The Shepherds Are Dense – Chapter 365

Chapter 365

Return to Glass Island

Eivass did not perform too much Shepherd’s Method on the Shadow Demon on the train.
It wasn’t for safety considerations—in most areas of Avalon, even if Eivass were in a coma, Lily and the Shadow Demon would be enough to protect him.
It was mainly that the train was a public place, making many things inconvenient to do.
When one is in pain and fear, yet harbors only compassion and goodwill in their heart, the element of “Devotion” can be strengthened, thereby enhancing the effects of the Shepherd’s Method.
But making a mess of blood all over such a nice room would be too much trouble for others.
Also, making too much of a commotion might attract the attendants waiting at the door. They might be startled, or it might even expose the existence of the Shepherd’s Method.
Considering the need for quiet, Eivass abandoned the Ritual Knife for the first time—instead, he bit through his own wrist, almost severing it. The fact that Eivass could make his wrist bleed profusely indicated that he had bitten through his blood vessels.
This gradual sense of approaching Death, and firmly biting himself despite his resistance, was in terms of pure pain, far inferior to clenching the Ritual Knife and embedding the blade into bone. After all, “bone-piercing pain” is not just a saying.
However, biting through his wrist with teeth, which were relatively duller than the Ritual Knife, undoubtedly required stronger willpower.
—So, if the Shepherd’s Method were stimulated with the same degree of compassion and goodwill, which effect would be better?
Observing the Shadow Demon’s reaction, Eivass received confirmation.
The current method was better.
Compared to “pain,” suppressing “fear” and “resistance” with goodwill was closer to the core of the matter.
Eivass gradually understood.
—It wasn’t that he couldn’t use a Ritual Knife.
It was just that he should use a dull one! He had chosen too sharp a Ritual Knife back then to ensure he could pierce into the bone by clenching it, which actually went against the essence of the Shepherd’s Method, because subconsciously he was still choosing a more convenient and comfortable tool.
What if I directly pierced my abdomen or heart? Would that be more effective?
…The only problem is, my fingers don’t seem to be strong enough.
Also, because this was just a small feeding, Eivass’s mental state was still quite good. Before even a third of one candle had burned out, Eivass finished the Shepherd’s Method and used Fire Worship Magic to heal his wound.
“Is it my imagination?”
Eivass transformed back into his original form and lay on the bed, holding the Shadow Demon, which had turned into a black cat, in his lap.
He asked with some doubt, “Why do I feel like you’ve gotten stronger?”
“It’s Master’s grace~”
The patch of darkness, like a black hole with eyes, the little cat, emitted Assassin Miss Chloe’s sweet and seductive voice in a spoiled manner.
“To be honest.” Eivass interrupted without mercy.
“Tsk.”
The Shadow Demon gave a tut and stopped using a squeaky voice.
She switched to Miss Beyad’s cool and mature voice, completely different from Chloe’s, “It started from the Ascension Ritual.”
Eivass immediately guessed what happened, “Was it because you ate your past self?”
During her last Ascension Ritual, Beyad had eaten herself as Vampire Beyad, and also herself as a nascent Shadow Demon still bearing the Mark of Wrath, a Great Sin.
The voluntary sacrifice of the other two Beyads might have unintentionally fulfilled certain ritualistic conditions.
After all, three is a Sacred Number, belonging to the realm of the Candlemaster. And the Candlemaster is the God of Sin Thorns Binding the Body and the God of Burning Body Chasing Darkness, who has the divine concept of bearing sin and sacrificing oneself for others.
Thinking about this, Eivass suddenly became interested, “Did you obtain the Mark of Wrath again?”
The Marks of Great Sin were manifestations of the core power of Fallen Heavenly Envoys.
The ability to transform material realm races such as humans or elves into demons who can freely enter and exit the Dream Realm is undoubtedly a power close to the origin. Furthermore, demons who are granted a Mark of Great Sin only need to continue cultivating their corresponding Great Sin to constantly grow stronger, evolving upwards along the same Mark of Great Sin—depending on their race, their level cap can range from fifty to seventy.
But conversely, if a demon “wakes up” and is no longer bound by their Great Sin… for example, if they are no longer wrathful like Beyad, they will also lose the possibility of further growth.
Demons without a Mark of Great Sin cannot evolve.
Hundreds of years ago, the Shadow Demon and the Shadow Demon summoned by Eivass, apart from the obvious gap in combat experience, showed basically no difference in power.
However, after a brief silence, the Shadow Demon replied, “Yes, I have reobtained a Mark of Great Sin.”
“…But it’s not [Wrath].”
“Then what is it?” Eivass asked.
“—It’s [Envy].”
Although Eivass could not see the Shadow Demon’s expression, he felt that its current expression must be subtle, “I have obtained the Mark of Envy… If nothing is unexpected, I might be the only Shadow Demon to have the Mark of Envy.”
“No wonder.”
Eivass nodded thoughtfully.
This time, he felt that the Shadow Demon’s strength had increased much faster than before.
With the same amount of mana, the Shadow Demon’s growth rate was significantly slower than Little Butterfly’s.
Having reobtained the Mark of Great Sin at the Sixth Tier, the Shadow Demon had recovered its full strength as an Upper Demon and unlocked its potential for growth, with the possibility of evolving into an Upper Phantom Demon.
Although its future growth path might be subtly different from before, and it might even become a completely new demon after evolution. After all, “Wrath” and “Envy” are certainly different, and a Shadow Demon bearing the sin of Envy… this is probably the only one in the world.
“How far do you feel you are from the Sixth Tier?”
Eivass asked the Shadow Demon carefully, “If you receive Shepherd’s Method of this scale every day, how long will it take you to reach the Sixth Tier?”
“I was never far from the Sixth Tier, my Master.”
The Shadow Demon responded quickly, “I think it will take at most two weeks.”
“Okay, I understand.”
Eivass nodded slightly and decided to allocate more resources to the Shadow Demon this month.
—Then, it’s about time to prepare for the Shadow Demon’s Seal.
The most potent Shepherd’s Method will be used to help the Shadow Demon break through its racial limit.
Once the Shadow Demon evolves, it will obediently be sealed in the card.
Thinking this, Eivass, holding the black cat, slowly drifted into dreamland.
When he woke up again, the train had reached Glass Island.
Since Eivass’s return this time was completely spontaneous, he had not informed anyone, and therefore, no one was there to pick them up.
Noble Red was dead, and the school was on holiday. Thus, Eivass returned to his true home for the first time in a long while.
Not No. 14 Ronin Street, but Moriarty Manor in the White Queen District.
Eivass had not been back for a very long time.
Lily took out the key and opened the large door, and the two walked along the gravel path from the front entrance to the main gate. The gardens on both sides were well-maintained, blooming even in winter.
Snowdrops, white daffodils, pink roses, red roses. They were meticulously arranged, giving a warm and comfortable feeling.
“Good afternoon, Professor Sollensen. It’s been a long time.”
Eivass greeted the old gardener with a smile.
The old man also smiled and nodded in response to the future master of the Moriarty family.