The Shepherds Are Dense-Chapter 1: Are You Here to Arrest Me?

"Yes, hello. I'm the inspector Haina, as arranged yesterday. here to investigate the attack on Mr. Aiwass Moriarty."
A slender woman wearing a blue and white uniform, who appeared to be about twenty years old, nervously stood at the gates of a manor, holding her wide-brimmed hat.
Her chestnut-colored curls were pulled back into a ponytail behind her head, and her nose was high-bridged.
Her lake-blue eyes were brimming with fluster, as if she had fouled something up.
"S-Sorry, the District Inspectorate held an emergency meeting. There was another explosion at a warehouse yesterday in the White Queen District. Fire-elementals were found at the scene—there's suspecting a demon scholar. I think. it could be the same criminal wanted by the police who ambushed Mr. Aiwass yesterday! "
As Haina spoke, her voice kept getting smaller and smaller.
"S-So."
"—So you commandeered to go to a meeting that didn't really need you, and showed up. two hours and twenty-three minutes late?"
A gruff, venerable voice from beyond the iron gate.
It was a slow, clipped one—an elven accent specific to the Capital.
The man clicked closed a gemstone-encrusted pocket watch and replaced it in his chest, giving Haina a stern glare.
Before her stood a thin, tall old elf dressed in a butler's attire.
His bark-like wrinkled skin and wolf-like rather than lake-like dark green eyes made him look almost two meters tall. The dead tree silhouette under a moon was what his stance with hands clasped behind his back resembled.
His rigid, standing-at-attention posture emitted an unbearable pressure.
Even though Haina was technically still an intern inspector, she had already completed the graduation tests ahead of time and was already qualified for the Queen's commendation at any moment.
She was just wearing the intern badge because the gryphon she was assigned to was still in transit.
By right, she shouldn't be this frightened of a butler.
But this elderly elf butler was different.
Because this old elf butler used to be her instructor.
Though he had long been the Moriarty's servant according to ancient custom, since the nation was founded.
He had also once been High Inspector General—eighty years retired.
"—I expected you sooner, Miss Haina."
The elderly butler stood with his arms crossed behind his back, speaking in that slightly condescending elven accent which always annoyed her:
"Young Master Aiwass was assailed by a demon scholar and was out cold until last night.
But when he heard the Inspectorate was on the way to interview him, he voluntarily sacrificed his planned recovery visit to the Glass Steps Clinic.
In spite of weakness, he sat by the fire for two hours.
And I waited here at the door for two hours, too."
"It's nearing night now.
Any later and you might as well have come tomorrow.".
And if you were to come tomorrow, how much difference would a week's delay make?
According to Inspectorate rules, cases with signed commissions are required to produce results within a week.
Granting Miss Haina early graduation, I hope you'll be able to apprehend that demon scholar with ease."
"Since the criminal has already been caught, why must you continue pester our poor young master?
You can just pack your bags and leave.
I'll take care of explaining everything to Director Kent."
Kent was the head of the White Queen District Inspectorate.
Even with Haina becoming a full inspector, Kent would still be three ranks higher than her.
If not for the sarcastic tone of the old butler, she would've fled there and then and left this headache on her superiors' hands.
But the issue was—she was still just a senior in university.
In school, she might've been a big shot. But she hadn't graduated yet.
She didn't know enough about the world to know if the old man was kidding or being serious.
But her gut said:
If he hadn't really been planning on letting her in, and she dumbly ran away now, she really
would
be in trouble.
".I'm truly sorry."
So Haina hung her head and apologized.
"I'll also apologize to Mr. Aiwass in person."
Whatever, she had booked this appointment and turned up more than two hours late without informing anyone.
She was guilty as charged.
She looked at the iron gate that stood between her and the elderly gentleman, her thoughts beginning to wander.
The wrought-iron gate was black and had delicate thorn motifs etched out onto it—it did not appear as if it belonged to a noble family.
Actually, Professor Moriarty—Aiwass's adoptive father and the party to this action—was a taciturn, unassuming, and very learned man.
Professor Moriarty had been her teacher at university, teaching courses such as astrology, astronomy, and higher mathematics.
He'd inherited the Moriarty Trading Company, owned three museums, and even supported the White Queen District's sole observatory.
He was a quiet man of means.
He'd also contributed to orphanages and adopted numerous orphans.
He was, from all accounts, an incredible and generous person.
Prior to her arrival, her team captain had reminded her that the Moriarty family was not only wealthy—they were one of the nation's founding families, aided by elves.
While Lord James Moriarty was ed to be mild-tempered, she should nonetheless be very cautious.
By law, any directly implicated person in a demon attack had to be taken immediately to the local Inspectorate for a Lawmaster-administered review of the soul as soon as they were beyond mortal danger.
Only after that would they be taken to a hospital or recovery facility.
That's because in demon rituals, the host, participant, mentor, or even sacrifice roles couldn't easily be determined by who got hurt or not.
If the sacrifice did survive, then it meant the ritual had probably failed.
Even if sacrifices didn't necessarily die, they were normally silenced afterwards.
So, when there were hurt instead of dead, the hurt one wasn't necessarily the innocent one.
But this rule. had apparently been broken.
Director Kent acted like a blind man, ignoring a vital clue right in front of him.
Actually, it was the old butler who had phoned Kent and made the appointment for today.
And to top it off, they hadn't even given her a Lawmaster.
They sent her by herself.
No gryphon.
No armor.
No sword.
Just one lone intern inspector.
Such glaring protection.
Haina thought even if Aiwass
was
behind it all, she likely couldn't take him away.
But due to this top-level cover-up, she began to wonder—perhaps Aiwass
had
been involved.
.How fortunate he was.
A simple orphan of the lower orders.
Just because he happened to be noticed and taken in by a professor.
Now, he was someone the Inspectorate could not touch.
Haina lingered at the gate in a state of shock, a bitter sensation churning in her chest.
But just then the iron gate slowly swung open.
Surprised, she gazed up to see the old elf's face still impassive, but somehow less furious.
He gave her a wordless look, then retraced his steps slowly into the manor with his hands clasped behind his back.
She stood frozen for a second before realizing—she was supposed to follow.
She quickly grabbed her hat and ran after him.
She took a few paces and then recalled to turn around and shut the gate.
But when she turned, the manor gate had already shut on its own.
Not only that, runes glowed softly on the inside of the unassuming-looking iron gate.
Sunlight fell diagonally across the garden, evening wind stilled.
Haina felt like something ethereal had wrapped this place with something intangible, inadvertently changing the entire mood of the estate.
"I don't mean to make things complicated for you, Miss Haina."
Although the old elf proceeded in advance, his voice reached her ear distinctly, now much softer:
"When you schedule an appointment, you keep it.
When the scheduled time arrives, you greet—no before, no afterwards.
Yes, the penalties for disobeying rules at school aren't extreme.
But schools also don't have gryphon knights patroling the streets, or Lawmasters examining corporate books with armed knights.".
They don't have inspectors who can arrest suspects on the spot like you."
"In this country, everyone obeys
rules
.
The Inspectorate, the Court of Law, and the Arbitration Hall maintain not just Her Majesty's whim, but Parliament's rules.
"I'll let you off this time.
And I won't tell Director Kent about your error.
I'll that you came in on time and lingered to converse over two cups of tea and some snacks."
"But only because Young Master Aiwass is merciful.
When you were one hour late, I had already decided to call the Inspectorate.
He stopped me.
He said—everyone needs a chance.
Even if you need to invent a reason, at least give them a chance to arrive."
The old elf paced slowly, talking at length.
Only when they had arrived at the manor's front doors did he drop his voice a bit, still talking loudly:
"Even though Avalon doesn't have 'nobles' like other countries, the heirs of the Founders are no less noble.
Without those twenty Founders' sacrifice, all would've died—even the Queen herself has to show respect to their heirs."
"I could sense your genuine apology, so I forgave you for being late.
But reflect well—did you wrong someone, or obstruct someone's path?
As I explained. that meeting was not necessary for your attendance."
Upon hearing these, Haina stiffened suddenly.
At the entrance of the manor, the old man half-turned and bowed to her elegantly.
"Come along, Miss Haina.
The young master has been waiting a long time."
Now he donned the mask of a welcoming butler.
Earlier, he had come across as much more like a teacher reprimanding a poor student.
Her mind in a total fog, Haina trailed the elf to the parlor.
The soft carpet beneath her feet startled her in an instant—she glanced up, poised to inquire if she needed to take off her shoes.
But the serene attitude of the old elf prompted her to hesitate, so she kept quiet and trailed anxiously, sensing the sudden heat of winter fire.
Only then did she understand—she had kept an old man standing in the cold of winter for two hours.
Ashamed and guilty, she didn't know how to speak.
Even her mistrust of Aiwass seemed to melt away under the burden of shame.
And then, she spotted him.
Aiwass Moriarty—the rumor-mill playboy with no regard for consequence.
He was sitting in a wheelchair, a blanket covering his legs.
His face was white as death, the color drained from it.
Though no older in appearance than seventeen or eighteen, his elegant beauty was utterly unlike Professor Moriarty.
He had on a pale white robe, as if he had just risen from a bath.
His smooth platinum hair sparkled in the light of the fire.
Turning his back to the fireplace, he sat reading a book quietly, his aristocratic profile that of a poet lounging by the warmth of a family hearth.
It was almost like a painting.
Haina's eyes widened involuntarily.
But then the boy appeared to hear something.
He spun rapidly around with his wheelchair.
Only then did Haina realize he was in one.
.Was that the price of being ambushed by a demon scholar?
At some time, she had automatically rejected the notion that Aiwass
was
the demon scholar.
The boy regarded her, his dark blue eyes as deep as the sea.
"Miss Haina."
His voice was crisp and dignified, fitting his looks.
Elegant and courteous, with more life than his haggard face indicated.
"Nice to meet you."
"—So, are you here to arrest me?"
End of Chapter 1