Gwen stared fixedly at Viktor.
She was flustered, the failure of her Heart of Justice made her completely unable to tell whether Viktor was telling the truth or lying.
How could this matter be related to demons?
"Demons? What's a demon?"
"I don't know, what is that?"
Many of the people present hadn't even heard what a demon was before, and they all looked utterly confused about what had just happened.
But one thing was undeniable, Professor Devon had been taken away. They saw it with their own eyes.
Viktor had no time to explain anything to these people. He only needed to make them suspect that Devon might have had dealings with those things just now.
"Do you know the location?"
Viktor communicated telepathically with Vega.
"Not far, it's right behind the academy, in the back mountain."
Vega patted its own chest, flew back onto Viktor's shoulder, and replied confidently.
Viktor knew that if Henny had truly been seduced and corrupted by the demon, she definitely wouldn't let Devon Racer go.
Demons gradually amplify people's negative emotions, Henny's hatred was the demon's best food.
Eventually, no matter what method it used, Devon Racer was bound to be taken away.
And all Viktor had to do was manipulate public opinion just a little, and the demon's trail would become entangled with Devon Racer himself.
Viktor had already placed a magic mark on Devon Racer's body. Even if the man left the capital, Vega could still sense his location through the link between them.
So naturally, finding that guy would be easy.
Now, Viktor's mission was complete.
He only needed to wait.
Once the demon bared its fangs on its own, he would personally take care of it.
Suddenly, Viktor "suddenly" felt a wave of dizziness. He held his forehead, his body swaying heavily as if he was about to collapse at any moment.
"Viktor…"
Seeing him wobble like that, Gwen instinctively wanted to reach out and support him. But all the eyes watching from around made her hesitate, and she froze mid-motion.
Just then, one of the knights beside her, feeling dizzy himself, lost his balance and bumped into Gwen's shoulder.
Completely off guard, she stumbled forward, right into Viktor's arms.
She looked up, and right in front of her was the dizzy Viktor.
Gwen froze. Standing there in the middle of the plaza, she didn't know whether to move or stay still.
But seeing how weak Viktor looked, she gathered her courage.
"It's just helping him stand, right? He saved my life. It's nothing."
After giving herself that justification, she stepped forward and grabbed Viktor with both hands to steady him.
"Viktor, are you all right?"
When she touched him, Viktor's body stiffened slightly. He turned his head, giving her a surprised look.
What's going on?
He was pretending, after all.
Even though the magic formation did affect him somewhat as a fourth-tier mage, it wasn't this bad.
But since he had just "struggled" with the demon, outsiders would naturally assume he was exhausted.
Viktor wanted to explain, then changed his mind, and simply collapsed into Gwen's arms, acting like his strength had given out.
He even made his voice sound weak.
"Hold me up a little…"
Don't get the wrong idea, this wasn't taking advantage.
It was simply to make his innocence seem more convincing.
At first, Gwen didn't dare to move. Being this close in front of so many people made her cheeks burn red. But hearing Viktor's weak voice, her compassionate nature flared up.
"Viktor must be… so tired…"
Even if everyone cursed him, even if he was misunderstood by all, he never explained himself.
Even if the whole world turned against him.
Some of the still-conscious mages asked, "What exactly happened? What's this about a demon?"
"So you're saying Professor Devon is the one with a problem? That's impossible!"
"My head's a mess. I think this barrier is lowering my IQ!"
"What's for lunch today?"
"Wait, why is Captain Gwen hugging Viktor in public like that!?"
Gwen, "..."
"Silence!"
A knight shouted, instantly quieting the mages.
Gwen knelt down, holding Viktor in her arms to make him more comfortable.
Then she looked up and addressed the others.
"Whatever questions you have will be answered once the investigation is complete."
"For now, everyone stay in the academy and wait for rescue."
"And, let Viktor rest for a while!"
All the mages fell silent.
Some nobles who knew the two were engaged were baffled.
People said Viktor and Gwen didn't get along, but seeing how affectionate they looked now, did that look like a bad relationship?
Whoever spread that rumor, absolute nonsense.
Vega stood nearby, speechless as it watched Viktor pretending to faint.
Life is a play, and all depends on acting skill.
Let's see how you plan to end this, it thought.
Suddenly, Vega raised its head. Its single eye narrowed as it sensed something.
A faint blue light flickered beneath its eye as it scanned the surroundings.
'Viktor, don't sleep yet.'
'The duke's little girl, she's getting close to that thing.'
As Vega's first believer, Erica shared a one-way link with it.
Vega could always sense where Erica was, but she couldn't sense it in return.
And right now, Vega clearly felt Erica approaching the back mountain.
'That little girl is my only believer right now, don't you let her die.'
Viktor, of course, knew about Vega revealing itself to Erica and using "saving him" as an excuse to gain her as a follower.
'Always causing trouble.'
Viktor replied mentally, then "struggled" to open his eyes.
"Gwen… hand… reach in…"
"Huh? Ah???"
Gwen froze, her face turning scarlet, stammering incoherently.
"Vi–Viktor, you… you… what are you..."
"In the coat. My potion."
Boom!
Like a bomb going off, Gwen's mind went blank.
Realizing she had misunderstood, she quickly shut up and reached into Viktor's coat to search.
Viktor willed a blue potion from his player inventory into the coat's pocket.
Soon, Gwen's hand found it, a small blue vial.
"This one?"
She looked at it, it looked almost identical to the potions Viktor had given her before, only the color was different.
She was about to hand it to him but realized Viktor's arms were too weak to lift. Panicking, she held the potion up to his lips.
"Viktor, open your mouth."
Viktor opened his mouth, and Gwen gently poured the potion in.
When she finished, she let out a sigh of relief, then noticed countless eyes staring at her.
Even the knights.
Gwen blinked and asked, "What are you all looking at me for?"
"N–Nothing, Captain…" one knight stammered.
"It's just that, um… Lord Viktor is… really lucky."
"Huh?"
That was when Gwen realized just how absurd her actions looked.
But before she could react further, Viktor moved.
He pushed himself up with one hand and stood, looking completely revitalized.
"V–Viktor? You're okay?"
"Thank you, Gwen."
He stood up and adjusted his coat.
Everyone froze again.
'Wasn't he on the verge of death just now? How is he suddenly fine?'
'What kind of miracle potion is that!?'
'At least pretend to still be weak, damn it!'
Suddenly, Viktor called out several names.
"Professor Nair, Professor Dyson, Professor Gaia…"
Those were the academy's few third-tier mages.
The professors exchanged glances.
"Professor Viktor, what is it?"
Viktor explained briefly.
"As you can see, the academy has been sealed by demonic power."
"It won't be long before our strength is completely drained. When that happens, every one of us will be the demon's dinner."
At those words, the mages shivered. The named professors hurriedly stood up.
"If you don't want to sit here and die, follow me and help break the formation."
The professors looked at each other helplessly.
"Professor Viktor, our mana is being drained nonstop. We can't recover it at all."
"We want to help, but we're powerless."
Before they could finish, Viktor pulled out several vials identical to the one he'd drunk earlier and tossed them precisely to the professors.
They caught them, before they could even look at the glowing blue liquid, Viktor said flatly, "Drink it."
Remembering Viktor had just taken one himself, they hesitated for only a second before tilting their heads back and drinking.
Soon...
"Huh?"
"Eh?"
"What the hell!?"
Their reactions were nearly identical. All of them stared at their bodies glowing faintly blue.
Their mana had instantly recovered to about half.
"This... this is an elixir!"
A moment ago, they'd suspected Viktor was acting.
Acting? Acting my ass!
He didn't need to act, sincerity was his deadliest weapon.
While they were still marveling, Viktor's calm voice followed.
"One bottle, one thousand Geo."
"The whole knight order's watching, don't you dare skip payment."
The professors froze.
"What? One thousand Geo?"
Many students and mages nearby grimaced, but the professors who'd drunk it all shouted in unison,
"That's too cheap!"
"Professor Viktor! Sell me more! Ten bottles, no, twenty!"
"Professor Viktor, you just tell us where to go! East, west, whatever you say! You want me to catch a dog? I won't chase a chicken instead!"
"I've hated that pig Devon for ages! Demon or not, Professor, I'm with you today!"
As the professors got fired up like men on stimulants, everyone else was left completely dumbfounded.
Gwen, still kneeling on the ground, tilted her head, blinked a few times, and said blankly, "Huh?"