Evan D. Sherden, A Disparate Trace (2)

Its been a while, Master.

It sure has, chief. Maybell does the work for me when it comes to looking for a person.

The chief of exchange stopped admiring the tea offered by Belois and smiled bitterly.

Ms. Maybellno, Viscount Maybells abilities are just too good. Id love to lead my men to serve her, but she informed me that its better to have a guerrilla force for emergencies. I was impressed by such words.

Maybell was smart from the start; its just that she uses that knowledge for something weird.

Hahahait was your ability to appoint her to the right place for her to demonstrate her abilities to the fullest. Like such

He smiled lightly at Belois after she offered the tea then quietly took up post behind Evan. As he still remembered Belois when she was young, he grew dumbfounded whenever he saw the new Belois, who was nothing like her past self.

It was also your ability to have Madam Belois and Sir Shine to become the best magician and warrior of the city, respectively.

Thats because those two have the best talents.

Hahaha, I believe the same compliments will go on. Would it be all right for me to ask you the reason for meeting me?

Evan nodded a little and looked at Belois. As she lifted her hand and flicked a finger, suddenly, the entire place was silenced.

It must be an important matter.

Its especially important. Chief, do you remember my request for searching a person like this before?

The chief of the exchange nodded without the slightest hesitation. He brought all data relevant to that person just in case since he was told that Evan was looking for him.

Ive been periodically collecting data by dispatching people ever since then. Ive also been looking for the children of the god along with that man, but as you know, I wasnt able to find a new child since thenId like to apologize on that part.

Its all right. Youve done enough. But you see, you werent able to find a single person of the god race after acquiring information on a child named Name, were you?

Thats rightdid something happen in between?

As the chief of the exchange was a wise man, he realized what Evan was trying to say. Evan didnt beat around the bush and nodded at the question.

Perhaps. Im currently doubting. Well, it doesnt make any sense not being able to find a single person. And more questions are coming from the death of the child named Name.

So, you are saying the other forces found them first, right?

Yes, thats what I think.

Evan added that such was something possible.

So, in order to prove the truth behind my doubts, I need your help, chief. Id like you to thoroughly check on the collected information and send people to the sites to gather more detailed information.

All data is here. I can ready my men right away.

As expected from you and your fast handling of work. Ah, before your men leave, please let me meet with them once.

As you wish, Master.

The chief replied gallantly and laid down the data on the table, but he asked a question after suddenly becoming worried.

Perhaps this is related to the events that are happening within this city?

No, its not. But there might be some involvement soon.

I understood. Theres a possibility that they are here

Even if they are not here, I believe they can come here anytime.

The chief wasnt able to completely understand what Evan said. It was a common thing. It was information known to a minority, even among those who knew about the dungeons depth. Anyone who wasnt a gamer wouldnt know about it for sure

Whew, I dont like the feeling of everything happening with me as its center

Im not surprised to hear that.

Madam Belois is saying the right thing.

Come on, really.

He wanted to live peacefully in a peaceful world where nobody bullied him, so why was everyone bothering him this much? Especially the damned Devil, Evan was very irritated with the thought that it might be soon when he was able to see his face personally.

Should I consider it as something good? I have a lot of questions for the Devil anyway

This misfortune had been affecting him slightly even now. The curse of the world and the main culprit behind the rifts. It was a fact that such couldnt be solved through fighting the Demon King. Then the key would be the Devil, and Evan finally found a relevant trace with the Devil.

I should not stop strengthening myself if I want to return in one piece after fighting with the remnant or the shadow of whatever the Devil is.

Squash

Evan popped the slime in his hand and stood up. Thanks to summoning the transcended slimes due to one of the jewels having a light on it, Evan started to know what it felt like to kill about thirty slimes without a sound in just one hand.

You still keep on doing that.

Constant self-training is the secret to good health. If I dont do this now, my hand feels so empty.

Health, you say

The chief of exchange had a distant look, but he didnt dare refute Evans statement. Even at this moment, he didnt know that if just one of 60 slimes (30 ultra mini slimes in each hand, so a total of 60) that were created and killed in Evans hands attack him, he will die instantly.

Then Ill wrap up my preparation.

All right, Ill be analyzing this data. You must have your men ready by today.

Ill take note of that.

After sending away the chief of exchange, Evan took a closer look at the data. Of course, he had already read them when he received a report on Name, but he was trying to narrow down the vast information.

Hmm, rightthey gathered most of the information.

Are you thinking about the possibility of them being bribed beforehand?

Similar, but different. Its different at its core.

Evan evaluated Beloiss question as a good one and replied to it.

I believe they were charmed.

Perhaps by that man?

Beloiss expression was strained while thinking about Elliot, who looked like someone trying to hit on Evan. Evan shook his head a little.

No, he must have been done for. He was already charmed.

Oh, my goodness, I didnt realize it. It was my fault!

No, it isnt your fault, Lua. It was a work of a very cunning talent. I wouldnt have noticed it if I didnt confirm the unique effect of someone who was charmed.

I see

Whats with this effect of charm?

Belois was lost in thought, but she soon shook her head. She only thought of Elliot as someone too full of himself.

If so, then is it difficult to undo his charm? They might cooperate with us once they regain their consciousness. They can tell us the identity of the person who charmed them, or what the person is up to by gathering up the children of the god race

Hmm, once the charm is undone, a notification will be sent to the caster. Then that would put a halt to the casters plan. I have to stop that at least.

Master, perhaps.

So, you have noticed it.

Beloiss eyes squinted as Evan spoke playfully.

It would be such a shame if I only take him down. If it is done, I have to deal with every one of them on the stage fiercely. This scenario is in progress for that purpose.

Masterso you do plan on making the scene into something much bigger.

And I already know the caster of this charm. It would be the King of Incubi, Gradreka.

Incubus King Gradreka; the last member of the Four Heavenly Kings who Evan remembered. It was a very remarkable death scene considering the entire storyline where Evan gets killed by the infuriated Gradreka because he hit on a lady whom Gradreka had dibs on in the game. How handsome could Evan be that he was able to win over the Incubus Kings woman?! But he paid the price for taking the lady with his life, so it was all in vain.

Incubus and not succubus?

Yup. That was a charm by an Incubus and not Succubus.

So, you can even differentiate such things

Of course. Their effects are different.

Both the succubus and incubus charms were most effective towards their opposite gender, but they could work on the same gender. Well, it wouldve been very effective on Elliot, who was bisexual, but that wasnt the point here. Moreover, the Succubus QueenEvan recalled the day when the succubus appeared in his dreams and shook his head. Yeah, the Succubus Queen would never do such a thing. He could vouch for it.

Anyways, the fact that he is directly controlling the Sacred Guild means he is trying to do something in Sherden by utilizing them. Knowing such facts would make it easy for us to control and lure them from behind. Right?

I understood that part so farbut Master, how is that related to the god race? What youve found out by meeting with Elliot is that the Incubus King charmed him, and thats it.

That was also a good question. Evan smiled lightly and shared with her some of the information which only he would know.

Ive remembered the fact that it was the Sacred Guild that saved Name from a life-threatening dangerah, its a vision. So, the Sacred Guild and Name were fated to meet with each other sooner.

As expected from you, Master, so thats how you thought of whether Name was also charmed by the Incubus just by looking at the charmed Sacred Guild.

Precisely. And if the Incubus King has already secured Name, if ever he was able to see through the abilities of the god racewouldnt it be normal for him to gather more of the gods race to do something, right?

Just like what the black magician forces actually did in Yo-Ma Great War 4 by pretending to be a social gathering. With Evans speculations, Belois nodded her head as if she finally understood.

I get it. And youve called the chief of exchange to acquire more accurate information since you didnt have any assurances.

Yeah. I kinda see the gistactually, by looking at the data, but sending people out would make it more certain.

He had a bitter expression after he spoke.

There was nothing as important as gathering the children of the god race. I should have personally made a move.

That was something impossible. You had so many things to do in Sherden. Moreover, you didnt have the precise information on the god races children.

Thats truebut there would have been other alternatives. If the Demon tribe was leveraging those children, and if we were to fight against themthat will be something regrettable.

He might have felt relieved after rescuing Jhin, Lin, and Lan, who were villains in Yo-Ma Great War 4. And yet, they werent the only members of the god race in Yo-Ma Great War 4. Imagining them associating with the Demon tribe suffocated Evan as if someone were choking him.

Its fine.

Belois placed her hand over Evans shoulder while comforting him with such words.

If theres even a little piece of sanity in them, there must be something they would realize after looking at us. They will know whats the right path.

It would be better that way

If they dont, then they just need a little bit of scolding.

Belois playfully rubbed Evans hand.

With your Heavens Press, everyone will gain their sanity back.

It would be lucky if they dont turn up as corpses

The next day, the search party that received the anti-charm artifact from Evan headed straight for Sherden. They had returned with the information Evan wanted. The Incubus King Gradreka was doing something related to the god race, and the Sacred Guild was entangled in his plot. Evan completely confirmed these two pieces of information and communicated with Louise, who was in the dungeon.

The very next day, the Astray Senior group, led by Evan, re-entered the dungeon. Their goal was to clear the 100th floor.