episode_0005

1.

Evan is once again immersed in alcohol.

Every day, without fail, he indulges in a tipsy state, but on days like today when he has no work, he locks himself in the inn and drinks incessantly.

When his supply of alcohol runs out, he goes downstairs to the first-floor restaurant, buys a bottle, and returns upstairs. And when it runs out again, he repeats the same cycle.

“That’s enough now!”

Maea, who helps her parents and works at the inn, takes away Evan’s bottle of alcohol.

“It’s for your own good. You’ll hurt yourself.”

It’s not that Maea has any special feelings for Evan, but as a human being, she can’t bear to see him like this anymore.

He was becoming so addicted that he looked like he would die from drinking every day, with his head drooping like a drunkard.

The extent of his injuries from getting drunk was unimaginable.

Rolling down the stairs had become a daily occurrence.

And at his worst moments, he would even laugh while inflicting self-harm.

“…Give it to me.”

Evan lowered his head and reached out his hand.

“You can’t have it.”

“…Give it to me.”

“I said you can’t. Stop drinking for today. This is already your fifth bottle!”

Evan let out a deep sigh, “Huuuuh,” and raised his head.

Maea flinched.

The eyes visible through his messy bangs seemed capable of harming someone at any moment.

Evan glared at Maea with bloodshot eyes.

“…Do you pity me too?”

Mana waves began to ripple.

The air felt heavy on his shoulders, as if gravity had doubled.

“Get a grip.”

An adventurer who was eating at the inn grabbed Evan’s shoulder.

-Thwack!

Evan immediately turned his body and punched the adventurer in the face.

“Ugh…!!”

It landed right in the middle of his face.

He had considered using magic but decided against it.

It would break too easily.

The more sturdy the opponent in a fit of rage, the better. He could keep hitting them for longer and enjoy their feeble attempts at resistance.

Evan mounted the adventurer.

-Thwack! Thwack!

He relentlessly pounded the adventurer’s face with both fists.

Blood splattered.

His nose broke, swelling up like a bee sting.

The adventurer couldn’t resist even once and became a bloody mess.

But Evan didn’t stop.

He continued to pummel him with his fists.

People were disgusted.

It was cruel.

It was brutal.

How on earth should they deal with this tyrant?

He keeps the village safe from monsters, but at the same time, his presence makes the village noisy.

It was then.

The door of the inn opened, and a middle-aged man walked in.

“Stop it.”

The middle-aged man spoke in a low and heavy voice.

Evan turned his head slightly.

His face was hidden by his bangs.

He wiped his forehead with a blood-stained hand and checked his face.

“I told you to hand it over to the Imperial Knights, didn’t I?”

A man scolded in a stern voice.

It was Kaden, the leader of the Adventurer’s Union in the village of Kapra.

Even though he was drunk, Evan silently watched Kaden as if he recognized him.

Evan smirked.

“…Can I hand it over?”

Until now, when he went to the detention center, it wasn’t because the guards subdued Evan, but because he went in on his own when his anger wouldn’t subside even after drinking.

Evan stood up.

He took out a gold coin from his pocket and threw it to the fallen adventurer.

It’s a generous payment.

With the smell of alcohol wafting around him, Evan stood in front of Kaden.

“…What is it this time?”

As if knowing the reason why the leader of the Adventurer’s Union had come all the way here.

There is only one reason.

To entrust him with a dangerous request.

A few days ago, when he entrusted a mine request, he personally came to the detention center.

“It’s a request.”

“So, what kind of request is it?”

“You’ll find out when you go to the Union.”

“After all, it’s either monsters or mines, right?”

Evan chuckled and staggered.

His legs kept losing strength.

It felt like the world was swaying as if he were on a boat.

Finding the situation amusing, Evan laughed again.

“Just tell me the location.”

As if ready to leave immediately, Evan adjusted his robe.

Kaden pressed his temples and lowered his head.

He thought Evan would be drunk, but he didn’t expect him to be this drunk.

“Wake up from your hangover and come to the Union tomorrow. We’ll talk about the details then.”

Kaden clicked his tongue and turned around.

“Take that friend to his room.”

He ordered the other adventurers who had accompanied them so far to take Evan to his room. The adventurers were worried that they might be beaten by that tyrant, but they followed the order because it was an order.

-Thud!

As a neutral and objective translator, I will provide a translation of the text without adding or subtracting anything from it. Here is the translation:

1.

In an attempt to support, a fist flew right at them.

“Don’t touch me.”

The gaze was fierce.

“Since I can climb up alone, everyone should just leave.”

Evan staggered up the stairs as if he would fall.

“……”

Upon seeing Evan safely reach the second floor, Carden sighed and left the inn.

It’s really unfortunate.

If only he had a clear mind, he could become a great adventurer.

He might even become the hero the world desires.

It’s pitiful to see such talent living a life like a beggar.

2.

The next day.

Evan headed towards the Adventurers’ Union, emitting a faint smell of alcohol.

He didn’t have a clear mind after drinking five bottles, but he vaguely remembered a few important things.

He only remembers that Carden, the leader of the Adventurers’ Union, personally came to find him.

That alone is enough.

“…Hello.”

Ignoring the receptionist who greeted him out of courtesy, Evan entered the leader’s room.

Carden glared at Evan as he forcefully opened the door and entered.

“Knock before entering.”

“……”

*Knock knock*

Evan knocked on the door and closed it, then sat on the sofa.

Without waiting for him to speak, Carden lowered his head.

“Just get straight to the point.”

With his hangover starting to kick in, Evan pressed his throbbing temples and spoke.

“I hope you can take care of the monsters that appeared in the eastern forest.”

“Understood.”

Without hesitation, Carden accepted.

“Listen until the end. The creature we need to deal with this time is a new type of monster not registered in the bestiary.”

“It’s just another monster.”

“Don’t take it lightly. It’s a creature that emerged from the capital and killed hundreds on its way here. The Imperial Central Army is in pursuit, and they sought help from our adventurers this time.”

Evan smirked.

“So, it must be very strong?”

Sighing as if it was another beginning, Carden replied.

“I just said it’s a different creature this time.”

“I just said it, didn’t I?”

Evan stood up from his seat.

“A monster is just a monster. Whether it’s strong or weak, it will eventually die by my hands.”

“You’re arrogant.”

“It’s confidence.”

There was nothing more to hear.

Evan decided to head straight to the eastern forest.

He didn’t listen to any information about the monsters.

If he kills the monsters in the forest one by one, among them, there might be the monster the leader mentioned.

“It’s quiet.”

The eastern forest was strangely quiet.

It felt as if time had stopped.

The leaves were frozen stiff, as if they had turned into stone.

There was not a single breeze blowing through the deep sleeping forest.

Evan stepped into a place that anyone would feel uneasy about.

No signs of what had happened could be seen.

Normally, at this point, at least one or two creatures would have emerged.

Even the animals living in the forest seemed to have fled somewhere.

How long had he been walking?

A foul stench brushed against his nose.

It smelled like rotting corpses.

The scent of blood was mixed in as well.

His nose tingled.

Normally, at this point, one would get scared and take a step back, but Evan, excited, headed deeper into the forest, chuckling.

He was obsessed with battle.

Facing a formidable enemy not only validated his abilities but also left no room for anything other than combat in his mind.

For that moment, he could alleviate his weary heart even just a little.

In life-or-death battles, the only desire that arose in his mind was the will to survive.

“…Is that it?”

Evan chuckled.

“Can we call that a monster?”

What he had discovered was a monster.

Although monsters were also referred to as “ma-su,” that creature couldn’t be defined by any other word besides monster.

A lizard walking on two legs.

It had two heads and six eyes each.

Its peeled skin was decaying and melting away.

Rib bones were exposed, and between the ribs, there was a person who appeared to be its meal, dead inside.

The person was a pitiful corpse.

Half of their face was torn off, and their arms were fixed to the bones.

The lower body was severed, and the entrails flowed out like ropes from the cut surface.

It sent shivers down his spine.

Electricity surged through his spine to the crown of his head.

His heart started pounding with excitement.

Will I die today?

With that thought, he prepared his magic.

There had been several occasions when he had sensed death.

But every time, Evan tenaciously survived.

There were even times when he was on the brink of death.

Retreating was an option, but there was nothing as thrilling as a battle with life and death at stake.

And then, if he dies?

He’ll die, so what?

Mana’s waves stirred the air, making it tremble.

Storm.

A magic circle appeared on the right hand, and the surrounding air began to distort rapidly.

The trees tore apart, and the ground split open.

A storm mixed with the forest engulfed the demon.

– Kwaahh!!

The blades of wind shredded the demon into pieces.

Just watch until it completely vanishes.

However, at that moment.

-Pwoosh!!

A long tail struck Evan’s side.

“Ugh…!!”

Evan’s body flew sideways.

With its strength, several trees were shattered as it crashed onto the ground.

His right rib was crushed.

He couldn’t breathe.

Whenever he moved even slightly, indescribable pain accompanied him.

“Puh…!”

Spitting out blood from his throat, Evan stood up.

It hurt.

It hurt terribly.

But this vivid sensation felt better than ever before.

“I might die today….”

Unlike Evan, who suffered serious injuries from a single attack, the demon, despite being hit directly by magic, remained unscathed. It was sturdy, contrary to its appearance.

“Kkiyaaakk!!”

Two heads roared simultaneously as they leaped high.

Like butterfly wings, the ribs spread wide open.

I’ll trap it there.

Evan spread his arms and grabbed onto the ribs as if pulling them closer.

“Crack…!!”

The demon’s sharp ribs pierced his back.

“You fool…!”

How many strong opponents had he defeated to become stronger?

He hadn’t fought ignorantly.

Through numerous battles, he gained combat skills.

He knew how to deal with enemies depending on their style.

He grasped everything with the gust magic at first.

This lizard-like creature looked like a corpse, but its exterior was like armor. However, its interior was fragile.

He had seen the ribs narrow and protect the insides when hit by the gust.

So, this was the best method.

Explosion.

A magic circle emerged on the back of his hand.

Evan vomited blood and thrust his fist upward.

-Pwooaaahh!!!

The moment his fist touched the demon’s throat, a massive explosion occurred, and a pillar of fire shot up. The demon’s head exploded along with the pillar of fire.

Indeed, it seemed that while it could withstand external explosions, it couldn’t endure internal ones.

The demon convulsed and twitched before collapsing.

Its long tail moved a few times before going limp.

Evan crawled out clumsily, splitting the horse’s back.

“Cough…! Gasp…!”

He vomited blood and collapsed on the floor.

He fought foolishly with a foolish method.

The explosion had consequences for himself as well.

Although he had just put up a shield, the recoil of the explosion completely shattered his right arm bone.

Evan took out a vial hanging from his belt with his left arm.

-Swish! Swish!

Inside it was a healing potion.

Since he mixed it with alcohol, it served both as a treatment and a mood booster, killing two birds with one stone.

After roughly finishing the emergency treatment, Evan staggered to his feet.

His bones hadn’t fully healed, but somehow he could manage to stand.

He took a step forward.

Immediately, he stumbled and fell forward.

“Argh…!!”

Even thinking about it himself, he fought really stupidly.

If he had been more cautious, he could have reduced his injuries, but Evan’s fighting style was far from cautious.

All he cared about was winning, no matter what.

Because that’s the proof of strength.

It’s not the strong who survive.

It’s the ones who survive that are strong.

But this time, he might really die.

Evan chuckled.

Maybe deep down, he had been hoping for this.

Perhaps he wasn’t reckless with himself because he wanted to die.

He didn’t even know himself.

Does he want to live?

Does he want to die?

He lives reluctantly, even though he wants to die in agony.

Is there something he desires?

He doesn’t know.

Someone approached at that moment.

“Was it you who used that foolish magic just now?”

An old man with white hair stared at Evan.