it is show time!

"Do you think gathering followers is just empty talk?"

Victor inquired, tapping the table while listening to Weijia's explanation.

Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm glow on the books scattered across the desk.

A hint of amusement danced in Victor's eyes as he chuckled softly from within the confines of his study.

"Isn't sincerity all that matters? I'm not afraid I can't deceive them," he declared.

Weijia squinted its eyes and let out a disgruntled grumble, expressing its disapproval of Victor's words.

"Perhaps you've grown more insidious than the old Victor," it remarked.

"You flatter me," Victor replied nonchalantly, returning to his speech manuscript.

He couldn't shake the feeling that this pesky bird had somehow begun to forget their shared mission of reviving the cult since its binding to him.

With that thought in mind, Victor glanced at Weijia, who was perched on the desk, its head bobbing drowsily.

Weijia had always been a creature of habit, sleeping through the day and feasting at night, with little regard for exercise.

It was the epitome of a decorative ornament.

In just a few days, Weijia's physique had noticeably plumped.

When it perched on Victor's shoulder, he could feel the added weight.

However, if the bird wasn't concerned, then there was no need for him to fret.

And so, he spent the rest of the quiet morning immersed in his speech manuscript and Erica's assignments.

.....

By noon, Victor had finished grading Erica's work.

Thanks to Herny's meticulous preparation, he quickly grasped the key points of today's lesson.

As Victor emerged from his study, he encountered Herny, the teaching assistant, rubbing her eyes sleepily.

"Awake? Get ready, we should be heading out," Victor casually reminded Herny.

Startled like a frightened deer, she immediately regained her composure and nodded eagerly.

"Certainly, Professor. I'm quite prepared," she assured him.

Victor nodded and instructed the servant to prepare the carriage for their journey to the Royal Academy of Magic.

He gestured for Herny to join him in the carriage, but her nervousness was palpable.

With no other choice, she meekly complied.

As they sat facing each other, Herny kept her head bowed, avoiding eye contact with Victor, except for the occasional furtive glance.

Her heart pounded in her chest like a drum, its rhythm echoing relentlessly.

Her mind was a volcano of chaotic thoughts, 'I can't believe I'm riding in a carriage with the brilliant Professor Victor?!'

'Oh my goodness!'

Herny felt a surge of heat and realized her forehead was damp with perspiration. Her agitation made it difficult to sit still.

Victor noticed her constrained demeanor and considered striking up a conversation.

However, he refrained, fearing that his words might only heighten her anxiety.

So, he decided to let her indulge in her own whirlwind of thoughts.

The more anxious she became, the more likely she was to get lost in her own mind, inadvertently realizing that she had spent the night at this infamous nobleman's residence.

Victor couldn't help but chuckle at the look of shock etched on her face as her eyes widened in disbelief.

He continued to observe Herny, who kept her gaze fixed on her shoes.

They maintained this awkward silence throughout the journey, eagerly awaiting their destination.

.....

As the carriage gradually came to a halt, Victor spoke first.

"We're here."

Hearing Victor's voice, Herny slowly lifted her head, her expression instantly easing.

"Finally," she sighed, relieved that the seemingly interminable journey had come to an end.

After disembarking from the carriage, Herny followed closely behind Victor.

Mustering her courage, she addressed him, "Professor Victor, the Dean requested your presence in his office upon your arrival at the academy."

Victor nodded and headed straight towards the Dean's office.

Herny, like a timid fawn, trailed behind him.

Knock-knock!

Following the Dean's permission, they entered the office, Victor leading the way, with his teaching assistant by his side.

Standing before the Dean, Victor got straight to the point, "Dean, I heard you were looking for me."

The Dean was an elderly, plump man adorned with an assortment of mage paraphernalia.

He resembled a traditional mage straight out of a fantasy novel.

At the same time, he was the strongest person in the academy, a Tier 4 mage.

The world revered him as the "Saint Mage," a figure of legend.

He had attained this rank two decades ago.

Upon seeing Victor, he pushed aside his water cup, capped his pen, and gently placed it on the book.

His body seemed to have reached the limits of its age, and even the slightest movement caused him fatigue.

Exhaling, the Dean leaned back in his chair and spoke slowly, "Professor Victor, I heard about what happened in yesterday's class."

Victor frowned; he hadn't expected Erica's harassment to reach the Dean's ears.

"You did very well," the Dean smiled at him, then continued, "However... aren't you being too strict?"

"Over time, I'm afraid it might cause dissatisfaction among the students."

Hearing the Dean say that he was too strict, Victor shook his head and replied, "If I don't do this, they won't understand the importance of respecting their teachers."

Victor's tone was flat, and he didn't see anything wrong with his way of handling the situation.

After all, he was Victor, and Victor was a man who bore grudges.

Fortunately, the Dean quickly agreed with his point of view, nodding and saying, "Hmm... respect for teachers... a good point, as expected of the mage known as a genius."

"Speaking of which, I called you here today for this reason."

The Dean rummaged through the papers on his desk and handed Victor a parchment invitation.

"This is an invitation to a lecture that our academy is sending out. Take a look and see if there's anything you need to add."

Victor took it gently and examined the contents carefully.

"I'm sure you understand, Professor Victor," the Dean said with a warm smile.

"In our academy, lecturers with the rank of professor are required to give a lecture once a month."

"We plan to publicize your lecture course in a month's time, inviting all kinds of mages and industry experts to attend, and broadcasting your lecture via Mana Crystal recordings."

Hearing this, Victor already understood his meaning.

"So, I hope you can refine the content of your lecture within this month. By then, the academy will provide you with a lecture hall that can accommodate thousands of people."

"Professor Victor, do you have any suggestions?"

Listening to the Dean's words, Victor realized that the time for the academy to recruit new students was approaching.

If the academy wanted to attract students with excellent qualifications, the students would also consider the teaching staff of the academy.

If a young Tier 3 mage professor suddenly appeared at this time, it would undoubtedly be a powerful way to attract new students.

Although Victor had a bad reputation, he was capable and powerful, so no one would care about his reputation.

And if he really did an excellent job with this lecture.

Then that news would naturally be self-defeating.

Victor thought back to the newspaper article from a few days ago and his promise to Gwen.

No one would care about the romantic history of a powerful professor, even if he had actually flirted with a duke's daughter.

At the same time, if he actually did this, his position as a 'professor' would be directly tied to the Royal Academy.

With this connection, he would clearly be able to do more before the deadly outcome in the next few years.

So Victor nodded and agreed.

"I'm fine with it. Let's do everything according to the academy's wishes."

Seeing that Victor had agreed, the Dean smiled and looked at Hennie beside him.

"How about this assistant? Are you satisfied with her work?"

Victor glanced at Hennie beside him and then replied, "It is my honor to have such a competent assistant."

With that, Victor turned and left with Hennie.

Hennie followed behind Victor, her heart pounding wildly.

The more she thought about the professor's evaluation of her in front of the Dean, the more she felt that her efforts had not been in vain.

She couldn't help but walk faster and happier.

As the afternoon class approached, Victor proceeded with his usual routine, delivering the lesson without a hitch.

This time, there were no 'industry insiders' lurking around, eager to witness Victor's downfall.

The events of the previous day had effectively dissuaded anyone from seeking amusement at his expense.

Victor continued imparting knowledge points, while the students diligently took notes, eager to capture the essence of the lesson.

Erica, unlike her usual self, was engrossed in note-taking, filling her pages with meticulous detail.

The bell signaling the end of class rang, prompting Victor to gather his teaching materials.

"Class dismissed."

"Erica, please come to my office."

....

In his office, Victor handed back the graded notes, pointing out Erica's mistakes with a hint of guidance.

"For someone at your level, mastering teleportation magic is still a distant goal, but your approach is not without merit."

Victor instructed, Erica listened attentively.

Their harmonious exchange seemed to erase all memory of Victor's inappropriate behavior at her birthday party.

Neither of them mentioned the incident, choosing to bury it deep within their minds.

After imparting his knowledge, Victor nodded, signaling the end of their session.

"That's all for today."

Erica, with a hint of hesitation, inquired, "May I come to you for guidance in the future if I encounter any difficulties?"

Despite her deep-seated dislike for Victor, she couldn't deny the brilliance of his knowledge.

Even the private tutors her father had hired couldn't compare to Victor's expertise.

Under his tutelage, even the most complex concepts became clear and accessible.

Little did Erica know that Victor's wisdom stemmed from Vega, the otherworldly entity, who relayed the knowledge to him for transmission.

With such an encyclopedia-like entity at his disposal, teaching a student was a breeze.

Victor pondered for a moment before replying, "It depends on the situation. I have a lot on my plate myself, but if time permits, then of course."

Of course, this was merely a polite deflection.

Victor, the man of routine, never lingered beyond his designated work hours.

As the words left his lips, a subtle shift within him registered.

The Mage Hand, a magical construct, had been activated.

As the source of the magic, Victor could sense its usage.

Had Leah already cast a spell using the Mage Hand?

Just given to her yesterday, already put to use today?

What a coincidence.

Victor wasn't particularly worried about Leah, but the source of the magic wasn't far from the royal capital.

He decided to check in.

With that thought, he rose from his chair and addressed Erica.

"I have some matters to attend to. Please make sure to lock up when you leave."

Then, with a swift motion, he conjured a teleportation portal and vanished from the room.

Erica: "…?"

As everyone at the academy knew, the Mage Tower lacked a physical door.

Entrances and exits were primarily facilitated by teleportation magic within the tower's walls.

.....

Outskirts

Leah gazed at the charred remains of a group of men scattered before her, her expression hardened.

A few trembling mages stood beside her, their faces etched with fear.

They had all witnessed the immense power unleashed by this woman - a devastating second-tier spell that emanated from her very hands.

Second-tier magic was far beyond their comprehension, a realm of power they, as low-tier mages, could only dream of wielding.

Why would she possess such formidable magic and yet seek assistance from other mages?

We are but first-tier mages, mere minnows in her presence.

Leah scratched her head, glancing at the carriage behind her.

Despite adorning the Clevern family crest, they had still been attacked.

Never mind.

She had already informed Lady Gwen, and the knights would arrive shortly.

The group waited in silence, anticipating the arrival of the knights.

Ten minutes later, a contingent of knights, clad in gleaming iron armor and mounted on majestic white steeds, galloped into sight.

Leading the charge was none other than Gwen, her eyes scanning the scene until they locked onto Leah.

"Leah! Leah!"

Upon spotting Leah seated on a nearby boulder, lost in thought, Gwen dismounted and rushed towards her.

Leah offered her a faint smile in response.

"Leah, are you alright?"

Gwen gripped Leah's hand, her eyes filled with concern.

"Me? Of course, I'm fine."

"But the bandits who attacked our caravan, not so much."

She gestured with her hand, directing Gwen's gaze towards the other side.

Gwen blinked, her initial focus solely on Leah's well-being, causing her to overlook the pile of charred corpses scattered nearby.

As her eyes fell upon the gruesome sight, her brow furrowed.

As a Grand Knight, she was accustomed to witnessing death, yet even she couldn't suppress the chill that ran down her spine at the sight of such a horrific demise.

But... was this the work of the mages accompanying Leah?

The thought crossed her mind, but she couldn't quite fathom it.

The feeble mana coursing through those mages' veins was hardly enough to incinerate an entire group of men.

So, who could it be?

An absurd notion flitted through her mind, prompting her to tease Leah with a hint of amusement.

"Did you slaughter these bandits yourself? Don't worry, Leah, I'm just joking."

Leah: "Would you believe me if I said yes?"

Gwen: "?"