When the plot-skips players into the game world

On the other hand, at the Hall of Silver and Tin.

After reading the newspaper, Isabel too breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good..."

Although she had known from the start that Aiwass was merely feigning death and disappearing, the sight of Noble Red mobilizing so many people still inevitably made her anxious for Aiwass.

After all, Mr. Aiwass was nothing more than a frail and powerless priest who relied on a wheelchair to move around...

Could something have really happened to him?

She worried about this every day, eagerly checking the newspaper first thing in the morning. Isabel, who normally had no habit of reading the newspaper, had bought a large pile over the past few days.

—She dared not let Julia see.

Luckily, Julia was easily distracted.

Isabel had directly sent Julia to learn alchemy with the court alchemist, and just like that, the girl was gone.

It was said that Julia had immersed herself in the practice of alchemy, striving so hard that she had neglected sleep and food.

That was true neglect, to the extent it even frightened the old gentleman—he ran to Isabel several times, insisting Julia wouldn't sleep at all. No matter what he said, she wouldn't listen and would get up after lying down for three or four hours to continue studying. When tired, she'd simply drink an energy potion instead of sleeping, completely ignoring the side effects that the potion might cause.

It was only when Isabel personally came to persuade her that she could coax her to sleep.

She even had to sleep holding Julia to prevent her from getting up in the middle of the night to read.

Isabel couldn't understand why Julia would be so diligent in her studies... She wasn't the type of fool who couldn't keep up with her peers without hard work; she was an extremely smart prodigy. Even the court alchemist had praised Julia's talent.

The old gentleman, prior to retiring as a court alchemist, was a university tutor with a very strict attitude.

At the same time, he was involved in the explosives business in Avalon. He was formerly from Star Antimony but was pushed out by his peers and came to Avalon. Now, at least in the field of chemical and alchemical synthesis of explosives, he could be said to be at the industry's leading level.

His most common saying went, "I may let you pass the final exam, but the various accidents in the experiment will not let you off." Back then, the subject he taught, "Alchemy and Chemical Safety Regulations," had the lowest pass rate at Milton University.

The old man was a very rare, downright old-fashioned kind of professor—if one failed either the written test or the experiment, they wouldn't get any bonus points for attendance, nor would they be offered a makeup exam, just a straight retake. At least after securing a passing grade in both areas through their efforts, would he then give them credit for their participation all at once.

His recognition was enough to prove the seriousness of Julia's studies.

Even under Julia's influence, Isabel had started studying. The amount of coursework Yanis originally added wasn't little, but she ultimately still had quite a lot of downtime.

But every time she rested, seeing Julia still studying, she'd feel an inexplicable sense of guilt... and could only get up and continue studying.

As a result... Although Aiwass Moriarty wasn't around in the past few days, her personal time was still drained away by another Moriarty.

Thanks to Julia's attitude of forsaking sleep and food for her studies, she didn't fuss about going home. Julia cherished the opportunity to study alchemy with Master Nobel so much that she didn't even need Isabel to think of lies to tell, she would take the initiative to smooth things over for Isabel.

This also allowed Isabel to relax.

Although she was a "prodigy", she indeed wasn't good at lying.

And now that it was confirmed Aiwass was safe, she happily hummed a little tune.

As for the lady named Aleister... Isabel didn't care much about her.

Based on her understanding of Aiwass, such words were clearly not his lines—if he were to truly praise someone, it wouldn't be with words like "very elegant and beautiful".

"—Family, life, dreams, what you read, what you do, what you think... Two dissimilar hearts, two souls yet to converge, are like two finely crafted gems. Placed overlappingly against the sunlight, turning ever so slightly, they can project thousands of brilliant colors on the wall—that's the spark of different thoughts. I call this conversation.

"—And if, by chance, when rotated to a certain angle, they reflect a beauty that's breathtaking and unforgettable—a beauty for a lifetime—then that's the focal point of the soul. I call this love."

This was what the person codenamed "Fox" said to Isabel the first time she met Aiwass.

Even now, Isabel remembered every word of it. It was such elegant, such magnificent, such dazzling language... yet it also felt warm to her...

These were the words Aiwass would say.

His current statements... were most likely the Supervisory Bureau's attempt to instigate infighting within the Noble Red Society by using Aiwass.

After all, he hadn't truly disappeared.

Perhaps this Aleister didn't really exist at all and was just another persona for Aiwass?

Seated in her room being studious with her books and homework, Julia, catching the gleam in Isabel's eyes and the sudden relaxation of her aura from the corner of her sight, also silently breathed a sigh of relief in her heart.

—It seems brother is okay.

Julia thought to herself. Discover stories at empire

The girl calmly retracted her peripheral vision along with the part of her attention that was dispersed elsewhere, turning the page and focusing intently on her homework.

She had always vaguely sensed an odd anxiety and a low-spirited aura emanating from Isabel. Julia was well aware that the feeling was akin to what she felt when Aiwass went to school for the first time and was attacked, when she herself finished reading the newspaper and her brother hadn't come home yet.

There was so much worry mixed with unease. She couldn't sleep well, and sometimes she would have nightmares when she did sleep. Waking up with no appetite.

And now, it was finally someone else's turn.

...Looks like Isabel really does like brother.

Julia felt a growing approval of Isabel in her heart.

But it wasn't enough just yet.

At least, it had to be deeper than my own affection...

Yanis, with a gentle smile, watched the two sitting diagonally across from each other in Isabel's bedroom, reading and looking at newspapers, her brush moving ceaselessly in her hand as she softly urged, "It's time to go to school, Isabel."

"Oh, okay..."

Isabel replied.

There was no longer any worry in her voice; it had once again become clear and bright.

Tsk tsk, still not good enough, Isabel.

You still need to learn more from Miss Julia...

Yanis thought to herself.

Meanwhile, at the Royal Law University.

The short-statured Professor Bard, having finished reading the newspaper, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"It seems Aiwass is fine, and even has some new romantic involvement,"

he thought cheerfully to himself, "I really owe Department Head Meg a big thank you."

Just then, Miss Meg walked into his office.

"Yo, Bard!"

The old lady's voice was loud and lively, brimming with energy and laughter: "Read the newspaper?"

"I have, thank you... Department Head Meg."

Professor Bard expressed his gratitude.

"Hey, don't mention it. Even if you hadn't asked me, I might have gotten involved in the matter anyway. Isabel seems to like him quite a bit, and who knows, maybe Aiwass will be the Crown Prince in the future."

With one hand on her hip and a small bottle of rum in the other, Meg couldn't help but burst into laughter: "Not to mention, it gave me an excuse to deal with those people from the Lohar Society—I've been itching to do so! Drink? It's Captain's brand."

"No, thank you. You should really drink less, Department Head Meg..."

Bard advised gently: "You're not getting any younger..."

"To drink or not to drink, I'm almost done for anyway. While I'm alive, I'll live properly, indulging in every pleasure; when it's time to die, I'll go cheerfully, free of worries."

"People should just die when it's their time to go. If it's your time and you don't die, then you're just asking for the Hourglass to come after you.

"I don't want to be 'Still.' That posture is too ugly. Do you want that, Bard? You're not that young anymore."

"I've still got plenty of time. I'm in good health, too,"

Bard replied with a smile: "I'm planning to go on an archaeological expedition to the Holy Nation next year—by then, Aiwass's legs should be healed, and he said he'll join me. I'm looking forward to it."

"Oh, speaking of that."

After taking another swig of rum, Meg casually said: "There's an exchange student program next year. The Holy Nation wants to send a few students from the Theological Seminary over to teach Advanced Divine Arts for half a year."

"Advanced Divine Arts?"

Professor Bard was taken aback, and didn't quite know where to start with his complaints: "Can they really teach that in half a year? Wait... have the elves finally decided to teach humans that?"

"Eh, I think it's just a gesture,"

Meg responded with mockery, belching from the alcohol: "You think they can't learn it in half a year, and I agree. They probably think the same—but I bet Aiwass could really do it.

"He's only just started on the path of Dedication, and he's already heading straight for the third Energy Level. Yanis told me over drinks that she thinks Aiwass will advance to the third Energy Level next month... Nobel told me that Julia is also a prodigy. James really has a knack for drawing the 'Ghost' card.

"I think, Bard... why not let him give it a try? After you're done with the archaeological trip, it should be around the time the Holy Nation starts their term, right? Just means you'll be without a good assistant for half a year."

"If it's good for the kid, and if he's willing, then let him go. I'm very flexible over here, can always start a bit earlier, don't want to hold him back from opportunities,"

Professor Bard said cheerfully: "It's a rare opportunity... even if he doesn't learn it, he could still gain the friendship of the elves. After all, he'll be one of the first humans to receive education in Advanced Divine Arts; he might even succeed Bishop Mathers someday. No, it's possible he could make history—after all, history always places special emphasis on the 'first,' 'the inaugural,' 'the pioneer'."

"Well, let him decide for himself then."

Meg promptly declared.

She pondered for a moment, then slapped her thigh decisively: "I still have to warn him—not to get too close to those unclear and shady women from Noble Red. They're either after his roots or after his money. In any case, none of them are good girls.

"Alright, you prepare for your class. I'm off to bother those old men."

"...Who are you planning to pester this time?"

Bard asked with some resignation: "You're always so busy, Department Head."

He had known Meg for a long time.

Back in the day, he was a confident and composed young man, but even then, Meg's personality was just as it is now—a lot has changed with time, except for Meg.

She seemed to be immune to the hourglass, as time hardly left any mark on her heart.

"I don't know yet, haven't decided. I'll just take them one by one—there are not many without issues. I won't be wronging anyone."n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Meg laughed boldly: "No worries, I'll roll a dice to decide... um, let's go find Charles. Hope he's out of bed already."

Charles Drost—that's the name of the Minister of Commerce.

Bard silently paid his respects to him for three seconds.