"Viktor, don't you have classes at the academy today?"
"What's wrong?"
Viktor sat at his desk, holding a high-level magic book in his hand, reading it purely for leisure. He flipped through the pages as he casually replied to Liya's question.
"I already handed my lessons to my teaching assistant. She can handle them."
Liya looked at his relaxed, unconcerned attitude and couldn't help feeling utterly helpless. She pressed a hand to her forehead and sighed.
"Take a look at this yourself."
She pulled a letter, covered in writing, out of her pocket and tossed it onto the desk in front of Viktor.
Viktor glanced at Liya, who looked exasperated, then slowly closed his book, picked up the letter, and began to read.
As he read carefully, his brow furrowed.
[Professor Viktor, you have not come to the academy for over seven days. Have you encountered some kind of difficulty? Or perhaps you find the work of teaching and mentoring too dull? If, for some reason, you are unable to return to the academy, then the academy will retain your title of Professor and await your return, at which point it will be reinstated.]
[Royal Academy of Magic, Rachel Azure]
Rachel Azure, that was the name of the dean.
In the capital, she was the only fourth-tier Saint Magus… well, one of two now.
In short, the dean poured all her energy into the construction and development of the academy.
A letter like this, sent in official format, was automatically dispatched by her own magic ability.
'Natural Sparrow', that was a spell she invented herself.
This "Natural Sparrow" was formed from the elements in the air; it could appear as a leaf, or a speck of dust drifting through the air.
These natural constructs carried the dean's will, acting as her tools.
Naturally, the dean didn't have the time or energy to personally concern herself with what had recently happened to Viktor.
She could only sense one thing, that Viktor Clavenna had not returned to the academy for seven or eight days.
Thus, Natural Sparrow activated automatically and delivered this official-type letter, a clear reminder.
"Viktor, you should be at work."
Liya stood beside him and glanced at Viktor's expressionless poker face, which hadn't changed at all.
Even though his professor title was about to be revoked, he still looked calm and unhurried.
She couldn't hold it in and said, "This letter was already at the door when I got home last night."
"So that means you went to the morning council meeting today, and then spent the rest of the day just… relaxing at home? You didn't even step outside once?"
"..."
Strictly speaking, he hadn't been home the whole day, he had made a trip to Gwen's house.
Viktor was silent for a while, then neatly placed the letter back on the desk, aligning it perfectly with the edge.
Looking at his calm, leisurely demeanor, Liya felt her anger rising. 'Did this man have no concept of work at all?'
She couldn't hold back anymore and started venting at Viktor again.
"Do you have any idea how much I've done just to help you keep that professor title..."
"I've been away from home too long. I want to spend a little more time here." Before Liya could even finish, Viktor interrupted her.
"I know it's rude to cut you off, but I think I should explain."
"And also, I wanted to tell you this sooner."
"I've been gone too long. You've worked hard managing things here at home. Thank you."
"..."
This time it was Liya who fell silent.
It was like her words got stuck in her throat; she looked a bit embarrassed. The corners of her mouth lifted slightly, but it was obvious she was forcing herself not to smile.
She turned her head away, pacing around the room as she muttered, "Ha… haha, what's with that…"
At least Viktor had a bit of self-awareness.
His disappearance over the past days had indeed caused trouble for the Clavenna family.
But it also brought an opportunity.
After all, Viktor had plenty of enemies. Liya had already eliminated some of them, but many still lurked in the shadows. They had always stayed hidden out of fear of Viktor.
Once rumors spread that Viktor had disappeared, even died, those people started coming out one after another, all targeting House Clavenna.
Liya, of course, understood what this was, a reckoning.
She had long been worried that these people hiding in the dark would eventually become hidden threats to the family. But this time, after Viktor left, she finally had the chance to deal with them completely.
With Leon's help, they secretly destroyed an unknown number of shops and seized a lot of valuable goods in the process.
All in all, over the past few days, House Clavenna had made a tidy profit, enough to fill some gaps.
Of course, there were still hardships on the surface.
Many merchants took advantage of Viktor's absence to compete against them, that was undeniable.
And those open attacks couldn't be easily handled; they were too politically sensitive.
Especially the new item shop they had just opened, business had already been miserable from the start, and after this incident, not a single customer came anymore.
Beautiful fantasies meet harsh reality.
Who was it again who had sworn up and down that the store would definitely make money?
Liya glanced at Viktor with obvious disdain in her eyes.
"So? How did it go today? I'm sure you're fine, I'm asking about the Duke."
Viktor looked at her calmly and said, "He's safe."
Liya frowned in confusion.
"Didn't you and the Duke have some kind of long-standing grudge?"
She was referring to the incident where Viktor confessed to Erica.
"That daughter-obsessed Duke, how could he possibly get along with you?"
She couldn't make sense of it. Did Viktor threaten the Duke somehow? It wouldn't be out of character for him.
"There were certain circumstances that required it."
"In short, you don't have to worry about the store for now."
Hearing that, Liya had a few guesses and asked, "Wait, are you planning to use the Duke's influence to promote our products?"
Viktor tapped his fingers on the desk.
"At first, I did think about that. But I'm not planning to use the Duke."
"After all, his reputation isn't exactly great right now."
Even though the Duke had been cleared of his charges, his actions in the public eye were undeniable.
Under those circumstances, the reputation he had built up in the mage community had been ruined, more than half destroyed overnight.
And since magic potions mainly targeted mages as customers, relying on the Duke's name would be suicidal.
"Might as well use his daughter instead."
"What are you plotting now?"
Liya looked puzzled again. She really couldn't understand Viktor's reasoning. She shrugged, she didn't care as long as the result was good.
Then, as if remembering something, she said, "Oh, right, Gwen contacted me today. She said her sister wanted me to pass something along to you."
"Hm?"
Viktor raised an eyebrow. Liya looked just as confused as she said, "She told me her sister said you should be careful of the filth lurking in the capital."
"Her sister? Filth? That's all she said?"
"Yeah, nothing else."
Liya noticed the subtle change in Viktor's expression and rolled her eyes.
"Whatever. Go back to reading your book, I won't bother you anymore."
With that, she swayed her hips and left the study.
Viktor didn't even lift his head, sinking into deep thought.
'Gwen's sister…'
In his memory, there was only one, her eldest sister, Kefra Delin.
However, that character never appeared in the game's storyline.
Because before the main story even began, during the prologue, she was already dead.
Killed by…
'Demonic Invasion.'
Viktor closed his eyes.
In the first chapter of the game's storyline, the Calencia Empire was struck by a demonic invasion.
Large numbers of civilians were turned into mindless, walking corpses, their consciousness taken over by demons.
Countless minor demons wandered the streets, spreading everywhere across the empire.
For players, those little demons were the beginner monsters they had to fight, not slimes, but demons.
In the early game, they were easy prey for experience.
It wasn't until the mid-chapter, after players defeated the chapter's mid-boss, that the Calencia Empire finally returned to normal.
'What was that demon boss's name again…?'
"Let me think…"
"Greed Demon, Yerm."
"Hey, kid! You just casually said something you really shouldn't have."
Vega suddenly chattered nervously on his shoulder. Just hearing that thing's true name made the evil god shudder all over.
"So? A demon? How do you even know that thing's name?"
Vega's single eye glared sharply at Viktor.
"Just came to mind."
"I don't believe you."
Vega didn't buy his lie at all. "Just came to mind"? Nobody casually mentions something that disgusting.
Yes, disgusting. Absolutely revolting.
As a god, technically speaking, Vega despised nothing more than those filthy, corrupted demons.
Viktor glanced at Vega in mild surprise. Sure, that thing was gross, but seeing an evil god react like it was about to puke was unexpected.
"Aren't you an evil god? I thought you'd have more in common with them."
"Why would you associate gods with demons?"
Vega raised its head proudly, as if declaring its noble status.
'I am a god. Pay tribute!'
"So that 'filth' that girl mentioned, you think it's this thing?"
Vega wrinkled in disgust. "Why don't you lock me back in the cage, deal with it first, and then let me out?"
Viktor shook his head.
In Vega's view, if Viktor could name that creature, it meant he knew something.
"I'm not sure yet."
To be honest, Viktor found these things disgusting too.
Different demons had different methods, but all of them fed on human emotions.
The Greed Demon, Yerm, its method was…
"To exploit a person's greed, giving them what they desire again and again, until they can no longer repay the price, and then it drags them into the abyss of endless debt and devours them whole."
Viktor opened his eyes.
"Utterly vile."
———
In Viktor's office, Henny was packing up her belongings.
She was preparing to leave, to leave the academy and go somewhere else.
The only person who had ever cared about her was no longer here.
Her dream had already been burned away.
Henny had nothing left to stay for.
"Little lady, you look rather unhappy."
A deep, magnetic voice echoed from the darkness. Henny turned around sharply, but there was nothing there.
"Another prank?"
She thought to herself, Someone's still got time for pranks at a time like this? How boring.
"Oh~ sorry, beautiful one. You just don't look so well."
"Is there something I can do to help you?"
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