#16. Blue Beard (4)
The Dark King’s reputation ain’t no joke.
To assassins, he’s a legend; to those who lived in the same era, he was the embodiment of fear.
And since this alchemist lived in the same era… well, being scared wasn’t that weird.
‘Still, isn’t this a bit too much?’
“P-please spare me!”
The Count of Blue Beard, Zildre.
Just moments ago, he was acting all cool, but now it’s like his whole attitude flipped—he’s bowing down and begging for mercy!
All because of just one letter!
‘What did I even do?!’
Evan suddenly felt a wave of injustice wash over him.
If I had known this would happen, I wouldn’t have shown it!
‘Now, even if I say it’s a misunderstanding, he won’t believe me, right?’
Yeah, Evan wouldn’t trust himself either if he were in Zildre’s shoes. When someone’s shaking like that, what are they gonna listen to?
“…I didn’t come here to harm you. I only came for the materials I need.”
“I’ll hand everything over!”
See?
Not working, is it?
‘Geez, whatever!’
Let’s just get what we came for and scram. With that thought, Evan opened his mouth.
“Do you happen to have Moonlight Reflection Herb?”
“Yes! Of course we do! Right this way!”
Zildre Count jumped up and started guiding the way. Evan followed behind.
“Hmm.”
Right then, Lapis gently tugged on Evan’s clothes.
“Evan, Evan.”
“Hm?”
Lapis whispered quietly into Evan’s ear.
“That guy smells evil.”
“…Smell?”
“It’s my intuition talking. Maybe…”
The intuition of the sin of ‘Wrath.’
“He’s probably planning to betray you, huh?”
“…”
A chill ran down Evan’s spine. Without responding, Evan stared at Zildre Count’s back.
Yeah.
The reason why Count Zildre conducts human experiments…
It just hit Evan.
The Count of Blue Beard.
Real name: Zildre.
An alchemist who has lived for over a hundred years.
While climbing the stairs to guide Evan, Zildre Count momentarily lost himself in memories.
Long ages.
Countless meetings and partings.
One of them was the farewell with his master.
-Master.
-Ho ho. You can call me Father if you wish.
Zildre Count’s father and master.
Following the tradition of single inheritance, he passed on everything to Zildre, the only family he ever had in life.
In the end, despite using blood-based life-extension techniques, his father still met death.
-You must suppress your cruel nature and live accordingly. You must not live as you truly are…
His master repeatedly warned Zildre.
-Absolute, do not attempt to resurrect me… Wait for the chosen one…
But children go against their fathers’ wishes, don’t they?
The only person who could understand Zildre, the one who became almost infertile due to life-extension research—his father and master were all he had left.
So he continued studying life extension, focusing on researching the resurrection of the dead.
[Rebirth of the Dead].
The forbidden taboo that should never be attempted.
As long as he belonged to the Alchemists’ Tower, it was something he couldn’t defy.
So he turned his eyes elsewhere—to Homunculus.
Artificial life forms.
Living Golems.
Although finding information about Golems was difficult due to lost records, somehow he managed to proceed.
-Hmm. Not Rebirth of the Dead, you say? Just transferring the soul into artificial life… That sounds intriguing.
Even the Dark King approved when they met along the way.
-I like it. When the time comes, I’ll give you something useful.
Zildre Count waited patiently, gathering the necessary materials.
The most important material was “human life.”
Ordinary ones weren’t enough.
He needed a woman strong enough to share her vitality with offspring.
That’s why he took a wife.
It wasn’t hard to disguise.
After all, it’s common for noblewomen to die, especially countesses.
Anyway, she’s just a commoner, right?
No family or power to protect her, so dying is expected.
Thus, disguising her deaths as accidents went smoothly.
During this process, he heard a rumor.
The youngest alchemist ever, Evan Alkarte.
The wild child born into the Alkarte Ducal Family.
-Did you start learning alchemy because your mother passed away?
-That…
-Yep. For the sake of Rebirth of the Dead.
-Tch. Poor kid. That’s absolutely impossible.
-Pitiful circumstances. We won’t judge.
The limit for Rebirth of the Dead is twenty years.
If you can’t resurrect within that time, the soul departs completely from this world.
Master-level skill takes fifty years to develop, and it’s still insufficient for such a taboo act.
Therefore, it’s impossible.
So all members of the Alchemy Tower lost interest, except for Zildre Count.
‘It’s possible.’
But, there were still gaps.
The lack of a proper body base for the Homunculus.
There was only one way to fill the gap.
He needed a body with exceptional talent in alchemy.
Just then, news came that Evan Alkarte was showing an absurd growth rate.
Advanced potions in half a year?
Something that usually takes ten years to achieve.
Talent proven.
All that remained was luring him to the estate.
So when strange rumors spread, Zildre let them run wild, steering them to bring Evan here personally.
And today.
Finally, the Dark King fulfilled his promise.
Thud.
“We’ve arrived, Master Evan.”
Sixth floor.
The highest level. A room remodeled from the topmost section.
Count Zildre stepped aside in front of the door.
“Inside lies everything I’ve accumulated so far. Please, I hope it pleases you…”
Knowledge, items, and essence amassed by an alchemist.
It was impossible not to covet as a fellow alchemist.
Also, some items obtained through trades with heretics fleeing Arthur.
‘No way he won’t fall for it.’
Just one step left.
Until the day he meets his master again—
“…”
Evan glanced at the back of Zildre Count’s head.
What he intended to do…
Simply put, Rebirth of the Dead.
Though it started with life extension, it ended up attempting to defy the natural law of death itself.
Of course, it failed in the original story.
First reason:
His knowledge and expertise weren’t enough to create a Homunculus.
Homunculus is artificial life and an artificial body, essentially a type of Golem.
Naturally, one must be skilled in handling Golems.
Second reason:
Since it’s a near-taboo act, an appropriate equivalent exchange must be paid.
Five women? Not nearly enough.
Ten women? Same thing.
Even sacrificing his own life might barely succeed. Would this work?
“Count.”
Evan spoke calmly.
“…Yes, Master?”
“How about removing your hand from inside your robe?”
Caught.
Instinctively realizing this, Zildre Count’s eyes burned with fierce determination.
Once the purpose is exposed, there’s only one thing an alchemist can do.
Force execution.
Proceed with the plan by any means necessary!
Bang!
Using alchemical transmutation, he pressed against the wall.
[Comprehension], and [Disassembly.]
The door that should never open disintegrated, revealing the interior.
At that moment,
A foul stench engulfed them.
Scattered across the room were five skeletons, dried blood stuck to the floor, rotting flesh being devoured by maggots—emanating a revolting stench.
Simultaneously, smoking empty skulls released cursed smoke designed to paralyze the body.
The smell and smoke enveloped them instantly.
“Ugh?!”
Dolph screamed, pinching his nose tightly as his body stiffened like a statue, blinking rapidly.
Beside him, Evan was similarly affected.
“Gotcha, you little brat.”
Chill laughter escaped Zildre Count’s lips as he reached inside his robes.
A pre-prepared piece of glass.
Low strength but sharp enough to sever throats perfectly. Using transmutation, the glass was sharpened and launched toward Evan’s legs.
At that moment,
Clang!
“…Clang?”
Something blocked it.
Confused, Zildre Count noticed Evan’s clothing—or rather, the leather armor—had changed. It was protecting his legs.
‘Could it be…’
Is this a Golem?
That armor?
Swish!
The Living Golem quickly transformed.
Full plate armor.
All visible now were Evan’s two glowing eyes.
“…Antidote, activate.”
BOOM!
A giant arm broke through the mansion wall.
It was a Golem’s arm.
The Golem that smashed through the wall tossed an antidote, instantly dispelling the curse.
“…!”
At least upper-tier quality antidote!
Specifically targeting curses.
Why would someone carry something like that around?
Could it be… he anticipated betrayal from the start?
Shivers ran down his spine when—
Squirm!
“!!”
Reacting instinctively, Zildre ducked.
Something ominous squirming in the shadows.
Before Zildre Count could react,
Wham!
A shadowy Golem burst out, smashing Zildre’s jaw.
A liquid-like Golem.
Number 2.
A Golem hiding in the shadows, guarding only its master.
“Gah…”
Thud!
Zildre Count collapsed backward, eyes rolling back.
“…”
Watching this was Lapis.
Of course, Lapis wasn’t affected by the paralysis curse.
Bound by the greater curse of fate, this small curse held no effect on her.
Just…
‘Is he extremely angry?’
Even Lapis, burdened with the sin of wrath, struggled to control her anger around Evan.
She was merely worried about Evan’s anger.
While observing Evan cautiously,
‘Phew. Survived!’
Cowardly, safety-first Evan was secretly relieved.
‘I thought my heart would stop from surprise!’
Thankfully prepared ahead of time.
Otherwise, I’d have been done for here.
‘Good thing I knew beforehand.’
In the original story, Count Zildre only targeted women.
Because they were needed as ingredients, right?
Men weren’t necessary.
But why target Evan?
Maybe because the ‘Homunculus’ he was trying to create required it?
‘Could it be… incredibly handsome appearance?’
Was looks the criteria?
Evan seriously considered this before realizing, belatedly, that now wasn’t the time.
Too easy to forget.
“Lapis. Dolph. Are you alright?”
“Kuh, cough. Yes! I’m fine!”
“I’m fine too, Evan. But…”
Lapis hesitated before asking,
“Are you angry?”
‘Me?’
Why would I be angry?
Admittedly, it annoyed him.
Still, with how easily Zildre was defeated…
Honestly, he didn’t feel much emotion.
“I’m not angry.”
“Really…? I should’ve handled it earlier. Sorry…”
More frightening is Lapis.
‘Is Lapis mad?’
Lapis, the sin of wrath.
If she awakened in anger now…
This entire estate would be annihilated.
“Your warning was more than enough.”
Carefully patting Lapis’s head,
“You’re safe, Lapis. That’s all that matters. Good job.”
“Hehe.”
Did she sense something in his touch?
She finally relaxed, smiling brightly.
“What do we do now? Kill him?”
“…Please avoid such violent talk, Lapis. It makes you look cruel.”
Let’s not talk about killing—it gives me chills.
“What do we do now?”
“Hmm.”
What to do?
Wait until he wakes up?
‘Nah, why bother?’
Evan may be a coward, but he’s no pushover.
If he gets stabbed in the back like this?
Gotta take what we came for.
“Let’s collect separately. We need compensation for damages.”
“Should I go?”
“It’s dangerous. Stay here.”
Tap tap.
Evan tapped the floor with his cane.
The cane decomposed slightly, splitting into several mini Golems.
Wriggle wriggle.
The tiny Golems gathered, looking up at Evan.
“Collect everything.”
Acknowledge!
The Golems rushed inside.
Lapis, seeing the Golems for the first time, showed interest.
“What are these?”
“They’re mini Golems. I modified them to help move things.”
“These came from that?”
“Yes, indeed.”
Initially, only two Golems were used to deal with Zildre Count.
This wasn’t his full power.
Clomp clomp!
The mini Golems efficiently sorted usable items and stacked them neatly.
When Evan turned his head, his eyes met the countess’s.
“Oh, right.”
She looked utterly terrified.
Hmm, maybe I scared her too much?
Evan observed her for a moment before placing a finger on his lips, silently indicating she should forget and live quietly.
Meanwhile, the mini Golems dragged Zildre Count away.
Just lazy transportation.
It felt like witnessing a murder scene cleanup.
Nod nod nod!
The countess nodded frantically, clearly terrified.
…Why is she so scared?
Evan wondered while starting to gather everything he needed.
