I'm being Mistaken for The Mastermind

Chapter 17

The small golems neatly stacked the items.

Among them, there was something bright red.

Ugh!

At first glance, a grimace.

The stench and the visuals were overwhelming.

"......You don't need to bring something like a heart."

Nod.

Seeing organs that shouldn't be visible made him feel queasy.

While Evan was calming his stomach.

This time, the small golems neatly stacked papers.

Roughly filled with difficult formulas and records.

They were research journals.

"Wow! The writing is super dense!"

"Hmm."

The main focus of the research was 'life extension.'

He wasn't curious about things like this.

Safety first; Evan, who didn't admit it but was a cautious man, didn't want to bear the side effects.

'Homunculus? Oh, so he had something like this.'

Seeing it in person was fascinating.

Should he take it just in case?

'Oh, this is nice too.'

Thud!

What he found next was a book containing knowledge about alchemy.

It was scrawled as an introductory alchemy book.

It seemed to be custom-made?

'This must be a book his mentor made for him.'

This one wasn't bad.

It was more up-to-date than what Evan had and better organized.

'I should make a copy of this.'

This might be useful.

Maybe even more than the mentor.

'Rescuing the mentor is out of the question.'

He realized that after seeing the Blue-Bearded Count.

Even among alchemists, he couldn't be trusted!

Moreover, alchemy was a one-on-one inheritance.

A structure where everything is passed down to a single disciple.

If passed down incorrectly, it could be disastrous.

He might as well study on his own.

He had information from the game to tell if he was going in the wrong direction, so it should be fine.

Neatly!

Next came ominous-looking items.

Not golems, but objects that, if touched by living beings, would 'contaminate' them with their power.

For the most part, like the skull that emitted smoke earlier.

'Are these heretical items?'

The heretics who had perished and disappeared.

These were the kind of items that those Arthur had killed recently might have possessed.

Why are these here?

'Did he buy them somewhere?'

It was plausible.

Heretics were always short on money.

It wouldn't be strange for them to sell such items.

However.

'Tsk, this is way too early compared to the original.'

In the original, the Blue-Bearded Count did interact with heretics.

However, it ended in failure.

Not because of his conscience, but because he got caught beforehand.

He ended up being executed, and that was supposed to happen at this point?

It doesn't make sense.

'Should I take a few just in case?'

A curse?

It affects living beings, not inanimate objects.

It doesn't affect golems.

He had the golems put them in a box and seal it tightly.

This should be fine.

Neatly!

"Good job."

He took out everything he needed.

He roughly checked the items he had collected.

A few gold coins that appeared out of nowhere, homunculus research papers, alchemy books, and essential materials like Full Moon Illusion Herb.

This much ensured the reward was worth it.

Satisfied, Evan descended to the first floor.

"Gasp!"

Count Gilles de Rais gasped as he woke up.

***

The moment Count Gilles de Rais woke up, he fell into despair.

His last memory was being struck on the chin and fainting.

He vividly remembered the golden eyes staring down at him.

'I failed.'

Even after sacrificing many lives, the great cause he had tried to achieve had failed.

'He had seen through my plan from the start.'

Something hidden in the shadows.

When could he have hidden something that couldn't even be considered alive?

From the very first moment, perhaps.

'It must be a chimera.'

It wasn't a golem.

A golem residing in the shadows?

Such a golem had neither been heard of nor seen.

Not even by alchemists with over a hundred years of experience, nor by his mentor.

Such a thing couldn't exist.

Golems were a forgotten art in alchemy.

No one passed it down or learned it, leaving no records behind.

The only known golem master left no successor and was said to have become a corpse rolling around in the underworld.

Unable to find any information, even Count Gilles de Rais struggled with creating homunculi.

A chimera was a more plausible explanation.

A rare creature dwelling in the shadows.

Known to exist only in the North, but with the Alcart Ducal Family's wealth, they could have easily obtained one.

If it had been created by combining that, it was plausible enough.

But more important than that.

One undeniable fact.

'I completely failed.'

It was that a long-held dream had crumbled.

"......."

"You're awake."

A low voice echoed in his ears.

When he opened his eyes, he saw Evan sitting at the head seat.

Even in the shadowy room, where no lights were turned on, his golden eyes shone serenely.

Evan, resting his chin on his hand, gazed at him intently and asked a question.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm... fine."

There was no trace of anger in Evan.

Not just anger, but any other emotions as well.

It felt like looking at a doll devoid of any emotion.

Watching him brought forth a creeping sensation, like emotions timidly peeking out.

The name of that emotion was fear and dread.

"It might not mean much to ask, but I'll still ask. Why did you betray us?"

"......."

"Answer me."

The one urging him was the child right beside him.

Beneath her white hair, two crimson eyes glinted menacingly as she stared at him.

"Seriously, I want to kill you."

"Th-that's... um..."

His teeth chattered involuntarily.

The murderous intent born purely from the 'Sin of Wrath' overwhelmed his mind.

It was worse than the Dark King.

As if wrath itself had taken form...

"Lapis."

"Huh."

Snap.

The murderous intent that had been building up.

As soon as Evan uttered a single word, it immediately dissipated.

At the same time, she subtly glanced around.

Acting like a tamed rabbit.

It caused significant cognitive dissonance.

"Calm down."

"...Sorry, Evan."

"It's fine. You were angry for my sake. However, I'm just concerned whether my old body could withstand such killing intent."

Evan stroked Lapis's head.

That sight resembled that of a young ruler.

Swoosh.

Evan slowly rose from his seat.

His body was undoubtedly small and frail.

Yet, the atmosphere he exuded was extraordinary.

At this rate, he would die.

For real?

When death loomed right in front of him, his mind went blank.

The remaining emotion.

It was nothing but the instinct to survive.

"I'll reveal everything, everything!"

Thud!

Count Gilles de Rais collapsed to his knees and bowed his head.

"So please! Spare me!"

He appeared even more terrified than when he heard the name of the Dark King.

Evan simply stared down at Count Gilles de Rais with indifferent eyes—no, with a curious expression.

'...What's with this guy?'

As if he had seen a ghost?

Did Lapis scare him too much?

***

Count Gilles de Rais confessed everything.

Not only his unimportant past, but also why he tried to betray them and what tools he used.

'No, saying it like this makes him sound kind of pitiful?'

His reason was to see his master again.

Hearing it directly made it feel a bit sad.

Of course, that feeling was fleeting.

Count Gilles de Rais being a murderer didn't change.

In modern terms, he was a mad scientist.

Someone who disregarded the sanctity of life.

All other information matched the game.

The only difference was his connection to the heretics.

'We met much earlier than originally planned, huh?'

The reason was Arthur's massacre.

...There was some connection, so there wasn't much to say.

Still, it was a valuable gain.

With this, they might be able to avoid the heretics.

"...Will you kill me?"

Count Gilles de Rais asked in a stiff voice.

Evan pondered briefly.

A clean solution without any aftermath?

That would be killing Count Gilles de Rais here.

But that option was suboptimal.

Why?

'I don't want to get unnecessarily involved with the Alchemists' Tower.'

Just like the Mage Tower, where mages resided, there was the Alchemists' Tower, where alchemists mainly gathered.

Apparently, its original name was something like Cauldron or Alchemy Synthesis Facility, among others.

'They changed it because it was too hard to remember, right?'

Count Gilles de Rais belonged to the Alchemists' Tower, often shortened to Alchemists' Tower.

If they killed him, they would definitely reach out to investigate why.

A year ago, they had already tried to come, but the Duke's authority blocked them.

'I don't want to attract unnecessary attention.'

Evan prioritized safety above all else.

It wasn't because he was timid; it was purely for thorough safety.

There's more benefit in keeping him alive than killing him.

'A supply source where materials could be obtained without contacting the underworld.'

With his wide network, he could continue to provide what they needed.

He was also too scared to betray them again.

In the game, he was often exploited as a material supplier.

As long as one's conscience was slightly distanced, he was useful.

Evan slowly shook his head.

No. I won't kill you.

"...Why not?"

"Why, indeed?"

"It's an inefficient task."

I should come up with any reason.

Honestly, I just want to leave quickly.

"You and I are both alchemists. Efficiency is a priority for our profession. There's no need to engage in inefficient tasks."

"......."

"What I wanted from you were materials, not your life. Beyond that, just knowledge. What I needed, I've already obtained."

Swoosh.

Number 4 waved the Full Moon Illusion Herb with its long arm and then tucked it into the storage box.

"So let's put this matter behind us. I think you already know what comes next without me saying it."

"......."

Let's end this well here without making it an issue!

That was the meaning behind those words.

Count Gilles de Rais stared intently at Evan.

It seemed there was more he wanted to say.

"I will retrieve the Homunculus research journals, but I will not touch any other research journals."

"......!"

Not touch them......?

Count Gilles de Rais's eyebrows trembled slightly.

"I've taken the materials I needed and a few books. Let's end it here."

"Ha, but......."

"Or, do you want to pay an even greater price?"

"!"

Count Gilles de Rais hastily shook his head.

A greater price!

He couldn't even imagine what kind of price he would have to pay.

"However, I will forbid any further research. If this is for the same purpose as your current wife, proceed with annulment or become a good husband."

"......Understood."

"And don't forget to atone daily for those you've killed."

"Under......stood."

This should be enough, right?

Evan glanced at Lapis.

Lapis made an O shape with her thumb and index finger.

This should be enough.

'It's time to wrap this up.'

"Contact me next time. This is my contact information."

Swoosh.

Evan pulled out a letter from his chest and handed it over.

A business card? Not exactly, more like a simple identity guarantee.

It's mostly exchanged between noble friends.

Since I might need materials occasionally, it's better to establish a connection in advance.

"This is......."

"Consider it as payment for the goods."

Having finished his business, Evan abruptly stood up.

"W-where are you going?"

"The business is done, so I'm leaving. Do you have any more business?"

"No...... I don't......."

"Then, farewell."

Without even a goodbye, Evan left abruptly.

Count Gilles de Rais couldn't even think of stopping him.

The reception room where Evan had abruptly left.

Count Gilles de Rais, staring at the seat of honor where Evan had been sitting, felt emotions welling up in his eyes.

'......Ah! To have that kind of composure.'

Jealousy, hatred, and anger had already disappeared.

Something even greater.

To show such mercy.

It was as if he was looking at a father he deeply respected, and 'respect' began to bloom.

'Could it be, the noble person my father spoke of.......'

Words left by his father before he passed away.

-A noble person will come to you.

Yes!

Evan was that noble person.

His delusion and jealousy were washed away, and a field of enlightenment came to him.

Enlightenment.

In the radiant sunlight illuminating that field, shadows were meaningless.

'I have been so foolish.'

This person is the noble one.

He was convinced.

Evan.

Exuding the aura of a true ruler, one that couldn't be confined by the word "genius."

He could become the new master of the Alchemists' Tower, which was once led by Count Gilles de Rais's mentor.

'Now is the opportunity.'

The opportunity to atone for his rudeness.

With trembling hands, Count Gilles de Rais reached for the paper on his desk.

The purpose was a recommendation letter.

A recommendation letter to appoint Evan as the "Tower Master."

A gaze that was watching this.

'Hmm.'

Lapis, who had secretly slipped out to observe, disappeared into the shadows.

She had been uncertain if it was a lie, but now she was sure it wasn't.

At this point, it seemed unnecessary to kill him.

It might even be better.

Because Evan's reputation would spread even further.

'Hehe.'

All of this was for Evan.

Lapis quietly let out a laugh.

***

The returning carriage.

As expected of a carriage led by Number 5, the ride was comfortable.

'Ah, that was exhausting.'

Now, all that was left was to return safely.

I must never do such dangerous work again.

Two hours passed after making that resolve.

Clatter!

"Stop!"

"Hand over everything you have! If you do, you can escape the embrace of the false god!"

Strange people launched an attack.

Oh, please!

Evan looked out the window, silently lamenting.

He unknowingly made a bitter expression.

The band of robbers had launched an attack.

They were too devout for that.

Amidst them, blue hair, familiar only to Evan, came into view.

Future, reigning over the heads of all sects, unifying power, and toying with enemies through all kinds of schemes, the Sin of Arrogance.

That very person was mingling among the group of heretics.

......Why is that person coming out from there?