105. Chapter 105 – Are you drunk already?

Chapter 105: Are You Drunk?

This was a truth that Ivars didn’t expect at all.

But he also suddenly understood why his grandfather, who had once come into contact with so many transcendents and had such a wide network of contacts, had gone to the remote countryside to become a poor poet who wasn’t famous and didn’t earn any money ……

Grandfather he’s going to avoid things!

Aiwas also suddenly understood why his own biological father and mother were respectively the Devotion Pathway and the Beauty Pathway, and his adoptive father was not a Transcendent Pathway …… He inexplicably developed a great obsession with demonology back then.

That was a tendency toward the Way engraved into the bloodline.

A gifted transcendentalist’s child will usually become a transcendentalist of the same path – in fact, that is not inherited talent, but inherited desire, or “debt”.

If the talent is not enough, it may be a blessing.

However, if the level has long been raised to the limit without performing the rite of advancement,……, the call from the Path will become stronger and stronger. At this time, if you get an offspring, you will pass on the overflow of the “call” to the offspring, and the offspring will be relieved.

This is also the reason why the ancient nobles had a large number of heirs.

The nobles were usually high-ranking transcendentalists. However, they didn’t want to, or didn’t dare to, continue to advance, so they needed to restore their souls to the power of the Dao by constantly giving birth to heirs. But if they suppress themselves for too long, the first child born is often prone to mental illness.

This phenomenon was known as the “Firstborn Scourge” by royal scholars who had not yet figured out the principle of this phenomenon during the time of the Herasl Empire.

Imperial scholars viewed it as an apostolic curse to explain why the first-born of each family tended to be the most inclined to inherit the family business, but also the most prone to mental illness.

Nobles who are so focused on their careers that they have yet to have a child in their 30s or 40s are prone to having their first child go insane, but commoners tend to be fine, and nobles who marry young are not.

The scholars’ solution to this curse was to let the imperial nobles marry and have children as early as possible.

If they got married shortly after they first set foot on the Transcendent Path, they often didn’t wait too long to have children after their promotion on the Path got stuck. Although they didn’t figure out the principle, it was always a solution to the problem.

After that, the children who tend to go crazy usually come from “illegitimate children”. Early marriages can control marital children, but not the lineage of children born out of wedlock. If the cheater’s partner is also a transcendent, it is easy to get pregnant and give birth to a cursed child. Phantom eggs are also prone to be born in these children.

Not many people, even in the Knight family, knew this secret. There was no way that Ivars’ grandfather, as an unofficial Transcendent, could have known about this. And he didn’t dare to promote, so his children inherited part of the urge to step into the path of transcendence.

This is one of the reasons why the extra-legal paths are forbidden in Avalon today. Once an illegal transcendent is found, it’s an extraordinarily long detention or even a death sentence, but even then it’s never cleanly killed.

Since Julio wasn’t crazy, the odds were that he wasn’t the eldest son. That is to say, he should have an older brother or sister on his head …… Then Ivars grandfather Jacob should be very old.

“In the beginning, the Scaleless Hands were a folk ritual association. Their profession at the time was not demonology scholars, but ‘spell ritual mages’ who specialized in rituals and curses. They didn’t have knowledge about demonology in their hands-‘demonology’ is, after all, a study that requires piling up a lot of sacrifices and materials by constant trial and error in order to obtain it.

“They secretly teach some knowledge of ritualism and use rituals to help others. They also curse and kill some corrupt judges or officials, so they have gained a very good reputation among the people.

“Later, the remnants of Arcturus, under the patronage of the Star Antimony people, joined the ‘Scaleless Hand’ carrying the proper legacy of demonology, and eventually achieved high positions.”

Sherlock continued, “Anyway, everyone is an outlawed transcendent of the Beyond Path, and the purpose is to rebel against the Crown – most of the Hand of the Scaleless agree that it’s not that far off. The very nature of the Beyond the Way is rebellion by any means necessary, and they don’t care about morals or rules. After all, demons can be much better learners than rituals and curses ……

“Later, the number of demonic scholars in the organization gradually surpassed the number of spellcasters, and eventually, after a pureblood giant took control of the Hands of the Scaleless, the organization was renamed the Noble Red, and all the higher-ups were replaced with hybrids. Giant.

“Some of the old-time Spellcasters disassociated themselves from the Noble Red and withdrew from the organization to live in seclusion, including your grandfather Jacob. The professional legacy of the Spellcaster Mage came originally from demon scholars who believed that demons were vile, dangerous and uncontrollable. Their understanding of the path of transcendence differed from that of the Demon Scholars – they believed that demons were a ‘power that was easy to gain and easy to lose’, and that transcendence accomplished with the aid of a contracted demon was not pure or safe.”

Sherlock said here and let out a cold smile, “And according to my investigation …… all of the Spell Ceremony Mages who withdrew from the Noble Red Association, none of them have survived so far – their entire families have died from the curse. Then there is obviously only one truth.”

“So that’s it ……”

Ivars sighed.

He admired Sherlock for his investigative skills, “When did you start investigating?”

“Last Sunday.”

Sherlock took a sip of his wine, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly in a self-satisfied light smile, “They first came into my view when Edward and I went to investigate the Sweater Brotherhood.

“Mr. Edward chose to lure me with other puzzles at the time in order to fill my deadly curiosity. But what he couldn’t have imagined was that I had studied psychology – the ‘second topic’ that one subconsciously associates with when in such a situation is often connected to the matter itself as well.

“The bait he took out to divert my attention was the case under investigation by the Inspectorate recently, codenamed ‘Red Stone’: a batch of high-powered, small-sized portable alchemy bombs that were smuggled from the Pelican Bar’s side of the border to Avalon.

“As far as I know, there are no conditions for making portable alchemy bombs within Avalon. Avalon’s alchemy started too late, and even the explosives used for mining and blasting have to be imported. This kind of alchemy bomb could only be something new made by the Star Antimony people’s alchemists. Moreover, the Pelican Bar was openly investigated as a ‘smuggling den’, which confirms my opinion.

“That’s why I had a bold guess that perhaps the Noble Red Junction, a civil society made up of Avalonians, was an organization supported by the Star Antimony Kingdom from the very beginning.”

“Indeed.” Aywas nodded in agreement.

“Not only that, Aiwas. I was following this point to investigate the history of the Noble Red Junction when it was first founded, only to realize that I actually couldn’t find out. So I realized something – the Noble Red Junction has more than likely changed its name.”

As Sherlock spoke, he crossed his legs and rhythmically tapped the table, his cheeks a little scarlet, his body leaning back triumphantly under the four people’s gaze, “Under what circumstances would an illegal transcendent organization suddenly change its name? Of course, we can’t rule out the case of them suddenly going crazy. But considering the size of the Noble Red Junction, I’m inclined to think that a name change would make sense …… such as a change of ownership.

“So I turned to investigating the Beyond the Path Transcendent Associations outside of the Noble Red Association, and I found the ‘Scaleless Hands’ that had faded into obscurity fifty years ago – and after I confirmed it, they were the same organization. While investigating the Scaleless Hands, I noticed the name of one of the founding fathers, Jacob Alexander, who died of typhoid fever fourteen years ago……. Prior to that, I had just investigated you, Ivars. At that time I was very sensitive to both ‘Alexander’ and ‘fourteen years ago’. “Yes, Ivars …… he is your grandfather. When I looked into it, the truth easily strung together in my mind.”

Sherlock put down the half-drunk glass in his hand and looked at Bishop Mathers, his voice a bit louder than usual: “So, I don’t quite agree with your previous statement. I’m inclined to think that the story the Watchdog took out was the truth, just hiding a few facts.

“It is entirely possible that Jacob Alexander, in one of his unpublished poems, contained a hidden secret. For at that time his eldest son was dead, and his second son, Julio, had taken to the path of devotion. The Noble Red became the largest, and only, folk association in Avalon that transcended the Path, and the legacy of the spellcaster mages had been de facto severed.

“That is, he had a motive to leave behind the hidden secrets. But I’m more inclined to think it was because he realized that ‘Alexandria’ was cursed, and therefore wanted to leave some evidence and clues behind. But eventually, the curse was followed and the evidence was found and erased.

“The Iron Hook Demon was able to teleport following the curse – if he somehow hid where he was, yet was cursed through blood, it would explain why old Jacob, who lived in a remote village, was attacked and had all the manuscripts taken from him.”

At this point, Sherlock, who had a noticeable blush on his face, looked at Ivars with his gleaming gaze and said firmly, “Am I right …… Mr. Fox?”

Hearing this, Aiwas blinked, noncommittal.

He just asked rhetorically, “How did you guess?”

“It’s simple, because I guessed that you had been promoted to the second energy level. A little bit of right timing and I guessed – at that time, when I went to the Hall of Silver and Tin to fetch you back, Her Highness said to me ‘Mr. Fox’s matter can be put on hold for a while’. Thinking back now, she should have recognized you at that time.

“Please don’t look at me like that, Mr. Bishop, I didn’t eavesdrop on your conversation. I learned about it through reasoning.”

Mr. Detective, who was a bit drunk after only half a glass of wine, hummed an off-key ditty pleasantly.

Without waiting for others to ask for guidance, he answered himself, “That key to the chapel was given to Ivars by you, a matter I know. It was you who led Ivars into the path of transcendence. When he came home that day, I met Ivars once and saw the key from his wheelchair. I remembered it then.

“And when you saw the news, you weren’t shocked or surprised for Ivars, you were visibly angry. Like you’d been betrayed. I’m guessing you thought Ivars couldn’t power the sword, so you suspected he was hiding another transcendental profession.

“But when I came down, I saw you talking to each other, even about some hidden past. This can only be your confirmation that Aiwas has indeed stepped into the second energy level.”

Sherlock laughed, “I would say …… you are overly concerned. I can confirm that Mr. Ivars is a newcomer to the Path of Transcendence, having first participated in the Advancement Ceremony, the same ceremony as my Advancement on the Path of Wisdom, a week ago. He is a true genius of the Path of Devotion …… which is not a bad thing. It’s better than him being a genius of the Transcendent Path.”

— What if I am both?
Aywas raised an eyebrow and asked rhetorically in his mind.

Sherlock’s wariness and resistance to the Fox was swept away as soon as he recognized Ivars. Instead of losing face for not recognizing him, he admired Ivars’ disguise.

Sherlock sighed, “Come to think of it, you’ve actually left a lot of cracks. Your understanding of poetry and song, as well as that kind of playboy temperament …… coupled with the Princess Highness who favors you, I should have recognized you long ago. Not recognizing you was too arrogant of me – certain of the reasoning I initially made and dismissing other possibilities. My mind has also been influenced by the Beyond Pathway, ah.”

After drinking too much Sherlock, showing more and more clearly a cheerfulness and warmth very different from his usual cold reserve, invited him with gusto, “I’ve got an idea, Ivars! You’d love an adventure like that …… when you and Hajna are on vacation, and it’s almost New Year s Eve, and she’s definitely going home. Why don’t we follow her back and investigate the real cause of your grandfather’s death together?”

“Didn’t you already find out?” Ivars asked rhetorically.

“That was only second-hand information after all, Mr. Fox. You’re still not rigorous enough to overlook a few details.”

Sherlock was exuberant, his words filled with childlike, innocent curiosity, and bragging about his own talents, “The one who was able to teleport over there was only the Iron Hook Demon after all, not an actual Demon Scholar. I think your grandfather must have left other clues that weren’t completely destroyed by the demons …… After all, he also knew those demon scholars, and should have understood their methods.

“–What, you’re not interested in that?”

“I am indeed interested …… There’s just one problem, Sherlock.”

Ivas shook his head, “What about Yulia?”

“Well take her with you then, you’re a second ability level priest. And it’s almost the middle of the month since you’re on vacation, so you might even be promoted again – the investigation of this complex case has made my advancement in the Wisdom Path very smooth. I feel like I’ll definitely be able to touch the threshold of the Third Energetic Level by the middle of next month. You’re so genius that you completed your advancement …… in one day, there’s no way you’re slower than me, right?”

Sherlock excitedly encouraged Ivars, his face had turned completely red, “Third energy level priest, what are you afraid of? Aren’t you interested in your grandfather’s secret?”

–You’re not drunk, are you?

Aiwas finally realized something was wrong.

The young man, who was already twenty-six years old, was now as pure and happy as a teenager who had discovered a fun game.

Perhaps if he hadn’t stepped into the path of authority back then, this is what Sherlock would have been today.

Ivas finally realized why he said he didn’t drink – he really couldn’t touch alcohol here.

While the brandy was about a forty, that hot apple brandy had at least two-thirds apple juice in it, and it was only as much as a slightly larger teacup.

Sherlock this can just drink half a cup ah …… this cup can have a hundred milliliters?

This amount of alcohol, probably equivalent to half a bottle of beer on the pour, right?
How could any adult’s drinking capacity be this outrageous? Aren’t you a transcendent?

“…… You’d better not drink next time, Sherlock.”

Ivars sincerely admonished, “As for the matter of going to Eagle Point Village …… I think, we still need to ask Hajna-senpai, don’t we?”

Over 7,000 words of updates meow~

(End of chapter)