Chapter 12: Because I Can Make Money

“Professor Victor, I… I can’t do it.”

Henny shook her head frantically, lowering her head, not daring to look at Victor at all.

“Listen to me, Henny.”

“These past few days, I’ve had you sit in on my lectures so you could learn how to properly conduct a class.”

Victor placed a hand on Henny’s shoulder and immediately felt her petite frame tremble slightly.

Henny raised her head, her eyes filled with indescribable anxiety.

“Professor, I’m afraid I won’t do well… that it will affect your reputation.”

“Reputation?”

Did he even have one?

Though it might sound self-deprecating, Victor honestly never cared much about such things.

Victor gently patted Henny on the back, trying to calm her trembling body.

The comfort had some effect, so he continued speaking.

“Go on.”

He knew that no matter how much he reassured her, this naturally timid little lamb would not agree on her own.

So, Victor chose to give an order rather than make a request.

Henny knew she couldn’t refuse the professor.

If she did, he would be unhappy…

Taking a deep breath, Henny braced herself and pushed open the classroom door.

The previously noisy classroom quickly quieted down, but when the students saw Henny walk onto the podium, confusion arose.

Where was the professor?

Why was his assistant standing at the lectern?

Feeling the students’ gazes drifting over her, Henny felt immense pressure.

“Um…”

“The professor is busy today, so… I’ll be taking his place for this lesson…”

Her voice grew smaller and smaller, until the last few words were almost inaudible, like the buzzing of a mosquito, even she could barely hear herself.

As soon as she finished speaking, it was as if a bomb had been dropped into a silent lake.

The explosion rippled through the water, and the fish began chattering.

“Impossible…”

“She’s just an assistant. How can she teach instead of the professor?”

“Even if the professor allowed it, does she have his ability?”

“We want Professor Victor to teach! If our grades drop, can you take responsibility for that?!”

Faced with the students’ relentless criticism, Henny lowered her head, shrinking like a bullied child.

Her eyes darted around in panic, desperately searching for a place to hide.

Professor Victor, I can’t do it. I really can’t…

Professor, please come back…

“I… I’m sor—”

“Silence!”

A sudden voice startled Henny, and she looked up cautiously.

At some point, Erika, seated at the front, had stood up.

Magical ripples surrounded her, and a complex and intricate magic circle floated before her.

Henny recognized that magic circle.

It was a Silence Spell.

Apart from the caster, no one within the spell’s range could make a sound.

“Assistant Henny, please continue.”

Oh, Erika, thank you!

Henny felt immense gratitude for Erika’s help, but at the same time, a bit of guilt arose.

Just the other day, when the professor first arrived, she had spoken ill of Erika.

She never expected that Erika would be the one to step up and help her now.

Next time there’s an exam, I’ll make sure to tell you the test scope in advance!

Henny had already thought of how to repay Erika.

“Not bad.”

Victor, who was standing just outside the door, observed everything happening inside with keen awareness.

Erika’s intervention was unexpected but pleasing, while Henny’s fear was within his expectations.

He had hoped that the pressure from the students would help Henny grow quickly, but now, it seemed the effect might be counterproductive.

Still, having Henny teach was a necessity.

Tomorrow, he would be leaving the city with Gwen. It could take as long as half a month or as short as a week.

No matter what, if he wanted to keep his position as a professor, he couldn’t abandon his students’ lessons.

So, he thought of Henny.

After all, the lectures had always been written by her. There was no doubt about her capability.

The only concern was her timidity.

She needed to overcome it on her own and realize that she was fully capable of teaching these students.

With Erika’s help, the classroom finally settled down.

Henny took a deep breath to steady her emotions, mustered her courage, and began teaching.

She followed the speech she had meticulously prepared, and since she had memorized the material by heart, she quickly found her rhythm, becoming increasingly confident in her delivery.

Victor, peeking in, nodded in approval. In terms of teaching ability, Henny was undoubtedly talented.

The students, who had initially been skeptical, soon became curious, then astonished.

They realized that Henny’s lecture was well-paced, giving them a familiar feeling—

As if Professor Victor himself were teaching.

By the end, they were fully engrossed in the lesson.

The classroom was filled only with Henny’s voice and the sounds of pens scribbling on paper.

Henny suddenly paused.

This part required a demonstration of magic.

Third-tier magic: Star Shatter.

Since Professor Victor was a powerful third-tier mage, she had written the lesson from his perspective.

She never expected to trip herself up.

She was merely an apprentice mage.

Even if she understood the theory behind the spell, she lacked the magical energy to cast it.

Though flustered, she quickly calmed herself.

“Erika, could you demonstrate this spell for everyone?”

She was taking a gamble—betting that Erika would help her again.

Fortunately, she won that bet.

Erika silently stepped onto the podium, taking the magic book from Henny’s hands. The spell Star Shatter was clearly recorded inside.

The details were so meticulous that Erika barely needed to think. With just a bit of consideration, she could easily cast it.

She raised her hand, attempting the spell for the first time.

“Star Shatter!”

A mysterious ripple spread outward.

In the air, one brilliant star after another appeared, forming intricate patterns of a magic array.

Just as it was about to take full shape, it suddenly vanished into thin air.

The students were perplexed when—

Thud! Thud! Thud!

From nowhere and in an unknown direction, countless tiny spikes materialized, embedding themselves into the wooden training dummies in the classroom.

Seeing the dummies riddled with holes, the students’ hearts skipped a beat.

What a sinister attack spell!

However, after Erika’s demonstration, they learned much faster.

“So that’s how it works!”

They began animatedly discussing it, completely unaware that Erika’s Silence Spell had already expired.

Henny sighed in relief and exchanged a grateful smile with Erika.

The lesson ended quickly in an atmosphere of focus and ease. When the bell rang, no student showed any dissatisfaction.

They had learned a great deal.

And their respect for Henny had grown.

“Professor Victor’s assistant is truly outstanding!”

“Yeah, she is!”