The Shepherds Are Dense – Chapter 43

Chapter 43
The White Fox Arrives, and the Nation Benefits
Despite deducing that the enemy was likely the Hooked Demon Jack, Eivass (Male), Lulu, and Little Eivass did not lower their guard, nor did they blindly believe this conclusion.
As a precaution, they remained hidden within the abandoned chemical plant, observing the only entrance. Eivass (Male) couldn’t expose his Transcendent Path abilities, which meant he couldn’t draw an Anti-demon Array or explain the Hooked Demon’s habits and weaknesses.
With nothing else to do, he and Lulu found a spot upstairs and began to chat. They discussed music, poetry, and philosophy, talking about the non-existent “I have a friend” and sharing various secrets from the continent, along with the vulgar, lesser-known rumors that circulated among the lower classes. Time passed quickly. They even took the time to sing Little Eivass a lullaby again, ensuring he wouldn’t be panicked if he woke up.
It was only then that they realized none of them—the couple and Little Eivass—had eaten breakfast. It was just past ten o’clock, and they were already feeling hungry. Fortunately, Little Eivass was already four years old and had been weaned. If he were still an infant, waking up hungry and crying inconsolably, Eivass (Male) might have had to politely excuse himself. A four-year-old child could go a few meals without a major issue. Eivass (Male) himself stated this, claiming it was fine. After all, according to the original history, Little Eivass would be sent to an orphanage in a few days, where going hungry would be a daily occurrence. In this fabricated world’s timeline, Giulio and Annie clearly wouldn’t die, and Little Eivass would grow up with his biological parents. Of course, such future possibilities only existed in their casual conversation.
Although this Dream World appeared incredibly real—with various tactile sensations and the feeling of hunger—it was undoubtedly fabricated. Its details were filled with a sense of incongruity, constantly reminding the ritual’s participants that it was merely a fictional, temporary world. It was as if this was meant to make people dismiss the events of the ritual as mere illusion.
It was instead Lulu, a relative newcomer lacking experience, who earnestly discussed the subsequent developments of this world with Eivass (Male), speculating on the reasons for their predicament. She was still guessing that Eivass Moriarty’s biological parents were killed by the Hooked Demon, but she couldn’t figure out why Little Eivass survived. She then began excitedly discussing possibilities of being attacked with Eivass (Male). Sherlock, on the other hand, mentioned once that “the events in this world are not necessarily the same as in the real world,” but Lulu clearly didn’t listen. He stopped talking and lost interest, deciding to explore the chemical plant himself, satisfying his curiosity and thirst for knowledge.
He did find something, albeit minor. Sherlock discovered two bottles of pure water and one bottle of concentrated sulfuric acid in the abandoned laboratory. These could be used as spellcasting materials. Afterward, Sherlock began poring over documents in the abandoned chemical plant, meticulously examining the various scattered remnants. He acted like a detective invited to investigate a derelict facility, diligently studying the case. As an adapter of the Path of Wisdom, he possessed an inherent, strong reading habit. Compared to idle chatter, this reading provided a more satisfying form of entertainment.
“I think I understand why this chemical plant was abandoned…” Sherlock returned, a pleased smile on his face. But just as he was about to share his deductions with Eivass (Male), he saw the two still engrossed in conversation—they had started with art, circled around, and returned to art. The grimy newsboy raised an eyebrow, twirling the sulfuric acid bottle in his hand. “Haven’t you finished chatting yet?”
“Chatting is about the exchange of minds,” Eivass (Male) replied with a smile, turning back. “When does a conversation ever truly end? Family, life, dreams, what we’ve read, what we’ve done, what we’ve thought… two different hearts, two souls not yet intertwined, are like two exquisitely carved jewels. When they meet and angle towards the sun, rotating slightly, they can cast countless patterns on the wall—that is the spark of different thoughts. I call this chatting. And if, by chance, at a certain angle of rotation, they reflect a brilliant beauty that catches the eye and is unforgettable for a lifetime—that is the focus of souls. I call this love.”
“I had initially thought you might have come from the port district, associated with gangs.” Sherlock said coldly, “Now I’m sure—you must be a rich man’s playboy. Charming, smooth-talking, and eloquent. Did you read so many books just to impress girls?” He had been distracted by the Outside Sounds while reading the ledgers. Of course, he could hear Eivass’s voice in the silent factory.
— This is indeed a knowledgeable and cultured person. He might not be as young as he appears, perhaps using a potion like “Basil” to maintain his youth. Perhaps he is, as he plays the priest Giulio, a well-mannered middle-aged man. But hearing Eivass’s sophistry, Sherlock was convinced the man was young. This sophistry revealed boasting, immaturity, and a touch of condescension—though he could afford to be proud. With such mature thinking and extensive knowledge at his age, he far surpassed his brainless peers. The “Fox” was indeed formidable.
However, he was still not as impressive as Eivass Moriarty. Although Sherlock had only met the real Eivass once, that young man, who had suffered a fundamental injury that even the Illuminate Spell couldn’t heal and was temporarily confined to a wheelchair, was a truly intelligent, polite, and humble person. Sherlock held him in high regard. If he hadn’t been busy with his advancement, he might have interacted with him more.
“Is the wisdom shared with others not wisdom? Is the truth shared with others not truth?” Eivass (Male) retorted, “I read books to share them with others—isn’t that also a form of devotion? Some people can’t read, but they aren’t abandoned by the Great Philosopher. It’s just like the eyes of the blind, the legs of the cripple, the ears of the deaf; they lack the organs that allow them to read. Beyond that, they are still mature souls, qualified to pursue light and seek truth.”
The young monk with black hair and blue eyes narrowed his eyes, his mature and handsome face breaking into a fox-like smile. Sherlock raised an eyebrow and remained silent. Although these words still sounded like sophistry… they weren’t bad. But Sherlock soon realized that Eivass was merely spouting words that brought him joy.
“As expected of the ‘Fox’,” Sherlock said with mild sarcasm. “I’ve heard of the legend of ‘Fox Charm’ from the Taichu Empire east of the desert, which tells of eloquent foxes captivating monarchs.”
“Then you know very little. According to the Taichu Empire, the fox, from the Path of Wisdom, is called ‘A thousand years old and in communion with heaven.’ From the perspective of astrology, an adaptation of the Path of Adaptation, it represents Regulus, foretelling many children and blessings; from the Path of Authority, it is ‘The white fox arrives, and the nation benefits; if it does not arrive, the subordinates become arrogant and unruly.’ From the perspective of the Path of Love, there is also the saying ‘The king does not fall for beauty, then it will appear,’ which means if the king is not greedy for beauty and diligently governs the country… the fox will appear.” Eivass (Male) responded without pausing, in the same tone, “Doesn’t my appearance indicate that Avalon is at its peak of prosperity?”
…Do you believe that yourself? Eivass’s (Male) remark left Sherlock momentarily speechless. Especially knowing that “Lulu” was no other than Princess Isabel, he dared not say anything more. Compared to Sherlock, Lulu clearly had a better impression of the “Fox.” If she were to relay something back, he would unfairly be blamed.
— So, this “Fox” had also guessed who Lulu was. That was why he spoke like that and deliberately approached “Lulu.” Sherlock had originally intended to prevent the naive young princess from being charmed by the “Fox” and had stepped forward to stop him. However, the Fox’s erudition far exceeded his imagination—he had even read original texts from another continent. In that case, the secrets he mentioned during their chat might not have been entirely stories and lies, either…
Thinking of this, he felt a sense of admiration for the Fox. The Path of Wisdom was like this. They pursued mystery and truth, not for the sake of leaving a legacy or teaching others. Learning itself was enough to bring joy, and exploring truth was enough to be the meaning of life. From this perspective, if the Fox were walking the Path of Wisdom, he might even be considered his senior.
Sherlock raised an eyebrow, his tone becoming gentler. “I wonder, wouldn’t you be the third dual-path user? Your knowledge and intelligence have surpassed many fools who mistakenly walk the Path of Wisdom. If not, are you interested in pursuing the path of a Mage? If you are willing, you can come find me. You know where I am… I can help you embark on the Path of Wisdom.”
“Ah, that won’t be necessary.” Eivass (Male) shook his head. “I read books very pragmatically. If you ask me to read simply for the sake of reading, I might not have the patience.”
“How peculiar. Someone from the Path of Devotion claims to be pragmatic.”
“That does not conflict. My purpose is to save all beings.” He smiled, “You may not believe it now. But I will eventually save Avalon… and this World from peril.”
“…No, I believe you.” Sherlock paused, then replied softly. Because when the “Fox” said this, the subtle smile on his face—which always seemed a little mischievous—faded, replaced by a far more serious expression. In that moment, Sherlock felt that the “Fox” was speaking the truth. Perhaps the cunning fox always spoke lies, without a second thought… but perhaps, this statement was the only truth.
Seeing the atmosphere between Eivass (Male) and Sherlock suddenly become silent, Lulu on the side grew flustered. She had been holding Little Eivass for a while and felt tired, so she placed the child’s head on her lap, letting him sleep on the side of the chair with his head resting on her thighs. Lulu didn’t quite understand what the two men were discussing—she hadn’t understood the foreign languages Eivass (Male) had used in between. But she subconsciously felt that they might be arguing, possibly about her. Worried that she might have done something wrong, Lulu’s expression became nervous. And when she got nervous, she would stand up to speak—because according to the etiquette Princess Isabel had learned, as someone being protected, doing so would appear formal and polite. As a result, the moment she exerted force, she almost dropped the child she had forgotten about. Fortunately, Sherlock was quick-witted, rushing over and cushioning the child with his hand, preventing Little Eivass’s back of the head from hitting the ground.
The three of them fumbled for a moment, but managed to avoid waking Little Eivass.
“…Take better care of the child,” Eivass (Male) said, somewhat helplessly. “Should I take over?” Sherlock sighed and said nothing. Lulu had already forgotten what she had intended to say when she stood up. She awkwardly reached up to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear, whispering, “Let me think about what I wanted to say…”
But at that very moment, her expression suddenly changed.
“…Ugh!” Lulu felt a churning sensation in her abdomen, followed by intense pain—like menstrual cramps amplified three or four times. Her face turned pale instantly, her legs went weak, and she trembled violently. She stumbled forward a couple of steps. As Eivass (Male) just managed to support her, Lulu vomited a mouthful of foul blood onto the ground, then coughed violently. Mixed within the dark red blood were black clots, resembling jelly.