The Shepherds Are Dense

Chapter 135. Alastair’s Transcendent Heart

“I…”Seeing Alastair neither mock nor tempt him, but offer earnest advice, Barton felt a warmth in his heart.

But he opened his mouth, unable to speak.

He had no plan.

His words were a spur-of-the-moment outburst.

If Cloud could recklessly speak forbidden truths, why couldn’t he?

At fifteen, sheltered by his family, he’d never grappled with complex ideas.

“You’re right, Mr. Alastair. I don’t know what I want.”

Barton admitted after a pause.

“My father told me to obey orders, maintain dignity, and be ready to sacrifice. To be brave, fight for honor, for Avalon, for the Queen.

My mother said to be a good person—protect the weak, be honest, just, and revere life.”

Facing a stranger who didn’t know his true face or real-world identity, yet aligned with him despite opposing stances, Barton poured out his troubles.

“They say this is what a true knight does. I’ve tried to follow that path.

But sometimes, I wonder why their words conflict. Are the Authority Path’s big figures truly model knights? Cloud’s stories were just one answer, but my doubts were already there.

I want an answer. I thought I’d found it, but I’m still searching.”

“You’re just trying to escape.”

Aiwass shook his head.

“You asked how I entered the Transcendence Path. You know my profession. Do you think I chose it willingly? If I had another chance, I might not take this path.”

“Right, demon-possessed…”

Barton realized.

Becoming demon-possessed meant being overtaken by a demon. Failure to expel it or become a demon-possessed meant death.

For families without access to a bishop or villages unable to identify possession, becoming demon-possessed was often the only option.

Barton shrank, apologizing softly.

“Sorry.”

“It’s fine.”

Aiwass sighed.

“I have my own plans.”

Though not demon-possessed, his emotions were genuine.

He was forced onto the Transcendence Path.

Before awakening past-life memories, his bloodline’s impulses drove him to obsessively pursue demonology. After awakening, only a contract with the shadow demon ensured survival. By then, his Demon Scholar profession had reached the first tier, with no turning back.

Like the demon-possessed, he was driven by instinct and had no choice but to advance or die.

As a priest in public, his initial build was locked into Transcendence and Devotion Paths.

Luckily, he understood both.

For young people like Barton, eager to add a second Path, Aiwass advised caution.

“In a way, Avalon’s rule of choosing a Path after adulthood prevents mismatches from teenage worldview shifts.

Your ideas at twelve or thirteen differ from those at eighteen or nineteen. By thirty or forty, after building a career or family, they’ll change again. If your current Path still works, don’t switch—leave room for future changes.

Only when you’re certain your Path has diverged should you choose a second. You get no do-overs.”

Alastair advised.

Seeing Barton reflect, he smiled.

“You have good parents.”

“You too,” Barton replied reflexively.

Alastair shot back, “But your head’s not too bright.”

“…Ah, sorry,” Barton apologized quickly.

“I zoned out. I didn’t mean to attack you…”

“It’s fine. I’m used to it. Authority Path folks are often blockheads. You’re one of the smarter ones.”

Alastair shook his head.

Barton hesitated, then asked, “Mr. Alastair, if I want to find you in reality, how do I contact you?”

“What?”

Alastair grinned darkly.

“Trying to arrest me?”

“No, I want to thank you. You’re right—I’m not mature enough for the Transcendence Path. If I’d met someone else, I might’ve taken that step.”

Barton said earnestly.

“You’re already good for listening.”

Aiwass spoke sincerely.

“Admitting mistakes and correcting them is a rare, valuable talent.”

He’d seen countless stubborn teammates who ignored advice despite their flaws. Barton seemed naive but accepted criticism and self-reflected. Such people had more potential than skilled but unyielding ones.

“I want to bring you home, introduce you to my parents, and tell them about my benefactor.”

Barton said seriously.

“My parents have some influence in Avalon. You won’t be arrested—and even if you were, they could secure your release.”

“…You’re still running to your parents? How old are you?”

Aiwass teased sarcastically.

“I thought you were in your early twenties. Did I overestimate you?”

“I’m fifteen.”

Barton answered honestly.

“I’m not in military academy… I haven’t even finished high school.”

That explained it.

“Alright then,” Aiwass said earnestly.

“I take back what I said. You’re pretty smart.”

…Wait.

Aiwass suddenly realized.

“You’re fifteen and already a Light Cavalry member with your own griffin?”

“I got my griffin at six—a child of my parents’ griffins, my birthday gift.”

Barton, seeing Alastair as a dream-world friend, opened up.

“They want me to become an Air Cavalry member, serve the nation, and take my father’s position after retirement. So, I became a transcendent before adulthood. This is my first month on the supernatural path…

I haven’t told my parents I’ve hit the second-tier wall. I snuck into this ritual to surprise them, since they’re often away.”

Though it was late in the month, Aiwass knew Barton had joined the Full Moon Ritual two weeks prior.

In half a month, at fifteen, he’d reached advancement?

A genius!

No wonder Barton didn’t know dream-world faces were hidden or wore a knight’s helmet to conceal his youthful appearance.

Supernatural courses would cover such basics, but he’d never attended them.

He wasn’t hiding his identity but his young face, self-conscious about his age, pretending to be a military student yet appearing naive.

His constant “my parents said” made sense for a child who idolized them.

By adult standards, Barton was a bit dense.

But for a fifteen-year-old, he was remarkably mature.

Realizing he’d found a rare potential ally, Aiwass grew enthusiastic, his tone warming.

“Tell your parents about the dream world, but don’t share so much with others. Even as a demon-possessed, I could find your real identity if I wanted.”

“I wouldn’t tell just anyone.”

Barton said earnestly.

“I only said so much because I think you’re a good person, Mr. Alastair.”

“Heh, I’m no good person.”

he thought.

“Since you say that, I’ll give you a lesson.”

Alastair, wreathed in shadows, raised one finger.

“Why do I say you’re not ready for the Transcendence Path? Let me show you my understanding of it.

Question one: Do you have the courage to face death?”

He raised a second finger.

“Question two: Are you resolved to challenge an invincible foe?”

Footsteps echoed—the giant was returning!

Barton panicked.

“Mr. Alastair, hide!”

But Aiwass only thought to the shadow demon, “Kill me and throw me into the cauldron.”

“Are you sure?”

The shadow demon, in Lily’s honeyed voice, protested in his mind.

“You’ve killed the most. Hiding now guarantees a win. But aiming for the Lance risks failure. We don’t know the cauldron’s revival mechanics—if it counts as death, your points reset to zero.”

“If I revive in the cauldron, seize the Lance, and harm a giant, I’ll claim multiple victory conditions.”

Aiwass replied.

“That’ll earn the best Path traits.”

“You’ve already won through kills. The Serpent Father’s trait will be decent.”

“I chose the Crescent Ritual for greed, not safety.”

Aiwass’s lips curled.

“This is for you, too. I want the best traits to adapt to your power fastest, to nurture you into a high-ranking demon rivaling the Sky Divisions.”

“Troublesome…”

The shadow demon sighed after a pause.

“How can I argue when you put it like that?”

The next moment, it hoisted Aiwass into the air.

Before Barton’s shocked eyes, the shadow demon morphed into a thin blade, painlessly piercing Aiwass’s heart above the steaming cauldron.

Before losing life and falling into the bubbling cauldron, Aiwass flashed Barton a wild, free grin, raising a third finger.

Yes, I dare.