Author: Buqi Shixian

Not long after Haina left, James Moriarty returned home carrying a heavy suitcase.

"Are the people from the Supervision Bureau leaving just now?"

Old James asked as soon as he entered the door.

He apparently met Haina at the gate of the manor and exchanged pleasantries for a while.

James is a polite-looking old gentleman with obvious wrinkles on his face. His gray pupils are somewhat cloudy, his eye sockets are deep, and his hair is gray and sparse. However, his skin is well maintained. His cheeks are thin and his cheekbones are

Taller. Although he looks thin when wearing a coat, you can immediately feel that he is not thin when he takes off his coat.

When he speaks, he always speaks in a gentle voice, with a long drawl, soft and tongue-twisted Elf accent. It is obvious from a glance that he has a very good tutor, and his temper is definitely the same.

He put down his suitcase at the door, took off his long double-breasted trench coat, took off his top hat and handed it to the valet standing at the door: "Their people didn't question Aiwass for several hours... Well,

Thank you, Dole. Remember to send this box to Aiwass's room later."

"Yes, sir. I've taken note of it." His valet responded in a low voice while holding the things and retreating.

"Miss Haina is late."

The old elf did not choose to hide the situation for her, but expressed his dissatisfaction bluntly: "She is always like this, thinking about the top hat and dropping the tie, rashly. If she continues like this, sooner or later she will miss something important, and will be caught by her

The boss will teach you a lesson."

"Sooner or later, let's wait until 'sooner or later' happens; if she makes a mistake because of her own bad habits, then let her mistakes teach her a lesson."

The old man just smiled, narrowed his eyes and said meekly: "Don't scold her now for the mistakes she may make in the future, Oswald. You are only her instructor, not her boss."

He is very friendly and approachable to his elf butler named Oswald.

This is also normal, because more than sixty years ago, when he was about the same age as Aiwass today, he was also watched by Oswald when he grew up.

In addition to the old housekeeper, the house also employs sixteen other live-in servants - including a housekeeper, two valets, two valets, two maids, five footmen, and a cook

, two kitchen helpers, and a coachman. The eldest brother of Aiwass usually never goes home. Apart from him and Yulia, the only other owner of the family is the old man.

James usually behaves in a low-key and calm manner, and is very polite even to the servants. Although he rarely smiles, he never gets angry or angry at his servants.

——Or to be more precise, no one has ever seen him lose his temper or get angry in these decades. Even when facing the most rude guests, the old man always maintained his demeanor without being humble or overbearing.

Yes, old man.

Although James is nominally Aiwass's adoptive father, he is actually old enough to be Aiwass's grandfather.

This is also very reasonable... When he adopted Aiwass, Aiwass was only six years old. But now he is eighteen years old.

Edward Moriarty, the eldest brother of Aiwass and Julia, was adopted by James when he was eight years old. He is now thirty-five years old.

"……dad."

Yulia, who was standing next to Aiwass, came over and said hello softly.

Like a well-behaved cat, she put her head close to her and was petted lovingly by the old man.

"How are you today, Yulia?"

He asked seriously: "Are you taking good medicine?"

"have eaten."

Yulia whispered, her voice giving people a dreamy and transparent feeling.

"Go to bed early and don't read too late. You can never finish learning."

The old man warned carefully: "Don't go to bed later than nine o'clock at night. You are not in good health - did you hear that, Yulia?"

Seeing himself talking, Yulia's eyes began to drift to the side, so he spoke a little louder and emphasized: "Yuliya?"

"Yeah, I know."

Yulia responded vaguely.

The old man sighed helplessly and emphasized again: "Don't stay up late, you silly girl.

"You don't go out, so there is no difference between day and night for you. Then it's better to go to bed early and read whatever books you have during the day. It's also good for your eyes."

As he spoke, Yulia became silent again.

Old James had no choice but to emphasize: "I'm old now and can't afford to stay up late. I have to go to bed at ten o'clock at night. If you have any questions, I can't answer you. But if you read during the day,

If you don’t understand anything, you can come to me at any time. I don’t have a class tomorrow on Friday, so I will stay at home for three days this time. If you don’t understand anything, you can come to me and ask me, okay?”

"……good."

Yulia did not pretend to be deaf this time. She raised her head seriously and stared at the old man with ruby-like eyes: "I have been reading books on alchemy recently...an exposition from the path of [Balance]. Dad understands

In this regard?”

"Dad knows all the books at home."

The old man said calmly: "Dad knows a little bit about the nine paths."

His tone was calm, but he felt confident.

"Then I will go to bed early today."

The girl stretched out two fingers and pointed to the sky by her ears, and said seriously: "I swear, I will keep my word——"

"Don't."

But the old man just stretched out his hand, gently bent the girl's fingers, and retracted his fist.

"do not do that."

James said seriously: "This is a [simple oath], a spiritual gesture. If you violate the oath, you will really be punished."

"...I just want to try."

Yulia whispered: "I just read it in the book today... was the gesture I just made correct?"

"Correct. So don't do it again next time."

The old man sighed tiredly: "Go and eat quickly. I have something to talk to Aiwass."

Yulia responded and followed Oswald to the dining room. There were only two people left in the living room.

James returned to silence and sat opposite Aiwass.

The old man picked up the cup of tea that Haina had not touched, poured it out, and then added a cup of hot tea for himself.

Looking at Aiwass who was silent, he held the tea cup and asked softly: "How do you feel... about your current state? Is it still stable?"

What he was talking about was the shadow demon contracted by Aiwass.

There was no way he could hide this kind of thing from his adoptive father.

Since Aiwass was lying at home when he woke up, it means that it was probably housekeeper Oswald who brought him back in a coma. Then James must have checked his body and performed a simple universal seal.

.At least the Shadow Demon didn't take over Aiwass's body while he was unconscious.

It can be said to be very considerate.

In the "future" picture, the crazy, gloomy, stooped James Moriarty and the kind old man who cares about him in front of him look like they are not the same person at all!

What he remembers are all images of James loving him——

When Aiwass was in his early tenth year, he once accidentally said that he missed the special fried cod steaks that Aunt Missu would make for them during the holidays in the orphanage.

As a result, Aunt Misu was hired with a high salary to work as a cook at home for a while the next day. Not only the special fried cod steak, but also other "civilian dishes" she knew were taught to the cook at home. After that,

When he asked her to leave, he also gave her an additional reward.

Aiwass was so scared at the time that he didn't dare to say what he wanted to eat or want for at least half a year. He was afraid that as soon as he said it, he would buy it immediately.

Even little Aiwass, who has not recalled the memories of his past life, has always had a clear understanding of himself - after all, he is not James Moriarty's biological son. He does not deserve to enjoy such preferential treatment as a matter of course.

That is to say, Aiwass himself is relatively sensible and has not turned into a playboy under such pampering.

So now when Aiwass looks at his adoptive father, he always feels mixed emotions. He still has a sense of luck.

...Is there a possibility that the adoptive father was not the mastermind behind the scenes at the beginning of the plot? Or, it was when the Kingdom of Avalon fell apart that he fell into evil ways?

This is not impossible.

In the original plot, when the Kingdom of Avalon fell apart, Aiwass followed the protagonist and fled to the Theocracy. From that time on, he and his adoptive father had been separated. When they met again, it was already three years later.

maybe……

What happened in the past three years?

...However, that cannot explain the fact that Aiwass, as a spy, infiltrated the "player".

"——Aiwass?"

Seeing that Aiwass was lost in thought again, the old man called softly again: "If that doesn't work, shall I go find the bishop to help you exorcise the demon that possesses you?"

"...Ah, I have no problem, father. The demonic knowledge I obtained from their group happens to contain the means to seal the Shadow Demon."

Aiwass raised his head and said with a comforting smile: "I was thinking about other things just now."

"Then I believe you."
To be continued...