Chapter 90: Father (1)

Professor Moriarty.

In the original game, he was one of the characters in the <Main Ally> position.

If you had to place him closer to good or evil, he definitely leaned toward the latter.

Evil alignment.

A man who would do absolutely anything to achieve his goal.

In truth, Evan had not kept his distance because Moriarty was evil.

The reason he avoided him and refused to treat him as a main ally was simpler.

If necessary, Moriarty was fully capable of sacrificing even colleagues or close friends.

That was why Evan had kept him at arm’s length.

He had excluded him from the list of potential helpers from the very beginning.

After all, what Moriarty desired was something Evan could neither grant nor should ever grant.

“Young Master Evan.”

Inside the dark room.

Evan silently stared at the door.

Right in front of it.

He could feel Professor Moriarty standing there.

That clear voice was proof the man was certain Evan was inside.

Should I just pretend I’m not here?

Moriarty’s goal was obvious.

Resurrection of the dead.

Bringing his deceased daughter back to life.

However, Evan had never imagined the man would approach him so openly.

Why?

Because originally, it was supposed to be carried out in utmost secrecy.

So secretly that even the all-knowing Oracle wouldn’t notice.

The only routes where he spoke openly were when he was blatantly deceiving someone or had given up his goal entirely.

That is what a <taboo> is.

An act that must never be committed, so no one except the perpetrator must ever know.

Yet Moriarty’s current behavior… was strange.

Strange enough for anyone to notice.

Normally, even if there were the slightest chance of success with a <taboo>, he would consider every worst-case scenario…

What on earth happened to make him like this?

Even while thinking that, Evan eventually moved.

If he stayed still, the man would probably break the door down.

Visiting in the dead of night was rude, but staying silent would look even weirder.

Charlotte and the others have all moved already…

There was only one thing Evan had to do.

Survive Professor Moriarty without dying!

He wouldn’t kill him outright, but for the sake of <resurrection of the dead>, Moriarty was the kind of person who would threaten or blackmail Evan’s life if needed.

“Professor Moriarty. What business do you have at this late hour?”

“Young Master Evan. You were awake.”

Professor Moriarty replied in a calm voice.

Anyone listening would think the situation was perfectly normal.

“I came because I have something to ask.”

“Does it have to be right now?”

“Yes.”

Moriarty answered firmly.

“It can only be done now.”

“Professor Moriarty.”

Evan spoke just as firmly.

Thanks to the tension, cramps had formed in his face and neck; strength naturally entered his voice.

“I have no intention of committing a taboo. Nor do I have the skill for it.”

“I am not asking you to commit a taboo.”

“Then why have you come?”

“It is not for <resurrection of the dead>. I need your golem.”

As if realizing Evan had no intention of opening the door, Moriarty spoke in a pleading voice from the hallway.

“I have already secured the soul. If you would only create the body, my wish can be fulfilled.”

He’s lying.

Evan instantly detected the thick lie in his words.

A lie only Evan could detect.

Because Evan knew exactly what Moriarty truly desired, he could tell the man was lying right now.

“Do you believe in ghosts?”

…I do.

“No. You do not believe in ghosts. You only wish that the precious life you lost is wandering as a spirit, even in that state.”

And.

“What you want right now is nothing more than wordplay; it is no different from resurrection of the dead.”

“It is different…!”

BAM!

Moriarty struck the door hard with his fist.

Evan flinched and stepped back.

I-is he angry?

“The criterion for resurrection of the dead is the exact same body as in life, perfectly reborn without a single flaw or defect, with the soul fully inhabiting it…! What I am trying to do is not a taboo! It is definitely not resurrection of the dead!”

“Then do you believe forcing a living soul into a golem is a good thing?”

Even as he spoke, Evan realized it was pointless to persuade him any further.

It was obvious from his voice.

There was no longer any light of reason in the man.

“It would only inflict another horror upon that child.”

“We won’t know until we try!”

CREEEAK!

The door began to vibrate violently, as if a powerful force was trying to force it open.

The moment a blue light tried to pry the door apart, Evan’s staff moved.

Click, clack!

The entrance was firmly sealed.

Number 2, which had appeared at some point, blocked the door solidly and reinforced the magically strengthened frame.

When the door refused to open, the madness in Moriarty’s voice grew thicker.

“Young Master. Please, just grant this one request. I will give you anything you desire…!”

…There is nothing I desire.

“You lost family too—I know it!”

Moriarty’s bloodshot eyes peeked through the crack in the door.

“You wanted to bring your mother back too, didn’t you!”

…Mother.

Yes. The original “Evan” certainly did.

But the current Evan was Evan yet someone else.

A perfectly ordinary young man named Han-ol Lee, an entirely different person.

Unfortunately for Moriarty, Evan had no intention of committing a taboo and bearing the consequences for a complete stranger.

BOOM!

…I have no intention of committing a taboo.

“…So that’s how it’s going to be.”

The door finally stopped trying to open and fell silent.

Moriarty had lost the contest of strength.

Yet instead of despairing or destroying it, he took a deep breath and spoke.

“…It can’t be helped. Young Master Evan. One of the three children who came with you is currently with me.”

“!”

This time Evan was the one shocked.

What?

Who?

Lapis?

Frey?

But how did he capture either of them?

They were the type who could get themselves killed if they acted out, yet…

“I took the child who was just lying in the garden. If you do not cooperate, I will have no choice but to use that child as a sacrifice.”

Sacrifice…

Wait.

Who?

The garden?

If it’s someone who would be in the garden…

No way—Royan?

You’ve got to be kidding me.

Of all people, he took him?

Evan hurriedly asked.

“Where have you imprisoned them?”

“I will tell you if you come with me.”

“Are there many people? Few?”

“Depending on how you act, it could turn into a large-scale loss of life.”

Large-scale accident…!

In that instant, the horrific scene that would appear when the Sin of <Sloth> awakened flashed through Evan’s mind.

Click!

The door opened.

Moriarty flinched when he saw Evan.

He was wearing the armored golem he had briefly shown during the special lecture.

“…Let’s go. Lead the way quickly.”

“So you will cooperate?”

“Hurry!”

At Evan’s shout, Moriarty began guiding him.

Evan followed behind and prayed inwardly.

Please, please!

Stay still!

Don’t let anything happen!!

***

Lucia opened her eyes.

An unfamiliar ceiling.

As she lay low and looked around the strange ceiling she had never seen before, Lucia noticed something odd.

…Who is this??

There was an unfamiliar person lying beside her.

Similar build, but she couldn’t tell if they were male or female.

Ah.

Right. She vaguely remembered now.

Royan, was it?

How they met…

Lucia. Come here.

Ughhh…

It had been a sunny time of day.

Lucia was, as usual, being scolded by her master.

You put a soul into a snow witch again.

Yes, Master.

Splitting souls is dangerous. 

Today you must take absolute rest and not touch anything.

Sunlight… is meh.

Are you actually turning into snow?

After being scolded like that, she trudged back, lay down in the garden, and their eyes met.

…!

The two locked eyes and exchanged glances.

They instinctively realized it.

That they fundamentally wanted the same thing.

They slowly moved to a sunny spot in the garden.

Then flop.

Both lay down flat and didn’t move an inch.

…?

…Looks like they made a friend.

Frey, another Sin watching this, spoke in an exasperated voice.

Who would’ve thought there’d be someone as lazy as Royan.

…Did they become friends purely out of laziness?

Yes. They must have recognized each other as comrades on instinct. 

They probably find talking too bothersome, but the sense of kinship must be strong.

…

Frey and Lapis exchanged looks that said they had a lot to say but held it in, then vanished with a whoosh.

After that, Royan and Lucia fell asleep.

And when they opened their eyes again, they were here.

Ugggh…

Royan sat up.

Even that felt like dying from annoyance.

But perhaps because he had slept too long, the surroundings had changed.

We… shouldn’t be here, right?

Royan yawned long while quickly assessing the area.

He wondered if the building had changed while he slept—no, that wasn’t it.

Not much time had passed either.

Then there was only one possibility.

Someone targeting Royan had brought him here.

Why did Evan leave me here…?

Originally Royan never thought about anything, but lately, thanks to Frey and Lapis’s words, his mindset had started to shift a little.

All of this is Evan’s grand plan!

It sounded far-fetched, but ever since Evan had freed him from his fate, whether it was true or not no longer mattered.

Evan surely knew everything.

So Royan believed that even being here was part of Evan’s plan.

Hmm?

Royan narrowed his eyes at the faint silhouette in the corner.

The fate of a Sin.

Something visible only to Royan—the one closest to destruction, who would drag everything to death.

It was a human soul that lingered in this world, unable to depart because of lingering attachments.

…?

The soul in the corner, feeling the gaze, turned its head toward Royan.

Their eyes met.

???

Why can our eyes meet?

The soul jumped in surprise and floated over to Royan, waving its arms frantically.

Its translucent hands passed right through him.

Royan shook his head with an annoyed expression.

“Don’t touch me…”

Y-you can see me?

“Yeah… so stay still…”

This is not the time for that! You guys need to escape quickly!

The soul panicked.

If you stay like this, you’ll die because of my crazy dad!

Die?

Yes! Either escape or help me! Then at least I can let you live!

Crazy dad…?

Escape…?

Royan tried to piece the two words together, then gave up.

Because it was too bothersome.

But…

Evan… so this is why you sent me here…?

He had a feeling he was supposed to do something here.

There had to be a reason Evan sent him.

“Yeah. I’ll help.”

The Sin of Sloth.

For the first time, Royan showed his own will.

“What should I do first?”

Firmly believing that all of this was Evan’s will.