Chapter 44: Please Don’t Hug your Fiancée at this Ti
Gwen kept her eyes locked hard on Viktor.
She was in a panic right now. With her Heart of Justice no longer functioning, she had absolutely no way of seeing through whether what Viktor had said was true or false.
How could this possibly have anything to do with a Demon?
"A Demon? What's a Demon?"
"No idea, what is that?"
Many of those present had never even heard of what a Demon was, and were completely lost about everything that had just happened.
But Professor Dewen being taken away—that they had witnessed with their own eyes.
Viktor had no ti to spare explaining things to these people. All he needed was for them to suspect whether Dewen had been involved with whatever those things were.
"Have you got the location?"
Viktor communicated with Weija inwardly.
"Not far at all—it's right at the Academy's Back Hill."
Weija patted its own chest, flew back onto Viktor's shoulder, and replied with full confidence.
Viktor knew that if Heni had truly had her mind influenced by the Demon's temptation, she would absolutely not let Dewen Rether off the hook.
A Demon would gradually amplify the negative emotions of others. Heni's hatred was the finest feed a Demon could ask for.
In the end, by whatever ans necessary, Dewen Rether was certain to be taken away.
And all Viktor needed to do was nudge public opinion ever so slightly, and the bla would tangle itself around Dewen Rether on its own.
Viktor had affixed a Magic Seal onto Dewen Rether. Even if the man left the Royal Capital, Weija would be able to sense the Magic Seal's location through the link established between them.
Finding that fellow would naturally be a simple matter.
For now, Viktor's task was complete.
All he had to do was wait.
Wait for the Demon to bare its fangs of its own accord—then deal with it personally.
Suddenly, Viktor "lurched," pressing a hand to his forehead and swaying dramatically.
The barrier's effects had left him visibly unsteady—as though he might collapse entirely at any mont.
"Viktor……"
Seeing Viktor sway, Gwen felt an instinctive urge to reach out and steady him, but the gazes all around her made her hesitate and stop herself.
Yet right at that mont, one of the Knight subordinates beside her was overco by what seed like a bout of dizziness, lost his footing, and his shoulder collided into Gwen.
She was completely unprepared. She stumbled, and ended up right in front of Viktor.
She looked up—and there was Viktor, dizzy, directly before her.
Gwen was stunned. Standing in the plaza, she didn't know whether to move or stay put.
But having just watched Viktor looking so weak, she mustered her courage.
"It's just steadying him—he did save before. This is nothing."
Having given herself a perfectly good reason, she stepped forward and caught Viktor with both hands.
"Viktor, are you alright?"
The mont she took hold of him, Viktor's body stiffened sowhat. He turned his head and glanced at Gwen with a look of faint surprise.
What's going on?
He was faking it.
Even if the Magic Formation had so effect on him as a 4th-Tier Mage, it wasn't nearly to this degree.
But he had just been "struggling" against the Demon in the eyes of everyone present, so it was only natural that his strength would appear to have taken a hit.
Viktor had half a mind to explain, then thought better of it—and let himself slump into Gwen's arms.
While he was at it, he put on a suitably feeble voice.
"Hold up a little……"
Don't get the wrong idea. This wasn't taking advantage.
It was simply to clear his own suspicion more thoroughly.
Gwen was initially too flustered to move, her face flushing red in front of all these people. But upon hearing Viktor's weak voice, her righteous and kindhearted nature couldn't help but flood her with sympathy.
He must be exhausted……
Even scorned and cursed by thousands, he hadn't offered a single word of explanation.
Even if it ant being misunderstood by everyone.
A few of the more clear-headed Mages spoke up:
"What exactly happened? And what's all this about a Demon?"
"Does that an it was Professor Dewen who had sothing wrong with him!? How is that possible?"
"My brain is already in chaos—I feel like this barrier is affecting my intelligence!"
"What's for lunch today?"
"Wait, why is Grand Knight Commander Gwen hugging Viscount Viktor in broad daylight like that?"
Gwen: "……"
"Quiet!"
A Knight from the company shouted, silencing the Mages on the spot.
Gwen bent down, knelt, and cradled Viktor in her arms, making sure he was as comfortable as possible.
Only then did she address the Mages before her:
"Any questions you have will be answered one by one once the matter has been fully investigated."
"For now, please remain calm inside the Academy and await rescue."
"And! Let Viktor rest for a mont!"
The crowd of Mages fell silent.
So of the nobles who knew the 2 were engaged were left puzzled in their hearts.
They'd all heard that Viktor and Gwen's relationship was a bad one—but these 2 looked this affectionate and that's supposed to be a bad relationship?
Who spread that rumor?!
Absolute nonsense!
Weija stood on the ground, watching Viktor play unconscious with a look of speechless resignation.
Life is a stage, and it's all about the performance.
Let's see how you plan to walk yourself off it later.
Suddenly, Weija lifted its head, narrowing its eye as though sensing sothing.
Beneath its single eye, a faint blue glow flickered as it scanned the surroundings.
Viktor, stop pretending to sleep.
The Duke's girl—she's getting close to that thing.
As the very first Follower to have offered Weija her power, a clear one-way link existed between Weija and Erika.
Weija could sense Erika's location at any ti, but Erika had no awareness of Weija's presence.
Through this one-way link, it imdiately perceived that Erika was drawing near to the Back Hill.
That little girl is my only Follower right now—don't go letting her get herself killed.
Viktor was naturally aware of the matter of Weija having revealed itself to Erika, and of using saving him as the pretext to gain this one Follower.
What a headache.
Viktor replied to Weija inwardly, then "struggled" to open his eyes.
"Gwen, your hand……reach inside……"
"Hm? Wha??"
Gwen froze. Her face went scarlet and she could barely get her words out.
"Vi……Viktor, you……you……what are you say……"
"My Coat—there's a potion of mine in there."
Bang!
Like a massive bomb going off, Gwen's mind went completely blank in an instant.
Only then did she realize she had misunderstood. She clamped her mouth shut imdiately and reached into Viktor's Coat, rummaging around for a mont.
Viktor shifted his focus, transferring the blue potion from his Player-exclusive Inventory into the Coat.
Gwen quickly found it and pulled it out—a small blue bottle.
"Is this it?"
She looked at Viktor. The style of it seed almost identical to the bottles of potion Viktor had given her before.
Just a different color.
She was about to hand it to him, then realized Viktor had already been reduced to the point where he couldn't even lift his arms. She quickly brought the potion to his lips instead.
"Viktor, open up."
Viktor opened his mouth. Gwen slowly tilted the potion in.
Once it was done, she let out a breath of relief—and looked up to find countless pairs of eyes staring at her.
Including her own Knight Company subordinates.
Gwen blinked and looked at the Knights around her.
"What are you all staring at for?"
"N-nothing, Grand Knight Commander."
The Knight said, a little awkward.
"It's just—Viscount Viktor, well……what a lucky man."
"Huh?"
Only then did Gwen realize just how outrageous a thing she had done.
But at that mont, the Viktor in her arms stirred.
Gwen didn't have ti to think too much. She watched in astonishnt as Viktor propped himself up with one hand and rose to his feet, his energy seemingly restored in an instant.
"Vi……Viktor? Are you alright?"
"Thank you, Gwen."
He stood up and straightened his Coat.
Everyone was left speechless once again.
Wasn't he on death's door just now? How has he suddenly made a full recovery?
What on earth did you drink? That's absurd.
Even if it's all an act, at least commit to it properly!
Suddenly, Viktor called out several nas.
"Professor Nail, Professor Dison, Professor Gaia……"
Those whose nas were called were among the very few 3rd-Tier Mages in the Academy.
These Professors all looked at Viktor at once.
"Professor Viktor, is sothing the matter?"
Viktor gave a brief explanation.
"As you can see, the Academy has been sealed by the power of a Demon."
"Before long, our strength will be completely drained. When that happens, every one of you will beco a al for the Demon."
The Mages who heard this shuddered all at once, and the several Professors whose nas had been called quickly stood up.
"If you don't want to sit here and wait for death, then work with to break the formation."
Hearing Viktor say this, the Professors exchanged glances and said with so helplessness:
"Professor Viktor, our Magic Power is being siphoned away constantly. We have no way of recovering it."
"The spirit is willing, but the strength is gone."
The mont the words left their mouths, Viktor reached into his Coat and pulled out several bottles identical to the one he had just drunk, tossing them precisely to each of the Mages.
They scrambled to catch them. Before they could even make out the color of the liquid inside the glass bottles, they heard Viktor say:
"Drink it."
Each of them recalled that Viktor had drunk one himself. After a brief hesitation, every single one of them tipped their heads back and drank.
Then, shortly after—
"Huh?"
"Wait—"
"What the—!?"
The reactions of the several Mages were more or less the sa. Without exception, they stared at their own bodies radiating a faint blue glow.
Their Magic Power had instantly recovered by roughly half.
"This—it's a miracle potion!"
They had initially suspected Viktor was putting on a show.
A show? What show?
He didn't need to put on anything. Sincerity was the greatest trump card of all.
The several Mages were still imrsed in the wondrous sensation when Viktor's voice drifted over at a leisurely pace.
"1,000 Geo a bottle."
"The entire Knight Company is right here watching. Don't try to wriggle out of paying."
A group of Mages stood there dumbfounded.
"How much? 1,000 Geo?"
Hearing that, many of the students and so of the other Mages present grimaced.
Yet the Professors who had already drunk their bottles spoke almost in unison:
"That's way too cheap!"
"Professor Viktor! Sell a few more! No—10 bottles! 20 bottles, please!"
"Professor Viktor, just say the word—wherever you go, I'll follow! You tell to head east, I won't take a single step west! Today, even if you told to catch a dog, I would not chase a chicken!"
"I've been fed up with that pig Dewen for ages! Not another word, Professor! Today I don't care if it's a Demon or whatever—I'm with you all the way!"
Watching the several Professors light up as though they'd been injected with pure enthusiasm, those still clear-headed in the crowd were left utterly bewildered.
Gwen was still kneeling on the ground, her mind slow to catch up.
After a long mont, she tilted her head and blinked.
"Huh?"
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