Shepherd Tantra

Chapter 939: Fragments of the Red-Handled Sword
When Bishop Mathers saw Aiwass, he knelt down without waiting for Aiwass to come closer.

His eyes were extremely bright and full of joy: "Greetings to His Holiness the Pope - Greetings to the Son of the Candlelighter!"

"No, no... I am no longer the Pope."

Aiwass was startled, and hurried over to help Bishop Mathers, who was bowing to him, up: "You don't have to do this."

He has always respected this elder.

Not only because the other party is his guide on the road of dedication...but also because he has really helped him so much.

When Aiwas's parents were killed, it was because of Bishop Mathers's deterrence that Aiwass survived. He was sent to an orphanage, met Julia, and was adopted by old James... It can be said that Aiwass's life is closely related to Bishop Mathers.

Not to mention, Aiwass was able to get the Book of Law first and completely kill the Noble Red thanks to the prophecy made by Madam Mina. When Aiwass and Sherlock faked their deaths one after another, it was thanks to Mathers' shelter and cover that the plan was able to succeed smoothly.

It is said that the previous Pope learned about Aiwass because of Mathers's report! Because of this, he had the opportunity to go to the Theocracy to study advanced divine arts and become a cardinal... and even briefly became the Eternal Pope.

"But you are still the son of the candlestick."

Bishop Mathers' eyes were gleaming: "I am a coward... I don't have the courage to continue on the path of dedication. I just want to be an ordinary person. I dare not continue to give up other feelings.

"——But even so, I still respect Master Candle who leads all living beings on the path of devotion."

Indeed it is.

Aiwass clearly remembered that when Bishop Mathers first taught him the fire worship method, he called out the name of the Candle Master with great piety. He also reached out and touched his forehead, as if there were illusory deer antlers there - that was not a sacrament of the priests of the Nine Pillars, but a unique sacrament of the priests of the Candle Master.

"Don't call me Lord Aiwass, Bishop Mathers."

Aiwass said seriously: "Just call me Aiwass..."

Seeing that Mathers was obviously resisting, Aiwass took a step back and said, "How about this, let's call each other by our names and stop using honorifics, okay, Mathers? It is because of your teachings that I am who I am today. I will never forget this kindness.

"I want you to enter the Church to continue your studies, is that okay? If you are willing to go, I think you can try the advanced divine arts. If you really don't want to continue to advance, this opportunity can also be given to your sister... Even if she can't learn the advanced divine arts, the position of archbishop is still fine, and in that case, she can take over your position.

"I also plan to give you the job transfer requirements for my special profession, the Illuminator. You are the bishop I trust the most. I have already given it to the Church, and now I plan to popularize this new inheritance in Avalon besides the Torchburner... You will also choose the personnel, okay?"

Although Mathers has restored his appearance to a young man in his thirties through the fire ritual, he is ultimately a middle-aged man older than Aiwas' biological father.

When he heard the "task" assigned by Aiwass, he was not disgusted but very moved. He held Aiwass's hand tightly with both hands and almost cried.

For Mathers, this was Sizhu's recognition!
For a dedicated person, "being helped" never means happiness. On the contrary, helping others will bring a kind of heartfelt happiness and a sacred sense of mission that "I have to do it".

Although Mathers did not want to continue to advance, it did not mean that he denied his path so far. He was still one of the highest-ranking devotees among the people of Avalon and the highest mentor of the profession of "priest" in Avalon!
"Si Zhu, Your Excellency... I was able to accept your father and you as my students one after another, it must be Si Zhu's guidance..."

Mathers bowed his head and said reverently.

Although Aiwass had asked him to treat himself as calmly as possible...but the faith that came from his heart could not be changed in a short time.

Aiwass didn't say much, he just lit himself up and emitted light.

The illumination technique strengthened by the Illuminator immediately calmed Mathers' fluctuating emotions. Then Mathers also used the illumination technique - Aiwass also felt his pure spirit from Mathers' illumination technique.

This is a unique way of communication for high-level priests.

Through the communication of light, they can understand each other's feelings without words.

"I won't go to the Church... I want to live a peaceful life with Mina. If it weren't for the fact that guarding the royal tomb is really necessary and it would take a while to choose a second guardian, I wouldn't even want to be the 'spokesperson for the Church'."

Mathers sighed, "I will continue to guard the tomb in Avalon. That precious opportunity... should be given to my sister. Although we once quarreled over Mina, we still love each other's relatives after all.

"But it's better to ask her about this first - maybe she doesn't want to leave Avalon either? I heard that she also adopted a daughter, maybe she doesn't want to work hard anymore. But if she wants to go... Mina and I don't have any children, so I can help her look after the baby then."

"No problem," Aiwass nodded, "I'll be there in a minute."

Instead of sending someone, he went there in person - this was enough to show that Aiwass recognized and valued Bishop Mathers. "By the way, Mathers," Aiwass asked, "Why did you suddenly come to the Temple of Silver and Tin to see me today... Is there something?"

"That's it, Aiwass."

Bishop Mathers handed over the key to St. Guinevere's Chapel. "I remember you used to use it for self-defense... I don't know if it's still useful to you now. But I heard that you are equipping the Griffin Legion..."

The bishop hesitated, but finally said firmly: "Are we going to go to war with the devil? If so, I hope you can accept it - you need it more than me and the chapel.

"Even if it can only provide a little strength, it is better than nothing. If I can help you a little, it will increase our chances of winning. This is much better than not being able to help at all."

“…it will really help me.”

Aiwass took the key without hesitation.

It’s not that he still needs the key itself to protect himself... but because this "fragment of the red-handled sword" contains the soul of a higher-level phantom demon with light attribute.

Theoretically, the souls of all the Knights of the Round Table have become his apostles along with Arthur's ascension to the Silver-Crowned Dragon, including Mordred, Moriarty's "ancestor".

Therefore, the soul in the red-handled sword is not "a particular Knight of the Round Table", but "the incarnation of all the Knights of the Round Table". The red-handled sword was sealed and broken by Merlin, symbolizing the end of the theocratic war, and they no longer needed "risky power".

By this point, "Knight" had become a microcosm of the old times.

In the past, the Knights of the Round Table gained power through the vocation of "Knight" in the Path of Power. Now that the Path of Power has collapsed, there is no such vocation as "Knight". Naturally, there is no inheritance of "Knights of the Round Table".

Therefore, the soul of the Paladin in the red-handled sword can actually be regarded as an "unknown Knight of the Round Table". He has no name and is not known by other Knights of the Round Table - because he is the epitome and symbol of the sacred experience of all the knights completing the Battle of Heaven Punishment, the Battle of Heaven Slaughter, and the Battle of Heaven Burning!

The power to seal it comes from Merlin.

To lift this seal, we need to find another nightmare...

When Aiwas was still weak, he planned to use Tommy's sister, who was killed by Lloyd in the "Sons of the Serpent" ceremony - Miss Roweta, who has not been found yet, to unlock the sword.

But she only appeared in the Shadow of Avalon version. In other words, she appeared after the Fallen Angel was defeated.

Then now, she should be right across from me—among those nightmares forcibly summoned to the lower world by the Fallen Angels, one of them is Roweta!

In this situation, it is naturally difficult to seek her help.

But Aiwass has another idea.

As the saying goes, the person who tied the bell must untie it.

Aiwass planned to summon Merlin directly to ask him to remove the seal he had set, and by the way, ask him... what materials were needed to repair the sword and fully awaken the phantom demon inside.

Anyway, just collect them first.

When Aiwass plays games, he likes to take on a bunch of tasks first, then complete them all at once and claim the rewards together.

Even if we can't repair this sword before defeating the Fallen Angels, it's definitely a good idea to prepare in advance!

after all……

Only Aiwass knew that the subjugation war against the Fallen Angels would not be the end, but only another beginning.

When fighting against the Fallen Angels, we were able to gather so many people and the power of many countries, with armies of different races joining together to fight. But when more Angels descended, everyone was unable to take care of themselves.

By then, the difficulty of defeating the Heavenly Official will only increase, not decrease.

——More power is needed!

Thinking of this, a purple glow ignited in the bottom of Aiwas's eyes.

(End of this chapter)