Chapter Twelve: Exemplifying the Teacher’s Virtue

The Caesar Empire is one of the most centralized monarchies on the continent of Phantom Beasts. Though it boasts a multitude of nobles, and some high-ranking aristocrats possess their own fiefs, none wield significant influence over the emperor. According to imperial law, only counts and above are considered high nobles, eligible for hereditary succession and the opportunity to acquire land. However, the military power within these noble estates is strictly limited; even the highest-ranking dukes command no more than ten thousand guards. Moreover, the granting of fiefs is exceedingly stringent. For this reason alone, Caesar is the envy of more decentralized kingdoms like the Res Empire.

All power is concentrated in the emperor’s hands. The imperial government is divided into six major departments: Finance, Justice, National Defense, Construction, Personnel, and Foreign Affairs, each overseeing their respective duties. Ten years ago, when Ludwig III ascended the throne, he established the Supreme Command, which manages all military affairs and directly commands the armed forces. Beneath it are the Department of Magic, Operations, Beasts, and a secretive Intelligence Bureau. The Supreme Commander is the emperor himself. Within the government, the Minister of Defense is now responsible for logistics and equipment.

Chu Tian, the Chief Court Priest, is subordinate to the Department of Magic, overseeing all official rituals nationwide. His direct superior is Damar, the slow-thinking Grand Magus.

The Caesar Empire holds a tradition: to cultivate magical talent, the Minister of Magic usually serves concurrently as the president of the Royal Academy of Magic, often teaching classes as well. Naturally, as the second-in-command of the Department of Magic, Chu Tian became the vice president.

Praise be to the Goddess of Life! Chu Tian, a faux priest but a true veterinarian, is now troubled. Being vice president is indeed a good thing; Chu Tian had long wanted to experience the joy of admonishing students. But teaching… That’s another matter.

A basic healing spell took Chu Tian over a month to learn, and now this magical imbecile is expected to instruct the nation’s most elite students in priestly lore. Absurd! Who has ever seen an elementary schooler lecturing doctoral candidates from Tsinghua?

Nevertheless, Chu Tian pressed on, even somewhat excited. The reason was simple—and painful. Simple because Princess Selina is a visiting professor at the Academy! Chu Tian understood well the advantage of proximity. Yet pain followed: Professor Selina is a water magus of tremendous power, casting a shadow over Chu Tian’s romantic aspirations.

At this moment, in the vice president’s office of the Royal Academy of Magic, Chu Tian was discussing teaching matters with Professor Selina.

“Professor Selina, does this mean you’ll be teaching at the academy every Wednesday and Thursday afternoon?” Chu Tian asked the princess seated before the desk.

“Yes, Vice President,” Selina nodded, displaying the proper demeanor of an subordinate before her superior. Selina’s egalitarian manner made Chu Tian’s admiration for her grow. For a princess to teach at the academy was already exceptional, and Selina carried not a trace of royal arrogance. Chu Tian was delighted; a wife should be both graceful in the parlor and skilled in the kitchen!

“So your classes are held in the Water Magic building?” Receiving confirmation, Chu Tian chuckled inwardly. From morning until noon, he had finally gleaned his beloved’s basic routine.

“I wonder, Professor Selina, what color clothing do you prefer?” Chu Tian began his deeper inquiries.

Selina’s brows twitched slightly, and her look of displeasure stirred Chu Tian’s heart. “Vice President, this doesn’t seem related to teaching duties, does it?”

“How could it not! A teacher’s appearance greatly affects student learning efficiency!” Chu Tian argued, feeling justified—his own poor grades were partly due to Anthony’s image, after all…

“Oh! It’s already noon.” Chu Tian glanced theatrically out the window. “I didn’t expect our talk to last so long! How about this: let me treat you to lunch!” At last, Chu Tian voiced his intention.

Selina’s smile blossomed at his invitation. “Are you trying to court me?”

Her bold, candid words left Chu Tian frozen. Having little experience in romance, Chu Tian’s mind went blank under Princess Selina’s direct approach. Her sweet voice followed, “But your excuse is really lacking in originality!”

Chu Tian blushed for the first time in ages, sitting in his chair, momentarily lost for words.

“Then I’ll take my leave.” Selina stood, elegantly exiting the office. At the doorway, she turned and softly parted her lips: “A single glance, a hundred charms arise; the beauty of the palace fades before you! That verse is at least original.”

Praise be to the Goddess of Life! Who told the princess that line? I must thank him profusely!

Chu Tian was elated, stumbling around the desk in pursuit…

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After enjoying the most delicious lunch of his life and escorting Princess Selina from the academy, Chu Tian donned his priestly robes, ready to teach his first class.

Due to a misunderstanding of Chu Tian’s abilities, Director Damar placed great importance on this inaugural lesson. Damar had initially doubted Chu Tian, who exhibited no magical aura, but after witnessing the earth-shaking scene at the cavalry camp, even his last shred of skepticism vanished. Now, Damar’s assessment of Chu Tian’s power could be summed up in four words: unfathomable depths!

Driven by this belief, Damar’s selection of Chu Tian’s students was extremely rigorous: No one below junior priest level! No ill-mannered students! No one too old! No one without potential! Even those meeting these criteria would be excluded if they failed the final exam!

These standards made Chu Tian curse inwardly: the old man was setting him up for disaster! After such stringent selection, only fifty out of a thousand priesthood students qualified. All who attended were the elite of the elite! Was this not a recipe for exposing Chu Tian, whose priestly skills were all show and no substance?

On his way to the classroom, Chu Tian desperately recalled every word Anthony had ever said, trying to piece together a coherent lecture. Yet the path was too short; he hadn’t even counted how many senior priests above seventh rank there were on the continent before arriving.

He took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, calmed his nerves, and strode confidently into the classroom.

Thunderous applause erupted. Chu Tian walked to the podium, smiling and waving to the crowd, embodying the very essence of a teacher. Standing at the lectern, he surveyed the room: though meant for fifty, over a hundred students crowded in, their eyes fixed upon him with awe and reverence.

The students of the Holy Light Priesthood, the Chief Court Priest, Marquis Vladino teaching a class—news had swept the academy at dawn. All outstanding priesthood trainees became objects of envy.

Even aside from Anthony’s reputation, Chu Tian was an idol in his own right; not everyone could heal a ninth-tier dragon, and the spectacle of ten thousand warhorses recovering simultaneously in flames had already inspired bards to compose songs.

Thus, regardless of their major, anyone with connections managed to squeeze into today’s classroom.

Yet Chu Tian hadn’t realized he had transitioned from veterinarian to idol, still striving to maintain a teacherly demeanor. He cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention, and began his address:

“Praise be to the Goddess of Life! May the divine glory shine upon you—the empire’s future elites!” With that, he opened his arms in a gesture as if embracing the entire class. Chu Tian’s sacred and dignified bearing, his resonant voice, instantly ignited another round of applause.

“I am honored today to introduce you to the sacred vocation of priesthood!” Chu Tian raised his right hand, pressing down to quiet the crowd. Squinting slightly, he smiled and continued: “First, I’d like to hear your thoughts on priesthood. Who wishes to speak?”

Scanning the eager faces, Chu Tian pointed to a corner in the last row. “Let’s start with that student.”

Following Chu Tian’s gesture, a young priest blushed deeply and stood up, trembling.