No one else talked, but everyone at the table was staring at Evan and not moving their forks. Serena, who didn’t care about her surroundings, seemed uninterested in the dragon steak as she now considered the dragon egg as her top priority.

“Thank you for the meal.”

The knife cut deep into the meat. The flesh, which was hard enough that even Aura couldn’t penetrate in it, was cut smoothly with a knife after proper post-processing and magical cooking.

“Whew…”

‘Why am I so nervous?’

Evan cut a piece of meat into the right size with a fork in the other hand. Medium rare, with a nice bright red color inside. Everyone’s eyes were on it. Evan swallowed his saliva for no reason, and then he opened his mouth…then, he took a bite. At that moment, he tasted ecstasy.

“This is…….”

Evan began to shed tears.

“The taste…!”

When he closed his eyes, he naturally remembered the Dragon exhaling its breath as if it was going to bake Evan’s whole body! Yes, it was clear that the Dragon shot out his breath to let him know that his meat was just as delicious when grilled! The Dragon had been resurrected in the world to be this lump of steak!

On that day, Evan and twenty other people were born again. Evan assured that their lives would never be the same again after tasting the dragon steak.

…Oh, and of course, their powers had definitely improved.