When the plot-skips players into the game world

Professor Bard was actually very liberal and knowledgeable.

In fact, he was essentially the most authoritative historian in Avalon.

It was just that he wasn't good at lecturing—instead of teaching classes, he was more adept at studying diligently alone amid piles of ancient documents.

At this moment, a thought arose in the history professor's mind.

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

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

But perhaps that wouldn't work. Principally, assistants were to be chosen from outstanding juniors or seniors, just like Hayna.

Mr. Aiwass was only a freshman, which was not exactly following the rules...

While Professor Bard was lost in thought, Aiwass had already skillfully steered the conversation back to the Star Antimony Kingdom, capturing everyone's attention and anticipation:

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

"Have you ever considered, if they had not been banned... but had been allowed to develop in balance with the Path of Authority, what would have happened?

"What we would be discussing then is the fall of the Heracel Empire."

Aiwass said, looking down and raising his voice in contrast to the content on the lecture notes: "Students, please turn your textbooks to page two hundred and forty-one."

The next moment, the classroom returned to tranquility.

The sound of turning pages rose uniformly and clearly within the classroom.

"The history of the Heracel Empire was long and its territory vast... and this would result in the existence of Transcendents from all the different paths within it.

"You might find it hard to imagine, but the most mainstream mystical skill in the empire was Demonology. In fact, that was where the profession of 'Demon Scholar' first originated. People studied demons much like how we study mechanics and physics; they developed new rituals just as our inventors here craft new things. And under the Transcendent path, the Alchemists of the Path of Balance and the Painters of the Path of Beauty each had their own associations."

"Rituals, Alchemy, Art; the balanced development of these three mystical skills made the empire thrive and prosper."

At this point, Aiwass set down the lecture notes.

"""

He raised his head to begin speaking of his own matters, and the students uniformly looked up in anticipation, "But just one year before the Torn Earth War began, alchemists and artists had a fierce conflict."

"The initial spark of the war was a painting titled 'The Alchemist'. It depicted the working environment of alchemists. Alchemy was originally closed off and secretive, but an alchemist opened his workshop to a painter friend, allowing the painter to sketch his work."

"However, the painting invited the discontent of the alchemists. For one thing, it was not accurate enough, with numerous errors in motion, placement, and attire, all distorted to make the composition look good; for another, it was too precise, such that a secret painting hung as a background on the alchemist's wall was clearly captured—this painting suggested an ancient technique for 'creating artificial rats using grains and basil leaves,' which was extremely valuable knowledge."

"…Artificial rats?"

Hayna, by Aiwass's side, couldn't help but frown and repeat, "What's the use in that?"

She had not heard this story before.

And Aiwass's amplifier had included her remark. This led to some murmurs among the students.

Aiwass smiled and nodded slowly, saying, "Of course, we all detest rats. We wish them extinct… but no matter what, this is a mystical technique for 'creating life from non-life.' And 'Creation of Life' is one of the alchemist's highest ultimate pursuits."

"Because of this serious leak, the alchemist and the painter involved were executed for the crime of divulging secrets. But the damage was done, and the still seething alchemists began to denounce the painters, claiming the adverse impact was because the painters had released paintings about alchemy without notifying the Alchemy Association for review."

"Thus, the alchemists began to mandate that all alchemical shops in the country stop selling pigments to those who appeared to be artists—until the artists agreed to 'creative review'. This threat actually had no strength, as they did not prohibit buying on behalf, nor had they clearly defined what standards identified 'someone who looks like a painter'."

"But the artists believed that this was a premeditated overreach of power by the Alchemy Association against the Art Association. If those things were not to be leaked, then they should not have been hung up in the first place or the artists should have been notified in advance. Painters were merely responsible for painting and exhibiting them to others and were not responsible for leaks caused by the model's mistakes."

"Thus, they immediately counterattacked, painting a large number of works implying alchemical secrets. Because there was no explicit leaking of secrets but merely symbolic hints… plus, alchemy itself did not have standardized professional terminology but had different ciphers for each person. They had ample excuses to claim they had no malicious intent to leak secrets."

Speaking to this point, Aiwass looked around, "I believe many of you here might have seen those 'paintings implying alchemy'? Those oldest ones originated from this period. And because they were mass-produced and cheap, they swiftly entered the Imperial market, becoming affordable enough for imperial lords to easily collect several pieces."

"This move broke the Alchemy Association's monopoly on alchemy, leading to the birth of numerous non-academic folk alchemists. They were not professional enough and lacked systematic alchemical knowledge… but at this time, another faction of alchemists previously persecuted and suppressed by the Alchemy Association joined them, creating the still extant folk alchemy society 'The Twelve Keys'. They hid among the folk, and with the help of the Art Association, revealed all the most secret alchemical techniques through the symbolic means of alchemical paintings."

"The furious Alchemy Association demanded the Demon Scholars capture and punish these traitors, but the Art Association sought to fully protect the legitimacy of 'The Twelve Keys', insisting that the Demon Scholars were not to capture innocent painters. The conflict between the Transcendent Associations gradually surfaced…"

"And while both sides were quarreling incessantly, a vampiric creature called 'Necrogo' by the Empire infiltrated the Royal Capital. Meaning 'harbinger of calamity', some called them 'Son of the Moon' or 'Children of the Dragon'. They were not Phantom Demons, but they could devour weak Demons to become stronger, and could also resurrect repeatedly after death."

"As a result, those Demon Scholars at the pinnacle of power became the hunted. Their strength soon weakened, and when they became weaker than both the Alchemy Association and the Art Association, the two formerly bickering associations suddenly fell quiet. They began to conspire together to seize the political influence of the Demon Scholars."

"These Sons of the Moon are a special race from the Path of Love, also protected by the Eternal Self. Among them, the newborn can only act under the moon. The Transcendents from the Path of Love could transform into them through a certain ritual, just as Demon Scholars from the Demon's Path could transform into Demons—when someone from the Path of Love dies drained of blood, they would become 'newborn' after forty days, devouring Demons and feeding on blood at night. If they receive enough nutrition during these forty days as a newborn, they can evolve into a true Son of the Moon after another forty days, that is, eighty days after death, acquiring the ability to move under The Sun."

"It is said that their immortality originated from a Curse or possibly a form of Love. Their ability to prey on Demons is related to the blood of the Serpent Father; hence, some scholars believe that the Eternal Self has a secret connection with the Serpent Father. As these two Pillar Gods both oversee the Mystical Skills of 'Curse'. And perhaps the fact that the advancement ritual always takes place 'under the moon' is related…"

```

When Aiden heard Mr. Aiwass speaking from the lectern, he was momentarily stunned.

He suddenly thought of something.

Immortal beings, lifedrain, evil spirits resurrected from death...

Subconsciously, he glanced at Professor Bard and noticed that the professor did not correct him. Instead, he was watching Mr. Aiwass attentively.

Which meant...

'Dracula,' as written, was all true?

Meanwhile, Mr. Aiwass continued in his gentle and clear tone, slowly lecturing as if he truly were a teacher, "Students, this is what the book mentions about 'the weakening of the Demon Scholar's power leading the emperor to lose faith in them, and the Demon Scholars themselves becoming unable to control the increasingly tense political situation in the empire.' I think this should be a focus..."

As he spoke, Mr. Aiwass looked toward Professor Bard to confirm, "Is that right, Professor?"

The more Professor Bard listened, the more shocked and delighted he became.

"...Ah, yes! That's right!"

The old professor was stunned for a few seconds before he reacted, squeezing up to the microphone and saying in his strict and uninflected voice, "Did you hear what Mr. Aiwass said? This line is important, take it down. Including the next one, 'In order to regain their political standing, the Demon Scholars risked holding a new sacrificial ritual...'"

He read from the textbook for quite a while, and the students, rarely attending Professor Bard's history class, really did highlight the points as he had instructed.

After finishing, the old professor didn't snatch the microphone away.

Instead, he stepped aside and patted Mr. Aiwass's shoulder with a smile, warmly gesturing for him to continue speaking.

The more the old professor watched this handsome and learned young man, the more he liked him.

Especially since he himself wasn't adept at teaching...

It must be said that Mr. Aiwass's control over the pace of the class was indeed good!

If he were not a Transcendent, and instead went to the Faculty of Humanities to study history, he could have become a remarkable historian. Or he might also have been an excellent tutor.

It's just a pity... he surely wouldn't abandon the Path of Devotion.

But now, Professor Bard had made up his mind.

Even if it were against the rules, he would snatch up Mr. Aiwass first, to be his teaching assistant!

Never mind the "in principle"—

Otherwise, sooner or later, other instructors would discover Aiwass's strengths!

At Royal Law University, there's no shortage of instructors like him who are good at research but not at teaching.

But they won't beat me, because I'm going to make the first move!

The old professor, delighted, squinted his eyes and couldn't help but repeatedly praise, "Truly deserving of the recognition by Isabel the Princess... seeing is believing."

...Huh?

Hayna, standing to the side, was taken aback, "The Princess?"

"Yes," the old professor kindly explained for this student, whom he also liked, "Last night, Mr. Aiwass was invited by Isabel the Princess to a private dinner. He didn't return until very late... by now, the entire upper echelon of Avalon should know about this.

"At first, I thought it was a rumor, but now it seems likely to be true. It's not just scholarly knowledge, but most importantly, this demeanor—speaking in front of so many people for the first time, and students he had never met before, yet not showing any stage fright and keeping the pace. He must have the adaptability of the Path of Authority.

"I now believe that he really did decisively shoot the Demon Scholar dead. When I saw the news, I thought it was flattery towards 'Moriarty,' crediting your achievements to him... after all, how could a disabled commoner possibly attack a Transcendent who has resonated with a Path? The oppressive power of Transcendents over us ordinary people is absolute... not trembling to incapacity already demonstrates an iron will."

"That is true."

Hayna instinctively defended Mr. Aiwass in a soft voice, "I saw it with my own eyes."

But she still found it somewhat unbelievable. Your journey continues on m v|l-e'm,p y r

Because she, too, had seen the Princess and knew what kind of person she was.

That seemingly introverted adorable girl... would actually invite someone over for a meal?

And, until very late...

—Was it the 'very late' she was thinking of?

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