Evan was, for the first time in a while, at the training grounds with Alan and Reynold.
There was something he needed to tell them in advance.
“I’m planning to leave for a while.”
“Huh? Where are you going?”
“Young master? What do you mean by that?”
“I have some business to attend to. I think I need to go alone. I’ll leave as soon as the coronation ceremony ends.”
Alan looked a bit surprised and his gaze was filled with concern.
“You’re going alone?”
“Yeah. It’s something that requires moving discreetly. Don’t worry.”
“That may be, but… still, shouldn’t you have a guard…”
Alan couldn’t bring himself to say more.
Having witnessed Evan’s growth up close, he knew better than anyone else.
Evan’s rapid progress was nothing short of astonishing, and now he was probably capable of defeating most warriors.
Reynold was feeling downcast as well.
“So, what happens to us then?”
Evan observed their reactions one by one before continuing.
“You planning to have fun or something? You won’t have time for that. You both have plenty to do until I return.”
“Huh? What kind of work?”
“Do you think we’re just going to stay around doing nothing?”
“Of course not. Now that I’ve leveled up, you two need to catch up as well.”
He set a goal of Rank 4 for Reynold and Rank 3 for Alan.
Since those were quite high targets for them, it would be tough even if they started right away.
Their expressions suddenly filled with bewilderment.
“Wait, rank 3?”
“Why do I have to reach rank 4?”
Evan looked at Alan first.
“Alan, how long do you plan to stay stuck behind the wall? And Reynold, going from rank 10 to rank 4 is just something you have to pass through.”
Everyone was left speechless, their pupils shaking with shock.
“Got it? I told you. If you don’t reach that by then, I’ll make sure you do, even if I have to force you. Be prepared.”
Originally, Evan had planned to take it easy and help Alan and Reynold gradually raise their levels, but the battles with the Nervan Cult had disrupted those plans significantly.
‘In the end, it actually turned out for the better.’
And after learning so much from Illudan, he realized there was no time to spare.
The hidden dangers within the kingdom.
Until those were eradicated, crises would continue to emerge.
It was impossible to overlook the fact that this was connected to the Main Quest.
‘I have a bad feeling about this.’
Whether he liked it or not, if the kingdom fell, naturally the Marquisate household would be in danger as well.
He needed to build power to prepare for such a scenario.
At the massive training grounds of the Kerthen Marquisate, many senior knights and high-ranking officials from within the County had gathered.
Today was the day of the biggest event in the Marquisate: the coronation ceremony of Delian and Evan.
Knights of rank 2 and above, as well as all high-ranking officials in the Marquisate, were required to attend without exception.
Delian and Evan stood upright on the platform, dressed in the formal conquest robes of the Kerthen family.
First, Clyd approached Delian holding the Heirloom Sword.
Delian knelt on one knee as if taking a knight’s oath.
Then he raised both hands high.
Passing the Heirloom Sword was the formal ceremony to appoint the official heir.
Clyd handed the Heirloom Sword to Delian.
At that moment, thunderous applause and cheers erupted.
Everyone’s reaction was as if they had expected this outcome all along.
Delian had already built an image of diligence and reliability.
It was more unusual for him not to become the official heir.
“Next, Evan.”
At the call, a young man with red hair approached Evan.
“Nice to meet you. I think I briefly saw you when you were just a kid?”
He smiled cheekily as he spoke to Evan.
His name was Rolten, Clyd’s younger brother and the current Shadow of the Family Head.
When Clyd first mentioned the succession, Evan hadn’t understood.
Unlike the quick decision of the family head’s successor, the Shadow of the Family Head was chosen after a long period and several difficult trials.
It was such a crucial position that careful deliberation was necessary.
On the surface, he acted as the lord’s deputy, but in reality, he was another pillar of the family.
It made no sense to suddenly pick someone like that.
At first, Evan shared some dissatisfaction, but there was a reason that immediately quelled it all.
‘To not only have found the Shadow Sword left by the first Family Head but also passed his trial!’
He looked at the Shadow Sword in his hands.
The genuine article—the one Evan had summoned in advance before the coronation.
“Never thought I’d see the real thing in my lifetime.”
Rolten handed the sword to Evan and proceeded with the ceremony.
At the same time, he quietly spoke so only Evan could hear.
“If the first Family Head appointed you, then I have nothing to say, but you’ve chosen a difficult path.”
Evan met his black eyes without wavering.
“I’m already prepared. I must fulfill the mission entrusted by the first Family Head.”
Evan accepted the sword Rolten had handed him.
But the atmosphere was different from when Delian’s ceremony had taken place.
A strange silence briefly hung in the air.
Then a polite round of applause followed.
Rolten turned his gaze down from the platform.
“Everyone’s pretty curious since you’re acting as the family head’s proxy, huh? But I can’t tell you the details. No choice there.”
“I don’t particularly care.”
“That’s what I thought.”
With that, the coronation ceremony continued, and it served as another opportunity for Evan to make his name known publicly.
As soon as the ceremony ended, Evan decided to leave Valles immediately with Rolten.
To learn from the Shadow of the Family Head about his duties.
And to visit all three of the founding families, he would rely on Rolten’s help.
They headed toward the Adventurers’ Guild.
Rolten stopped and turned to Evan.
“Are you okay with sleeping rough? When we move, the caravan provides escort, but this will happen a lot. If you have complaints, you can quit anytime.”
Rolten’s usual smiling face was sharp with seriousness in that moment.
Evan replied nonchalantly.
“I’m fine.”
He had grown tired of sleeping outdoors in his previous world.
No, in the previous world, it was impossible even to think about sleeping comfortably.
Ruined cities with endless gates opening, and death could come at any moment if you let your guard down.
‘Compared to that, this world is stable.’
The frequency of gate appearances seemed much lower as well.
Rolten looked pleased with Evan’s quiet response.
“Maybe you take after your brother. I like that. Though who knows how your attitude will really change once this starts.”
“You don’t have to worry about that.”
“You talk well. I’ll apply for the escort mission and be back, so wait for me.”
“Understood.”
Just as Rolten was about to leave, he seemed to remember something and looked back at Evan.
“Aren’t you curious why I’m doing an escort mission? We could just move quickly, but we go through this troublesome process.”
Evan hadn’t thought much about it, but now he was curious.
He nodded, prompting Rolten to continue.
“What do you think the Shadow of the Family Head is?”
“To assist the family head and protect the household, right?”
Evan’s formal answer made Rolten click his tongue.
“You’ve got a lot to learn. The family head oversees the entire Marquisate, so he can’t move easily. But someone like me is free to roam all over the Marquisate. Think about that.”
Evan had a feeling he knew what Rolten was getting at.
“So, you inspect the Marquisate directly? Acting on things the family head can’t do?”
Rolten smiled.
“Yeah, you catch on fast—I like that. Inspections are all about information. That means meeting lots of people and gathering their information to understand the Marquisate’s situation. The caravan is the best way to do that.”
Everything he did was purposeful.
Even while moving, he collected information without wasting a moment.
Evan thought him quite competent.
***
The wagon caravan stretched long as it cut through the forest.
It was a merchant caravan traveling westward from Valles.
Evan’s destination was the Andor Marquisate.
Crossing the western border of Valles and entering the kingdom’s interior, the Andor Marquisate was right there.
‘Andor family is the Magic Swordsman family, right?’
Among the founding families, they were the only ones who used both magic and aura simultaneously.
The family head, Marquis Andor Adman, was a Magic Swordsman comparable to a Swordmaster and was rumored to be modest in personality.
Evan felt they might get along well.
Just as Evan was thinking this, Rolten tapped him on the shoulder.
“Don’t stand apart too much. Let’s go join the others over there. You need good social skills too, or you won’t get much information.”
Evan nodded at Rolten’s words.
Adventurers and mercenaries gathered, walking slowly with the caravan.
From their lively chatter, it seemed they were already well acquainted.
Rolten confidently approached the group as if he belonged.
Evan followed behind.
As they got closer, a conversation reached their ears.
“Damn dirty bastards. Toll fees have gone way up lately. Now we have to take a long detour just to get from Alby to Luka.”
A burly mercenary grumbled, complaining to everyone.
Others chimed in with their own complaints.
“What? Toll fees increased again? We barely make ends meet as it is!”
“You got troubles too? But whatever you do, don’t go to Krenda. The cult bastards have it locked down tight there. If they catch you as a heretic, you’re dead. Ugh.”
“I know that! They’re checking everyone at every city gate. It’s been harder to move around lately!”
“Looks like they’ve raised them.”
Rolten smoothly squeezed into the conversation.
“Ha ha, what’s going on here?”
All eyes turned to Rolten and Evan.
“Hmm. Are you an adventurer too?”
A middle-aged man among the mercenaries asked Rolten.
“Yeah, something like that.”
At that moment, a brown-haired woman with her hair tied back looked at Evan with bright eyes.
“Is the person behind you your companion too?”
Her gaze focused on Evan.
His tall, striking appearance made him stand out enough to catch a glance.
“Are you really an adventurer?”
“Yes, we are. Haha, my brother and I are traveling.”
“Traveling at a time like this? Be careful.”
“Huh?”
“The cult bastards are crazy about catching heretics. Avoid small villages if you can, or else…”
Before he could finish, the caravan suddenly stopped.
Murmurs broke out in all directions.
Everyone was startled as one person pointed somewhere.
“Look over there!”
“What’s going on all of a sudden…?”
The place he pointed to was the village the caravan was to pass through.
But from there, thick black smoke was rising.
The scale was massive—enough to cover the entire village in flames.
“…That’s what I’m talking about. Seems like there was a heretic purge in that village. It’s a place with many Lamakria people.”
Evan’s brows furrowed as he heard this.