When the plot-skips players into the game world

This was Isabel's first time seeing Aiwass so well-behaved and quiet.

Of course, Aiwass wasn't usually someone very rambunctious or lively. And not long before, Aiwass had still been in a wheelchair every day.

He always looked at others with a calm and indifferent gaze, wearing a faint smile and quietly listening in while other people chatted. If he occasionally joined in the conversation, he almost always just went along with whatever topic others were talking about. It was the kind of behavior that made people feel comfortable and relaxed, making anyone wish to play with him.

...But Isabel always felt that Aiwass, who always brought a sense of ease to others, didn't live as easily himself.

She always felt that Aiwass had many things on his mind that he couldn't let go of.

When Aiwass wore a smile on his face, Isabel felt as if his heart was slightly frowning. When others laughed and joked around, Aiwass would just sit there quietly, his gaze fixed on something nearby yet seeming to look off into the distance.

—It was as if he were about to move to a faraway place, so he didn't intend to leave any traces behind; or as if he were a person who had come back from the future, already knowing that the friends at hand were merely passersby, hence not planning to invest any real emotion.

Isabel didn't know what exactly Aiwass was worrying about. He was obviously so excellent that even she admired him... but on the other hand, she felt Aiwass seemed even more immature than herself.

He liked to show off by taking on adventurous tasks and enjoyed being recognized and praised by impressive people. Yet he was also somewhat awkward—this was a peculiar kind of pride, source unknown to Isabel, that made him reluctant to acknowledge these expectations in his heart. Therefore, no matter how proud he was, he would never actively seek praise from others.

Aiwass was obviously very young. But he always refused to acknowledge his identity as a young person.

...Just like a big boy who had learned about life early on, yet never really grew up.

Perhaps this was due to his past life, Isabel thought.

She had heard from Yulia that before Aiwass was adopted, he grew up in an orphanage with Yulia. The two of them had neither father nor mother and relied on each other... and the fact that Professor Moriarty initially adopted Yulia and ultimately decided to adopt Aiwass as well due to Yulia's severe reaction to not wanting to leave Aiwass seemed to have struck a chord in his heart.

It seemed there was no other way to explain it.

It wasn't long after Aiwass had begun to remember that he lost his parents and relatives. His foster father and sworn brother were always very busy, and there were no wives in his foster father's house. After being adopted, Aiwass was still mostly in the company of Yulia at home.

Back then, Aiwass was extremely lonely and could only read books at home when he had nothing else to do. Looking back now, Aiwass's erudition was probably due to the reading habits he cultivated at that time.

Out of curiosity, Isabel had previously entrusted Sherlock to investigate Aiwass's experiences during his high school years.

Only then did she learn that Aiwass had once been an athletic expert. He was good at many kinds of sports.

It was also due to his outstanding athletic achievements and gradually more impressive stature, that Aiwass finally began to be liked by his classmates on a large scale. After receiving a lot of recognition from others, Aiwass became like a nourished plant, gradually becoming more cheerful and confident, like that dazzling.

And now, he stood quietly by his grandmother's bedside, his whole person seeming to have relaxed.

Even though Ligeia and Isabel were right there, they hardly joined in the conversation. They simply let Her Majesty the Queen ramble on about some meaningless daily trifles.

Aiwass seemed like he was her own grandson. He was by her bedside, keeping his voice low to accommodate the old lady's words. His face didn't bear the brilliant and warm smile that he usually wore, which always felt false due to its perfection... but rather a tranquil, gentle smile that made one think of moonlight reflected on water.

Of course, Isabel knew that her grandmother had not been well for a long time. And now, Queen Sofia not only laughed heartily but even her voice seemed clearer when she spoke, as if she had completely recovered.

Isabel faintly sensed something.

That's why she didn't interrupt their conversation, remaining quietly behind Aiwass, almost greedily listening to her grandmother's voice.

This meaningless, yet warm conversation lasted for nearly two hours.

Aiwass was very good at making conversation, especially adept at talking with the elderly.

In the end, they didn't even go to the dining hall to eat but had the servants bring the food directly to the room. Sofia rarely ate a portion of seafood fried rice, dunked bread in a bowl of creamy mushroom and chicken soup, and had some fruit.

After eating, she said she was tired and wanted to sleep. She then sent Aiwass and Isabel away.

Aiwass and Isabel didn't go too far.

At the door, Isabel gently tugged on Aiwass's sleeve and gave him an inquisitive look.

Aiwass shook his head slightly.

He had previously seen Queen Sofia's physical condition through the Priest's sacred vision.

Even without using Illumination Art to guide the healing light into her body to check the situation, Aiwass could roughly feel that her life force had been completely exhausted. Relying solely on treatment and recovery was no longer sufficient to maintain her condition... If life was to be extended, it would only be possible through a ritual to increase the life force limit.

"Actually, even an ordinary elderly person should not be so depleted at this age."

Aiwass sighed, "Not to mention the Queen of Avalon."

"Because she is really tired."

Yanis's voice gently arose from the side.

It wasn't from a painting, but in person.

She walked over, casually caressed Isabel's head, and then placed her hand on Aiwass's shoulder, gesturing for them to follow her out.

They quickly arrived at the study.

This was the usual place where Her Majesty the Queen conducted her work. Ligeia had already arrived there, drinking beer alone.

But Isabel slowly took the main seat.

She fiddled with the pile of documents on the desk, sorting them out. Although she seemed somewhat unskilled, this was clearly not her first time.

"Sofia's personality is to do everything herself. Even for trivial matters, she likes to have a say. Yet she seldom reveals her stance directly to others, not even those close to her know what she is really thinking... But imperceptibly, everything is changing according to her way."

The slightly inebriated Ligeia spoke in a childish voice.

It sounded as if she was mocking something, yet also seemed to be reminiscing about something, "From this point of view, she's indeed not suited to be a queen. But from another angle, there's no one more appropriate than her to be the Monarch of Avalon."

Isabel pursed her lips, her eyes slightly red.

She moved the documents from the left to the right, then organized them back from right to left. It looked like she was busy, but even she didn't know what exactly she was doing. Because her mind was in disarray... so much so that she could not think straight.

Aiwass sighed as well.

She was probably the only one who fully knew the foundation of Aiwass and Aleister. But obviously, not even Ligeia and Yanis, who were closest to her, knew about these matters.

Aiwass had originally thought that Her Majesty's last chit-chat with him might be about entrusting him with something.

Perhaps about Avalon, about Isabel.

It could also be about the Round Table Hall, about the Lohar Society.

That ordinary sweater touched Aiwass's heart deeply.

It was also the first time Aiwass had a clear idea of "wanting to continue Avalon's legacy."

Prior to this, Aiwass tried to rid Avalon of its dangers solely because it was the country where he and his friends lived. He had no emotional attachment to Avalon itself, let alone any obsession.

Because Aiwass had grown up here, he had adapted to the life here.

Because the Moriarty Family's assets were here, because he did not want to adapt to a new environment again.

Because Sherlock was loyal to the queen, because Isabel was the future Queen, because his friends could not leave Avalon—

If not for these reasons, Aiwass might have chosen to destroy Avalon and rebuild it. Perhaps that way, it would have been even cleaner.

Her Majesty the Queen had received information from the Crown Lord. She knew Aiwass better than Aiwass knew himself. Even if she wasn't aware of Aiwass's future goals, she certainly knew about his talent and gifts that were of interest to the Pillar God.

If she had made a request, Aiwass would have listened seriously.

But there was none.

—Until the very end, when she fell into a deep sleep, Queen Sofia still hadn't said anything.

Aiwass subconsciously clenched his fists.

He parted his lips slightly, but in the end, he also said nothing.