Chapter 3- Picked Up (1)
Running away from home.
A dangerous act of deliberately leaving a safe home.
For me, who has become a first-year veteran of survival, it was an incomprehensible choice.
‘Even in this world without police or CCTV, why would someone go crazy and leave?’
Did they perhaps hit their head hard?
“Was there no reason other than repentance?”
“He left only a letter on the desk saying ‘I will return after repenting’…”
“Hmm.”
Evan scratched his chin.
‘What is the real reason for leaving?’
That’s not just a sign of attachment, it’s a stupid act.
And the reason is repentance?
Theodore, who is an atheist?
This is somewhat suspicious.
The Alcart Duke Family is typically a family that does not believe in God.
-God is something only weak people believe in.
The true dark mastermind who even controls the underworld.
An atheist who only values his own power and wealth.
Isn’t that exactly who the Duke of Alcart is?
‘Their children were similar in personality too.’
Of course, the reason looks strange.
Could it be that people with a grudge against the Alcart family or devil worshippers kidnapped him?
‘No way. Who would be crazy enough to kidnap someone?’
Breaking through the Duke’s security would be impossible at an ordinary level.
A 6th-tier wizard, a high-level expert knight.
At least that would be the minimum requirement.
There’s no way such a skilled person would be in this remote area.
Even if they existed, success itself would be uncertain.
“What about the criminal’s traces?”
“Not found yet…”
But they still haven’t found the criminal.
Perfect crime.
To succeed this perfectly, one would need to be at the level of Arthur Modriter.
‘But there’s no way Arthur is the criminal.’
He’s a madman, but not the type to commit kidnapping.
What on earth is going on?
Evan fell into confusion!
‘Damn it, I don’t know.’
He shook his head to clear away the confusion.
His vision spun momentarily.
Drip!
“Ugh, ugh.”
“Young master! Quick, your nose!”
Blood dripped from his nose.
Evan, who had lowered his head, grumbled.
‘This damn body. Need to fix it quickly.’
That’s why he’s trying to persuade his helpers…
He needs to focus on this matter right now.
His task is simple.
Potion making and writing letters.
However,
‘From the next helper, it’ll be difficult to send letters.’
Approximately four helpers remain.
The candidates have been narrowed down based on personality and skills.
The wandering dark king.
The priestess of the constellation,
The witch of the swamp,
The Northern Grand Duke.
All are difficult to meet right now.
‘The wandering dark king and the priestess of the constellation appear randomly.’
The Northern Grand Duke and the witch of the swamp have fixed locations.
Instead, the difficulty has increased exponentially.
‘Currently, the North is off-limits. The swamp requires passing a trial… it’s difficult.’
To meet them right now, one would need the skills of Adrianna or Arthur, right?
They are all top-tier powerhouses even at this point.
Or perhaps other helpers.
‘Can’t arbitrarily use them…’
Don’t forget.
I am the lowest.
Acting presumptuous might get me killed.
It was frustrating, but unavoidable.
In this world, the strong are the masters.
‘Still, I wonder…’
Isn’t there someone who is strong but has low recognition and low self-esteem, easy to manipulate?
Then, a few characters flashed through his mind.
‘…Well, there are some.’
Sins.
Villains who become enemies of the player and the continent in the latter half.
Those monsters who symbolize each sin and could potentially destroy an entire country – wouldn’t they be capable of anything?
In terms of talent alone, the Sins were superior to the helpers.
‘For example, the Sin of Wrath single-handedly destroyed an entire kingdom.’
A mountain of blood that turned a kingdom inside out.
Although he had only seen it through a monitor, the scene was still vivid.
That was the nature of the Sins – having crazy strength and personality.
But he had just thought of them.
He had no plans to do anything about it.
‘Am I crazy to try to persuade them?’
It’s not about moral philosophy.
What matters is that they later become monsters who kill countless lives.
Bears and tigers cannot be tamed.
Creatures who would eat their owner as soon as they get hungry.
‘I must absolutely not touch anything dangerous.’
Thump, thump!
At that moment.
Someone knocked on the door.
“!”
Dolph jumped up from his seat.
Evan stared at the door with an expressionless face.
‘Oh shit! My heart.’
While gripping his trembling heart internally.
“Who, who is it?”
“Excuse me. Is Young Master Evan inside?”
“Yes? Yes! He is inside!”
“Would you mind opening the door for a moment?”
A polite tone and voice.
An extremely rare courteous attitude in this mansion.
Evan and Dolph looked at each other with bewildered faces.
Someone in this mansion would treat Evan so respectfully…?
“Wh-what is the matter?”
“A light investigation. It’s nothing else but…”
The voice beyond the door hesitated for a moment.
“There are witnesses claiming Young Master Evan is the criminal.”
…Me?
***
Theodore has disappeared.
The disappearance of the beloved youngest child.
Naturally, the mansion was turned upside down.
But, this is an opportunity for another.
The eldest son poured out criticism, saying now is the time for the competitor’s disappearance.
– The youthful impulsiveness is good, but not suitable for an heir.
– But as a loving brother, I will find my sibling.
Because of this, the knight commander Perok, who was out on a business trip combined with vacation, was struck by lightning from a clear sky.
Perok returned urgently.
“……Who is the culprit?”
Perok doubted his ears.
What? Who is the culprit?
“Rumors continue that Young Master Evan seems to be the culprit.”
……Young Master Evan?
“He doesn’t seem to be that kind of person.”
“I’m surprised too. Despite seemingly not having that kind of capability.”
The reporting knight scratched his head.
However, their surprise was slightly different.
If the knight’s surprise was ‘that guy?’,
Perok’s was ‘that person?’
“I thought the maids were mistaken… but the newly joined knights have also seen it.”
“Hmm.”
Perok stroked his rough chin.
He knew that Theodore had been bullying Evan usually.
Perhaps it was similar yesterday too.
Did he cross the line?
Even if so, would Evan really have committed the kidnapping?
‘How strange.’
‘That Evan’ shouldn’t be this impatient.
“Will you go to check directly?”
At the knight’s words, Perok, who had been contemplating, slowly rose.
Squeak!
The chair let out a short scream.
“……I should. I have a duty to first identify the culprit.”
“Then I’ll go.”
“No. I’ll go.”
“Are you saying you’ll go personally, Knight Commander?”
The knight expressed doubt.
Evan Alcart was a rare alchemist on the continent, but just that.
Weak in body and mind, and a good-for-nothing who just throws tantrums.
Though he had been quiet for a year, how long could that last?
The public opinion was that he would return to being a good-for-nothing after coming of age.
Despite that, he buys strange herbs and eats away at the family’s money like a parasite.
He was not someone a knight like Perok, who was a commoner-born but outstanding and received a baronet, would directly deal with.
“Why am I stepping forward?” Perok chuckled. “Because of your attitude right now.”
“……I’m sorry.”
“I’m not saying that you should apologize. I’m saying that you should know from now on. I’m afraid of him too sometimes.”
“……Afraid? Of him? You mean Young Master Evan?”
“Yes.”
“Haha! I didn’t know the Knight Commander could make such jokes!”
The knight burst into laughter.
The laughter stopped instantly.
Because Perok’s expression was serious.
“You don’t know. How terrifying Young Master Evan is.”
Perok’s rank was an upper-rank Sword Expert.
A knight qualified to reach the level of Sword Master.
His eyes saw many things.
Enough to guess a bit of the Duke’s intentions.
But
‘Nothing can be read from Young Master Evan.’
Nothingness.
How terrifying a word that is.
Humans feel fear from the unknown.
It was the same when facing someone whose intentions cannot be read at all.
Evan was always expressionless.
Some said he was frightening, but Perok could surely say that wasn’t it.
From his eye shape to the slightest corner of his mouth.
Not a single muscle moved, like a wooden statue.
Yet when he makes other expressions, aren’t they unnatural?
It meant he was meticulously controlling each of his muscles completely.
If it wasn’t completely petrified.
‘Perfect face control… something that would require being at least a Duke…’
Decisively, the rumors about Evan.
More precisely, the rumors spread in the ‘underworld’ where the Count primarily exerts influence.
‘If even half, no, a part of those rumors are true… he cannot be called a mere good-for-nothing.’
Evan had only learned alchemy for 3 years.
Within that time, such ‘rumors’ spread in the underworld…
Perok’s fear was, in a way, natural.
‘Someone so thoroughly self-controlled would not suddenly kidnap Young Master Theodore.’
He needed to clear the misunderstanding.
At the moment of even slightly hurting his feelings.
This entire mansion would be turned upside down by Evan’s will,
Or golems would massacre everyone,
Or everyone would be infected with an unknown disease,
Various misfortunes would surely arrive.
A death where the culprit could never be found.
An <Alchemist> who can change forms with a single gesture and create what he wants.
The limited legitimate alchemist on the continent, Evan, could do endless things.
“I will no longer receive reports. Block any talk about Young Master Evan. Not just outside the mansion, but also inside.”
“……Understood.”
Perok, who blocked mentions of Evan to prepare for any possibilities, moved his heavy steps.
“Whew.”
Knock, knock.
Standing in front of the door, Perok knocked.
He intended to speak to Evan with utmost respect.
Fortunately, it worked well.
What remains is-
“It’s a light investigation. Nothing else…”
Asking Evan’s intentions.
Perok, who organized his words for a moment, asked,
“There are witness accounts that Young Master Evan is the culprit.”
-…….
A moment of silence.
Perok swallowed hard.
He had no idea what reaction Evan would show.
If he were to become angry?
Perok would have to be prepared to offer his neck.
-Open the door.
-Yes, yes!
Squeak!
The door opened.
The moment it opened, a thick herbal scent and an unidentifiable potion smell wafted out.
Evan, as always, sat expressionless at his desk.
“……I’m the culprit?”
“I’m not certain, but there are witness accounts.”
……It doesn’t seem like he’s angry.
If he were angry, his speech would have dropped.
In fact, since Evan started using honorifics, he has never used informal speech.
Perhaps, it’s a ‘restriction’ he placed on himself, he could only guess.
The aftermath if that were to be released was something Perok didn’t want to imagine.
“……Are those witness accounts certain?”
“They are not certain.”
“I see… Ahem. I see.”
‘He’s holding back his anger.’
“First, I am not the culprit. All my golems are in my room.”
“I understand.”
“Knight Commander. Investigate further–”
“Quiet.”
Perok silenced the knight.
There was no need to unnecessarily provoke Evan’s mood.
If he says he’s not the one, then he’s not.
The strong were originally like that.
“……But this way, suspicion won’t disappear.”
“Huh? But…”
“I’ll send a few of my golems. Use these children to investigate.”
A few golems walked forward.
Like a dog in shape.
Not an insult, but actually true.
Just a bit unusual.
‘……Six legs?’
It had six legs and a slightly elongated neck.
More like a monster than a dog.
What’s with this appearance?
Perok swallowed the words that were about to burst out and hurriedly bowed his head.
Fortunately, his expression was hidden.
“……Thank you for your consideration.”
“Likewise. Both of you have worked hard.”
After exchanging courteous greetings as knights, Perok and the knight withdrew.
As the two left the room, Evan let out a sigh of relief internally.
‘Haaaaa…….’
Fortunately, they didn’t ask why the golems were in the room.
Most would have answered, ‘Because I was scared.’
‘More importantly, me as the culprit?’
……Me?
Why on earth?
‘I’m just an ordinary possession user, a commoner?’
Why did such rumors spread?
‘Ah, PTSD.’
Evan suddenly recalled an old memory and rubbed the back of his neck.
Dolph asked in a worried voice,
“Young master…… Can the misunderstanding be cleared up?”
“We can only hope. Besides, I sent the cutest ones.”
“?”
Dolph looked back at Evan with a ‘What are you talking about’ expression.
Evan also looked back with the same expression.
The two exchanged glances for a moment.
Dolph hurriedly spoke,
“……Those golems are really cute!”
“Thank you.”
Golem Dog.
Originally just a golem resembling a dog.
A golem arbitrarily modified by Evan.
It would be good if he could modify it a bit more.
It was still a source of frustration that his skill level was low.
“Please make yourself comfortable while waiting.”
“Oh, no. I’ll bring lunch right away!”
“Yes.”
Evan moved the golems.
‘I should make a few more recovery potions just in case. In case they suddenly roll their eyes and come to kill me…….’
The night deepened.
***
That evening.
“Young Master Theodore has returned! The Golem Dog was of great help!”
“Fortunately, that’s good. ……But what is this?”
“Well…….”
Theodore had returned,
“Huh?”
The Golem Dog had brought something strange.
Evan was silent for a moment.
White hair with blood-red eyes.
Touching threads with both hands as if doing embroidery,
And biting one of the Golem Dog’s legs with her mouth.
‘……No, crazy.’
That appearance and way of acting.
He instinctively recognized who it was.
[The Sin of Wrath, Ira.]
A monster who turned an entire kingdom into a bloodbath.
The golem he sent to find his missing half-brother.
He had picked up a future sin.
Ira looked at Evan and her eyes sparkled.
“Wow, a delicious smell.”
……Help me, people.
