NOVPUBAfter Ligeia left, Aiwass refused the court maids who came to tidy up the room and had Lily collect all the burnt items.
——Logically speaking, the chair that was scorched black beneath Aiwass, as well as the books, letters, and newspapers that were burnt, were all rather valuable!
With just a little processing, they could serve as decent ritual materials. They could even be used as materials for Aiwass’s creation of Phantom Cards.
Even though the fire Aiwass summoned wasn’t particularly mighty, it was still the Flame of Celestial Marshal in terms of its hierarchical origin.
Its strength attacked Aiwass from his illusions—or perhaps from his dreams, causing damage to reality that went beyond Aiwass himself. This kind of power that could "seep from dreams into the material realm" is precisely the most standard force of the Celestial Marshal.
Thus, these ordinary objects burned by the Flame of Celestial Marshal were imbued with the traits of transcendent items due to this power’s touch.
The birth and demise of a thing each have their special significance, just as Phoenix Perch Catalpa and Lightning Stricken Wood are both valuable ritual materials.
Just like a person who has been mundane for decades without anyone remembering them—if they are suddenly smitten by divine punishment one day, in death, they become something special. People would then remember this person who died an extraordinary death, for his end now carries the scent of divinity.
Lily, following Aiwass’s instructions, collected all the ashes. She crushed them and then sprinkled them over the Codex Book. In this way, not only could they draw strength from the Codex Book, which shared the same origin, reducing its activity to serve as a seal, but the quality of these materials could also grow slowly.
The chair, too, could be chopped up into timber and stowed away for later. Later on, it could be used to attract the power of other Angel Envoys or Celestial Marshals, to be made into incense or charcoal… But a compensation would still have to be given to Isabel. After all, it was nearly a cause for a fire.
Although Master Yanis was watching, it definitely wouldn’t have become a serious issue. But after all, it wasn’t too good either.
As he silently watched Lily finish cleaning up, the Shadow Demon hiding in the shadow beneath Aiwass suddenly spoke up, "My master… Are you actually the type who fears pain?"
"Yes, I do fear pain."
Aiwass admitted it very calmly without a hint of shame: "There’s nothing shameful about it… On the contrary, it shows that I am sensitive enough. Humans can easily have problems with their bodies if they are numb to pain or endure suffering.
"Just as humans instinctively fear water because not everyone is born a swimmer; people feel pain when they touch flames because burns can lead to infections or even death. Suffering and fear are humanity’s best armor for self-preservation."
"Of course, I understand that."
The Shadow Demon replied with Miss Croix’s syrupy voice: "I’m not a native demon… Although it’s been a very long time, I was once transformed from a human. Of course, I know that humans fear pain.
"…I just saw you, nearly every night nurturing us with Shepherd’s Nurturing. I thought you were the type who could enjoy pain…"
Nurturing us…
A small twitch creased Aiwass’s brow as he thought about the Shadow Demon’s high emotional intelligence.
Because, in fact, he hadn’t been nurturing the Shadow Demon that often.
After he reached the third Energy Level, becoming no longer a beginner, his advancement might slow down a bit; but before that, his leveling speed compared to after a full promotion was overflowing, only limited by the half-month or month-long internal cooldown of rituals.
The times he used the Nurturing Skill, aside from the first one or two times to tame the Shadow Demon… were just in this past half-month. And during this half-month, he had mostly nurtured the Defiant Flame Butterfly.
After all, the Defiant Flame Butterfly was a fully-formed Superior Phantom; it was only due to insufficient level that it couldn’t unleash its full strength; besides, the Defiant Flame Butterfly’s abilities were very versatile—it could ram people, shoot light cannons, cast spells, heal, and dispel. Whereas the Shadow Demon was only an Upper-Level Demon, still far from a Superior Phantom, probably needing one or two more evolutions to get there.
A fully developed Superior Phantom was such that any Celestial Marshal or Pillar God who took notice could make it an Envoy.
But the Shadow Demon clearly wasn’t likely to become one.
Although in this version of the game the Shadow Demon still counted as a Boss, in just two major updates, it would become a roadside elite monster.
The Shadow Demon was like the SR that newcomers were guaranteed to draw. By now, it had decent training, so continuing to feed it resources didn’t actually offer much return on investment, especially since Aiwass even if he maxed it out couldn’t acquire the breakthrough materials it needed; but the Defiant Flame Butterfly was Aiwass’s first SSR draw, low-level with great potential.
Meanwhile, the Shadow Demon wasn’t currently Aiwass’s Great Beast, so it didn’t occupy the shared slot for Great Beasts. Thus, both could appear at the same time… In a situation where resources were limited, it was rational for Aiwass to choose to prioritize nurturing the lower-leveled SSR!
The only issue seemed to be that the Shadow Demon appeared to be… jealous?
It was like having a dog at home for a long time, only to suddenly realize that the master has brought home a kitten and showered it with love—Even though they knew the newcomer needed care, they still felt an imbalance deep down.
But now, the Shadow Demon realized something—was the master the type who feared pain?
That puts things in a different light.
——Since the master fears pain so much, why would he use the Shepherd’s Nurturing to feed the Defiant Flame Butterfly every day?
Upon hearing this, Aiwass just smiled.
"It’s precisely because I fear pain that it has meaning," he replied offhandedly: "If sharing my flesh and blood with you was a pleasurable and enjoyable process, then it wouldn’t be considered a sacrifice. Nor would it be recognized as dedication or kindness."
If, because of the fear of pain, one feeds something that doesn’t hurt, carries no danger, or even brings pleasure—like hair or nails, for example—then the Shepherd’s Nurturing wouldn’t work.
"It is precisely because I fear pain and death that the act of cutting my wrists and grasping the blade becomes sacred; it is precisely because I am in such pain and fear, yet my heart is filled only with compassion and goodwill, that I am able to employ the Shepherd’s Nurturing.
"If such injuries no longer threaten me, or if I’ve grown accustomed to or blocked out the pain, then the strength of Shepherd’s Nurturing will also decline."
Aiwass patiently explained to the Shadow Demon.
If there came a day when Aiwass’s body had healed so forcefully that he could cut open his wrist and it would immediately heal, then this act would no longer pose a danger to him.
By then, Aiwass might have to cut open his throat.
Similarly, if Aiwass had gradually become accustomed to the intense pain of grasping a blade, and could endure it without flinching even without using Shepherd’s Nurturing, then afterward he might have to scrape bone and flay flesh.
"No wonder..."
Shadow Demon murmured in sudden realization, speaking softly.
"...No wonder?"
Aiwass, catching Shadow Demon’s words, asked with some confusion, "What do you mean?"
"The aura emitted by your Nurturing Skill is constantly fluctuating. The sweetest aura I ever felt was the first time you used the Nurturing Skill on me... and every time after that, it hasn’t been as overly sweet. Though equally sweet, it’s like the difference between sugar water and mead... the former indeed can bring pleasure, but the latter can make one’s head swell."
Shadow Demon spoke with respect and nostalgia, "After that nurturing, I felt a connection to you. It was as if a part of your life flowed within me, and I could feel that warmth all the time... like having a stream of heat within me while walking in a world of ice and snow."
The girl’s voice was full of longing, "I yearn so much for your blessing. After that, I no longer devoured the flesh and souls of humans, but only longed desperately for your kindness. My master, when will you let me taste your true kindness again?"
At this, the crisp, immature voice of Defiant Flame Butterfly also came from nearby, "I want some too, brother."
Though she had no clear idea what Shadow Demon was talking about, it was certainly the right moment to chime in.
"There’s a limit to greed, you’re not even burdened with the great sin of gluttony!"
Shadow Demon was somewhat angry, its voice becoming hoarse and dry, "It’s not right for you to reap all the benefits!"
"You two, don’t be hasty, at least I can’t feed you for this half month…"
Aiwass casually replied, postponing the dispute for another half month.
He had somewhat of a headache.
This was just one and a half Great Sin Beasts...
What would it be like once he collected six Great Beasts?
...But the first time?
Aiwass reminisced.
It was the first Nurturing Skill he tried right after reading the Nurturing Secret Sequel.
At that time he had no idea what would happen next, so he was filled with fear; he also did not know to what extent the Nurturing Skill should harm him, so he exerted an unusual amount of force—clutching the ritual dagger tightly until the blade cut through muscle and lodged into bone; it was also the first time Aiwass had harmed himself, filled with fear and reluctance to face death.
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As for when Defiant Flame Butterfly was sealed by him, Aiwass had already gone back to school. Most of the time he had things to do the next morning, and even if there were no classes, there were other schedules, so he dared not leave himself too weakened.
Every day he fed the flesh and blood to Defiant Flame Butterfly was calculated as something his body could withstand. He had not fed all his mana either but had left some for the Rite of Fire.
Because Aiwass held back, was the Nurturing Skill that Defiant Flame Butterfly received after birth not as strong as the original?
No wonder Aiwass always felt that the Shadow Demon gained more from the Nurturing Skill than Defiant Flame Butterfly did…
It turned out not to be an illusion. It was because Aiwass’s mindset had changed.
Thinking this, Aiwass’s mindset became somewhat nuanced.
Perhaps this was why, although Shadow Demon was a little jealous, it never seemed to be in a hurry.
After all, in Shadow Demon’s view, Defiant Flame Butterfly hadn’t really tasted anything good—the best had already been taken by it, and what followed was just mass-produced.
Now that Aiwass understood the principle of how the Nurturing Skill produced flesh and blood, he probably knew how to enhance its effects.
—Simply put, don’t feed it so calmly. Be more wild, preferably to the extent that could scare others…
"Aiwass!"
Before Isabel even arrived, her anxious voice came from the doorway, "Are you okay?"
The Shadow Demon beneath Aiwass immediately dove into the shadows, and Defiant Flame Butterfly settled on Aiwass’s shoulder, remaining as quiet as a decorative accessory.
"Ah, I’m fine… Is something the matter, Isabel?"
Aiwass looked up and inquired, "Are you going out?"
"There seems to be something exciting happening at the port."
Isabel looked spirited, "Want to go see it together?"
