NOVEL NEXT Chapter 108: Who Introduces Themselves Like That?
Upon hearing Viktor's request, Gwen maintained a neutral expression.
After all, as he had addressed her, she was a knight, and thus, she would serve Viktor.
She walked in front, with Viktor following behind.
The two moved one after another towards the lecture hall.
This scene was witnessed by countless onlookers, all of whom expressed looks of amazement.
"Is that... Knight Commander Gwen?"
"Knight Commander Gwen is actually walking with Viktor. Are they really that close?"
"Of course, they're engaged to be married!"
The media reporters all revealed envious expressions, and the rising and falling exclamations made Gwen feel quite uncomfortable.
Her earlobes turned red from embarrassment.
"These reporters are really annoying," was the only thought in Gwen's mind.
However, the reporters paid no heed to Gwen's feelings. They observed this newsworthy scene, continuously recording it with magic stones.
Viktor walking together with Gwen naturally provided material for a good story.
After all, Viktor was now both a fourth-tier mage and a member of the Mage Council.
Dressed in his gentleman's attire, he exuded an air of stability and mature masculinity.
"Knight Commander Gwen and Professor Viktor really make a good match."
"Yes, indeed."
Amidst the constant chatter, Gwen could only pretend not to care and quickly escort Viktor to the lecture hall.
Finally, the two entered the hall together.
The originally noisy lecture hall suddenly fell silent upon Viktor's entrance.
Viktor nodded to Gwen behind him, indicating that she need not accompany him further, while he himself walked towards the podium.
The lights in the lecture hall suddenly dimmed, with several beams of warm yellow light focusing on Viktor.
Dressed in a black tailcoat, he looked noble and elegant.
He adjusted his tie and faced the audience.
The entire lecture hall was packed to capacity.
Gwen stood in a dim corner. She didn't leave immediately but quietly watched Viktor standing in the spotlight.
Seeing him as the center of attention, she couldn't help but stare in a daze.
The Viktor in her memory had never been like this before.
Confident, proud, and powerful.
He had changed.
He was no longer so detestable,
No longer so sinister and ugly.
Finally, Gwen cast one last reluctant glance at Viktor, turned her head, and walked towards the dim doorway.
The entire lecture hall was completely silent, as if each guest in the audience could only hear the breathing of those nearby.
The crow on Viktor's shoulder raised its head, scanning the crowd.
Aurelianne, Lia, Erica...
Many familiar faces.
The princess smiled as she stared at Viktor, appearing very gentle and refined.
Lia's eyes were also full of excitement. Vega could see that she was cheering Viktor on.
As for Erica...
Her eyes were full of admiration, with a hint of melancholy.
It could even see the two princes sitting among the crowd, surrounded by many nobles.
Behind the podium, Henie secretly looked at the audience, fully prepared.
'Professor, please call me if you need anything!'
Viktor waved his hand behind him and looked forward again.
Rachel sat in the front row of the podium, leaning on his cane, stroking his long beard with a kind smile.
"Professor Viktor."
"You may begin."
Viktor tugged at his collar, raised his head, his gaze exuding full confidence, appearing so bright under the lights.
"I'm delighted to see you all."
"I am Viktor Kravina, the chief professor of the Royal Magic Academy, current member of the twelve councilors of the Mage Council, and a fourth-tier mage proficient in all magic systems."
Starting with a self-introduction was a requirement noted in the speech draft.
But this long string of achievements right at the beginning felt like a stunning slap to the large audience.
What was this?
Were these accomplishments possible for someone of his age?
Countless people expressed bewilderment, but Viktor paid no attention to the shock below the stage.
Even when facing thousands of people, he remained as calm as ever, his indifferent voice continuing to sound.
"The topic is — 'The Feasibility of Training Using Magically Shaped Real Combat Battlefields'"
Whoosh —
The opening lecture topic was enough to amaze every listener present.
Using magic to shape real combat sites? For training?
This novel concept was something they had never even heard of.
Only a few students and professors who knew the inside story of that assessment revealed knowing smiles.
"As you all know, I am a combat mage."
Viktor's voice rang out, and the quiet audience below nodded in strong agreement.
Mages were divided into different factions.
Such as healing-focused mages, construction-focused artisan mages...
But a mage's strength inevitably had its specialized areas.
Combat mages were a relatively common type, as they focused more on destructive power.
Similar to Duke Levi, he was a long-standing combat mage.
Everyone among the nobles present knew this well.
Once upon a time, Duke Levi single-handedly wiped out three hundred thousand cult members at the border.
His reputation for strength was well-known, but compared to Viktor...
He seemed to fall a bit short.
That crater blasted out in the academy was still kept as a scenic spot for people to admire.
"As you all know, to become a combat mage, practical combat experience is indispensable."
"But after my two tests, I realized that most students have never experienced real combat, and can only use simple formulaic magic."
This point was also agreed upon by many people. Even though some were not mages themselves, the importance of practical experience was self-evident.
But the Royal Magic Academy couldn't do this.
Because they didn't dare to take risks.
Within the academy, although there were quite a few commoner students who might have some initial understanding of magical beasts,
Most were still those noble students.
The frail bodies of mages, for the most part, could not withstand a single attack from those magical beasts outside the royal capital.
This was also why, when Aurelianne killed a forest ogre, the news spread throughout the royal capital, shocking the entire mage community into silence.
Although there was assistance from lecturers in the academy, if they were to start practical combat courses, they could provide supervision and protection.
However, under careful care, it would actually reduce the teaching effect of practical combat.
Conversely, if it were too relaxed, the lives of those students would be threatened.
The academy was a place of education; they couldn't joke with students' lives.
To protect the students, they could only focus more of the students' energy on theoretical courses.
Only occasional practical classes would allow students to try their hand at hitting wooden dummies.
Students who had been in school longer might have some skill, but the actions of new students were practically indistinguishable from ordinary people.
Many people couldn't help but recall Viktor's behavior that day.
Challenging a group of students single-handedly, standing motionless on the arena.
So Viktor was actually testing for this?
"Therefore, in the content of the final exam, I implemented an early test of today's topic."
As Viktor's words fell, the audience below all pricked up their ears, full of anticipation.
That's right, what many people were looking forward to was that final exam whose content had never been revealed.
And this exam seemed to be about to get an answer in Viktor's lecture.
Henie backstage was already fully prepared, quickly projecting the prepared magic stone images from above the podium.
A flash of light passed, and a shadow-like screen gradually appeared, floating in midair.
In the image, many students were fighting in that lush reed marsh,
Fire, ice, flowing water, rocks...
The students were releasing the magic they had learned with abandon, facing several small magical beasts for the exam.
Some failed and were dejected, but quickly gathered courage to challenge again.
Some succeeded, their faces showing proud and accomplished smiles.
Among them, Duke Levi even saw Erica's figure in the flashing images, seeing his daughter narrowly deal with the final ten magical beasts that appeared simultaneously.
He felt an indescribable sense of gratification and joy in his heart.
"The above scenes are from the student perspective of this assessment."
The image dissipated like smoke, and Viktor said calmly.
Finally, someone raised a question.
It was a noble mage, the weathering and wrinkles on his face showing the deep thought of a battle-hardened and elderly person.
He raised his hand, slowly stood up, and asked:
"Professor Viktor, I have a question."
"As you say, how is the safety issue of the students resolved?"
Viktor looked down at him and explained expressionlessly:
"As you can see, after receiving a fatal attack, students are automatically teleported to a safe location."
The old mage nodded and sat back down.
But questions sprang up like bamboo shoots after a spring rain:
"Professor Viktor, may I ask, how do these magical beasts appear? Won't they lose their sanity?"
"Professor Viktor, how is this separate space formed?"
"Professor Viktor, can this really achieve the effect of training students?"
"Professor Viktor..."
Viktor extended his hand and pressed down, lowering everyone's voices.
"There are too many questions, I won't answer them one by one."
"I think seeing is believing, and solving everything at once is my preferred method."
With these words, the entire lecture hall suddenly fell silent.
Everyone was a bit confused, their gazes fixed on Viktor, very curious to know how Viktor would answer their questions.
Viktor spread his hands.
"Get ready."
"Don't blink."
No one noticed that Vega's single eye slowly lit up with a faint blue light.
Instantly, rampant vegetation began to appear above the lecture hall, large patches of dense forest like puzzle pieces, gathering from the ground, air, and surroundings towards where the guests were, instantly forming a lush forest.
Although it was night, the sun hung high in the sky, warmly shining on everyone's faces.
Many people still felt they were sitting in chairs in the academy lecture hall, but the breeze around them and the sunlight hitting their faces all told them:
This was already another place.
Viktor stood in the sunlight, like a messenger descended from the sky.
Soon, the surrounding seeds began to take root and sprout, flowers visibly began to bloom, and insects peeked out from the back of the wild grass.
Not far away, huge flower buds suddenly bloomed, and countless magical beasts with flower petals on their heads and entangled with vines leapt out.
In an instant, Viktor was surrounded by tens of thousands of magical beasts, as if leading an army of magical creatures.
Like a towering general, he stood on the treetops and smiled faintly at everyone:
"This is the main part of today's lecture."
"I call it — Instance."