The Shepherds Are Dense-Chapter 16: The Demon's Temptation

### Chapter 16: The Demon's Temptation
By the time Haina came back from the basement of the bar, she'd gulped enough dust in her system to last an eternity.
Going down, she was on edge, anticipating traps, machinery, curses, familiars, or even artificial creatures in jars.
But alas, after careful investigation, she discovered nothing.
No blood-stained altars with hacked-off limbs like in books. Only dust to the horizon, with a few lived-in areas here and there. The building was littered with strange bottles and barrels.
The double bed in the corner smelled of mold, wet and lightless. She felt sorry almost for the demonologists—their accommodations were wretched.
It was simple to hack into Aiwass's
Alchemical Cipher
.
It resembled a textbook, heavy enough to be a semester's worth of required reading, two fingers thick and one-and-a-half palms long. Contrary to a textbook, it was wrapped in dark red leather, probably cowhide.
It did not just look expensive.
It did not just scream it.
It shouted it to the heavens.
Aiwass was not street smart—carrying this book out in the open would invite trouble. Even a stupid thief, unaware of the spiritual plane, could appreciate it based on the material alone.
The wicked sorceress obviously prized it.
It was lying on the bedside table, alongside an empty water glass—one of the only dustless areas on the basement floor.
The treacherous bald woman probably had been reading it when they got there.
Haina also discovered a ritual area on a cleared area of floor. The inhabitants had placed barrels in corners, even stacking them vertically, to create a small area, roughly five steps in diameter.
The ritual circle had ten mysterious names and bizarre geometric shapes, with only a "moon" symbol faintly familiar to her.
No limbs or blood adorned it.
Just an empty swaddling cloth lay at the circle’s center. To be safe, she didn’t touch it.
To prevent the ritual from activating, she followed protocol, slicing all the ritual lines with her blessed sword to disrupt the setup—a circle needed one cut, a triangle three, a hexagram six.
Haina knew these lessons well.
Learning about them, she'd had the rush of fighting demons. She'd learned carefully how to defeat illegal transcendents and demons.
But as graduation approached, coworkers informed her more than 90% of inspectors never encountered a live demon. If they did, they probably wouldn't live to brag.
Demons never came singly. When their summoner died, they were exorcised.
Seeing a demon meant their summoner—a deadly sorcerer—wasn't far away, probably looking at you before you saw them.
These types of threats were managed by the Inspectorate's top "white gloves," not her kind of regular inspectors.
Leidy had been left frustrated with this.
She'd learned so much specialized expertise, and all she did was bored work—tax checks, ID checks, keeping order, inspection of sanitation, safety hazards, and contraband. Busy, senseless work with no adventure.
She rarely drew her sword. Most thieves and thugs froze at a shout. Those who didn’t required a group effort—facing a strong enemy alone was a serious violation, earning confinement.
With a team, swords were unnecessary. Close combat risked friendly fire; guns were cleaner.
Her tested Law Techniques were practically useless.
Haina was deeply dissatisfied.
—If she’d known the Inspectorate was this dull, she’d have joined the air cavalry!
Her griffin paperwork was two months pending, and she hadn't seen a feather yet!
She'd always dreamed of riding her griffin in armor, sword held tight, performing at school. Her juniors and classmates would look up to her, and teachers would be pointing at her.
But it looked like she wouldn't lay hands on a griffin before graduation.
Coughing, Haina opened the door with her elbow, fanning dust with her right hand as she gingerly carried the book in her left, as if a tray containing a teacup.
She noticed Aiwass sitting obediently in his wheelchair, away from the gruesome body, as if to escape its odor.
"Stinks bad?" she asked nonchalantly, placing the book in his hands. "Tuck it away fast—the Lloyd District inspectors will be arriving shortly. Don't let them find it."
Passing over the body, the pungent blood odor struck her, aggravating her cough.
"This is it! Thanks, Senior!" Aiwass chirped, snatching the book from the Senior with a sugary smile.
Haina's lips curled into a smile. She enjoyed being needed.
In the battle, she hadn't realized it, but now, idle, her eyes kept drifting to the body. The stench was worse, suffocating her.
She couldn't bear it, so she took a white cloth from one of the tables and wrapped the upper half of the sorceress's body.
"If you find it offensive, why not wrap it?" she asked.
"I figured we had to leave everything as it was," Aiwass spoke quietly. "Would covering it ruin evidence?"
"What?"
Haina hesitated, looking at the dead body, thinking he had a point.
…But school hadn't taught him this?.
Struggling to come up with an excuse, she stood firm. "No evidence required. We know that you killed her. I saw it myself—I'm the witness. No need for further evidence.
"Of course, it's not your fault. Your bullet was a heroic act of self-defense. I'll make sure to explain that to the Inspectorate."
She couldn't help but breathe deeply in exasperation—Aiwass was so polite, obedient kid.
—So different from herself.
Haina sighed, distressed.
She made up her mind to be honest.
"Mr. Aiwass," she said uncertainly.
"What?" blinked Aiwass.
"I owe you an apology…"
"No, no, Senior, don't be so formal. Aren't we friends?"
"That's why I must say it."
Haina appeared guilty. "In searching for your book, I… leafed through a few pages."
—She'd actually feared it could be cursed or poisoned.
Feeling healthy, she tested it herself.
But she didn't say that—it sounded like an excuse. Better to confess curiosity.
…Because she was curious.
Until now, Haina would have struggled against such taboo desires. But ever since Aiwass's statements on our journey here, she saw she'd been too strict.
Desiring to become a "superior" was a Transcendence Path idea. Perceiving Aiwass as handsome, elegant, and refined was the effect of the Beauty or Love Path.
Just so, her interest regarding the book arose due to the Balance and Wisdom Paths.
The Balance Path represented science and knowledge, a fair means of seeing the world. The Wisdom Path was associated with mystery, rationality, and seeking truth. These were natural human qualities.
No need to be ashamed about it.
Her true flaw was touching and reading a person's book without permission.
And, to her shame, she found it engrossing.
Several pages pulled her into an enigmatic, magical world, opening up vistas for her.
She'd spent fifteen minutes in the downstairs, more than ten reading the book. But alone with a body in the risky Lloyd District, he'd be frightened.
If there were thugs, what then? Aiwass, weak and unable to defend himself, might unintentionally shoot a civilian.
It was okay to kill demonologists, even good, but killing a civilian would be jail.
If several enemies came, his bullets could be exhausted, or he could falter, or his gun could be stolen…
Anxious, Haina rushed up, and found Aiwass unharmed.
But her curiosity remained, unslaked, intensified.
"I'm curious," she said, taking a breath. "I want to read more… of that book.
"Can I come to your place to read it later?"
"Being an inspector who comes to our house frequently… that could bring gossip," Aiwass refused kindly. "For Father, and for you, Senior. Some inspectors accept bribes for special favors. Even if you don't, others might think, and you can't clarify the truth."
"…True," Haina nodded somberly.
"But," Aiwass turned, "you rescued me, got me revenge, and got back my book. I owe you.".
If you'd like to read it, you can take me out during your spare time. You know, out of sight?" Or I'll bring it to school—there's always a place where I won't be seen."
Aiwass grinned, his eyes squinting, like a sly fox flattering her. "Work can be exhausting, isn't it? Complains or Inspectorate rumors? Share them with me then."
She's interested in alchemy…
Aiwass's mind jumped into action. Having known her interest made life simpler. Haina could be his mole within the Inspectorate.
Learning good takes effort; going bad is a slippery slope.
The straight-laced Haina, doubted in her beliefs, was so readily tempted.
Who was the true demon here?
Aiwass joked with himself half-seriously that he'd be a more effective demon than shadow demon.
Haina, touched by his generosity and thoughtfulness, used respectful language. “Thank you, Mr. Aiwass! But… isn’t that too much trouble?”
He waved it off with a smile. “No trouble. It’s mutual benefit.
“—I’m curious about the Inspectorate’s daily work too.”
(End of Chapter)