Infinite Evolution System: From Trash Heir to Beast King

Chapter 2: The Choice

The plaza buzzed with excitement and mockery.

Lucien Vincent stood proudly beside the radiant angel, his face full of smug satisfaction. The six-winged figure hovered calmly behind Alaric, yet her cold gaze was already drifting toward Lucien as if Alaric didn’t exist.

Lucien folded his arms and laughed loudly.

“Did everyone hear that?” he said, glancing around the crowd. “Even the angel herself knows Alaric is worthless.”

Laughter erupted among the Vincent relatives.

One of the younger cousins sneered, “Imagine being rejected by your own summon. That’s lower than dirt.”

Another added cruelly, “He’s not even dirt. Dirt can at least grow crops.”

Lucien pointed mockingly at Alaric.

“You summoned her, sure,” he said with a smirk. “But even she knows a loser when she sees one.”

Alaric stood silently at the center of the plaza. His fists clenched slowly, veins bulging along his hands.

For years, he had endured their insults.

But something about this moment ignited a fire in his chest.

Alaric lifted his head and stared directly at the angel hovering behind him.

His voice came out cold.

“I summoned you.”

The angel’s silver eyes shifted toward him slowly.

Her expression remained completely indifferent.

Then she scoffed softly.

“A disgrace.”

The single word echoed through the plaza.

The angel crossed her arms slightly, her wings spreading faintly as if asserting her superiority.

“To be summoned by someone cast out of his own family…” she continued calmly, “is humiliating.”

A ripple of laughter spread through the audience.

Lucien clapped sarcastically.

“Well said,” he chuckled.

Alaric’s jaw tightened.

The angel’s voice remained icy.

“My contract must honor the ancient pact between the Archangel and the Vincent ancestor.”

Her gaze moved toward Lucien.

“Only a true heir of the Vincent bloodline is worthy.”

Lucien grinned widely.

“You hear that, Alaric?” he mocked. “Even divine creatures have standards.”

The grandmother stepped forward at that moment.

Her wrinkled face carried a faint smile that pretended to be kind but couldn’t hide the cruelty Beneath .

“Well now,” she said gently, tapping her cane against the marble floor. “There is no need for conflict.”

She turned her gaze toward Alaric.

“Since the angel refuses to serve you, it would be foolish to insist.”

Alaric said nothing.

The grandmother continued with false warmth.

“I am willing to compensate you.”

Murmurs rippled across the plaza.

She raised one finger calmly.

“Ten thousand denars.”

Gasps spread through the younger members of the family.

“That’s a year’s living expenses for a commoner.”

“Even farmers don’t make that much.”

The grandmother smiled sweetly.

“You may take the money and give the angel to Lucien.”

Lucien burst out laughing.

“Grandmother, you’re far too kind,” he said loudly. “Giving that much money to a beggar like him?”

He looked at Alaric with pure disdain.

“Ten thousand denars… that’s probably more money than you’ve seen in your entire life.”

Another cousin chimed in mockingly.

“He should be kneeling in gratitude right now.”

Someone else snorted.

“If it were me, I’d kiss the ground she walks on.”

The plaza filled with cruel laughter again.

Alaric stood silently.

Inside his chest, anger and humiliation twisted together.

But Beneath  that anger… there was also clarity.

He understood something painfully obvious.

Even if he forced the contract—

Even if the rules allowed it—

This angel would never truly serve him.

She would betray him the moment she had the chance.

Slowly, Alaric exhaled.

His fists loosened.

“Fine,” he said quietly.

The plaza fell silent.

Alaric turned away from the angel.

“I give her up.”

Lucien’s grin stretched from ear to ear.

“I knew you’d make the smart choice eventually.”

He strutted toward the angel confidently.

The angel glanced down at him.

For the first time, her expression softened slightly.

She gave a small nod.

“This master… is more fitting.”

Lucien puffed out his chest proudly.

“You hear that?” he shouted toward the crowd. “Even a Legendary angel recognizes greatness.”

Cheers and applause erupted among the Vincent relatives.

Meanwhile, the grandmother turned toward Alaric again.

Her gentle expression vanished instantly.

“What a pathetic sight,” she sneered.

Alaric looked up slowly.

The grandmother’s eyes were full of contempt.

“The Vincent family needs noble heirs like Lucien.”

Her voice grew sharper.

“Not a bastard who doesn’t even know who his father is.”

Whispers spread through the plaza again.

Some relatives chuckled cruelly.

“Did you hear that?”

“Even his father didn’t want him.”

The grandmother waved her cane dismissively.

“We’re not heartless,” she said coldly.

She pointed toward the corner of the altar platform.

“You can take that trash over there.”

Alaric followed her gesture.

There, sitting quietly on the cold marble floor, was the frail little girl Lucien had summoned.

Her messy hair covered half her face.

The red mark from Lucien’s slap was still clearly visible on her cheek.

She sat curled up in silence, trembling slightly.

The instructor glanced at her with pity.

“Uncontracted beasts…” he muttered softly, “will be humanely disposed of after the ceremony.”

Alaric’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Disposed of.

The girl looked up nervously when she noticed his gaze.

Her eyes were filled with fear.

For a moment, Alaric considered turning away.

He had already lost enough today.

Why burden himself with something worthless?

But then—

He remembered the fear in her eyes.

The same fear he had felt countless times growing up in the Vincent family.

Alaric sighed quietly.

Then he walked toward her.

The crowd watched with amusement.

“Look,” someone whispered.

“The loser is picking up the family’s trash.”

Alaric stopped in front of the girl and extended his hand.

She flinched slightly.

But he spoke calmly.

“Stand up.”

His voice wasn’t harsh.

The girl hesitated before slowly taking his hand.

Alaric helped her to her feet.

Up close, he could see how small and fragile she looked.

“What’s your name?” he asked quietly.

“…Iris,” she whispered.

Her voice trembled.

Alaric nodded slightly.

“Iris,” he said calmly, “I’m willing to form a contract with you.”

Her eyes widened instantly.

For a moment, pure joy flashed across her face.

But then her expression dimmed again.

“You… shouldn’t,” she said softly.

Alaric frowned.

Iris looked down nervously.

“I’m below Common grade,” she admitted quietly.

The crowd burst into laughter.

“Below Common?!”

“That’s not even trash anymore!”

Lucien wiped tears from his eyes from laughing.

Alaric ignored them completely.

He looked directly at Iris.

“So what?”

She blinked.

Alaric’s voice remained firm.

“Rank isn’t everything.”

Iris stared at him in disbelief.

“You’re the only one willing to stand with me,” Alaric continued calmly. “That’s enough.”

Her eyes slowly filled with tears again—but this time they weren’t from fear.

After a long moment, she nodded.

“…Okay.”

A faint magic circle appeared Beneath  their feet.

The contract formation began.

Light flowed gently around them.

At that exact moment—

The ring on Alaric’s finger suddenly glowed.

It was an old silver ring.

The only thing his mother had left him before she died.

She once told him it belonged to his father.

A sudden warmth spread from the ring into Alaric’s body.

Then—

A strange voice echoed inside his mind.

[System Activation Complete.]

Alaric’s eyes widened slightly.

[Infinite Beast Evolution System awakened.]

The glowing light in the ring pulsed again.

[Host successfully bound.]