Chapter 99
The Spider Silk Grimoire
Rhaina’s words startled Eivass. Hearing her mournful tone, Eivass thought Sherlock had prematurely kicked the bucket due to the butterfly effect… but after asking further, he learned that Sherlock was only injured. Rhaina wasn’t clear on the specifics, as Sherlock himself had called her to report. After Sherlock had dealt with the Sweater Brotherhood, she had mentioned the Alchemical Bomb to him after reading the newspaper. However, Sherlock hadn’t answered her questions, merely stating he was alive and that she must keep it a secret before hanging up.
Eivass didn’t quite understand her explanation. His first reaction was to call Edward for confirmation. “—Yes, I know about this. To be precise, it was yesterday afternoon.” At the Inspection Department’s office, not far from the Royal Law University, Chief Inspector Edward Moriarty held the phone in one hand, signing a paper with the other. “It was around the same time we were attacked. It’s likely the work of the Noble Red Society.”
“…Sherlock was also attacked by an Upper Demon?” Eivass was somewhat surprised. How did Sherlock survive? “No, that’s not it—give it to Deputy Chief Azad and have him do as I say.” Edward covered the mouthpiece briefly mid-sentence and handed the signed paper to the person in front of him. After the sound of a closing door, Edward continued speaking to Eivass: “…Hermes was attacked by a bomb. His rented apartment was blown up from the outside.”
“A bomb? Is Mr. Sherlock alright?” Eivass was concerned. “How much explosive was used?” “Quite a lot, it was basically wrapped around his apartment. But the person who planted the bomb was clearly an amateur. They knew nothing about demolition techniques; most of the bombs’ power was wasted, and they even interfered with each other. Although the house eventually collapsed, thanks to Bishop Mathers’ help, Hermes is still alive.”
Edward spoke slowly, then suddenly covered the mouthpiece to speak loudly. He quickly lowered his voice for a few more words before switching back: “Yes, I am here, please come in—He’s not seriously injured and is still recuperating—Hello, Madam Oga. Minister Mill already mentioned your husband’s case to me this morning, and we are proceeding with discussions regarding his sentence and penalty standards…”
“…Are you busy right now?” Eivass realized this was an inopportune time for his call. “Perhaps we can talk when you get home?” “No, just two more sentences. This is important.” Edward lowered his voice. “In short, remember not to go to his house.” “Why?” “Because the officially announced news is that he’s dead—Yes, thank you for your understanding, Madam—In short, if you need to find him, go to the Bishop’s house. Oswald knows the exact address.”
With that, Edward hung up the phone. It seemed he was indeed very busy. It sounded like he was dealing with the confiscation of a certain Knight’s house by the Inspection Department. Perhaps because of the outsider, Edward’s words were vague. Fortunately, Eivass could understand them… The important information had been conveyed. The “Bishop” Edward mentioned should be Bishop Mathers, and Steward Oswald knew his address. The House Hermes was likely cooperating with Sherlock’s plan to lure out the culprit. If Eivass went there, he might expose them.
—Then I’ll avoid causing trouble for now. I respect Sherlock’s plan. Eivass thought. He confirmed with Rhaina again: “Who have you told that Sherlock is alive?” “Only you, and Director Kent.” Rhaina realized the seriousness of the situation. “What’s wrong?” “Nothing, don’t tell anyone else after this.” Eivass said grimly. “Mr. Sherlock is preparing for a faked death. The identity of the killer is highly suspect—it might be one of his relatives.” Rhaina nodded repeatedly, indicating she understood.
Coincidentally, Eivass had planned to visit Madame Mina’s divination shop the next day. It seemed Sherlock was hiding there, so he could ask for the specifics then. Rhaina was somewhat unsettled and didn’t manage to read many pages of her book. After Eivass finished his classes that afternoon, she escorted Lily and Eivass home as previously agreed and then took Lily to the Inspection Bureau.
After Rhaina left at noon, Lily had secretly asked Eivass what kind of Grimoire she should choose. Eivass had replied, “If possible, I hope you’ll choose a Grimoire for the Path Adaptation. Because I’ve prepared a gift for you. But you should choose the one that resonates most strongly with you.” “In that case, the one most suited for me should be the Grimoire of Path Adaptation.” Lily replied without hesitation.
Lily clearly valued the opportunity Eivass had fought for her. She was originally a personal maid without a surname. Because she was illegitimate, she wasn’t even allowed to study. But thanks to Eivass’s efforts, she had the chance to study at the Royal Law University… without spending a single penny, and with good food and lodging. Furthermore, Eivass never hit or scolded her. Even when they weren’t in public, he was always kind and gentle to her, as if she were not a maid but his friend.
—Lily also knew that Eivass’s legs were not actually impaired. Because on the night the secretary Rauf was poisoned, Eivass wanted to take a bath. Lily intended to help him, as she would at home—but Eivass just smiled and refused. Lily initially thought Eivass was just being stubborn, so she stood by worrying the whole time, watching him bathe without blinking. To her surprise, Eivass could actually stand up! She had heard from Mr. James that there was something in Eivass’s shadow. That night, she saw for the first time what monster was sealed in Eivass’s shadow… so when Eivass pulled an assassin from his shadow, she wasn’t surprised at all. She remained completely calm throughout.
She was only disappointed by another matter—Eivass didn’t actually need her to take care of him; his life wasn’t as inconvenient as people imagined. She was merely there to act along with Eivass’s charade… or rather, because Eivass wanted her to go to university, he used the excuse of needing someone to take care of him. Lily had keenly captured Eivass’s true intention.
—Since her purpose was to act, she would focus on performing her role well. At that time, Lily stayed up all night meticulously refining her character. She thought about what questions she might be asked under what circumstances, and how she should respond realistically. It was precisely because she had planned many lies in advance that she wouldn’t panic when using them. Although Lily felt she had no talent for the Path of Devotion or the Path of Authority, she still worked hard to study, hoping to repay Eivass’s kindness one day.
Eivass seemed to have noticed her lack of talent and interest in these two paths, and thus was willing to waste an important reward to help her choose the most suitable Grimoire and forge her own path. A legitimate Extraordinary of the Path Adaptation in the Avalon Kingdom—Lily, who read a lot, naturally understood what that meant. Because of this, she didn’t want to disappoint Eivass even more.
—Since Eivass hoped she would walk the Path Adaptation, the Grimoire most compatible with her must also be for the Path Adaptation. Even if it meant changing her essence and personality, she would definitely choose the book Eivass wanted. Her outwardly gentle and quiet appearance was merely fabricated because it was pleasing. With such thoughts… the book Lily finally chose was indeed the Grimoire of Path Adaptation.
It was a gray Grimoire. It was about two fingers thick, making it one of the thickest among these generally thin Grimoires. But its weight was almost non-existent; holding the book felt like holding a thin spider web, as if it would fly away the next moment or disappear altogether.
“It becomes lighter in the hands of those it recognizes. When not reading it, remember to press it down with something heavy. Lead plates are best, steel plates will do,” warned Director Kent, who had a bronze complexion, wore a black eye patch, and had a scar across his face, resembling a one-eyed pirate. “Otherwise, it might disappear on a rainy day, like a moth that suddenly appears in the house and then vanishes.”
On the way back, even with Rhaina escorting her, Lily held the book cautiously the entire time. It wasn’t until they returned to Moriarty Manor that Lily finally relaxed and let out a sigh of relief. Holding the book, she knocked on Eivass’s room door. There was no response and no light—Eivass was not in his room; he had probably gone to play with Yulia. So Lily took the book back to her own room and burrowed into her blanket. Only within the covers could she find the greatest sense of security.
At this time, she solemnly opened the book. The cover read “The Spider Silk Grimoire.” It suited the book’s initial impression perfectly. After opening it, whispers—gray, soft, light, smelling of dust, rustling faintly—gradually entered Lily’s brain from her eyes, her skin, her nose and mouth, and her ears. The voice called itself “We.” It did not use any known language but was a fleeting illusion. It was like an involuntary, fragile imagination that arose when gazing at a blank wall, always on the verge of disappearing.
“—We are the threads of the snake, the steps of the cat, the cage of the moth, the noose of the centipede.” That illusory voice had a secret name, “Spider Silk,” born from the creation of the “Grey Heavenly Envoy,” while its true name remained unrevealed. This book narrated sixty-seven secrets of Spider Silk. As Lily read more intently, gray spider silk threads condensed around her pupils. Like a silkworm spinning a cocoon, the spider silk gradually enveloped the girl, who had curled into a ball, engrossed in her reading, and silently formed a giant, still gray cocoon on the bed.
