I'm being Mistaken for The Mastermind

Chapter 20

The Alcart Ducal Family holds a significant weight in the original story.

A family that dominates the underworld, where all kinds of things flow, whether legal or illegal.

The Real Power that can shake even the empire's economy.

Naturally, it had to be treated with high importance in the original story as well.

'Wasn't it the final boss of Act 3? Probably.'

A boss that embodied both style and difficulty, one of the most popular bosses.

The Real Power of the underworld,

Cavaro Alcart.

That was his title and name.

Flap!

Cavaro's cloak fluttered as he mounted the black horse leading the carriage.

Golden embroidery engraved on the red cloak.

It symbolized the dignity Cavaro possessed.

Jet-black hair comparable to the black horse and the cold golden eyes that Evan inherited.

No matter how shabby his appearance, he exuded an undeniable nobility and elegance.

A born ruler.

From birth, he was destined to command and govern others, and he was a monarch who actively utilized this knowledge.

Neigh!

The black horse let out a loud cry and began to slow down, and the carriage's speed gradually decreased as well.

The mansion's front gate.

The Duchess, who had come out to greet him in advance.

She was also the official wife who gave birth to both Leonardo and Theodore.

'Her expression is completely stiff.'

This is the first time seeing her like this.

Evan sat by the window, resting his chin on his hand.

Natalia Alcart.

A strong woman who rose to the rank of top-tier sword expert with just a rapier.

Her trained body, reminiscent of a black panther, was impressive enough that it was hard to believe she had borne two children.

Even the Duchess was nervous about the Duke's return.

Neigh!

Thud.

The black horse stopped right in front of the Duchess.

A bundle placed atop the black horse.

The fabric was stained red.

'Could it be?'

Thud! Roll, roll.

The Duke threw the bundle.

What spilled out was the enemy's head.

The expression of shock was still etched on its face.

Step, step!

As the black horse stopped, the knights following behind all halted simultaneously.

Their movements were rigid with discipline.

Without an inch of error, they knelt on one knee and planted their swords.

Thud! Thud, thud!

The knights from the Duke's mansion did the same.

At the forefront.

True to the name of the Commander of the First Knights, Ferok, who stood at the lead, spoke.

"We sincerely congratulate the safe return of our master, His Grace, the Duke."

"Congratulations!"

"Hm."

Cheers and an overwhelming display of loyalty.

However, the Duke merely nodded lightly as if he was used to it.

"You've all worked hard. You may rise."

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

Step, step!

The knights quickly realigned themselves.

The Duke leapt down from the black horse.

The Duke's expression subtly changed as he looked at the Duchess who had come out to greet him.

It was a smile.

It really doesn't suit him.

"Madam. It's been a while."

"I'm glad you've returned safely, Your Grace."

Naturally escorting her, the Duke extended his hand, and the Duchess took it.

What an affectionate couple they are.

'I heard he was also on good terms with Evan's mother.'

The Duke was a rare case of marrying out of true love, not for political reasons.

Considering the brutal world of nobility, it was indeed a rare occurrence.

A love marriage!

Truly the epitome of an alpha male, a man's man.

Even with the brutal title of Drug King ruling the underworld, he walked around like it was nothing.

"What's that head?"

"The head of the second-in-command."

The Duke spoke in a nonchalant voice.

"He was aiming for my position."

"You did well."

"It's still my fault for being lacking. To think I couldn't properly win over even one subordinate under me. I must strive harder."

"You're remarkable."

His self-feedback was concise.

He showed no sign of further self-reproach.

It really felt like checking answers against a solution sheet.

Can a person be that unfeeling?

"What about the children?"

"They're all in their rooms."

"Let's have dinner together tonight."

On the surface, he might seem blunt, but he could be a caring father. However, Evan knew.

More precisely, this body knew.

-Be quiet, Evan Alcart.

Evan, clutching his mother's cold, lifeless body, cried out.

Standing behind him, without showing his face, the Duke spoke in a cold voice.

-Maintain your dignity as the second son.

'Hmph.'

After that, Evan grew distant from his father.

More precisely, it would be accurate to say he was abandoned.

Evan called it independence.

He insisted he wasn't abandoned but had become independent from his father.

That didn't lead to mental 'maturity.'

Ordinary delinquent Evan began to dream of the taboo, 'Resurrecting the Dead.'

'I have no intention of doing it now, though.'

The ultimate taboo among taboos, 'Resurrecting the Dead.'

The cost of alchemy with gold is on a completely different level.

Naturally, Evan, a man of utmost caution, wouldn't even consider it.

It's not like his real parents had passed away.

'Dinner... I guess I'll pretend to be asleep.'

It was the moment he quietly stuck his head back in.

"Evan Alcart."

It was then.

A chilling voice pierced his ears.

Creak. He forced his stiff neck to turn.

Precisely at the window.

The Duke was staring straight into Evan's eyes.

His icy golden eyes flashed.

"Don't be late for dinner. Attend."

"......Yes."

Damn it, I don't want to.

Despite his feelings, the words spilled out of his mouth.

It's absolutely not because he was scared.

It's merely the instincts left in this body.

Absolutely not because he was frightened.

"Understood."

Swoosh.

The Duke, having heard the response, disappeared without even looking back.

In an instant, the mansion's front gate was filled with silence.

Evan let out a thin sigh and slumped into the chair.

Damn it! That startled me.

'Why is he suddenly talking to me after all this time?'

There were only two times he had spoken to him.

Once, right after Evan's transmigration, when he was groaning in pain.

The other time was when Evan was forcibly sent to the underworld.

'This is the third time.'

I really don't want to meet him.

Evan shuddered.

But an inevitable fate was approaching.......

***

Dinner table.

In an ordinary household, one would imagine a lively atmosphere.

However, this place was different.

Desolate and silent.

Clink, clink.

The sound of dishes being brought and taken away.

Not even the sound of eating could be heard.

Because that was considered etiquette.

The only one who could speak first was the Head of the family, the host of this table.

'If Lapis were here, I might have suffocated to death.'

Lately, she seemed more interested in hanging out with Super, eating fewer of her favorite vegetables.

If she used to eat two baskets, nowadays, she only ate about one and a half baskets.

It was a bit noisy, but it was fun.

While eating, he momentarily reminisced about the not-so-distant past.

Clatter-

The Duke, having finished his meal, placed his tableware down and wiped his mouth with a handkerchief in an elegant gesture.

The flawless Duke fixed his gaze on Evan.

"Evan."

"......Yes, Your Grace."

His body stiffened.

It felt like being a herbivore standing before a predator.

At least his face didn't cramp up, thankfully.

Seeing a more mature version of the face he saw in the mirror standing right there was a bit awkward, though.

"Lately, I've been hearing a lot of rumors about you."

"It was bad luck."

"Not 'it was good luck' but 'it was bad luck'? Are you saying your notoriety isn't enough yet?"

Excuse me?

"The Blue-Bearded Count, he's not a vessel that would satisfy you. Strive harder."

Excuse me??

"However, the Saintess and the Holy Knight. They are fitting. Excellent."

Excuse me???

"I heard you invited a beggar this time. Did you gain something good?"

"......It wasn't a bad connection."

"Not bad."

Did he figure out it was the Dark King?

"The beggar may be lowly, but it's important to find out what kind of brilliant times they might have had. It seems you found something only you could read."

Leo shot him a sharp look, as if asking if that was the case.

No.......

It was true.

However, it was purely by coincidence.

It was absolutely not intentional.

Still, it would be awkward to say no.

A single line can incite, but a declaration requires several times more words.

"......Yes."

So he just nodded.

"It seems you're still not satisfied."

He seemed to interpret that reaction strangely.

Evan doubted his ears at the Duke's nonsense.

......Excuse me?

What is lacking?

'This notoriety isn't enough?'

If this isn't enough, wouldn't that make him a real psycho?

"I am satisfied."

"There's no need to pretend otherwise. Proper modesty may be beneficial, but excessive modesty only weakens you."

The Duke interpreted Evan's intentions as he pleased.

"Always be careful not to overdo it."

"......Yes."

Leo and Theodore glared at Evan with intense stares.

They seemed annoyed that Evan was monopolizing the Duke's attention at the dinner table.

If you're upset, then you do it.

I don't need it.

It was at that moment when Evan was cursing internally.

Swish.

Very faintly.

A faint smile appeared on the Duke's lips, only to vanish in an instant.

It was so brief that it felt like he might have imagined it.

'Ah, it must be my imagination.'

Even if Evan met a pitiful death in the game, he was the type to respond in a strictly textbook manner.

A smile, my foot.

"I will personally give you the next mission. It's an opportunity to make a name for yourself."

"It's fine......."

"Attend the ball, Evan."

No.

Listen to me for once.

"This time, you will attend as the representative of our family."

Blazing!

The stares of the two brothers grew even more intense.

Ah, I don't want to do this!

But a true man doesn't run away.

If he runs away now?

He would forever become a coward.

Evan forced himself to utter a single sentence.

"......I'll think about it."

The stares that seemed to say, 'What kind of lunatic is this?' grew even more intense.

And so, the dinner time passed, and late into the night.

A letter arrived.

Its destination was the Moon Church.

It was a letter sent by Arthur.

- I have decided to infiltrate high society undercover for this heretic hunt.

- Could you provide the potion at that time?

......It seemed.

He now had a reason to attend high society.

***

One day before the letter arrived at Evan.

Moon Church.

A silver bird with a red ribbon tied to its leg flew in, carrying a scroll.

Flap!

"Hmm."

The scroll wasn't a letter, but a kind of newspaper that conveyed the continent's sentiments or news.

Adrianna, who had briefly stopped by the Moon Church today, sent a curious glance from behind.

"Hmm."

Arthur swallowed his words.

"What's going...... hmm."

Adrianna swallowed her words as well.

The scroll.

Contained quite impactful content.

- Annihilation of the heretic group.

- Currently, all members are missing.

- Suspected to have been annihilated by 'Evan Alcart.'

"......Hmm."

Drip drip.

The silence lengthened, and a cold sweat trickled down.

The remaining heretic remnants were annihilated?

So suddenly?

Was he really that angry?

"Does this mean he wants us to handle matters more cleanly?"

"Ha. That's not it."

"Then what?"

While Arthur was trying to decipher the intention, Adrianna, as a brilliant strategist and true mastermind, grasped the meaning.

"This means, the presentation was lacking."

"Presentation?"

"We went through the trouble of restoring your Aura Hall, but no information about you has been revealed, has it?"

"......I see. He's dissatisfied that his infamy hasn't been spread."

"Exactly."

Evan Alcart.

A true mastermind who even toys with the Saintess of the Sun and the Knight of the Full Moon.

To think he would send a warning like this.

'He even met that sly old man, the Dark King.'

How on earth did he encounter that old man?

Coincidence?

No.

This is fate.

Intentionally orchestrated.

'To think he would set the stage like this.'

And yet, he hasn't stopped improving his skills.

Would he have sought out an alchemist who's lived for over a hundred years for no reason?

It must be to gain something.

'Is this your way of saying you'll toy with us like this?'

I have no intention of being played with.

A monkey placed above Buddha.

That's not the kind of life I've lived to end up in such a situation.

I will uncover his intentions and, in turn, place Evan in the palm of my hand.

By doing so, I will achieve the goal of the Sun's Descent.

That is the Saintess's objective.

"Arthur. How is your younger sister these days?"

"She's still holding on."

Arthur's younger sister, Laila.

The Moon Church's only Priestess, who suffers daily due to her innate fate and vessel.

"Who knows? He might have a potion that could cure your sister."

"......Can you take responsibility for those words?"

Arthur's gaze turned icy in an instant.

Adrianna smiled leisurely.

"That's something we'll find out by checking. I've acquired some good information."

Adrianna pulled out an invitation from her pocket.

An invitation to high society, where only nobles or important figures could participate.

"I heard Evan Alcart will be entering high society this time."

That will be the opportunity.

A chance to approach him directly and uncover information or his intentions.

'I'm looking forward to that time.'

What kind of sinister plan could he be plotting?

"It's your chance to meet him directly."

Adrianna, unaware that Evan was simply thinking, 'Let's just get this A/S request over with quickly,' had a deep smile on her lips.