The Shepherds Are Dense

Chapter 145. The First Demon Scholar

The shadow demon was truly satiated this time.As Aiwass’s Devotion Path level rose, the potency of his willingly sacrificed flesh and blood increased.

Perhaps overfed, grateful, or wary of the Butterfly of Paradoxical Flame’s sealing, the shadow demon sought to solidify its value to Aiwass. It offered to use the other facet of Aiwass’s Nurturing (Essence) skill, granting Lily a portion of its power.

As a demon, it didn’t believe in “bonds forged over time.” Only benefit and fear ensured loyalty. It aimed to prove its utility.

Despite being an upper demon, it felt at a disadvantage. Other demon scholars would grovel to it—upper demons were stronger, barely bound by contracts, obeying only when pleased or ignoring their summoners entirely. Some even killed their masters to switch or return to the Dream Realm.

But that was fine. Compared to uninspiring demon scholars, the shadow demon preferred Aiwass—dangerous, thrilling, and brimming with potential.

“Speaking of,” Aiwass said, preparing the nurturing ritual, “you mentioned reborn decades ago. Have other demon scholars summoned you?”

“Oh, yes,” the shadow demon replied, chuckling in Chloe’s sweet voice. “But I killed them all casually.

Too weak—no power, no talent, no ambition to rise, no vision. They summoned me just to eliminate rivals or guard their safety.”

It scoffed at their pettiness. “For killing, why not hire assassins or bodyguards?”

“Huh?” Lily interjected, curious. “Demons don’t like killing?”

“Many demon scholars miss this,” Aiwass explained. “Most demons don’t enjoy tormenting the weak. Demons feed on souls—thoughts, wills, essences. The shadow demon savors my ‘transcendence.’

They’re cruel and ruthless, using the most efficient means to gain sustenance, but they don’t derive pleasure from cruelty. Humans project their morals, assuming demons love slaughter.”

Lower demons attacked humans because they were the weakest phantoms, like hook demons—born from pain, sin, or desire, not branded by the Fallen Celestial. Lacking intellect or past-life memories, they acted on instinct, barely articulate, akin to beasts, less clever than griffins.

“Demon scholars study lower demons’ habits, misapplying them to upper demons,” Aiwass said, smiling. “Treating intelligent upper demons like children or idiots—habits from controlling lesser demons—angers them.”

“We don’t mind humans dividing us into ‘upper’ and ‘lower’ demons,” the shadow demon added. “Let them summon the brainless ones. I’d rather rest in the shadow domain.”

“What’s the shadow domain like?” Lily asked.

“You’ll see soon,” the shadow demon replied. “It’s in the Dream Realm, partially overlapping reality—also called the Shadow Land or Shadow Realm. Mortals see ‘Shadow Realm,’ ‘Celestial Realm,’ or ‘Underworld’ as separate planes, but they’re just Dream Realm regions.”

In the shadow domain, shadow demons were a minority. Most phantoms there followed the Love Path, with some Transcendence or Adaptation Path, ruled by the Shadow Celestial, not the Fallen Celestial.

“Isn’t the Dream Realm where we undergo ascension rituals?” Lily pressed.

“All ascenders enter the same region—the ‘Trial Grounds,’” Aiwass clarified. “Long ago, there were no apostle overseers. Phantoms lurked nearby, crashing rituals to devour ascenders’ souls—like wolves snatching examinees.

Some phantoms targeted specific Paths, sabotaging ascenders. Others were summoned by ascenders for off-field aid—cheating, essentially.”

Apostles guarded ritual sites to prevent this. Though not always powerful, as agents of the Nine Pillar Gods, attacking them was tantamount to attacking the gods.

“Correct, my wise master,” the shadow demon said. “Your knowledge of demons and the Dream Realm surpasses ninety percent of this world’s demon scholars.”

“Ninety? One hundred!” Aiwass declared boldly. “Even Jean de Fontenelle, the first demon scholar, now a great demon and Fallen Celestial apostle, took the wrong path.”

In this field, Aiwass was confident he outshone all contemporaries.

Demon scholars, though popular in the Transcendence Path, were a young profession, born less than five hundred years ago in the early fifteenth century.

Jean de Fontenelle, the first, was an alchemist seeking a potion to revive the dead. He failed but summoned his deceased friend—now a shadow demon. To keep it in the material world, he created the demon contract.

“The first demon scholar’s contract was with a shadow demon,” Aiwass said. “Legends say he summoned a demon from his shadow to tear foes apart—clearly a shadow demon.

He wasn’t famous, but his student, François Prelati, took interest in demonology, not alchemy. Studying his teacher’s work, Prelati established the demon scholar lineage.

He became a lure demon, and his friend Gilles de Rais, originally an alchemist, was guided to become a blood demon. These three, the first demon avatars, became Fallen Celestial apostles.”

For short-lived humans, ascending to immortal, powerful demons was tempting.

But all demon scholars strayed.

In their era, before the Ritual of the Ouroboros, becoming a demon was their only advancement path.

Yet they lacked deep understanding—ignorant of summoning upper demons, their natures, or high-tier demons beyond fifth-tier, only partially analyzing lower demons.

“The Fallen Celestial?” Lily caught a detail. “Why not the Serpent Father?”

“That’s the crux,” Aiwass said, smiling without elaborating. “Alright, we’re ready. Let’s try the nurturing ritual—transfer the shadow demon’s power to you.”

This was why Aiwass knew demon scholars erred.

Demon avatars could only become Fallen Celestial apostles.

Contrary to their cruel image, the Serpent Father was relatively merciful, or at least detached, disliking blood or live sacrifices and thus demon avatars.

The Transcendence Path’s “evil” reputation stemmed from demons’ loud presence.

Becoming a demon avatar ensured rejection by the Serpent Father, halting further advancement.

This secret, unknown to nearly all demon scholars and most demons, was something Aiwass shouldn’t know or have legitimate means to learn.

So he stayed silent.

(Chapter End)