[36] Too Many Clues

In the bloom of her youth, the resilient Ms. Rowling faced setbacks that could easily have left her disheartened. Yet, she was fortunate to have a caring mother by her side. Under the nurturing and sponsorship of Countess Bernardette Hall, Ms. Rowling found the strength to resume her creative endeavors.

With renewed vigor, Ms. Rowling penned the critically acclaimed The Return of Count Dantès, marking the beginning of her legendary journey...

Ms. Rowling was undeniably a prodigy. Regardless of one's personal affinity for her works, it was widely acknowledged among readers of her era and remains a consensus among audiences that her creative well seemed inexhaustible.

After the success of The Return of Count Dantès, many anticipated a well-deserved break for Ms. Rowling. However, merely a year later, she astonished the world once again with her latest work, Romeo and Juliet.

The poignant tale of Romeo and Juliet depicted within its pages moved countless hearts to tears, earning its place as one of the world's three greatest love stories.

Just when it seemed Ms. Rowling would continue to craft high-quality popular fiction, she boldly ventured into the realm of fantasy.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood marked the debut of the JoJo series in novel form. While the swift shift in genre initially unsettled some of Ms. Rowling's readers, it nonetheless soared in popularity.

Thereafter, Ms. Rowling dedicated her life to the JoJo series... a realm both vividly realistic and fantastically surreal... that transported readers to the vividly portrayed otherworldly landscapes. From the introduction of Stands, with their diverse and uniquely distinct abilities in the third installment, to the ceaselessly inventive Stand battles that ensued, the series captivated with its grandeur and breath-taking narrative.

These elements, masterfully woven together by the genius of Ms. Rowling, have been the enduring allure of the JoJo series, ensuring readers' continued fascination for years to come.

In the midst of her JoJo saga, Ms. Rowling also published a creatively adapted spin-off titled Miss Jojo and Mr. Brando, offering another poignant love story to her female readership in a fantastical setting.

Unfortunately, after the publication of Golden Wind, Ms. Rowling departed from her family and readers forever.

Ms. Rowling devoted her entire life to her craft, remaining unmarried and childless. Consequently, the rights to most of her works were inherited by her family.

Her life was a tale of happiness and legend, born into nobility, surrounded by loving friends and family, achieving success in her career... perhaps the only regret being that of love.

"Ms. Rowling, your life could be considered fulfilling. But I imagine there might still be some regrets, right? Not completing the sequels to Stone Ocean and Steel Ball Run. Farewell, predecessor. Perhaps we'll meet again in another life, if fate allows it." Hearing Hestia's description of this woman of culture, Aiden couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia.

"The life of this woman of culture was indeed fulfilling. Then what about me, who will continue to fulfill system tasks endlessly in the multiverse? What about me, inheritor of Sparda lineage? How will this second chance at life unfold?"

Upon returning home, both Hestia and Aiden retreated to their respective rooms.

The decision to occupy separate rooms served three crucial purposes.

Firstly, it minimized the discomfort of Aiden's nighttime gun pressing incidents. It might sound crude, but that night when Aiden, newly inducted into the Familia, bunked in the church basement, he had a bit of a happy accident.

Secondly, it provided a sense of freedom. Spending extended periods in close quarters with a beautiful young woman was quite the adjustment for Aiden, who had been single since birth.

And thirdly, it reduced the amount of time spent with Hestia, preventing her from investing too much emotion in Aiden... a stance he had maintained consistently.

Arriving back in his room with a boxful of JoJo novels, Aiden meticulously arranged them on his bookshelf.

Glancing at his left hand to check the time, Aiden found it was still early.

Then, reaching for Golden Wind on the shelf, his fingers hesitated upon touching the cover.

"Do I go for a workout or dive into a novel? Or perhaps, with time still on my side, take another trip to the dungeon?" Aiden retracted his hand, momentarily caught in indecision.

Laziness, they say, is inherent to human nature. In fact, it could be argued that the majority of people in this world, given the opportunity, tend to lean towards indolence. Laziness is ingrained in human genes, becoming instinctual; the human nervous system spontaneously adjusts and alters movements during activity to minimize energy expenditure.

But, to some extent, laziness has also driven the progress of human society. Just think about how many inventions were created for the sake of convenience and laziness? Cars, washing machines, dishwashers, and vacuum robots, to name a few... the examples are endless.

Aiden, precisely the kind of person who would never stand when he could sit, and never sit when he could lie down, embodied this philosophy.

"Take it easy for a moment, and you'll feel good. Keep slacking off, and you'll feel good all the time."

"You're enjoying yourself now, but if you don't complete your tasks, you won't feel good anywhere."

"Would you like to enjoy some chickenless talk? Or perhaps debut as an idol?"

These conflicting thoughts clashed fiercely in Aiden's mind. Ultimately, under the pressure of the system's punishment, reason triumphed over instinct.

Indeed, the system was capable of achieving what many parents couldn't... taming a slacker with just the right amount of pressure.

After changing into fresh clothes, Aiden grabbed Durandal and headed to the training room.

Following his workout, Aiden swiftly attended to his personal hygiene.

Emerging from the washroom, Aiden glanced at the time before promptly settling into bed with his long-awaited Golden Wind.

Cradling the novel in his arms, Aiden, having engaged in high-intensity combat for the first time today and with his Sparda bloodline yet to awaken, found himself unable to resist the overwhelming drowsiness. Gradually, his body slid down into the sheets, and in a half-awake state, he pulled the blanket tighter around himself, drifting off into a realm of dreams.

...

The following morning, after finishing his breakfast, Aiden stepped out of his home.

At this moment, the sky was just beginning to brighten, the sun had yet to rise, but the white light from the east had already awakened this labyrinthine city belonging to gods and their familias.

The dewdrops on the trees and flowers lining the streets made the green leaves of the plants appear even more lush and vibrant.

The clear, melodious chirping of birds, waking up early to catch worms, filled Aiden's ears.

The morning breeze was slightly cool, carrying a hint of chill as it wafted through the open streets. Taking a deep breath of the morning air, a smile played on Aiden's lips as he began to walk towards the dungeon.

In the square in front of the dungeon entrance, Aiden spent half an hour but still couldn't find a supporter willing to team up with him.

"So where's Liliruca, the supporter from the anime? Why can't I find her? Could it be that I do not look like an easy target with Durandal in hand? Or maybe I arrived too early?" Aiden muttered to himself silently.

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