When the plot-skips players into the game world

Chapter 582: Chapter 8 Temporary Teammate Ibn Chapter 582: Chapter 8 Temporary Teammate Ibn On February 15th, Avalon and Isabel both took leave from school.

There were quite a few students who took a day off on this day.

Because once school recommenced after the New Year, it marked the start of the second semester at Royal Law University.

This semester was short, packed with heavy study tasks, lasting less than three months.

Starting from mid-April, Royal Law University would have a two-week spring break—once school resumed on May 1st, it would be the third semester specifically designated for internships, experiments, certification, and exams.

The third semester would begin on May 1st and continue until late July, followed by a summer vacation until school restarted on September 1st.

By the third semester, students with Extraordinary Professions rank had the privilege of internships, and certifications also required an Extraordinary Professions rank—those at the first energy level could certainly find work, but shouldn’t expect too much in terms of compensation.

Apart from a few professions like Priest and Botanist, other professions at the first energy level could basically do nothing.

Inspectors could produce a bit of electric light when punching, Mages could cast a few spells, surely less powerful than a pistol, Alchemists couldn’t produce anything, and Bards might add a weak positive or negative status effect while singing, effective only against those at the first energy level or ordinary people.

Most Transcendents, at the first energy level, couldn’t beat numerous ordinary people who were physically strong and armed with weapons.

However, even a Priest at only the first energy level could provide a bit of healing.

Therefore, the graduation requirements at Theological Seminary were much more relaxed, and didn’t even demand mastery of Blessing Skill.

One had to reach at least the second energy level to be deemed a proper Transcendent.

At this level, unless ambushed or sniped, it was very hard for even a large number of ordinary people to harm a Transcendent skilled in combat.

The official Inspectors of the Supervisory Bureau and the Priests of the church were basically at this level.

For those students nearing graduation but still stuck at LV9, the second semester was their last chance to advance to the second energy level.

Only considering the full moon rituals, there were at most three opportunities for promotion—with each opportunity carrying a one-third risk of elimination.

Avalon was a freshman, and there were hardly any of his classmates who took leave.

Isabel, who was a year ahead of Avalon, already had seven or eight classmates who had taken leave.

Even though she had become the Queen of Avalon, Isabel still came to the university for classes regularly—a scenario that was nearly impossible in the past.

For safety reasons, every King and Queen of Avalon ordinarily refrained from leaving the Hall of Silver and Tin after their ascension.@@novelbin@@

If they needed to study, they would typically invite professors to come directly to the court for private lessons.

Isabel’s natural, heartfelt simplicity undeniably made her an exception.

Her classmates and teachers were initially worried, tense, and frightened, but they soon adapted to this young queen, who had become much more cheerful.

They saw this unusual situation as the difference between the “Path of Beauty” and the “Path of Authority.” After all, the monarchs of Avalon were traditionally from the “Path of Authority,” Knights of Authority.

Only she was from the “Path of Beauty,” an “Artistic Monarch.”

As a result, the friends Isabel once yearned for but could not have, began to emerge in abundance…

at a time when her heart was complete, no longer craving.

Now that Avalon had taken up permanent residence in the Hall of Silver and Tin, his status had changed from before.

The advancement ritual naturally didn’t require his own preparations—Osborne and Teacher Ibn, the two old Ritualists, prepared the advancement rituals for Isabel and Avalon respectively.

Isabel went to the more secure ritual chamber underground, while Avalon prepared the ritual right in his bedroom.

“Thanks, teacher,” Avalon sincerely thanked Teacher Ibn.

Teacher Ibn simply smiled and stroked his white goatee.

Compared to a few months ago, his curly hair had grown even finer and his olive-green pupils had turned muddier and dimmer, gradually changing towards the direction of obsidian.

It was like ink spreading in a green pond.

He was clearly not in a good mental state, and his enthusiasm wasn’t high either.

“Are you preparing Dream Intoxicant?

The advancement to the fourth energy level still requires Dream Intoxicant, otherwise, the intense pain can easily wake you up…

That’s too risky and too lamentable,” Teacher Ibn asked with concern, taking out a small round box the size of a mentholatum jar, tightly wrapped in oil paper from his chest, “If you haven’t prepared it, use mine.

Don’t worry, this box hasn’t been used.

It’s intact.”

For ordinary people, a taste of Dream Intoxicant was all it took to be effective.

That’s why some low-level Transcendents without much money would also buy second-hand Dream Intoxicant that had been licked by others to stabilize their dreams.

But for Transcendents in an advancement ritual, a whole box would have to be used at once.

Avalon was somewhat startled and took the box of Dream Intoxicant.

Indeed, it sported the design of a yellow crescent moon with a human face, and the manufacturing date “1898-06-024” marked beneath it.

A batch from half a year ago, still quite fresh.

Avalon looked at his Ritual Studies teacher, Teacher Ibn, with some surprise: “Teacher, when did you buy this?”

“Just a few months ago, after getting to know you,” Teacher Ibn sighed, “I originally intended it for myself.”

“…Originally?”

“Later on, I thought about it.

I’m of this age…

better leave it.

It’s most likely that I wouldn’t be able to advance anyways.”

Teacher Ibn laughed nonchalantly, “It’s meaningless to waste things, better give it to you to use.”

Avalon stared into Teacher Ibn’s eyes for a moment.

In the eyes of this old man from a foreign land, Avalon saw a flickering weak flame.

The flame was so faint it seemed like an illusion…

as if watching The Sun and then averting one’s gaze, where the sunlight leaves an indelible mark at the bottom of the retina.

— That was a well-concealed fire of rage.

He suddenly understood why it was after getting to know him.

To be precise, it must have been after he had mentioned the name of the Demon Scholar, the one who controlled the Hook Demon, the one who killed his own parents…

Teacher Ibn, unable to endure the anger and hate in his heart, bought a dose of Dream Intoxicant.

He was ultimately too weak.

Once his life had stabilized, he lost the desire for Transcendence.

From then on, he could no longer advance further.

Ibn was a Curse Ritual Magician, not a “Great Wizard.” That meant he was only at the third energy level.

Advancing from three to four was his first promotion, and at the fourth energy level, his extraordinary abilities would undergo a qualitative change.

If Ibn returned to the Parthian Ancient Country at the third energy level, he would most likely be unable to do anything.

At the very least, he needed to become a Great Wizard to accomplish something.

Understanding what Ibn was thinking, Aiwass did not hesitate to push back the Dream Intoxicant he had offered.

“I still have one more, Teacher.

Lord Hermes once gave it to me as a gift.”

Aiwass displayed his own Dream Intoxicant at his chest, “With my current status, I certainly won’t lack such things…

not to mention, the Moriarty Family was never short of money.”

He looked at Ibn and softly uttered a name, “Aziz Ben Abdul…

You haven’t forgotten this man’s name, have you?

“I think, if there’s a grudge, it’s more satisfying to settle it yourself.

There’s no need to entrust it to me on your deathbed.”

Aiwass directly anticipated Ibn’s move.

“…But do you expect this old man to cross the desert?”

Ibn also felt somewhat helpless, honestly and calmly saying, “I’ve actually thought about it.

After learning of that guy’s whereabouts from you, I thought about it for a long time.

But in the end, I still feel that I probably won’t make it across the desert.”

“That was in the past, Teacher.”

Aiwass shook his head, “If you truly wish to return to the Parthian Ancient Country, I can find a Goblin to send you there.

“Goblins have always been in contact with those ‘Benevolent Lords.’ Goblins purchase humans, elves, half-elves, and lizardfolk as slaves, as well as a massive amount of gold and treasures from Benevolent Lords, who in turn regularly buy a large number of trolls from the goblins.

They definitely have a fixed, secret trading channel.

“The only issue lies with you—whether you have the confidence to ascend despite your advanced age.”

Aiwass looked at Ibn, his eyes faintly flickering with purple flames, but his tone was not forceful, rather it was gentle, “I won’t stop you, no matter how dangerous this ascension is for you.

Surpassing one’s own lifespan and aging is also a form of transcendent spirit…

but I can assure you, whether or not you choose to ascend this time, or whether you succeed after ascending, I can arrange for someone to send you back to the Parthian Ancient Country.

“I will speak to Her Majesty as well, she will let you go.”

Hearing this, Ibn looked at Aiwass for a long time, his gaze shifting from cloudy to sharp, and then from sharp to soft.

The old man sighed helplessly.

“…with you saying all that, if I backed down now, how could I continue to be your teacher.

It would be too embarrassing.”

Ibn’s lips twitched slightly upwards as he took back the Dream Intoxicant into his embrace with his slightly trembling, withered hands.

Although he voiced complaints, the dull and dim light in his eyes once again brightened with a purple glimmer.

He patted the Dream Intoxicant over his chest and took the initiative to invite, “Together tonight, Aiwass?

I’ll start another ritual in my own bedroom when I return.

“If you join us, the difficulty might increase.”

Aiwass warned.

“I know what you’re thinking, but don’t be afraid.

I am your teacher, after all.”

Ibn responded nonchalantly, “As long as there aren’t any completely repeated repulsive Paths, a Deficient Position Ritual won’t be triggered.

Her Majesty and Sherlock need not collaborate with me…

if we ensure that our repulsive Paths are distinct from one another, we can guarantee there won’t be a deficiency this time.

“Rest assured, Aiwass.

It’s okay if I act alone…

trust the self-preservation abilities of a seventy-year-old ritualist.”

“…All right then.”

Aiwass sighed, feeling somewhat relieved—at least the teacher was spirited.

He just needed to help keep an eye on things.

If Ibn were a transcendent being from another Path, Aiwass would never let him touch something so dangerous.

But the situation was different now.

—After all, Teacher Ibn was a Transcender.

If a Transcender lost their courage to transcend and died a mundane death on a sickbed, what a painful self-torture that would be…

Although Aiwass had not experienced it, he could imagine.

So when Ibn proposed this dangerous idea of “revenge,” Aiwass did not stop him but instead actively offered his help.

For others, there might still be some controversy—but for a Transcender, spiritual decay was more painful than physical torment.

It was a denial of their entire life so far.

Thus, Aiwass had Lily take out the best bottle of red wine from the room, opened it, and poured himself a glass.

“The rest of this bottle is for you.

Make sure you remember which Paths I’ve chosen.”

Aiwass smiled, pouring all of his portion of the Dream Intoxicant into the wine.

As an intoxicant, this was the correct way to consume it.

While waiting for it to dissolve, Aiwass picked up a lit incense stick and began chanting the full moon ritual’s spell.

“May the Six bless me!”

He declared loudly, touching the incense stick to each of the six ritual crystals.

“Hourglass, Candle Master, Great Sage, Silver-Crowned Dragon, Gemini Mirror, Serpent Father…

“—I pledge myself to the Path of Candle Master.”

Aiwass solemnly declared.