Chapter 171: Evan D. Sherden, Execute Human Supplementation Plan (1)
Evan D. Sherden, Execute Human Supplementation Plan (1)
Three days after leaving the Duke’s territory, Evan and his party returned to the city as quietly as they had left…rather, it was supposed to be quiet, but people wouldn’t let them be. It was strange from the moment the carriage entered the street, and there were dozens of people lined up side by side in wait for them with decorations prepared in the garden of the mansion.
“Master Evan came back!”
“The hero’s triumphant return!”
“Great work, my son!”
“Evan, I heard you fought against the Great Flood! I should have gone to help
you…!”
People from the Marquis’s family came out one after another, repeatedly tossing Evan, hugging him, and carrying him on their backs.
“Evan, Evan!”
“Master!”
“No, look at Evan’s haggard face! The Duchy of Leonine is such a poor place for handling guests!”
Even though he was not a nine-year-old child anymore, Evan was still considered a baby to them. His family hugged him one by one until Evan became exhausted. He didn’t want them to kiss him.
“I’m really fine. I’ve just been active.”
“That’s why I’m worried! I’ve caught Leonine! They just borrowed foreign forces to protect themselves. I will protest it strongly later!”
“Hey, everybody, get out of the way. Evan, what the h.e.l.l is going on with the rumor that you’re an arch-mage?”
Evan had barely freed himself from his father and brother’s arms, who were very angry at the Duke for daring to utilize Evan. He breathed a deep sigh as he hugged his mother.
“It’s just a rumor, Mother.”
“So, what did you do?”
“You don’t believe in your second son at all, mother…”
“You can fool others, but you can’t fool your mother, Evan.”
“Ask Belois. Belois!”
“Ah.”
Since Evan had to report about the witch, he tossed the ball to Belois standing behind him.
“Yes, then I have no choice but to hear about it from Belois.”
“Dear master…”
Now they would talk about the witch. Belois, caught by the Maquis’ wife, stared blankly at Evan, but he tried to ignore her gaze.
“Evan, give me a hug!”
“Yes, Liz. How are you?”
“I’m fine! Evan, how are you?”
“Of course, I’m fine.”
“Masterrrrrr!”
Evan embraced Elizabeth, who was in the second wife Miriam’s arms, and was greeted by the other servants as he shook off Maybell’s enthusiastic greeting. One might think Evan was their master by their reactions, but Evan was indeed only the second master.
“Maybell, how’s Elisha? I’m glad everyone else is looking healthy.”
The names that Evan memorized were only that of Maybell and Elisha, who had been together since childhood, and he called the rest of the maids by the number of Evan’s Death Scenes in the Yo-Ma Great War game. It was a measure he had taken to raise his awareness whenever it relaxed.
“You’re all too loud. Some might think I’ve been away for years.”
“It’s been almost a month. You should also consider that I haven’t seen you in such a long time!”
“Maybell, don’t do that. You’re scary when you’re serious. And leave your evening free.”
At that moment, Maybell clenched her fists. Perhaps because of the mood, the people around them seemed to flinch away a little. Evan belatedly realized there was room for some misunderstanding in his words.
“…Would you say that again?”
“Ah…so, I mean, I have instructions for you.”
“No, you don’t have to tell me. Yes, you’re old enough! Finally!”
“No, it’s about business. Business.”
Now that they had decided to support Anastasia, he needed to talk more about it with co-CEO Maybell. Maybell would probably be going on a business trip to the Duke’s territory.
“Yes, it’s business. Business! Marriage is a great business. Well, I have to go get a ma.s.sage right now, so…”
“I don’t know where you’re getting the ma.s.sage, but if you touch me today, I’ll vote for your dismissal as the representative.”
“Ah!”
Evan blamed Maybell, who was trying to make some preparations for her misunderstanding, and then he chased her away for now. Looking around, he noticed the members of the Dungeon Knights were on the side of the Dungeon Knights Headquarters building. He would see them when they were done in the evening. Nodding, Evan called out his father.
“…Dad, brother, I’d like to talk to you about something with Grandpa Leo and the knights.”
“Lord Leo and the Knight Commander? Hoo… is it important?”
“Yes.”
Today, they were going to have a party to celebrate Evan’s performance in the Leonine Territory, but looking into his son’s eyes, he didn’t think that would be happening. His brother nodded.
“I’ll have to get my seat ready right away.”
“I beg you.”
Evan bowed his head and looked around him to the crowd around him, thinking that until now, they had tried to ignore it, but after opening his eyes in Leonine, he felt a huge difference between the way they were in the game and in reality.
‘The a.s.sumption that one day they grow to be like they were in the game doesn’t mean anything anymore. I have to make that happen. No, I have to make them better than they were in the game!’
The Human Supplementation Plan. At this rate, he would be trampled in vain by Demon King (this was Evan’s delusion, anyway). It was the special measure Evan had devised to save the human race.
Evan placed the report he had prepared in the carriage on the table. The Marquis and Leo looked over the t.i.tle and laughed.
“A plan to supplement humanity.”
“The name is flashy for once.”
“Read it for now.”
Evan took out a pre-prepared copy and handed it to all the members present. The content was not too long or difficult to understand, so they could quickly read and organize it in their heads quickly.
“So…”
Leo tapped lightly on the t.i.tle of “Human Supplementation Plan.”
“Don’t you mean you’re going to apply that special training method in the Dungeon Knights to more people? That’s the gist of the Human Supplementation Plan.”
“Of course, you won’t be able to keep up with it as it is. Starting with talent, everyone is different. But we already possess a universal reinforcement plan that’s less affected by talent.”
Since the worldview of the Yo-Ma Great War series was so wide, and there were many unique characters, many of the players, including Yeo Ban-min in his previous life, liked to experiment with different ways of playing. Among them, the most popular one was “If I Were the Marquis.” Because he was the owner of Dungeon City, there were many possible scenarios about him that had gained popularity. Among them, there was an interesting idea of raising the Marquis to face the Demon King directly, but the most realistic option was to foster a strong army.
‘In fact, if it weren’t for Demon King, he would have had no problem declaring his own kingdom. He’s distinguished among the Dungeon City lords, whether you consider military, finance, or art.’
The plan called for fostering the forces of the dungeon city by utilizing the command and financial power of the Marquis and the artifacts acc.u.mulated in his warehouse. Although there were many obstacles, Evan prepared an abbreviated report citing only the most realistic and easy practices.
“That’s it.”
“Huh… looks like it doesn’t make any sense at a glance, but it does. There’s actually a case where these practices have been reinforced over and over again.”
“That’s right; it’s the secret of the Dungeon Knights. So this is what you’ve been keeping secret.”
“Yes…”
“I was doing Evan’s advice. I can’t fully understand what I’ve been through with my own body, but I can tell you it’s definitely effective.”
Leo, an orthodox warrior, and Mikhail, who had been training with Evan’s advice, sounded embarra.s.sed.
“We have to spread it to people who are really trustworthy gradually. It’s really dangerous as it is, Father.”
“Did you see something new in the midst of the great flood?”
“Yes, I met a very dangerous type of monster this time.”
Evan decided to hold back the Devil Rune’s name for now, although the mutant monster was due to be a serious problem in the period of the fifth game or later.
“It’s as dangerous as the Mahwa. No, maybe more dangerous than them. I’m suggesting this because I thought the Dungeon Knights wouldn’t be enough to stop them.”
“More than the Mahwa…”
“Should I report to His Majesty the King?”
“No, the royal family has too many eyes and ears upon them. The content in this report is obviously great, but it is dangerous as it is. If it were to fall into enemy hands…”
It is not a plan to supplement mankind, but rather a plan for humanity’s survival. If Evan had been Prince Damien, he would have been capable of more, but there was nothing he could do.
“That is, this is a plan to strengthen the Marquis’ forces and at the same time…”
“It’s also a plan to build and strengthen an alliance that you can trust.”
“Please, I have to.”
That’s it. The heart of Evan’s plan was to strengthen their forces first to defend the dungeon city thoroughly and to secure reliable allies and talents around them in preparation for the upcoming war.
“If this is your will, I will follow it. Our knights and soldiers will trust and follow
you.”
“It’s going to be a long-term project. How many people in the world can you trust completely…?”
“But we’ll have to. It’s a great plan that, even if you take into account a certain amount of failure, will result in humanity’s progress.”
“It’s not human progress, but…”
Perhaps the Marquis was planning a great future with the use of Evan’s report. Evan thought it was enough to attract other dungeon cities to their side at best! Ever since Evan’s previous investment had hit the jackpot, the Marquis tended to take Evan’s words as if they were a sign from G.o.d.
“But Evan, then why did you call me here?”
Leo, who had been excluded from the conversation between them, poked Evan as he felt a sense of alienation. Evan nodded as if he had only just remembered.
“Because I’m going to say that all of the training methods in this report are created by hero Leo Arpeta. That’s why I need your consent. You’ll sign it, please?”
“You’re going to hide like that!”
Evan spoke enthusiastically to Leo, who was surprised by the unexpected plan.
“It’s a lot more natural than that way! It’s a great chance to pay for your meal by lending me your name this once!”
“You d.a.m.n b.a.s.t.a.r.d?! When did I ever train such a disciple? No! At least I can’t admit it!”
“Grandpa.”
“Well, what is it?”
Suddenly Evan looked at Leo with seriousness, and Leo met him with the same look in his eyes.
“Let’s make a bet.”
“What bet?”
“Duel. If I win, please allow me to use your name on the training method that will be distributed to the soldiers and knights. If I lose, I’ll grant you a wish.”
“Huh. Free compet.i.tion?”
“Yes, with both sides fighting fairly and with all their might.”
Was Evan going to beat Leo in a free compet.i.tion without any strings attached? How dare you face the best of mankind? Leo admired the proposal rather than marveled at it, as it was quite different from Evan’s normal att.i.tude in claiming himself to be weak. He must have really gone through a major change of thought while he was in the Duchy.
“It’s good that you’ve gained confidence, but… isn’t it too different?”
“I have several cards that you don’t know about.”
“The same goes for me.”
Of course, he knew. Evan was the player that brought Leo Arpeta to the limit in the second game. He knew both his patterns and skills. He has also figured out how he had actually developed his abilities in this world through the trials. Even if he had a few more hidden skills, they could be easily accounted for. It was a secret card that could surpa.s.s the gap in their skills by several levels. Leo didn’t know about it.
“Okay, that confidence is enough to make you the apprentice of this Leo Arpeta. But the bet is a bet, so I need a condition. If you lose… that’s right, you’re going to travel with me for a year.”
“That sounds fun, too.”
When Leo stood up from his seat, Evan followed him. All of those sitting by were surprised by the sudden confrontation, but all of them wanted to watch the battle between Evan and Leo, so they had no intention of leaving.
“Let’s go, then. Find a suitable place out of sight.”
“Yes, Lord Leo.”
“Evan, are you sure you’re gonna be okay?”
“Yes, it’s all right. I’ve already been preparing for this.”
Yes. Perhaps since he recognized the reality of the world, from the moment, he realized that Leo was neither pretending to be weak nor old. He was simply just behind the Leo Arpeta in the game. Evan had been preparing for this moment
‘It’s not just to borrow Leo’s name. To make Leo take this training seriously…/ need to beat my grandfather once.
Only
If it had been a real battle, he would not have been this active. Leo was a hero who eventually defeated Demon King’s alter ego and defeated the Rose Queen in spite of the unfavorable conditions that he had to overcome. It was impossible for an extra like Evan to dare to attack him. Because of this, Evan was determined to show everything of himself without backing down. At least he wouldn’t die.
“…What?”
“Let’s get started.”
That meant he could take off those boots.
“Evan, you…”
“Grandpa, I’m going to show you how scary it is. This will be a one-time limited trick.”
The battle was won without a problem.
The Human Supplementary Plan was implemented on the very next day.