I'm being Mistaken for The Mastermind

Chapter 13

The Dark King left.

The reception room was left with only two people.

Theodore stood up from his seat.

"......I'll take my leave first, brother."

"......."

Nod.

Evan, too exhausted to respond, simply nodded.

Theodore quickly exited the room.

Almost as if he was fleeing.

Bang!

-Ahhh!

-Young Master!!

The sound of a commotion came from outside.

It seemed someone had fallen.

What bad luck.

'They should have been more careful.'

Since I gave them a potion, they should handle it themselves, right?

Evan didn't pay it any mind.

He couldn't afford to be that concerned.

His mind was a tangled mess.

'Tsk, what went wrong?'

The issue arose after confirming whether Lapis was the Star's Contractor or not.

The Dark King seemed slightly out of it.

He looked like someone who had seen something they shouldn't have, or perhaps someone disappointed.

'Was it really that shocking that Lapis wasn't the contractor?'

Maybe it was.

Evan unknowingly accepted the thought.

Why, older people are always like that.

Their stubbornness is absurdly strong.

Once they think they're right, they always believe they're right.

The Dark King was in that category.

That kind of stubbornness being broken, it was understandable.

'Well, it is a time when he's actively searching for a disciple.'

Right now, the Dark King was focused on nurturing successors.

Not a selfless disciple, but anyone who seemed talented, he would raise them first and think later.

Whether his judgment was poor or his luck was bad.

He mostly ended up meeting those with no potential.

Creak.

"Ugh."

"Evan. Are you alright?"

Lapis ran up to Evan.

Evan shook his head and handed her a cabbage.

"I'm fine."

"Mmm."

Lapis crunched on the cabbage.

It was hard to believe this was the same person who had been swinging a dagger so fiercely just moments ago.

When he lightly tousled her hair, she smiled contentedly.

"Dolph."

"Yes, Young Master."

Dolph appeared energetically.

Although his legs were still slightly trembling.

"You've worked hard today. You can retire early."

"No, sir! I will stay until the end to assist you!"

Such loyalty!

Evan was slightly touched. To the point of shedding a tear internally.

But that was that, and work was work.

"There's a letter I need to read alone."

"A letter? Could it be from the Saintess......!"

"No."

Evan's firm denial.

Dolph looked dejected.

"Understood...... Then I'll tidy up quickly for today."

"Thank you."

"Not at all! It's only natural for a loyal servant of the Young Master!"

Dolph left energetically.

Watching his retreating figure, a sudden thought crossed his mind.

'Am I...... really that scary?'

In fact, it was a question he had held for quite some time.

People seemed to get scared when they looked at him.

At first, he thought it was because of his status, but he was starting to doubt that.

Especially today.

Theodore's attitude.

He had only meant to tell him to keep quiet, but wasn't he too afraid?

"Lapis."

"Yes?"

"Am I...... very scary?"

Lapis tilted her head as she looked at Evan.

"Not really? Your eyes are pretty! They sparkle like gold."

"Is that so?"

It reminded Evan of something he heard early after his transmigration.

That his eyes revealed no emotion.

It was probably a side effect of the transmigration.

They said it was impossible to read why he was looking at someone, what he was thinking, or feeling.

It seemed to have been fixed now.

Since Lapis said they were pretty.

"Yes. Should I tell you about other pretty parts too?"

"No need."

Ahem.

Well.

This body is rather good-looking.

'Theodore must have lost his mind after running away from home.'

Yeah.

If he really looked scary, others would have misunderstood too.

Evan quickly dismissed his doubts.

What a waste of time.

"Lapis. You can head back early today......."

"Whoop."

Lapis disappeared into the shadows and reappeared next to Evan.

Right on the sofa.

Lapis, lying on the sofa, grabbed Evan's hand and rubbed her cheek against it.

"Hehe."

......Should I just leave it?

Well, considering today's efforts, it's understandable.

Evan called Golem Number 4.

Long arms and six fingers.

Its dexterity was exceptional.

Rip!

The skillful hands tore the letter effortlessly.

Before skimming through the letter's content, Evan had a small expectation.

'Will it connect me with the Shaman of Starry Sky?'

The Shaman of Starry Sky was also one of the main supporters.

How many connections have I built with this?

'Already three. Not bad.'

A natural, satisfied smile formed on his lips.

Of course, regular communication is essential.

The Saintess has only communicated once so far.

Arthur hasn't even replied yet.

'I wonder if it's working.'

The Saintess, despite some misunderstandings, exchanged letters with him.

Arthur still hasn't responded.

I need to know whether the Aura Hall has been fixed or not.

'Well, let's focus on someone else for now.'

The Shaman of Starry Sky.

Her greatest strength was her unique magic.

Celestial Magic.

A magic that communicates and contracts with the stars.

A magic that had disappeared and been lost in the current empire.

The reason?

It was simple.

It was too difficult.

There were three conditions to learn Celestial Magic.

Talent, aptitude, and vision.

None could be at an ordinary level.

One in a century.

That level of talent was required.

'At this point, the Shaman of Starry Sky is the only one.'

Someone who reads constellations, interprets the flow of stars, divines, and reads fate.

That was the Shaman of Starry Sky.

'I thought I'd meet her much later, but I was lucky.'

Evan looked at the letter content with a pounding heart.

'......What is this?'

He doubted his eyes.

- My old friend is an alchemist. Quite an experienced one. He will be of help to you.

- If you bring this letter, he will meet you.

Not the Shaman of Starry Sky?

An alchemist?

No.

'My supporter? The Shaman of Starry Sky?'

No, why an alchemist?

I never asked to be introduced to one.

Evan stared blankly with a hollow gaze.

'I asked to be introduced to the Shaman of Starry Sky, not an alchemist.......'

Ugh.

Blood pressure.

Thud.

Evan collapsed.

The reason: despair.

A reason fitting for his frail body.

And so, he fainted, and a day later.

News reached Evan.

"......Who did what?"

"The blood-crazed knight, Arthur Modritter, has slaughtered all the heretics....... There are rumors that he restored his aura, and that someone is behind it......."

"......."

News that Arthur Modritter single-handedly swept away heretics and demon worshippers.

And a letter arrived.

***

Arthur Modritter.

Not one of the five strongest on the continent, but undoubtedly a significant figure and a recognized powerhouse.

At present, his reputation had slightly faded.

Rumors had spread that he had lost his aura and had joined an obscure new religion called the Moon Church.

Furthermore, he had not been actively involved in any notable activities.

However, no one dared to provoke Arthur recklessly.

In the past, during his prime.

He annihilated the remnants of the Holy Kingdom, which had been destroyed but not erased, and the demon worshippers.

Each of them possessed superhuman strength and powers beyond causality, making them difficult to deal with, but Arthur single-handedly executed them.

The famous story of him cutting down the cursed bishop, who could not die, for 48 consecutive days without rest.

Thus, when Arthur secluded himself, most people were delighted.

A monster.

A monstrous knight whom even the five strongest couldn't easily ignore had retreated.

And now, Arthur had returned.

Single-handedly sweeping through a massive group of heretics, estimated to number at least 500.

During this process, rumors began to spread.

First, that Arthur had restored his aura.

Second.

"......There's a rumor that someone is behind him, right?"

"Yes......."

Evan's expression turned grave.

......The problem is, that rumor is true.

Especially since the one behind him was none other than himself.

'I expected this when restoring his aura.'

Isn't it too soon?

Contrary to the rumors, Arthur is not a blood-crazed knight.

No, actually, he is.

But only when the time and circumstances demand it.

'The Aura Hall shouldn't be fully restored yet, right?'

Evan, being a man of reason, accurately assessed his abilities.

An Aura Recovery Potion?

Complete 100% restoration was impossible.

This was the limit with makeshift methods.

It wasn't without reason that he thought he needed a mentor.

'At best, it would only be half restored.......'

Is there a problem?

As Evan's expression grew serious, Dolph hurriedly added.

"Fortunately, there are no rumors about the young master!"

"......Is that so?"

"Yes. Fortunately, it seems like only the idea that there might be someone behind this has spread."

Well, that's a relief.

Evan sighed in relief.

He wanted to avoid attracting attention.

It would only lead to unnecessary fatigue.

Even within the family, it was already a bit troublesome; how much worse would it be in reality?

'Ugh, absolutely not.'

Attention? It's nice to receive it.

But it always comes with a price.

Excessive attention becomes poison!

Evan had seen countless celebrities who were always in the media spotlight.

He had no intention of becoming like them.

"If there are ever any rumors about me, please let me know."

"Yes! Understood!"

Just in case, he emphasized it again.

If rumors spread?

He would have to take immediate action.

Like moving to a quiet place or something.

'That much should be fine, I guess.'

After all, he had no intention of getting involved in the succession competition.

He would just go and boil some eggs to eat.

"Evan. What is that letter?"

"Ah. It's a reply to the letter I sent."

"A letter? Who did you send it to?"

"Arthur Modritter, a friend I'm trying to get closer to."

"Trying to get closer......? So, you're not friends yet?"

"Not yet."

He wasn't sure what Arthur thought of him.

Evan thought to himself as he unfolded the letter.

True to Arthur's personality, the letter got straight to the point without any flowery expressions.

-I received the potion you sent. Thanks to it, I was able to eliminate the heretics who dared to threaten the moon.

-But there's a problem.

'A problem?'

-The Aura Hall hasn't been fully restored. Additionally, the aura is causing a backlash in my body.

"......."

Were there such side effects?

He tried to recall the original story, but he had no such memory.

Originally, Arthur's Aura Hall gradually recovered.

In the story, that process took about six months.

If it was already halfway restored at this point, it was incredibly fast.

Could it be because it recovered too quickly?

That didn't seem to be the case.

Maybe he had just been rough with it?

'Ugh, if only I had the power, I'd definitely—!'

He wanted to scold him for using it so recklessly.

'......Hmm. Or is that not it?'

Of course, that thought only lasted for a moment.

It wasn't because he was scared.

Just, well, hmm?

He just didn't want any unnecessary disputes between potential friends.

-That's all.

-Arthur Modritter.

That was the end of the letter.

......Did he really send a reply just to say this?

'No way.'

Would he really send just this?

There had to be a hidden meaning in it.

Like leaving a review after purchasing a product, could there really be no meaning behind it?

If it was bad, the implication would be to request an after-service or a refund.

'Ah.'

Evan sighed.

What is he, some kind of knight, to speak so indirectly!

Damn those helpers.

They resort to such petty indirect threats?

The problem was the lack of materials.

'......Maybe it's fortunate to have been introduced to an alchemist?'

Perhaps this was a stroke of genius.

'Let's see. The Blue-Bearded Alchemist? A count...... Hmm, a character I know.'

The Blue-Bearded Count.

An over-a-hundred-year-old alchemist who extended his lifespan using alchemy.

'Ugh. I don't like this guy.......'

But was it fortunate that he at least knew him?

There were two ways to obtain the materials needed now.

One was to go directly to the west,

And the other was to go to the underworld.

The west was, of course, far, and he didn't want to go to the underworld.

What nonsense would he have to hear there!

He'd rather meet the Blue-Bearded Count.

That man would definitely have plenty of materials.

The downside was that he couldn't call him via invitation.

To meet him, he had to visit in person.

'......Looks like I'll have to go out for the first time in a while.'

-Wait for me. I'll send you a new potion.

First, he wrote a reply to Arthur's letter.

As for the next phrase...... nothing appropriate came to mind.

'I need to get this after-service done quickly.'

He let out a deep sigh.

"......Dolph. Please send this letter and prepare for an outing."

"Pardon?"

"It seems I'll need to step out for a while."

"Ah! Yes! Then, will you return by tonight......?"

"......I'll probably have to sleep outside. For about a week."

"......What?!"

Evan's declaration of an outing.

The mansion was turned upside down.

***

That night, evening.

Moon Church.

"Thank you for your hard work, Holy Knight."

"Hm."

Arthur wiped the blood of heretics from his hands as he walked up from the basement.

Adrianna was waiting for Arthur.

Adrianna asked in a venomous voice.

"Are you insane?"

"......What do you mean?"

"I saw you sent a letter to Evan Alcart. Wasn't your request too rude?"

"What request are you talking about?"

Arthur looked puzzled.

Adrianna tapped a copy of the letter.

"This. Didn't you complain that the potion was defective?"

"No. I only mentioned how it was."

"......."

Of course, he had no intention of complaining or expressing dissatisfaction.

Only half healed?

It wasn't "only" half; it was a miracle that even "half" healed.

The aura felt within his body.

He never thought he would feel it again in his lifetime.

"......."

While Adrianna was at a loss for words.

It was then.

Flap!

A bird flew in.

A silver bird of the moon, mainly used for delivering letters.

The bird politely handed over the letter with its beak and disappeared beyond the sky.

"Hm. A letter from Evan Alcart."

A thank-you letter for the feedback, perhaps.

Arthur opened the letter without much thought.

"......Hm."

"What is it?"

His expression turned serious in an instant.

Inside the letter.

The content was very brief, written in neat handwriting.

- Wait. I'll send you a new potion.

A short sentence, devoid of any embellishment.

......Could he be angry?