Evan D. Sherden, Manipulated Scenarios (1)

Three days had passed since the incident when he was startled by meeting Mirole the next morning after enjoying a ‘honeymoon’ with Belois. Evan had somehow managed to enjoy a brief period of peace without being caught with Belois. No, considering that coming-of-age ceremony information had already leaked to many people, the end to that peace was scheduled. No one could argue with him just because his relationship with Belois was announced, but there were a few people who would have bothered him in many ways if they knew about it.

‘Not only Arisha but also Serena and Maybell…no, there are more women.’

Those showed their explicit favor toward Evan and expected to see progress in their relationship with him. Evan could see what they would do if the ‘Ban system’ were released, which was his excuse for outsiders. And that was where the problem started. If Evan made the wrong choice because he was uptight, he would have irreversible consequences. He would be just like Evan in the game! Evan, of course, didn’t hate it. He couldn’t hate it. But Evan wanted to live a more productive life. What he told Belois was sincere. He thought taking a rest at night was enough.

‘Of course, that doesn’t mean I can hide forever, and I don’t mean to…I’ll have to think about it more.’

It wouldn’t be very honest to the women other than Belois. Of course, he didn’t intend to do so, but it was vital that it could be seen as much as possible. More than anything, he felt guilty to them because he had already taken Belois before the other women. If he didn’t think carefully in the future, he would live a life full of kitchen knives aimed at him like Evan in the game.

‘I hope everyone is as happy as possible. Including me…well, I am a bastard.’

After his relationship with Belois, Evan became more serious about his future. Starting with his fiancée, Arisha, they should slow down one by one and gradually expand their relationship to the extent where he could handle it. It could lead to the loss of sleeping slime training periods via the nightcap, but he had already prepared for it.

‘A week from now. Yeah, let’s start with just that much time.’

After Evan finished Eir and Elizabeth’s education and took a light shower, he was busy designing his schedule for the future, drinking the fresh lemonade Diona had made.

“Excuse me, Master.”

“Huh?”

Belois knocked on the door and came into the room. She sighed very slightly when she saw Diona standing behind Evan but soon approached him as if it hadn’t happened. A small box in her hand caught Evan’s eye.

“What’s that?”

“The truth is, it’s a gift that we’ve all made together for Master Evan in the last few days.”

“…Huh?”

A gift? Evan tilted his head. Looking back at Diona, she seemed not to know either. Well, she didn’t leave Evan’s side unless something extraordinary happened, so she wouldn’t know…

“Lord Bernard, Madam Redine…Horta and Ella have been working together.”

“That’s a rare combination.”

What the hell did the four of them make together? Evan opened the box, wondering what the gift was. Inside it was a circle with red jewels that glowed brightly.

‘…Circlet?’

“Lua, this looks like a hair ornament. It’s gorgeous.”

“That’s right. It’s a great ornament.”

She corrected the expression ‘gorgeous’ to ‘great’ on purpose. Evan’s eyes narrowed.

“…Do you want me to wear this now?”

“You’ll look great.”

Belois’ eyes, which seemed to dispel Evan’s suspicions, were sparkling in a rare display. She had a face that only those with confidence could have! Evan looked to the side, hoping to stop her, but Diona was also shining.

“That’s a noble and elegant design that fits your image, Master!”

“The expression noble and elegant isn’t something you should use to praise a man, Diona.”

“I’m not praising a man, but I’m praising you, Master.”

“Did I happen to be a separate gender and not a man?”

When asked by Evan, Diona looked at Evan with the expression, ‘What kind of new question is that?’

There seemed to be no allies for Evan in this position. Evan neatly gave up and picked up the circlet.

Come to think of it, even in fantasy movies and games, smooth-looking boys sometimes dressed up with jewelry circlets like this…

“No, wait a minute.”

Because of his shocking visuals, Evan realized one more important fact belatedly.

“This, this…that’s it. It’s made of that.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Belois nodded firmly. Evan let out a sigh. Since Diona was next to him, he referred to it as a pronoun. But ‘that’ referred to the Dragon they had recently hunted! The red jewel stuck in the center of the circle; it was part of the Dragon Heart! He left it up to Bernard to study the Dragon’s blood, and in the meantime, he made an item!

“I can’t take this…”

“This was the only thing we had to do to respond to your wishes. Please understand us.”

“What do you mean?”

“That’s…”

Belois stared at the circlet, slurring the end of her sentence. It meant that he would know when he tried it on. In other words, the Snow Mountain Spirit earrings he was wearing merged with Belois’s Volcano Spirit earrings, and one of Evan’s artifact slots was empty. The production of the circlet must’ve started shortly after that.

“Okay, I will wear it.”

“I hope you like it, Master.”

“Everyone involved in this, apart from my joy, will be scolded later…”

Evan’s lips trembled again. Redine was involved in producing this circlet? Didn’t that mean Evan was caught hunting dragons?

“Ma’am Redine realized right after she ate the steak.”

“…I was looking down on my mother.”

At that point, Evan put everything down and gently put the circlet on his forehead. Thanks to people familiar with Evan’s specifications, the circlet looked perfect on him.

“I’m going to fall for you, Master…!”

“That’s cool.”

Even Diona, who usually didn’t exaggerate so much, applauded and cheered. Belois was gazing at him with hearts in her eyes. Those were the eyes of a hungry beast that he had felt last night. If he avoided the slightest glance, he would be attacked at that moment. Evan felt somehow familiar with their reaction. Yeah, it was a similar reaction to the first time he had worn the Astray Knights cape!

“What I want isn’t an amplification of my charm…!?”

“It’s only a side effect, Master. Feel it.”

“Okay, okay, so don’t come near me with your rough breath. Just tell me from where you’re standing.”

Belois couldn’t be lying. Evan closed his eyes and focused on the artifact as she said. Originally, artifacts with special abilities had their own mana flow. As soon as he sympathized with that mana, he roughly realized its reasoning and effectiveness.

‘Maybe the increased attractiveness is also a plus effect…’

For example, the cape was dedicated to the Commander of the Astray Knights. The power to amplify his charm was attached to it because the cape’s primary ability amplified the dignity and charisma of the Commander. The ability to relate to the person’s appearance was usually greatly influenced by the attractiveness status. And it meant that the ability of this circlet was also the ability related to the appearance of the person…

‘Hmm…?’

However, when he calmed down and focused on the circlet, an intense image passed through Evan’s mind. Inside the exploding volcano, a giant python roared up with raging lava. It was a roar that kneeled all beings. It was a force that forced the majesty of the mighty Dragon to be engraved on his enemy!

“No, this isn’t…!”

“As expected, you’re great, Master. You figured it out right away.”

Belois looked at Evan, whose eyes were open round with a delighted look. The ability in this circlet was one of Dragon’s representative skills in all media. It was Dragon’s Dignity! It was a terrifying skill that used the absolute’s dignity to dampen everything, sometimes leading to death if the difference were excessive!

“How the hell did you recreate this?”

“The production process was complicated…when we unified the material, reproducing the capabilities wasn’t a big deal.”

In other words, all the elements that made up this circlet were by-products of the Dragon. Evan had expected that much.

“But I think it’s only available to those with a much higher status. If you weren’t such a qualified person, it would be meaningless.”

Indeed, Evan, who broke through the dragon head-on and became a dragon slayer, drew out the circlet’s ability. The story that the person who defeated the Dragon would have the Dragon’s power was a very famous tradition. Evan heard that, and finally, he understood it to a certain extent…no, he couldn’t understand!

“This is how… I can’t complain…”

“Have you noticed, Master? The true power of the circlet.”

“Oh, yeah. Of course.”

There were countless victories that dragons carried, but some of them were important. Keywords that symbolized the ability and possibility of not knowing their limitations…that was the Ghost Kill.

Dragon’s dignity didn’t only downgrade others, but their arrogance was used to upgrade themselves. A dragon’s unique ability to invade divinity and harm the body of an absolute immortal. In other words…

“It’s defense penetration, right?”

It was the power Evan had been hoping for. The same option that he tried to exchange for Snow Mountain Spirit earrings as soon as he got them! The status wasn’t only a powerful treasure that amplified the user’s charm but also turned it into a dragon’s majesty, allowing him to launch an attack that penetrated the opponent’s defense! Belois nodded back at Evan’s question.

“Yes, all the other options in here were just side dishes for it. They’re all great abilities.”

“Oh, how can I really…thank you very much. Belois, thank you very much. Say thank you to the other people who made it together.”

“I tried hard to be of help to you. This will be enough to repay you for the Snow Mountain Spirit earrings.”

Belois responded confidently and extended her breast as if to ask for praise. Diona’s eyes narrowed in a look that was seldom seen from her.

“As expected, Belois’ expression has become much softer…that’s how I can say for sure. I’ve got more to say to you.”

“No, please don’t do that. Now I want to focus on enjoying this artifact.”

“Okay, I understand, but be prepared.”

“The bloody Maybell Effect…”

Maybell must have influenced everyone! When Evan stared at Diona with his lips pouting, she suggested something with a cute blink of the eye.

“If you give me a little special service, I think my mouth will be a little heavier.”

“Yes, let’s think about it according to the content…”

“Please leave it to me, Master.”

“Huh?”

“What?”

But just as Evan tried to agree to her deal, Belois stepped forward. There was a purple flash in one of her hands as she smiled calmly.

“I’ll make you not want to talk about anything for a while.”

“Uh, no, Belois? It’s not because we have bad feelings towards each other, but just acting cute…”

“Excuse me for a moment.”

“No, I’m sorry, I’m not going to flirt with you, so let me off the hook, no, wait a minute. Dear Belois…!”

The images of the two disappeared from the spot. After the coming-of-age ceremony, Belois’s abilities developed once more. Now she was dealing with mana almost comparable to that of Mirole. Indeed, the prestige of the Blood Witch hadn’t faded.

“Hmm…what’s going on? She’ll be okay, Belois is responsible…”

Evan neatly ignored Diona’s faint voice from far away and patted the circlet on his forehead, satisfied. It was the day when Evan D. Sherden acquired the most potent equipment of his life.