Chapter 222
The Old Fox Personally Teaches the Little Fox
Eivass hadn’t expected to encounter Merlin at this Ascension Ritual.
As a Half-Demon, Merlin possessed a bloodline from the Transcendent Path, making him proficient in the art of rituals. He was also a mage who eventually became a Disciple of the Great Philosopher.
When it came to the establishment of Avalon, Merlin was an unavoidable figure. Eivass had even told his students the story of Merlin and Lady of the Lake Viviane’s love-hate relationship.
Concurrently, the Holy Sword – Red-Hilted Sword, temporarily in Eivass’s possession, was sealed by Merlin. The creation of the Silver and Tin Hall and the Avalon’s Eye, among other Imperial Divine Artifacts, were also related to Merlin.
From this perspective, Merlin’s importance to Avalon was even greater than Gawain, who had previously presided over Eivass’s Ascension Ritual.
However, Eivass had more pressing matters to discuss with Merlin right now…
“Don’t rush,”
Merlin extended his hand and touched Eivass’s forehead. Despite having become a disciple of the Nine Pillar Gods, he showed no seriousness. He lacked the imposing aura of a subordinate god and still appeared human—even though he had never been human before becoming a disciple.
The legendary mage, clad in a blue robe and with a sword at his waist, said with a smile, “I know you have something to say… That’s why I’m not late today, but rather arrived early. And it’s for this very reason that I brought you here in advance.
“Rest assured. None of them will arrive before our conversation concludes.”
*So I was the first one brought here by the chief examiner using a cheat method?*
Eivass first breathed a sigh of relief, then felt a strange sense of loss. *I’m not that strong.*
“Aren’t you a Succubus?” Eivass retorted, “If you have something to say, why didn’t you just find me in the Dream Realm?”
“That would easily leave evidence. I am now a disciple of the Great Philosopher, and it’s inconvenient for me to interfere in Arthur’s affairs. It would easily attract criticism and put me in danger of being hunted. Besides, if you didn’t use a ritual to pull me down… wouldn’t I be creating trouble for myself by coming to you myself?”
Merlin said with a smile, looking like a fox, “In comparison, the Dream Realm is safer. No one can peek into the contents of an Ascension Ritual… As long as we manipulate the timing slightly, there’s no safer place than this.
*Discipleship seems quite troublesome too…*
Eivass had this thought for a brief moment. But Eivass quickly dismissed the thought and got straight to the point, “Do you still remember the ‘Shadow of Avalon’ ritual you once constructed? The resurrection ritual prepared for Lancelot I.”
He originally intended to remind Merlin that there was an error in the ritual. However, after pondering for a moment, Merlin revealed a carefree and sunny smile, “I’m sorry, I forgot. It’s not important anyway.”
“…That was Lancelot’s resurrection ritual!” Eivass was somewhat shocked, “You can forget something like that?”
If something went wrong, Lancelot wouldn’t be able to resurrect at all. A failed fake death would directly turn into a true death. That would truly be a grand disaster. Famed for his fake death technique, a traditional Avalon art and intangible cultural heritage, Lancelot I tragically died during his first performance…
Eivass suddenly realized that this Merlin seemed rather unreliable. So he explained in more detail, trying to jog Merlin’s memory, “‘As long as there are twenty-one drops of Du Lac’s blood shed by murder, the ancestor can be resurrected. He will descend into his own body again, wielding the Holy Sword Arondight, awakened and unsealed by blood.’ Now Avalon has progressed this ritual to its final step, with twenty sacrifices, only one person short of completion.”
“Oh—” Merlin drew out the word, as if suddenly understanding, “I think I remember. But isn’t that good? What’s the problem here?”
“The problem is that Miss Viviane altered the ritual you left behind back then. Now, the ritual’s connection point has been mistakenly directed to the Shadow Heavenly Envoy. Once the ritual is successfully activated, it’s likely not Lancelot Du Lac who will be resurrected, but the Queen of the Shadow Realm.”
“Don’t worry, it won’t happen,” Merlin said with a smile, “Heavenly Envoys don’t descend to the Material Realm that easily. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be worrying about foreigners, but the Bear Heavenly Envoy.”
“The situation is different. The Ring Heavenly Envoy might be involved in this ritual. He has a ritual that can pull great beings from the Dream Realm into the Material Realm.”
Eivass no longer cared about intelligence secrecy. Although he couldn’t explain the source of his information, he had a rare chance to meet Merlin and hoped Merlin would resolve the issue quickly. Even if the bug couldn’t be fixed, at least the ritual could be shut down first—
Upon hearing this, Merlin finally became a little more serious. After pondering for a moment, he asked, “Ouroboros Ring?”
“Yes!” Eivass was immediately delighted—not having to explain the Ouroboros Ring ritual to Merlin meant a lot less trouble.
“Heh,” Merlin just smiled, “I won’t ask why you know about such an ancient ritual… Do you really think that woman Viviane could modify my ritual without a trace, have it run silently without any errors using the conditions I set, and, without formal instruction, coincidentally fulfill the effects of the Ouroboros Ring ritual? At the same time, the ritual’s power is so high that it can pull down the Shadow Heavenly Envoy, and the ritual has received the Ring Heavenly Envoy’s permission… Don’t forget, she is the Lady of the Lake on the Path of Love, completely ignorant of the Transcendent Path.”
Hearing Merlin’s casual words, Eivass was slightly stunned. He quickly reacted, “Are you saying… this matter is related to the Ring Heavenly Envoy?”
“I didn’t say anything. You guessed all of that yourself. I am not responsible for these statements.” Merlin smoothly unleashed a triple disclaimer. Eivass’s expression immediately became subtle. *Didn’t you just say you had already forgotten everything…*
For some reason, Merlin gave Eivass a sense of déjà vu of Mycroft. Although their Paths, races, personalities, and visible significance were completely different… that elusive slipperiness was so similar. But if Merlin’s implication was correct, the problem with the “Shadow of Avalon” ritual was likely related to the Ring Heavenly Envoy.
…Does Lancelot know about this? And the Crown Lord? No, the Crown Lord shouldn’t know. If the Crown Lord knew, he would have reminded Sophia. If the Crown Lord doesn’t know, why does Merlin know? Or does he know but not tell the Crown Lord?
Thinking of this, Eivass suddenly understood—it wasn’t that Merlin knew this matter was related to the Ring Heavenly Envoy. It was likely because Merlin hadn’t fully believed Eivass from the beginning. He harbored a subtle distrust towards Eivass. His subsequent statements were based on the premise that “what Eivass said was true.” In other words, what he did was essentially the same as Sherlock. Although he presented an attitude of “these words have nothing to do with me,” seemingly implying that this was the truth. However, Merlin didn’t commit to it, so if he guessed wrong, he could innocently say to Eivass, “I already told you I didn’t say anything”…
He couldn’t figure out what Merlin was up to at all. *What an old fox…* Eivass felt he had learned another trick.
“Then at least,” Eivass added, “Mr. Merlin should take responsibility for the matter of Prince of Giants Wolfram, right? You were the one who said you would keep him here back then. Now he has escaped, and from the prison you designed… and he’s causing quite a bit of trouble for Avalon now.” Eivass added mentally, *although the regular army has already been dispatched.*
Merlin said with a smile, “Alright, alright, I’ll help…”
“Specifically?” Eivass wanted a definite answer.
“You’ll know when the time comes, would I lie to you? Oh dear, it’s getting late. I should let those people in.” Merlin said, and suddenly disappeared behind Eivass. When he reappeared, he had turned into a giant stone sculpture, appearing in the center of the area.
—It wasn’t the black-haired youth, but an aged man with white hair. Before Eivass could comment, new figures appeared to his right.
