When the plot-skips players into the game world

Realizing this was an opportunity he absolutely couldn't miss, Aiwass made no attempt to conceal his ecstasy and repeatedly emphasized his love and interest in archaeology.

Even as Professor Bard still harbored doubts, Aiwass went as far as to demonstrate his greatest advantage—

"This is..."

Professor Bard widened his eyes, and Hayna beside him was also stunned.

Only Lily was somewhat unclear about what this scene meant.

All that could be seen was the warm and steady glow emanating from Aiwass's right hand that he held in front of Professor Bard's forehead, which wasn't blinding even when looked at directly. The professor vividly felt his thoughts becoming clearer, and the sense of fatigue being gradually eradicated.

"Hey, how did you—"

The old professor quickly put down Aiwass's right hand and, with his neck retracted, glanced around the empty classroom.

Thankfully, no one had seen this—everyone had run off to the entrance to talk with John Eden.

He lowered his voice and whispered, "You haven't even taken the exam yet, so how did you acquire extraordinary abilities?

"And... right-hand Illumination Art? How long have you mastered it?"

"That's not right, I remember..."

Hayna couldn't help but interject, "Mr. Aiwass, you hadn't been in contact with the Path just a few days ago, had you?"

Even though Aiwass was her junior and a younger student.

But when Hayna thought of the experience at the Pelican Bar that day, she still subconsciously referred to Aiwass as "Mr."

After all, others didn't know, but she herself was aware—it was entirely thanks to Aiwass's commands that they were able to defeat those two villains that day.

"Yes," Aiwass candidly said, "it was precisely because I encountered danger that day that my father later approached Bishop Mathers to prematurely teach me the Sacred Arts and provided me with extraordinary equipment for protection."

The key to St. Genvieve Chapel was now hidden in Aiwass's suitcase.

That deep red "key" was thicker, heavier, and longer than Hayna's sword, weighing at least six or seven pounds. Clearly, it wasn't something he could bring to class, but if left at home, he wouldn't be able to find it when needed. So Aiwass hid it in a secret compartment of his suitcase.

The old professor found it hard to believe: "In just a few days, you've mastered the Illumination Art? And even with your right hand..."

The difficulty of casting Illumination Art with the right hand was at least five times higher than with the left! Even if one could produce a stable output with the left hand, asking a question during right-hand illumination could often instantly interrupt the art.

Even though Professor Bard wasn't a Transcendent, he surely knew the content of the graduation exam at the Theological Seminary—maintaining right-hand illumination for ten seconds without interruption, and producing a stable output of two units of mana while being disturbed.

"Being able to do this indicates at least that one is a qualified priest. No longer will one be interrupted when using Illumination while speaking due to distraction."

Yet Aiwass has just started school and can already use the Illumination Art with his right hand…

"So, in fact, I won't be held back by the graduation threshold,"

Aiwass explained with a smile, looking confident, "Whether it's cultural studies or the basic skills required of a priest, I am fully confident I won't fall behind. I can even say that completing three semesters' worth of courses in two semesters is entirely within my abilities.

"And if you're going on an archaeological expedition, it must be difficult to hire a priest to accompany you, right? Archaeology in ancient ruins is likely very dangerous work, and having a priest skilled in Illumination there to provide both healing and actual illumination would be much easier.

"As for my leg—it doesn't need worrying about; it will heal in as little as six months or at most one year. At the earliest in my freshman year, or a little later in my sophomore year, I could also join you in archaeology… Professor, you wouldn't mind me, would you?"

"...When you put it like that," Professor Bard said with a wry smile, though the joy on his face was evident, "how could I possibly refuse you?"

"Does that mean you agree, Professor?" Aiwass asked with delight.

"Yes, I agree. To make it easier to take care of you, I'll take Lily as a student as well."

Whether it's taking on one or two students, Professor Bard decided to simply include Lily as one of his own students too.

His hesitant heart finally set, he looked at Aiwass without further struggle and added with a sigh of relief, "And it's not really difficult to hire a priest… to be precise, it's impossible. You're the first priest I've met who's interested in archaeology. Generally, only Transcendents of the Wisdom, Adaptation, and Path of Dusk show interest in ancient ruins.

"When we get injured in the ruins, we can only rely on the Adaptation Path's herbs and the Path of Dusk's Preservation Arts. But these two methods of treatment are much weaker compared to the Church's Illumination, and they also depend on luck. I've had several old friends, and two students, who died in the ruins because they didn't get timely treatment..."

At this point, Professor Bard fell silent with a pained expression, the joyous smile fading from his face.

Aiwass did not offer any words of comfort, but simply sat quietly with the old man.

Hayna and Lily also stayed silent, and the atmosphere in the room turned quiet. The clamor from outside the closed classroom door took the opportunity to seep in—the vitality and joy of youth.

It only took about a dozen seconds for the old professor to regain his composure.

The old man coughed, smiled again—albeit more faintly than before—and formally extended an invitation to Aiwass Moriarty, "In the free time that your coursework allows, would you be willing to become my assistant? You'll accompany me for at least four classes a month, and I will pay you the wage of two Red Candles per class."

At this, even Professor Bard couldn't help but chuckle, "Of course, as a 'Moriarty', I suppose you wouldn't care about that, would you?

"Moreover, your grades with me will always be 'perfect.' I can write you a note every week that allows you to borrow books from the school's grand library to catch up on the course you're missing. If you have any questions for other professors, or if you need their assistance with something, I can write you recommendation letters."

These were the real benefits.

And the conditions Professor Bard offered Aiwass were very lenient—only four classes a month, effectively one class a week at the Theological Seminary. Professor Bard also taught classes at other colleges, but his meaning was simple.

When Professor Bard was teaching at other colleges, Aiwass could stay away according to his own schedule. If he came, that would be fine too; he could self-study to make up for missed classes or directly arrange tutorials or seek advice from professors of the corresponding courses.

That is, providing preferential treatment. Then using Professor Bard's goodwill to pay the price.

"I'm very honored,"

Aiwass replied with a polite smile.

Afterwards, they still had to sign a contract, and then send it to Aiwass's department head for stamping. But these were just formalities, which Professor Bard could handle himself.

This move was undoubtedly a win-win situation.

Both parties felt they had gained, even profiting handsomely.

Having taken care of the official matters, Aiwass prepared to pay a visit to his old friend Little John. Meanwhile, he intended to ask John for updates about encountering any strange people—particularly strange women.

If he had met someone, then perhaps the storyline was about to unfold.

But when Hayna opened the classroom door as she walked past,

Aiwass suddenly saw a crowd of people at the door and a solitary figure standing not too far away.

"...Isn't that the princess?"

Hayna asked in confusion, "Isn't she from the sixth department? What's she doing in the fourth department?"

As she said this, she suddenly paused and subconsciously glanced at Aiwass.

Could it be...

Isabel was standing with her back to the classroom, gazing enviously at the Gryphon training field where they soared and descended.

In fact, Aiwass's classmates, seeing her standing alone in the distance, also felt a pang of compassion. But they had all been warned by their families to better not approach the princess.

No one knew when she might suddenly pass away, making it easy to get into trouble.

Moreover, if the Avalon royal family really died off due to the curse—those families that had been too closely connected with the royal family might also face retribution.

...And, in truth, they did not know why this princess of such high status was standing at the entrance of their classroom.

"Could she be waiting for Mr. Aiwass?" someone speculated quietly.

Now, "Mr. Aiwass" had become Aiwass's nickname.

"How could that be..."

Many more immediately dismissed the baseless speculation, "The Moriarty Family and the royal family have always had little to do with each other."

"Don't cause trouble for Aiwass."

"By the way, has anyone told Aiwass about the princess's issue?"

"He should know, right?"

"Hard to say... Who will mention it to Mr. Aiwass?"

As they discussed, Lily pushed Aiwass out of the classroom in his wheelchair.

"Your Highness,"

Aiwass greeted warmly, "Good afternoon... What brings you here?"

Upon hearing his voice, Isabel immediately turned around, revealing a radiant smile as she greeted, "Good afternoon, Aiwass... I've come to see you."

She wasn't the least bit nervous in front of Aiwass and got straight to the point, "Do you have any lunch plans with classmates today?"

...Ah?

What?

In that moment, the quietly listening crowd around them, including Hayna and Professor Bard at Aiwass's side, all simultaneously fell silent.

They instantly felt an incredible disbelief and bewilderment.

It wasn't because Aiwass and Princess Isabel were acquainted.

It wasn't even that Isabel took the initiative to ask Aiwass to lunch... Of course, that too was astounding.

Astonishing enough that no one had ever seen it before, nor had anyone dared to think it.

What was truly incomprehensible was how the princess could naturally call out someone's name, speak normal words that ordinary people say in life... Rather than carefully, as if ready to flee at any moment, speaking in the polite language favored by middle-aged people in their forties or fifties?

—So it turns out you can actually have a normal conversation with people!

Little John, who considered himself the most knowledgeable about Aiwass in the crowd, was also stunned.

...Could it be that he misunderstood?

The reason Aiwass had turned down those girls was not because of Yulia... but because he and the princess were secret childhood sweethearts?