Chapter 23: I’m Not That Kind of Person (4)

While Evan was being grossly misunderstood, on the way to the barrier, Lapis interrogated Super.

“Why did you suddenly say we had to go? Because of this, Evan couldn’t enjoy the ball!” 

“Wasn’t he already not enjoying it?”

Super’s words left Evan speechless.

Ugh!

It felt like a cold dagger had pierced his heart.

Not enjoying it?

He wasn’t not enjoying it; he just chose not to.

A true man doesn’t admit to such things.

Like a proper man, Evan rejected the truth.

Unaware of this, Super glanced at Evan cautiously, as if checking if he’d upset him.

Perhaps feeling guilty, Super quietly added, “…I wasn’t mocking you.”

“Hmph. If you were, I’d have flicked your forehead.”

Ahem.

As Super apologized, Evan softened.

Fine.

He said it wasn’t on purpose.

It definitely wasn’t because Evan was worried Super might get angrier if he got upset.

Absolutely not.

Super spoke again.  

“…I’m sorry. But I have to meet that person.”

“Who’s there?”

“I don’t know their name… but…”

Super hesitated briefly.

Lapis stared at him, her red eyes glinting with an eerie light.

She held a carrot in her hand, gripped backward.

Hmm, she wouldn’t swing that like a dagger, would she?

No way.

How could a carrot kill someone?

“…They were the one ‘managing’ me.”  

“Managing?”

“Yeah.”

Super clamped his mouth shut, refusing to say more.

As expected of someone with the talent for pride.

He had a knack for making people curious.

The first way was cutting off mid-sentence, and the second…

The connection between Super and the heretics.

There wasn’t anything like that in the original story, was there?

Super was one of the sins who appeared out of nowhere.

A hidden boss manipulating the unified religion from the shadows.

That was Super’s first and last appearance.

Wait. Is it for revenge?

Weren’t the ones who held Super captive the heretic remnants?

Maybe they had a long-standing grudge.

It’d be enough to wound his pride.

After all, he’s a future Sin.

Though he doesn’t know it himself.

Revenge… Should I let him have it?

Lapis, well, they were close now.

She probably wouldn’t mess with Evan.

She might even protect him.

But Super was different.

They weren’t that close yet.

If Evan suggested turning back now?

Super might get angry, thinking Evan was interfering with his revenge.

That’s a bit scary.

Would it be okay to just let him go alone?

As Evan seriously pondered this, a BOOM! echoed from beyond the barrier.

At the same time, a silver aura shot toward the sky.

Ah.

Arthur’s aura.

This was the first time seeing it in person.

Evan looked on with interest.

It’s really restored?

The aura was as thick as a pillar, radiating a light strong enough to illuminate the surroundings.

And that was supposedly only half of his prime strength?

No, maybe even less?

Arthur’s greatest flaw was his damaged Aura Hole.

But that wasn’t the only issue.

There was also a curse left by the Moon God.

The Curse of the Full Moon.

A curse that caused pain during non-night hours.

A power that forced Arthur to rely on the moon.

That was likely why he couldn’t completely wipe out the heretics.

Should I give him that potion first?

Evan rummaged through his belongings.

He had prepared two potions for this.

One was the Aura Hole Restoration Potion.

The other was a potion to dispel the Moon God’s curse.

He’d made them just in case.

I’ll have to ask about it later.

Since their dear customer had submitted an A/S request…

No, wait.

Couldn’t he use this to his advantage?

To persuade Arthur.

Or rather, to make a deal.

To handle the scary stuff for him!

Not bad.

He was already worried about Super, but if Arthur joined?

It’d be like having a reliable bodyguard.

They’d even exchanged letters before.

He’d probably agree to a favor like this.

“Yes!”

“Alright. Let’s head in.”

Lapis replied brightly.

Evan placed both hands on No. 4.

As No. 4 opened the barrier, they stepped through.

A blood-soaked werewolf lay collapsed, while Arthur stood tall.

Was this bad timing?

***

Cough!

Graize, the Red Nails, spat out a mouthful of blood.

The area was littered with the bodies of heretics.

Not a single survivor could be found.

Total annihilation.

It wasn’t an army that did this.

Just one person.

The nightmare of the heretics, who had chased them this far.

“…You monstrous bastard—”

Cough!

Graize glared at Arthur.

“You chased us all the way here?”  

“No.”

Swipe— Arthur wiped the blood from his sword with a cloth and said, “Coincidence.”  

“Coincidence, my foot.”  

“Exactly what I said. I had no intention of targeting you.”

Arthur glanced toward the mansion where the ball was in full swing.

“You were unlucky, and I was fortunate.”

No, could it even be called luck?

Once could be a coincidence, but twice wasn’t.

“Or perhaps, it was someone’s plan.”

“A… plan?”

Graize realized Arthur was talking about someone else.

A faint emotion in his voice.

Fear or respect, it was hard to tell.

For that demon to feel such emotions?

“They knew we’d come?”

What kind of monster could…!

Graize gritted his teeth.

He didn’t know who it was, but they were clearly a major figure.

To toy with that demon so easily.

It felt like being a pawn on a chessboard.

He had to escape and warn his comrades, fighting alone out there!

That’s when it happened.

Ziiing!

The barrier trapping them began to tremble.

RUMBLE!

Could it be?

Reinforcements?

A flicker of hope crossed Graize’s face.

Creak!

The barrier opened like a door, and someone stepped through.

It was a golem.

Its limbs were unnaturally long, and its obsidian body gleamed under the moonlight.

That’s…

Graize looked at the figure atop the golem.

A cloak fluttering in the night breeze.

Jet-black hair and golden eyes.

An expressionless face, unreadable.

Arthur muttered softly, “Evan Alkart.”

That young kid… is Evan Alkart?

A boy who hasn’t even had his coming-of-age ceremony?

Unbelievable.

He had the aura of the Duke himself.

He’s similar.

Heretics were inevitably entangled with the underworld.

As a bishop, Graize had seen the Duke a few times.

Those golden eyes were strikingly similar.

As Graize stared at Evan, cold sweat dripped from his forehead.

A monster!

Not a single emotion could be read.

Graize’s strengths were his sense of smell and sight.

He could see the tiniest details, even the hairs on someone’s body.

Yet, nothing could be read?

Such perfect control.

A presence he’d only felt from the Duke or Bishop Blake.

To think such a presence came from a kid like that.

I need to escape… now…

Step.

The golem took a step closer.

Evan gazed at him slowly.

The moment their emotionless eyes met, Graize’s body froze.

Swoosh.

The golem carefully set Evan down.

Evan stood alone.

“Pleased to meet you.”

Evan spoke, looking at Arthur.

“Arthur Modriter. Correct?”  

“Correct.”

As if he’d never been standing casually, Arthur sheathed his sword and bowed respectfully.

“Arthur Modriter, Knight of the Full Moon. It’s an honor to meet you in person.”  

“The honor is mine.”

Polite speech.

It suited him so well it was chilling.

Even matching such minor etiquette.

He felt like a mastermind controlling everything.

Evan glanced over.

“And this is?”  

“Bishop Graize. One of the leaders of the heretic remnants.”

Graize sensed Arthur’s unease.

“…My work wasn’t thorough, so some remnants remain.”

“It’s fine.”

Evan shook his head slowly, reassuring him.

Like a benevolent lord gently overlooking a subordinate’s mistake.

Could it be…

“You did a clean job. No shortcomings.”

“!”

Evan Alkart was behind Arthur?

Then…

Our annihilation was all…

Part of Evan Alkart’s scheme?!

“I’m more concerned I might have interfered.”

“Thanks to you, I realized my shortcomings. I never felt inconvenienced.”  

“That’s a relief.”

The true enemy wasn’t Arthur.

Evan Alkart!

He was the real enemy of the heretics!

Grrrr…!!

The moment Graize lost control and let his rage surge, a murderous aura shot from the golem’s direction.

Shudder!

His body trembled with fear.

Forcing his head up, he saw a girl with white hair and red eyes glaring at him.

In her hand… a carrot?

Something he’d normally ignore.

But now, it felt more dangerous than any legendary sword.

And beside her.

A blue-haired kid.

Familiar.

“You… Super…!”

Super.

The child with a grand destiny, ordered by the god to be managed.

The one who could sway even a bishop with his silver tongue.

Why was he here?

To toy with Evan?

No.

Evan wasn’t even glancing at him.

Completely unreliant.

Super was staring at Evan intensely.

As if trying to burn him with his gaze.

Even Super is in his grasp?

A destiny even the god couldn’t touch?

Just how far did he see?

What did he want?

His rage began to twist into something else.

Fear.

Like the first time he encountered the god—

No! That’s not important!

Graize shook his head.

The outcome didn’t matter.

The water was already spilled.

If so—

He had to do his best now.

“Super!!!!”

Graize roared.

Arthur didn’t even have time to react.

“It’s the god’s command!”

The sole privilege given to the manager.

The right to command.

For someone with a destiny like Super’s, an undeniable order!

“Kill him now!”

Super’s hand twitched.

That was it.

He didn’t move an inch.

“…?”

Why isn’t he moving?

He said he’d obey, didn’t he?

That’s when it happened.

Lapis, beside him, moved her hand, and something white flashed before his eyes.

Slash—

His vision soared into the sky.

Graize realized too late that his neck had been severed.

Lapis’s voice, steeped in fury, rang out.

“How dare you target Evan?”

Her crimson eyes burned.

Within them, gears clicked and turned.

He realized too late.

That white-haired girl also carried a destiny like Super’s.

The same…

Two Sins…?

A destiny even the god couldn’t handle.

To have two of them and remain unfazed?

What kind of immense destiny did he carry?

I got involved with the wrong person.

A figure far too big.

Oh, God…!

Graize slowly closed his eyes.

Before his consciousness faded, he prayed one last time to his god.

Hoping blessings would reach his remaining comrades.

Roll, roll!

The severed head rolled on the ground.

Evan looked down with an expressionless face.

Arthur spoke.

“She seems very angry.”  

“Lapis.”

“…I’m sorry, Evan.”

Realizing she’d gone too far, Lapis grew somber.

Evan, staring at her for a moment.

Goddamn! That was terrifying.

He was already nervous facing Arthur, and now he was even more shaken!

It wouldn’t be strange if he fainted right there!

Somehow, he held onto his composure.

Fainting here would ruin everything.

He had to endure!

“I’m sorry…”

“It’s alright. You did well.”

Evan patted Lapis’s head.

He turned to Super.

“Did you achieve your goal?”

Super remained silent.

His expression alone showed his dissatisfaction.

Was one bishop not enough?

That’s when Arthur spoke.

“There are more heretics nearby.”  

“!”  

“To be precise, there’s an ‘ancient dungeon’ they were using as a base.”

An ancient dungeon?

Oh.

Like an instant dungeon?

A one-time dungeon.

Clear it once, and it’s done.

Usually filled with strange murals.

The rewards were useful, right? Probably.

The rewards were typically ancient golem cores or valuable materials.

He’d planned to go there in about two years.

Why not now?

Not because he was scared.

His body was still weak.

You never know.

Going now wouldn’t be bad, though?

Going to a dungeon alone could mean dying.

Gotta be cautious.

“On my own, it’d be dangerous, but with you, it might be different.”  

“…?”

Me?

As Evan blinked in confusion, Super, tempted by the prospect, looked at him.

“…I want to go.”  

“Super.”  

“If I go there… I think I’ll find the answers I want.”

For the first time, Super showed a hint of desperation.

A reaction fitting the Sin of Pride.

What’s in that dungeon?

Ugh, I can’t resist a hidden piece.

A desperate guy like Han-ol Lee might resist, but Evan, a seasoned survivor in his first year, was tempted.

Hidden pieces or dungeon rewards would greatly aid survival.

You never know.

There might be valuable golem-making materials.

Plus, he had reliable allies here.

“…Arthur.”  

“Speak.” 

“I propose a deal.”

Suppressing his trembling heart, Evan reached into 

his pocket.

If he accepts, I go. If he refuses, I go!

“A potion to further restore your Aura Hole, or one to dispel the curse.”

“!”  

“I’ll give you one. Will you accompany me?”

Arthur’s eyes widened.

Shock.

How does he know about my curse?

Not even the Saintess or his brother knew.

Was he connected to the god?

No.

If he were tied to that hateful god, Arthur would’ve known.

Then did he figure it out?

With those eyes?

…Terrifying.

This could all be part of his grand plan.

Even scarier, there was no escaping it.

Was dispelling the curse really possible?

If so…

As the Saintess said, he might save his brother.

“The curse.”  

Arthur spoke.  

“I choose the curse.”

Even if it meant becoming his pawn.

If he could cut down that hateful moon and break this curse.

All of this was to sever the moon.

If you want, I’ll gladly be your sword.

He’d willingly play along in this game.