“…Come in.”
Evan answered with a short sigh.
Exhaustion weighed on his entire body, but the person outside the door was not someone he could simply ignore.
The Saintess of the Sun, Adrianna.
He wasn’t bold enough to turn her away at the door.
Creak—
The door opened quietly, and Adrianna stepped inside.
She was still dressed in immaculate white priestly robes, not a speck of dust on them.
She wore her usual soft smile, yet the moment she entered, the air in the room seemed to shift subtly.
Evan’s gaze naturally drifted to the faint ring of light floating above her head.
…Yep, that’s a real halo.
She actually brought a halo?
The sacred symbol of a saintess.
She just shows it off like that?
…Well, it’s not exactly strange.
Halos were usually revealed to intimidate opponents or when fighting at full power.
This wasn’t that kind of situation.
Was she nervous? Or on guard?
Against a complete stranger who looked like an assassin.
To Evan, it was just a little dazzling—nothing more.
He glanced at it once and that was it.
But Evan’s utterly indifferent reaction only deepened Adrianna’s astonishment.
A halo.
It was not merely a ring of light.
It was the proof borne only by those who acted as proxies of divine authority, or beings of equivalent sanctity.
Ordinary humans were supposed to feel instinctive awe or fear before its light.
Yet Evan was different.
Far too calm.
He looked like he’d react more strongly to a passing dog.
It was as if the sacred aura pouring from the halo didn’t affect him at all.
As expected… he is no ordinary person.
Adrianna inwardly solidified her judgment of Evan.
To remain unfazed even before a halo.
Was he an apostle of another god?
He showed no trace of divine power…
Or perhaps—he might even be a god himself.
She quickly shook off the thought.
To Adrianna, who believed only the Sun God existed in this world, such a notion toward Evan was nothing short of blasphemy.
How dare she think of another god.
“I apologize for visiting again at such a late hour, Young Master.”
Adrianna spoke in her characteristically soft, feminine voice—the voice that had enchanted countless believers.
But Evan remained perfectly calm.
“No need to apologize. It’s fine. What brings you here again, Saintess?”
Evan replied with his usual emotionless face, perfectly polite.
“I came to give you additional information regarding Professor Moriarty.”
Confirming he wasn’t falling for her charm, Adrianna cut straight to the point.
“Our investigation uncovered clear evidence of deep involvement by the wicked White Shadow Cult. Thanks to that, Professor Moriarty will likely avoid extreme punishment such as execution.”
“I see. That’s fortunate.”
“However, researching forbidden knowledge and using black magic is by no means a light crime. He will naturally be stripped of his professorship, and the rest of his life will be spent in atonement under the strict supervision of the Church. The scholarly reputation he built over a lifetime… will probably be completely crushed.”
Adrianna carefully observed Evan’s expression.
She was curious how he would react to the professor’s tragic fate—whether he would show sympathy or any other emotion.
There was no reaction.
Literally none.
As if he knew better than anyone that it wasn’t his business, he answered in a dry voice.
Unbelievable that he had been the one who directly stopped it.
“Still, being alive is better, isn’t it.”
Evan said indifferently.
A perfectly pragmatic judgment: better to live than to die.
Wasn’t there a saying back on Earth—even rolling in a field of shit, this world is better?
But Adrianna interpreted those words very differently.
Better to be alive…
She recalled the tragic rumors about Evan Alkart.
His dead mother.
Rumors that he had attempted necromancy to revive her.
The rumors had been proven false.
But Adrianna didn’t believe that.
With House Alkart’s influence and Evan’s talent, hiding a taboo act would be easy.
Perhaps that short sentence was a confession born from his own desperate experience.
Even if she had only been a concubine—he had wished she were alive by his side.
Adrianna wanted to peer deeper into Evan’s heart.
She deliberately asked a question that could feel slightly rude.
“I heard that you, Young Master… also suffered similar pain in the past. Is that why you sympathize more with Professor Moriarty’s situation?”
Evan silently stared at her for a moment.
…What is she talking about? Oh, Evan’s past?
That’s not my past…
Well, it is, but it’s not me.
Evan almost denied it, then gave up.
What could he do?
It really was something the original Evan had done.
There was no reason to deny it, nor any reason to confirm it.
So Evan answered with silence.
And that silence—Adrianna took as affirmation.
Reading even a single emotion from him was this mentally exhausting…
At the same time, she once again realized how difficult it was to read his mind.
He really is… no easy person.
Deciding that probing further was pointless, Adrianna stepped back slightly and brought up another matter.
“This… is a letter Professor Moriarty asked me to deliver to you without fail.”
Adrianna carefully took out a letter from her robes and handed it to Evan.
“He sent one final letter to the Grand Duke of the North, and left this one behind.”
…The Grand Duke of the North?
…Huh?
To whom?
The Grand Duke of the North?
Drip—
Cold sweat ran down Evan’s forehead.
The Grand Duke of the North.
The sheer terror those words evoked.
Just this one phrase told him everything.
Ah.
I’m screwed.
“I shall take my leave now.”
Having finished her business, Adrianna gave a polite bow and turned to leave.
As she walked toward the door, she paused, hesitated, then looked back at Evan.
“Um… Young Master. If it’s not too much to ask…”
Her voice no longer carried its earlier confidence; instead, it held slight hesitation and earnest hope.
“Would it be possible… to receive a little more of the medicine that treats my illness?”
Evan fell silent for a moment.
Medicine that can treat the Saintess’s illness…
Ah. Damn it.
The previous dose had run out…
So she came all this way for a refill?
Is this real?
Evan felt absurdity and another crisis descending at once.
If he said no now…
Wouldn’t she come back later and tear everything apart like today?
“…Your hand, please.”
Evan stood and approached her.
He gently took the wrist she offered.
A basic diagnostic method for alchemists—checking the subject’s internal state.
He closed his eyes and lightly scanned inside.
…Phew. Thankfully the curse hasn’t worsened.
If it had worsened…
The entire Church would probably have descended.
Just one person—to kill Evan.
Regaining his composure, Evan said,
“…Come again tomorrow.”
At those words, relief and joy bloomed brightly on Adrianna’s face.
“Thank you… truly, Young Master.”
She expressed genuine gratitude, bowed politely, and left the room.
Creak— Slam.
The door closed, leaving Evan alone again.
He let out a long, deep sigh.
Exhaustion had reached its peak, but there was no time to rest.
…Golems.
Evan lightly gestured into the air.
The staff leaning against the wall disassembled, and golems sprang forth.
Shrrrrk! Shrrk-shrrk!
The golems moved in perfect unison like seasoned craftsmen.
In moments, a makeshift alchemy workbench was set up in one corner of the room, with distillation devices, experimental tools, and rare ingredients neatly arranged.
I must… succeed.
A strong resolve unlike before gleamed in Evan’s golden eyes.
Medicine to cure the Saintess’s illness.
If I fail—I die.
I have to succeed, no matter what!
***
The next morning.
Adrianna visited Evan’s quarters exactly on time.
Knock knock.
“Come in.”
The voice from inside was the same as always.
Opening the door, Adrianna was slightly surprised by Evan’s appearance.
…Did he stay up all night?
His expression was still blank, his eyes cold, his skin fair.
And yet—
Faint dark circles were visible under his eyes.
Unlike his usual flawless, cold demeanor, there was a trace of human fatigue…
Swish—
“Here is the medicine you asked for yesterday.”
Evan silently handed her a small glass vial.
Inside the transparent vial shimmered a liquid that looked like it contained the starlight of the night sky.
Just the mystical glow alone told her it was no ordinary potion.
Adrianna carefully accepted it.
But doubt crept in.
Someone of Evan’s caliber, who planned on such a grand scale, would have anticipated her visit.
He should have prepared this potion in advance…
In one day? No, that’s impossible.
No matter how talented, making a potion to treat her curse overnight?
Not even 24 hours—maybe 7 at most?
He must have… refined the previous potion a bit last night.
Had his pride been wounded when she mentioned her illness yesterday, so he stayed up all night improving it?
Or was even this a calculated move to test or probe her?
Or perhaps there was another hidden intention.
Someone like Evan wouldn’t openly show fatigue without reason.
…I really must not provoke him carelessly.
Whatever the reason, she felt once again, deep in her bones, that Evan Alkart was not someone to be taken lightly.
Every single action of his carried unpredictable depth.
Enough that even a saintess like Adrianna felt a wall.
Above all, by receiving this potion, she had now incurred a “debt” to him.
She still could not escape this curse.
Which meant she could not openly make an enemy of Evan.
“…I will receive it with gratitude, Young Master. I will not forget this favor.”
Adrianna expressed sincere thanks, bowed politely, and carefully tucked the potion away.
Watching her, Evan inwardly let out a huge sigh of relief.
Phew… I survived. I almost got dragged away for blasphemy and beheaded.
He had worked the golems nonstop all night and barely finished the potion.
The previous one had been a half-baked job.
Made without knowing the Saintess’s exact condition.
There had been a very slim chance it could have gone horribly wrong.
But this time he had checked her internal state.
Precisely measured the necessary ingredients, adjusted so it wouldn’t explode…
He had poured every ounce of his alchemy knowledge and skill into it.
He had even summoned extra golems because he didn’t have enough hands.
If Number 5 had been here, it wouldn’t have been this bad.
If he had made even the slightest mistake?
Ugh.
He didn’t even want to imagine the consequences.
“You may go now.”
Evan glanced behind her.
The Holy Knights were glaring menacingly…
But whenever their eyes met Evan’s, they immediately looked down.
“…It is time for me to return.”
Adrianna rose from her seat, the same smile on her lips as always.
What a sly woman.
“I hope… we meet again under good circumstances.”
With those words, Adrianna vanished as mysteriously as she had appeared.
Both coming and going—she was a strange woman.
A short while after she left.
Thud thud thud thud!
The sound of running footsteps—Dolph burst in, hair completely disheveled.
He must have sprinted here the moment he was free.
“Young master! I’m so sorry! I—I was detained too…”
“It’s fine.”
“No, it’s not! Young master, you haven’t even eaten properly… My goodness! Dark circles! I’ll make food right away! Here, a warm towel—please cover your eyes with this…!”
This time, Evan didn’t refuse his care.
Ah… yes. Dolph, you’re the best.
Truly.
Nothing was more reassuring.
They say you met the Saintess—amazing! A lowly commoner like me has never even seen her…!
As expected of you, young master!
…If only he left out the excessive praise.
BAM!
“Evan! We’re here!”
“Lapis and Frey, you’ve arrived?”
“Yesss!”
“Of course.”
“And Royan?”
“Ah… he was sleeping in the garden. Should I go get him?”
“Yes.”
“Aegis is already in the carriage!”
Evan nodded at Lapis’s words.
He removed the lukewarm towel covering his eyes.
“Let’s go home.”
…Let me go home and rest.
And that very night,
in the North,
a letter arrived at the Grand Duke’s mansion.