I’m Being Mistaken for a Blackmailer 11

Chapter 11- The Beggar (4)

 

“Ah, I’ve prepared the black tea……”

“……”

“……”

Silence filled the reception room.

Theodore was glaring at the Dark King, while the Dark King was silently smiling.

While doing so, he was rolling a black pebble in his hand.

Clack.

Dolph carefully observed the situation as he set down the black tea on the table.

Evan expressed his gratitude.

“Thank you, Dolph.”

“…Ah, it’s nothing! Young Master!”

Gulp, Evan calmly drank the black tea.

An unbelievable calmness in such an atmosphere.

Dolph praised Evan in his heart.

‘As expected of Young Master! To maintain such composure in this atmosphere…!’

Does this mean Theodore is no longer even a match?

A slight reverence appeared in Dolph’s eyes.

‘…Please don’t look at me like that. It’s not like that.’

Evan felt this with his whole body.

Evan, who had set down the handmade decaffeinated zero black tea, clutched his heart internally.

His heart felt like it would burst from tension.

Imminent danger.

If Theodore committed even one discourtesy, his neck could go Snip!

‘And here I was thinking my sleep was getting rough!’

In many ways, luck wasn’t on his side.

Theodore, who had gone into seclusion after the runaway incident, happened to end his seclusion today.

And coincidentally, the Dark King visited at that time.

-What’s with this beggar? Who let such a beggar in?

-That… he’s Young Master Evan’s guest……

-…What? Big brother’s?

Originally, it wasn’t unusual for guests to visit the mansion.

For nobles, guests were a means to show off what connections they had.

Though not frequently, they would steadily invite guests.

Of course, not Evan.

Evan had neither friends nor a fiancée.

It was the crazy result of the head of household’s indifference and the pre-possession of Evan’s hikikomori tendencies.

When such an Evan invited a guest, it naturally drew attention.

Evan had anticipated this.That’s why he wanted to end it quickly.

‘…Ugh, such harsh glares.’

Theodore was sending very heated glares toward Evan.

It was understandable.

Guests were quite important.

A family’s reputation changed depending on what kind of guests they had.

A family that invited the crown prince,

And a family that invited a serial killer beggar.

If one considered which side’s reputation would be higher, the result was obvious.

The Alcart Duke’s family was a prestigious and historic family. For such a family to invite a beggar?

Unless the beggar was actually a fortune-telling shaman or a possessed diviner, it was an act that lowered the family’s status.

‘…Fortunately, he’s not saying anything?’

Perhaps fortunately in misfortune, he was still cursing with his eyes.

Evan prayed desperately inside.

‘Please don’t act up.’

You’ll die!

Surely the Dark King had a low risk level.

But, only under the condition that proper etiquette was maintained.

Act rudely?

Then the death roulette would start spinning right away.

The roulette was naturally that black pebble.

Not dying with a bang like Russian roulette, but dying with a slash!

Others just didn’t know this.

‘I need to end this quickly.’

Evan opened his mouth with firm resolve. While trying not to show his trembling. …Not from fear, but from tension.

“Thank you for visiting my mansion today.”

“Hahaha! I should be thanking you, Young Master, for your generosity in inviting this old man.”

The Dark King expressed his gratitude with exaggerated movements.

Like a host on stage in a play.

“Is it really alright to let an old man like me into such a luxurious mansion?”

“…Inviting guests is my right. No one can say otherwise. Moreover, we are here to exchange what we each have, so there is justification.”

 Evan continued calmly. 

“If you could spare enough time, elder–”

That’s when it happened.

“From what I hear, I can’t allow it. Exchange?” Theodore opened his mouth.

While opening his eyes wide.

“Are you saying our family is so trivial that we need to exchange with such an old man, brother?”

Ah, please! You’re going to die!

***

The past week had been the worst days for Theodore.

-Repent.

-What? What is…

He was kidnapped and demanded to repent.

Repent.

It meant to acknowledge one’s sins and confess to God to wash away the sins.

‘What sin have I committed?’

It was an absurd thing for Theodore, who was an atheist and had committed no sins.

-I haven’t committed any sins.

Despite Theodore’s objection, the kidnapper paid no mind.

They stuck him in a place without sunlight, and even used expensive artifacts to play hymns all day long.

Without physical torture, purely mental.

While suffering from mental torture, he pondered deeply.

‘What exactly did I do wrong?’

Wrong?

Nothing.

He studied hard and put in effort to fulfill his noble duties.

All he did was look down on his incompetent brother.

Sitting in the position of the second son and receiving father’s attention, while my older brother lives like a rogue.

A shameful blood relation who looks exactly like the Duke, yet his behavior is nothing like it.

A rogue who runs wild claiming he’ll resurrect his mother who was a concubine.

Since he’s locked himself in his room and won’t come out, in social circles they even called him ‘the hermit.’

Considering how one’s reputation varies depending on what nicknames and connections they have, it was truly a shameful title.

Was it wrong to ignore such a person?

Yes.

It wasn’t just words, I did use some violence.

Though afterward, I got beaten up several times worse by the golem.

I couldn’t understand it at all.

So he refused to repent, but Theodore, who grew up cherished as the youngest, wasn’t mentally very strong.

In the end.

-I repent, I repent, you bastard! I repent!

-Finally, you realize your sin. Don’t forget. That person is someone you should never dare to touch.

Even after being rescued by a strange golem that came by chance, the questions remained unresolved.

Why, what’s so special about that guy!

The kidnapper, the Duke, everyone wants him!

“…Oh God…”

Theodore prayed every night in his secluded room.

“Please… kill Evan Alcart… Why do you give me such trials… If he were just gone, I could rise to a higher position, what does father even see in him…!”

The accumulated complaints and grievances.

There was jealousy mixed in as well.

Jealousy towards the talent that Evan Alcart possessed.

An alchemist must be chosen.

It was similar to magic. Magic also required not only being born with magical power but also innate talent.

Alchemy didn’t stop at simply making potions.

It changes materials at will through three processes: [Understanding], [Decomposition], and [Reconstruction].

Evan was born with this power.

Within one year of learning alchemy, to the extent of making a name in the underground world.

And it wasn’t even from being actively involved.

Just twice.

He received a title after just two activities.

An achievement that even the Duke’s eldest son couldn’t accomplish.

I hated and envied him so much.

How could such a coward, who’s shut in his room and can’t even make eye contact, be such a great person?

The change didn’t even take long.

Everything changed overnight.

Using strange speech patterns with honorifics, making eye contact.

After that, he started to truly master the alchemy he began to ‘properly’ learn.

At this rate, he might really perform the taboo of resurrecting the dead.

The emotion rising up. It was a faint fear that went beyond jealousy.

So I was going to stay quiet today, but…

‘Why is he being so submissive to such a beggar old man?’

I couldn’t understand. If that beggar were really a ‘big shot,’ father would have stepped in. But he didn’t.

A worthless old man. That’s exactly what he appeared to be.

Then why is he bowing his head?

Tarnishing the family’s reputation?

Theodore was still young.

It was too much to control his impulses.

So he spoke the words without realizing.

But Theodore instantly regretted the past.

“…”

The gaze Evan gave. 

It felt like his whole body was freezing.

Eyes that contained no emotion whatsoever.

If they had contained anger or contempt, he could have understood.

However, there was no emotion at all.

“…I have never said our family is insignificant.”

A constant tone.

A dry voice that revealed no emotion.

“This person is a guest I invited unilaterally. I didn’t stake our family’s name or reputation. It’s literally for exchange. I receive the techniques this person has left behind, and I give compensation in return.”

“…I can’t understand. What techniques could that old man possibly have-“

“Experience and history are like that. Even if it’s not something grand, when it accumulates, it gains that much weight and power.”

Calmly. Evan continued speaking as if coaxing a child.

“Acting like this now is quite rude, Theodore.”

“…!”

The first time calling his name.

Goosebumps spread across his entire body.

As if saying that if he crossed the ‘line’ one more time, there would be consequences.

“Do you understand?”

“…Yes. I understand. Brother.”

“…I seem to have overreacted. You may rest.”

His breathing suddenly eased.

Belatedly, Theodor’s eyes caught Evan’s clothes.

The leather armor that writhed as if alive.

Because of the material, he hadn’t noticed, but that too was a golem.

That staff leaning against the chair.

It looked familiar.

That too was a golem.

Everything was a golem.

From the start, this reception room itself was crawling with golems.

‘Oh, my…’

The eyes steadily gazed at Theodore.

They were golden, exactly like the Duke’s.

More pressure than when he was mentally tortured to repent.

Just as he was thinking he should leave right away.

Knock, knock!

“Evan. May I come in for a moment?”

“You may enter.”

The door opened.

A mysterious-looking girl with white hair and red eyes came in.

The girl spoke in an energetic voice. “Evan! I finally tried the modified potato this time!”

“Modified potato?”

“Yes! It’s grown huge and has magic infused in it so it’s delicious…! Especially when steamed, it was even more delicious…!”

The bright voice of the girl changed the atmosphere.

The emotionless gaze turned to the child.

Theodore inwardly felt relieved.

I-I’m saved.

“…Well done, Lapis. Say hello.”

“Ah! The person I met yesterday…! Hello!”

“Hahaha. Nice to meet you, little lady.”

Lapis?

That name was familiar.

They say she’s Evan’s new slave.

But that’s more like…

‘A cherished younger sibling… isn’t it?’

“Lapis. What did you eat today?”

“Carrots… potatoes… and salad!”

“What about meat?”

“I don’t want to eat it yet…”

A slave talking back?

Noble blood boiled at the sight of refusing the master’s command.

Should I bravely step up now?

Then Lapis put both hands together.

Threads came out swish-swish and gathered into pretty shapes on their own.

“…Your string figure skills have improved. Well done.”

“Hehehe.”

Theodore immediately bravely suppressed his displeasure.

Meanwhile, the Dark King who had been watching him with interest spoke.

“So, when should this old man teach you? Haha. Since this old man doesn’t have much time left, it’s a bit difficult to stay long.”

“Could you perhaps explain about the skill you’ll teach beforehand?”

“It’s nothing special. Just moving the body a little.”

After confirming the pebble was quiet, Evan spoke.

“In that case, instead of teaching me-“

Swoosh.

Evan carefully grabbed Lapis’s shoulders and moved her in front of himself.

“Could you teach this child?”

“?!”

“?!”

To pass such an opportunity to a mere slave?

Their eyes widened.

Looking at them, Evan thought to himself.

‘No, how could I learn this skill?’

What the Dark King possessed was technique. Obviously assassination techniques. Or footwork.

But 

‘If I try to learn that, my whole body will be crushed.’

Evan was physically weak by nature. Very much so.

It would be fortunate if his ankle didn’t twist.

It wouldn’t be strange if his cartilage gave out completely.

‘Though I’m a bit worried about leaving it to Lapis…’

While Lee Han-ol the manly man might not understand, this was a choice only Evan, who survived in this world for a year, could make!

‘She can deliver letters instead of me, and fight too. Isn’t it killing two birds with one stone?’

“…Hahaha! Is it alright to pass such an opportunity to a slave?”

A tone that seemed to give another chance to choose.

Evan nodded. “Yes. It’s fine. Rather than me, it should go to someone more suitable.”

“Hahaha! Good. You truly are a wise ruler.”

Seemingly pleased, the pebble remained quiet.

The Dark King approached Lapis, crouched down to meet her eyes. “Little one. Shall we have a chat with this grandfather for a moment?”

“Yes!”

“Let’s see, indeed, you have talent. Very outstanding. This level would make you a Heaven Killing Star. And your favorite is… vegetarian? …A Heaven Killing Star? Huh, haha… This is something unprecedented in history…”

…Could this work out well?