The Shepherds Are Dense

Chapter 68: Teaching Assistant Aiwass

In truth, Professor Bard was very open-minded and knowledgeable.In fact, he was practically Avalon’s most authoritative historian.

However, he wasn’t particularly good at teaching—he preferred to immerse himself in research, focusing on his studies in the quiet of his own study rather than lecturing in front of a classroom.

At this moment, an idea arose in the mind of Professor Bard.

Perhaps... he could hire Aiwasi as his teaching assistant.

His knowledge in this field already surpassed that of many third-year students.

But perhaps it wasn’t feasible. Teaching assistants could only be selected from excellent third or fourth-year students, like Haiena, for example.

Aiwasi, being a first-year student, didn’t quite fit the standard…

While Professor Bard was lost in thought, Aiwasi had already skillfully shifted the topic back to the Star Antimony Kingdom, capturing the full attention and anticipation of the students.

"This is why the Path of Wisdom and the Path of Love are banned within Avalon."

"Now, have you ever thought about what would happen if they hadn’t been banned? What if they had developed in harmony with the Path of Authority?"

"Then we would be talking about the Heracels Empire’s fall."

Aiwasi looked down at the teaching material and loudly proclaimed, "Students, please turn to page 241 of your textbooks."

Instantly, the classroom went silent.

The sound of pages flipping echoed clearly throughout the room.

"The Heracels Empire had a long history and vast territory... which meant that many types of transcendents followed different paths within it.

"You may find it hard to imagine, but the most dominant technique in the empire was demonology. In fact, it was the birthplace of the ‘demonologist’ profession. People studied demons just as we study machines and physics. They developed new rituals much like how inventors create new technologies. Under the Path of Transcendence, alchemists and artists from the Path of Beauty each had their own guilds."

"The balance of rituals, alchemy, and art led to the empire’s prosperity."

At this point, Aiwasi put the teaching material aside.

He raised his head and began to speak from his own knowledge as the students all turned their attention to him: "But one year before the Land-Splitting War began, alchemists and artists clashed intensely."

"The war was initially sparked by a painting called 'The Alchemist'. It depicted the working environment of alchemists. Alchemy, usually closed and secretive, was opened up to a painter by an alchemist who allowed him to sketch their workshop."

"But this painting sparked the alchemists’ anger. The first problem was that the painting wasn’t accurate, with many errors made to make the composition more aesthetically pleasing, distorting the facts about the actions, arrangements, and clothing. The second problem was that the painting was too precise—there was a secret drawing in the background of a picture hanging on the wall, which hinted at the ancient technique of ‘using grain and basil leaves to create artificial rats.’ This was highly valuable knowledge."

"Artificial rats?"

Haiena, standing beside Aiwasi, couldn’t help but frown and repeat the phrase, "What’s the point of that?"

She had never heard of this story.

The sound of her comment was picked up by Aiwasi’s microphone, sparking a hushed discussion among the students.

Aiwasi smiled and nodded, slowly saying, "Of course, we all despise rats and wish for their extinction… but this technique involves ‘creating life from non-living things.’ And creating life is one of the three ultimate pursuits of alchemists."

"Because of this serious breach of secrecy, the involved alchemist and the painter were executed for leaking secrets. However, the impact was already made, and the angered alchemists began to publicly denounce the painter, accusing him of causing harm by publishing the painting without notifying the Alchemy Association for approval."

"As a result, the alchemists ordered all alchemy shops across the empire to refuse to sell paints to anyone who resembled a painter—until the artists agreed to undergo 'creative review.' This threat, however, had no real power, because it didn’t specify what 'resembled a painter' meant."

"But the artists viewed this as a long-planned power grab by the Alchemy Association against the Art Association. If such secrets couldn’t be leaked, they should never have been displayed in the first place, or the painter should have been informed in advance. The painter was simply tasked with creating and exhibiting the work, and was not responsible for any leaks due to a model’s mistake."

"So, they retaliated by creating many works that subtly hinted at the secrets of alchemy. Since there was no direct leakage, only symbolic hints, and since alchemy didn’t have standard terminology—every practitioner had their own codes—they had a valid excuse to claim they weren’t deliberately leaking secrets."

At this point, Aiwasi looked around: "I believe many of you have seen these ‘paintings that hinted at alchemy.’ The oldest of them began appearing during this time. And because they were produced in large quantities and were very inexpensive, they quickly entered the imperial market, to the point where even the nobility could easily collect several of them."

"This broke the Alchemy Association’s monopoly on alchemy, leading to the rise of many non-academic, folk alchemists. These alchemists weren’t very professional, lacking a systematic knowledge of alchemy. But soon, a faction of alchemists who had been persecuted and suppressed by the Alchemy Association joined them and formed a group that still exists today: the 'Twelve Keys.' With the help of the Art Association, they covertly made the most secret alchemical techniques public, using the symbolic methods of alchemical art."

"The furious Alchemy Association demanded that the demonologists capture and punish these traitors, but the Art Association insisted on defending the legitimacy of the 'Twelve Keys,' ordering the demonologists not to capture innocent painters. The conflict between the Supernatural Association groups escalated openly..."

"And during the heated dispute, a type of bloodthirsty monster, referred to by the empire as 'The Death Harbinger,' infiltrated the capital. Known as ‘The Prophets of Doom,’ or ‘Children of the Moon’ or ‘Children of the Dragon,’ they were not phantoms but could devour weaker demons to grow stronger, and could reincarnate after death."

"Therefore, those demonologists at the pinnacle of power became the hunted instead. Their strength quickly weakened, and when they were weaker than both the Alchemy Association and the Art Association, the previously loud factions suddenly stopped quarreling. They began to join forces to seize the political influence that the demonologists once held."

"These ‘Children of the Moon’ are a special race of the Path of Love, and they are protected by Eternal Ones. Their newborns can only move during moonlit nights. Supernatural beings of the Path of Love can transform into them through a ritual, just as demonologists of the Path of Demonology can turn into demons. When a Path of Love practitioner is drained of blood and dies, they will become a 'newborn' after forty days, and after feeding on demons and blood during the night, they will evolve into true Children of the Moon after another forty days."

"Rumor has it that this immortality originated from a curse, though some believe it is a form of love. Their ability to devour demons is said to be connected to the blood of the Father of Snakes, leading some scholars to believe there is a secret connection between Eternal Ones and the Father of Snakes—much like how these two Pillar Gods govern the mysterious art of 'curses.' Perhaps even ascension rituals must be held under the moonlight... and perhaps this is connected."

Hearing Aiwasi explain this, Aiden paused.

Suddenly, something clicked in his mind.

Immortality, bloodsucking, resurrection...

He instinctively looked over at Professor Bard, who was not interrupting but instead gazing at Aiwasi with genuine enthusiasm.

This meant...

What was written in ... was it really true?

At the same time, Aiwasi continued speaking with the same gentle and clear tone, as though he were a teacher himself: "Class, this is what the book says—'The weakening of the demonologists’ power led to the emperor losing faith in them, and the demonologists became unable to control the increasingly tense political situation in the empire.' I think this is a key point..."

Aiwasi glanced at Professor Bard and asked, "Is that right, Professor?"

Professor Bard grew more and more shocked, more and more impressed.

"…Ah, yes! Yes!"

The old professor paused for a few seconds, then moved up to the microphone, his stern voice rising with excitement: "Did you hear what Aiwasi said? This is the key point—everyone, mark it down. And the following line: ‘The demonologists, in an attempt to regain their political power, dared to perform a new sacrificial ritual…’"

He read aloud for quite a while, while the students, who were rarely given a chance to hear a Professor Bard history lecture, diligently marked the key points.

After finishing, the old professor didn’t seize the microphone.

Instead, he moved aside, patting Aiwasi on the shoulder and gesturing for him to continue.

The old professor grew increasingly fond of this handsome and learned young man.

Especially since he wasn’t good at teaching himself...

It was undeniable—Aiwasi had a remarkable grasp of the pace of the class!

If he weren’t a transcendental being, and instead studied history in the Department of Humanities, he could have become a remarkable historian. Or perhaps a great mentor.

But what a pity... He probably wouldn't give up the Path of Dedication.

Still, Professor Bard had made up his mind.

Even if it went against the rules, he would hire Aiwasi as his teaching assistant!

To heck with the "principles"—someone else would snatch him up soon enough!

In Avalon University, there were many professors who were excellent researchers but not good at lecturing.

But they couldn’t beat him, because he was going to act first!

The old professor smiled, eyes squinted in delight, murmuring: “No wonder Princess Isabelle has such high regard for this young man… truly, seeing is believing.”

"...What?"

Haiena, standing to the side, blinked in confusion. "Princess Isabelle?"

"Yes," the old professor said with a kind explanation to the student he also liked, "Last night, Aiwasi was invited to a private dinner by Princess Isabelle. He didn’t come back until very late... Now, the high society of Avalon must all know about it."

"I initially thought it was just a rumor, but now it seems true. Not only is he knowledgeable, but most importantly, it’s his poise—he was able to control the pace of his first lecture in front of so many unfamiliar students without flinching. He surely has the temperament for the Path of Authority."

"I now believe he really did decisively shoot and kill those demonologists. When I first saw the news, I thought it was just flattery towards ‘Moriarty,’ attributing the merit to him... after all, how could an ordinary, disabled person attack a transcendental being who had already resonated with their path? The pressure from transcendents on ordinary people is absolute... just the fact that he didn’t tremble and could act speaks volumes about his iron will."

"That’s true."

Haiena subconsciously defended Aiwasi, whispering: "I saw it with my own eyes."

But even she found it hard to believe.

Because she had met Princess Isabelle, and knew what kind of person she was.

That shy, adorable little one... would she really invite someone over for dinner?

And... stay until very late?

—Could it have been that late?

(End of Chapter)