Chapter 8: Beggar (1)

First year of possession.

I thought I had gotten a bit used to this harsh world.

Didn’t I handle yesterday’s incident well?

My shoulders even rose a little.

This level is the manliest among manly men, isn’t it.

The past, where I was criticized as a loser, has long been cleared away.

But today.

Evan realized. That the true crisis hadn’t even begun yet.

……The dagger flew aiming at me?

“Yes.”

Lapis nodded.

It hadn’t been long since she woke up, so her hair was still a mess.

Evan was a mess too.

More in his head than his hair.

No, crazy.

Assassination attempt.

In fact, after possession, he hadn’t experienced it before.

Why?

Because there was no reason for his life to be targeted.

Evan is a scoundrel.

A terminally ill person who wouldn’t be strange to die anytime.

A guy who would die on his own if left alone.

No need to spend money to kill him.

He had no interest in the successor position, just living immersed in alchemy.

Though the reason for being immersed in alchemy is a bit sad, anyway.

Right now, he was a worthless guy.

Yet someone targeted his life.

Could it be because of yesterday’s incident?

“Did I do well?”

Lapis looked up at Evan.

Eyes begging for praise quickly.

Yeah. Praise is important.

Evan tried hard to hide his trembling and stroked Lapis’s head.

“You did well.”

“Hehe.”

Lapis smiled.

Evan forced strength into his face that felt like it might cramp and said.

“By any chance, did you see who threw the dagger?”

“Um…… I didn’t see exactly.”

“Even roughly is fine.”

“He looked a bit old. And he was incredibly strong. But…… it didn’t seem like he really intended to kill Evan.”

He didn’t intend to kill?

Then not an assassin?

Then, throwing a dagger just to send a letter?

The dagger Lapis held in her hand.

A letter was stuck at the end.

Looking at it this way, it did seem like the purpose was to send the letter.

“The aimed position was also beside the head. But his hand trembled or something, and it flew to a weird place. So I caught it.”

“By any chance, can I see the letter?”

“Yes!”

Lapis answered energetically.

She kindly pulled out the letter, unfolded it, and showed the content.

I am grateful for saving my disciple.

I will visit tomorrow.

Stiff handwriting.

It was so neat it looked printed.

A bit familiar?

A character who wrote in this style.

There was one in memory.

The Wandering Shadow King.

He wrote letters in exactly this handwriting.

……Disciple? Who? Could it be that person from yesterday?

The man released yesterday is the disciple?

The weakling caught by Lapis?

Even so, it doesn’t seem like a different person.

The seal stamped below.

That emblem looking like a red hood was used only by the Shadow King.

In other words, it’s genuine.

The Wandering Shadow King.

The legend of assassins, and an assassin with master-level skills even in active duty.

He was also a future main ally.

I am grateful for saving my disciple. I will visit tomorrow.

But that guy was the Shadow King’s disciple? Really?

Evan recalled the one he released yesterday.

Except for a bit less hair, there was nothing particularly special.

There wasn’t a disciple with that face.

Most of the Shadow King’s disciples were big shots who made names.

Not in a good way.

Mainly villains.

The type who sets up evil plans and gets stopped by the player.

Each time, the Shadow King personally stepped in to help the player.

Saying he would take responsibility since they were disciples he raised.

An important character I didn’t memorize? Or for MacGuffin? Or…… the type like Lapis?

Wouldn’t he become a main villain as time passes?

Somehow my eyes feel chilly!

……By any chance, he didn’t hold a grudge from yesterday’s incident, right?

We parted well yesterday.

……It’ll be fine.

Positive mindset!

Snap out of it!

Evan slapped his cheeks with his hands.

Slap slap!

Ouch.

It fucking hurts.

He stroked his reddened cheeks.

“Are you okay?”

“……Yes.”

Anyway, let’s think good is good.

It’s not a murder notice, just a thank you letter.

He won’t kill me.

At the level of the Shadow King, he’s trustworthy.

The Wandering Shadow King.

He was a character with a decent personality.

Exactly the impression of a friendly grandfather.

His beliefs are also fine.

Non-possession.

A life attitude of gaining freedom through emptying and sharing, without obsessing over material possessions.

Surprisingly, the Shadow King practiced non-possession.

A belief hard to believe for an assassin who covets offerings and calls death.

In reality, he wandered without staying anywhere.

Using the ground as floor, sky as ceiling.

Yeah. Not a bad person.

No wonder Evan paid attention to him as another main ally.

Though his wandering habit is severe, flaws are almost zero.

At this opportunity, I should get close.

He said tomorrow, right?

I need to prepare potions in advance.

Food isn’t important.

Just filling the stomach moderately is fine.

What’s important is potions to cure illness.

He said tremor was the problem.

It’s not a terribly severe illness.

But for an assassin, it’s severe.

Hands tremble?

Accuracy decreases.

A fatal flaw for needing to kill enemies quickly, stealthily, surely.

Besides that, all kinds of inconveniences…….

I can cure that.

Fortunately, preparation is almost done.

Just need one more ingredient.

“No. 4. Bring some ingredients.”

Shake shake.

Shrug.

None? No, why?

No. 4 golem shrugged its shoulders.

Pointed to the shelf with long arms.

The bottle was empty.

Ah.

It had to run out now?

The potion to cure tremor didn’t have a separate name.

Because he couldn’t memorize each potion name.

Also, he modified it to have no side effects.

Luminescent calming herb that only grows in the forest near Alkart Ducal Family.

Known to be effective in stopping leg shaking.

The effects Evan knew were just that.

He just amplified the effects a bit more.

Ah, if I ask someone, it’ll take a long…….

Calming herb has high collection difficulty.

The moment it senses danger, it sprays paralyzing powder wildly nearby.

How to block it?

None.

Because it enters through the respiratory system and skin.

Can’t breathe, and even cloth is penetrated.

So golem is the only solution.

Golem doesn’t breathe.

I still can’t send golem to the place where that calming herb is…….

Due to lack of talent, I couldn’t add a vision sharing function.

Sigh. I don’t want to go out. No choice.

I had no choice but to go by myself.

Evan made a big decision.

Ding-a-ling.

“Have you woken up?”

“Yes! Young master! Did you call!”

As the door opened, Dolph entered.

Lapis grinned and rubbed her cheek on Evan’s hand.

The appearance of a complete child.

Evan, who stared at Lapis for a moment, opened his mouth.

“Dolph. I plan to go out today.”

“……!”

Dolph’s eyes widened.

Outing after nearly 2 weeks.

To the point skin turned white from not seeing sunlight.

“Will you help me? That…… as quietly as possible please.”

“Yes!”

For Dolph, it’s welcome.

Because he always worried about the master’s health.

“I’ll prepare right away!”

“I will escort you, young master.”

Ferok politely greeted.

Evan flinched at the appearance of an unexpected big shot.

Why this person?

Ferok.

The 1st Knight Commander, and a knight on the verge of master realm.

He was also the knight who came suspecting Evan as the culprit.

Fortunately, the misunderstanding was resolved well.

Yeah. Rather this person is better.

But aren’t there too many people?

The number of escort knights seemed over 10 even at a glance.

Before Evan asked, Ferok spoke first.

“After young master Theodor, we are strengthening escorts. Please understand.”

“I understand.”

Yeah. Safety is good.

Evan, who finished self-rationalization, asked subtly.

“Theodor is?”

“He is staying in his room.”

“I see.”

After that day, Theodor locked himself in his room.

Like he was sick or something.

So Evan turned off interest.

He’ll take care of himself.

Fortunately, he doesn’t have much interest.

Ferok inwardly sighed in relief.

Theodor.

After the runaway incident, he secluded in his room.

To avoid meeting Evan.

He started believing in god he didn’t believe, and was trembling every day saying he’ll repent.

Especially when hearing Evan Alkart’s name, to the point of having seizures.

Serious enough for the duke to personally check his condition.

-Such a pathetic guy is not my son.

Ferok shook his head recalling that time.

In fact, the pathetic part wasn’t just Theodor’s attitude.

The biggest was that Theodor started believing in god.

The fact that the duke is an atheist is quite famous in the family.

To the point of throwing insults at vassals who believe in god.

-Divine power? That’s just mutated mana. Giving power in exchange for faith? Human hearts change like reeds, how can you offer heart and soul to a god who doesn’t even show appearance?

So all children are atheists.

Especially Theodor respected the duke more so.

That will break at once, so disappointment is inevitable.

Essentially excluded from the successor.

Could he have aimed for this?

Ferok glanced at Evan.

He didn’t think Evan was the culprit.

However, the object of fear is imprinted as Evan.

Even if not the culprit, probably involved to some extent.

What is he planning to do by going out this time…….

Could an incident that requires him to step in personally occurred?

Or to get experimental subjects?

All kinds of random thoughts swirled in his head.

But he didn’t show it.

What’s important is now.

To escort Evan carefully, safely.

“Preparation is done. Young master.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Evan, who politely greeted, boarded the carriage.

Dolph and a girl child named Lapis also boarded.

That kid. The newly brought slave.

A girl child with white skin and red eyes that left an impression.

What’s unique, quite pretty?

But why.

Ferok felt an inexplicable creepiness.

After that kid came, several strange points were discovered.

Especially since rumors about ‘chimera’ spread.

By any chance, isn’t that kid the experiment body Evan made to approach ‘taboo’?

It was then.

Squirm-

Ferok boarding the carriage following.

In his eyes, the armor Evan wore like a robe wriggled.

Armor moving?

“Young master. By any chance, where did you purchase that armor?”

“It’s my golem.”

That armor is a golem?

Slide-

The armor wriggled as if alive.

When he glanced aiming at the heart, the armor moved.

As if protecting.

Really unbelievable.

Golem is alchemist’s exclusive.

However, compared to potions, research progress is slow.

First, it doesn’t make money,

Second, difficulty is high.

Golem is hard to make just with transmutation.

Must make energy spread from [core], limbs move without error,

Move just with commands…….

If shape changes, structure or flow changes, so inevitable.

The reason all golem shapes are similar.

Simple shape like combining several blocks is known enough to be in papers.

Besides that, virtually no information.

Only way is solo research.

That one has long arms, that one has thick body, that one is…… dog? But neck is too long.

But Evan was different.

Various shaped golems currently waiting outside the carriage.

All made within 1 year….

Not one or two, enough to fill a room and more.

Incredibly…… looks sturdy.

A golem looking like a knight caught eye.

The bulk is so massive, even Ferok flinched momentarily.

Seemed hard to scratch without sword expert’s aura.

What on earth is he making such golems for…….

By any chance, planning to recreate ‘that incident’ from the black market?

It was when Ferok felt fear deep inside.

Evan stared at Ferok.

Sign of having something to say.

Ferok with meaning say anything

By any chance, did someone make a mistake?

Fortunately, not that.

Evan, who stared blankly, turned his head.

“Shall we depart soon.”

“Yes, young master. I will escort.”

“Please.”

“Where will you go?”

“We go to the Black Forest.”

Black Forest?

What experiment is he trying there…..

Ferok nodded while subtly touching the sword handle.

Indeed, can he…… stop the young master?

Lapis was fixedly staring at Ferok with inexplicable blood-colored pupils.

A while later.

Evan and Ferok arrived in front of the forest.

“We have arrived, young master.”

“Young master?”

Evan was silent.

His gaze was fixed outside the window.

Ferok curiously looked outside the carriage window.

Snore-

“That person…… is a beggar. Shall I remove him?”

“……No.”

Evan shook his head.

The old man was visible outside the window.

He was a beggar.

Greasy hair and ragged clothes.

Even the appearance of sleeping snoring under a shady tree.

A complete beggar,

But Evan knew.

No, why is that guy there?

That beggar.

No, the man is the Shadow King.

By any chance, not here to kill me, right?