Chapter 6: Picked Up (4)

Shadow.

Arthur Modriter’s loyal servant and a reformed assassin.

Also a disciple of [REDACTED].

His level was an upper Sword Expert.

A realm capable of annihilating an entire army single-handedly.

Yet he had been silently eliminated.

Overwhelmingly, at that.

How did this happen?

Neither Adrianna nor Arthur knew about this.

If they had, Arthur would have contacted him first.

In other words.

Evan had taken out Shadow without anyone noticing.

What was his true identity?

Knowing secrets only God and Adrianna should know.

Knowing Arthur Modriter’s secrets.

Possessing such overwhelming strength.

Wasn’t he like an absolute being?

…Maybe not to that extent. But—

His extraordinary power was undeniable.

His cunning must be exceptional too.

The potion Evan had sent.

It had worked.

That’s why Adrianna could do nothing.

That potion.

It was the only lifeline to cure her illness.

…It seems he didn’t like our gift.

He must have a rather violent personality.

Adrianna recorded this information.

Evan Alkart.

All that was known was that he was the second son of the ducal family, an ‘alchemist,’ and physically frail.

Even his face wasn’t widely known.

His reclusive nature played a big part.

The only person he interacted with was his servant.

A few days ago, a slave had been added.

They said she came along when he sent a golem to retrieve Theodor Alkart.

Nothing particularly special.

Just a bit pretty?

There were rumors she was a chimera, but Adrianna didn’t believe them.

Chimeras were monsters.

Within Adrianna’s common sense, chimeras couldn’t take human form.

They were created as slaughter machines.

There was no reason for them to look human.

Having a pretty slave or servant was a noble’s privilege.

No big deal.

The girl was roughly ten years old.

No matter how prodigious, a ten-year-old couldn’t defeat an upper Sword Expert.

Let alone someone of that caliber.

It could only be assumed there was some hidden power.

…For now, gathering information comes first.

She couldn’t win against him now.

Adrianna admitted defeat.

Her first taste of defeat.

She had always been triumphant.

From birth and upbringing,

Even after being cursed.

Chosen as the Saintess, hearing God’s will,

Manipulating the Sun Temple as she pleased,

Maintaining amicable relations with the Full Moon Church,

And forging ties with other continental powerhouses.

An unobstructed, smooth path.

For the first time, an obstacle had appeared.

Her cold heart raced fiercely.

One part tension,

The other, a ‘desire to win.’

Heh, heh heh. Alright.

Evan Alkart, possibly the true mastermind toying with them from above.

He was a ‘rival’ and a ‘wall’ Adrianna had to overcome.

“Heh, heh heh heh. Let’s see who’s playing whom…”

Completely misunderstanding Evan’s intentions, Adrianna unfolded the letter.

“Well then.”

The corners of her lips curled upward.

***

Chirp chirp!

The next morning.

Evan woke up refreshed.

…What’s this feeling of being late?

He glanced around the room.

It was hard to see clearly.

The curtains were drawn.

“Dolph.”

“Y-Yes, Young Master.”

Dolph’s voice was stiff.

Beyond tense, it was clearly frightened.

Evan’s face hardened.

Did someone sneak in?

Clank! Clank!

The golems surrounded Evan.

He subtly shifted to the corner of the bed.

Damn it!

If only he wasn’t such a heavy sleeper, he could’ve handled this coolly!

No, wait. My life is the most important thing…

He wasn’t about to risk death by stepping in recklessly.

Hiding his trembling hands, Evan spoke.

“Carefully pull back the curtains.”

“N-No, you can’t!”

Dolph shouted, trying to stop him.

But the golem was cold and precise.

Its obsidian arm drew back the curtains.

Swoosh!

Sunlight poured in, revealing the room’s full scene.

“…Oh, damn it.”

Evan couldn’t help but curse.

In the corner of the room.

A bright red cocoon, the size of an adult man, sat ominously.

Drip, drip.

Red liquid flowed from the cocoon.

It was unmistakably blood.

As if a corpse had been encased in it…

Thankfully, his body was frozen with tension.

Otherwise, he might’ve screamed and fainted.

“Y-Young Master! You shouldn’t see such a gruesome thing! I-I’ll clean it up…!”

“Good morning!”

Creak. Evan stiffly turned his neck.

Lapis entered, pressing her damp hair.

Bursting with energy today, she spread her arms wide and stood in front of the cocoon.

“Ta-da! What do you think? My gift?”

“…Gift?”

“Yeah! A gift!”

Lapis pointed at the blood-soaked cocoon.

The floor was now wet with overflowing blood.

Evan felt dizzy.

This is a gift?

“…This isn’t a gift.”

“Huh? Why not?”

Lapis tilted her head.

Poke, poke. She jabbed the cocoon with her finger.

“Someone was secretly watching you, Evan. Isn’t that bad? They could make things dangerous.”

Did Lapis really do this?

A chill ran through him, raising goosebumps.

Did she awaken as a Sin?

Should he run now?

…No, that’s unlikely. She’s still young.

Lapis was still just a girl, around ten years old.

If she had awakened as a Sin, she’d be an adult.

At the very least, she’d be taller than yesterday or show some change.

But there was none.

Her true nature?

Damn it.

Was the belief in inherent evil right after all?

Should he kick her out now?

Or scold her?

…No, kicking her out feels wrong.

Why did Lapis make this cocoon?

For Evan.

In a way, it was a good deed.

She recognized Evan as someone to protect.

But it’s tricky.

She was practically a ticking time bomb.

Imagine this.

While walking, Evan bumps into someone.

In true medieval fashion, lacking manners, they raise a fist and threaten him.

– Hey, you! Wanna die? How dare you bump into me!

If Evan, shocked, coughs up blood, that’s it.

The next day, a cocoon appears with a pop!

It doesn’t even need to escalate to a fight.

Say someone likes Evan too much and sends a love letter.

If she mistakes it for a stalker?

Another cocoon appears.

The problem comes here.

What if the other party is royalty?

Or a noble?

Or a noble’s heir?

It’d make me an enemy of the continent.

Becoming a criminal would be the least of it.

Execution wouldn’t be surprising.

He’d be kicked out of the mansion.

No money, no connections, nothing.

Unable to provide Lapis with proper food.

And then?

– I’m so hungry. Guess I’ll eat you.

Hell no. Absolutely not.

He had to control Lapis.

If he were Han-ol Lee, a 24-year-old ordinary Korean man, he might not have managed.

But now?

I’m Evan.

Seventeen, handsome, ducal bloodline, young and rich.

A veteran survivor of one year.

A true man, skilled in both intellect and strength.

You can do this, Evan. You can.

Phew!

Careful not to hiccup, he took a deep breath.

“First, let me say you did well protecting me.”

“Really?!”

“But it wasn’t for my sake.”

“Huh?”

“If you kill everyone who slightly threatens me, will you kill the whole world?”

“If necessary?”

A Sin-like response.

But not the one Evan wanted.

“It’s fine because ‘Ira’ is strong, right?”

“!”

Lapis reacted to the name ‘Ira.’

Her red eyes fixed on Evan.

Goosebumps rose on his arms.

Damn, that’s scary.

But he had to endure.

Swallowing hard, Evan continued.

“I’m not like that. I’m not as strong or sturdy as Ira. If you make the continent my enemy, I’ll probably die.”

He didn’t argue about Lapis’s strength.

Instead, he focused on the death of ‘Evan,’ the one to protect.

“…!”

“You won’t get to eat the vegetables and fruits you like either. Is that what you want?”

“If I get really strong, can’t I protect you?”

“Dolph. If Dolph were as strong as me, could he protect me alone?”

“I… don’t think so.”

Dolph, quick on the uptake, gave the desired response.

“Even with great strength, there are limits when you’re alone.”

“Exactly, Ira. You can’t wield power recklessly. That cocoon could be me one day.”

A slight whip.

Now for the carrot.

“I’m not saying Ira did wrong. I just wish you’d understand a bit more. It’s my fault for not teaching you better. I’m sorry.”

It’s not your fault, so don’t get mad.

Because it’s scary.

“No… that’s not it…”

Lapis stammered.

Evan spoke first.

“So, Ira, don’t just turn someone into a cocoon because you think they’re dangerous. Got it?”

“…Yes, I understand…”

“And instead.”

He wasn’t done.

Protecting Evan? He appreciated it.

In fact, he should use it.

“If my life is truly in danger, or someone openly tries to kill me, ask me first. If I say it’s okay, then you can protect me. That’s fine, right?”

“…Yes…”

Lapis nodded, looking thoroughly dejected.

Was that good enough?

Evan sighed in relief inwardly.

“Come here.”

He patted his knee.

Thanks to genetics, Evan was quite tall.

Lapis, still young, was short.

Short enough to sit on his lap briefly.

Though not for long—his knees would hurt after ten minutes.

Normally, she’d have rushed over.

But Lapis lowered her head instead.

“Um… I messed up…”

“?”

“Please don’t call me Ira…”

Tears began to fall from Lapis’s eyes.

Evan was stunned.

She’s crying over this?!

After calmly making someone into a cocoon?

Momentarily flustered, Evan quickly regained his composure.

Alright, that can happen.

He tapped his thigh.

“…Okay, Lapis. Come here.”

“Y-Yes…”

Sniffling, Lapis approached. Evan crouched to meet her eye level and patted her head.

Good, it’s resolved.

A sigh of relief.

Thankfully, it was over.

He nearly took his last breath.

Now, how do I clean this up?

The cocoon.

Who could it be?

He had a rough guess.

Someone shady enough to secretly watch and tail him.

Probably sent by the Black Dawn.

Who else but an assassin?

The Black Dawn.

The continent’s top assassin guild.

It’d take someone of their caliber.

Were they watching me since we got entangled before?

A mistake he made while practicing alchemy.

Back then, he’d crossed paths with the Black Dawn.

He thought he’d cleaned it up well, but apparently not.

At least I wasn’t targeted for assassination.

‘Return kindness twice over, grudges tenfold.’

The assassins’ code.

Getting on their bad side would be troublesome.

Just don’t die!

As long as they were alive, he could figure something out.

“I’ll open it…”

“Dolph, wipe Lapis’s nose.”

“Y-Yes… Lapis, come here.”

“Sniff.”

Lapis took Dolph’s hand and left.

In the room, now alone with Evan.

The golems surrounded the cocoon as if guarding it.

A half-finished Living Golem from yesterday approached Evan.

Screech—

The top of the cocoon opened.

Shadow, blood-soaked and struggling to open his eyes.

His gaze met Evan’s.