Evan D. Sherden, Manipulated Scenarios (2)

Ill report it to you.

Shine, who came in with a thin file in his arms, politely spoke up. His regular reporting time was one of the few times he was courteous to Evan.

Lets start with a report on the Ironwall KnightsMaster.

Why?

Here.

Shine tapped around his neck. Evan looked down at his neck and immediately stiffened.

Didnt you say that rest is only at night?

Ive only been with her for a while, having dinner and resting. Just a little while ago

The traces that Belois left on Evans neck disappeared about 30 seconds later because they couldnt withstand Evans natural healing power. Perhaps his high natural healing power was responsible for Belois desire for a challenge.

Its even more surprising that she broke through your defenses in the first place.

HmmI dont do defense checks on all approaches that dont harm me. Didnt I explain that principle before?

So, youll have to be careful from now on. Im glad I found it. If it were Maybell, the entire headquarters mightve been turned upside down.

Ill be careful.

Evan nodded at Shines sincere words and sighed. Belois had grown up much earlier than other rookie children, but since Evan found her in the slave market, she had been living only for Evan with a hard-hearted attitude. Evan didnt know she could joke, and now she had been playing these tricks

Lua. She knows me, but she does it intentionally. Maybe it was true that she wanted to feel superior to the other girls.

Shes like that, isnt she? I can see that you like Belois the most. I wouldve been mad if I were Belois. Since Arisha was an aristocrat, she has been your fianc for a long time.

Evan, of course, was terrible at hiding his feelings, so that would have been too much, to begin with.

So, let her be for a while. Now shes at the peak of her life, so shes just a little excited. Sooner or later, she will calm down.

Illshe is so cute even when she does that.

I see youre enjoying it, too.

Shine was smiling, and Evan knocked on the desk to urge him to report. Shine read the report after taking a deep breath.

There is no indication of an internal split in the Ironwall Knights. Welfare, which was implemented nine years ago at your suggestion, is continuing without any problems. There are no other signs that you were worried about, including wizards and shrines, and even ordinary soldiers.

Yeah, Ive always believed. Then, how about the collateral line?

Very good.

Really?

Yes.

Are you sure?

Yes, at this point, Im sure Ive got the colors of their wives underwear by sending too many missives.

Evans forehead was wrinkled. Shine was slightly taken aback as Evans response was different from what he had expected.

No, you know it too. With the purge from the Demon Invasion three years ago, they dont dare to cross the line.

But.

And they dont have to go against it. With Astrays power, explorers arent considering overcoming the nobilitys authority, and simply getting some tips from the Brotherhood Corporation is enough to benefit the Marquis and the collateral families. They dont have to be greedy because they can live a luxurious life as capital noblemen in the capital city.

More technically, even if they wanted to be greedy, they wouldnt be able to. Evan, the strongest officially, perhaps the worlds strongest unofficially, had his eyes open wide. How could they think about deceiving the eyes of their immediate family and taking care of their interests? It could be different if there were only Evan, but he held the Astray Knights leadership, who could turn a city upside down with just one person, and Evan was also Maybells master, the chairwoman of Brotherhood Corporation. So, if they had any forethought, they would have to hide their breath and live there calmly.

I cant see a scenario where a main story villain, or even an ordinary villain, would pop out in Sherden.

Today, Sherden was a place where corruption couldnt exist. Everyone was under Evans control, so it was hard to find a thief, let alone a villain who had appeared in the game! In terms of security, it had become a great city where everyone could live their daily lives with confidence. It was lightyears away from the chaotic space where light and darkness coexisted, and the future changed depending on the players choice!

Such a situation made it hard for Save and his group to grow organically.

Thats why theres less chance for the main character to grow since I cant just give him an item for free.

WellMaster? It seems to me that youre already giving him too much.

Its nothing. We need to make him grow faster, but if I went any further, I thought he would be deeply involved with Astray, so I gave up.

Evan was trying to support Save on the premise that he wouldnt have direct contact with him. That was why his disciple Princess Louise Merdin was considered an apprentice.

But Save is a little dangerous. I agree with not wanting to meet him in person.

Yes, and now that we have a new danger coming, we need an elite party to keep the Demon King and the Demon races in check, replacing us who will be busy in the future. Im going to give Saves party such an honor.

It was called multi in game terminology. It was necessary to create and manage several parties according to the level of difficulty of the enemy. It was the right-man-in-the-right- place strategy. Louise wouldnt become an official member of Astray until the Demon King was defeated. It was hard enough that the prerequisite of joining the Knights was to defeat the Demon King. But this was the situation for the time being.

That means you need someone, an agent of sorts, to induce that partys progress without exposing yourself.

Yeah, thats what I mean. I wish there were villains, but I cant help it if we dont have one

So far, Evan had supported in many ways through Louise, but most of them were passive and indirect. He couldnt offer a direct request or set specific goals, so he could only use Louise to meddle a little in their training method.

I think they would follow you if you told them what to do, Master.

If Evan didnt want to meet Save that much, Shine couldnt help it. He sighed and suggested an alternative.

Then Ill set up an agent. An agent with a hypothetical scenario.

Scenario?

Yeah

Agent, agent

A great idea popped up in Evans mind. Shines idea seemed very plausible.

Yes, why was I so anxious to find a villain that doesnt exist? The results will be more perfect if I make the right fake!

Yes, villains, good characters, scenariosfrom activities in the dungeon city to the dispatch of nearby cities to the capital, to trade with foreign countries, to the conquest of a dungeon, and even taking down the Demon King, I can pave the way!

UhI think youre taking this too seriously.

Shine was stiff. He just thought they could create an agent to direct the Save Party instead of Evan. What did Evan mean when he said to pave the way?

Ive memorized the scenarios of Yo-Ma Great War 3 anyway. We can make up characters and fill the gaps. I can invest the necessary funds! All right, lets get started!

Master?

Evan!

It was just when Evan made a slightly dangerous decision that his office door burst open, and someone came in. Usually, there should be a maid guarding the front

Oh, Mother Miriam? Whats going on?

What have you done to my daughter, Evan?

Miriam, who came close with her red hair flying, cried out and slammed Evans desk. Evan had done so many things to Elizabeth that he was still thinking about what to say first. After seeing Evan agonize, the face of the second wife of Marquis Soline Sherden, distorted in an expression like a demon.

My daughter is breaking a dragon statue in the garden with two ugly blunt weapons! She dances around with a scary morning star in each hand that even the knights cant lift easily!

Liz is doing well.

Evan, Liz is only seven years old!

Thats right. At that age, she shouldnt be able to master such a great weapon skill only with effort. Isnt Liz amazing?

No, thats not what I wanted for my daughter!

Shine, who was listening quietly, sympathized with Miriam. She then spent a long time talking about Elizabeths remarkable performance, regarding Evan with a weary face.

SoEvan, hows Lizs morality class going?

Well

Evan couldnt honestly tell Miriam that he had spent most of his time investing in her weapon skill education and physical training. Evan slipped away from Miriams red eyes.

Im about to get started, Mother Miriam. Ill at least teach her to avoid any embarrassment.

Youre a fast talkerI cant let it be this way. Evan, Liz needs common sense more than anything else right now!

Dont worry. Shes my sister, so I have to teach her well.

Can I believe it?

The red-haired beauty looked at Evan with suspicion. Evans eyes flashed.

Well, Miriam was one of the main villains of Yo-Ma Great War 3.

Miriam had red hair, red eyes, gorgeous and overwhelming beauty. She had bitter spite and resentment in her and had boldly used the Marquis resources to please herself! She was a wicked woman who even the Demon King would give up on in the game. The couples relationship was perfect now, though, after Elizabeths birth. It was completely different from the game, but her appearance was still the same. Instead, she was more beautiful now than the illustrations in the game. Thus, if she managed her facial expression a little bit, the atmosphere would be better.

Mother Miriam, could you do me a favor? I think we can better execute Lizs morality class.

What?

Miriams ears pricked. Evan declared with a rugged look, facing Miriam.

Please be Sherdens dark secret, Mother Miriam.