Chapter 7: Brother, Our Family is Broke

Victor’s imposing presence dominated the entire scene, leaving the students holding their breath, too afraid to act rashly.

Once order was restored, Victor asked, “Now, tell me what happened.”

A commoner student standing at the front spoke up:

“Erika took advantage of her noble status to come here and deliberately humiliate us! A student was caught in her magic and disappeared without a trace!”

The other commoner students immediately voiced their agreement. Erika hurried to defend herself, and the scene once again descended into chaos.

“Silence!”

The noisy space quieted once more.

Victor rubbed his temples. No matter the world, arguments were always irritating.

“Is that true, Erika?” Victor questioned her impatiently.

Erika gradually calmed down and explained, “I wasn’t trying to humiliate them. I was practicing magic here, and that unlucky guy walked into my teleportation spell just as I made a mistake. That’s why he disappeared.”

The surrounding students obviously didn’t believe her, but with the professors present and remaining silent, they dared not voice their doubts.

Vega whispered into Victor’s ear, “I checked. The teleportation array sent him to another dimension.”

“No matter, I’ll handle it.”

Vega’s single eye flickered, and a wisp of black energy gently drifted from beneath his wings.

Understanding the message, Victor activated his Mage Hand, conjuring six formation circles in midair.

“Again with sixfold casting?”

Witnessing this once more, Erika was astonished. She hadn’t expected Professor Victor to perform such a high-level technique so effortlessly.

Vega discreetly inscribed additional runes onto the magical formation, integrating six strands of shadowy script into the array.

The entire formation glowed red.

Blended with the sunset’s brilliance, it illuminated the entire Arcane Hall.

The blinding light forced everyone to squint or shut their eyes.

As the light faded, a sudden voice startled the crowd.

“This is… the Arcane Hall? I’m back?”

The missing student looked around in amazement, tears of joy filling his eyes.

“I’m back! I really came back!”

As the others opened their eyes and recognized his familiar face, the commoner students erupted into cheers.

Even Erika was stunned. She hadn’t expected Victor to reverse her flawed spell so effortlessly.

“This is… a Tier 3 Mage?” she murmured.

Seeing that the matter was settled, Victor coldly said to Erika, “Apologize.”

Hearing this demand, Erika felt indignant.

She was already upset. How could she simply obey Victor?

Why should she?

She admitted that Victor had saved the situation, but she hadn’t done it on purpose. That unlucky fool had walked into her formation of his own accord!

Moreover, her noble upbringing had always taught her—

When do nobles ever apologize to commoners?

Victor noticed her hesitation, his brows furrowing as he sneered, “You refuse to apologize after making a mistake? Lacking skill is one thing, but poor character as well?”

“Is this the so-called Du Croy family upbringing?”

His words struck a chord with the commoner students. They despised how the aristocrats used their status to oppress them.

Seeing a professor stand up for them, their eyes gleamed with admiration.

This, however, ignited Erika’s emotions. But she knew she shouldn’t lose control.

Just as Victor said, she was in the wrong.

She couldn’t let her personal grievances bring shame to her family.

Erika’s chest heaved as she took a deep breath, regaining her composure. With a dignified demeanor, she bowed to the unlucky student.

“I sincerely apologize for my mistake.”

Seeing the once-proud noblewoman lower her head, the commoner students were momentarily speechless.

After all, they were just peers in the academy.

The unlucky student, Jack, finally recovered from his fright. Awkwardly, he accepted the apology.

“I was at fault too. If I had been more careful, this wouldn’t have happened.”

Victor raised an eyebrow, finally satisfied.

Peace restored—now this was an ideal school environment.

But an apology alone wasn’t enough. Mistakes had consequences.

He glanced at Erika and coolly said, “Come with me to my office.”

Erika lowered her head in silence but still followed him.

Under the gaze of the students, the two slowly departed.

Immediately after, the students burst into discussion.

“Oh my god, he’s so cool! Do you know who he is?”

“Judging by his demeanor, he must be a professor. Probably newly appointed!”

“Wow, but that was sixfold casting! That’s the highest count I’ve ever seen! How can he be just an ordinary professor?”

“I’m in Class 1. That’s Professor Victor. He gave us a lecture this afternoon!”

“A professor?! No wonder he’s so strong. But he’s so young!”

“I don’t care when Victor’s lecture starts—I must sign up!”

…

Meanwhile, Victor ignored the chatter as he walked, accompanied by Erika and his assistant, Henny.

They entered the Mage Tower, authenticated their identities, and teleported to Victor’s office.

With a casual gesture, Victor drew a magical formation in the air, and Erika’s hairpin appeared in his hand.

He handed it back to her.

Erika was stunned—she never expected him to return her item.

“Take care of your belongings. And don’t pull this stunt again.”

Pressing her lips together, Erika silently accepted the hairpin.

Victor sat down casually, his fingers tapping the desk. The defiant Erika stood before him, looking as though she was about to be scolded.

After a moment, Victor spoke.

“Listen, Erika. Whatever conflicts we had before, this is the Royal Academy of Magic. This isn’t a place for you to throw tantrums. I am a professor. You are a student. Adjust your attitude.”

“Magic is dangerous. If you can’t fully control it, don’t use it in public areas. This time, it was just a teleportation spell. What if it had been a high-damage area spell?”

Erika said nothing, but the slight trembling of her body revealed her fear.

If she had lost control, it would have been a catastrophe.

And Victor’s lecture continued.

“You said something correct in class, Erika. Teachers indeed have a duty to answer students’ questions.”

“But only when they’re asked in earnest—not when they’re meant to cause trouble.”

With that, Victor began demonstrating the principles of teleportation magic and a more advanced formation.

“Watch closely. I’ll only show this once.”

As runes and formations danced at Victor’s fingertips, Erika straightened up, focusing intently on the scene before her…

He demonstrated how to retrieve an object from another dimension.

After the lesson, he assigned Erika homework:

“Master this technique. Write a report on it and submit it to my assistant by tomorrow morning.”

Without a word, Erika nodded and left the office.

Henny, watching from the side, commented after Erika left, “Professor, you’re much kinder than the rumors say. But I still don’t like Erika.”

Victor didn’t look at her, simply responding, “If you were a teenager being harassed by a thirty-year-old man, you’d have just as much resentment.”

Henny was startled. “That really happened?!”

Victor only chuckled, ruffled her hair, and said, “Bring me Erika’s notes and speech tomorrow.”

With that, he teleported away.