"This isn't 'Miss'."
Haina uttered softly.
"I haven't actually graduated yet."
And this is just an inquiry.
But before she could say more, Aiwass interrupted her softly.
"You've already joined the Inspectorate before formally graduating. I see. Miss Haina, are you studying at the Royal University of Law?"
Aiwass had a crisp, unaccented voice—free of the so-called 'elven lilt' that the nobles of the capital were so fond of.
Curiously enough, this made him more attractive to Haina, a girl who had left a small town to study.
So she nodded in response.
"Ah, yes."
She used the proud, puffed-out tone.
"I was president of the student council last year, and also top female student of the fourth year. As one of the Royal Law University's highest graduates, I had early employment clearance from the Inspectorate. While my issued sword has not yet arrived, my name is already in the database."
"Then that makes you my senior."
Aiwass interlocked his fingers and placed them on his lap.
Leaning back a little, he talked slowly.
"I'm a student at the Royal University of Law too. A first-year student this year."
".Really?"
Haina was taken aback, but also touched by the common bond.
"But I've never met you before."
"I was ill. Before I could register, I got severely sick and had to stay three months in bed at home."
Aiwass's faintly pale complexion added credibility to his claim.
'He's had a hard time.
"I see. You're obviously innocent. I'll bring it to the attention of the Director once I get back."
Haina nodded genuinely, a rush of compassion overcoming her.
The mild sense of jealousy that she had previously entertained against Aiwass disappeared entirely.
She was ashamed of herself.
As an inspector, half a knight really, she had lost sight of the lesson of humility and understanding handed down by her mentors.
'How vile jealousy really is.'
"Well then, Senior," Aiwass unexpectedly inquired, "did you notice what was burning in the fireplace?"
"That burning thing."
Haina turned to see, sounding dubious.
"I couldn't see clearly. It didn't seem to be firewood."
"That was a diary."
Aiwass spoke softly.
"It could've been proof of my conspiracy with a demonologist."
"Like this book I hold."
He closed the book in his hand and flung it into the flames.
Haina was stunned.
She automatically moved forward and stretched out.
Without even realizing it, she intercepted the book mid-air.
Frowning, she looked down.
It was titled Eighty Selected Poems of Shidai’er.
Of course Haina recognized it.
It was the required textbook for Elvish class in freshman year.
She flipped through it warily, confirming that it had nothing to do with demonologists—just various highlighted and underlined notes in different colors.
"Just a joke."
Aiwass gave a faint smile.
"I'm the victim here, Senior. You were the one who just said that, weren't you. So why is it that just saying something makes you suspicious again? Don't you have any trust in me?"
Haina suddenly realized that this seemingly mild and cultured young man may have a crafty side.
"This is a serious issue. It's not something to make jokes about."
She stood up, rebuking him in the same stern voice she had when she was in school.
"Human sacrifices are frequently employed in demonic rituals. In order to dispose of witnesses, they typically murder the victims later. It's absolute evil. Even innocent individuals are treated as material and murdered. It's disgusting! This is not a joke!"
At this juncture, suddenly something came into her mind.
Her eyes narrowed.
"Speaking of which. if you were the sacrifice, how did you survive?"
"They attempted to employ me to bring forth a great demon, but the demon found me more appealing. So I commanded it to slay them instead."
Aiwass smiled as he continued his rapidly escalating farce.
"Actually, the Moriarty clan is the most wicked. My father, Professor James Moriarty, was a demonologist who hoped to end the world. I'm not his adopted son—I'm a demon that he called from another plane of existence. In one year's time, I'll cause the destruction of the entire Kingdom of Avalon."
Haina gazed at him, shocked mid-way, before catching on he was just blabbing rubbish.
".What in the world are you talking about?!"
She screamed with embarrassment and rage.
Half of what she felt came from having actually believed him for an instant.
This boy, so sweet and poetic-looking, was really cunning like a fox—full of crazy, outlandish lies!
Her face burning with rage, she spoke softly out of respect for the elderly butler standing nearby.
She grumbled, her face aflame.
"Cut the gobbledygook—what were you doing at the demon ritual? Someone anonymously told us that you attended the Stone Arch Park of your free will. You weren't coerced."
"What I said is the truth. If you don't believe me, bring me to the Inspectorate."
Aiwass shrugged, looking genuinely remorseful.
But Haina was aware that was out of the question.
With obvious signs of internal shielding present in the bureau, she couldn't arrest Aiwass unless she had concrete evidence.
Especially not now, when he was still in a wheelchair.
She'd be the one in trouble if she attempted it.
Aiwass gradually wiped away his cunning grin.
He tensed and spoke calmly.
"That's possible. But if you can recognize that what I spoke was gibberish, why accept an anonymous letter? How are my words any different from that letter?"
".Then what's the truth?"
"I can provide you with another account of the story—
"I was walking, got ambushed, and woke up in a wheelchair at the Stone Arch Park. I don't know what happened in between. I do not know why I was selected as a sacrifice. I do not know how the summoners were slain. I do not know how I remained alive."
"But that's too rehearsed. Too perfect. Sounds like a lawyer's case in court. If I had told you that initially, you'd have probably suspected me even further."
Aiwass let out a sigh, actually appearing to be helpless and innocent.
"So, which story do you believe?"
.If she put aside emotions and was objective, the second one sounded more plausible.
Perhaps she had misinterpreted Aiwass after all.
Was it because she was still a bit jealous?
——In addition, there was no means Aiwass could have called up a high-ranking demon. He was too weak. Haina could feel it.
At best, he had lit the first level of a Path—hardly a beginner.
Her training informed her someone at that level couldn't call up anything stronger than a minor familiar, much less create that kind of destruction.
And the verified dead at the scene were all the ones who were wanted fugitives.
One of them had sacrificed an entire village before.
He was a third-level demonologist—able to summon upper demons.
.Perhaps he summoned a demon, the contract went awry, and he died in return?
That wasn't beyond the realm of possibility.
As soon as the summoner dies, the demon disappears as well.
Aiwass could have simply been drained during the ritual and discovered later by the old butler.
Logically, this made much more sense.
.But why had Aiwass told her such ridiculous lies?
Then it hit her—
She had a perfectly valid excuse:
Because she'd judged too hastily.
She'd questioned him barely and proclaimed him innocent.
If he was indeed innocent, he'd be upset at her flippant attitude.
So he made absurd statements to ridicule her blind faith.
That made sense.
That's why the Director wasn't taking this seriously—he knew Aiwass wasn't the culprit and probably did not have any useful information.
Sending Haina was merely a matter of procedure.
She, however, had taken it too seriously, resolved to get some secret clue.
Too impulsive.
Too desperate to prove herself.
She remembered there was another case a day ago.
Big summoning rituals normally required two demonologists—a master and an apprentice.
If the summoner was killed by a botched contract, the apprentice running away alone would be understandable.
If Aiwass had killed one, why spare the other?
.Ugh, what rubbish am I thinking?
She berated herself.
'Like a novice could command an upper demon.'
"Sorry. I just jumped to conclusions."
Haina apologized.
"And I'm also sorry for missing our previous appointment. If you're going back to school, I can make my juniors assist you a bit."
"It's not payment. Just an apology. If there's anything further I can do, just let me know."
"Anything at all?" Aiwass looked quite fascinated.
".Just to make it clear—I don't have any money."
Haina smiled cynically.
"Anything but monetary reward—I can do some volunteer work if necessary."
"No problem. I'm just glad the misunderstanding's cleared up."
Aiwass smiled kindly.
"I just didn't want you to return, hear one more rumor, and resume investigating again. That would've been a headache for both of us."
"And besides, if you had arrived late once more."
"So now, Senior, why don't you try to guess—how did I happen to know about demons? I was out cold the entire time. So how did I instantly suspect this as a demon ritual?"
".I guess it must be that fabled deductive style! Like that renowned Mr. Sherlock!"
Haina's eyes gleamed.
"I can recall Professor Moriarty adored Sherlock most of all. He could divine truths by seemingly mystical observation! I even keep clippings from newspapers about his cases—I've filled one-third of a scrapbook already."
Her enthusiasm overflowed at the common interest.
Her previous guilt left her desperate to be friendly—not from guilt, but genuinely.
Now she had an in: They both liked Sherlock!
While Haina prattled on, Aiwass narrowed his eyes ever so slightly, still smiling softly in his wheelchair.
If only Haina had been a little more perceptive, she might have seen something amiss—
The shadow of the old elf butler remained absolutely still.
But the shadow of Aiwass's wheelchair was slightly quivering, like an animal panting in its dreams.
You solved it all by "deduction"—I hardly lied at all.
The issue with deduction is: if you decide your conclusion beforehand and look for evidence subsequently, you'll always be led astray.
You're just not there yet.
Yes—Aiwass really was the sacrifice.
But then again, "Aiwass" was also involved in the demon ritual.
Nothing he said previously was technically inaccurate.
If he hadn't jerked himself back to consciousness with a recollection of memories from his previous life, he might very well have been the "otherworldly demon" conjured through the use of the original Aiwass's soul as a sacrifice.
Because along with those returned memories.
Popped up a familiar glowing menu:
[Aiwass | Human Male | Total Level: 4]
Base Classes—
Cleric LV1: [Basic Prayer - LV1 (93%)]
Demonologist LV3: [Demonology Knowledge - LV1 (13%)]
[Basic Ritual - LV1 (5%)]
[Demonic Pact - LV1 (99%)]
Path Lit: Devotion - Layer 0; Transcendence - Layer 1
Mana Pool: 1/1 (Light), 3/3 (Dark)
Free XP: 24
Path Trait—
Transcendence - Shadow Affinity LV1: You have a soul pact with a Shadow Fiend and can freely use first-tier shadow abilities.
(End of Chapter)