#21. I’m Not That Kind of Person (2)
Time flew by quickly.
Since Evan started planning to establish an orphanage and his alchemy skills had slightly improved based on the research journals he obtained, the day when he had to attend a ball was also approaching.
‘Ah, I hate it so much.’
Twice a year, there was a regularly held ball.
The venue was located in the Astraea territory in the southern part.
As befitting the estate of a count who loves dance and music, it was often used as a banquet hall.
‘Should I just go back?’
“…”
“Evan! Your outfit looks amazing today!”
“There’s no one more handsome than young master today!”
“…Thank you.”
Evan reluctantly accepted their thanks.
Instead of his usual comfortable clothing, he was dressed formally.
A custom-tailored suit that could only be fitted in the capital.
He remembered it being ridiculously expensive.
A place where such attire was standard.
‘…Should I just fake being sick and skip out?’
Evan seriously considered it.
People were entering the ballroom laughing ha-ha.
Not just one or two people, and they weren’t ordinary folks either.
Noble heirs.
This ball, restricted to those under twenty years old, featured representatives from prestigious families.
Every word probably hides bones and blades, doesn’t it?
That’s how socializing and politics work.
A battlefield without bloodshed.
It made him want to turn back even more.
‘…No. I can’t be scared here.’
Evan quietly pinched his cheeks.
Snap out of it.
I can do this.
‘Yeah.’
I can do this!
A man among men.
Real men don’t back down in the face of crisis.
Moreover, there was no danger to life here.
Meaning even safety-first Evan could enter.
‘This is an opportunity.’
An opportunity to end this lonely lifestyle!
I roughly know what the nobles call me.
A recluse.
Someone who shuns the world.
In simpler terms, a loner.
Just a fancy title in noble language.
‘I should shed this title soon.’
Getting a good title will prevent people from misunderstanding, right?
“Dolph.”
“Yes, Master!”
“Can you find out in advance who’s attending this ball?”
“Yes! Just a moment!”
‘I need to get a headcount beforehand and pick people to befriend.’
There are too many houses to befriend them all.
Still, there must be a couple of decent ones.
Also, the original story started with influential houses.
‘Preferably someone from the west.’
Foreigners from other kingdoms or outsiders would be fine too.
The first act begins not in the empire but in a neighboring kingdom.
It won’t affect us immediately.
Still, better safe than sorry.
I should befriend as many kind people as possible.
‘If I build connections, meeting other main allies or acquiring new items and materials will be smoother.’
There are only about six ‘safe’ main allies, though there are actually more.
Even those who aren’t main allies but help in one act are numerous.
Using them will surely bring great benefits!
‘Alright. This time, I’ll build connections.’
…After making that resolution for two hours.
When the ball began…
“…”
“…Huh.”
Evan couldn’t make eye contact with the noble heirs, and the young noble ladies who did look at him immediately teared up or deeply bowed their heads.
Building connections? More like getting sued faster.
…Should I just go home?
*
Two hours into the ball.
It was the time when the mood was high, and partners danced together.
However, the atmosphere wasn’t as enjoyable as expected.
All because of one person.
A boy sitting in a corner.
Even while quietly sipping wine alone, he radiated presence stronger than any heir.
‘It’s scary!’
‘If I talk loudly and annoy him, he might cut off my head, right?’
Evan Alkart.
The star of this ball.
Among the noble heirs, there wasn’t a single person who didn’t know Evan.
The second son of the famous Alkarte Ducal Family.
How could anyone not know?
Just, most of the images were negative.
No fiancée, no friends.
Never showing up at gatherings or academies.
It’s as if there’s something wrong with him.
The only flaw of the duke.
Any other noble would have been chased away or erased from the family register long ago.
Perfect prey to gossip about secretly.
There was also the matter of lineage.
Evan’s mother was a concubine.
– His mother was a concubine? He’s not the son of the official wife?
– But still, recognizing him as a legitimate son…
– The duke is famously compassionate. He pitied him.
– Too cool! He married after a proper romance, right? So cool!
– But why does his son…
His face never shows, yet there’s plenty to gossip about.
Being a regular topic of conversation was almost inevitable.
Even when the news broke a year ago that someone had changed, it continued.
The rumors started changing only a few months ago.
The heirs who visited the black market.
It began after they returned.
– E, Evan Alkart?! T, that person! No, we shouldn’t speak his name like that!
– Suddenly, what’s going on? Hey! Snap out of it!
– G, grrr…
Upon hearing Evan’s name, their complexion turned pale, they foamed at the mouth, and fainted.
When asked why, they wouldn’t say.
Best to replace it with imagination.
Their visit to the underworld.
A term encompassing mainly black markets, auction houses, and arenas.
A place of daily chaos with blood and drugs.
Yet, with money, there’s nowhere safer to indulge in pleasures.
Fainting upon hearing it?
Perhaps… Evan had been silent until now because he was active solely in the underworld?
Thoughts led to suspicion, which became rumors.
Rumors spread like wildfire.
Subsequently, various rumors began circulating.
– Hey! Did you hear? Evan Alkart made his bothersome brother disappear!
– He created a chimera, they say! Secretly researching in the basement of his mansion…
– Did you hear that the Blue Beard Duke regularly pays tribute to him?
– It’s not tribute, but experimental subjects, right?
– Same thing!
Moreover, his profession is an alchemist.
A job that typically plays the villain in fairy tales, history, and mythology.
Engaging in all sorts of unethical acts, creating unnatural life forms, and teaming up with dark wizards whenever possible.
A field known only for madmen.
Youngest alchemist.
The modifier “youngest” couldn’t cover Evan’s notorious reputation; it just meant he was a young lunatic.
When it was revealed that Evan Alkart would attend the ball for the first time, everyone doubted it.
But the moment they saw him with their own eyes…
The heirs realized the rumors were true.
“…”
“…”
Jet-black hair contrasting with golden eyes.
A completely emotionless face.
Features strikingly similar to the duke, almost excessively so.
A pitch-black suit matching his hair, embroidered with golden threads.
Silent, accompanied by two children, yet dominating the ball with his mere presence.
Impossible to approach.
Understanding why parents feared the name of the duke.
Had Evan remained quiet afterward, it might have been better.
But Evan, as if to show why he’d been quiet until now, revealed his cruel nature.
– Hello. I am Evan Alkart.
– H-Hyuck! Y-Yes, Yes! I-I’m Aliisa from the Choi house!
– I see, Aliisa. Do you like wine? This is the 38-year-old Jack Dani wine, supposedly only produced in the west…
– I’ll give it to you! I’ll definitely give it to you! I don’t want to become an experiment subject!
– …
Seizing rare regional wines with a single word.
– That jewel is beautiful. It suits you well…
– I’ll give it to you!
– …
Snatching an expensive jewel a boy secretly brought from his parents.
– A fine horse indeed.
– W, What nonsense! It’s useless to me! Please take it!
Seizing a specially bred warhorse through decades of effort with just a word.
‘He took everything…’
‘So cruel!’
Accepting valuable things without a flicker of expression, silently staring.
Terrifying enough on its own.
The heirs skipped required interactions and fervently prayed to God internally.
‘Please don’t come near me!’
Meanwhile, the cause of all this chaos.
Evan sipped what appeared to be homemade zero tomato juice and thought,
‘Life is hard.’
Am I maybe too ugly?
Evan had anticipated that building friendships wouldn’t be easy.
Even within the game, the Alkarte Ducal Family was depicted as having a bad reputation.
A sturdy house that didn’t fall even after the duke died in Act 3.
It would be hard to instantly befriend the second son of such a house.
Especially with no prior connection.
It wasn’t like he could ask, “Hi? Where’s your school?”
Still, he tried despite everything.
Acting like a real man, he boldly approached and started conversations!
‘Isn’t this too much, even if I try?’
Several failed attempts at conversation.
Ended up gaining unnecessary wine, jewels, and horses.
Might as well sell them later.
“Evan! Try this!”
“…I’m full. Lapis, please eat more.”
“Yes! Spuer! You eat a lot too!”
“I won’t eat… Ugh! Ugh!”
At least Lapis and Spuer were around.
Enjoying the party without caring about the atmosphere.
Dolph briefly left.
Said something about helping with ball-related tasks.
Accepted since he wasn’t really needed.
As long as strange rumors didn’t spread, it was fine.
“Mmm. Delicious.”
Lapis, being vegan, picked only salads and vegetables.
On the other hand, Spuer ate anything.
Using a knife gracefully.
Clearly trained.
Is he from a noble background?
‘Guess so, since I don’t know his origin.’
Lapis came holding a Golem dog leg and dashed over,
And Spuer was rescued from a gang of thieves.
Need a way to find out.
Didn’t bother asking before.
Hmm, still curious though?
Right as curiosity about their origins began to rise,
“Hello, Lord Evan Alkart.”
Someone greeted him.
Turning his head slightly, a girl with one of the top-tier appearances in the ballroom smiled gently.
“I’m Belia Yorta, the second daughter of Lord Yorta.”
Yorta?
A familiar house name.
A supporting character appearing in Act 1.
One of the merchant guilds traveling between the empire and the kingdom.
The guild eternally stuck in second place.
However, Belia’s name was new.
‘Doesn’t ring a bell from Act 1. Maybe I forgot?’
Anyway,
“Could we talk for a moment?”
A request for conversation.
Evan paused to think.
‘Not an important character…’
Should I ignore it?
‘No, that’s not right.’
Such opportunities might not come again.
These guys start talking nonsense with just a word.
Should I reject the request here?
They might avoid me altogether.
Maybe even more than now!
Not afraid, though.
Evan is a real man.
Just don’t want strange rumors to spread.
Looks like she won’t suddenly kneel and offer everything.
Probably just asking to be friends, right?
‘If that’s the case, not bad.’
Evan nodded.
“Yes.”
“Then, let’s go to the nearby balcony…”
The moment the curtain closed,
A concealment spell activated.
No hostility detected.
Just a simple soundproofing charm.
Safe even if there was danger.
Living armor equipped inside his clothes.
His staff ready too.
Three bracelets adorned Evan’s wrist.
By the time he finished judging quickly,
Thud!
“…?”
Belia knelt down.
No, wait…
“…I know everything you’ve done in the underworld. Every action.”
Evan frowned.
Of all things, my dark past?!
“Are you threatening me?”
“No. I’m asking for your help.”
Belia deeply bowed her head.
“Please… save me.”
“…?”
“What you desire, I’ll give it to you.”
I haven’t even said I’ll kill you yet?
As Evan felt baffled,
Zing!
A chill ran down his spine.
A sensation he had felt once before.
‘…Hmm?’
He turned his head.
Beyond that garden.
Familiar presences.
Those are…
‘Heretics?’
Why are you here?
The moment Evan’s gaze fell on Belia,
He noticed her terrified eyes.
‘Could they be targeting her?’
Seems like I got dragged into some strange situation.
…Should I bail now?
