Why Did You Mess With Him? He’s the Evil God’s Lackey! Chapter 31

Chapter 31: Lord Duke, I Have a Fiance

"That is……4th-Tier Magic!"

The elderly Mage pointed at Viktor, who was levitating high above, and uttered those words in utter horror.

Instantly, the entire Grand Hall fell silent.

"4th-Tier Magic!?"

"Does that an Viktor has already beco a 4th-Tier Mage?"

"Impossible!"

Not a single Mage present dared to believe what they were witnessing.

Count Beck rubbed his eyes, and when he opened them again, that blazing sun still hung in the air.

"This is no illusion……"

If Viktor had stopped the volcanic eruption on his own, it would only have shaken their resolve.

But a Viktor who could wield 4th-Tier Magic—that was sothing that drove people to despair.

In the Empire's long history, no one had ever achieved such a feat.

29 years old, a 4th-Tier Mage.

The sheer density of the magical energy and its staggering intensity left them with no choice but to believe it.

Viktor had beco a 4th-Tier Mage—this had beco reality.

The Second Prince narrowed his eyes, gazing up at Viktor suspended in the sky.

That figure, like a demon god wreathed in flas, looked as though it might devour him entirely in the very next mont.

The terrifying heat continued to surge rapidly.

Before them stood a Magic Formation that had long been fully prid and ready.

Viktor need only lift a finger, and every Mage present—along with the Second Prince—would be reduced to cinders.

Such overwhelming presence was absolutely beyond anything 3rd-Tier Magic could produce.

Then, all of a sudden, the Second Prince laughed—a laugh of pure release. He extended his hand and snuffed out the fla burning on his body.

He then turned to face Viktor and gave a bow.

"I believe you now."

"I apologize, Mr. Viktor—I suspected you and your companions."

"I hope you and Grand Knight Commander Gwen can understand. Under the circumstances, every bit of suspicion was entirely reasonable."

The temperature inside the Grand Hall plumted sharply.

Viktor dismissed the Formation and descended back to the ground, the flas that had enveloped his entire body transforming once more into his coat.

The effortless control he displayed over his magic left every Mage present completely stunned.

In that mont, Viktor's power was acknowledged by all.

Even the Emperor turned a gaze of admiration toward him.

Many of the Mages seed to realize sothing; the perceptive ones quickly broke into ingratiating smiles directed at Viktor.

"Mr. Viktor truly possesses extraordinary talent! A 4th-Tier Mage at twenty-nine—that must be unheard of even beyond the Empire."

"The Empire's Saint Mages, even now, number only a handful, don't they."

"With this, our Empire gains yet another Saint Mage—the nation grows ever mightier!"

The very Mages who had questioned him monts ago swiftly changed their tune, all of them falling over themselves to flatter Viktor.

Only a handful of proud, elder Mages remained silent as they stared at Viktor, not uttering a single word.

Without exception, every one of them had spent decades stagnating at the 3rd-Tier Mage stage.

We et at the summit.

Only to find that they themselves were still at the foot of the mountain.

Even if Duke Livi had reached the 4th-Tier, they would not have felt envy—they would have offered sincere congratulations from the bottom of their hearts.

But Viktor? Who was Viktor? That notorious genius Mage.

The very thought that the person they so deeply resented had overtaken them first—ascending to beco a Saint Mage before any of them—made those elder Mages grind their back molars nearly to dust with rage.

"Insufferable!"

Gwen, too, watched the unfavorable situation reverse itself entirely before Viktor, and blinked in disbelief.

He……how did he suddenly beco this strong?

She very much wanted to step forward and ask Viktor directly.

But now was not the ti.

With the Second Prince's concession of weakness, the outco of this court assembly was all but sealed.

Nine years on, Viktor had once again made the whole world rember why they called him a genius.

"Owaise, you are dismissed."

The Emperor waved his hand and spoke the Second Prince's true na, signaling for him to leave.

The Second Prince cast one last glance at Viktor, then turned and bowed.

"Yes, Father Emperor."

He swept his long robe behind him and walked out of the Grand Hall.

"Viktor."

The Emperor crooked a finger toward Viktor. "Co—let have a good look at the Empire's youngest Saint Mage."

Viktor stepped forward and t the Emperor's gaze with confidence.

Even standing before an Emperor who was himself a formidable 4th-Tier Mage, Viktor's expression did not waver in the slightest.

Viktor bowed respectfully:

"Forgive the impudence, Your Majesty."

"Think nothing of it."

The Emperor spoke: "You said just now that you defeated a magical beast—does that an the volcano will no longer erupt?"

Hearing the Emperor's words, Viktor shook his head and explained:

"I was unable to kill that magical beast. I could only defeat it and reseal it within the volcano."

"For a certain period of ti, at the very least, the volcano will not erupt again."

"Of course, should it break free of the seal once more, I will defeat it again."

The Emperor nodded, a look of pleasure spreading across his face.

"Excellent!"

"You have resolved a grave threat to the Empire. I intend to reward you handsoly."

"Speak—what is it you desire? Status? Power? Or wealth?"

Viktor was now a 4th-Tier Mage, and a Mage of such power deserved more than the title of Viscount.

He ought to hold a far higher standing.

But Viktor shook his head and said: "I have not yet decided, so I hope Your Majesty will allow to hold this reward in reserve."

The Emperor nodded and granted his request.

The more he looked at Viktor, the more he admired him, and the words left his lips before he had even thought them:

"You surpass even your father."

Viktor was unmoved.

His father had died long ago—and besides, even if he were still alive, that man would not have been his true father.

Viktor lowered his gaze and spotted Duke Livi, still kneeling on the ground with his head bowed, like a sinner awaiting judgnt.

Exactly as he had been from the very beginning.

Viktor said: "Your Majesty, there is one more matter."

"I wish to clear Duke Livi's na."

The Duke suddenly lifted his head, staring at Viktor in disbelief.

The Emperor, too, let out an intrigued "Oh?"

"Viktor, say what you have to say."

Having received the Emperor's permission, Viktor gave a nod and said:

"Duke Livi was likewise inford of this matter."

"The Duke and I had agreed beforehand—I would engage the magical beast within the volcano, while Duke Livi would direct the Magic Formation from outside."

"Should I have failed, Duke Livi would have unleashed War Magic to suppress the beast."

The Emperor raised his head and cast him an approving look.

"So, you succeeded."

Those words were not only an answer to Viktor—they were spoken for the ears of every Mage present in the hall.

Yet still there were Mages who had not read the situation, and one voice rang out from the crowd:

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

"You and the Duke share no blood relation—there is simply no way the two of you could have communicated!"

Viktor turned his head and fixed the man with a look of contempt, his voice ice-cold.

"Erika du Chloe is my most prized student."

"Do you have any further questions?"

The Mage was instantly struck speechless.

In that mont, everyone present realized that Viktor held yet another identity—he was the youngest Professor at the Royal Magic Academy.

Viktor's sche was airtight, seamless, flawless—every thread had been woven into place long before.

No wait—there was still one opening, one last chance for things to shift.

The Mages who had been hoping to deal one final blow to the Duke all turned their gazes toward Gwen with barely contained anticipation.

They were disappointed. From Gwen's lips ca a single, ice-cold sentence:

"Your Majesty, Viktor did not lie."

The Emperor smiled. Sitting upon his throne with the air of a man at the height of his power, he announced his final judgnt:

"Livi—innocent."

***

Viktor walked out of the Imperial Palace without a single expression on his face, and not one Mage dared approach him throughout.

At the gate, a black Crow perched on the railing, waiting for him.

Viktor walked up and stroked the Crow's head.

"Viktor Clavena."

Duke Livi erged and, the mont he laid eyes on Viktor, called out his na.

Viktor heard soone call his na, turned around, and t Duke Livi's gaze in return.

Duke Livi was ordinarily a warm and affable man, yet in this mont—even toward Viktor, who had helped him—he ca across as decidedly cool.

"State your purpose."

The hand Viktor had been using to stroke the bird paused. He settled Weija onto his shoulder and held the gaze of this aging father, who bore a faint resemblance to Erika.

"What purpose would the Duke like to have?"

Livi's eyes as he looked at Viktor carried a dangerous edge.

Viktor let out a quiet sigh and said:

"Duke, being overly protective of one's daughter is not a virtue, either."

"Rest assured—I have a Fiancée."

Duke Livi thought of that Knight—the one who had dared to lie openly before an assembly of Mages and an Emperor alike.

He himself had never imagined that a Knight so renowned for her devotion to justice would lie for Viktor's sake.

Rumor had long painted the two of them as being on terrible terms, but looking at things now, that did not seem to be the case at all.

He relaxed, if only slightly.

"However, since the Duke himself has brought it up……"

While Livi was still mid-thought, Viktor's voice suddenly rang out again.

The Duke looked at Viktor, and felt as though sothing in his eyes had shifted—sothing that looked unmistakably like……calculation.

"It would seem rather odd if I did nothing at all toward Erika."