Chapter 396
The Glass Steps of Avalon
“Are you new to being a reporter?” Eivass asked Dimit, after the reporter had filled his stomach a bit.
“Yes, Mr. Moriarty!” Dimit replied respectfully and excitedly. “It’s all thanks to you!”
He held a glass of wine, his cheeks already flushed. “Someone like me becoming a reporter was almost impossible… journalism is a sacred and demanding profession, and I’m clearly not worthy of it.”
Dimit looked dejected as he said this. But he quickly cheered up, “But it’s precisely because I took that photo of you— I mean, I will definitely prove myself with all my might!”
“You will be a good reporter,” Eivass encouraged gently. “Because you always have respect for the profession of ‘reporter’ in your heart. Only when you genuinely want to become a good reporter, only when you step onto this path yourself, can you have the determination and perseverance to overcome all the difficulties, and have the possibility to walk on, walk to the end, and finally reach the peak.”
He laced his fingers together, forming a pyramid shape in front of him. Dimit’s spirit became even more invigorated. “I will work hard, Mr. Moriarty!”
“I am optimistic about you,” Eivass said, lowering his voice. “Do you know, Dimit…”
Hearing this, Dimit subconsciously flinched and assumed an attentive expression. “Please tell me.” This was not a performance, but a genuine response from his heart. Dimit had a natural talent for “reading people’s expressions” since he was young. Although he lacked education, he always managed to get along well with people. This was precisely because he was an exceptionally good listener. People always felt comfortable when talking to him. It was also because of this that he, with only a primary school education, had the opportunity to become a photographer for the Glass Steps Herald— he was brought in as an assistant by another photographer while working at a different newspaper, gradually learning and mastering outstanding photography skills.
“Master Janis will be leaving Avalon soon,” Eivass said softly. “Who do you think will take over the newspaper afterward?”
Hearing Eivass’s words, Dimit’s heart tightened. He realized the potential weight of his own words. Perhaps due to drinking too much, a self-satisfied illusion arose deep within his brain, which felt as fluffy as cotton— as if Eivass were about to say, “You can take over the newspaper.” But his reason fiercely rebuked him, “This is absolutely impossible,” which calmed him down before he could inflate himself. A more likely scenario was that Minister Moriarty wanted his advice. The person he recommended might become Master Janis’s successor, the controller of the newspaper.
“…I believe Editor-in-Chief Randall would be a good choice,” Dimit replied in a low voice. Perhaps it was due to the desire suppressed by reason, his voice was slightly hoarse.
“Is that so?” Eivass was noncommittal. Dimit continued, “He is the oldest editor in the newspaper and was among the first people Master Janis recruited. That group has either died of old age or retired… Mr. Randall, the only one left, is undoubtedly the most qualified person to inherit Master Janis’s position.”
“What about your true feelings?” Eivass’s lips curved into a slight smile.
“…And most importantly, he is the one who promoted me to be a reporter,” Dimit paused briefly, then said in a low voice.
“Is that so,” Eivass said casually, resting his chin on his hand. “But I don’t think he’s a good choice.”
Seeing that the superior who was close to him was ruled out by Eivass, Dimit couldn’t help but feel disappointed. But he quickly pushed it aside and asked softly, “Then who do you support?”
“—You,” Eivass said softly. As Dimit’s heart leaped, Eivass continued, “Have you considered yourself?”
“…Yes,” Dimit’s heart settled, and he exhaled a breath, honestly saying, “Of course, I’ve had such fantasies, and I even got excited for a moment… but it was just a fantasy. Because I know there’s so little I can do…” He became dejected as he spoke, “And I’m already this age… although not very old, I don’t have the time to learn anymore. After all, I have to be busy with work.”
“Then how did you learn photography?” Eivass asked softly, his voice seeming to carry a certain low, persuasive tone. “You learned photography before, and now you can try to be a reporter. Why can’t you become an editor in the future?”
“Mr. Moriarty, please stop teasing me,” Dimit said with a bitter face. “It would be troublesome if I harbored improper fantasies.”
Eivass chuckled lightly. “Isn’t that good?”
“…What?” Dimit was startled. Eivass simply said, “I’m not joking; I’m serious. After Master Janis leaves, I will recommend you to be the Editor-in-Chief of the Glass Steps Herald.”
“Of course, I still won’t give you the position of President— after all, you don’t have any organizational experience, and it would be too troublesome to have you learn from scratch.”
—Editor-in-Chief!? Dimit’s mouth fell open. He wanted to exclaim, but he suppressed the messy thoughts in his heart with reason, controlling himself with great difficulty.
“I…” *Can I really do it?* Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly bit his tongue, tasting blood. Suppressing his wildly beating heart, he said with utmost seriousness, “I will definitely do a good job! I will absolutely not let your recognition go to waste!”
Dimit knew that this was not the time for demureness or humility— Eivass Moriarty held a noble position and had many people he could approach; he wouldn’t coax him for no reason. Therefore, he absolutely could not retreat half a step now or show any reluctance! If he missed this opportunity, it would never come again!
“You also know that Master Janis is His Majesty’s teacher. So, while she was here, the Glass Steps Herald always protected His Majesty. Now that she is leaving soon, she will inevitably worry about what will happen to the Glass Steps Herald after her departure.” Eivass said slowly, “Do you know what the Glass Steps refer to, Dimit?”
“…It’s the steps when you ascend to the Round Table Hall,” Dimit replied after a moment’s thought. “It was a set of steps set up to make the knights walk slower, more carefully and cautiously.”
“In current times, perhaps that is the purpose,” Eivass chuckled. “But it wasn’t the case back then— King Lancelot I established the nation with his bravery, how could he fear knights younger than him? As the only veteran who survived the Giant Wars with outstanding contributions, the supreme king of the Authocratic Nation, why would he use such methods to make knights show humility?”
“Then…?” Reporter Dimit hesitated.
“—The answer is, the Glass Steps of Avalon symbolize the monarch’s absolute control and confidence,” Eivass replied. “He had absolute confidence to protect these incredibly fragile and beautiful things because he was Lancelot I. With this sentence alone, no one would dare to disrespect him…”
The youth with brilliant blonde-gold long hair had a profound gaze. Dimit looked up, gazing at Eivass and the night view behind him. Outside the window, twilight deepened, and stars were faintly visible. The semi-transparent crescent moon was already high in the night sky, still holding some residual light. Although Eivass was much younger than him, Dimit felt as if he were talking to an elder, experiencing immense pressure.
“It is so fragile, it shatters with a touch. Yet, since the founding of the nation, no one has dared to harm it in the slightest. It still exists there intact, without a single repair. What does this stem from? Is it because the power of the Silver Crown Dragon makes it stronger?”
“No, it’s because people are always cautious. Because the ‘Glass Steps’ are a symbol of Avalon’s royal power, an invisible chain that leads the elephant. It is the most important symbol of Avalon from its founding— stronger than the scepter, stronger than the sword, and even stronger than the crown.”
Eivass said softly, “Now do you understand why Janis named you the ‘Glass Steps Herald’? You are so fragile, unable to withstand a single blow— you don’t even have many Extraordinary among you. Yet, no one dares to touch you. Because you are another ‘Glass Steps’.”
“Then you…” Dimit’s heart skipped a beat. He vaguely sensed something. —If the symbol of the ‘Glass Steps’ is so clear, why would Eivass let someone like himself, who knows nothing but loyalty and seriousness that can be excused, become the Editor-in-Chief? As expected, Eivass then said something that almost made Dimit’s heart stop—
“But Isabel has no tendency towards the Path of Authority. She cannot guard the Glass Steps, because it was never meant to be hers. Avalon will no longer be an Authocratic Nation. Those fragile and beautiful, precarious, and vulnerable Glass Steps… should be shattered.”
Eivass leaned back in his chair, his gaze deep. “What belongs to her, she will receive. But not by inheriting from Lancelot… those Glass Steps that made her always cautious and fearful. This is Avalon that belongs to Isabel. Not Avalon that belongs to Du Lac. Do you understand this logic?”
“—Mr. Dimit.” Eivass’s words were gentle, yet so sharp and heavy that Dimit dared not utter a word in response. He looked at Eivass in astonishment, but he didn’t even know why he was afraid, nor what Eivass’s actions meant… He only vaguely, hazily felt that Eivass seemed to be about to change the entire Avalon.
The Authocratic Nation, its laws unchangeable for ten thousand years— this was also the Glass Steps that remained in his heart. Even though he had not received much education and had never read any books, it was still branded in his heart. Just as the knights had forgotten why the Glass Steps existed, they also never dared to destroy them.
Just then, a scream suddenly came from outside the window.
“There’s a wolf—”
“It’s a werewolf! Run quickly!”
Following that, shouts, sounds of fighting, and gunshots erupted in unison, accompanied by the clear cry of a Gryphon and the arrival of lightning. The chaos outside caused Eivass to turn his head and look out the window, and Dimit finally breathed a sigh of relief. He realized then that he was already drenched in sweat.
Today’s update is the third part, over seven thousand words, so it’s a bit late, meow~
