Academic gathering with Lich colleagues

The familiar dragging sensation returned to Lyle's body. How familiar that feeling was! Lyle felt his stomach acid levels rise ten centimeters. Reverse teleportation would cause ten times the dizziness—a number Lyle had etched into his mind.

Lyle bowed to the scholar reading behind his desk and touched his chest.

"Teacher, I really can't stand the dizziness from teleportation."

“Then you should get used to it, Plague Doctor. You’ll be dealing with them a lot in the future, and the Bone Gate of Consecration will have the same effect. Drink some of this; it will make you feel better.” The scholar took out a small vial of pale blue reagent, the concentrated magical droplets inside possessing an alluring quality.

Lyle took the reagent bottle, his hand holding the reagent hovering in mid-air.

"Teacher, you actually know my identity, right? I remember when Nia became independent, you saw what I looked like?"

“Yes, my human student, so you can take the potion here. This may be one of Andre’s more secluded places.”

Lyle slowly lifted his bird-beak mask, smiled at the scholar, and gulped down the liquid.

It was a feeling of abundant power, like the surge of magical energy after each advancement. It was wonderful; the dizziness had disappeared, replaced by a sense of satisfaction within my body.

"Thank you, teacher. For everything you've done for me."

The scholar paused for a second. "You said it yourself, Plague Doctor, that as a human being, Andrei is your home, and you chose to stand against the world for Andrei's sake. I must say, that was a rather wrong answer. So, my dull student, until you have enough strength, I will first support your world."

“That Cassandra ball, the most important part of my life. My Ariana, teacher, you sent her, didn’t you? After all, you are a portal master.”

"It was Anna's persistence and her past performance that moved me, leading me to undertake this teleportation that now seems absurd in retrospect. The love between a human and a lich, thankfully, it was all worthwhile in hindsight."

Lyle's eyes were full of gratitude as he quickly stepped forward and opened his arms.

"My gratitude to you is beyond words. Please allow me to give you a hug, teacher. Hugs signify closeness among humans."

“Of course I understand what a hug means, my student. I was once a human too. Gently, Plague Doctor, you’ll get a sore throat, lad.” Feeling Lyle’s beating heart, the scholar gently patted his back.

"teacher……"

"What's wrong, child?"

"Can you help me contact a witch? I want to ask a witch for help to learn Soul Scream."

"...Okay, but you have to let go and spare this old bone of mine."

Lyle let go of the mask with embarrassment and put it back on, feeling a burning sense of shame on his face.

The scholar straightened his linen robe, looked at Lyle, and chuckled nonchalantly, "The way you're asking for help is a bit like your senior's shamelessness. Have you been in contact with the law lately?"

Why don't you suspect it's Mr. Miracle?

"Only the law would do all this nonsense. Miracles would cling to me the moment they see me. Of course, if you are a miracle, I won't let you in."

"If it's about studying, I won't refuse you, Plague Doctor. Although witches can be a little annoying."

“But, child, no witches have been bothering me lately. None of Andre’s witches have appeared recently.”

"It's like it vanished into thin air."

Chapter 226 What is a Witch?

"Disappeared? How could the witch disappear?"

"Yes, although they have disappeared without a trace, I judge that they most likely gathered together and went somewhere, otherwise they would have made a sound, for some unknown purpose."

"Doesn't the teacher know where the witch went either?"

“When you were dodging their curses and being searched by their familiars just three days ago, and suddenly you went from being the pursued to the pursuer, it takes time for your mind to adjust. I didn’t calm down the relief of finding peace before they left Andrei, and I didn’t know their whereabouts, Plague Doctor.”

The scholar glanced at Lyle, who was deep in thought, and put the book he was holding back on the shelf.

"Don't worry about them, child. The witches' arrogance is tied to their strength. They won't be in any danger, usually."

"Furthermore, your desire to seek the witch's help to learn Soul Scream is itself a mistake."

"You can't learn it, because there's a fundamental difference between a witch and your body. A witch isn't a magician, but a human who wields power. You can think of a witch as a new species, a new life form that evolved from humans."

"what?"

“Witches are not human; you can think of them as an abnormal form of lich. From another perspective, the church’s motivation for hunting witches is not wrong, just as knights would clear wolves from a lord’s land. I once told you about my rescue of witches, and afterwards I did some research on the witches’ physical and mental states.”

"Witchcraft, you can think of it as a more bizarre form of magic. Its targets are concentrated on women, not just humans. My conclusion is that this witchcraft seeks out women who symbolize reproduction in the realm of mysticism, much like a biological instinct. When a woman is possessed by this magical power, as her understanding of witchcraft deepens, this power devours her body. Her organs wither and fail, releasing more witchcraft power. This transformation usually begins with the heart, symbolizing life, and the uterus, symbolizing reproduction. Witches lose their physiological ability to reproduce; they multiply by spreading witchcraft to unsuspecting women. As the power deepens, their physical form gradually evolves into a non-human form, from tangible to intangible, becoming a kind of spirit-like existence, or a banshee. Their life form eventually becomes similar to that of a spirit, which may be why they use soul screams. They eventually become an overflowing mass of witchcraft power, parasitizing those women to form a new beginning."

"Because of some of their own characteristics, they have become the devils in the eyes of humans and the targets of the church's purge. They consume little or no normal human food because they have no stomach and their bodies contain only dark power. They remove their own necrotic organs to prevent them from contaminating other healthy organs. These ugly organs, imbued with strong witchcraft power, are made into witchcraft props. This is also the source of the rumor that witches eat human hearts. It cannot be ruled out that some evil witches really do use other people's internal organs as materials."

“The existence of witches reduces the number of normal women. They are just different creatures with the same skin, so their existence is a threat to all life species. The reason I stopped several witch trials was because those fools were so terrified of witches that they sent several normal girls to the stake.”

“Now those girls who were once falsely accused of being witches are now real witches... that was their own choice.”

"In general, witches are very few in number, scattered in small groups, struggling for survival. They face harm from the church, the people's hatred, and their own fragile lifespans. After their three organs decay, most witches die, their bodies completely collapsing and unable to move. Some powerful witches escape by becoming banshees. Witches have tried various methods to prolong their lives, so they always possess one or more other powers. Like our witch council here, they call themselves the witches of death, both witches and the dead. Becoming undead is indeed a very effective choice."

"So, Plague Doctor, don't come into contact with those witches unless you want to be turned into one by that power. That power can even work on liches, it's unbelievable."

The scholar's gaze lingered on Lyle several times.

"Actually, regarding the study of the soul, I can introduce you to a more outstanding mentor... but it's probably not the right time yet."

Crackling sounds...

The sound from not far away attracted the teachers and students who had just finished their witch class. It was Nia, who was gnawing on something.

Lyle saw the luminous blue rhombus-shaped jade in Nia's hand and quickly ran over to stop her.

"You naughty girl, let go! That's the teacher's magic gem!"

"Nia won't give it to Gulu! This is delicious!"

"You brat!"

The scholar watched the father and daughter chasing each other and let out a kind, sage laugh. He beckoned, and a blue magical thread drew the precious jade into the scholar's hand.

"Eat!" Nia rushed over with Baoyu, but she chickened out in front of the scholar who was standing ramrod straight. She squatted down, raised her head slightly to look at the scholar, and said timidly, "Nia will just take one more bite, just a very, very small bite."

The scholar bent down and placed the jade in front of Nia. "Nia, you can't bite it. If you want something delicious, you need to try a different method."

How can you eat it if you don't bite it?

"Use magic to guide, to sense." The scholar released his hands, and the magic gem spun in the air. With the magic threads in the scholar's hands, wisps of shimmering magic flowed around Nia like a swarm of snakes.

"Delicious! Use magic!" Nia stretched out her hands, mimicking a scholar, and slowly brought her palms close to the precious gem. Threads of magic extended from Nia's hands, connecting to the gem like blood vessels. Nia began to greedily absorb the magic.

Lyle only took his leave after Nia was completely full. The method for learning Soul Shriek was truly broken, but with the repeated reassurances from Arianna and the scholars, Lyle had adjusted his mindset. At worst, he wouldn't learn it; after all, he had Nia. Nia knew Soul Shriek; Nia was his alter ego, so it was as if he knew it too. And if all else failed, he still had Mr. Ernest and Mr. Deckard.

The scholar's room.

The scholar did not immediately begin reading; the magic gem spun in his palm, its light shimmering.

"The evil god is proficient in all the powers of the world and is a genius in the mysticism. There is no difference between a genius and a madman."

Chapter 227 Differential Treatment

Having let go of his obsession with the soul's scream, Lyle felt much lighter. He rubbed Nia's little belly, who was curled up in his arms, and listened to her laughter.

"Nia, let's go see Ralph."

Stepping back into his little house felt like stepping into another world. Nothing had changed, except that the only wooden table was covered in dust. Grape had followed him to Naslan, where the illusory forest was more suitable for the so-called explorer.

Nia kicked her little shoes, her chubby little hands clutching Lyle's trouser leg, her bright eyes already drawn to the brightness and noise outside the window. She pointed to the door, demanding to go out and play immediately.

“Okay, Nia.” Ariana was not satisfied with Lyle’s original clothes, so before Lyle returned to Cassandra, Ariana used her own aesthetic sense to change the father and daughter’s outfits to one that matched Nathlan’s style.

This must feel like returning home in glory, it's a pity I can't pull out the Wheel of the Spine. With a mix of anticipation and excitement, Lyle opened his front door.

The two, dressed in their finest attire, attracted the attention of passersby, especially the adorable little Nia. People running towards her parted to greet her with smiles as warm as spring. Shopping with Nia wasn't easy, especially after she'd seen all the pretty merchandise on the street, forcing Lyle to buy some of the more extravagant items. This was their prior agreement: Nia would visit Ralph dressed as a child, and Lyle would obey her under normal circumstances.

Lyle smiled and snatched the onion, still covered in dirt, from Nia's mouth; the girl had just been about to eat it raw. Under the astonished gaze of the shopkeeper, Lyle smiled and led her away by the hand.

"Lyle, you're being disobedient!"

"If you can maintain a childlike state, have you ever seen anyone eat raw onions?"

"But I just ate an apple, why can't I eat an onion?"

Can apples and onions be compared?

Nia puffed out her cheeks indignantly, like a little pufferfish, "They're all the same size and round."

Leading a reluctant Nia to the police station, it was rare to see Ralph resting in his quarters. When the young, newly arrived sheriff led Lyle to the VIP room, Lyle smiled slightly. He had just seen several former colleagues, but none of them recognized him. Declining the invitation to a tea party from the assembled nobles, Lyle subtly turned his agate button and pushed open the door to his office.

Mr. Garrett, as always, was engrossed in his work. Hearing the noise at the door, he put down the documents in his hand. "Sir, what can I do for you?" Mr. Garrett stood up like a sturdy black bear.

“Mr. Garrett, it’s me.”

Hearing the familiar voice, Garrett carefully observed the gentle-smiling nobleman before him. The familiar face, protected by the gold-embroidered shoulder pads, finally overlapped with that of the frail, polite boy. "Little... Lyle?"

Lyle, of course, knew what Mr. Garrett's quirk was trying to avoid. He removed his felt hat and bowed to Garrett. "Call me Little Buller as always, Mr. Garrett." Lyle pulled the looking-around Nia to his side and stroked her soft hair. "I've come to visit my uncle, Mr. Garrett."

Mr. Garrett burst into laughter. “As if that bastard were some old, incorrigible scoundrel.” He then ordered a sheriff, “Willie, go to Duncan and bring Ralph back. Tell him it’s my order, urgent! Remember! Don’t go down the main road, look in the dark alleys. Don’t be anxious about danger; it would be a joke if a wolf couldn’t manage its own hunting grounds. And if you see a figure behind you, don’t turn around, call Ralph’s name first and explain your identity.”

Garrett gave the confused Lyle a brief explanation.

"After you and Karen resigned, Ralph became a lone wolf. His efficiency improved a lot, but some colleagues who accidentally wandered into his patrol area might get accidentally injured, knocked unconscious, and thrown out. He said it was a lighting problem, but I can't expect Cassandra's shadow to have mercy, can I?"

Garrett led Lyle back to the VIP room, where the two chatted with Nia for a while. Mr. Garrett clearly no longer saw Lyle simply as a child visiting a relative; as Ariana had said, the aristocratic prestige was like a garment that could not be removed.

Ralph didn't keep Lyle waiting long. When he opened the door, he stood like an iceberg piercing through the window, imposing and majestic. Ralph hadn't changed much; he was just as Lyle remembered.

"Ralph, where's Willy?"

"At church, he was attacked in the back of the head by an unidentified dangerous man. I used the indulgences you gave me to get treatment, poor guy."

“…I’ll take that as the truth. Look who this is, Ralph.”

Ralph's cold eyes swept over Lyle like gleaming blades, and Lyle felt as if winter had arrived.

"Lyle".

"Uncle Ralph."

"(You look) good in these clothes."

"I think so too. I came here to see you..."

Ralph interrupted Lyle, "I'm busy. (Don't bother coming to see me.)"

“With Nia,” Lyle said, finishing his sentence.