When the plot-skips players into the game world

Chapter 987: Chapter 343: What Drives Your Elevator?

After Aleister presented Cyril’s letter of introduction, the Black Chancellor led Aleister and her “daughter” Leviathan directly into the Spirit Summoning Tower.

Initially, Aleister was somewhat worried that Leviathan might encounter various jars and vials or harm the students—after all, walking a large dog required a leash, let alone her walking a shark or a dragon.

But Aleister soon discovered that Leviathan seemed to only appear silly on the outside; in reality, she was very clever—although she didn’t like to talk much, she could understand and speak. Moreover, she was at least more obedient than a real child.

Occasionally, a student would come to greet the Black Chancellor and cast curious glances at Leviathan… Leviathan did not intimidate them but always behaved quietly and politely.

Even so, no student came over to try to touch Leviathan or greet Aleister. After all, for a Transcendent of Path of Dusk, it was better to do less than to meddle unnecessarily.

They adhered to the principle of not touching if unnecessary and not speaking if unnecessary, firmly believing “meddling too much leads to an early death.”

Nonetheless, Leviathan still stood tall and chest out, politely nodding in greeting to everyone who passed by. This behavior seemed to be a habit inherited from Alfonso.

“You’re… Miss Crowley!”

A somewhat familiar voice resounded, filled with unabashed surprise—a rare lively presence in a school as desolate as an office filled with overworked employees.

Aleister turned her head and saw a freckled boy who looked a bit timid.

It was Paul, whom she had seen on the ship.

“Yo, Paul.”

Aleister smiled gently and greeted warmly, “Long time no see… How’s Dimitri’s injury?”

—She still remembers my name and Dimitri’s!

Paul’s mood instantly lifted.

He walked over quickly, happily saying, “His injuries have mostly healed… He couldn’t move before because his spine had been broken by the Sea Monster’s tentacle. But the mentor treated him after we returned, and he’s almost fully recovered now. He can already get out of bed, though he’s still resting…”

As he approached, completely ignoring the Black Chancellor and with eyes only for Aleister,

“—Hey.”

Adolf, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke up, startling Paul.

It was only then Paul realized his presence and jumped with fright: “Head-, Headmaster?”

“It’s Vice Headmaster, student Paul.”

Adolf said sternly and pointed upwards, “The Headmaster is watching you. Be cautious with your words.”

“Yes, I know…”

Adolf’s interruption jumbled Paul’s thoughts, and he couldn’t remember what he was going to say.

However, because the matter was important, he stood still, even in fear of Adolf, trying hard to think.

Not wanting to appear too foolish, he found a random topic, “Ah… this big fella, so cool! What’s his name?”

“Leviathan, she’s my daughter,”

Aleister answered with pride.

“She’s a girl…”

Paul seemed a bit puzzled, but he didn’t react too strongly to the pet-naming—after all, in his understanding, it was quite normal for ladies and young misses to refer to their pets as “son” or “daughter.”

Servants of nobles also had to treat those pets with more respect than themselves, as if they truly were young masters or misses.

After pondering for a good while, he finally remembered, “Oh right—Miss Crowley, my family… my sister wants to meet you… although it might be a bit impolite…”

“Your mistress?”

Aleister cut straight through his euphemism, “Blood Coral? Wasn’t she your former mistress? Have you returned to her?”

“Yes, yes… I went back… It couldn’t be better if you know my mistress.”

Paul was somewhat embarrassed but also relieved.

The boy hurriedly said, “My mistress told me to relay a message—she says, Heracles. You would agree once you hear this word.”

Upon hearing this, Aleister’s expression instantly turned serious.

Heracles… That name belonged to the Helasal Empire’s Royal Family, as well as Yulia’s bloodline.

The moment the issue involved Yulia, Aleister became serious, “How do I contact your mistress?”

“My mistress said that as long as you agree, she will come to find you. As long as you stay in Leipzig, she will find a way to locate you.”

“…Hopefully so.”

Aleister’s gaze cooled a bit.

She looked at Paul and kindly reminded him, “If you can resist the Kiss of the Son of the Moon, it’s better to stay away from your master.”

“Yes…”

Paul lowered his head, ashamed of his own faltering will.

He had already escaped from his master… although it was achieved under the deliberate leniency of his master. Blood Coral dislikes compulsion or mind control; she prefers people to come to her willingly. Thus, when Paul wished for freedom, she immediately granted it to him.

— Go out and play as you wish, in the end, you’re bound to return.

She knew Paul too well. And indeed, she was proven right.

Paul held on for many years, but in the end, he couldn’t maintain his resolve.

Aleister turned and left with Adolf. But shortly after she left, Paul suddenly called out from behind her, “That—”

Aleister turned back and looked at him quietly.

“…I will try my hardest!”

“Don’t tell me such things, tell yourself,” Aleister replied coldly, half turning away: “You must strive for yourself—not for anyone else.”

To Aleister, these were words she had tired of hearing and speaking.

But as she spoke, Paul felt as if he had been struck by lightning, freezing on the spot.

“You students sure have a lot to say.”

Aleister said quietly to Adolf, “He doesn’t seem like a necromancer at all—too noisy.”

“You seem rather fond of him though.”

“Not bad.”

In contrast to her previous indifference, Aleister gave Paul a rather nice compliment: “The boy has potential—Blood Coral hasn’t spoiled him, probably for this reason.”

“That’s why we kept him, after all, he’s somewhat of a little spy…”

The elder laughed, casually chatting while pulling Aleister and Leviathan into a rather modern transparent elevator: “Let’s take the elevator first.”

Aleister looked at the various cables embedded within the walls of the transparent elevator, curiously asking, “What powers your elevator? Mana from the Path of Dusk? Or a spiritual body?”

“The elevator, of course, runs on electricity.”

The elder answered matter-of-factly: “If it were powered by spiritual bodies, wouldn’t it be called a spirit-lift?”

He made a valid point.

Aleister was at a loss for words: “That’s unexpected… I thought these tubes were for mana transportation.”

“That’s for ease of maintenance since corrosion and damage is common here. Being transparent makes it easier to inspect… By the way, necromancy could also do the job, but there’s no need to waste resources.”

The pair chatted while the elevator ascended smoothly and slowly.

From the opposite side of the transparent elevator and the main door, Aleister could clearly see a black column—this was the main shaft of the Spirit Summoning Tower.

It was enveloped by the thick amber radiance… or rather, it continuously produced the power of the Path of Dusk. This was precisely the core driving energy of the Spirit Summoning Tower.

Even without the expertise in necromancy, one could easily tell its texture was akin to that of a skeleton.

“Is that the spine of Spirit Amber?”

Aleister asked with interest.

“… I didn’t expect you to know such hidden knowledge.”

The current Black Chancellor was slightly surprised to hear this.

Aleister asked, “Is this considered some sort of unspeakable secret?”

The elder shook his head: “Not really. Mainly there’s no need to boast about it… and even I myself am not very clear where it comes from or why it is so massive.

“If I were to tell the students, their curiosity would lead them to ask me, and I couldn’t answer. But likewise, I don’t want the students to care too much about it… Becoming overly fixated on something leads one astray on the Path of Dusk.”

“So we only include this knowledge in the textbooks but don’t test on it—this way, it dispels the mystery, and students can understand it without becoming excessively concerned.”

“Where does it come from…”

Aleister muttered to herself.

In fact, she knew the answer to that question—not from memories of a past life, but from when she had learned Advanced Divine Art in the Holy Nation, Aiwass had already glimpsed this secret.

The textbooks on Advanced Divine Art were filled with origins and taboos about various Celestial Marshals and Pillar Gods. Spirit Amber Celestial Marshal was naturally mentioned as well.

This is where it contrasts with common knowledge—because the Spirit Amber Celestial Marshal’s appearance is a glowing skull, many believe that at least it ascended from a humanoid creature.

But in fact, Spirit Amber Celestial Marshal was once a magical beast left over from the “Taboo” era.

— It once was a colossal sea monster, a creature with a human head and serpentine body!