When the plot-skips players into the game world

Meanwhile, Aiwass had also finished updating Sherlock, who was staying at the bishop's house, on the events of the past few days.

Learning from Aiwass that Minister Drost was dead, Sherlock momentarily felt somewhat at a loss.

"What? Got used to resting and don't want to go back?"

Seeing Sherlock's expression appearing somewhat depressed, Aiwass raised an eyebrow and consoled, "Why don't you just rest in peace then? I think it's quite good, considering the funeral's already been held."

"You'd be dead before I ever am."

Sherlock continued writing, his head lowered, responding coldly, "I don't argue with the sick. You should go to sleep first. If you want to fight, I'll wait until you're up."

I actually think you're more likely to kick the bucket than I am.

Aiwass thought to himself but didn't voice it aloud.

He stood up from his wheelchair and leaned in to see what Sherlock was writing.

Sherlock glanced sideways at Aiwass. He didn't question his legs, nor did he cover the documents in front of him.

He casually explained, "It's the same one as before."

"You haven't finished it yet? The one about the 140 kinds of cigar ashes?"

"I've finished it. I'm just verifying it again. These things can't afford errors, otherwise, there will be big trouble."

"I originally wrote it to help remote Supervisory Bureau and Supervisory Court to solve difficult cases... If there's something wrong with the content, that could hinder the investigation instead," Sherlock explained.

"So when do you plan on 'coming back to life'?"

"Are your parents worried about you?" Aiwass asked.

"No rush," Sherlock said, flipping through the book, "Mycroft can take care of it."

In his words, there was a faint admiration and confidence in his older brother.

"And you, will you keep hiding here?"

"A few more days. When your finals are over, I'll go home, talk to Mycroft about the matters on Glass Island that need attention, then leave with you guys."

Sherlock spoke gravely, "I've been investigating Eagle Cape Village recently. That place is pretty tricky..."

He turned his head back, and his usually weary eyes were now clear. The previously slightly hollow and prominent cheekbones had gained visible flesh — at least the hollowness was no longer visible. His overall appearance and even his skin seemed much improved.

It was unclear if Mrs. Mina had taken good care of him or if Sherlock's spirits had improved after ceasing work.

Probably both.

— Because not working is indeed delightful and rejuvenating.

After Aiwass woke up the next day, he first used Fire Rite Skill to restore his physical condition before heading to the university.
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Resultingly, after substituting for a class in the morning, Aiwass heard from Isabel over lunch that Master Yanis might visit tonight.

"Does the master need me for something?" Aiwass asked, somewhat surprised.

"It seems to be something related to me?" Isabel said softly, "But I didn't dare to ask."

Something related to the princess?

This left Aiwass rather bewildered.

But it seemed Isabel had already recovered from yesterday's fear, and she was in better shape after Aiwass had left. Perhaps Master Yanis had had another chat with her after Aiwass's departure.

"By the way,"

After hesitating for a while, Isabel suddenly asked, "Can you play an instrument? Or rather... are you interested in learning one? It shouldn't be too difficult..."

"Ah, I can,"

To her surprise, Aiwass admitted directly, "I can play a bit of guitar... But I've almost forgotten it."

This was an understatement.

Because he had learned it in his previous life. His brain knew how, but his hands might not — he actually knew how to play the bass too, but that was not worth mentioning.

However, the guitars of this era differed from the version Aiwass had learned. The version improved by Isabel's father was closer to the modern guitar. But Aiwass did not know if the "Albert-style guitar" had been invented at this point, so he did not mention it.

"I see..."

Isabel nodded thoughtfully, making a mental note, but said no more.

Aiwass did not return to his dorm for rest afterward. Instead, he found a quiet spot and got off his wheelchair in the name of "recovery exercise" to take a walk in the garden.

Lily pushed the wheelchair, with Shadow Demon following behind them.

— For some reason, the relationship between Lily and Shadow Demon had grown much closer since they had killed Drost.

And Lily had become somewhat closer to Aiwass as well, not maintaining the cautious distance between master and servant as before.

If previously Shadow Demon had reluctantly lent a part of its strength to Lily for Aiwass's sake...

Since Lily completed the Parental Piety Ceremony, the power of Shadow Demon in her had settled down. It was as if she had gained the creature's approval.

But this was a good development. Lily was already inconspicuous, and her presence had become even less noticeable after mastering Spider's Silk Sensing and receiving Shadow Demon's power. Shadow Demon, hidden in her shadow, usually went unnoticed by others.

Moreover, Lily wore skirts, and it was natural for the skirt to sway in the wind and the shadow to move slightly — besides, Shadow Demon could simply hide within the hem of her skirt.

"I heard you played the hero yesterday?" Isabel asked with a smile.

"It was nothing," Aiwass replied succinctly, avoiding the subject.

Perhaps because of his stubborn personality, when he talked to a girl about the good deeds he had done, it always made Aiwass feel somewhat awkward.

He didn't particularly like to use such affairs as conversation fodder. On one hand, he didn't know how to boast about himself; on the other hand, he felt it would cast doubt on his motives.

It made him a bit embarrassed, as if he were laying his true feelings bare for all to see. There was a sense of thrilling exposure.

Better to tell some lies off the cuff, say nice things to make the girls happy. Lying came naturally to Aiwass, who could rattle off pleasantries all afternoon without repeating himself once.

Although he was a bit worried about how those people from yesterday would spread his news, whether it would become awkward... but such things, if not overheard, might as well not exist.

They quickly arrived beside a lake.

The lake was surrounded by a meticulously cared for garden, now only clusters of thorns remained in the winter.

There were quite a few scenic places like this at Royal Law University, but as the weather got colder, most students didn't want to go out. That's why Isabel would come out for a walk—she specifically chose times when there were no people around.

"That lake there is beautiful in the summer. It even has fish. I had a sister who went to Royal Law University, and she said you could fish here... I used to pester her to bring me along."

Isabel said softly, "But now it's frozen over... though I haven't tried it since I started school here."

Back then, she was very introverted and couldn't even think of finding places to have fun.

Every day after classes, she would hurry home to start a second round of studying, day in and day out, with no entertainment. She lived like a student cramming for college entrance exams.

"But the lake outside the Hall of Silver and Tin doesn't seem to freeze over in the winter."

Aiwass said offhandedly, "Haven't you tried fishing there?"

"...Aren't there always a lot of people coming and going there?"

Isabel was somewhat nervous, even unconsciously straightening her back, "How could I fish in front of everyone? That would be so impolite, I would get scolded..."

No, not necessarily. Definitely not necessarily.

Aiwass thought to himself, your grandmother is much more fun than you... she definitely tried it.

After all, in this era, watching plays, fishing, playing cards, and playing chess were the few leisure activities available. The rest were either damaging to health or illegal.

But from this point of view...

"Are you still afraid of people, Isabel?"

Aiwass asked the girl by his side.

Isabel shook her head, "It's impossible to say I'm not afraid at all... but I have been working hard to correct that."

"It's not necessarily a 'correction'."

Aiwass said softly, his voice gentle, "Because there's nothing wrong with it. Whether you're afraid or not is your own choice."

"What about you, Aiwass?"

Isabel, with her hands behind her back, turned slightly towards him and looked Aiwass in the eyes, "Do you want me to be afraid?"

"Of course, I hope you can become stronger."

Aiwass said earnestly and sincerely, "Not just for yourself... but also for Avalon."

After he finished the first part, he felt it might be too intimate and not great to say. It could scare Isabel and unconsciously drive her away. So Aiwass paused, then added the latter part.

Isabel just smiled shyly in response, without answering.

They continued their casual, intermittent chat. Rather than a walk or sightseeing, it was more accurate to call it a stroll—aimless, simply walking and talking.

It was nearly class time when the two said goodbye.

"Ha... I'm exhausted. I feel like my physique really might be deteriorating... Thanks, Lily. Please take me back to the classroom."

As soon as Isabel left, Aiwass plopped back into the wheelchair, closed his eyes, and planned to take a nap.

"Young master," Lily's voice, tinged with a hint of a smile, rose from behind him, "why didn't you just stay in the wheelchair the whole time?"

"It's a matter of etiquette, after all, I'm not really sick... Having the future queen walk beside me to chat, that would be too presumptuous of me."

Aiwass casually made up an excuse.

Of course, that too was a lie.

The real reason was... if Isabel looked down at him, he always felt there was a maternal quality about her. It made him uncomfortable.

—It must be the influence that last advancement had on her, Aiwass thought.

The next advancement would soon dilute that impression... anyway, it was coming up soon, this weekend is the day for advancement.

But after Aiwass and Lily finished class, Aiwass saw an unexpected person at the classroom door.

"...Department Head Meg?"

Aiwass blurted out, "Who are you looking for?"

Watching the short-statured, stern-faced old lady look at him made him suddenly feel guilty.

"Of course, I'm here for you, lad!"

Meg said without mincing words, "Come with me, will you?"

As she spoke, she sized up Aiwass from head to toe.

—What do you want with me, have I done something wrong?

Ah, no...

Aiwass realized he had been deceiving himself.

Because he was never short of wrongdoings.

...So, which misdeed has been found out? Meg's face seemed to carry a smile, perhaps it wasn't that serious...

Could it be about me flirting with Isabel...?