Evan D. Sherden, Running. (3)
Arisha couldnât look Evan in the eyes; however, her grip on his hands increased by the second.
âSerena told you before, right? That you sometimes look at her with sad eyes. Itâs similar to that. Evan is afraid of most women and avoids them, but only feels comfortable around Belois.â
âThatâs becauseâŚâ
âOf course, youâre attracted to Belois the most. I know that. I can see you have a crush on her. But thatâs another matter altogether.â
Evan couldnât even make a noise. One thing for sure was that she had learned to read minds.
âYou were especially harsh on me. I think it was worse than Serena. Youâve been avoiding me outright since you first met me, havenât you? Itâs as if some great evil will befall you if you get involved with meâŚâ
âEvan, do you remember? I told you then that it was very interesting that you avoided me.â
Perhaps because she made such a strong impression that Evan still couldnât forget that moment. He had been convinced that Arisha was a scary person.
But the next moment, Arisha smiled lightly and shook her head as if she were laughing at Evan.
âBut you know what, that wasnât the truth. It wasnât fun for me at all.â
âWhatâŚ?â
âI was just angry. Thatâs why I made that up.â
The explosive sound of the sparks firing seemed to be getting more distant. Evanâs mind was doing somersaults.
âThatâs what really happened. I fell in love with you at first sight, but you have continually avoided me. Itâs so annoying and upsetting, isnât it?â
âPut yourself in my position. I was 11 when I first met you. 11 years old, you know? Itâs a ridiculously tender age. You understand, donât you?â
Arisha could understand. She came out so mature from the beginning that it had been so easy to forget, yet she was but a little girl at the time. Evan was afraid of that little girl, even though he had memories of his previous life, where he lived more than twenty years. Come to think of it; it was more than pathetic of him.
âŚBut wasnât it inevitable that it would be difficult for Evan to answer when Arisha confessed her feelings so openly? He prepared in advance, but this trip is tough. Itâs ridiculously tough!
âIâm sure thatâs why I was stubborn and persistent with you. Why are you avoiding me now? Why did you hurt me when I didnât do anything to you? I couldnât wait to find out.â
âI am sorry. Maybe I was too harsh with youâŚâ
âListen quietly now.â
She held his hand with great strength. Her power was at a terrifying level, as she trained with Evan every day. Of course, he hadnât felt the intensity of the grip until now!
âI didnât know at first. You were a very good man, a wonderful man, so everyone else followed you, and there seemed no reason to avoid you.â
âBut at one point, I got a feeling. Your way of thinking, your way of doing⌠most of all, watching from the side and planning and putting things into action made me wonder something. And Iâm sure why you treat Serena the way you do is because of this.â
âYou foresaw something, didnât you?â
With Evan swallowing his saliva, Arisha continued relentlessly. She had been far back, but she felt that it was time to move on.
âYou foresaw a future in which I betray you in some way.â
âAnd perhaps Belois is the only one left by your side. If what I said is right, just nod.â
Belois had indeed been the only one who remained in the end. Evan always somehow died in the Yo-Ma Great War 3.
But⌠Yes, the only woman who did not betray Evan until the end and loved him until the end was Belois, the Blood Witch.
The Blood Witch that was in love with Evan from the beginning; and when Evan died, she went so mad that she committed unimaginable, heinous things.
Evan was sick and tired of it. Everything was already different from the games! He knew everything, but heâŚ
If there was a heroine only for Evan in the Yo-Ma Great War 3, it was definitely Belois, the Blood Witch.
Evan unconsciously revealed himself to Belois and reassured her⌠Perhaps that had been the biggest reason. That wasnât everything, but he could not deny it.
ââŚThatâs right.â
âAs expected.â
To his surprise, Arisha laughed as Evan nodded quietly, feeling ashamed.
The reason was simple. If it werenât for this, it would have been hard. She didnât want to have any more trouble thinking about other motives behind his actions.
âEvan, youâre such a fool. You were scared that there would be a moment when your foresight was wrong in the past, you were even cowering because of it.â
âItâs exactly as youâre sayingâŚâ
âI understand, though. Weâve all benefited from it so far. You know you might be wrong someday, but still rely on it as the top priority.â
âArishaâŚâ
âButâŚâ
Arisha turned to Evan.
At this time, the fireworks were endless, but Arisha was covering it, so nothing had been visible to Evan.
Her delicate face was so close that he could feel her breath, and her blue eyes were as pure as the sea.
âIâll tell you for sure now. Your prediction is wrong. No, youâll be wrong. Iâm sure. Do you want me to tell you why?â
âNo, no matter how stupid I amâŚâ
âBecause I love you so much.â
Evanâs face was as red as a freshly harvested tomato. Arisha in Yo-Ma Great War 3 was straightforward, but she was very sluggish in expressing her love⌠No, never mind about that!
âArisha, youâre reallyâŚâ
âBecause I love you so much!â
âIâm telling you, Iâm shy!â
âIâm afraid Iâll run away later if I donât tell you right now. So Iâm letting you know now, for sureâŚâ
Her face came nearer. Evanâs nose and lips were so hot that he felt like he was being kissed.
However, she stopped at that moment, leaving only a slight mark on Evanâs cheek.
âI know you donât feel the same way.⌠but you do like me, Evan. If you didnât like me, you wouldnât allow me to come this close to you. Of course, it was tough to get to this point for me!â
âArishaâŚâ
âWhoo, keep it in mind, anyway. That prediction will be wrong. I will never betray you, for any reason. So relax. I can guarantee you.â
This was her determination now, and no one could guarantee as to what would happen in the future. So there was no logic to support what she said.
âŚBut logic didnât matter right now. Even Evan knew that.
âIâm not trying to be boastful, but I like everything about you, Evan. So itâll take a lot for me to betray you. Even if youâre hanging around with other girls. I donât know! But if you keep being with me, Iâm confident itâll be enough for me!â
âDonât say that out loud!â
However, Arisha suddenly started feeling depressed.
âWhen I think about my competitors, I donât think Iâll be able to have you⌠and there is also Belois.â
âUhâŚâ
âIâm doing this right now. Perhaps others wonât give up on you, and itâs probably harder to have you than to topple the Demon King. Thatâs why weâre compromising. The one who loves more loses.â
At this, Arisha reached out again and touched Evanâs chest.
âI lost to you. So treat me as you wish. But if you canât feel safe, please tell me what I should do to make you feel safe. Iâll make it happen. Break down the wall in your heart⌠please.â
Evan never thought he had acted like such trash until today. If he had known that Arisha would be mentally prepared to throw away her noble pride and confess her feelings like this, he would have made a better decision.
Although he was teased every time for his poor poker face, Evan was exposed now like he had never been before.
ââŚArisha, letâsâŚâ
âOkay, thatâs all I wanted to say.â
As soon as Evan opened his mouth, Arisha cut him off in a hurry, perhaps because she was afraid to hear his answer.
âIf you unconsciously get too frustrated and punch me too hard during training and I die, please donât forget my words. What do you think, will you remember it?â
âHey, Arisha.â
âWill you remember it!?â
âIâll remember it. So, when we go back to Sherden, letâs officially get engaged.â
ââŚ..!â
Arisha collapsed from the shock. Evan sat face to face with Arisha, whose cheeks were as red as his, and she continued.
âIâll only be relieved if I get engaged to you. What do you think?â
âEh, Evan. Do you mean thatâŚ?â
Why did Evan first refuse to engage Arisha? Maybe he was too afraid of the breakup that happened in the game and the miserable public image that he was left with after it.
But now, he felt assured that it would be safe to confine her by engagement.
âWill you get engaged to me, Arisha von Pellati?â
But this was also Evanâs resolution. He decided to believe in Arisha, who had been nothing but sincere and loyal to him, and not to suffer from the trauma of Yo-Ma Great War 3 anymore.
âArisha?â
âYes, I will. I will do it.â
In the end, Arisha answered back and covered her face with both hands. Her arms were shaking. Her voice trembled as well.
âOh no, Iâm so happy that I canât control my expressionâŚâ
âWeâve been treated like fiancĂŠs, anyway.â
âIâm happy I was born a noble manâs daughter⌠and Iâm so glad Belois didnât get the first ladyâs seatâŚâ
Evan was already not listening. Instead, he smiled and carefully swept Arishaâs head while she was still covering her face. As she said, their feelings werenât mutual yet. Evan was sure that he liked her, but he could never be confident that it was love.
However, he thought that this was the answer. He thought it was a way to move forward without running away. He would explain it to Belois later on, but⌠no, it may not end with just Belois, but it was all retribution for the deeds of his former life.
âArisha, are you okay now?â
âItâs too much to handle. Maybe I wonât be able to face you for the rest of my life.â
âOkay, but letâs calm down if possible.â
Evan turned to the sky first as he laughed at Arishaâs bashful face as she felt like collapsing.
The fireworks were still going on. It was a special-class seat that she had prepared for Evan; it would be stupid if they couldnât enjoy it.
âWhat?â
Evanâs eyes have narrowed. Beyond the brilliant explosion of fireworks, there was a hazy shadow in the sky.
The level of existence alone was enough for Evan to go on high alert. It overwhelms Leo, the main character of Yo-Ma Great War 2. Something mighty was descending.
âArisha.â
âIf we can stay like this a little longerâŚâ
âIâm sorry, but I donât think we can.â
Evanâs voice became suddenly stiff. Shortly after that, the terrible scream from down there climbed over the quiet hill, vibrating Evanâs and Arishaâs ears.
Arisha sprang to her feet in an instant and pulled out a Rapier from her waistline. It was an artifact that Evan gave her.
âEvan!â
âArisha, letâs move.â
The fireworks had stopped.
On that day, the dungeon city of Pellati had been attacked at a scale that has never been seen before.
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