A Toast to a Kind World

"Shade Hamilton, Detective."

Shade introduced himself as well when they shook hands.

"Bill has already told me about you. Being able to join us is both your good fortune and ours."

The old man said cheerfully. Shade noticed a bottle of champagne chilling in an ice bucket on the tea table. Doctor Schneider had probably prepared it, since Priest Augustus did not seem to be much better off financially than Shade.

Priest Latt Augustus was the Second Ring Warlock of this group and had become a Correspondence Student three years ago.

He was not a local who had grown up in Tobesk City, but came from a small town in the south of the Dellaireon Kingdom. Influenced by his family, the old priest had believed in the Orthodox God Mister Dawn since his youth. In his younger years, he passed the entrance examination for Tobesk Dawn Theology College. At the age of twenty-three, he joined the Tobesk City Dawn Church. He never married and devoted his entire life to serving the church.

Although Priest Augustus had spent a full thirty years without advancing beyond the rank of priest for various reasons, no one doubted his piety. The old priest held considerable prestige in the local parish church and was deeply trusted by its clergy and believers. Even the Archbishop of a Great Parish like the Tobesk Diocese would ask for his opinion on certain important matters.

Due to the awkward relationship between Correspondence Students and the Orthodox Church, Shade would often need to conceal his identity before the church in the future. Priest Augustus, with his connections within the Orthodox Church, was the best person in the group to smooth over church-related incidents.

Though he was advanced in years and lacked much talent as a Ring Arcanist, the group of five absolutely could not do without him.

As proof of their mutual trust, Priest Augustus and Shade showed each other their Destiny Rings. The priest was another unusual case among ordinary cases, though unlike Miss Louisa's three, he possessed only one Core Ling Rune: Glimmer.

Priest Augustus's identity and Core Rune both suited the requirements of Saint Byrens Comprehensive College's Theology College. Yet he had not joined the Theology College. He was now a member of the Chemistry College, skilled in cultivating and harvesting herbs, as well as brewing potions.

Shade had now met another member of the group of five. Of the remaining two who had not arrived, Miss Writer Dorothy Louisa of the Folklore College would probably need some more time before she could come, while the Third Ring Arcanist Luvia Annette could not come today because she had matters to attend to outside Tobesk City.

"Miss Annette is actually different from us as well. Strictly speaking, she is a Ring Arcanist of the Seer Association. Annette wrote to ask us to send you her regards. She will probably return next month, though that is only a few days away—next week, in fact."

The doctor continued introducing the group and gestured for Shade, whose handshake had ended, to find a seat wherever he liked.

"Since she is part of our group too, isn't That Lady a Correspondence Student of Saint Byrens?"

Shade asked in confusion, choosing to sit opposite Doctor Schneider.

Though Priest Augustus came from a church background, he had received the Academy's adult education and could therefore be considered a Correspondence Student of Saint Byrens. Miss Annette was completely different.

"No, she is also a Correspondence Student of the Academy, belonging to the Astronomy College and skilled in divination. As for why she has two identities, do you know about joint training?"

The doctor asked. Shade had merely been puzzled when he heard about That Lady just now, but now he was genuinely astonished. Once again, he confirmed that the organization he had joined really was a school.

"She also belongs to the Seer Association and receives training from both sides. In fact, Saint Byrens Comprehensive College and many friendly organizations, including Zaras Academy of Literature and Serkeses Higher Medical College, though not the Church, all have such jointly trained students. You will understand later.

But do not form any ideas about Annette because of her identity. Just treat her as an ordinary companion. Would you like some tea? Last Time, I had some excellent black tea at your place, so I had a servant buy some as well."

The doctor asked. Shade thought for a moment.

"Yes, thank you. So, Miss Luvia Annette is actually the same as us?"

"There are still differences."

Priest Augustus spoke as he fiddled with his old pipe. Naturally, he would not smoke in the clinic; it was merely a habitual gesture.

"Besides gaining knowledge from the Academy, Miss Annette can also receive conveniences from the Seer Association. She herself is highly valued by the Ring Arcanists of the Seer Association. So comparatively speaking..."

The priest glanced at the doctor. The doctor nonchalantly shook his head, signaling for the gray-haired old priest to continue.

"Though she is only Third Ring and just one ring above me in the group, even the doctor is not certain he could defeat her without a direct confrontation. Of course, that is also because Schneider and Louisa's abilities are not suited for direct combat."

Priest Augustus believed that although Ring Arcanists possessed power, their profession existed to study the world and delve into their hearts to explore themselves, not to fight and kill. In the old man's eyes, Ring Arcanists were more like scholars than mercenaries.

His views were very similar to the doctor's. After becoming Correspondence Students, they could not indulge their hearts simply because they had gained power. Instead, they should become even more humble and cautious.

In other words, the two were subtly reminding Shade that he had to be careful in everything he did and avoid becoming involved in matters that did not concern him. Patiently studying, engraving Spirit Runes to accumulate spirit, reading the notes left by predecessors, and learning more Thaumaturgy and spells were the proper way for a Correspondence Student to live.

Shade therefore suspected that the doctor had told Priest Augustus about what had happened to him the day before yesterday. Priest Augustus was worried that Shade, having suddenly gained power through the remnants of an Old God, would crave more power through similar adventures. That was why he said such things.

Priest Augustus was also a very good person.

"Speaking of which, I'm actually quite curious about something."

Since they had mentioned the relationship between Ring Arcanists and fighting, Shade asked:

"Since Ring Arcanists gather elements within themselves and even have Spirit Runes engraved because of those elements, if one kills a Ring Arcanist, can one obtain that person's power? For example, Spirit Runes, dispersed elements, or perhaps their elements turning into objects?"

"Oh, that is a terrifying thought."

The gray-haired old priest shook his head, gripped the sacred emblem over his chest, and closed his eyes in prayer. The doctor also shook his head sternly, his blue eyes examining Shade.

"Shade, I do not know where you got such a terrifying idea. But if you kill a Ring Arcanist who has nothing to do with you, all you will gain is their corpse and guilt that will follow you for the rest of your life.

From Dellaireon to Kasonlik, from the Old Continent to the New Continent, from Steam Industry cities like ours to gloomy rural graveyards, Ring Arcanists can appear almost anywhere. But remember, this is an age of Civilization, not a dark forest where the strong devour the weak. If someone attacks you, you may fight back, but do not kill for mere profit. That will make you more likely to lose control."

Shade understood that what he had said was somewhat inappropriate. He was only curious because of fantasy stories he had read in the past. The Outlander had no desire whatsoever to gain power by killing people; he was merely worried that others might do so.

"Sorry, I was only curious. Yes, such a world would be too terrifying—like people surviving by eating other people."

Priest Augustus, still tightly gripping his sacred emblem, looked at Shade. His gaze was not as stern as the doctor's. The wrinkles at the corners of his eyes carried a gentle warmth.

"Though our world is so strange and terrifying, filled with countless evil things, with relics of past eras everywhere, with dangerous and mysterious knowledge constantly challenging the limits of ordinary people's sanity, with evil gods walking the earth and watching humanity, and Abyssal Behemoths hidden beneath the oceans of the New and Old Continents, we are still glad that the world exists. Come, gentlemen, a toast to this kind world."

The old priest had moved himself with his own words and took the initiative to raise the teacup before him. The doctor nodded approvingly and raised his cup as well, while Shade smiled. No matter how terrible his circumstances had been since arriving here, it was as though the world were compensating him by sending him such wonderful friends.

"A toast to this kind world."

The three spoke loudly together, and the Outlander's smile at that moment came from the bottom of his heart.

Just then, the door was pushed open. The blonde writer, who barged in without knocking, had not heard the earlier conversation. The moment she entered, she saw three gentlemen raising their teacups: one wearing a sacred expression, one with a stern face, and one smiling.

Miss Louisa looked at the men hesitantly, wondering whether she ought to step back outside.

"What were you just... doing?"

PS: It seems no one guessed correctly. The five professions are Detective, writer, psychologist, clergyman, and diviner. The Detective is this book's protagonist. Though this is not an ensemble story, each of the other four has a subplot closely tied to the main plot and will each play an important role in the coming stages. They are not mere tools.

Also, although the original owner of Shade's body had no family, and the lonely heart of the newly arrived Outlander had no familial warmth, with friends like these, presumably the "dangerous" Outlander will not walk down an extreme path in the days to come.

As an author, I tend to describe protagonists who are kind-hearted but not blindly softhearted. The environment affects a person's development, so in the early stage, when the protagonist has no memories of the original owner and lacks money, I arranged such "friends" to help shape his character. Though this world in the Steam Epoch is dangerous and strange, perhaps light in one's character only becomes more visible amid darkness. That is probably what I mean. It seems I may have rambled a bit too much.