Evan D. Sherden, Passed Night (3)

According to the witches’ explanation, at the very moment of ‘God’s descent to the ground,’ a dazzling blue and red light filled the room. Even Evan, who transcended human limitations, found it difficult to see through the light. He closed his eyes and thought quietly.

‘In the end, if God were to empower the Rune, wouldn’t he give Belois a Rune based on her performance in the dungeons so far?’

Only pure witches could accept the Rune’s power to their bodies. Previously, Evan had been rewarded with Runes by God according to his achievements in the dungeons, but at that time, his body couldn’t accept it, so it was carved on his gloves, and it had changed it into a high-quality artifact.

‘But Belois has done enough. Moreover, we reached the 70th floor together.’

She had been mostly with Evan when he entered the Dungeon. Her performance wasn’t far behind Evan (although it was impossible to surpass him because of the size of Evan’s achievements). If so, Belois should’ve taken the Rune by God, but why had she never done that before? Was there a big difference between the Rune from the Dungeon and the Rune from the witch’s coming-of-age ceremony?

“What do you think, Mother?”

The light was fading little by little so that he could see the outline of the person standing next to him.

When Evan asked for her opinion while talking about what he thought, Redine smiled.

“Son, you’re right. There’s a difference. The only difference isn’t the Rune, but the one that gives the Rune.”

“Oh…”

Indeed, God could handle the power of the Rune, but it was another problem to engrave it on the body of a particular being. Even if God in the dungeon were to give a Rune, they didn’t have the power to engrave it on the body of a witch… Evan finally realized that and nodded. It was likely to be ‘God outside the dungeon’ that created the witch race.

“I thought all divine beings were involved in dungeons.”

“Oh, then who’s going to take care of the outside world?”

“That’s true too…well.”

His mother was casually telling stories that most humans might not know. Even Evan, well-versed in the Yo-Ma Great War series, didn’t know much about God outside the Dungeon…as Evan looked at her mother, she soon realized her slip of the tongue and opened her eyes wide.

“It’s a secret, you know?”

“Will you tell me more about it if I promise to keep it a secret?”

“No.”

Evan, who was upset by his mother’s stern answer, turned his head away. A man who was 18 years old pretending to be cute wouldn’t usually work, but strangely enough, it looked so good and attractive when Evan did it. She wanted to pinch his cheek. She gave birth to him, but whenever she saw Evan, she thought that his appearance was everything.

“Oh, come to think of it.”

The fact that Redine could see her son’s sulky face meant that the light had disappeared entirely. Redine turned to Belois, the epicenter of the light. Evan, who noticed it, also gave Belois a look. The witches, who were in charge of the ceremony, were already admiring Belois.

“Oh….”

“That Rune.”

Evan could see the fist-sized letters sprinkling brilliant light on Belois. Evan, who had studied the Devil Rune and the normal Rune deeply at the same time, could immediately tell what the letter was.

“As expected, it is Elder Pussak…I thought so, of course.”

“There were only four people, including Selune and Melonia, but even if she were talented, I couldn’t believe that a witch from outside continued a stem of the 24 Runes of Elder Pussak.”

“Isn’t it natural that she was his last student? Besides, it’s Mannaz.”

“Ah, Mannaz. That’s right. It is.”

“I was expecting a Kenaz of fire Rune or an Isa of ice Rune, but I didn’t expect it to exceed that.”

Elder Pussak was a 24-character combination and harmony to make Mannaz. In history, the Runes were divided into many branches and created numerous sub-Runes, but Mannaz was among the earliest Runes. For reference, the Rune Gera engraved on Evan’s Black Cloud Gloves also belonged to one of the 24 unique characters.

“Combination and harmony…alone it isn’t complete, but through exchanges and compromises with others, it is a Rune that symbolizes human beings.”

“That’s what I know.”

While the witches were whispering, looking at the Rune that Belois had acquired, Redine was looking at the Rune with an expression that seemed interesting enough to keep up with the witches.

“She’s a strong kid, too. I didn’t expect her to be the owner of Mannaz. I expected it to be like this to some extent, but not this.”

“Is that a special Rune? …I heard that among the witches, the Raguz of the water Rune, which Selune has, is the most special.”

In a sense, unlike Devil Rune, which could be said to be a user-generated character, Rune was a power that continued from the New Age. In other words, genealogy and bloodline played a role, too. History alone had power. Belois’ Rune might have a depth that wasn’t in a Devil Rune. As Evan’s eyes shone with anticipation, Redine smiled bitterly and answered honestly.

“Well, the Rune is, after all, a symbol and a possibility. Whatever Rune you deal with, the user’s mana, will, and abundant imagination determine the power of the Rune. But…yes, if we exclude users and rank them only for Runes, I’d like to put that at the highest.”

“Mannaz, human Rune…”

With Evan repeating Rune’s name in his mouth, Redine looked at Belois, who closed her eyes and was still resonating with the Rune.

‘Would that child be able to draw Mannaz’s real power? As the Rune owner, could she understand and accept the Rune from God to man…?’

‘Well, she can do as much as possible.’

Belois was bound to succeed because she was a disciple of Redine and no one else.

“Master!”

While Redine was smiling happily, imagining Belois’ future, a ray of wind brushed her cheek as if to break her thought. It was a light wind made by Belois while she was running forward.

“Master…Master!”

“Lua…yeah.”

Belois, who fully accepted Rune and opened her eyes, was so excited that her usual self couldn’t be found as she rushed to Evan without being conscious of the eyes of other witches.

“Congratulations, Lua.”

“Thank you, Master…!”

Belois, held in Evan’s arms, let out a small puppy-like voice, rubbing her cheek against his neck. Evan was puzzled by the dramatic change.

“What are you grateful for?”

“Everything. Thank you for everything…”

He finally realized that the witch’s coming-of-age ceremony meant more to Belois than he thought and hugged her deeper in his arms. All she had to say about the previous coming-of-age ceremony was for this moment.

“N-now.”

“It’s okay. They aren’t listening.”

Not only Redine, who had taught her so far but also the witches who helped her with the ritual, were dumbfounded. But it wasn’t incomprehensible, so they decided not to tackle it now.

“There’s a little bit more of an end to the original ritual, but…I’m afraid it’s useless right now. Master Evan, take her with you. Let’s stop by the guild house early tomorrow.”

“She doesn’t seem to see me. But I’m still going to be a teacher and mother-in-law…”

Melonia was standing with a look of having given everything up, and Redine slightly pouted. Evan smiled bitterly at Belois, who was rubbing her face on his neck as if she couldn’t hear them at all.

“Lua must’ve been pleased. She doesn’t usually do this.”

“It’s a special rune. No, that doesn’t matter now.”

“I envy Belois. My Rune is Elder Pussak. Can I also hug Master Evan?”

“Selune, women who are too obsessed aren’t popular.”

Not only Melonia but also the other witches were giggling and talking. However, Belois remained firmly in Evan’s arms despite jeers from the audience. When Redine saw it, she tilted her eyes like a crescent moon and laughed.

“Looking at you now reminds me of the first time I had a drink with your dad.”

“Oh, I thought you were going to talk about the witch’s coming of age.”

“It’s a little different. That was the first day I took your father. And apparently, Belois is going to grab you today.”

“…”

Even Evan’s face turned red. Why were all women in this world so active? Was this the providence of the universe?

“I think Eric was conceived that day.”

“I didn’t want to hear such a story…”

If Evan stayed here longer, he couldn’t avoid feeling shame from the sexual harassment by the witches, including Redine. Evan sighed and said to Belois,

“Let’s go, Lua.”

“Yes, let’s go out together…argh?”

As soon as Belois answered, he held her in his arms. He hugged her as precious as a princess and tried to leave, but before he did, he looked back at the witches, who were still grinning the same way.

“Let’s keep it a secret for the time being about the coming-of-age ceremony. I will never see someone who discloses it.”

It might be too late, but if he didn’t stop the witches from talking, there would be a genuinely irreversible situation. The witches giggled again at Evan’s warning.

“That’s a terrifying threat.”

“I’ll just write it down in my mind’s diary as Master Evan’s monumental day.”

“Shut up!”

“Master Evan, Belois, make a reservation for me next!”

“I’m not taking reservations!”

He made his way out of the Bloody Apple guild house as stealthily as possible, silencing the noisy witches again. It was already late at night. Fortunately, the city was quite dark because it was late at night. Even if it weren’t as much as Shine, Evan wouldn’t be caught by many explorers if he moved with determination and secrecy.

“Master, please drop me off.”

“No, you’re going to go all the way to my room.”

“But if others see this…”

“Well, Lua, as you said, we’re both adults now. I’m confident.”

“Ma-master.”

Evan’s imposing declaration made Belois blush. It was a critical hit to her heart that was already pounding hard!

‘Of course, I don’t mean to be caught…there’s going to be a commotion that’s not comparable to today, and if I go through that, I’ll be blown away.’

Evan, who was stimulated by Redine’s words, was deliberately acting strongly to avoid being stigmatized as being taken, but in Belois’ eyes, who didn’t know his motive, his appearance was just as dashing.

“Dear Master…idiot.”

“It’s nice that it sounds fresh when Lua says that.”

Evan laughed and walked. Sherden’s streets were as crowded as the capital city. Still, Evan was able to reach his room without anyone else’s notice, desperately walking with a determination not to be caught by others. And as soon as Belois arrived in the room, she used the Rune power she acquired today to set up a perfect seal.

It was the birth of a perfect secret room.