The Shepherds Are Dense – Chapter 336

Chapter 337
Eivass in Child of the Moon Form (Third Update)
Sherlock frowned deeply. Although he seemed to believe it, he still stubbornly argued, “What are you dreaming about? You’re going from Tier Two to Tier Three and getting a Gold Tier Slot? You’re not going to say you were personally blessed by a Pillar God, are you?”
“Heh, I was actually blessed by a Pillar God.”
Eivass grinned triumphantly. “Let me show you—do you have a mirror?”
He indeed wanted to give it a try—having obtained a Gold Tier Slot, he had to practice with it, otherwise, it felt like something was missing.
“Here.”
Sherlock took a small mirror from the ritual pouch at his waist and handed it to Eivass.
He casually asked, “A ritual presided over by the Twin Mirrors?”
“Yes.”
“That’s a pity, Your Highness isn’t here,” Sherlock said with some regret. “She’s very devout in her faith in the Twin Mirrors.”
“…I’m glad she’s not here,” Eivass muttered. Otherwise, it would have been too embarrassing. No, he should say—otherwise, she would have been too dangerous.
“?” Sherlock looked at Eivass doubtfully.
“I mean… this is a New Moon Ritual, after all.”
“I always feel like that’s not what you mean.”
Just then, Eivass, following the ritual knowledge bestowed by the Twin Mirrors, raised the mirror and closed one eye.
He saw three vague shadows in the mirror. One was identical to himself, another was identical to “Beyad,” and the third was a little girl about Sherlock’s age.
Eivass could transform into any of these three forms at will.
…Three forms.
Eivass’s heart stirred.
—This good?
He had originally thought he could only become the Child of the Moon version of himself or simply turn into Number 14. Judging by the Twin Mirrors’ attitude, she seemed satisfied with Eivass’s performance.
But it turned out to be three forms to choose from.
Becoming the Child of the Moon version of himself was probably the original effect of this ritual. The fact that he could become Beyad was likely due to the close contract between him and the Shadow Demon. As for Number 14… that could only be a gift from the Twin Mirrors.
They probably thought, “This is good, let’s add more.”
…But putting all else aside, with reasonable operation, it was practically like having three new identities.
At least the identity of “Miss Alistair” seemed like it could be solidified… Beyad could be used to play such a “bad woman.”
So, if he were to meet the shrunken Sherlock for the first time, this identity would be the most suitable—
Therefore, with sincere gratitude to the Twin Mirrors, Eivass softly recited the prayer:
“I implore the Twin Mirrors! The sacred number two, the God without eyes, the God without self, the God of pure beauty and flawlessness—”
“I am you…”
As the mirror surface glowed, the Eivass reflected in the mirror and the Eivass outside the mirror reversed roles. Another voice, overlapping with his, echoed, “You are me—”
It was as if reality had gone awry. His shadow turned into reality, while his body dissolved into mist. There were no special effects, no transformation process. It was as if nothing had changed, or as if the previous Eivass was just an illusion—Eivass had unknowingly become someone else.
Black hair reaching her waist, a slender figure, and clear emerald-like pupils. She was about the same height as the boyish Sherlock. Her appearance was pure and cute, but she exuded a seductive mature charm. Just looking into her eyes, one could tell she was by no means a simple girl of her age.
This was Number 14 in her Child of the Moon form.
She tilted her head slightly, looked at the stunned Sherlock, and revealed a delighted smile.
“—Surprised, great detective?”
Number 14’s clear voice rang out. “Why don’t you give me a name now?”
Unlike the weak and vague tone Eivass used when playing Number 14 in his dream, her enunciation was clear, with a standard Glass Island accent. She sounded like an arrogant and composed noble lady.
“…What kind of strange ability is this?” Sherlock stammered for a long time, disbelievingly. “To turn into another person? And a woman… is this also a Gold characteristic?”
“Of course.” Eivass said, smiling.
Immediately after, her green pupils turned a dangerous scarlet.
—In that instant, Sherlock felt as if he were being stared at by a predator. Cold sweat soaked him, and he instinctively took a step back.
“…Dracula?” He blurted out the name of the urban legend subconsciously.
The next moment, Eivass’s entire body disintegrated into bats, and each black bat had scarlet eyes. They screeched and rushed towards Sherlock—Sherlock should have remained calm, but after seeing those scarlet eyes, he couldn’t help but tremble. An intense fear surged through him, making his brain feel numb. The rush of bats made his legs weak, and he almost fell to the ground.
Just then, a hand appeared behind him, supporting Sherlock’s body. Then, he was gently patted on the shoulder from above, helping him stand steady.
“Stand steady, detective.” The voice suddenly returned to male—it became Eivass’s voice. “That was just [Fear Gaze].”
However, compared to Eivass’s usual gentle, polite, and clear tone, his voice was now deeper and more magnetic, with an undeniable arrogance and a hint of madness.
Sherlock instantly resonated with his Path. A flash of deep blue flame overflowed from his pupils, and he calmed down in an instant.
But even so, the sweat on his forehead couldn’t disappear immediately.
With lingering fear in his eyes, Sherlock turned back. He found that the bats, having re-aggregated, were no longer the beautiful girl from before but Eivass with his usual golden hair cascading down his shoulders.
Eivass was now by the window, his back to Sherlock, standing before a window covered in red paper that allowed scarlet moonlight to filter through.
Eivass turned his head slightly—as he glanced back, his pupils were not the usual azure but a dangerous scarlet. He smiled, and a pair of fangs appeared at his lips.
“…Child of the Moon?” Sherlock rackled his brain and finally thought of this race that was merely a legend in Avalon. He was a little nervous. “Have you been transformed into a Child of the Moon?”
His first thought was, if the Minister became a Child of the Moon, would the entire Round Table Hall be infected?
“How is that possible? I don’t have the Adaptability of the Path of Love.” Eivass laughed, his voice calm and low. “Novels are just novels. Children of the Moon in reality don’t just increase their companions by drinking blood like vampires in novels.”
This time, Sherlock received confirmation—Eivass in this form indeed had a deeper voice than his usual one.
“Your way of thinking has changed, have you realized that?” Sherlock couldn’t help but walk over and remind him.
But the next moment, Eivass grabbed his collar.
“Of course, I know.” The Child of the Moon Eivass, holding the young Sherlock, squinted and examined him at close range for a while. Feeling the surging desires within him like tides, he said softly, “I actually have an urge to drink blood… This form is quite complete. And I can indeed drink blood, though I haven’t directly learned the Child of the Moon’s spells.
“…Heh, taste it carefully. This impulse is nothing much. Those Children of the Moon are so useless, they can’t even suppress this level of instinct.”
He gently put Sherlock down, then raised his right hand in front of his eyes. His right hand instantly turned into a scarlet dagger. It was as smooth as a mirror, even reflecting Eivass’s delighted face.
Then, the dagger reverted to his right hand. He clenched his fist, confirming the vigorous life force and strong blood aura surging from the depths of this body.
—Except for being fragile and unable to withstand injury… I’ve basically gotten a free part-time job as a Tier Three Child of the Moon.
The Twin Mirrors are truly generous.
I should offer a prayer tomorrow.
That said…
“It’s about time to change back.” Eivass clicked his tongue and picked up the mirror. He felt no attachment to the power of the Child of the Moon.
—Fake is fake, he saw it clearly.
But even if this form was fake… its power was real. What it could do was also real.
Just like Eivass himself.
Whether he was real or fake, he was alive here. He could change the destinies of many, twisting the fate of himself and the world—
That was enough.
“—Thanks, Twin Mirrors.” Eivass picked up the small mirror and softly thanked them again.
Second and third updates released!
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(End of Chapter)