The three-day final exam period finally came to an end.
Early the next morning, the students, still sitting at home, received one report card after another delivered by Dean Rachel's [Natural Sparrow].
For a moment, some were happy and some were worried.
But what surprised countless people was, the exam that had originally been called the hardest test in this final exam period, Viktor's unique and unusual assessment…
Actually turned out to be the exam with the highest pass rate this year.
As high as 80%.
This made many professionals unable to figure it out.
:This… this can't have some hidden inside story, right?'
This exam had been called by many media outlets "the hardest" test.
Of course, the pass rate was indeed on the high side, but the number of people who achieved full marks was very small.
Only barely a hundred.
That was very surprising.
However, the contents of the exam would not be revealed to the public at first.
No matter how the reporters and outsiders asked, Dean Rachel's answer was always the same, "In the near future, we will not reveal any exam content. I can only say that Professor Viktor's assessment is absolutely fair and without any padding."
"If everyone feels confused, then three days after the students go on break, Professor Viktor's lecture will be held in the academy's largest lecture hall."
"At that time, everyone may ask Chief Professor Viktor questions during the Q&A session."
Dean Rachel responded to every interview flawlessly, without any gaps.
After all, he was considered an old mage. Naturally, he knew what to say at what time.
The lecture prepared by Viktor quickly spread throughout the capital.
Naturally, it also became a popular topic among many nobles.
The Clavenna family was now at its peak, and Viktor no longer received the scorn from everyone as he once had.
After all, the princess's private tutor, the academy's chief professor, a councilor…
With countless titles on Viktor, he was no longer someone ordinary nobles could afford to provoke.
Is there still anyone who looks down on Viktor now? They really need to consider how much they weigh.
Viktor's influence was tremendous, and many nobles begged to secure a seat to listen to the lecture.
Even with status and background, it was difficult to obtain a place for this lecture.
It could be said to be impossible even with a thousand gold.
———
Viktor silently watched Liya busily moving around in front of him.
One moment she changed his tie, the next moment she changed his shirt.
Liya was doing her very best to tidy Viktor's outfit and appearance.
"All done!"
At last, she put her hands on her waist and looked satisfied with her masterpiece.
The Viktor before her had changed from his old, worn trench coat into a black tailcoat.
He wore white gloves on his hands, and on his chest was a straight black-and-white patterned tie.
A pair of polished leather shoes seemed so shiny that even a beam of light could reflect dazzlingly off them, making him look extremely spirited.
Liya seemed very satisfied with her creation, repeatedly looking Viktor up and down, admiring her brother's charming appearance.
"Not bad."
Viktor looked at Liya in front of him.
She was clearly preparing to attend the lecture as well and had already prepared her dress early.
But because she was helping him dress, she delayed it until the lecture was about to start, and still hadn't had time to change into her own outfit.
So Viktor said a word of thanks.
"Thank you."
"Hm?"
Liya unhappily shot Viktor a glance.
"Don't overthink it. You're representing our Clavenna family, you have to dress up to match your temperament."
After she finished speaking, she looked again at Viktor in the mirror, narrowed her eyes, and smiled lightly, very satisfied, "You must shine brilliantly for me."
Knock! Knock!
A knocking sound slowly came.
"Come in."
Liya thought it was a servant, so she spoke toward the door.
But instead, Henny pushed the door open and came in.
She was still wearing that same black robe, looking rustic and old-fashioned.
As a vice professor, and formerly Viktor's assistant, Henny naturally needed to show up at such an event to help.
Liya originally wanted to dress Henny up a bit too, but Viktor immediately rejected the idea.
Why?
Not everyone had witnessed the charm hidden beneath Henny's robe.
If this succubus, who possessed demonic traits, were allowed to unleash her charm, the entire lecture hall would fall into chaos because of her.
The very next morning, Henny would be ready to appear on the front page of every newspaper.
"Professor! This is the speech draft prepared ahead of time for you!"
Henny had run all the way here and was slightly out of breath, but she didn't forget to pull out a thin stack of speech notes.
Viktor took it and glanced through it.
On it were a few opening lines and the standard formats for answering media questions.
Henny looked a bit guilty and said, "Too bad I didn't have enough time, or else I would've definitely written out the full lecture content for you!"
"You've already done very well."
Viktor lightly praised her, snapped his fingers, and the draft in his hand turned into scattered starlight and disappeared into the air.
Just reading it once was enough, Viktor had already memorized everything.
"As for the lecture content, I've already prepared it."
Veiga flew onto his shoulder beside him, and Viktor continued, "It's time to go."
———
[Royal Magic Academy]
Many people squeezed together and slowly walked toward the grand lecture hall.
Inside the hall, four dark red silk drapes hung from the ceiling, and under the lights, the golden-wood podium shone even brighter.
The audience seats below the stage were dim, and those who arrived early quickly found their seats.
Tonight's lecture had an extremely large audience, and most who could attend were people of very high status.
Even the Royal Knight Order received a notice to work overtime and was personally in charge of maintaining order.
Gwen stood at the front of the knight order, heroic and imposing. The silver-white armor she wore was polished smooth, like a cold and sharp Valkyrie.
Several luxurious carriages slowly stopped at the academy entrance, their dark purple color marking the noble status of their owners.
The media immediately turned their attention toward the carriages.
"That's… the Croy family crest, isn't it?"
The carriage door slowly opened.
Duke Levi stepped out first, appearing in the media's view.
Following behind him was the golden-haired Erica.
The reporters on the scene were instantly stunned.
"It's the duke and his genius daughter!"
"I heard Erica is now the most talented and youngest Tier-Two mage, and she's expected to reach Tier Three soon, wonder if it's true."
"Truly stunning!"
But Erica didn't pay attention to the media and walked straight toward the lecture hall.
The duke waved at the reporters and greeted other nobles with politeness.
After that, a white stallion trotted toward the academy.
A group of guards followed behind the carriage, making the reporters even more stunned.
It was someone from the royal family.
The golden carriage door slowly opened, and two princes stepped out of the same carriage, straightening their formal attire and confidently walking toward the academy.
The two princes, with warm and friendly smiles, entered the lecture hall together.
Along the way, they nodded and smiled at the reporters.
"Wow!"
"The two princes get along so well."
"Even the royal family places such importance on Viktor's lecture, this is amazing."
Everyone became even more shocked at Viktor's "connections."
Unknowingly, his influence had already spread throughout the entire capital.
But what surprised everyone was still that student of Viktor's.
'That rumored princess… hadn't come?:
While the crowd looked around in confusion, they noticed, a magic-powered carriage approached the academy.
A horseless carriage already symbolized the status of its owner.
The door opened automatically, and the first person to step out was the star of tonight's lecture, Viktor.
He wore a pitch-black tailcoat and clean white gloves.
One hand was held over his chest as he bowed elegantly toward the carriage interior, and he extended his other hand forward.
Inside the carriage, a mysterious woman placed her fair, jade-like hand onto Viktor's palm and slowly stepped down.
It was Aurelian.
She wore a flowing white gown and was adorned with shimmering jewels, sparkling under the moonlight.
A hairpin held her long hair in an elegant updo, adding a hint of mature charm.
Under the white dress, she looked soft and graceful even under the bright lights.
Her aura was like that of a fairytale figure walking out from moonlight.
The media were instantly dumbfounded, frozen on the spot, even dropping their crystal recorders, which rolled away across the ground.
'The princess actually got out of the same carriage as Viktor??'
'Huh??'
'Who wouldn't be confused seeing this??'
After stepping down, Aurelian lifted her skirt slightly and gave Viktor an elegant bow of thanks.
Then she went ahead toward the lecture hall first.
As she passed Gwen, she even smiled and nodded politely at the knight commander.
Gwen blinked in confusion but returned a smile.
Once the princess headed toward the hall, the reporters scrambled to pick up their recorders.
They didn't care whose device was whose, they all charged at Viktor in a frenzy.
Judging by this scene, they were determined to get Viktor's first-hand information.
Gwen frowned. The knight order was here to maintain order, yet these reporters weren't taking them seriously at all.
Originally, she thought Viktor would use magic to block the reporters, but he didn't.
He simply stood there, letting the reporters surround him.
At this moment, Gwen had no choice but to step forward.
She walked behind Viktor, her armor clanking loudly, and led several knights to surround him.
"Maintain order! Acting like this will only cause us trouble!"
The knights pushed the reporters back. Gwen stared coldly at their disappointed faces, remaining as indifferent as ever.
She turned back to look at Viktor.
He was not the slightest bit flustered by the media encirclement, appearing elegant and composed as always.
But Gwen couldn't help but frown and said to Viktor, "Why didn't you drive them away?"
Viktor clearly had the means to leave on his own. Even without magic, he could have accompanied the princess and avoided all this.
But he insisted on standing in place, waiting until the princess left first, and without her as a shield, he still stood there alone.
As if he were waiting for someone.
'Who could he possibly be waiting for?'
Thinking of this made Gwen irritated.
Viktor had no idea how much of a commotion he was causing right now.
But Viktor simply glanced at her and spoke calmly, "I was waiting for you to come rescue me."
"I knew you wouldn't just watch me get troubled."
"…"
Gwen froze for a moment, and in that daze, she seemed to see Viktor's lips slightly curve upward.
Only his voice lingered in her ears, "Escort me inside, won't you?"
"Miss Knight."