Chapter 13- BlueBeard (1)
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The Dark King left.
In the reception room where only two remained.
Theodore rose from his seat.
“…I’ll take my leave first, brother.”
“…”
Nod.
Evan could only nod, lacking the strength to answer.
Theodore quickly escaped from the room.
As if running away.
Bang!
-Ack!
-Young Master!!
Crashing sounds from outside.
Seemed like he fell.
Bad luck.
‘Should have been more careful.’
Since I gave him a potion, wouldn’t he handle it himself?
Evan didn’t care.
Because he doesn’t have much free time.
His mind was complicated.
‘Tsk, what went wrong?’
The issue came after confirming whether Lapis was the Star’s contractor or not.
The Dark King was slightly out of it.
He looked like someone who saw something they shouldn’t have, or conversely, like someone who was disappointed.
‘Was it that shocking that Lapis wasn’t the contractor?’
Maybe it was warranted.
Evan understood without realizing.
Why, are older people usually like that?
They were stubbornly set in their ways.
Once they thought they were right about something, they kept thinking they were right.
The Dark King was that type.
Since such stubbornness was broken, maybe it was understandable.
‘Well. It’s also when he’s looking for disciples.’
Right now, the Dark King was focused on training successors.
Not ownerless disciples, but he would raise anyone who seemed talented.
Whether his eyes were bad or his luck was bad.
Though he mostly met those with questionable potential.
Creaking.
“Ugh.”
“Evan. Are you okay?”
Lapis quickly ran to Evan.
Evan shook his head and held out the cabbage.
“I’m fine.”
“Um.”
Lapis crunched on the cabbage.
Hard to believe she was wielding a dagger so fiercely just moments ago.
When he gently ruffled her hair, she smiled contentedly with a “hehe.”
“Dolph.”
“Yes! Young Master.”
Dolph appeared energetically.
Though his legs were still slightly trembling.
“You worked hard today. You can go in early.”
“No! I will stay until the end to serve the Young Master!”
Such loyalty!
Evan was slightly moved. Almost enough to shed a tear inside.
But that was that, and work was work.
“There’s a letter I need to see alone.”
“A letter? Perhaps from the Saint…!”
“No.”
At Evan’s firm denial, Dolph became gloomy.
“I understand… Then I’ll clean up quickly today.”
“Thank you.”
“Not at all! This is what a faithful servant of the Young Master should do!”
Dolph stepped forward energetically.
Looking at his back, a sudden thought occurred.
‘Am I… very scary?’
It was actually a question he’d had for quite a while.
People kept getting scared when they saw him.
At first he thought it was because of his status, but he gradually began to doubt that.
Especially today.
Theodore’s attitude.
He saw it as meaning ‘please keep quiet,’ but wasn’t he too afraid?
“Lapis.”
“Yes?”
“Am I… very scary?”
Lapis looked at Evan and tilted her head.
“Not really? Your eyes are pretty too! They sparkle golden.”
“Is that so?”
What Evan heard early in the possession.
That emotions couldn’t be read in his eyes.
Probably a side effect of the possession?
They said they couldn’t read at all why he was looking, what he was thinking, what emotions he had when he looked at them.
Seems it’s fixed now.
Since Lapis says they’re pretty.
“Yes. Should I tell you more pretty parts?”
“That’s fine.”
Ahem.
Well.
This body was quite handsome.
‘Theodore must have gone a bit crazy after running away.’
Right.
If he really looked scary, others would have misunderstood too.
Evan quickly erased his doubts.
Ah, just wasted time.
“Lapis. You can go back early today…”
“Ucha!”
Lapis disappeared into the shadows and appeared next to Evan.
Right on the sofa beside him.
Lapis, lying on the sofa, took one of Evan’s hands and nuzzled it against her cheek.
“Hehe.”
…Should I just leave her be. Well, she did work hard today.
Evan called Golem No. 4.
Long arms and six fingers. It had excellent handiwork.
Rip!
Skillfully tearing the letter.
Before scanning the contents, Evan had a small expectation.
‘Will it connect me with the Constellation Priestess?’
The Constellation Priestess was also one of the main helpers.
How many connections had he built already?
‘Already 3 people. Not bad?’
A satisfied smile naturally formed on his lips.
Of course, regular communication is essential.
The Saint has communicated once now.
Arthur hasn’t even replied yet.
‘I’m not sure if it’s working.’
The Saint, although there was some misunderstanding, exchanged letters with him.
There’s still no contact from Arthur.
I should know whether the Aura has been fixed or not.
‘Well, shall I focus on other people first?’
The Priestess of the Constellation.
The biggest advantage was the Priestess’s unique magic.
Celestial magic.
Magic that communicates with and forms contracts with those stars.
Magic that has been lost and have disappeared in the current Empire.
The reason? It was simple.
Because it was too difficult.
There were 3 conditions needed to learn celestial magic.
Talent, aptitude, eyes.
An ordinary level wasn’t enough for any of them.
One person per century.
That level of talent was required.
‘At this point, the Priestess of the Constellations is the only one.’
One who sees the constellations, reads the flow of stars, tells fortunes and reads destiny.
That was the Priestess of the Constellation.
‘I thought I would meet her much later, I was lucky.’
Evan looked at the letter content with a pounding heart.
‘… What is this?’
He doubted his eyes.
-This old one’s friend is an Alchemist. Quite a long-lived Alchemist. It will be helpful to you.
-If you bring this letter, they will meet you.
Not the Priestess of the Constellations?
An Alchemist?
No.
‘What about my helper? The Priestess of the Constellation?’
No, why an Alchemist?
I never asked to be introduced to one?
Evan looked with empty eyes.
‘Instead of an Alchemist, please introduce me to the Priestess of the Constellation…’
Ugh.
Feeling Blood pressure.
Thud.
Evan collapsed.
Reason: despair.
It was a fitting reason for his weak body.
After fainting like that, a day later.
News reached Evan.
“…Who did what?”
“The blood-crazed Holy Knight, Arthur Mordriter, cut down all the heretics… There are rumors going around about his Aura being restored, and about who’s behind it…”
“…”
News that Arthur Mordriter alone swept away the pagans and devil worshippers.
And, a letter arrived.
***
Arthur Mordriter.
Though not one of the continent’s 5 greatest powers, he was counted as a sufficient big shot and powerful knight.
Currently, his reputation has somewhat faded.
Having affiliated himself with an obscure new religion called the Full Moon Church, and rumors spreading that he had lost his Aura.
The fact that he hadn’t particularly continued active movements afterward was also a reason.
However, there were none who carelessly provoked Arthur.
In the past, during the time when Arthur was active.
The remnants of the fallen Holy Kingdom and its demon-worshippers. Each one possessed superhuman abilities that defied causality, making them dangerous to provoke.
Yet, Arthur single-handedly hunted them down.
One famous tale recounts how he relentlessly slew a bishop of the worshippers—cursed to rise again upon death—for 48 days without rest.
So when Arthur went into seclusion, the majority were pleased.
Monster.
Since the monster Holy Knight, whom even the 5 greatest powers couldn’t easily ignore, had gone into seclusion.
Such an Arthur had returned.
While alone sweeping through heretics, a group estimated to number at least 500.
In that process, rumors began to circulate.
First was the fact that Arthur had restored his Aura,
And second.
“…You’re saying rumors are circulating that there’s someone behind it?”
“Yes…”
Evan’s expression became serious.
…The problem was that those rumors were true.
Especially since he himself was the one behind it.
‘I expected something like this when recovering the aura.’
Isn’t it too early?
Unlike the rumors, Arthur is not a blood-crazed knight.
No, that’s actually right.
He just chooses his time and place.
‘The aura hall probably hasn’t been fully restored yet?’
Evan was manly enough to accurately assess his own capabilities.
A potion for aura hall recovery?
100% recovery was impossible.
This was the limit for an amateur method.
It wasn’t for nothing that he thought he needed to find a master.
‘It’s probably only half recovered…’
Is there a problem?
As Evan’s expression turned serious, Dolph quickly added.
“Fortunately, there were no rumors about the young master!”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes. Fortunately, only rumors about someone being behind it seem to have spread.”
That’s somewhat fortunate. Evan let out a sigh of relief.
He declined being in the spotlight. It would only make things tiresome.
If it’s already annoying within the family, how much more troublesome would it be in reality?
‘Whew, absolutely not.’
Attention? It’s nice to receive it.
But there’s always a price that comes with it.
Excessive attention becomes poison!
Evan had seen celebrities who constantly received media attention.
He had no intention of becoming like them.
“Please let me know if any rumors about me spread.”
“Yes! Understood!”
He made sure to emphasize this just in case.
If rumors spread?
He’d have to take immediate action.
Like moving to a quiet place or something.
‘That much shouldn’t matter.’
He wasn’t planning to get involved in the succession competition anyway.
He should just go boil some eggs.
“Evan. What’s that letter?”
“Ah. It’s a reply to the letter I sent.”
“Letter? Who did you send it to?”
“Arthur Mordriter, someone I’m trying to become friends with.”
“Trying to become…? Aren’t you already friends?”
“Not yet.”
Though I’m not sure what Arthur thinks of me.
Evan thought to himself as he opened the letter.
True to Arthur’s personality, the letter got straight to the point without any flowery language.
-I received the potion you sent well. Thanks to it, I eliminated the heretics who dared threaten the Full Moon Church.
-But there’s a problem.
‘Problem?’
-The Aura hall isn’t fully recovering. Moreover, the aura is causing a reaction in my body.
“…”
There were such side effects?
He searched through his memories of the original work, but there was no such memory.
Originally, Arthur’s aura hall gradually recovers.
That takes about 6 months in the original story.
Being half recovered at this point is incredibly fast.
Could it be because it’s too fast?
That doesn’t seem right.
Isn’t it just that he handled it roughly?
‘Ah, if only I had the strength!’
I should scold him for using it like that.
‘…Hmm. Maybe not?’
Of course, that thought only lasted for a moment.
It’s not that he’s scared at all. Just, well, you know?
It’s better not to have conflicts with someone who’s going to be a friend.
-That is all.
-From Arthur Mordriter.
That was the end of the letter.
…Did he really send a reply just to say this?
‘No way.’
Would he really just send this alone?
There must be a hidden meaning in this.
When buying a product and leaving a review, would there be no meaning in it?
It clearly contained an implied meaning, either asking for after-sales service if it wasn’t good, or asking for a refund.
‘Ah.’
Evan sighed. What kind of knight speaks so indirectly!
Damn supporting characters.
Making veiled threats like this?
The problem is there are no materials.
‘…Perhaps it’s fortunate that I was introduced to an alchemist?’
This might actually be a blessing in disguise.
‘Let’s see. The Blue-bearded Alchemist? Title is Count… hmm, a character I know.’
The Blue-bearded Count.
An old alchemist over a hundred years old who has lived by using alchemy to extend his life.
‘Ah geez. I don’t like this person…’
Is it fortunate that it’s someone I know?
There are 2 ways to get the ingredients needed now.
One is to go to the West directly,
And another is to go to the underworld.
The West is obviously far, and I didn’t want to go to the underworld.
Why would I go there to hear what they have to say!
I’d rather meet the Blue Bearded Count.
This person would have plenty of ingredients.
The downside is that I can’t summon him with an invitation.
To meet him, I had to go find him directly.
‘…I guess I’ll have to go out after a long time.’
-Please wait. I’ll send you a new potion.
First, I wrote a reply to Arthur’s letter.
The next phrase… nothing appropriate came to mind.
‘I should hurry and fix this.’
I let out a deep sigh.
“…Dolph. Please send this letter, and prepare for going out.”
“What?”
“I think I need to go out for a bit.”
“Ah! Yes! Then will you return this evening…”
“…I’ll probably need to sleep outside too. About a week or so.”
“…What?!”
Evan’s declaration of going out.
The mansion was turned upside down.
***
That night, evening.
On Full Moon Bridge.
“Good work, Holy Knight.”
“Mm.”
Arthur, wiping the heretics’ blood from his hands while walking up from the basement.
Adrianna was waiting for Arthur.
Adrianna asked in a vicious voice.
“Are you crazy?”
“…What do you mean?”
“I saw the letter you sent to Evan Alcart. Wasn’t that request too rude?”
“What request are you talking about?”
Arthur wore a puzzled expression.
Adrianna tapped the copy of the letter.
“This, aren’t you complaining that the potion was defective?”
“No. I just told him how it was.”
“…”
Of course, he had no intention to complain, nor any dissatisfaction.
Only half better?
Not ‘only’ half, but ‘at least’ half better.
The aura felt in his body.
He never thought he’d feel this again in his life.
“…”
While Adrianna was at a loss for words.
That’s when it happened.
Flap!
A bird flew in.
The Moon’s silver bird that usually delivers letters.
The bird that respectfully delivered the letter with its beak disappeared beyond the sky.
“Hm. A letter from Evan Alcart.”
Perhaps a thank you letter for the feedback.
Arthur opened the letter without much thought.
“…Hm.”
“What’s wrong?”
His expression became serious at once.
Inside the letter.
The content was extremely brief with neat handwriting.
-Please wait. I’ll send you a new potion.
A short sentence without any flowery words.
…Perhaps, is he angry?
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