I'm Not That Kind of Person (2)
Time passed quickly.
Around the time Evan had drawn up plans to establish an orphanage, and his alchemy skills had improved somewhat from the research journal he'd obtained, the day he was expected to attend the ball arrived as well.
Ugh, I really don't want to go.
A ball held regularly twice a year. The venue was Astria Territory in the south. As befitting a count's domain that loved dance and music, it was frequently used as a banquet hall.
Should I just go home?
"……."
"Evan! Your clothes look amazing today."
"There won't be a single person more dashing than Young Master today!"
"……Thank you."
Evan accepted the compliments with a lukewarm expression. Instead of his usual comfortable clothes, he was dressed in formal attire — a custom-tailored suit that could only be fitted in the capital. He remembered the price being ridiculously expensive. And this was the standard dress code for a place like this.
……Should I just pretend to be sick and skip it?
Evan seriously considered it. People were filing into the ballroom with cheerful laughter and chatter — not just one or two of them, and none of them ordinary. Noble heirs. Young talents promising enough to represent their houses at a ball restricted to those under twenty. Every word out of their mouths would probably hide a bone or a blade. That was simply how society and politics worked — a battlefield where no blood was shed. The thought made him want to go even less.
……No. I can't chicken out here.
Evan quietly pinched his own cheek. Snap out of it. I can do this.
Right.
I can do this! A man among men. A real man never backs down in the face of crisis. Besides, his life wasn't actually in danger here. Even safety-first Evan could walk in without worry.
This is an opportunity.
A chance to end this loner lifestyle! He roughly knew what the nobles called him. The Hermit. The one who shunned the world. In plain terms — a loner. The title just sounded grander because it was phrased in noble fashion.
It's about time I shed this title.
If he could pin a better one on himself, people might stop misunderstanding him.
"Dolf."
"Yes, Young Master!"
"Would it be possible to find out in advance who is attending this ball?"
"Yes! One moment, please!"
I should get a sense of the guest list and pick out a few people worth befriending.
There were far too many houses to get close to all of them. Still, there had to be one or two useful families among them — the ones that still held influence even after the original story began.
Ideally from the west, if possible.
Foreigners from other kingdoms or outsiders would work too. Act One, the start of the original story, took place not in the Empire but in a neighboring kingdom. It wouldn't affect him immediately. Still, better safe than sorry. Allies — he needed to get close to the kindest people he could find.
If I just build connections, meeting other main allies or acquiring new items and materials should get a lot easier.
There were only about six "safe" main allies. In reality, there were more main allies than that — and plenty of others who only served as helpers for a single act. Using them would still yield plenty of benefits.
Alright. This is my chance to network.
……Two hours after making that resolution, the ball began.
""…….""
"……Hic."
Noble heirs who couldn't even meet Evan's eyes. Young noble ladies who teared up or ducked their heads the moment their gazes met his. Networking, my foot. At this rate, getting sued seemed more likely.
……Should I just go home?
"……."
"……."
Two hours into the ball. This was the point when the mood should have been peaking — partners dancing, couples spending time together. Yet the atmosphere was far from festive. The reason came down to a single person.
A boy seated in the corner. Even alone, quietly sipping wine, he radiated more presence than any other heir in the room.
S-scary!
I-if we make too much noise, is he going to cut our throats for being annoying?
Evan Alcarte. The star of this ball. Among the noble heirs, there wasn't a single person who didn't know of him. The second son of the famous Alcarte Duchy. How could anyone not know?
The problem was that most of the image was negative. No fiancée. No friends. Never showing his face at social gatherings or the Academy. It was as if something were wrong with him. The Duke's sole blemish. Had he belonged to any other house, he would have been cast out or struck from the family register long ago. Perfect prey for secret gossip and mockery. Even his bloodline invited it — Evan's mother had been a concubine.
—His mother was a concubine? Not the legitimate wife's son?
—And yet he was still recognized as a proper son……
—The Duke is famous for how compassionate he is. He must have taken pity on him.
—So wonderful. I heard even his marriage was the result of a real romance! So dreamy!
—But then why is that child……
He never showed his face, yet there was no end of material to chew over. Becoming a regular fixture in every conversation was, in a way, inevitable. That held true even a year ago, when word suddenly spread that he had become a different person.
The rumors only began to change a few months back — after certain heirs returned from a trip to the black market.
—E-Evan Alcarte?! Th-that person! N-no, you mustn't speak his name so casually!
—What are you talking about all of a sudden? Hey! Snap out of it!
—Ghk, ghhh……
The moment they heard Evan's name, their faces went deathly pale, and they collapsed foaming at the mouth. When asked why, they refused to speak. Imagination was the best substitute available.
The underworld they had visited — a collective name for black markets, auction houses, fighting pits, and the like. A place of daily blood and drugs, a realm of terror. In exchange, as long as you had money, there was no safer place to drown in pleasure. And yet the mere mention of his name made them seize up in horror?
Could it be…… that Evan had stayed so quiet all this time because he only operated in the underworld?
Thoughts became suspicions, and suspicions became rumors. The rumors spread as if set ablaze, and every kind of story followed in their wake.
—Hey! Did you hear? Evan Alcarte made his bothersome brothers disappear!
—I heard he created chimeras? Secretly researching them in the mansion basement……!
—Did you hear the Bluebeard Count regularly offers him tribute?
—Tribute? Don't you mean test subjects?
—Same difference!
On top of everything, his profession was alchemist — a role that appeared as the villain in fairy tales, history, and myth alike. Practitioners of every unethical act imaginable, creators of life that shouldn't exist, forever joining hands with dark mages. A profession known for nothing but madmen. The youngest alchemist. The "youngest" qualifier did nothing to mask Evan's notoriety. It just meant he was a lunatic who happened to be young.
When word got out that this Evan Alcarte would be attending a ball for the first time, everyone was skeptical. The moment they saw him with their own eyes, the heirs realized the rumors had been true.
"……."
"……."
Jet-black hair set against golden eyes. A blank face that betrayed not a single emotion. Features so identical to the Duke's it was almost excessive. A suit as black as his hair, embroidered with golden thread. He said nothing, and he had even brought two little children along — yet with atmosphere alone, he dominated the entire ball. No one could even approach him. In that moment, they finally understood why their parents feared the name of the Duke.
If Evan had simply sat still after that, it might have been better. Instead, as if determined to show why he had stayed quiet all this time, he revealed a ruthless nature.
—Good evening. I am Evan Alcarte.
—H-hic! Y-yes! I-I'm Alisa of the Choi family!
—I see, Alisa. Do you enjoy wine? That bottle — the thirty-eight-year Jack Daniel, said to come only from the west……
—I-I'll give it to you! I'll give it, so please! I-I don't want to become a test subject!
—……
With a single word, he seized a specialty wine that was nearly impossible to obtain.
—That jewel is lovely. It suits you quite well……
—I-I'll give it to you!
—……
He took an expensive gem a boy had snuck from his parents.
—A fine steed.
—Th-this horse! It's useless to me! Please, take it!
Even a warhorse whose bloodline had been refined over decades was plundered. All of it accomplished with a single sentence.
H-he's taking everything……
S-so cruel!
Even after receiving such fine things, not a flicker of expression crossed his face as he simply watched them. That alone was terror. The heirs abandoned any pretense of socializing and prayed desperately to the gods in their hearts.
Please don't let him come near me!
Meanwhile, the architect of this entire situation — Evan — sipped what looked like wine but was actually homemade zero-sugar tomato juice, and thought:
……Life is hard.
Am I just too ugly?
Evan had already anticipated that building friendships wouldn't be easy. Even in the game, the Alcarte Duchy was portrayed as notoriously infamous. A house so resilient it didn't collapse even after the Duke's death in Act Three. As the second son of such a family, of course he wouldn't make friends overnight. They had zero points of contact to begin with. It wasn't like school, where you could just say, "Hi, what school are you from?"
Still, he had steeled himself and found the courage. Like a real man, he had gone up and tried to talk to people!
Isn't this a bit much, no matter how you look at it?
Conversation attempt after conversation attempt, all dead on arrival. All he had to show for it was a pile of useless alcohol, jewels, and a horse. He'd have to sell them later or something.
"Evan! Try this!"
"……I'm full. Please eat plenty, Lapis."
"Okay! Super! You eat lots too!"
"I don't want to ea— mmph! Mmmph!"
At least Lapis and Super were there. They were enjoying the party without a care for the atmosphere. Dolf had stepped out for a while — something about helping with the ballroom duties. Evan had no particular need for him, so he'd agreed. As long as the man didn't go spreading weird rumors, it was fine.
"Om nom. So good."
True to her vegan nature, Lapis picked out only salads and vegetables. Super, by contrast, ate everything without complaint, even using a knife with refined manners. Must have been taught separately. Of noble birth, maybe?
Well, I don't know their origins.
Lapis had come dangling from the leg of a Golem Dog, and Super had been rescued from a bandit camp. Not much way to find out. He hadn't asked, either.
Still…… he was curious.
Just as a quiet curiosity about their origins was beginning to surface—
"Good evening, Young Master Evan Alcarte."
Someone greeted him. Glancing over, he found a girl with looks that ranked among the finest in the entire ballroom, smiling gently.
"I am Velia Yorta, second daughter of Baron Yorta."
Yorta? A familiar family name. One of the protagonist's allies who appeared in Act One. One of the leaders of a merchant guild that traveled between the Empire and the kingdoms — a guild stuck with the humiliating title of eternal second place. But the name Velia was new to him.
Maybe because she only appears in Act One? I don't remember her.
Anyway.
"Might I have a word with you for a moment?"
A request for conversation. Evan fell into brief thought.
She's not a major character……
Should he just ignore her?
Nah, that wouldn't be right.
Who knew when another opportunity like this would come? Everyone else started saying weird things the moment he opened his mouth. If he turned her down here, he might get completely ostracized. Maybe even worse than now!
Not that he was afraid. Evan was a real man, after all. He just wanted to stop the strange rumors from spreading. Looking at her, she didn't seem about to kneel and offer him everything she owned. At worst, she'd ask to be friends, right?
That much wouldn't be so bad.
Evan nodded.
"Very well."
"Then, if we could step out to the nearby balcony……"
The moment the curtain fell, he felt a concealment barrier activate. No hostility. Just enough to keep others from overhearing. Even if there were danger, he was safe. He was wearing Living Armor under his clothes. His staff was ready too. Three bracelets hung on Evan's wrist alone.
Just as he finished that rapid assessment—
Thud!
"……?"
Velia dropped to her knees. Wait……
"……I know everything. What you've done in the underworld. Every act you've committed."
Evan's brow furrowed. Of all things, his dark history!
"Are you threatening me?"
"No. I'm begging you."
Velia bowed her head low.
"Please. Save me."
"……?"
"I'll give you anything you want."
I never said I was going to kill you, though?
Just as Evan was reeling from the absurdity—
A jolt!
A chill ran through his entire body. A sensation he had felt once before.
……Hm?
He turned his head. Beyond the garden — several familiar auras. That was……
Heretics?
What were they doing here?
In that instant, Evan's gaze shifted to Velia. The moment he saw the terror in her eyes—
Don't tell me…… they're after her?
It seemed he had gotten swept up in something strange.
……Should he make a run for it right now?