Evan D. Sherden, A Disparate Trace (1)

―Hiyaaaaaaa!

“Okay, so this is…the end!”

A giant battle bead fell from the sky, completely eradicating the crystal shining in the empty air. The last tooth of the demon Melotis, who controlled light, lost its brilliance, and it exploded as the driving part of its core exploded with Belois’s magic when it stopped moving. After acquiring the seeker that detected the rifts before they formed, the hunt for ancient monsters ended successfully once again today.

“We would be done for if we didn’t know how to defeat it.”

“Nah, we would just have a harder time. Nothing’s special about the ancient demons.”

Evan replied while laughing at Shine’s fussing. Meanwhile, at his side, Serena gave a GO signal to Gnar, who was in her arms.

“Gnar, you can eat now!”

―Kyuuu!

Gnar, who previously grew bigger than a wyvern, was back to its baby form. It was all thanks to the ‘release’ skill Serena learned as a tamer. It was a skill that sealed a pet’s mana and an ability for a set time before releasing it when needed. It maximized the pet’s ability in proportion to the amount of sealed ability and the time it was sealed. It was a similar ability to the Devil Rune on Evan’s boots.

―Kuy, Kyuuuuu!

“Is it delicious, Gnar? But you have to leave some for the loot!”

―Kyuuu!

Serena mumbled as she looked lovingly at Gnar, who was busy eating up Melotis’ flesh (since it was mostly made up of crystal).

“Perhaps we can bring over the sea worm if the skill level increases a bit more.”

“Nope, let’s leave that guy there for a while.”

The release skill had an additional function, which was the ability to reduce the size of the pet. Even if there was a pet with a ridiculously huge body, this skill allowed it to be brought along at any time, so it could be said that she was awakened at the right timing. But of course, that skill was awakened when Serena’s necklace, Tigris Glory, was stimulated by Gnar chomping on the gargoyle’s head, so it could be said that the awakening was bound to happen.

“So, if it’s not engaged in combat, it will be on standby in the growing stage…just like a Digimon.”

“’ Digimon’ sounds fun. Tell me more, Oppa!”

“Sure. I’ll tell you more.”

As if he was waiting for that question, Evan explained the combined evolution. Two individual beings unite to combine into a far stronger being! Serena’s eyes sparkled with such a dreamy explanation.

“Is it something like what Oppa and I do on the bed at night?”

“No, not that. Don’t ever tell others about that one.”

“Tsk. I want to combine and evolve with you, Oppa…”

Raihan was looking at Evan with a peculiar expression, who was sighing and thinking that perhaps the knowledge on combined evolution was too early for Serena.

“So, how long do you think it’ll take before Gnar reaches his final form?”

“I think normal monsters won’t do it. It would be great if one of those gargoyles that regenerate infinitely appears again.”

“Such monsters don’t appear often. Moreover…”

Evan took a look at the seeker and let out a deep voice. After the seeker was created, it was upgraded as it was periodically used to find and attack rifts, so an approximate time frame until the next rift appeared could be now predicted.

“I don’t think the rifts will appear for a while. Maybe it’s because we dealt with it fast every time it appeared…so, I think it will be great to visit dungeons at this time.”

“Will there be monsters in the dungeon that Gnar can eat?”

“Do you plan on bringing it with you?”

“Its abilities are somewhat maintained even in the sealed state so that this child can protect himself!”

―Kyuuuuu!

Gnar vigorously cried as if it was supporting the confident statement made by Serena. Well, it was understandable since it just gained a bunch of mana after eating Melotis’ body which was flowing with ancient mana.

‘Dragons are an overpowered race for being able to absorb the mana and the knowledge of the ancient monsters just by eating them.’

If the rifts didn’t appear, Gnar wouldn’t have been able to grow so fast in that short of a time, but Gnar wouldn’t have existed in this world if rifts didn’t appear, so this speculation was meaningless.

“Dungeons…”

Gnar couldn’t grow by eating any monster, but fused monsters from the deep floors might strike a chance. All of them except the boss monster of the 100th floor wouldn’t suffice, perhaps…

“There won’t be any undead because of Merdin’s blockade. Or maybe it would have become more difficult because of it…”

“Oppa?”

Evan already knew that eliminating Merdin in the deep floors’ fusing process wouldn’t necessarily lower the monsters’ difficulties. The same applied from the sand whale and the lunatic sirens. And he speculated that the same would apply to the hidden boss of the 100th floor. In that case, it would have become too strong for any character in the game to defeat it. It would sound funny to say this, but nobody except Evan could beat it, perhaps. Among the notorious hidden bosses in the Yo-Ma Great War series, it is considered one of the top two, along with the boss of the 95th floor.

‘On the other hand, eliminating and consuming it would make Gnar strong for sure. Okay, the scenario is perfect.’

The hidden bosses of the 95th and 100th floor have the characteristic of not respawning after they were slained. They need to be hunted sooner for the explorers’ safety, who would challenge themselves in the future.

“Great, then let’s tag Gnar along.”

“Yup!”

“Master, all dropped items were collected.”

“And the rift disappeared completely.”

After confirming that the site had been completely cleaned up, Evan returned to Sherden right away with his members. But surprisingly, a guest was waiting for him.

“Nice to meet you, Master. I’m Elliot, the guild master of Sacred.”

“Oh.”

Perhaps because he wasn’t allowed to enter the Astray HQ in Evan’s absence, he waited in front of the building and bowed down politely as he saw Evan, which made him recall Yo-Ma Great War 4 after a long time.

‘His cooperation allowed me to clear the notorious Yo-Ma Great War 4, no matter what. Sometimes he partied up with the main character.’

Yo-Ma Great War 4 also had the dungeon city as its background, so new guilds appeared along with those who played significant roles in Yo-Ma Great War 3, and only Sacred took their ground in Sherden earlier than the time shown in the game. Evan remembered when he did a background check on them in case they were related to the main character of Yo-Ma Great War 4, but nothing helpful came out, so they were left alone. Since then, they had been diligently exploring the dungeon without causing any problems, nor did they associate themselves with the ‘villains’.

“Whoa.”

Anyways, this guild master Elliot looked similar to the CG shown in the game, and his abilities looked superb. Perhaps strong enough to fight with Save on equal footing.…well, only if Save’s basic training extended for another year with the raised difficulty, he might have become stronger than this guy! It’s just that there wasn’t enough time—the time!

“You really are as beautiful as the people say, Master. Alongside this fierce aura, I started to admire you at first sight.”

Elliot’s eyes sparkled as he finished speaking. Evan took a half step back while thinking, ‘Come to think of it…’ and nodded. The background of this guy stated that he was bisexual.

“I didn’t come to harm you. I’m just taking a huge interest in you.”

“I’d like to refuse with overwhelming kindness…anyway, what’s the purpose of your visit?”

“I came to hear your advice on exploring the deep levels. I’ll show my gratitude no matter what if you bestow me with such grace.”

It was quite an interesting statement aside from whether Evan would advise them or not. Well, he knew that his guild was exploring the dungeon faster than any other large guilds such as the Phoenix Guild or the Graken Guild…

“What’s the last floor you have reached so far?”

“65th floor. Haha, the mud monsters were too difficult to handle, so we had to exit before having a look at the boss monster.”

Fast. That was the only word that came to mind. It wasn’t a lie. He knew information that only those who have reached the 65th floor of the fused dungeon knows, like about mud monsters. The sub-party led by Louis was still exploring the deep floors, but perhaps his guild’s progress could be faster. Evan was lost in thought with his visitor in front of him. Elliot was staring at Evan as if he were trying to carve his image to his retinas. That’s when Belois, who was feeling unpleasant with the visitor’s gaze, was about to pierce that man’s eyes with flame thorns.

“Well, I can give you a word or two of advice.”

“Wonderful!”

Evan nodded when everyone would have expected him to refuse. Elliot tried to hold Evan’s hands while shouting in delight…but his action was denied by Shine and Belois, who stepped in.

“Don’t touch Master.”

“Ah, I’m sorry. It was out of joy…”

“Don’t overreact, Shine. Anyway, we need to talk a bit. Let’s go somewhere more appropriate.”

“Oh my, I wanted to see where you spend your time.”

“We are the only ones allowed to enter the Astray HQ. I can allow you to enter it if you will disband your guild and enter ours.”

“That is quite a blow.”

Evan instructed his members as he smiled bitterly at Elliot, who was exaggeratedly displaying his sorrow with drooped shoulders.

“Everyone, get inside and take a break. Only Belois will follow me.”

“Understood.”

A hint on clearing the dungeon suddenly appeared…the other members can’t seem to take a liking to a man who was requesting information incomparable with any amount of wealth. Everyone glowered at him once, but then stepped inside. Shine glared at Elliot’s crotch as he whispered to Evan.

“That bastard sure is a pervert. He set his eyes on you, Master.”

“I was curious about what made him exaggerate. Don’t worry about my chastity and just wait for me.”

“I’ll have to first explain to Belois on how to end his life as a man effectively…”

“Just go inside.”

And maybe Belois knew well about such methods. After having all his members step inside, Evan offered to lead him to a nearby café. While staring at Elliot from behind, who was leading the way brightly, Evan mumbled to himself.

“I guess DLC for Yo-Ma Great War 4 came out without my knowledge. No, perhaps for the fifth series?”

“Master?”

“It’s nothing significant, so don’t worry, Lua. Moreover.”

Evan briefly requested Belois, who gathered and maintained her mana to its maximum level, to keep a watch on Elliot.

“I’ll have to meet with the head of the exchange shop. Right after parting with Elliot.”

“Understood, I’ll have that prepared.”

Belois nodded and finished her mana-channeled communication on that spot. A sour expression saying something must have happened came along as well. Evan poked her swollen cheek to let out the wind while giggling quietly.

“Later.”

“You know I trust you.”

The meeting with Elliot ended thirty minutes after. Elliot gained the information he was looking for and offered Evan an artifact. Evan gained what he wanted as well, so it was a very satisfactory deal.