Chapter 8 Haina Wants to Hear a Secret
Aiwass sat steadily in the wheelchair, being gently pushed by Haina from behind.
It felt very comfortable - especially since Aiwass actually had no problems with his legs and feet, it felt even better.
He even closed his eyes, basking in the early winter sun comfortably, feeling drowsy.
For a moment, I had the illusion that I was old enough to retire and was being dragged out by my daughter to take a walk and bask in the sun.
Wrapped in a black cloak, with only half of his chin exposed, Aiwass quietly observed his surroundings.
So Aiwas saw very clearly an interesting phenomenon: when passers-by walking near Moriarty Manor saw Haina dressed as a supervisor, no one felt afraid.
They just glanced and passed by as usual.
But as they left the White Queen district and headed southeast deeper into the Lloyds district... the situation began to gradually change.
Passersby looked at Haena's surveillance with a growing sense of fear. They would deliberately avoid her path, even stopping and moving aside every ten meters, cautiously giving her way.
When Haina entered a fresh food market, a terrifying solemnity, centered around her, spread rapidly through the crowd. When the residents realized that the inspectors were pushing someone important in, some of the crowded crowds automatically dispersed to the sides.
It was a miracle like Moses parting the sea—despite the roaring crowd and the jostling of the crowd, Aiwass's wheelchair never stopped. No one dared to stand in his way, no one approached him, not even one who dared to speak loudly and disturb the mysterious, tightly wrapped figure.
Even the residents who had been shopping stopped their conversations. They watched Aiwass slowly pass through the crowd with curiosity and fear, and watched him... until they left the market.
"See that, Haena?"
Only then did Aiwass close his eyes, relax his body slightly and lean back, and whispered: "People are very afraid of you."
"I don't understand why either."
Haena didn’t hide her voice at all, and there was no wavering in her words: “Those who have not committed any crime have no need to be afraid of us.
"Everyone knows that 'rules' are important in Avalon. This isn't a secret; it's common sense. So, just don't break the rules or the law. I don't know what they're afraid of."
As she spoke, she held her head high and her chest puffed out, her eyes blazing.
Aiwass was a little surprised.
"I thought you'd sympathize with them," Aiwass said.
"Why?"
Haina asked back, "Is it because I did something wrong? Or is it just because of my poor background?"
…She seemed a little overly sensitive about her background.
Aiwass realized that Haina seemed reluctant to talk about this topic, but even so, she did not end the topic that made her unhappy.
"Yes, my family is poor. But my parents taught me from a young age to be an upright person—to obey the law, to be loyal to the queen, and to be honest with my teachers. Although I have no money, I have never done anything wrong, even a petty theft."
When she spoke of this, Haina's voice was filled with a strong confidence: "I won't ask others to be like me, because not everyone agrees with authoritarianism. But I will try my best to restrain my own behavior - not because I am forced to do so, but because I am willing to do so.
"Now, I am dedicated to obeying my superior and carrying out every order he gives within the rules; but if one day I will be higher than him, then he will also obey me in the same way.
"This is the way of 'authoritarianism'. The rules of Avalon."
Aiwass understood.
This is the anchor that allows Haena to maintain her self-esteem and confidence at the Royal Law University.
The reason she was able to embark on the path of authoritarianism so early on was precisely because she understood the essence of authoritarianism early on. One could even say that her parents, intentionally or unintentionally, had led her down this path from a very young age.
She was born for this.
Because the extraordinary professions in this world are, in a sense, projections of "thoughts," "ideas," and "personalities." They are bits of power that seep out from the nine great paths.
Even those gods who are high above and immortal are merely pioneers of these "paths".
To embark on the Nine Great Paths, one must fully understand and be determined to follow them. Those who do not understand or agree with the meaning of dedication cannot embark on the path of dedication; those who do not understand art and beauty cannot embark on the path of beauty.
Although the Kingdom of Avalon emphasizes "rules" and upholds "laws", they do not actually follow the law for the sake of "fairness" and "justice".
The law is merely a tool of "authoritarianism." Yet, even though she was still naive, Haina instinctively understood this crucial core principle and stayed on track.
"It's not easy, Senior."
Aiwass' heart moved, the corners of his mouth rose slightly, and he said in a gentle voice: "I didn't expect you to have such ambitions?"
"...What ambition?"
Haina didn't even realize what she had just said unintentionally.
“Become your boss’s boss, and even climb higher…”
Aiwass said slowly: "This is not the concept of 'authoritarianism'.
"——I didn't expect you to be a believer in the Way of Transcendence as well."
Hearing this, Haina was suddenly startled. She even paused for a moment while pushing the wheelchair.
“…Wha-what?”
"Why, you didn't realize it yourself?"
Aiwass asked back.
He crossed his fingers under his windbreaker and whispered seductively, "But actually, this is also normal.
"Senior, I don't know how you learned in school. However, we are all mortals. No one can avoid deviating from their own path... For example, the path of 'love', the path of 'wisdom', the path of 'dedication'.
"Wouldn't you fall in love with someone? Savagery, bestiality, the urge to reproduce... that's exactly what's being influenced by the Way of Love. Every teenager is influenced by the Way of Love.
Similarly, the path of wisdom is characterized by utilitarian thinking or the pursuit of truth. If you are determined to sacrifice your life for others, then you have entered the path of devotion and are being watched by the Candle Master. The nine paths are essentially nine inevitable modes of human thinking. Everyone has their own biases, and everything they do tends to conform to one of these.
"Aside from fanatical believers, how many people can stay true to their path?
"—If that's the case, then what's so terrible about straying from one's own path?"
Aiwas's voice was low, but it rang clearly in Haina's ears: "Have you ever thought about this question, Senior? Why does Avalon follow the path of authoritarianism?"
She felt an itch in her ears and back, and her blood rushed to her, even her earlobes felt hot.
It wasn't shyness, but excitement and fear.
"Please keep your voice down, Mr. Aiwass—"
She lowered her voice and whispered.
She was too afraid of being overheard of such heresy...but on the other hand, she was curious.
I felt a little itchy in my heart and wanted to hear more.
This was something no one would tell her at home or at school…even if they did, she wouldn't bother to listen. But now that she heard it, she felt a sense of recognition: "I've thought this before."
With this contradictory mentality, she even changed the respectful address of "Mr." to Edwards, who was four years younger than her.
That's why she subconsciously said "Please speak softly" instead of "Please stop talking."
But at this moment, Aiwass closed his mouth with a smile, and chuckled like a villain.
Listening to Aiwas's chuckle in the wheelchair, Haina suddenly felt that her ears, neck and back were no longer itchy - now her teeth were itching with hatred.
Why did you stop talking halfway? So why?
But Haina didn't dare admit that she wanted to hear it - that would undoubtedly be an act of disloyalty.
——Can’t you just talk for yourself?
I'll try to persuade you a little, but if that doesn't work, then I won't try anymore, right?!
"When the time is right," Aiwass said, "I'll tell you."
"So, when is the right time—"
“It’s very simple.”
Aiwass replied, “After we resolve this matter, after we reunite at school… I’ll find a quiet place to talk to you.
"You understand, too. This kind of secret is not suitable to be told on the street."
"--good!"
Haina said confidently: "You don't have to tell me, I will help you arrest the criminal.
"Then I want to hear the second half of the story you haven't finished telling!"
At some point, she no longer cared whether she strayed from the path of authority.
Perhaps she had already known in her heart that she had gone astray, but was only willing to acknowledge it now.
Moreover, she had not yet realized one thing——
That was because, unknowingly, the reason why she wanted to arrest the criminal... changed from "the order of the Supervisory Bureau" to "helping Aiwas arrest the criminal." But she was completely unaware.
(End of this chapter)
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