"…This… where is this place?"
All the guests present were without exception plunged into shock. Even the two princes slowly stood up, sizing up the dense forest around them.
'Is this actually a space constructed by magic?'
The First Prince touched a nearby, thick tree trunk. The feeling coming from his fingertips told him, this space didn't seem any different from the real world.
Even the chirping of insects and the fragrance of flowers could be constructed out of thin air. This kind of vibrant, lively scene, if he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he might never have believed it in his entire life.
But… it still seemed like something was missing.
However, most people were still shocked by Viktor's magic power.
The entire lecture hall held several thousand people, yet Viktor moved everyone over here by himself!?
Even Rachel in the front row touched the grass nearby and felt a wave of astonishment.
He could sense it, the method used to create this space was similar to his own Sea of Knowledge.
Thinking back to how Viktor had been there before, Rachel had thought Viktor got his inspiration from the Sea of Knowledge.
But even Rachel himself could never construct something like this in an instant.
And certainly not paint this space so naturally.
As everyone recovered from their daze and looked at the monsters surrounding Viktor, they became even more bewildered.
Those monsters looked just like Viktor's loyal guards.
They only listened to Viktor's commands.
'Magic that creates monsters? This…'
This kind of miraculous magic power shocked them beyond belief.
But no one would ask Viktor how he did it.
However, everyone still remembered the last sentence Viktor had said.
"Dungeon?"
They realized the incredibly novel term.
This modern-sounding word, of course they had never heard it before.
And Viktor naturally did not forget to give them the follow-up explanation.
"As long as the magic power is sufficient, this kind of space can be made into multiple identical versions."
"It can also reduce magic consumption by shrinking the area."
"If the conditions are met, once one group of students enters, another group can enter an identical area, but the two groups will not encounter each other and will not interfere with each other."
"In this way, every student can benefit from this space, with no negative impact on others."
Some people listened while falling into deep thought. They examined this space carefully, and then their eyes suddenly widened.
No one capable of being here was an idiot.
Very quickly, they all realized just how heaven-defyingly innovative this invention was.
In Viktor's suggestion, they imagined a future scene.
Schools would no longer need to worry about the risks students might face once they entered real combat. They could use this as a training ground to cultivate more battle mages.
After these mage students graduated, every one of them would possess far more refined and powerful combat skills.
But there were even more implications.
This was something only mages could do, so it would undoubtedly raise the status of mages even further.
Because the people who benefited were not just mages.
Warriors, sorcerers, knights… all sorts of professions.
All could be trained in this way.
Take the Royal Knights, for example, each year's selection resulted in countless casualties.
But with this available, the royal family could reduce casualties to the minimum, even reach the possibility of zero casualties.
For the people and the nation, this would bring an unimaginable prosperity to the Empire.
"This…"
"Viktor's identity as a councilor… is truly without the slightest amount of fluff."
"A genius. He really is a genius."
Very quickly, everyone remembered Viktor's reputation as a genius.
His power and fame were so great that everyone completely forgot his current age.
Only twenty-nine years old, and already a fourth-tier mage.
Viktor clapped his hands, and at once, the surrounding illusion collapsed and dissipated like watercolor smoke.
All the colors mixed together, falling toward the ground.
Dust rose in bursts as it settled.
When the watercolor haze completely faded, everyone returned to reality.
Those present were back in the lecture hall, the two princes sat down slowly, and Viktor still stood on the podium where the lights converged.
Only when their eyes gradually adapted to the dimness did they realize they had returned to the academy's lecture hall.
But at this moment, everyone's mood was completely different from before.
In fact, many people had no expectations for this lecture, thinking Viktor would at most explain some general topics.
For the first lecture of his professorial career, playing it safe was very normal.
However, no one expected Viktor to be this bold.
This lecture's topic exceeded everyone's expectations.
Actual combat is dangerous?
Fine. Then practice endlessly inside this "dungeon."
Through countless repetitions, fearless challenges where death is not a concern, one would eventually gain enough real combat experience.
Even Rachel was so excited he slapped his chair.
"Professor Viktor, where exactly did you get such inspiration?"
The moment he finished speaking, Rachel realized, this question was far too rude.
So he adjusted his expression and spoke again.
"My apologies, Professor Viktor. You don't need to answer that question."
"It's fine. I can answer."
Viktor tugged lightly at his collar and said calmly,
"Her Highness Aurelian."
As soon as he said this, that princess, like a dazzling pearl in the night, slowly stepped onto the podium under everyone's gaze.
The two princes also smiled as they watched their younger sister go on stage, their eyes filled with pride.
Aurelian approached Viktor unhurriedly and bowed to him with elegance.
"Teacher."
Viktor nodded at her, then looked toward the audience and began explaining, "I believe everyone still remembers the recent incident where Her Highness single-handedly slew the 'Wood Calamity.'"
That incident had spread widely under the influence of the royal family, so naturally everyone knew about it.
'Could it be… today's topic was also related to the princess?'
While everyone was puzzled, Viktor spoke calmly, "When I was teaching Her Highness, she once mentioned something to me."
"'If there could be a challenge I could repeat endlessly until I succeeded, wouldn't that be more fun?'"
"So, I designed a unique 'challenge' for her."
With Viktor's light recounting, everyone present thought of that terrifying scene.
Terrifying, or rather, a shock to the heart.
At just fifteen years old, when faced with that powerful Wood Calamity, she repeated that challenge again and again.
Falling, trying, falling, trying.
Even when she was utterly exhausted, she refused to give up.
Perhaps her body drove her mind, and in the end, relying on extremely familiar experience, she defeated that seemingly unreachable enemy.
Many people found it unbelievable, this lecture's topic was actually inspired by the princess?
"The princess actually has such intelligence…"
"As expected, those rumors about her being just a pretty vase were all fake."
"The royal family… none of them are simple…"
The nobles murmured among themselves, but every word entered Viktor's ears.
He was very satisfied with their reaction, because he had said it intentionally.
With Gwen absent, no one could tell whether his words were true.
Viktor could freely lie with open eyes.
"This topic will be supported under the princess's name and will be tested at the Royal Magic Academy for one academic term."
"Now then, this lecture ends here."
As his voice fell, the entire hall lit up brightly again. Thunderous applause echoed throughout the enormous lecture hall, lingering for a long time.
Under everyone's praise, shock, and excitement, Viktor bowed deeply and left the podium.
Countless media reporters rushed outside, chasing after Viktor.
But after this lecture, there were countless silent eyes still gazing toward the stage.
The wise ones had already begun thinking deeper.
———
At this moment, the royal capital was lively beyond measure.
Excitement and enthusiasm spread throughout the city, not only among commoners, but the royal family as well.
Viktor's public lecture was an enormous success.
By the next day, every newspaper's headline was about Viktor's vision.
"This 29-year-old genius mage is about to lead an entirely new era, an era called the 'Dungeon.'"
[T/N: Those who were confused about his age, let me tell you, I'm just as confused as you are because the author did write two different ages but I believe his age is 29]
Yes, countless people were going crazy over it. If this topic could truly be achieved, its significance to the entire Empire would be monumental.
Especially because Viktor's experiment, was supported under the royal family's name.
That mysterious princess would support Viktor with her own name.
This news spread rapidly, and countless mages wanted to visit Viktor to join the experiment.
Just so that in the future, their names could be left in this monumental project.
The news spread throughout the Empire, even faintly beyond it.
But there was nothing to worry about.
Because the core technology of this project… had always been in Viktor's hands.
As a fourth-tier mage, and a councilor, why would he fear any threat from others?
———
News spread like a bird in flight.
At the same time, in the Delin estate's training grounds.
Early in the morning, Kefra sat in a chair, holding her face in her hands, watching Gwen train day after day.
The person sparring with her using a sword was still Viktor, wearing that same trench coat.
Though surrounded by storms outside, he seemed completely unaffected.
Inside Gwen's home, his mind held no distractions, only the sword in his hand.
Clang!
The two long swords clashed, the blades vibrating slightly. They pushed off each other and stepped back at the same time.
With perfect coordination, both sheathed their swords and hung them on the weapon rack.
Gwen looked at Viktor with the same satisfied gaze as always.
Viktor's technique needed no explanation, extremely skilled.
And after some time of training, his physical strength was gradually catching up.
Perhaps soon, Viktor could move on to the next stage.
Viktor simply shook out his hand, a cleaning spell washing him clean again. Just like usual, he greeted Gwen and left in a hurry.
Every time, Gwen would watch Viktor's departing back until he fully disappeared.
Seeing her little sister standing there like a "stone awaiting her husband," Kefra clicked her tongue.
"If you want him that much, then keep him here."
"Honestly, for someone's fiancée, you really have no awareness at all."
Gwen's face turned red, and she snapped, "Big sis! Stop talking nonsense! Why would I keep him here?"
"Viktor is only here to practice swordsmanship."
Kefra smacked her tongue twice and shrugged.
"Say whatever you want. But I need to tell you this."
"Viktor's influence is too big, so big that in just one day, the North has already heard the news about him."
Gwen froze, not fully understanding what Kefra meant.
But Kefra only looked toward the North and said calmly, "Father has also heard about Viktor, so he wants me to bring you home."
"He wants to talk to you face-to-face about your engagement to Viktor."