Evan D. Sherden, Added Sub Party (8)

Growing up as a high-quality warrior was not that difficult.

Humans had a great aptitude for weapons, and if they found the correct one and trained efficiently, they could be at the forefront of humankind, even if there was a limit.

But the bandit didn’t. They needed something natural. For example, natural sleekness, or a sharp eye for learning things, a cautious personality, or an ability like stealth.

“This kid’s name is Lucid. Shine, raise him well.”

“So, it’s up to me again……. I look forward to your kind cooperation.”

“Well, am I going to follow the Master?”

Lucid, a 14-year-old boy whom Evan rescued from the pseudo-religion hideout, opened his eyes wide as if he could not believe the situation that faced him.

But Evan was already convinced of the boy’s ability and just nodded with a smile.

“As I said earlier, only if you want to join. I’ve seen your talent, and I think it suits our Dungeon Knights. You’re special.”

“Special……. Am I special? I’ve never heard of such a word……!”

Yeah, all he heard till now was ‘Lucid’. That was because he was forgotten in the extreme environment, even between the villagers who had been caught.

So, this boy was special. He was a man of tremendous ability to erase his presence anytime, anywhere, in any situation.

‘The only drawback is that you can’t control it yourself yet, but that’s something you can learn.’

Not only was he born with the hidden ability of a Bandit, but he also had several unique skills officially identified in Yo-Ma Great War 4, including ‘concealing sign’ and ‘implementing transparency’.

Suppose Shine specialized in the assassination or the aggressive side of the bandit. In that case, Lucid could be seen as specialized in the bandit’s ability to perform its original ability, such as undercover stealth.

“Oh, you’re starting again.”

“Shine, shut up.”

Belois slapped Shine and muttered while looking at Evan, who was making stories about his skill. After cleaning up the hideout and returning to the compound, they rested in the palace’s ruins.

“Shine, I told you to stay with Anastasia. Why are you here?”

“I’m here because outsiders weren’t allowed. Matthew attempted to kill Asha, but…”

“Hmm.”

Just before Evan and his party returned to the castle, the Duke also returned to the castle. Evan couldn’t dare imagine what he would feel now.

Evan stood up from his seat, encouraging Lucid, who had frozen on the spot when the nobles appeared.

“I’ll have to tell him myself. Shine, wash Lucid, and change his clothes with nice ones. Start training now, and make sure Lucid is active when we get back to Sherden.”

“That’s easy to say, really…… Okay, I’ll try.”

“I-I’m a bandit…….?”

“He’ll be your teacher in the future, so follow him.”

“Yes, sir.”

Evan left Shine with Lucid, who had already become startled and stuttered no matter what he said, and left the room. Belois tried to follow but was stopped, and Serena came forward instead.

“I think it’ll be better if I go.”

“……Then excuse me, Your Grace.”

“Yes.”

After letting his party rest, Evan walked down the hall with Serena. She looked at Evan’s back with a frown and said quietly.

“You can relax; he’s my Uncle Bear.”

“Do you think the Duke is suspicious of me?”

“I’m sure he thought about that. I’m thinking about how to cover things up if it does…….”

That was the right answer. Evan smiled bitterly and reached out to Serena’s fine hair and messed it up. It was a shame that she guessed exactly what Evan thought. Serena screamed but didn’t seem to hate it. She was very mysterious.

“You pretend to be delicate, but you are violent in a crucial moment.”

“Don’t say it misleadingly.”

“So, you don’t have to worry. Just believe what you saw.”

“……Okay.”

The door to the office opened. There were only Anastasia and Duke Sorde L. Leonine inside.

“You’re here.”

“Yes.”

“Ha, Serena. Did you come with him because you were afraid I’d eat your husband alive?”

“Yes, but not just for that.”

The Duke smiled bitterly and raised his hand as Serena stepped forward as if to protect Evan’s shoulder.

“Okay, sit down since you’re here.”

The Duke looked very tired, but he didn’t send Evan away, nor did he scold him. As he had already heard from Anastasia, he called Evan up close and told Anastasia.

“Asha, you have to go. I think you need the butler now.”

“Daddy…….”

Anastasia opened her eyes wide at the words coming out of the mouth of Duke Sorde, who had never officially acknowledged Shine’s relationship with Anastasia.

However, she was not in a situation that gave leeway for happiness, so she just nodded back with a grateful look for understanding.

“Whoo…….”

As Anastasia left the room, the Duke soon gave a deep sigh and reached out to the brandy at the end of the desk. Then suddenly, he stopped and asked Evan.

“You said you’ve been selling alcohol lately. If you have a high-percentage one, give me that.”

“Your Excellency…….”

“Call me Father-in-law.”

Evan opened his mouth with a worried voice, and the Duke, who suddenly stopped talking, spoke bluntly.

“You’re going to marry Serena soon. Then you’ll be my nephew-in-law. Go ahead and call me Father-in-law.”

“……Yes, Father-in-law.”

There was a separate term for his wife’s uncle, but Evan was not discreet enough to argue with him here. As he obediently followed, the Duke smiled.

“That’s nice. All I need is a good drink.”

“I’ll pour you the drink.”

“Of course, you should.”

Evan took out a bottle of Sherden brandy, which had only recently begun production. It was an expensive wine and in the finest line at Brotherhood Brewery. Evan had worked very hard on the bottle and label design.

He opened the bottle cap, and it instantly filled the room with the sweet scent of grapes. It was a deadly drink that made him fall in love just by smelling it.

Evan poured brandy into the Duke’s glass. He spun the glass round and round in his hand to warm it up and slowly took a sip of it.

After that, he lifted his glass again, looked at the dark golden liquid that fluttered in it, and admired it.

“It’s really…… a great drink. With this one drink, you can be a big merchant.”

“I didn’t do it alone. I managed to make it with the help of many people. And everything else I’ve achieved is the same.”

“Everything is outstanding. Starting with appearance, personality, ability, and caring for people. ……maybe Matthew chose the worst option because he thought he couldn’t beat you. The funny thing is, he thought you were his rival. He wouldn’t have made it even if he worked hard, so he took a turn for the worst.”

“…….”

The story suddenly turned around. Serena held Evan’s hand tightly. The Duke continued.

“I knew from the beginning that he was hiding something from me. I didn’t think it would be black magic.”

“Father-in-law, Prince Matthew…….”

“Yes. Now that I think about him, his mother……. She had a suspicious aspect, too. I don’t have any luck with girls. There were only two women I truly loved, and one of them didn’t really love me, and the other left me…….”

The Duke emptied the glass of brandy. When he put the glass down, he breathed a deep sigh again……. He bowed down to Evan.

“I’m sorry. I’ve caused you a lot of trouble because I couldn’t teach my son well.”

“No, no. I’m the one who’s sorry.”

“I know you didn’t do anything wrong, so you don’t have to look like that. On the contrary, it is all thanks to you that there was no damage to the people when such an incident broke out. I appreciate it. But…… can I ask you a favor despite that?”

Evan somehow seemed to know what the request was.

“My son……. Just keep it a secret that Matthew was associated with the Black Wizards. If you do me a favor, I’ll do whatever I can. My son’s name, who died like a fool—because he was a fool—, can’t be further trampled on by his father. I ask you from the bottom of my heart.”

“Oh…… well, I have one thing I want from my Father-in-law.”

“I’ll listen to you.”

Just because Evan was told the Duke would do anything, he couldn’t ask the Duke for something great. However, there was a request that was just right for the current situation.

Evan pointed to the door where Anastasia had passed earlier and said with a demanding look.

“I want you to officially acknowledge the relationship between Princess Anastasia and Shine.”

“Ask for something else.”

“Father-in-law.”

“It’s not what you think.”

Before Evan said anything, the Duke shook his head and said.

“I’ve already agreed to accept them, so I’m asking you to talk about other conditions.”

“Father-in-law…….”

“Shine did the most this time…”

“You mean his title.”

“Let’s start with ‘Baron’. A knight’s role is too low of a status to marry Anastasia.”

A weak smile barely returned to the mouth of the Duke. Evan smiled at him.

* * *

Evan and his party, who stayed in the castle for another day, soothed the Duke’s mind and helped him rebuild, and left Leonine the next day without hesitation.

Lucid, who joined the new group, was still shaking as if he couldn’t believe the changes in his surrounding environment, but when he moved directly to the royal castle’s gate, the Silk Line’s capital, he froze completely.

“My home!”

As soon as she arrived at the palace, Serena said. Since she had talked to the Duke yesterday, she seemed to like the words that secretly or openly revealed her relationship with Evan.

The funny thing was that the two had not yet engaged, let alone married.

“You were a bit mature yesterday, but you’re back to your old self again.”

“Because the princess’ adult mode has poor efficiency. It’s comfortable for us to see those who are playing around like that.”

Shine, who was still only a knight as the Duke of Sorde had said, openly gossiped about Serena, but fortunately, the wizards and knights who were guarding the gate did not seem to understand him properly.

“Master Evan D. Sherden, I’ve been waiting for you.”

“His Majesty said he would like to invite you to dinner tonight.”

A knight, who appears to belong to the Guard Corps, took a step forward and said so, showing courtesy to Evan. However, Evan shook his head with a perplexed look on his face.

“Let’s do it tomorrow.”

“But, but…His Majesty…….”

“Let’s do it the next day. I have another appointment today.”

“Okay.”

Only three people in this country ignored the king’s invitation to dinner, excluding Princess Serena; it was only Duke Sorde and Evan D. Sherden.

“Then, may I ask for your route…….”

The knight knew he couldn’t dare stop Evan and cried while asking. Evan scratched his cheek and answered honestly.

That evening, the group visited ‘Amy’s Kick’, the best pub in the city.