I'm being Mistaken for The Mastermind

Chapter 4

Munch, munch!

Watching Ira devour her food, Evan felt conflicted.

Her appearance, speech, and traits—no matter how he looked at her, she was undoubtedly a Sin.

'Sin of Wrath, Ira.'

Did I really pick up that monster?

"Hmm! This tastes so strange."

"That's strawberry flavor."

"Strawberry? What's that? Well, it's tasty!"

The setting was that she, like a carnivore, only ate meat daily and didn't know the taste or scent of vegetables or fruits.

Her actions and attitude reflected that setting perfectly.

"I finished it all. This was really delicious."

"......Would you like more?"

"Huh? Huh! No, yes!"

For now, let's just feed her.

At least if her stomach is full, she won't kill and eat people.

Evan subtly handed over a potion through the golem.

"Drink this."

"Huh! Yes! Thank you!"

Ira grabbed the potion with both hands and gulped it down.

The potion's effect was digestion.

Eating a lot wouldn't be a problem.

It was a potion with side effects removed, made specifically for Evan.

'But she's so young.'

Evan fell into thought.

The reason for his conflicted feelings.

It was because of Ira's appearance.

She was too young.

At most, around 10 years old.

'She was definitely an adult five years later.'

The main story begins five years from now.

Ira is a villain who appears from the beginning.

She showcased a strong presence until about Act 5.

Naturally, she was an adult.

'Did she eat something wrong? Or is this a disguise?'

'Disguise' was a technique used by the Sin of Pride, not the Sin of Wrath.

Was there any other information about Ira?

Evan calmly traced his memories.

[Sin of Wrath, Ira.

On the day she was born, the sky turned red, a crimson moon rose, corpses stirred, and long spider webs stretched between the trees.

That day, her parents abandoned her, and the village chief gave her the name 'Ira.'

After that, Ira wandered the continent, waiting for her time to come.

On that day, the Sin of Wrath would mature and realize its true power and duty.]

'Is it because her time hasn't come yet...... that she's like this?'

That was the most plausible theory at the moment.

[She will realize her true power and duty.]

This part seemed deeply connected.

In fact, even the main allies only started acting in the main story after resolving their flaws.

Then.......

'If she doesn't realize it, does that mean she won't become a Sin?'

......In that case, maybe redemption is possible?

"Gulp...... Hic, ah, that was delicious. I'm full. But I think I'll get hungry again soon."

Ira, sitting on the floor, rubbed her stomach.

Her thin arms and hands rubbing her stomach.

Seeing that, Evan unconsciously opened his mouth.

"......Dolph. Is there any lunch left?"

"Huh? Yes! There's still the lunch you haven't eaten yet, Young Master."

"Give it to this child."

"B-but......."

"Hurry."

Evan spoke firmly.

'For now, I need to feed her enough.'

The Sin of Wrath was particularly close to a 'beast.'

Beasts don't hunt when they're full.

It's just that the Sin of Wrath often got hungry.

......Though it's uncertain what would happen if she got bored or irritated.

"Yes...... Understood."

Dolph hesitantly brought the food, glancing at Ira.

On a plate filled with greens.

Fortunately, Ira didn't frown.

She simply looked at the plate with curious eyes.

"What's this? Yo?"

"These are healthy herbs and vegetables. They're good for breakfast and lunch."

"They look like they'd taste bad......."

"They're not for taste."

Everything was health food.

A special diet prepared for Evan, whose health wasn't great.

All the dishes were personally planned by Evan.

Occasionally, he even ate things like bell pepper sandwiches.

Honestly, even Evan didn't want to eat them.

Naturally, he preferred greasy food too.

Hamburgers, pork cutlets, rice soup, fried food, stir-fried spicy pork, and so on.

The soul food of a Korean man, wasn't it?

However.

'If I eat that, I might get an upset stomach. Better endure it.'

Not that those foods existed in this world anyway.

'Ah, there's one portion left for me.'

An herb he had left over from an experiment.

Evan picked up the herb and chewed it raw.

'Ugh. So bitter.'

Evan's face twisted.

Ideally, he wanted to brew or process it before eating.

But he endured since that would reduce its effectiveness.

After all, health came first.

"Ugh."

Bitter!

Ira's face twisted as well.

Her reaction was like that of a child.

With a tear forming in one eye, she glared at Evan, but it was more amusing than scary.

"Ugh. Bitter, so bitter......."

'So, she was human too.'

"It's better to endure and eat it. It's good for your body. You can't eat this just anywhere."

"Can't eat it just anywhere? Ugh... Then, because it's rare... because it's important... I'll eat it..."

Ira grabbed the herb with both hands and began chewing it.

Her face twisted with every chew.

Crunch, crunch.

'...Indeed, no matter how you look at it, she's human.'

This was the first time seeing Ira in person.

Until now, the only thing he'd seen was through the monitor.

Therefore, Evan's knowledge about Ira was extremely limited.

What kind of atmosphere she had, what kind of personality she had.

The things the nearby characters said about Ira were always the same.

-She doesn't seem like a person.

But now, this Ira?

'She's just a bit peculiar, that's all.'

What he first noticed was her unique appearance and hair color, a realization born from instinct.

If he hadn't had the knowledge?

Without the ominous feeling, he would have simply thought of her as just another orphan.

'...Is now the only chance to rehabilitate her?'

Could rehabilitation even be possible?

Evan believed in the theory of inherent evil.

It was proven by the boys who bullied Evan, a weak man, since he was young.

Pure evil—why else would such a word exist?

'Still, if by any chance she became evil due to her environment...'

Wouldn't it be worth trying?

Or maybe it would be better to deal with her now...?

Of course, he'd make the golem do it.

Gulp!

"Ugh."

While he was thinking.

Ira, who had chewed the herb thoroughly, stood up from her seat.

She bowed her head.

"Still, thank you. Is that right?"

"...'Is that right' is correct."

"Ah, I see. Sorry. No, I apologize. I haven't learned much."

Ira laughed with a "hehe."

Seeing that, he felt his heart soften.

A weak man's trait.

Soft-heartedness.

'Ahem, ahem. She's making me soft-hearted.'

Ah, damn it!

Why did the gods create Lee Hanol and make him a weak man?

A sigh escaped from within him.

Was Sins not a monster but a human?

He had never considered such a thought.

Evil is evil, and good is good.

Is the standard that separates them correct?

He had never pondered such a question.

Why now, of all times, did he have to think about this?

'...Alright. I've decided.'

A weak man's trait.

Indecisiveness.

Even when someone asked about lunch, he'd just say, "Anything is fine."

But after falling into this world, he had fixed it, albeit slightly.

Now was the time to prove it!

'I don't even hope for rehabilitation.'

He had thought too grandly.

Rehabilitation? It's unnecessary.

Instead.

'Just don't kill me!'

He wasn't planning to cling desperately.

Just enough to form a bond, to make her feel a bit guilty when the time came to kill him.

That would be enough.

That would increase his survival rate more than dealing with her now.

'...And, if things go well, she might even deliver the letter to an ally.'

Of all people, to be entangled with Sins.

A sigh escaped him.

Squeak-

Evan moved the Golem Dog.

Reflexively, Ira clung to the Golem Dog.

"Woof!"

"Do you have anywhere to go?"

"Huh? No. I mean, no? I don't. I was hungry, so I followed this strangely shaped golem."

"Isn't it cute?"

"...Huh? Cute...? Um... Yes! I think it's cute. It has six legs that can bite."

"...Yes."

'Why does no one understand my taste?'

He felt regret.

Evan composed his expression skillfully.

"Then, would you like to stay at this mansion for a while?"

"! Young Master...!"

Dolph shook his head vigorously behind Ira's back.

He ignored it with effort.

"Really?"

"Yes. I'll give you a bed, a room, and clothes. But in return, you'll have to eat a lot of the vegetables you had today."

At the mention of eating a lot of vegetables, Ira hesitated.

But perhaps the temptation of a bed, clothes, and a room was too strong.

"I'm tired of meat. I hate it now. I also hate how my body hurts every time I catch it. So, I'll stay here."

"Good."

Success!

Evan let out a sigh of relief inwardly.

'While I'm at it, I should try to make her a vegan.'

Though today was unavoidable, starting tomorrow, he'd prepare edible vegetables.

No more bitter herbs that were only good for the body.

"Young Master!"

It was then. Dolph shouted loudly from the side.

Evan turned to Dolph with a stiff expression (or rather, one that had cramped up).

"...What is it?"

Was he about to object?

That would be a bit troublesome-

"Dolph, I didn't understand the grand intentions of the Young Master!"

Thump, thump!

He pounded his chest with his fists.

Hot tears streamed down both cheeks.

"As expected of the Young Master...! I, the servant Dolph, will simply follow the grand intentions of the Young Master...!"

"...Thank you."

Yes. This is the Dolph I know!

Evan decided to accept it appropriately.

For now, should I wait for a reply from the Commander of the Holy Knights or the Saintess?

Evan gazed beyond the window.

The sun was setting.

The sky was bathed in the colors of dusk.

"What are your hobbies?"

"Hobbies? I like string figures."

"String figures? That's an excellent hobby. I like it too."

"Then, will you play with me?"

"Sure. But let's stick to one way of speaking for now."

Evan decided to play string figures with Ira.

"Ah, what's your name?"

"Me? Um..."

"If you don't have one, may I give you one?"

Ira quickly nodded her head.

Thanks to recalling the setting where she disliked her own name even in the main story.

A name, a name...

"Then how about 'Lapis'? It's the name of a beautiful gem."

"A gem..."

Ira, who was muttering the word "gem."

No, Lapis, smiled brightly.

"Yes! I like it!"

"I'm glad you like it. Then, shall we play string figures for a while? Could you teach me once..."

Whoosh!

The string touched the skin.

It slightly split, and blood spurted out.

"...Ah."

"Yooouuung Maaasteeerrr!"

A scream echoed throughout the room.

***

That night.

- Did you carry out the order?

"Yes, Sir Arthur."

A shadow that blended into the forest, where even moonlight couldn't seep through, bowed its head.

Arthur's face was reflected in the crystal orb placed before him.

The Knight of the Full Moon, Arthur's shadow.

Shadow.

Shadow reported to Arthur.

"As commanded, I have properly delivered the 'gift' to Sir Evan Alcart."

- Good work. I wonder if he liked the gift.

"He will like it."

A gift given by none other than the Knight of the Full Moon, Arthur.

Of course, he would like it.

Though the giver's identity wasn't revealed.

The gift was the repentance of a brother with whom he had a poor relationship.

Even just yesterday, the one who had been picking fights repented—a gift like no other.

- It would be a shame if the gift ended with just one. Continue to intervene as needed.

"Understood."

- Always be cautious not to disappoint him.

'Why is he being so cautious?'

Almost as if it was more than dealing with the moon—

Shadow cut off his thoughts.

Such thoughts were not permitted for a mere shadow.

- Any other information?

"I will report."

Shadow pulled out parchment from his bosom and spread it wide.

"Evan Alcart, 16 years old. The second son of the Alcart Ducal Family. Features include poor health and losing his mother at a young age."

- Losing his mother...

"This is the information we have uncovered so far."

- When did he start learning alchemy?

"It is presumed to be a year ago."

- Fixing my Aura Hall with just one year of learned alchemy...

Arthur let out a clicking sound.

- That's an unbelievable talent.

No, should that even be called talent?

True geniuses make time and experience irrelevant.

But hasn't he surpassed that?

'He might even succeed in human synthesis, which I've only heard of in rumors.'

The Aura Recovery Potion sent by Evan.

It wasn't complete, but part of the Aura Hall was repaired.

The base of the broken vessel was restored.

Though it was a small amount, it was enough to hold aura.

Perhaps—

'He might even be able to cure the divine illness afflicting my younger brother.'

Arthur's gaze darkened.

'It's too easy to speculate. Was it deliberately revealed?'

Evan was currently hiding his power and identity.

You could tell by the fact that he did nothing to the insignificant Theodore.

What was the purpose of hiding his power?

And why did he reveal it to me?

'Is he deliberately showing it?'

He recalled the words left by the Saintess of the Sun, who had returned after drinking.

- He might have deliberately led me to see that letter.

- That man is capable of that?

- I can't be sure yet, but probably.

It was something the Saintess, who always devised cunning plans, had said.

Even if he didn't fully believe it, it wasn't something to dismiss.

Perhaps, Evan was the real deal, playing above their heads.

'I should keep watching for now.'

Just in case, I should show some appropriate sincerity—

- For now, assist him. Until I arrive.

"Yes."

Shadow also shared the same doubts.

Why on earth is Arthur, called the Commander of the Holy Knights who is mad for power and blood, taking care of someone like Evan—

'It's clear this person is not ordinary.'

There was a need to keep an eye on him.

"I will follow the order."

Thus, the misunderstanding continued to grow.

***

Three days later.

While Evan was playing cat's cradle with Lapis using a golem, a strange rumor reached him.

"......What did I create?"

"Young Master, there's a widespread rumor that you created a chimera...... and that the chimera is Lapis......."

What did I create?