Chapter 8: Haina Wants to Hear Secrets
Eivass sat comfortably in his wheelchair, gently pushed by Haina from behind.
The sensation was quite pleasant—especially since Eivass’s legs were perfectly fine. It felt even better. He even closed his eyes, basking in the early winter sun, feeling drowsy.
For a moment, he had the illusion that he was an old man, retired, being taken for a walk and some sun by his daughter.
Wrapped in his black cloak, only half of Eivass’s chin was visible as he quietly observed his surroundings.
Thus, Eivass clearly noticed an interesting phenomenon: passersby near Moriarty Manor, upon seeing Haina in her Inspection Bureau attire, showed no fear.
They would simply glance, then continue on their way as usual.
But as they left White Queen District and ventured east-southeast into Lloyd District… the situation began to change.
The gazes of passersby towards Haina, the Inspector, gradually turned fearful. They would deliberately avoid Eivass’s path, stopping and moving aside even from tens of meters away, cautiously creating a clear passage for Haina.
When Haina entered a fresh market, a terrifying solemnity spread rapidly through the crowd, centering on her. As residents realized the important figure being pushed by an Inspector had entered, the dense crowd automatically parted to the sides.
It was a miracle, like Moses parting the Red Sea—though the market bustled and people jostled, the wheelchair Eivass was in never stopped. No one dared to block their way, no one struck up a conversation, and they even refrained from speaking loudly, lest they disturb the mysterious figure completely concealed in their cloak.
Even residents who had been shopping stopped their conversations. They watched Eivass pass through the crowd with curious yet fearful eyes, seeing him off… until they left the market.
“Did you see that, Haina?”
Only then did Eivass close his eyes, relax his body, and lean back, speaking softly, “People are very afraid of you.”
“I don’t understand why,” Haina replied, her voice completely unhidden and unwavering. “If you haven’t committed any crimes, there’s no need to fear us. Everyone knows ‘rules’ are important in Avalon—this isn’t a secret, but common knowledge. Since that’s the case, just don’t break the rules, don’t violate the law. I don’t know what they’re afraid of.”
As she said this, she stood tall and proud, her gaze burning like fire.
Eivass was somewhat surprised.
“I thought you would sympathize with them,” Eivass said.
“Why?” Haina retorted. “Did I do something wrong? Or is it just because of my poor background?”
…She seemed overly sensitive about her background.
Eivass realized that Haina probably didn’t want to discuss this topic. Yet, despite that, she didn’t end the conversation that made her uncomfortable.
“Yes, my family is poor. But my parents always told me to be an upright person—obedient to the law, loyal to the Queen, and honest with my elders. Although I’m not wealthy, I’ve never committed even a petty theft.”
As she spoke, Haina’s voice was filled with strong confidence. “I won’t demand others be the same as me, because not everyone subscribes to the Path of Authority. But I will do my best to restrain my own actions—not because I’m forced to, but because I am willing to do so. Now, I dedicate myself to obeying my superiors, executing every command within the rules they give me; but if one day I should be higher than him, then he must also obey me. This is the Path of Authority, Avalon’s rule.”
Eivass understood.
This was Haina’s anchor for maintaining her self-respect and confidence at the Royal Law University. She entered the Path of Authority early precisely because she had understood its essence early on. It could even be said that, from a very young age, her parents, intentionally or unintentionally, guided her onto this path. She was born for it.
In a sense, the Extraordinary Professions of this World are projections of ‘thoughts,’ ‘ideals,’ and ‘personalities.’ They are the faint drips of power from those Nine Great Paths. Even the high and immortal gods are merely precursors to these ‘Paths.’ To tread the Nine Great Paths, one must fully understand and resolve to follow that path. Someone who doesn’t understand or agree with “what is devotion” cannot tread the Path of Devotion; someone who doesn’t understand art or beauty cannot tread the Path of Beauty.
Although Avalon Kingdom emphasizes ‘rules’ and upholds ‘law,’ they do not actually practice the Path of Law for the sake of ‘fairness’ and ‘justice.’ Law is merely a tool of the Path of Authority. And the still innocent Haina instinctively understood this most crucial core idea without going astray.
“Not easy, Senior,” Eivass’s heart stirred, a slight smile playing on his lips as he spoke in a gentle voice. “I didn’t expect you to have such ambition?”
“…Ambition?” Haina hadn’t even realized what she had just said unintentionally.
“To become your superior’s superior, to climb even higher…” Eivass said slowly, “This isn’t a concept belonging to the Path of Authority. —I didn’t expect you to be a believer of the Path of Transcendence as well.”
Upon hearing this, Haina suddenly started. Even her hands pushing the wheelchair paused for a moment.
“…Wh-what?”
“What, you don’t realize it yourself?” Eivass asked back.
Beneath his coat, his fingers intertwined, and he whispered seductively, “But this is also very normal among mortals. Senior, I don’t know how you learned at school. But we are all mortals. No one can avoid straying from their own Path… for example, the Path of ‘Love,’ or the Path of ‘Wisdom,’ or the Path of ‘Devotion.’ Don’t you fall in love with anyone? Brutishness, bestiality, the impulse to procreate… this is influenced by the Path of ‘Love.’ Every teenager is influenced by the Path of Love. Similarly, the characteristic of the Path of ‘Wisdom’ is utilitarian thinking, or the pursuit of truth; and if you resolve to sacrifice your life for others, you have already entered the Path of Devotion and are watched by the ‘Candlemaster.’ The Nine Great Paths are simply nine inevitable modes of thought for humanity. Everyone will have their own inclination and will conform to one of them when doing anything. Apart from fanatical followers, how many people can avoid deviating from their Path? —Since that is the case, what is there to fear about deviating from one’s Path?”
Eivass’s voice was deep but clearly resonated in Haina’s ears. “Have you ever considered this, Senior? Why does Avalon follow the Path of Authority?”
She felt a tickle in her ears and on her back. Heat surged through her, even making her earlobes flush. It wasn’t shyness, but excitement and fear.
“Please speak quietly, Mr. Eivass—” she lowered her voice and whispered. She was too afraid of anyone overhearing such heretical words… but from another perspective, she was also curious. Her heart itched, wanting to hear more. This was something no one at home or at school would ever tell her—and even if they did, she would have disdained to listen. But now that she heard it, she felt a sense of recognition, as if thinking, “I’ve thought this way before.” Under this conflicted state of mind, she even used the honorific “Mister” towards Eivass, who was four years younger than her. That’s why she subconsciously said, “Please speak quietly,” instead of, “Please stop talking.”
But at this moment, Eivass instead smiled and closed his mouth, chuckling like a villain. Listening to Eivass’s light laughter from the wheelchair, Haina suddenly felt the itching in her ears, neck, and back disappear—and her teeth began to itch with annoyance. *Why did you stop talking halfway! What is it!?* But Haina dared not admit she wanted to hear more—it was undoubtedly an act of disloyalty. *Can’t you just keep talking to yourself? If I try to persuade you a bit and can’t, won’t I stop trying?!*
“When the time is right,” Eivass said, “I will tell you.”
“So, when is the ‘right time’—”
“It’s simple,” Eivass replied. “After we resolve this matter, after we meet again at school… I’ll find a quiet place to tell you. You understand, don’t you? Secrets like this aren’t suitable for the public street.”
“—Alright!” Haina declared confidently, “You don’t have to say it, I will help you apprehend the culprit. I want to hear the latter half of this story you didn’t finish!”
At some point, she no longer cared whether she had strayed from the Path of Authority. Perhaps she had long known in her heart that she had already deviated, but was only now willing to tacitly accept it.
And she hadn’t realized one thing— that the reason she wanted to apprehend the culprit had unconsciously changed. It was no longer “an order from the Inspection Bureau,” but “to help Eivass apprehend the culprit.” Yet, she didn’t notice at all.
