Bishop Mathers Wanted to Make Amends

The "energizing tonic" prepared by Ms. Mina was clearly very useful, or rather, extremely useful.

After drinking the Hot Brandy, Sherlock became visibly excited, truly displaying the "excessive energy" that he always talked about but could never quite see.

On ordinary days, this consultant to the Bureau of Supervision always restrained his behavior with his strong rationality. However, the occasional episodes of hypoglycemia made him appear quite lethargic and always listless.

This is a very contradictory trait. It makes Sherlock's act of venting his excess energy feel very awkward, like some kind of sudden, neurotic outburst.

Sherlock is quite a celebrity on Glass Island, and his habits are well-known. He enjoys high-intensity work, such as mind-bending cases that require full mental effort, or complex or dangerous investigations.

But he disliked exercising, because Sherlock felt that wasting energy was pointless.

Because exercise requires sugar to sustain it, his low blood sugar would make his body weak and his brain activity low as a result.

Even so, his mind remained highly excited, which gave Sherlock a headache—a physical headache.

But now, after drinking... as Sherlock himself said, his intellect was indeed clouded by the alcohol, and a strong sense of excitement, pride, and curiosity overflowed. Sherlock visibly became more talkative.

After chatting with Iver about his grandfather, he began to recount his previous exciting cases at length.

Those were all cases he handled privately, cases he never discussed with anyone. Now they're just the right topic of conversation over tea.

Sherlock usually disdained to discuss the details of these cases or explain his work. But his words now proved that Sherlock had never forgotten these things; he was simply too lazy to talk about them.

Less than twenty minutes later, Sherlock gradually recovered. Iver could clearly feel that his speech was gradually slowing down, and the time he spent in silence and contemplation was gradually increasing, so he knew that Sherlock was about to wake up.

Sherlock finally realized he might have had a bit too much to drink. He immediately straightened his clothes, politely excused himself from the group, and went back upstairs to wash his face and sober up.

"Although Mr. Sherlock gets drunk quickly, he sobers up just as quickly."

Bishop Mathers, on the other hand, laughed heartily.

In his memory, Sherlock was always a gloomy and melancholic man. "Like a clear river flowing in the darkness," that was Bishop Mathers' impression of him.

"Now it seems that our always serious young man is indeed still a young man. It's just that he usually suppresses his true nature too much."

Ms. Mina sighed softly, "If he hadn't been born in Avalon, but in a country where the Path of Wisdom was legitimate... in a place where he could display his powerful and pure curiosity, perhaps he would have been happier."

"Let's not talk about that kind of thing, Mina."

Mathers waved his hand, indicating that he wanted to change the subject.

He looked at Iver and asked, "How is it, Iver?"

What do you mean?

Iver raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Sherlock's drinking capacity?"

"There's no point in discussing that," Bishop Mathers couldn't help but laugh. "I'm referring to Eagle Cape Village in Mubay County ... Would you like to go?"

"I really want to go."

Iver nodded. "But I probably won't be bringing Yulia."

By then, Iver should have already extracted and sealed the phantom demon from Yulia's body.

Even if Iver left Yulia with some of his power, she was still just an ordinary girl with some fire talent, and she didn't even have the level of a superhuman. If she really encountered danger, Yulia wouldn't be able to unleash her Magic Power to protect herself.

If they bring her along, Iver and his team's operations will be restricted. Given their capabilities, it would be a waste not to conduct some dangerous investigations.

Sherlock will then become a Third Level mage and Law Mage, a dual-class character. The abundant mana pool resulting from dual spellcasting will significantly enhance his flexibility and strength. His power will far surpass that of a typical Third Level mage or Law Mage.

There's also Haina, who should be around level 26 or 27, not far from the Fourth Level. This is a very standard warrior-mage-priest Hai Na, and everyone in the trinity is a skilled player.

Finally, with the addition of Lily, a True Sight type who, despite lacking combat experience, possesses a wide range of perception and can simultaneously function as a scout and a thief, a perfect four-person light elite squad was formed.

"You're right, Iver. A responsible older brother doesn't take underage girls on adventures."

Bishop Mathers agreed, "However, if you're going, I suggest you go after the middle of the month."

"Of course," Iver laughed, "I'll definitely wait until I advance to the next level before I go."

"It seems you are very confident in your advancement ritual."

Mathers understood Iver's subtext.

He simply corrected, "To be precise, wait a few days after the advancement ceremony before going. By then, the Holy Sword Art stored in the Small Chapel key should have been restored."

Iver was somewhat surprised. "Your Excellency, didn't you say it was to be returned before January 1st?"

He brought the key with him this time to return it to Bishop Mathers. Because by the time it cools down again, it will be around December 20th... which means that the Holy Sword Art stored inside will most likely never have a chance to be used again.

"Yes, January 1st is the Candle Holder Festival. The royal family will be paying respects to their ancestors then, and I need this key to open the Small Chapel."

Bishop Mathers nodded, his expression serious. "But from what Sherlock said, there must be some shadows in Eagle Cape Village as well. So I'll lend it to you for a while longer... You can return it to me when you come back at the end of the year."

"What if I unfortunately die in the village?"

Iver countered, "What about the Candle Holder Festival?"

"So, if you haven't returned by the 25th or 26th... I'll have to come looking for you."

Bishop Mathers said solemnly, "It is reasonable for me to leave the Glass Island temporarily in order to retrieve the Key to St. Genevieve Chapel before the Candle Holder Festival."

"Even so, it will still be a bit troublesome to complete the formalities later. If possible, you'd better come back as soon as possible."

... Was the key given to Iver so that he would have a reason to come to the rescue? Iver was speechless.

If before it was just a misconception, or perhaps Bishop Mathers was inherently kind... then now it's clear that he truly cares deeply for Iver.

From his previous words, Iver easily discerned the source of the Bishop's impulse—guilt and remorse, and an urgent desire to make amends.

Although Iver's father was just one of many students taught by Bishop Mathers, their connection ended when Julio graduated, before Julio's death.

But because Mathers happened to be absent that day, a knot remained in his heart, something he couldn't get over. Mathers always believed that he was inextricably linked to the deaths of Alexander and his wife.

At that time, however, he was genuinely afraid of the stranger who was manipulating demons to hunt down the Alexander family, and dared not take over Iver. Nor did he dare entrust Iver to his parents or other acquaintances.

It is only natural for people to feel fear when facing an unknown enemy lurking in the shadows. Not all those who follow the Dedication Path are selfless saints, let alone Mathers was already dissatisfied with the Dedication Path at that time.

Although the bishop sent Iver to Orphanage invested in by Professor Moriarty, whom he trusted, Mathers never even visited Iver after he entered the Orphanage Iver before he was adopted by Professor Moriarty.

He clearly hoped to forget this event that lasted only half a day in his life and to distance himself from the unknown and formidable enemy; he was also worried about being entangled with Iver, whose personality he didn't know, and disrupting his peaceful and happy life with Mina.

However, his overly perfect moral sense made it impossible for Bishop Mathers to forget Iver's existence.

He couldn't convince himself to truly forget it; the initially faint guilt tormented him day and night, growing ever stronger. That's why, during his conversation with Professor Moriarty, Bishop Mathers blurted out this incident from several years ago.

It wasn't until Iver was adopted by Professor Moriarty that he finally felt at ease and for a time forgot about the matter.

Iver had always believed he was merely a gift from Yulia, adopted as a tool to appease Yulia. But now it seemed that Professor Moriarty had inquired about his name from the headmistress. It was only when his adoptive father discovered he was "Iver Alexander" that he decided to take him away as well.

Bishop Mathers may have played a part in this matter.

Therefore, when Bishop Mathers was later commissioned by Professor Moriarty to teach Julio's children the Sacred Art, he opened Small Chapel for Iver alone for a day.

That wasn't, as he claimed, out of gratitude to Professor Moriarty—

In a sense, this was actually for atonement. Atoning for sins that only Mathers himself knew and cared about.

That's why the bishop repeatedly comforted Iver, who was in a wheelchair, fearing it might upset him. He also lent Aiwass the key to the Small Chapel he was guarding when Iver was unable to protect himself.

That was his duty. It was the key to the Holy Tomb, which he guarded as the Holy Sepulcher Guardian Tomb... a very precious thing.

—Because fourteen years ago, Bishop Mathers had already regretted it once.

It wasn't that she regretted sealing the curse, which led to the deaths of Iver's biological parents. Rather, she regretted that she ultimately didn't choose to adopt Iver because of fear and aversion to trouble.

He wanted to live only for himself. But Mathers was ultimately a good man, and he couldn't let go. So now he regrets it.

In order to avoid future regrets, they try hard to make amends. But it's clearly gone too far.

Having discerned the Bishop's entire thought, Iver could only sigh silently.

Iver did not try to dissuade the bishop from changing his mind. Nor did he choose to forcibly return the key... that would only sadden and worry Mathers.

He chose to respect the weight of Mathers's guilt and regret that he felt day and night. He accepted the concern openly and then protected himself.

All Iver could do was to help this elder who truly cared about him... to truly escape his originally destined painful and tragic fate.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Excellency."

Iver put down his milk tea cup, bowed his head, and thanked him earnestly, "I will definitely take good care of myself and come back soon. I won't cause you any trouble."

Bishop Mathers simply watched Iver with a smile. Only his eyes were slightly moist.

He clearly guessed why Iver would suddenly say that.

Such a sensible and intelligent child...

"... Now that things have come to this, I really do regret it."

Bishop Mathers sighed inwardly.