When the plot-skips players into the game world

"...How did you manage it?"

Kneeling before Yulia after checking her condition and confirming that she indeed had recovered and the Phantom Demon had vanished, Oswald asked in a hushed voice, filled with astonishment, "This is nothing short of a miracle."

"I think everyone has their little secrets, don't they?"

Sitting in his wheelchair, Aiwass chuckled from behind Oswald.

Oswald, having lived in the human world for at least five hundred years, was hard to deceive.

It was better to be straightforward and simply say "I don't want to tell you." After all, the message conveyed was the same, and this way, it seemed friendlier.

Surprisingly, Oswald was quite satisfied with Aiwass's response.

The old elf rose to his feet, hands clasped behind his back. A rigid yet sincere smile crept over his face, worn like that of an ancient tree.

He looked much like a wolf splitting its jaws to smile.

"Of course, Mr. Aiwass. Everyone is entitled to their secrets."

Oswald nodded slightly, remarking sentimentally, "You've grown up, and that's good. If the master were here, he'd be pleased as well."

"What exactly has Father gone to do?"

Aiwass asked, his tone grave, "He's been gone for so long. I've also heard some... "

"Unpleasant things, right?"

The old elf continued.

Aiwass nodded, "I've heard that Father might be in danger. But he left without any way to contact him, and I can't confirm whether it's true... "

Yulia, clutching her stuffed toy "Mr. Dade," tilted her head and voiced her confusion, "Danger?"

Oswald sighed softly.

Instead of answering the question, he turned to Aiwass and said, "Now, you can take Miss Yulia to school.

"I believe this is something you've been looking forward to for a long time."

"Indeed..."

Yulia replied softly.

But she asked with some concern, "What's happened?"

The girl was extremely sharp and intelligent. Even without the necessary life experience, her familiarity with her family was enough to sense that the old butler, Oswald, was worried about something.

"I need to take a long journey, Miss. Avalon might be somewhat chaotic for a while, and you would likely be safer staying in the dormitory."

Oswald patiently explained.

"You're going on a long journey too?"

Aiwass arched an eyebrow, hastily realizing what he meant, "Are you going to look for Father?"

"Correct."

Oswald honestly replied, "In fact, I received news of the master's death through official channels. But I don't believe it—I am firmly convinced that he is not dead."

"Do you have a way to contact him?" Aiwass inquired.

"Sort of," Oswald nodded, "As the Guardian of the Moriarty Family, I can always sense the approximate location of any 'Moriarty.' If the distance is close enough, I can confirm their status."

So that was the ability he used to assess Yulia's body just now.

Aiwass realized.

Clearly, Oswald had little to no medical knowledge, nor the healing abilities of the Path of Devotion. Otherwise, Aiwass wouldn't have been the one to treat Yulia.

Yet the old butler had barely touched Yulia's forehead and sensed that the Phantom Demon within her was truly eradicated.

This must have also been the reason why Oswald managed to find him in time when Aiwass was brought into the alley for the sacrifice.

"I've sensed that master's position has been moving. Though slowly, he hardly ever stops for long."

Oswald spoke gravely, "It might be possible that it's a corpse being moved... but even that takes a path back at times. So I wonder, could it be that the master has been captured and is now being transported? Or perhaps, Professor Moriarty has chosen to feign death to expose certain individuals and is investigating matters in secret?

"Regardless, I believe the master is currently in a state of danger. He very likely needs my help now."

With that, Oswald looked toward Yulia: "But at the same time, I must also protect you, which is my duty as well.

"Mr. Edward doesn't need anyone's care anymore. The University of Law is the Grand Arbitrator's domain and is also where two-thirds of the descendants of the Knight Family gather, with many Arbitrators patrolling at night. Hence, Mr. Aiwass, you need not worry.

"But Miss Yulia alone... previously being a Phantom Demon Egg, must keep her identity concealed. Therefore, she can't accompany you to school and has no choice but to make the excuse of being unwell, staying indoors each day."

At this point, Oswald turned to look at Yulia.

She sat to one side, hugging her toy, her eyes wide with anticipation shining within them.

Just as she wished.

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Mr. Oswald declared, "If I stay at home, I can indeed protect Miss Julia, as she has nowhere to go. I am the only one who can protect her."

"But now that Miss Julia is no longer the Phantom Demon Egg and can go elsewhere, I must now fulfill my other responsibility—I am very sorry, Miss."

"It's all right, Mr. Oswald."

Julia said earnestly, "I would also like to go to school with my brother!"

Aiwass thought of something else and asked on the side, "Who knows that Julia is the Phantom Demon Egg?"

"Even though the master has been purchasing Hypnos Soup, no one has concrete evidence to prove that Miss Julia is the Phantom Demon Egg. So you can claim that she just had a strange disease and had to use the Hypnos Soup, and she has now recovered under Bishop Mathers' treatment."

Mr. Oswald patiently taught Aiwass to speak, although there was no need for his instruction as Aiwass would've known these things: "If someone asks why Miss Julia has not been attending school, you can say she is reclusive and does not wish to meet people. This way, your secret will not be exposed."

"I will pretend to be reclusive!"

Julia raised a hand and said earnestly, "I will absolutely not reveal my brother's secret!"

Aiwass stroked his chin.

That is to say, it's highly likely that almost everyone in the kingdom's upper social circles knows about Julia being the Phantom Demon Egg. They choose silence because of their relationship with Professor Moriarty.

...Strange, have I overlooked something?

Aiwass always felt there was something discordant here.

If my adoptive father took me and Julia in because he had no biological children and needed an heir to inherit the family business...

Then, as the Phantom Demon Egg, Julia theoretically wouldn't live long. Why would Professor Moriarty adopt her?

However, Mr. Oswald's temporary departure from this matter... could be seen as both good and bad.

The good part is that it would be easier to draw out the people of the Lohar Society. The impact of Aiwass's feigned death plan would also become stronger.

However, this would mean that Aiwass needs to find a stronger protector for Julia. It would be very difficult for Edward alone to protect her well, let alone take care of her daily needs.

Unlike Aiwass, Lily was able to accompany Aiwass to school because of his special physical condition. This had been specially approved by Princess Isabel.

However, Julia obviously couldn't bring her personal maid with her to school. Her maid must stay at Moriarty Manor.

While both Aiwass and Lily are around, Lily can help take care of Julia. But when Aiwass feigns death, Lily will have to feign death with him—meaning Julia will be left alone.

Even if the school's security level is good enough, Aiwass still can't be at ease about her.

At that moment, Aiwass's mind conjured the shadow of another person.

Princess Isabel.

She should be able to help with this.

"So when do you plan to leave?" Aiwass asked Mr. Oswald.

The old butler replied, "If possible, the sooner the better."

"Then Julia will go with us. Given that, we should now prepare to return to school," Aiwass nodded and then turned back to Julia to explain, "There is no railway between the Red and White Queens District, so Lily had to push me directly before... Fortunately, it's not very far, about a two-hour walk. If we find a place to rest along the way, it will take about three hours to get there..."

"Regarding this point," Mr. Oswald added, "there is no need for it to be that troublesome anymore.

"Your current wheelchair got somewhat deformed due to an attack before. Although it got repaired later, it still looks a bit unseemly. So, I ordered a new wheelchair from an elf craftsman I know, using your measurements. The comfort and functionality have been improved, it includes a concealed micro pistol for self-defense, and a Candle Master's holy emblem which facilitates casting Divine Arts is built into it.

"I've already placed it at the Supervisory Court. You can go directly to the Supervisory Court by car, have Lily fetch the wheelchair and then take you back to school. When you return home later, you can just take a car home. We have spare wheelchairs at home."

"...I really appreciate your trouble."

Aiwass said with some remorse, "But actually, my health is recovering well. I might be able to recuperate fully within half a month to a month."

In half a month, it would be the final exams as well as the second promotion ceremony for Aiwass's Path of Devotion.

Before that, Aiwass would have to deal with the Lohar Society's issue. Only then could Sherlock emerge from his feigned death.

After the promotion, they would be going to Hayna's hometown together. Using a wheelchair in rural roads and dense forests would definitely be inconvenient... so by then, Aiwass couldn't pretend anymore.

Coincidentally, Lily would also be accompanying Aiwass by then, and the Shadow Demon could be lodged in her shadow. Before the end of the winter break, Aiwass's Path of Transcendence could advance further—at that point, Aiwass would truly be rid of the wheelchair.

In other words... At most, Mr. Oswald's custom-made wheelchair would only be used for less than a month. This was also why Aiwass had not previously suggested getting a new wheelchair.

Even though the family is not short of money now, he still subconsciously thought about saving where he could.

"Having recovered legs doesn't mean you can't sit. Those elders in wheelchairs, they might not necessarily be unable to walk."

Mr. Oswald said with a smile, "Sitting in a wheelchair makes it easier for people to ignore your threatening nature; a cleric with poor legs, even if rumored to be very debauched, is also seen as an ascetic. Humans always have animosity towards the strong. But if the strong also have a weakness that's greater than theirs, that tends to turn into admiration instead."

Hearing this, Aiwass subconsciously felt a bit guilty.

...He always felt that the old butler was implying something.

And he might be referring to more than just one thing.

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