Chapter 11: Beggar (4)

“I have prepared black tea…….”

“Silence enveloped the reception room.”

Theodor was glaring at the Shadow King, and the Shadow King was smiling wordlessly.

While rolling black pebbles with drrr in his hand.

Tak.

Dolph glanced cautiously and placed the black tea on the head seat.

Evan expressed thanks.

“Thank you, Dolph.”

“……Ah, no! Young master!”

Horok, Evan drinking black tea nonchalantly.

Calmness hard to believe in this atmosphere.

Dolph inwardly praised Evan.

As expected of the young master! Maintaining calm even in this atmosphere……!

Does it mean Theodor is no longer even a match?

Faint respect dwelled in Dolph’s eyes.

……Please don’t look with those eyes. It’s not like that.

Evan who felt it with whole body.

Evan who put down handmade decaf zero black tea inwardly clutched his heart.

Felt like heart would burst from tension.

Tense situation.

If Theodor commits one rudeness, neck could be sliced! with a slash.

Wasn’t sleep restless anyway!

Luck was bad in many ways.

Theodor who entered seclusion after runaway incident, ended seclusion today of all days.

Coincidentally, the Shadow King visited at that timing.

-What, this beggar bastard? Who let such beggar in?

-That…… E, Evan young master’s guest…….

What? Brother’s?

Originally, guests visiting mansion not rare.

For nobles, guests are means to show off connections.

Not often but steadily called guests.

Of course not Evan.

Evan had no friends let alone fiancee.

Insane result of lord’s indifference and pre-possession Evan’s hikikomori tendency combined.

Such Evan calling guest, naturally draws aggro.

Evan expected this.

So planned to end quickly.

……Ugh, gaze fierce.

Theodor was sending very hot gaze to Evan.

Understood.

Guests quite important.

Family’s fame changes depending on what guest.

Family that called crown prince,

Family that called serial killer beggar.

Obvious result if ponder which fame higher.

Alkart Ducal Family is high-rank historic family.

Such family called beggar?

If the beggar isn’t actually future-divining oracle, or god-possessed fortune teller or something, act dropping family’s dignity.

……Fortunately no words?

Amid misfortune fortunately, only cursing with eyes.

Evan inwardly prayed earnestly.

Please don’t act up.

You’ll die!

Clearly the Shadow King has low risk.

Only under condition of being polite.

Act rude?

Then death roulette spins immediately.

Roulette is of course those black pebbles.

Not bang like Russian roulette, but slash! and die.

Others don’t know this.

Need to end this seat quickly.

Evan firmly resolved and opened mouth.

Without showing trembling as much as possible.

Not because scared, but tense.

“Thank you for visiting my mansion today.”

“Kekek! This old man is grateful for young master’s generosity inviting this old man.”

The Shadow King expressed thanks moving body excessively.

Like a host on stage.

“Is it okay to let this old man into such luxurious mansion?”

“……Inviting guest is my authority. No one can say anything. Also, since for exchanging what we have, there’s justification.”

Evan continued calmly.

“Seems only need elder to spare enough time…….!”

It was then.

“From what I hear, can’t let pass. Exchange?”

Theodor opened mouth.

With eyes glaring fiercely.

“Does it mean our family is so lowly to exchange with such old man, brother?”

Ah, please! You’ll die!

Nearly a week was the worst days for Theodor.

-Repent.

-What? What is that…..do

Kidnapped, demanded repentance.

Repentance.

Meaning admit sin, confess to god and wash sin.

What sin did I commit?

Absurd for atheist Theodor who committed no sin.

-I committed no sin.

Despite Theodor’s rebuttal, kidnapper unaffected.

Threw into sunless place, used expensive artifact to play hymns all day.

Without physical torture, only mentally.

Suffered mental torture and pondered deeply.

What on earth did I do wrong?

Wrong?

Did nothing.

Studied hard, strived to fulfill noble’s duty.

What he did was ignore incompetent brother.

Brother living like scoundrel, sitting in eldest position, receiving father’s interest.

Subject resembling duke in appearance, but behavior not at all, shameful blood relative.

Scoundrel rampaging to revive concubine mother.

Holed up in room not coming out, so social circle even calls him ‘recluse’.

Considering fame changes by what nickname or connections, truly shameful title.

Ignoring such guy wrong?

Yeah.

Not just words, used a bit violence.

After that beaten several times more by golem.

Couldn’t understand at all.

So refused repentance, but Theodor youngest pampered, mental not that strong.

Eventually at last.

-Repent, I repent! This fucking bastard! I repent!

-Finally repenting. Don’t forget. That one is absolutely not for you to touch.

After that, doubts not resolved even after rescued by strange golem that came coincidentally.

What is that mere guy!

Kidnapper, duke, all want him!

“God……. “

Theodor offered prayer every night in secluded room.

Please kill Evan Alkart……. Why give me such trial…… If only he disappears, I can stand higher, what does father like…….!

Accumulated complaints and dissatisfactions.

Mixed with jealousy.

Jealousy towards talent Evan harbors.

Alchemist must be chosen one.

Similar to magic. Magic also not just potion making, need innate talent.

Alchemy not stop at just making potions.

Changes at will through 3 processes: [understand], [decompose], [reconstruct] contacted material.

Evan born with such power.

1 year learning alchemy, enough to make name in underworld within.

Not even active much.

Just twice.

Received title with just two activities.

Achievement even duke’s eldest couldn’t achieve.

Hated him so much, jealous.

Holed up in room, coward can’t even meet eyes, he such great?

Change didn’t take long.

Changed overnight.

Using strange polite speech, meeting eyes.

After that started mastering alchemy ‘properly’.

At this rate might really execute taboo resurrecting dead.

Emotion rising from that.

That was faint fear beyond jealousy.

So planned to stay quiet today…….

What is that beggar old man that he lowers himself so?

Couldn’t understand.

If that beggar really ‘big shot’, father would have stepped in.

But didn’t.

Worthless old man.

Exactly as appears.

Then why bowing head?

Dropping family fame?

Still young Theodor.

Hard to control impulse.

So words spat unknowingly.

But, Theodor instantly regretted past.

Gaze staring at Evan.

Feels like whole body freezing.

Eyes containing no emotion.

If contained anger or contempt, could understand.

However, absolutely no emotion.

“I never said our family is lowly.”

Even tone.

Dry voice revealing no emotion.

“The guest I unilaterally called. Didn’t stake family name nor fame. Just for exchange with this person. Receive technique this person left, I give compensation.”

“Can’t understand. What technique that old man-“

“Experience and history, such things. Even if not grand, accumulated, gains that much weight and power.”

Calmly.

Evan continued in voice like admonishing child.

“Acting like now, quite rude. Theodor.”

“……!”

Name called first time.

Goosebumps all over.

As if saying if cross ‘line’ one more time, will pay price.

“Understand?”

“Understand. Brother.”

‘……Seems I overreacted. Rest well.”

Breath opened with tuk.

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

Leather armor squirming like alive.

Didn’t know due to material, that too golem.

That staff on chair.

Familiar.

That too golem.

All golems.

From start this reception room itself swarming with golems.

Th, that……

Gaze fixedly staring at Theodor.

Golden color exactly resembling duke.

Pressure more than when suffered mental torture to repent.

When want to leave right now.

Tok tok!

“Evan. May I enter for a moment?”

“You may enter.”

Door opened.

Girl with white hair, red eyes, mysterious atmosphere trotted in.

Girl said in energetic voice.

“Evan! I finally tried improved potato this time!”

“Improved potato?”

“Yes! Incredibly bigger and contains mana so delicious……! Especially steamed more delicious……!”

Bright girl’s voice changing atmosphere pleasantly.

Dry gaze turned to child.

Theodor inwardly relieved.

S, survived.

“Good, Lapis. Greet.”

“Ah! Person saw yesterday……! Hello!”

“Kekek. Nice to meet, little miss.”

Lapis?

Name familiar.

Evan’s newly brought slave.

But that more than slave…….

Cherished little sister…… isn’t it?

“Lapis. What did you eat today?” “Carrot and…… potato and…… salad!”

“Meat?”

“Not want yet…….”

Slave backtalk?

Appearance refusing master’s order, noble blood boiled.

Should bravely step in now?

Then Lapis gathered both hands.

Threads shuk shuk came out and bundled into pretty shape on own.

Thread knitting skill improved more. Well done.”

“Ehehe.”

Theodor bravely suppressed dissatisfaction.

In between, the Shadow King who watched him interestingly opened mouth.

“When should this old man teach? Hoho. Since this old man has little time left, staying long a bit no.”

“By any chance, can explain the technique to teach in advance?”

“Nothing special. Degree of moving body a bit.”

Then, not to me but”

Hwik.

Evan carefully grabbed Lapis’s both shoulders and moved to his front.

“Can you teach this child?”

“?!”

“?!”

Such opportunity, delegating to mere slave?

Their eyes widened round.

Watching them, Evan inwardly thought.

No, how can I learn technique?

What the Shadow King has is technique.

Naturally assassination technique.

Or footwork or.

But.

Learning that, whole body would shatter.

Evan congenitally weak body.

That too very much.

Lucky if ankle not sprain doing.

Not strange if cartilage goes out entirely.

Delegating to Lapis, a bit worrying but…….

If loser Han-ol Lee maybe, choice only man Evan who survived 1 year in this world can make!

Instead of me deliver letters, fight too. Kill two birds one stone?

“Kekek! Okay to pass such opportunity to slave?”

Tone like giving chance to choose once more.

Evan nodded.

“Yes. Fine. Rather than me, right for fitting person.”

“Kekek! Good. Wise ruler.”

As if pleased, pebbles still docile.

The Shadow King approached Lapis, squatted, matched eyes.

“Little one. Chat with this grandpa a bit?”

“Yes!”

“Let’s see, yes. Talent? ……? Vegetarian? ……?

Huh, hoho…… This heavenly killing star?

Exists. Very outstanding. 

“This level heavenly killing star for sure. Then good. Was nothing in history…….”

Can work out?