A blue teleportation spell suddenly appeared in front of the student, and the figure of the blonde girl Erika emerged before him.
He jumped in shock. The moment he recognized Erika, the student became so nervous that his voice stuttered,
"E… Erika First Seat."
Erika's eyes were firm, her steps steady as she walked toward the student step by step. Her tone was serious and urgent, "Quick, tell me! Who came back?"
"It's Professor Viktor… he came back…"
The student's voice trembled slightly, but Erika continued pressing him, "Where did you see Professor Viktor?"
"Uh, at… at the dean's office door. I was delivering documents, and then I saw Professor Viktor bring a woman…"
"A very unfamiliar woman, into the dean's office."
"Huh?"
'A woman? And a very unfamiliar one?'
Listening to the student, Erika's head spun and her vision blurred.
After thinking for a long time, she still could not figure out where Viktor had met another woman.
No, no, why was she even thinking about that? Was that the important part?
Erika quickly shook her head.
She had to find Professor Viktor quickly and tell him what her father had asked her to pass on.
She reached out and patted the student on the shoulder, suppressing the small excitement in her heart as she happily said,
"Thank you."
Then magical power gathered in her palm, and a teleportation circle rapidly formed beneath her feet.
Blue light spiraled like a galaxy, and Erika's figure became more and more blurry within it.
In the blink of an eye, her entire body disappeared along with the blue magic.
The students in the classroom stared with wide eyes. The place where Erika vanished still carried faint traces of magical afterglow.
After watching the blue magic in the air fade away, they fell into a long silence.
'Th… this is the strength of a third-rank mage?'
But very quickly, the entire classroom erupted like a tidal wave. The restless students all started discussing it, "Professor Viktor came back? And brought a woman!?"
"Could she be a new teacher?"
"So, is she pretty or not?"
The classroom buzzed nonstop, filled with curiosity.
After all, this was not the first time Professor Viktor had done something like this.
It was said that Associate Professor Henny had been personally promoted by Professor Viktor.
Back then, she had only been a teaching assistant.
The students gathered together and continued guessing.
Professor Viktor had returned, but who exactly was the woman he brought back?
———
"Mm, if you can guarantee she won't harm other students, I can approve your request."
"Counselor Viktor."
Dean Rachel sat in the dean's chair, stroking his long white beard.
On the desk in front of him lay a sleeping long watermelon.
Viktor sat across from him.
He leaned casually against the back of the sofa, while standing behind him was Saphiroth, covered in a robe.
Even though the neat robe concealed her pale body, through the mysterious shadows, the beast-like ferocity radiating from Saphiroth still gave off immense pressure.
She breathed lightly, but every breath seemed to send an indescribable warning of danger toward Dean Rachel.
As if she could erupt at any moment.
Those emerald snake eyes hidden beneath the shadows still shone with a light impossible to ignore.
Although this woman looked no different from a human, she still gave off the feeling of a monster.
Rachel recalled that during the academy vacation, Henny had once shown her around the entire campus.
He still remembered that the second prince's broken bones had been caused by this mysterious woman with a single punch.
Such a dangerous existence made Rachel instinctively wonder... Was she really suitable to stay in close contact with academy students?
Once she lost control, the consequences would be impossible to predict.
After all, no one could bear that kind of risk.
But since Viktor personally guaranteed it, Rachel could relax a little.
Rachel carefully observed the robed Saphiroth before him.
Judging from her temperament, she looked nothing like a mage.
This made Rachel curiously wonder whether she could truly take on the role of teaching assistant.
Viktor looked at Rachel and said, "There's another matter."
Hearing this, Rachel placed both hands on the desk and leaned slightly forward, his eyes turning serious.
"You mean…"
Viktor nodded.
Immediately after, a glowing blue magic ring suddenly appeared behind him.
A massive amount of magic flooded the entire room like an endless ocean.
Different-colored magic rings crossed through the air, and the light they released flowed everywhere, stirring a gentle breeze.
Viktor's black coat fluttered in the wind, and even the curtains by the window rolled upward.
Saphiroth's robe also swayed lightly in the wind, outlining her rough figure.
Even the papers on Rachel's desk were blown around wildly by the enormous magical force.
Fortunately, Rachel had prepared in advance. He waved his magic and firmly pressed the documents back onto the desk without damage.
Dean Rachel raised a hand to shield his eyes from the incoming light.
Even the watermelon lying motionless on the table slowly opened its eyes after sensing this dense and terrifying magic.
It lifted its body and stared deeply at Viktor.
But before long, the magic slowly dissipated, and the room returned to calm.
Viktor slowly stood up and slightly bowed to Rachel.
"Then I'll return to the Mage Tower first."
Viktor opened the door and turned to leave.
Imitating Viktor's actions, Saphiroth also stiffly bowed toward Rachel.
Then she walked away from the dean's office with light steps.
Only after the door closed did Rachel lean back in his chair again, speechless for a moment.
Soon, as though unable to endure the shock, he hurriedly placed one hand over his heart.
Feeling the pounding heartbeat in his chest, his eyes widened as he took several deep breaths.
"Praise the God of Magic…"
'A fifth-rank mage…'
'He had really become a fifth-rank mage.'
"Who could have imagined…", Rachel muttered to himself.
Half a year ago, Viktor had only been third-rank.
At that time, he had caused quite a scandal after falling into confusion.
His family and fiancée had even come to the academy for help, requesting a professor title for him.
But not long afterward, Viktor exceeded everyone's expectations and became a fourth-rank mage.
And the moment he became fourth-rank, he could already compare to the members of the Mage Council.
Everything felt like a dream.
If back then it could still be explained by saying Viktor had been hiding his abilities... Then how could this be explained now?
The youngest fifth-rank mage in the entire empire?
Rachel took a deep breath.
"No…"
"Viktor has created a legend that can never be surpassed."
Feeling his heartbeat gradually calm down, no longer pounding so quickly, Rachel finally turned toward the watermelon on the desk and said,
"Buddy, what did you see this time?"
The watermelon opened its eyes. Countless chaotic images flashed through them.
Flames pierced the sky, thick leaves covered the heavens, violent winds roared, thunder flashed, and ocean waves surged.
Five elements gradually rose into the sky and gathered toward one place on the vast earth.
A gigantic hand stretched straight into the ground, as if gripping the world by the throat.
The watermelon muttered softly, "I saw…"
"The five elements gathering upon the land of nature."
"Ten thousand miles of giant stone shattering apart."
"Chaos appearing, heavenly light roaring."
After speaking a few lines, clarity returned to the watermelon's eyes as it looked at the calm ceiling.
"No, it's nothing."
"I just need to remind you of something."
It turned toward Rachel. Endless wisdom flowed through its deep eyes like a profound waterfall running backward into a bottomless sky.
"That 'Defector' has returned."
———
Viktor walked along the road, his black coat once again appearing in the students' sight.
Behind him was a mysterious woman tightly covered in robes.
It was currently break time. Students gathered all around the academy plaza and nearby streets.
The students only dared to secretly glance at Viktor. Not a single one dared to speak in front of him.
It was as though wherever Viktor walked, a mute button was automatically pressed there.
Naturally, after seeing Viktor, they also saw Saphiroth following behind him.
Although the students could not see her real appearance, judging from her figure, she seemed to be a woman.
Only after Viktor walked far away did the students in that area dare speak, "Heavens… was that Professor Viktor?"
"So handsome… and so intimidating."
"I don't even dare go up and talk to him…"
Still, as the students looked toward the direction Viktor left, their eyes were filled with longing and curiosity.
Who exactly was the woman behind Professor Viktor?
———
Before long, the two arrived in front of Viktor's Mage Tower.
A blue magic formation appeared before the tower entrance.
Viktor stood on the formation and felt blue ripples sweep across his body.
The Mage Tower immediately sounded with a familiar voice.
[Identity confirmed. Professor Viktor, welcome back to the Mage Tower]
He had just prepared to activate the formation and bring Saphiroth into the Mage Tower. At the instant the formation released its glow.
A familiar young girl's voice suddenly shouted loudly, "Please wait! Professor Viktor!"
Hearing the voice, Viktor stopped the teleportation formation.
Only after the formation's light gradually faded did he turn his head toward the source of the voice.
He saw Erika running toward him, her golden hair scattering in the air.
She was breathing heavily as she rushed over, urgently speaking at the same time, "I have something to..."
But almost simultaneously, Saphiroth's emerald snake eyes suddenly narrowed.
Her green pupils locked onto Erika, who was running toward them.
"Unknown target detected. This target is attempting contact with whitelist personnel"
She instantly stepped in front of Viktor, cold light flashing in her eyes.
A hidden blade even quietly extended from the side of one arm.
"I won't allow you to approach my person."