#Chapter 4. Found It (2)
GULP GULP!
Evan watched Irá gorge herself, feeling a complicated mix of emotions.
Her appearance, tone, speech patterns—no matter how many times he wiped his eyes and looked again, it was sinful.
‘Wrathful Sin, Irá.’
Seriously? Did he really pick this thing up?
“Ugh! This taste is weird.”
“That’s strawberry flavor.”
“Strawberry? What’s that? Doesn’t matter, it’s delicious!”
Being a carnivorous beast who only ate meat daily, she had no concept of the taste or aroma of vegetables.
Her actions and attitude clearly showed this.
“I’ve finished. That was incredibly tasty.”
“…Do you want more?”
“Huh? Yeah! Wait, yes!”
Feed her first.
At least if her belly’s full, she won’t kill to eat someone.
Evan subtly extended a potion through the golem.
“Here.”
“Yeah! Thank you!”
Irá grabbed the potion with both hands and chugged it down.
The potion effect was digestion.
Even eating a lot wouldn’t be bad since it was a potion made specially for Evan without side effects.
‘Hmm…she’s way too young?’
Evan fell into thought.
The unsettling reason.
It was because of Irá’s appearance.
Way too young.
Maybe around 10 years old at most.
‘Definitely an adult five years from now.’
The main story starts five years from now.
Irá, an early villain.
Until Act 5, she displayed a powerful presence.
Naturally, she was an adult.
‘What did she eat wrong? Or maybe…pride?’
Wait, ‘pride’ was the skill used by the Sin of Pride, not Wrath?
Was there any other information about Irá?
Calmly, Evan recalled his memories.
[Wrathful Sin, Irá.
On the day she was born, the sky turned red, a crimson moon rose, corpses stirred, and long spiderwebs connected between trees.
That day, her parents abandoned the child, and the village chief named her ‘Irá.’
Afterward, Irá wandered the continent waiting for the right moment to come.
On that day, the Sin of Wrath will complete its growth and realize its true power and duty.]
‘Maybe it’s because the time hasn’t come yet…for Irá?’
The immediate guess was that.
[Realize its true power and duty.]
He felt this part was deeply related.
In reality, even the main assistants only became active in the main story after resolving their own flaws.
Then…
‘If she doesn’t realize, does that mean she isn’t a sin?’
…In that case, maybe rehabilitation is possible?
“Gulp…ugh, it’s so good. I’m full, but I feel like I’ll get hungry soon.”
Sitting on the floor, Irá rubbed her belly.
Her thin arms and hands rubbing her stomach caught Evan’s attention, making him speak without realizing it.
“…Dolphe. Is there any lunch left?”
“Huh? Oh! There’s still lunch the young master hasn’t eaten.”
“Give it to this child.”
“Huh, but…”
“Hurry up.”
Evan spoke firmly.
‘First, let’s make sure she’s fully fed.’
The Sin of Wrath is especially close to ‘beasts’.
Beasts don’t hunt when they’re full, so just that Irá gets hungry often.
…Though, who knows if she’ll hunt out of boredom or irritation.
“Yes…I understand.”
While sneakily checking Irá’s reactions, Dolphe brought out the food.
Plenty of greens on the plate.
Fortunately, Irá didn’t wrinkle her nose.
Instead, she stared at the dish with curious eyes.
“What’s this? Yo?”
“These are healthy herbs and vegetables. Good to eat in the morning and afternoon.”
“It probably tastes bad…”
“It’s not something you eat for taste.”
All health foods.
A special diet planned specifically for Evan, who wasn’t in good health.
Everything was personally designed by Evan.
Sometimes he’d even eat things like bell pepper sandwiches.
Honestly, Evan didn’t want to eat them either.
Of course, he preferred greasy foods too.
Hamburgers, pork cutlets, rice soup, fried foods, braised pork…etc.
Isn’t that soul food for Korean men?
Just…
‘That stuff might give me diarrhea if I eat it. Guess I’ll have to endure.’
Though these were foods that didn’t exist in this world anyway.
‘Ah, I have one portion left.’
An herb meant for experiments that ended up leftover.
Evan picked it up and started chewing it raw.
‘Urgh. So bitter.’
Evan’s face contorted.
He’d rather steep it somewhere or process it before eating.
But the effects would diminish if he did that, so he endured.
Health always came first, no matter what.
“Ugh.”
Irá’s face also twisted in bitterness.
Like a child’s reaction.
With tears forming in one eye as she glared at Evan, it was more amusing than scary.
“Ugh…so bitter…”
‘This kid is human too.’
“Don’t mind enduring it. It’s good for your body. You can’t get this elsewhere.”
“Eh? If I can’t get it elsewhere…uh…then it’s precious…important…so I should eat it…yo…”
Irá grabbed the herb with both hands and started chewing.
Her face contorted with every chew.
Crunch, crunch.
‘…No matter how I look at it, she’s definitely human.’
This was the first time seeing Irá directly.
Until now, he’d only seen her through monitors.
So Evan’s knowledge about Irá was extremely limited.
What kind of atmosphere, what kind of personality.
The surrounding characters always said the same thing about Irá.
-Not human-like.
But the current Irá?
‘Just a somewhat unique kid, that’s all.’
The first things he noticed were her unique appearance and hair color, along with instinctive realizations.
If he didn’t have prior knowledge,
he would have just thought of her as some random orphan without any ominous feelings.
‘…Is this the only chance to rehabilitate her?’
Could rehabilitation even be possible?
Evan believed in the theory of inherent evil.
Having been bullied by those guys since childhood as a weakling, that belief was proven.
Isn’t the word ‘pure evil’ there for a reason?
‘Even so, what if she became evil due to environmental factors…’
Would trying be worth it?
Or maybe it’d be better to just get rid of her now…through the golem.
GLUP!
“Urgh.”
While lost in thought,
Irá had already chewed up the herb and stood up, bowing her head.
“Still, thank you…does that sound right?”
“…’Does’ is correct.”
“Aha. Sorry. No, I apologize. I just don’t learn things well.”
Irá chuckled.
Looking at her, Evan felt his heart soften.
Weakling trait.
Heart easily softens.
‘Hmph. Really melts people’s hearts, huh.’
Damn!
Why the hell did God make me Hanamja?
A sigh naturally escaped from within.
The sin wasn’t a monster but a person?
He’d never pondered such questions before.
Evil is evil, good is good.
Is the standard for distinguishing them correct?
He’d never considered such thoughts.
And now of all times to start thinking about it!
‘…Alright. I’ve decided.’
Weakling trait.
Indecisive.
When asked about lunch menu choices, just says anything is fine.
But after falling into this world, he’s improved a little.
Now’s the time to prove it!
‘I don’t even aim for rehabilitation.’
Thinking too big.
Rehabilitation? Not necessary.
Instead…
‘Just please don’t kill me!’
No intention of clinging annoyingly.
Just form a moderate attachment, enough to make her feel guilty when she tries to kill me.
That’s plenty.
Survival probability would increase compared to getting rid of her now.
‘…Also, if things go well, maybe she could deliver a letter to the helper too.’
Of all things, why did it have to be entangled with sins?
Another sigh naturally escaped.
KICK-
Evan moved the poison golem.
Irá reflexively clung to Poison Golem.
“Woof!”
“Is there anywhere you need to go?”
“Huh? No. Nope. Nowhere. I followed this strangely shaped golem because I was hungry. Yo.”
“Isn’t it cute?”
“…Huh? Cute…? Hmm…Yeah! Kinda cute. With six water-spraying legs.”
“…Yes.”
‘Why can’t anyone understand my tastes?’
It was disappointing.
Evan adjusted his expression as usual.
“In that case, would you like to stay here at this mansion for a while?”
“! Young Master…”
Dolphe shook his head violently behind Irá’s back.
Evan ignored it on purpose.
“Really?”
“Yes. We’ll provide a bed, room, and clothes. In exchange, you’ll have to eat lots of vegetables today.”
At the mention of having to eat lots of vegetables, Irá hesitated.
But perhaps the temptation of a bed, room, and clothes was too strong.
“Tired of meat. Don’t like catching it anymore either since it hurts my body. Yo. So I’ll stay here.”
“Good.”
Success!
Evan let out a sigh of relief internally.
‘This opportunity, might as well turn her vegetarian too.’
Though today couldn’t be helped, starting tomorrow he’d prepare more edible vegetables.
Enough of giving only health herbs that taste bitter.
“Young Master!”
Just then, Dolphe shouted loudly beside him.
Evan turned to look at Dolphe with a stiff expression (accurately, a panicked one).
“…What is it?”
Is he going to oppose?
That’d be inconvenient…
“I, Edolph, failed to understand the Young Master’s grand intentions!”
BOOM BOOM!
He pounded his chest with his fists.
Hot tears streamed down his cheeks.
“Indeed, it is the Young Master…! This servant Dolphe shall merely follow the Young Master’s grand intentions…!”
“…Thank you.”
There we go. That’s our Dolphe!
Evan decided to accept it appropriately.
Let’s wait for replies from paladins or holy maidens first.
Evan looked out the window.
The sun was setting.
The sky was painted in twilight hues.
“What are your hobbies?”
“Hobbies? I like spinning threads.”
“Spinning threads? That’s an excellent hobby. I like it too.”
“If you do too, wanna play with me? Yo?”
“Sure. First, let’s fix your speech patterns.”
Evan decided to play thread-spinning with Irá.
“Ah, what’s your name?”
“Mine? Uh…”
“Would you allow me to give you one if you don’t have one?”
Irá quickly nodded upon recalling the setting where she disliked her original name.
Name, name…
“How about ‘Lapis’? It means a pretty gemstone.”
“Gemstone…”
Muttering the word ‘gemstone’, Irá – no, Lapis beamed widely.
“Yeah! I like it! Yo!”
“Good to hear. Then, shall we spin some threads in the meantime? Perhaps you could teach me once…”
PUFF!
The thread touching the skin.
It slightly tore open, spurting blood.
“…Ah.”
“YOUNG MASTEREEE!”
A scream echoed throughout the room.
That night.
-Have you carried out the order?
“Yes, Master Arthur.”
A shadow infiltrated a forest where not even moonlight could penetrate, bowing its head.
Arthur’s face appeared in the crystal orb before him.
The shadow of the Full Moon Knight, Arthur.
Shadow.
Shadow reported to Arthur.
“I’ve successfully delivered the ‘gift’ to Mr. Evan Alkarte as instructed.”
-You’ve worked hard. Whether he appreciates the gift or not is uncertain.
“He will appreciate it.”
A gift from none other than the Full Moon Knight ‘Arthur’.
Of course, it would be appreciated.
Though the giver remains undisclosed.
The gift was the repentance of a brother who usually had poor relations.
Nothing beats repentance from someone who was causing trouble just yesterday.
-It’d be disappointing if this was the only gift. Continue to intervene whenever necessary.
“Understood.”
-Always be careful not to disappoint Him.
‘Why is he being so cautious?’
As if treating something more carefully than the moon itself…
Shadow cut off his thoughts.
Any further speculation was beyond what a mere shadow should consider.
-Any other information?
“I shall report.”
Shadow pulled out a parchment from his bosom and spread it out with a snap.
“Evan Alkarte, 16 years old. Second son of the Alkarte Ducal Family. Characteristics include poor health and losing his mother at a young age.”
-Lost his mother…
“That’s all the information gathered so far.”
-When did he start learning alchemy?
“About a year ago, we estimate.”
-With just a year of alchemy study, he claims to repair my Aura Vessel…
Arthur let out a chuckle.
-What an absurd talent.
Well, isn’t calling that ‘talent’ questionable?
Originally, geniuses make time and experience meaningless.
But isn’t that exceeding even that?
‘Maybe he could even succeed in the rumored human transmutation.’
The Aura Vessel potion sent by Evan.
Not entirely, but part of the Aura Vessel was repaired.
The bottom of the broken vessel has healed.
To the extent that it can hold a small amount of aura.
Perhaps…
‘Maybe he could even heal the divine illness within my younger brother.’
Arthur’s gaze darkened.
‘This fact is too easily deducible. Was it deliberately revealed?’
Evan was currently concealing his strength and identity.
One could tell from how he does nothing to the insignificant Theodore.
For what purpose is he hiding his strength?
Why show this to me?
‘Did he intentionally display it?’
Recalling the words left by the Sun Holy Maiden who returned tipsy after drinking.
-Maybe I was led to see that letter.-Is that guy really that capable?-Can’t say for sure yet, but likely.
Those were the words of the Holy Maiden who always plotted deviously.
One shouldn’t believe everything, but neither should one dismiss it.
After all, Evan might truly be the real deal playing above their heads.
‘I must keep observing for now.’
Better to show appropriate courtesy just in case…
-Prioritize assisting Him. Until I arrive.
“Understood.”
Shadow also wondered similarly.
Why exactly is Arthur, known as the knight obsessed with power and blood, caring so much about this Evan…
‘This person is definitely extraordinary.’
Worthy of observation.
“I shall follow your orders.”
Thus, the misunderstanding grew larger and larger.
3 days later.
While playing thread-spinning with Lapis using a golem, Evan heard an unusual rumor.
“…What am I supposed to be creating?”
“They say you created a chimera…and that chimera is Lapis…”
What am I supposed to have created?
