Evan D. Sherden, Encountered Anomaly (1)

The night before entering the dungeon, Evan visited the High Elf Mirole to ask her opinion about the Mana Realms future rift.

Mirole, do you have some time?

Leader? Why are you looking for me?

Im sorry, Ive wanted to talk to you

It sounded like she was blaming Evan for something, but Evan replied back as if he was making excuses. Mirole grinned, shook her head, and let him into her room.

I know youre always busy. I didnt mean to blame you for anything.

Id appreciate it if you thought so.

Evans eyes turned to the cape hanging on the wall. Yes, it was a cape specially made for the Astray Knights, and it was made of Red Dragon leather. Mirole only received one cape after all the other knights finished receiving their items and weapons made from the by-product of the Dragon.

Are you sure thats enough for you?

Thats enough. I already have plenty of tools for fighting.

She was right. Immediately, Evan remembered seeing the bracelet she was wearing in the Yo-Ma Great War Zero. It was one of the final pieces of equipment. Since the enemys level was already higher than that of the other series, the artifacts quality was improved. At that time, the words new age or ancient was attached to artifacts to symbolize their strong power.

And probablyit was a final piece of equipment dedicated to Mirole, who had the option of restoring and increasing the spirits as well as amplifying their power of archery. Its not easy to receive it, but the great ancient magicians in this world mustve been very active in her early days.

Indeed, there is no way that the world would remain as it was now if the Great Magicians didnt play an active role at that time. In any case, Mirole would be wearing only the items that she acquired in working with those ancient magicians. It wouldve been difficult to create anything that transcended that artistry, no matter how good the Dragons materials were.

But an apology is owed to you.

Im satisfied enough with this cape. Im glad youve accepted me as a true member of the Knights.

Evan felt guilty because Miroles words sounded like a devoted girlfriend who always cherished the cheap ring she received from her flirty boyfriend.

Oh, but

Mirole laughed at Evans unnecessary guilt.

Theres something Id like to ask from you someday.

If its something that I can give to you

Can I tell you later? I dont think you can afford it right now. Ill wait patiently for a while.

Well.

Thats weird. Evan thought the atmosphere was getting a little odd again. He hurriedly changed the subject by shaking his head to deny the pinkish atmosphere that was spreading around him.

The truth is, Im here to see if you know anything about ancient creatures like the dragon we met before.

Youre talking about beings like Behemoths and Cyclops.

Yes, I think its only a matter of time before they show up like the Dragon. The Dragon already had eggs, too. Considering the time it takes a dragon to produce eggs, it wouldnt be odd even if I thought they are already flying around somewhere

But I dont think you have to worry too much about it.

Strangely, when Evan opened his eyes to the Miroles mysterious appearance, she laughed and talked about the problem that Evan had forgotten until now.

Leader, do you know how great the curse youre carrying is?

There was speculation that Mirole knew about Evans curse. Considering the abilities she had shown as a High Elf, there was no way she couldnt have noticed the existence of a curse that even Evans other acquaintances had seen. However, why was she talking about the curse right now? Evan replied while tilting his head.

Yes, of course. The world itself has come to crush me but I had somehow weakened it with my curse resistance. Now, its just a little bit of malice that sometimes bothers me.

And thats why Evans acquaintances would never leave him alone. Now that the curse has weakened, of course, there were only minor side effects like his chair suddenly collapsing or a sharp tip trying to poke him in the eye, but others hated the idea of Evan being exposed to even such minor discomforts. So, if Belois, Shine, or Diona, werent available, Arisha always stood by Evan and quickly stopped every little misfortune that descended upon him.

Yes, Ive been watching their lovely struggle. Sometimes I wanted to helpbut did you think that the world curse would be suppressed that much?

Uh

To be honest, it was a blind spot. He never thought about that. As he listened to Mirole, Evan felt stunned. It was a hallucination that the great evil of the world that he thought completely suppressed climbed up from under his feet again to devour him. He blinked, and there was only the High Elf quietly watching him.

Do you mean that I have something to do with the rifts in the world?

I didnt want to tell you, but yes, probably.

But Mirole firmly nodded.

When youre ready to face the facts in person, I was going to discuss it with you. And I think its time.

No, but howUh, no, how

Even if he wanted to deny it, the story was so well matched that he couldnt argue. Of course, it was related to Merdins blockade, which coincided with the Demon Invasion three years ago, but

I dont think so. The Demon King doesnt have the power to control the Mana Realm.

Yes, you know it, too. They will be moving separately. Of course, it was the cause of the worlds curse.

I remember that. Surely that was just a coincidence

On the day of the Demon Invasion, Geffrel arrived here only to break down Sherden. Evan and the others confronted the early arrival of Yo-Ma Great War 4s scenario. Even Serenas existence was unexpected for the Heavenly King. Evans contact with Geffrel was certainly the reason for the worlds curse, but it was also clear that he never attacked Sherden for that purpose. More than anything, he tried to curse Evan as if he had realized something! In other words, there was no connection between the movement of the Demons and the rifts in the Mana world.

Lets talk about it now. The world has given Master Evan a curse that screws up the cause and effect. Of course, you succeeded in resisting the curse, but it wasnt perfect, and the curse is still affecting the world.

In the form of a rift.

Yes.

Evan was amazed and ended up with a bitter smile on his face. At this point, it could only be said that Evan in the game had a huge secret. Because Evan realized his past life and succeeded in resisting the curse, there was the Demon King, the only one whos supposed to run wild, and the rift in the Mana world! Of course, that doesnt mean he was going to accept the curse and die. If he died, there was no way he could close that rift!

But why on earth would a curse be so great that it would dictate the fate of the world to me?

Im sure youll find out for yourself shortly. Until then, I will assist you and be by your side.

Ha.

He agonized over his fate. Did he tell Mirole right after he discovered the existence of a previous rift? Knowing these things would happen, she came to Evan, the strongest man on earth, and tried to work things out for himand there, she nodded. But it was clear that Mirole was looking for the source of the rifts opening in the Mana world.

How foolish I must have been.

Even though he didnt know what he did, he was a fool who said, You are here to help me because Im the strongest! It was a dark history that could kill him immediately.

Well, boss. I think you misunderstood again.

No, theres no misunderstandings.

Evan replied to her in a firm voice. Now he was aware of the facts. But why did she have to come to him again? Was it possible that this High Elf abandoned her long-standing love and came to Evan? He couldnt consider such a delusion!

What?

Evan, who was fiercely criticizing himself, suddenly stopped. He realized that he was in the middle of telling an important story.

But didnt you say its something we dont have to worry about, Mirole?

Yes, thats what I said.

Thats very strange. Ive heard that the rifts are happening because of me, so I thought the situations would be worse

There are two reasons.

Mirole lifted two fingers and folded one of them. Maybe it was just his feeling, but the way she looked at Evan seemed softer. It was the look you gave a loverNo, he was mistaken!

First, its because Master Evan has great resistance to the curse.

Uh, I meanso as long as I hold the curse, suddenly the Behemoths arent going to break down the country?

At least for the time being.

He didnt want to hear the back of that possibility. With Evans agonized look, she folded the other finger with a small smile.

Secondly, because this curse, after all, is targeted towards Master Evan.

That means.

Think about it. When a dragon appears in the seal, there is usually a much bigger commotion than this. But there wasnt. The Dragon was hiding in the dungeon and raising eggs calmly, then met us and was destroyed. You see how astronomical the odds are, right?

I know what youre trying to say.

No matter how much the curse of the world twisted the worlds fate, it means that there would be no cracks in places unrelated to Evan. But there was an error there, too.

The Dragon didnt come to me; I went to the dragon, right? Moreover, the Dragon seemed to have destroyed other explorers where it originally stayed.

I assure you, thats just a minor error compared to the great work of the Dragon.

There was nothing to say about it. Even if an explorer died, how many more explorers had perished elsewhere? Whats more, Evan visited the DragonOn the contrary, Evan was destined to go there, so it could be said that the Dragon appeared there.

I dont like to talk about fate, cause, and effect

Youre breaking it, arent you? The rifts in the Mana world, in a way, are a symbol of your great resistance.

Ah.

Evan sighed deeply and asked her again.

So that means the rifts will continue to appear in places where Im related to?

I dont know everything either, but I think so. Anyway, you dont have to suffer from guilt that you might destroy the world.

No, I dont feel guilty.

Evan suddenly spoke with a straight face.

If it werent for me, this world wouldnt have been able to stand the Demon King and wouldve eventually collapsed. So, if the world doesnt take this risk, it would be already gone.

Well, I cant deny that. Without you, the human race would have been destroyed.

At Evans words, Mirole smiled again and nodded. The High Elfs smile was so attractive that even Evan was embarrassed, but Evan overcame her charm with an iron heart because he was determined not to be mistaken again.

Huh, I came to discuss it with a light heart, and then I heard a truth that was heavier than I imagined. ButI feel refreshed.

Dont worry too much. If you look at what the world has done to bring you death, you dont have to worry about it.

Yes, youre right.

To Mirole, who put such bold words in her mouth, Evan replied with a big grin.

.

Lets upgrade our knights gear using that.

It was a conversation two nights before they entered the deep dungeon, beyond the 51st floor, which had been reversed since the Great Change.