Chapter 7: Brother, We’re Out of Money


    Viktor''s imposing presence subdued everyone in the room. The students held their breath, not daring to make a move.


    Seeing that the situation had stabilized, Viktor asked, "Now tell me, what happened?"


    Amoner student at the front spoke up, "Erica came here unting her noble status, deliberately humiliating us. One student has vanished under her spell!"


    The othermoner students immediately chimed in, while Erica hurriedly tried to defend herself. The scene descended into chaos once again.


    "Silence!"


    The noisy space fell quiet once more.


    Viktor rubbed his temples. Indeed, no matter which world, arguments were always so annoying.


    "Is that so, Erica?" Viktor questioned her impatiently.


    Erica gradually calmed down and continued to exin, "I wasn''t trying to humiliate them. I was practicing magic here, and that unfortunate person entered my faulty teleportation spell, which is why he disappeared."


    The surrounding students naturally didn''t believe her words, but with the professor present, they didn''t dare voice their doubts.


    Vega whispered in Viktor''s ear, "I''ve checked. The teleportation array sent the person to another dimension."


    "No matter, I''ll handle it."


    Vega''s single eye flickered, and a wisp of ck energy slowly drifted out from under its wings.


    Viktor understood its meaning and activated his Mage Hand. Immediately, six magic circles appeared in the air.


    "Six-fold spellcasting again?"


    Seeing this scene once more, Erica was only surprised. She hadn''t expected Professor Viktor to handle such a difficult technique as multiyered spellcasting with such ease.


    Behind him, Vega gently added some runes to his magic circles. Six thread-like ck runes gradually joined the array.


    The entire array emitted a red glow.


    Mixed with the light of the setting sun, it illuminated the entire Arcane Hall.


    The light was so bright that everyone present had to shield their eyes.


    As the light faded, a sudden exmation startled everyone present.


    "This is... the Arcane Hall? I''m back?"


    The student looked around in amazement, tears of excitement welling up in his eyes.


    "I''m back! I''m really back!"


    The crowd gradually opened their eyes. Seeing the long-lost face, themoner students burst into cheers upon seeing their ssmate return.


    Erica stood there stunned, not expecting Viktor to reverse her faulty spell so effortlessly.


    "Is this... a third-tier mage?" Erica muttered.


    Seeing that the matter had been resolved, Viktor coldly said to her:


    "Erica, apologize."


    Hearing this request, Erica became defiant.


    She had resentment in her heart, how could she possibly listen to Viktor?


    Why should she?


    She admitted that Viktor had rectified her mistake, but it wasn''t intentional. It was that unlucky fool who blindly entered her magic circle!


    Moreover, her innate status and environment told her:


    ''Since when do nobles apologize tomoners?''


    Viktor noticed her unwillingness toply and frowned slightly, unable to help but mock her.


    "Making mistakes and refusing to apologize,cking in academics and character."


    "Is this the upbringing of the du Cloye family?"


    These words struck a chord with themoner students, who despised those arrogant nobles who oppressed them with their family backgrounds.


    Seeing this professor speak up for them, their eyes seemed to light up.


    However, these words truly ignited Erica''s emotions, but she knew she shouldn''tsh out.


    As Viktor had said, she was in the wrong.


    She shouldn''t bring shame to her family because of her own issues.


    Erica''s not-so-small chest heaved as she took a deep breath, calming herself. She gracefully bowed to the unfortunate student.


    "I apologize for my negligence."


    Seeing the once-proud noble lower her head, the students couldn''t find any words of mockery.


    After all, they were all of the same age.


    The unfortunate student, Jack, recovered from his shock and awkwardly epted the apology.


    "I was at fault too. If I had paid more attention while walking, this wouldn''t have happened."


    Viktor raised an eyebrow, somewhat satisfied.


    This peaceful atmosphere was what a beautiful campus environment should be like.


    But an apology alone wasn''t enough. Since a mistake was made, one should lead by example.


    He nced at Erica and calmly said, "Come with me to my office."


    Erica lowered her head in silence but still followed him.


    The two left under the gaze of everyone present.


    Immediately after, the students erupted into discussion.


    "My goodness, he''s so handsome! Do you know who he is?"


    "He looks like a teacher? Must be new here!"


    "Wow, that was multiyered spellcasting, and sixyers at that! That''s the most I''ve ever seen! How can he be just an ordinary teacher?"


    "I''m from ss 1. That''s the new Professor Viktor. He just taught us this afternoon!"


    "A professor already! No wonder he''s so powerful, but he''s so young!"


    "I wonder when Professor Viktor''s lectures will start. I''ll definitely sign up when they do!"


    ...


    Viktor, who had left, naturally couldn''t hear the students'' chatter. Erica followed behind Viktor, with his assistant Henie beside them.


    They arrived at the Mage Tower, and after identity verification, the three were teleported to Viktor''s office.


    Viktor lightly drew a magic circle in the air, and Erica''s hairpin suddenly appeared in his hand.


    He handed it back to her.


    Erica was stunned, never expecting him to return her belongings.


    "Keep your own things safe, and don''t do this again in the future."


    Erica pursed her lips and lowered her head as she epted the hairpin.


    Viktor naturally sat down in his chair, while the ''defiant'' Erica stood before him, clearly in a position to be lectured.


    Viktor''s fingers tapped on the desk, and then he slowly began to speak.


    "Listen, Erica, regardless of what conflicts we''ve had before, this is now the Royal Magic Academy, not a ce for you to act recklessly. I am a teacher, and you are a student. Adjust your attitude ordingly."


    "Magic is dangerous. If you can''t control it perfectly yet, don''t cast spells randomly in public areas. This time it was just a simple teleportation spell. What if you were practicing some powerful area-of-effect spell?"


    Erica didn''t speak, but from the slight trembling of her body, it was clear she was afraid.


    If she truly lost control, it would be a disaster.


    Viktor''s lecture continued.


    "You said something very correct in ss, Erica. As a teacher, I indeed have an obligation to answer students'' questions."


    "But the premise is that youe to genuinely seek knowledge, not to deliberately make things difficult."


    Having said this, Viktor began to demonstrate the principles of teleportation magic and more advanced upgrade arrays in front of her.


    "Watch carefully, I''ll only teach this once."


    Runes and magic circles danced at Viktor''s fingertips. Erica came to her senses, focused her attention, and watched the scene intently...


    He showed Erica how to teleport objects to another dimension and bring them back.


    After the demonstration, he left Erica with an assignment:


    "Master this, write a report, and send it to my assistant tomorrow morning. She will pass it on to me."


    Erica didn''t speak, just nodded and left the office.


    Henie, who had been watching from the corner, couldn''t help but say after Erica left, "Professor, you''re really kind, not at all like the rumors. As for Erica, I don''t like her."


    She had heard about what happened in ss today and naturally knew about Erica''s deliberate provocation.


    Fortunately, Viktor had calmly resolved it and even turned the tables on her.


    Viktor didn''t look at her, simply saying, "If you were underage and got confessed to and flirted with by a man nearly thirty, I estimate your resentment would be no less than hers."


    Henie was startled and asked in surprise, "That incident... Was it true?"


    Viktor just smiled lightly, stood up, patted her head, and left with these words:


    "Bring Erica''s notes and speech draft together tomorrow."


    With that, he turned and teleported out of the office.


    .....


    Erica got off the carriage, and a man was standing at the gate of the courtyard.


    He had the same blonde hair and eyes as Erica, sharing the same bloodline.


    It was her father, Duke Rivi, whom she took pride in.


    The years hadn''t left many marks on his face.


    "Dear, why are you back sote?"


    Duke Levi greeted her with a smile, but upon seeing Erica''s gloomy expression, his smile gradually faded.


    "Erica? What happened? Did someone bully you at school?"


    "Tell daddy, and I''ll make them pay!"


    Erica stopped him, saying, "Enough, Father. No one bullied me."


    "I just saw Viktor. He''s be a professor and started working at the academy today."


    Upon hearing this, Levi Straightened up abruptly and said viciously, "That bastard! I''ll have the Royal Magic Academy fire him tomorrow!"


    Although he was just saying this to cheer up his daughter.


    Levi understood that Viktor was exceptionally talented and a third-tier mage.


    Especially now that he had be a professor at the Royal Magic Academy, he was considered to have fully aligned with the royal family.


    Unless the king personally spoke up, no one would dare to openly move against him.


    But Erica didn''t know this and hurriedly advised, "Don''t!"


    She recounted what had happened today, and the Duke''s expression softened slightly after listening.


    Erica continued, "I indeed can''tpare to him."


    She didn''t tell her father about the conflict with themoners today, only about the dispute in the lecture hall.


    After listening, Levi nodded understandingly andforted her, "If that''s the case, then study magic well under him."


    "For Viktor to be a third-tier mage at twenty, he naturally has his exceptional qualities."


    "But you are my daughter, and I understand your talent better than anyone."


    "Learn from his strengths, then defeat him. I believe you can definitely do it."


    Hearing the Duke''s words, Erica nodded obediently and quietly returned to her room, followed by a servant.


    Seeing his daughter leave, he sighed.


    No matter how much grievance Erica suffered under Viktor, he couldn''t intervene.


    Ultimately, he was a duke.


    His actions should all be for the benefit of the country.


    In this position, Levi couldn''t afford to act childishly.


    The empire wouldn''t allow it, and his role as a duke demanded better.


    "I''m sorry, Erica."


    ……


    By the time Viktor returned home, it was alreadyte at night. As he stretched his body in the garden, he saw a servant approaching him.


    "My Lord, your sister has summoned you to study."


    After saying this, the servant hurriedly left.


    Viktor frowned.


    Sote at night, this couldn''t be good...


    Pushing open the door to the study, Lia was sitting in a chair, having waited for some time.


    "What''s the matter?"


    Viktor asked his sister, but was met with Lia''s angry gaze in response.


    "See for yourself!"


    Lia mmed an expense report on the table in front of Viktor.


    The table shook from Lia''s forceful gesture.


    "So angry?"


    Viktor nced lightly at Lia and picked up the report.


    It detailed Viktor''s spending records, showing arge sum spent on purchasing materials, and another significant amount that had mysteriously disappeared.


    Of course, Viktor knew where this money had gone.


    Buying materials, learning magic...


    The former was exinable, but thetter was a privilege only yers could enjoy, so naturally, Lia couldn''t trace it.


    However, was the family really that short on money?


    "The domain''s ie hasn''t been very smoothtely, and you''re still spending sovishly? Are you trying to drain thest drop of blood from ournds?"


    Lia stood up, poking Viktor''s chest with her finger, harshly criticizing him.


    "Exin yourself!"