I'm being Mistaken for The Mastermind

Chapter 6

Shadow.

Arthur Modritter's servant and a repentant assassin.

He was also a disciple of the .

His level was an impressive high-level sword expert.

A level capable of single-handedly annihilating an army.

Such a skilled individual was secretly eliminated.

And overwhelmingly so.

'How on earth did you do it?'

Adrianna and Arthur were completely unaware of this fact.

Had they known, Arthur would have contacted them first.

In other words.

Evan eliminated Shadow without anyone noticing.

What exactly is his true identity?

Knowing secrets that only the gods and Adrianna should know,

Knowing Arthur Modritter's secrets,

And possessing such overwhelming power.

Isn't he like an absolute being?

'......Not to that extent, I suppose. But-'

It's true that he possesses extraordinary power.

He must be highly intelligent too.

The potion Evan handed over.

It was effective.

That's why Adrianna could do nothing.

That potion.

It was the only lifeline to cure the disease.

'......It seems our gift was not to their liking.'

He seemed to have a rather violent personality.

Adrianna recorded this information.

Evan Alcart.

The only known information about him was that he was the second son of the Duke's Family and an 'alchemist', and that he was frail.

Even his face was not well-known.

His reclusive nature played a significant role in this.

The only people he interacted with were servants.

A few days ago, a slave was added.

They said it was brought along when they sent a golem to rescue Theodore Alcart.

There was nothing particularly special about it.

Just somewhat pretty, perhaps?

There were rumors of it being a chimera, but she didn't believe them.

A chimera is a monster.

Within the realm of Adrianna's common knowledge, a chimera could not take on a human form.

It was originally created as a weapon for slaughter.

There was no reason for it to take on a human form.

It was a noble's privilege to have beautiful slaves or servants.

There was no issue with that.

The child was about ten years old.

No matter how much of a genius, a ten-year-old could not surpass a sword expert.

Especially not a high-level one.

There must be some other hidden power.

'......First, gathering information is the priority.'

She could not win right now.

Adrianna admitted defeat.

It was the first time she felt defeated.

Adrianna had always been successful.

Even when she was born and raised,

And even after she was cursed.

Chosen as a saintess, she heard the will of the gods,

Controlled the Sun Temple for the greater good,

Maintained a harmonious relationship with the Moon Church,

And connected with other powerful figures on the continent.

A smooth flow without any obstacles.

For the first time, an obstacle appeared.

Her cold heart beat fiercely.

One was tension,

The other was 'competitive spirit'.

'Hah, hah hah. Alright.'

Playing above Adrianna's head,

Evan Alcart might be the true 'mastermind'.

He was the 'competitor' and 'wall' that Adrianna had to overcome.

"Hah, hah hah hah. Who's playing above whose head...... Let's see."

Misunderstanding Evan's intentions completely, Adrianna opened the letter.

"......Indeed."

Adrianna's lips curled up.

***

Chirp chirp!

The next day.

Evan woke up refreshed.

'......What's this? This feeling of being late?'

He glanced around the room.

It was hard to see.

Because of the curtains drawn over the windows.

"Dolph."

"......Yes, yes. Young Master."

Dolph's voice was stiff.

It was clear he was more than tense; he was scared.

Evan's face also hardened.

Could someone have sneaked in?

Click! Click!

Golems surrounded Evan.

Evan subtly moved to the corner of the bed.

Damn!

If only I weren't such a heavy sleeper, I could have handled it gracefully!

'No, no. My life is the most important thing right now.......'

He didn't want to risk his life unnecessarily.

Evan opened his mouth, hiding his trembling hands.

"......Carefully draw the curtains."

"No, no!"

Dolph shouted, trying to stop him.

But the golem was indifferent.

The obsidian golem arm drew back the curtains.

Swish!

Sunlight streamed in, fully revealing the scene inside the room.

"......Oh, damn."

Evan unwittingly cursed.

In the corner of the room.

There lay a single bright red cocoon the size of an adult man.

Drip, drip.

Red liquid flowing out of the cocoon.

It was definitely blood.

As if a corpse had been turned into a solid...

It was fortunate that his entire body was stiffened with tension.

If it hadn't been, he might have screamed and fainted.

"Y-Young Master! You mustn't look at such a gruesome thing! I-I will take care of it...!"

"Are you awake?"

Creak, Evan turned his stiffened neck.

Lapis entered the room, pressing down on her damp hair.

Lapis, who looked particularly lively today, stood in front of the cocoon with her arms wide open, saying, "Ta-da!"

"Ta-da! How do you like it? My gift?"

"......A gift?"

"Yes! Here's your gift!"

Lapis pointed at the cocoon soaked in blood.

Now the floor was also wet with the overflowing blood.

Evan felt dizzy.

Is this supposed to be a gift?

"......This is not a gift."

"What? Why?"

Lapis tilted her head.

Poke, poke. She poked the cocoon with her index finger.

"This person was secretly watching Evan. Isn't that bad? It could be dangerous, you know."

Did Lapis really do this?

The hairs on his body stood on end.

'Could it be that she awakened to sin?'

Should he run away even now?

'......No. She's still young.'

Lapis was still a girl about ten years old.

If she had awakened to sin, she would have become an adult.

At the very least, there would have been some change like her growing taller since yesterday.

But there was no change at all.

'Her true nature?'

......Damn.

As expected, the theory of original sin is correct.

Should he kick her out even now?

Or should he scold her?

......No. Kicking her out is a bit much.

The reason Lapis made that cocoon?

Because of Evan.

If you think about it, it's a good thing.

Because it means she recognized Evan as someone to protect.

'But it's ambiguous.'

It's practically a time bomb.

Come on, imagine this.

While out for a walk, Evan bumped into someone.

In a medieval-like setting with no sense of propriety, if they raised their fist to threaten him?

-Bang! Do you want to die? How dare you touch me!

If Evan was shocked and even vomited blood, that would be the end.

The next day, a cocoon would appear, just like that!

There's no need to escalate to a fight.

If someone sent Evan a love letter out of affection.

If she considered that stalking?

Another cocoon would appear.

The problem arises at this point.

What if the other party was a direct descendant of the imperial family?

Or if they were a noble?

Or if they were a noble or their child-

'......They would become a public enemy of the continent.'

Being a criminal would be the best-case scenario.

It wouldn't be strange if they were sentenced to death.

They would be chased out of this mansion as well.

With no money, no connections, nothing.

Unable to provide proper food for Lapis.

What if that happened?

-I'm so hungry. I might have to eat you.

'Damn. Absolutely not.'

Absolutely not.

He had to control Lapis.

If he were a typical 24-year-old Korean man, Hanol Lee, he wouldn't be able to do it.

But who am I now?

'I am Evan.'

Seventeen years old, a pretty boy, of ducal lineage, young and rich.

A veteran in his first year of survival.

A man skilled in both literature and martial arts.

'You can do it, Evan. You can do it.'

Whew!

He took short, quick breaths to avoid hiccupping.

"......First, let me say what you did right. You did well to protect me."

"Really?!"

"But it wasn't for me."

"......Huh?"

"If you kill everyone who threatens me a little, will you kill the whole world?"

"......If necessary?"

As expected, a response befitting sin.

But it wasn't the answer Evan wanted.

"It'll be fine. 'Ira' is strong."

"!"

Lapis reacted to the word 'Ira.'

She stared at Evan with her two red eyes.

Goosebumps rose on his arms.

'Damn. So damn scary.'

But he had to endure.

Evan swallowed hard and continued.

"But I'm not. I'm not as strong or tough as Ira. If I make enemies of the continent, I'll die."

Lapis's strength is not in question.

Instead, we discuss Evan's death that must be protected.

"......!"

"You won't be able to eat your favorite vegetables and fruits. Do you really want that?"

"......Couldn't I just be really strong?"

"Dolph. If Dolph were as strong as me, could you protect me alone?"

"I...... don't think I could protect you."

Dolph is very perceptive.

He immediately gave the desired response.

"Even if you're strong, there are limits when you're alone."

"That's right. Ira. You shouldn't swing your power recklessly. That cocoon could be me, after all."

She gave a slight reprimand.

Now it's time to give a carrot.

"It's not that Ira did anything wrong. I just wish you knew a bit more. This is my fault for not teaching you properly. I'm sorry."

'Don't get angry, it's not your fault.'

Because it's scary.

"No...... that's not it......"

Lapis continued to babble.

Evan spoke first.

"So, Ira, from next time, please don't immediately turn me into a cocoon like this when you judge it's dangerous. Okay?"

"......Yes, I understand......"

"Instead."

He has no intention of ending it here.

Protecting Evan? Thank you.

Rather, this should be used.

"When my life is in critical danger, or when someone openly says they'll kill me, ask me first. If I say it's okay, then you can protect me. That should be fine, right?"

"......Yes......"

Lapis nodded, looking very dejected.

Is this good enough?

He let out a deep sigh of relief inwardly.

"Come here."

Evan patted his knee.

Evan's height is quite tall, probably due to genetics.

In contrast, Lapis is still young, so she's short.

She can sit on his thigh for a short while.

But she can't sit for long.

After ten minutes, her knees would hurt.

Normally, she would have rushed over.

Instead of running, Lapis hung her head.

"Because...... I did something wrong......"

"?"

"Don't call me Ira......"

Tears began to fall from Lapis's eyes.

Evan was shocked.

'No way, crying over this?!'

After casually turning someone into a cocoon?

Evan was momentarily flustered.

'......Yeah. That's possible.'

Evan quickly regained his composure.

He tapped his thigh.

"......Yes. I understand. Lapis. Come here."

"Yes......"

As Lapis approached with a sniffle, Evan crouched down to meet her eye level and patted her head.

'Well, it worked out okay.'

He exhaled a sigh of relief.

It's a relief that it ended this way.

It almost became his last breath.

'Now, how should I deal with this?'

Cocoon.

Who could it be?

He had a rough guess of who it might be.

A creepy guy who would secretly watch and follow him.

'Must be sent by the Black Dawn.'

Who else could it be but an assassin?

Black Dawn.

The continent's top assassination group.

They must be skilled enough.

'Have they been watching me since we got involved before?'

A mistake made while practicing alchemy intensely.

Back then, he got involved with the Black Dawn.

He thought he had dealt with it well, but apparently not.

......Well, at least he hasn't been assassinated yet.

'Repay kindness twofold, vengeance tenfold.'

The creed of assassins.

It would be troublesome to incur their enmity for no reason.

Please, don't die!

As long as they're alive, he can somehow handle it.

"I'll open it...... sniff."

"Dolph. Please wipe Lapis's nose."

"Yes, yes...... L, Lapis. Come here."

"Sniff."

Lapis took Dolph's hand and followed him out.

Evan was left alone in the room.

Golems surrounded the cocoon like a barrier.

Yesterday, the unfinished Living Golem approached Evan.

Ziiik-

The head part of the cocoon opened.

Shadow, covered in blood, struggled to open her eyes.

Their eyes met with Evan's.