MTLNOVEL Chapter 21
Chapter 21
Time passed quickly.
Evan planned to establish an orphanage.
Based on the research journals he had obtained, his alchemy skills improved slightly.
The day Evan had to attend the ball also approached.
'Ah, I really hate this.'
Twice a year. A ball held regularly.
The location was the Astria Territory in the southern region.
True to the Count's love for dance and music, it was often used as a banquet hall.
'Should I just turn back?'
"......."
"Evan! Your outfit today is amazing."
"No one will look better than the Young Master today!"
"......Thank you."
Evan accepted the compliments reluctantly.
Instead of his usual comfortable attire, he wore formal clothing.
A custom-made suit that could only be tailored in the capital.
He remembered it being ridiculously expensive.
A place where such clothing was the norm.
'......Should I just pretend to be sick and skip it?'
Evan seriously considered it.
People laughing and chatting as they entered the ballroom.
Not just one or two, and they weren't of ordinary status either.
Noble heirs.
A ballroom where only those under twenty could participate as representatives of their families, their arrogance was evident.
Perhaps every word they spoke would carry hidden barbs and blades.
That's just the way socializing and politics worked.
A battlefield without bloodshed.
He felt even less inclined to go.
'......No, I can't be scared here.'
Evan quietly pinched his cheek.
Get a grip.
I can do this.
'Yes.'
I can do this!
A man among men.
A real man doesn't back down in the face of crisis.
Besides, this place wasn't life-threatening.
Even safety-first Evan could enter.
'This is an opportunity.'
A chance to end this life of solitude!
Evan roughly knew what the nobles called him.
The Hermit.
The one who shuns the world.
Simply put, an outcast.
It was just a grand title dressed up in noble fashion.
'It's about time I shed this title.'
If I get a good title, people won't misunderstand me anymore, right?
"Dolph."
"Yes! Young Master!"
"Can you find out in advance who will be attending this ball?"
"Yes! Just a moment!"
'I should figure out the attendees and pick who to get close to.'
There were too many families; befriending all of them was impossible.
Still, there should be one or two useful families.
Families that would still hold influence when the original story began.
'It'd be nice if it were someone from the western region.'
Foreigners from other kingdoms or outsiders would be fine too.
Act 1, the beginning of the original story, starts in a nearby kingdom, not the empire.
It doesn't have an immediate impact.
But you never know.
I should make friends with allies, as kind as possible.
'If I just build connections, meeting other main allies or acquiring new items or materials will become easier.'
There are only about six "safe" main allies.
In reality, there are even more main allies.
Even if they're not main allies, there are many who only act as allies in Act 1.
Using them could yield significant benefits!
'Alright. This is my chance to build connections.'
......After resolving himself, two hours passed.
The ball began.
"".......""
"......Hic."
Noble heirs who couldn't even meet Evan's gaze, and young noble ladies who looked like they were about to cry or bowed their heads as soon as they made eye contact.
Building connections, my foot.
Their reactions made it seem like I'd get sued faster.
......Should I just go home?
***
"......."
"......"
Two hours after the ball began.
The peak of excitement, as people danced and spent time with their partners.
However, the atmosphere wasn't as pleasant as expected.
The reason was just one person.
A boy sitting in a corner.
Even though he was sipping wine alone.
He exuded more presence than any of the other heirs.
'S-So scary!'
'If I make too much noise, will he get annoyed and behead me?'
Evan Alcart.
The star of this ball.
Among the noble heirs, there wasn't a single person who didn't know Evan.
The famous second son of the Alcart Ducal Family.
Of course, there was no way anyone wouldn't know him.
However, most of the impressions were negative.
No fiancée, no friends.
He never appeared at gatherings or academies.
It was as if he had some kind of problem.
The only flaw of the Duke.
If it were another noble, they would've been expelled or disowned long ago.
A perfect target for secret gossip and ridicule.
Even his bloodline had that element.
It was because Evan's mother was a concubine.
-A concubine as his mother? Not the son of the official wife?
-But he was acknowledged as an official son.......
-The Duke's benevolence is well-known. He must have pitied him.
-So admirable. They say his marriage was the result of love? So amazing!
-But why is that child.......
Even though he never shows his face, there are so many flaws to chew on.
It's only natural that he became a regular guest in conversations.
This remained true even a year ago when rumors of a sudden change in personality surfaced.
The rumors only started to change a few months ago.
The young nobles who had visited the black market.
It all began after they returned.
-E, Evan Alcart?! Th-that man! Ah, no, you mustn't mention his name like that!
-What are you suddenly talking about? Hey! Get a grip!
-Guh, grrgh.......
Upon hearing Evan's name, their complexion turned pale, and they collapsed foaming at the mouth.
They wouldn't explain why, no matter how much they were asked.
Imagination was the only way to fill in the blanks.
The underworld they had visited.
A term that collectively referred to places like black markets, auction houses, and arenas.
A terrifying place where blood and drugs ran rampant every day.
Yet, if you had money, there was no safer place to indulge in pleasure.
To be so horrified upon just hearing about it?
Could it be...... the reason Evan had been so quiet all this time.
Was because he had only been active in the 'underworld'?
Speculation turned into suspicion, and suspicion turned into rumors.
Rumors began spreading like wildfire.
Soon, all sorts of rumors started to circulate.
-Hey! Did you hear? Evan Alcart made his bothersome brother disappear!
-They say he created a chimera? That he was secretly researching it in the mansion's basement......!
-Did you hear the Blue-Bearded Count regularly offers him tributes?
-Aren't those tributes actually test subjects?
-Same difference!
Even his profession is an Alchemist.
A profession often portrayed as a villain in fairy tales, history, and myths.
Known for committing unethical acts, creating nonexistent creatures, or teaming up with dark magicians at the drop of a hat.
A profession infamous for its madmen.
The youngest Alchemist.
The modifier 'youngest' couldn't hide Evan's infamy.
It simply meant he was a young lunatic.
When it was revealed that Evan Alcart would attend a ball for the first time, everyone was skeptical.
The moment they saw him with their own eyes.
The young nobles realized the rumors were true.
"......."
"......."
Golden eyes contrasting with jet-black hair.
An expressionless face devoid of any readable emotions.
A face that resembled the Duke's features to an excessive degree.
A jet-black suit as dark as his hair, adorned with golden embroidery.
Without saying a word, he brought two children with him, yet his mere presence dominated the ball.
To the point where no one could approach him.
It was a moment that made them understand why their parents feared the name of the Duke.
If Evan had stayed quiet after that, it would've been better.
As if to show why he had been quiet all this time, Evan revealed his ruthless personality.
-Good evening. I am Evan Alcart.
-H-hi! Y-yes! I-I'm Alyssa of the Choi family!
-I see, Alyssa. Do you like wine? That drink is known to come only from the West, the 1938 vintage Jack Dani.......
-I-I'll give it to you! Please take it! I-I don't want to become a test subject!
-.......
Snatching a rare specialty wine with just a word.
-That jewel, it's beautiful. It suits you so well.......
-I-I'll give it to you!
-.......
Taking an expensive jewel a boy had secretly brought from his parents.
-A fine horse.
-T-this horse! It's useless to me! Please, take it!
Even a meticulously bred lineage warhorse, refined over decades, was seized.
All of this achieved with just a few words.
'T-to take everything.......'
'S-so cruel!'
Receiving such fine gifts without a single change in expression, silently observing.
That alone was terrifying.
The young nobles prayed desperately to the gods, hoping he wouldn't approach them.
'Please don't come near me!'
Meanwhile, the instigator of all this.
Evan sipped what appeared to be handmade zero tomato juice, resembling wine, and thought.
'......Life is so hard.'
Could it be that I'm too ugly?
***
Evan had already predicted that making acquaintances wouldn't be easy.
The Alcart Ducal Family, infamous even in the game.
A family so resilient that it didn't collapse even after the Duke's death in Act 3.
As the second son of such a family, it wouldn't be easy to get along right away.
Especially since they had no prior connection.
It's not like school where you could ask, 'Hi? Which school are you from?'
Still, he mustered his courage.
Like a man, he went up and tried to talk!
'Isn't this too much, though?'
Several failed attempts at conversations.
All he got were unnecessary drinks, jewels, and a horse.
He'd have to sell them off later.
"Evan! Try this!"
"......I'm full. Lapis, you eat more."
"Okay! Super! You eat more too!"
"I'm not eating...... mmph! Mmph!"
Thankfully, Lapis and Super were there.
They enjoyed the party, unaffected by the atmosphere.
Dolph had stepped away for a moment.
Something about helping with the ball arrangements.
Evan accepted it since it wasn't necessary.
Well, as long as strange rumors don't spread, it's fine.
"Mmm. Delicious."
Lapis, true to her vegan nature, carefully picked out only salads and vegetables to eat.
In contrast, Super ate anything well.
Even using a knife with elegance.
It seemed he had learned it somewhere.
Is he from a noble family?
'Well, I don't know his origins.'
Lapis had come along dangling from the leg of a Golem Dog,
and Super was rescued from a place where he was held by a band of thieves.
There's no way to know.
I never asked either.
Sigh, but I'm still curious.
Curiosity about their origins was quietly surfacing.
"Hello, Evan Alcart."
Someone greeted him.
When he slightly turned his head, a girl with one of the most striking appearances in the ballroom was smiling gently.
"I am Velia Yorta, the second daughter of Baron Yorta."
Yorta?
A familiar family name.
A supporting character who appears in Act 1.
One of those who leads a merchant guild that operates between the Empire and the Kingdom.
A merchant guild with the humiliating title of being second place forever.
But, I've never heard the name Velia before.
'Is it because she only appeared in Act 1? I can't remember.'
Anyway.
"May I have a moment to talk with you?"
A request for a conversation.
Evan hesitated for a moment.
'She's not an important character, but.......'
Should I just ignore her?
'Nah, that's not right.'
Who knows when an opportunity like this will come again?
They're the type to say strange things with just a word.
Refusing the request here?
They might completely ostracize me.
Maybe even more than now!
It's not that I'm afraid.
Evan is a tough guy.
However, he wanted to prevent strange rumors from spreading.
Judging by the look of things, it doesn't seem like she'll suddenly kneel and offer everything.
At most, she might just ask to be friends?
'If that's all, well. It's not bad.'
Evan nodded.
"Sure."
"Then, to the nearby balcony......."
The moment the curtains were drawn.
He felt a concealment barrier activate.
There was no hostility.
It was just to prevent others from overhearing.
Even if there was danger, he was safe.
He was equipped with Living Armor under his clothes.
The staff as well.
Evan had no less than three bracelets on his wrist.
When he finished assessing the situation quickly.
Thud!
"......?"
Velia knelt down.
No.......
"......I know everything about what you did in the Underworld, all the deeds you committed."
Evan frowned.
Of all things, a dark history!
"Are you threatening me?"
"No. I'm begging you."
Velia deeply bowed her head.
"Please. Save me."
"......?"
"I'll give you anything you want."
It's not like I said I was going to kill her?
At the moment when Evan was baffled.
Zing!
His whole body shivered.
A sensation he had felt once before.
'......Hmm?'
He turned his head.
Beyond the garden.
Several familiar presences.
Those are.......
'Heretics?'
Why are they here?
In an instant, Evan's gaze shifted to Velia.
The moment he saw her frightened eyes.
'Don't tell me, they're targeting her?'
It seemed like he was getting caught up in something strange.
......Should I just run away now?