The Shepherds Are Dense

Chapter 51: Lily

The moment Aiwass woke up, he went about tidying up his ritual ground.The previously pure white crystal pendant, having been exposed and darkened, was no longer pure. Aiwass powdered it and kept it in storage for the next use.

Once having filtered dreamworld essence, its spiritual makeup became too confused to hold the idea of "white crystal." Any rite or alchemical transformation needing would now no longer work if it employed this.

However, it was not worthless. In academe, this substance was referred to as a "Lesser Dream Crystal," and in alchemy and ritual studies, it contained a dim conceptual association with "confusing dreams and reality."

For example, by injecting two incompatible forms of magical energy into a sample of this crystal powder, mixing it with the entire brain extract of an adult cuttlefish, then dissolving it in a bottle of white wine and reducing it to half volume by distillation, one might be able to prepare three doses of .

Take one, and it would make the user forget their most painful memory—as if all of it had been just a dream.

—After Yulia's death in the game's main questline, "Aiwass" sank into overt sorrow and depression. Then, following Aiwass's adoptive father, Professor James Moriarty, the player character utilized the tribute white crystal pendant he was given when Aiwass advanced in order to brew this same potion.

After he had drunk it, Aiwass went into a deep sleep.

When he woke up, he looked visibly improved.

As if the tragedy had happened not just a few days ago, but years ago.

That was also the first time Professor James Moriarty became part of the game's main storyline.

…And now Aiwass himself was the one brewing the potion.

It felt unreal in a strangely nostalgic manner.

Reflecting back, Aiwass understood the mission had likely been quietly nodding towards James's superb alchemy abilities. was not an ordinary potion, and to his memory, it never reoccurred in subsequent missions.

Having carefully washed away all remaining ritual residues from his bedroom, Aiwass departed the room.

He told the head maid of the house that his room was ready to be cleaned. Lady Rowe, the housekeeper, nodded to his statement and called in his personal maid.

Servants generally didn't stick with the masters like their shadows. In Moriarty Manor—which, even though in the White Queen District wasn't very big—the main building itself had more than twenty rooms, all of which required maintenance on a daily basis.

The butler Oswald took care of outside matters, whereas Rowe took care of domestic affairs. They were the most friendly and accessible members of the staff.

Oswald belonged to the Moriarty family by solemn oath, whereas Rowe was a human woman hired as a housekeeper.

In every knight's household, there was no necessity to order someone explicitly to clean up after the master had left. The housekeeper would without fail send somebody to clean any room the master had left.

Moriarty Manor was an exception.

Of the four household heads, Aiwass had scarcely ventured out of the house since graduating from secondary school. Yulia was strictly kept indoors—or even away from open windows. Edward came back only once or twice a month. Only James went out and came back regularly.

There were scarcely any events, excursions, or even trash. The servants, other than the regular cleaning of rooms, spent most of the time in places where the masters would not notice them.

Furthermore, they were well aware that the Moriartys were a mystic family. Any open book may hold information that would make a commoner go mad—or worse, kill them upon a glance. Even innocuous-looking objects may be ritual implements or components of an active ward.

So unless expressly told by the housekeeper, no servant dared clean the bedroom. Even when permitted, they were instructed to restore the room’s layout without touching anything too directly.

"Good morning, Master Aiwass."

A soft voice greeted him. A young maid with long, ash-blonde curls stepped away from a nearby painting and walked over.

"Good morning, Lily."

Aiwass greeted his personal maid warmly.

"I’ve got good news for you… you’re going to school."

Lily's eyes widened with shock.

"…I can go to school too?"

She was his personal maid since he initially came to the Moriarty house.

Aiwass was six years old, and Lily was fourteen at that time. They had already bonded for a long time.

Lily was tasked with cleaning his bedroom, doing his laundry, and going on outings with him.

For reasons of appearance, decorum, and safety, personal attendants were never actual commoners. They came mostly from distant relatives or illegitimate sons and daughters of noble families.

Lily was one such example—daughter of an old knight and a prostitute.

Her birth name was Droste. But upon becoming a maid to the Moriartys, her name was taken away from her.

The Droste family did not want a daughter of a prostitute to have any claim to inheritance. They thought it would shame them if they let her go to school in the family name. But relegating her to the streets altogether was shameful too.

Ultimately, the old knight placed her in the care of James Moriarty, requesting that he take her on as a maid.

But it was more than just a job. It was a form of guardianship. Professor Moriarty treated her well—even though her duties left no time for school, she had received an adequate middle school education. The family also provided her with books to study from during her spare time.

"Of course, you’ll be going with me. You’ll sit in and audit the classes too."

Aiwass smiled softly, patting the arm of his wheelchair.

"I can't exactly invite Mr. Oswald to come with me to school, can I? The kids would tease me. I need someone to propel the chair."

"But… what about Mr. Wade? He can guard you too."

Wade was James's personal valet.

Aiwass shook his head.

"I don't have the standing yet."

Only those of high enough rank in Avalon culture were allowed to have male servants. Only knightly families were permitted to formally hire male servants. Merchants, parvenus, or even prominent officials without titles could only engage maids.

It wasn't entirely about labor—male servants also served as bodyguards, tasked with defending the house along with the butler.

The Moriartys employed two such valets: one for James, and one for Edward. Edward had put his valet into a second house in the Red Queen District—near work. He only brought him home when visiting.

When Aiwass visited Bishop Mathers, Oswald went along with him in person—but due to the bishop's high rank.

Oswald could not be required to do that every day.

Until Aiwass acquired third-level Shadow Affinity and could control his shadow demon completely—or increased his dark-element mana pool to 50 and trapped the demon in a blank card—he'd have to remain in the wheelchair.

At home, it was fine. Even in remote locations, it didn't matter.

But however quietly the shadow demon acted, the instant that Aiwass stood on his own shadow, the metaphysical connection between them would kick into place. His shadow would churn, condense, wriggle, and cloud.

That was unmistakable warning.

And though he could propel the wheelchair himself… it would be all too debilitating.

".Can I really do it?"

Lily tightly knotted her uniform hem in nervousness.

"My father… that man said he didn’t want me to go to school. And even if I’m just pushing your chair, people will gossip about too."

She clearly to go—but was trying to convince herself why she couldn’t. It wasn’t about persuading Aiwass—it was about silencing her own self-doubt.

"Why would they?"

Aiwass smiled.

"They’ll be too busy being jealous that I’ve got such a beautiful girl attending class with me."

Actually, the true reason was that he understood how much Lily longed to learn—her hunger for knowledge ran deep.

Technically speaking, he wasn't quite old enough for a male valet, but his situation was unique. Special permission was bound to be granted by the school.

Wade had no interest in it himself—better to reserve it for Lily. She'd looked after him from a child… practically like a sister, not a servant.

In the original timeline, Lily would have died a few months later on a trivial side quest. Her death was meaningless and insignificant.

This was an improved course of events—her going to school with him.

These minor characters, not seen in the "main plot," still contained the potential for .

"…You're too kind. You flatter me."

Lily's cheeks flushed red.

She had a small girlish pride in her appearance, but she knew Aiwass was only joking to cheer her up.

Even Lady Rowe, normally so stern, couldn't help but smile.

Evidently, she liked this respectful, shy little maid. She patted Lily's shoulder and reminded her gently,

"Aren't you going to thank Master Aiwass?"

"Thank you… thank you so much!"

It was only then that Lily understood what was occurring. She bowed deeply.

Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, misting her vision.

Because now she knew—Aiwass wasn't teasing or being kind.

He meant it. He wasn't joking.

And that filled her heart with happiness.

Even this blurred-in-tears world shone like fire under the lightening dawn.

***(End of Chapter)***