The Shepherds Are Dense – Chapter 45

Chapter 45
“Are you in pain? Are you hungry?”
Eivass returned along the same path.
He crossed the barren mountains and the foul river.
A full half-hour passed after he reached the abandoned warehouse where the stones had been stored… before Eivass finally received the curse.
A strong discomfort suddenly emanated from deep within his body.
It was just like having a cold and fever; his body began to feel chilled and he shivered uncontrollably. His limbs then became weak and powerless, his breath grew hot, and his skin began to ache—that was his subcutaneous nerves being injured by the curse.
Such a familiar feeling.
“… So slow. You’re only coming now,” Eivass muttered under his breath, his steps becoming slow and heavy.
He felt his eyes become red and swollen, and a dull ache and heaviness gradually spread through his head.
He chuckled self-deprecatingly, “It’s just like dreaming of childhood.”
This was the “Fever Curse.” The same curse he had dispelled from Little Eivass before.
It was also the curse Little Eivass had suffered from as a child.
It was on the same level as the “Poisoned Food Curse” that had caused Lulu to spit blood, and slightly weaker than the “Foul Blood Curse.”
“…A Demon Scholar who specializes in curses.”
Eivass clarified the opponent’s identity in his mind, “This doesn’t sound like a Star Antimony person.”
Demon Scholars from Star Antimony were best at Ritual Studies, followed by Demonology.
Curse Studies were not part of the official curriculum.
Even the Star Antimony Kingdom, which allowed Demon Scholars to exist, did not want anyone to be able to easily curse their nobles and officials to death.
The Hooked Demon Jack was also not a particularly useful demon either.
Its low intelligence and single attack method meant that many tedious tasks could not be assigned to such a minor demon. Furthermore, because its energy level was low, Demon Scholars could not, like Eivass, gain attribute affinity by contracting with a Shadow Demon to strengthen themselves.
Generally, Demon Scholars contracted with demons stronger than themselves. Otherwise, there would be no point in selling one’s soul.
Selling your soul to sign a contract with a weakling who had a terrible temper—why wouldn’t I just take on a hardworking disciple instead?
The fact that this Demon Scholar could skillfully use various curses indicated that his level was definitely not low. He was at least at the upper echelon of the Second Tier, or even the Third Tier. But the demon he contracted with was clearly weaker. The fact that he was always hiding in the shadows and had not personally attacked indicated that he was likely not skilled in ritual magic like Big Purple.
Demon Scholars who were particularly adept at curses were characteristic of the Desert People of the East. In the high-intensity wars for sacred water and oasis areas, Curse Masters who could attack key enemy figures through malicious means were very important resources. And in the resource-poor deserts, it was difficult to gather materials for complex rituals, so Ritual Studies had not developed among the Desert People.
This also fit his role as a behind-the-scenes manipulator, and it further aligned with what Jack the Ripper had said about his master eventually leaving Avalon for the east of the desert.
—A Curse Master from the desert traveled to the Avalon Kingdom. He sought refuge with a certain influential figure, accepting payment to “curse and kill on their behalf,” earning money and benefits by paying to curse designated targets. After earning enough, he fled back to his country. This was likely the whole story.
…This shows that the influential figure was quite benevolent. Knowing so many of his secrets, they didn’t silence him and even let him leave.
Of course, perhaps he was silenced, and Jack simply didn’t know about it.
This Hooked Demon was merely a part of the behind-the-scenes perpetrator’s mature cursing ability system.
After weakening his targets with curses, he would then teleport the Hooked Demon to deliver the final blow. The Hooked Demon was merely his means of finishing off enemies, not the core of his abilities.
—It’s no wonder he didn’t specifically train the Hooked Demon.
He had the knowledge in this area, but he didn’t do it himself.
Because there was no need.
This demon was originally a tool—as evidenced by how easily he could abandon it to a student he had only recently met.
Like Jack the Ripper, who cherished his demon too much and tried to strengthen the Hooked Demon through rituals, one might become too famous.
Although, after the Hooked Demon was strengthened, Jack could temporarily transfer his consciousness into it, using his own brain to control this seemingly simple-minded but incredibly durable and high-damage minor demon.
But this enhancement ritual itself carried risks.
Because for a Curse Master, fame was not a good thing. Just like how Sherlock dispelled his own curse… if a person knows they are going to be cursed, the curse won’t be as terrifying. This is because different curses have corresponding solutions.
The existence of Curse Masters remaining unknown was the key to success and victory.
“The target died of an accident” was the highest praise.
“So… this is how my biological parents died,” Eivass murmured.
The increasingly severe fever made his thoughts wander, but his memories were gradually being sorted out.
Judging from the Jack the Ripper incident, this combination of a Curse Master and a Hooked Demon should have existed in real history.
Eivass had been cursed with the “Fever Curse” as a child, causing him to faint and lose consciousness. That was why he didn’t remember what happened afterward.
But as a frail child, suddenly falling into a fever and losing consciousness, he ultimately did not die from it—there could only be one answer: his curse was dispelled.
The difference was that it should have been Bishop Mathers who dispelled the curse, not Giulio.
In real history, Giulio could have contacted Mathers, as he wouldn’t have been banned for his level being too high for this dungeon.
This also explained why Mathers was so concerned about Eivass, being so enthusiastic upon their first meeting… even willing to lend him the key to the chapel. He said it was in return for Professor Moriarty’s help, but the real reason was likely Giulio.
Upon their first meeting, he recognized Eivass as the child of his student, Giulio Alexander. This was because Eivass bore clear traces of “Giulio” and “Annie.”
He regretted and grieved for not saving his student back then. To avoid repeating the same mistake, he was determined to protect Eivass at all costs.
From Mathers’ attitude, Eivass could infer inversely—it was precisely because Bishop Mathers believed he could resolve this incident but ultimately failed that he felt such regret.
Combined with the requirements of this mission.
They needed to leave the Great Cathedral and go to Law Enforcement Plaza.
—This place name couldn’t have appeared out of nowhere. And it certainly couldn’t be the Curse Master’s location, as there was no space here for a complex ritual altar. Therefore, this must be the place related to the death of Eivass’s biological parents.
In other words, after the curse on Eivass was dispelled, Giulio chose to go to Law Enforcement Plaza for some reason.
Eivass had already fallen asleep by then, so he didn’t know what happened afterward.
The story that followed should be similar to what was happening now.
The difference, perhaps, was that the other ritual participants unrelated to Eivass’s family were not cursed by that Curse Master—just as Annie could not have been an Extraordinary of The Path of Beauty in the true history. Of course, there wouldn’t be a Newsboy who was a Mage. On Glass Island, there couldn’t be so many Extraordinary individuals from different Paths.
It was likely only Eivass’s family who were cursed.
And perhaps one of them was cursed and killed first, or perhaps they suffered the curse together. Eventually, Little Eivass, who was fast asleep, was put aside, and the two of them drew the enemy away.
This explained one thing. The killer’s real targets were not Eivass or his cousin—his targets were Giulio or Annie, which was why Eivass survived and was safely sent to the Orphanage.
Now, only one question remained.
—Why did he want to kill his own parents?
“It seems I have no choice but to ask him myself…” Eivass muttered, his lowered gaze turning grim, “I originally didn’t plan to do this.
“But you are too incompetent.
“You’ve caused me so much trouble. I gave you plenty of time, but you only started cursing me when the ritual was almost over…”
—Could he still be trying to kill the Bone Sculpture?
He stared intently at the corner of the abandoned stone warehouse. Deep red traces were gathering there.
The terrifying red outline of the Hooked Demon was partially visible. Eivass saw it bare its ferocious, killing-intent-filled smile at him, its four arms each wielding a long, slender iron hook, capable of easily tearing bodies apart.
There were obvious frostbite and frost marks on its body, traces of being injured by the abilities of the Twilight Path.
“Ah, hello. Child…” Eivass politely greeted it, completely devoid of fear or disgust.
He slowly opened his mouth and asked, “Are you in pain?
“Are you… hungry?”
Without waiting for the Hooked Demon to fully manifest, or for it to respond, Eivass swiftly drew out his paper-cutting knife.
He acted first, inserting it into his own neck in a reverse motion!
—Blood gushed out!