The Shepherds Are Dense – Chapter 703

Chapter 702
Sherlock’s Farewell
March 6th, Morning. The Fifth Ring.
Sherlock opened his suitcase and rechecked his belongings.
He turned back and looked at Eivass, who was eating breakfast, a smirk playing on his lips, unsure if it was respect or sarcasm. “Your Eminence the Pope… you’ve confirmed you don’t need me for this, right?”
His head was also a bit sore.
He had come all this way and essentially done nothing. Eivass had resolved the issues, making him feel like he had just come to freeload a Grimoire… This left him feeling quite flustered.
Fortunately, “The Fool’s Eulogy Grimoire” was finished, so at least his time hadn’t been entirely wasted.
However, his roommate, who had originally accompanied him on this business trip, had suddenly left and returned as the Eternal Pope – a development that was still rather bewildering.
Eivass had to explain that he was merely a tool to hold a position for the Eternal Saintess Grey.
The mechanism of the Supreme Holy Crown was that once worn, it would begin to grow in reverse. However, it actually required double the burning of lifespan to maintain the normal operation of the Church.
Although theoretically, it wouldn’t be a major issue for the current Pope to continue wearing the Supreme Holy Crown. The other Cardinals wouldn’t refuse this proposal… After all, Eivass was essentially just a placeholder filling a spot for someone else.
But having Eivass serve as Pope for half a year would only cost him one year of his lifespan. For the current Eternal Pope, who could potentially petrify at any moment, her remaining free time was less than a year.
Normally, after abdicating, an Eternal Pope would become a “Saint” and then travel the world, joyfully embarking on the final pilgrimage of their life. However, Pope Ruoan’s petrification illness meant she was destined not to be able to travel far on her own.
In the original timeline, around this time next year, Ruoan’s mobility would start to become difficult.
This meant that after burning over three hundred years of her lifespan and retiring gloriously, she would have less than a year remaining.
Eivass, naturally, did not want to further deprive her of her dwindling time.
“Although, in my opinion, this matter has little to do with you…”
Sherlock quipped, “But since you want to be kind, I won’t stop you. Devotees are all like that, anyway.
“…But if you need anything, remember to contact me. Mr. Leblanc’s address is here – if you need to find me, write a letter and put ‘Hermes, diligent as a bee’ at the top, and I’ll know it’s you.”
As he spoke, he placed a slip of paper filled with flowing calligraphy on the table.
“– The capable should bear more burdens.”
Eivass said casually, “I can spare a few months for myself, and squatting on the golden toilet for half a year won’t cause me much trouble. Consider it a period of seclusion for leveling up… The Path of Devotion indeed becomes difficult to advance on at higher levels. This is simply a matter of mutual convenience.”
While the advancement of extraordinary skills primarily relied on reading and progressing through dungeons, one’s compatibility with a Path determined the upper limit of that path and the speed of its level progression.
At higher levels, the Transcendent Path was the easiest to level up – because the desire itself to “level up” belonged to the Transcendent Path.
But the Path of Devotion was very difficult.
The more one devoted, the more they wanted to devote… Unless one was born a saint, such a state of mind was hard to cultivate.
Practicing the Path through ordinary devotional acts required a long time to achieve. Unless one performed a significant act of devotion… such as self-imprisonment for the Church and burning one’s lifespan, could one quickly raise their level.
“But… I don’t know where you’re diligent, but I’ll remember this sentence.”
Before Selene could eat the note, Lily quickly snatched it away and handed it to Eivass.
Eivass glanced at the note. “Maurice Leblanc… noted. Speaking of which, what are you going to the Iris Flower for this time? Is it dangerous?”
“Perhaps.”
“…Perhaps?”
Eivass had only asked out of politeness and was now surprised. “With your abilities, you can still run into trouble?”
The current Sherlock was a genuine Fourth Tier Extraordinary. In this World, he was undoubtedly considered a high-level Extraordinary.
With such strength… as long as he didn’t directly confront certain forces, it was impossible for him to be assassinated.
“Should I have Madam Honey Badger write you an introduction letter so the Eagle Eye organization can contact you?”
“That won’t be necessary. The people bothering my friend might be from Eagle Eye.”
Sherlock politely declined.
“Your friend… what’s his name?”
“Arsen. Arsen de Vendome.”
“…Someone from the Duke Vendome’s family?”
Hearing the name, Eivass was somewhat taken aback. “You know such a prominent figure?”
Iris Flower had three Great Dukes, one of whom was Vendome. Their commonality was that they all commanded legions, and in addition to being dukes, they were also generals or marshals.
“He married into the family. That guy is a kept man.”
Sherlock chuckled. “He used to be Arsen Lupin. He’s quite well-known in Iris Flower… I met him when I went to Iris Flower to listen to opera before.”
It sounded somewhat familiar.
Eivass pondered for a moment but couldn’t recall where he had heard it – yet he was sure he hadn’t encountered such an NPC or BOSS in his game.
He must be a minor figure.
“Alright then, take care. If you encounter danger… finding me would likely be useless. But you can directly approach Isabel; she can contact me.”
The moment Eivass spoke, he suddenly thought of something. “Oh right, you can go to Edward! My brother is currently at the Iris Flower embassy.”
“I know that, of course.”
Sherlock smiled. “You don’t need to remind me of such things – you’re so much younger than me, yet you act like an adult.”
He rarely put aside his usual sarcastic tone, speaking softly instead. “Then I’ll see you again, Eivass.”
“Wait – how long will you be gone this time?”
“Quickly, one month; slowly, half a year. Don’t worry, I’ll make it to your wedding with Her Majesty the Queen.”
Sherlock picked up his hat and gave Eivass an elegant bow. “Then farewell, Your Eminence the Pope – you should head to the Twenty-second Ring soon. It’s not appropriate to linger in places like the Fifth Ring.”
“Farewell, Sherlock.”
Eivass nodded solemnly. “May the Candlemaster shelter you, and may Hengwo love you. May the Lord of Scales and Feathers grant you secret blessings, so you may fly into conspiracies without losing a single scale or feather.”
“Thank you for your blessings, Your Eminence.”
Sherlock smiled and left with his suitcase.
Eivass watched Sherlock’s retreating figure from the window, suddenly feeling a touch of melancholy.
But seeing Sherlock wave without looking back, signaling Eivass to stop watching… Eivass chuckled cheerfully again. “Why should I worry about such an intelligent person…”
It was time to prepare the ritual.
The ritual of self-division!
(End of chapter)