Tens of thousands of people were held back outside the academy, anxious and restless.
However, inside the academy's lecture hall, it was far from peaceful.
Star-like illusions floated in the air, spread out with countless unique scenes.
Each one represented a student.
Once those colorful nebulae slowly turned into dull, lifeless images, it meant that those students had voluntarily given up this assessment and would be sent outside the academy.
Many professors and lecturers gathered together, closely observing the students' actions.
The score sheets in their hands were filled with names.
Dean Rachel was also stroking his beard, watching the countless images. When he saw students performing well, he could not help but smile happily.
Countless parents were equally nervous, watching the different performances of their own children inside the instance space.
At this moment, Dean Rachel noticed someone entering and could not help but glance over, "It seems the academy has welcomed distinguished guests."
He turned around and looked at Levi, who had entered without anyone noticing.
"Welcome back, Duke."
"And..."
At this point, Rachel's gaze moved to Vladimir.
"A battle-hardened old general."
Vladimir looked at Rachel, crossed his arms, and laughed loudly, "Dean Rachel's eyesight is still as sharp as ever."
While the dean chatted casually with the two of them, the others also noticed Vladimir.
From this sturdy old man, they felt an extremely powerful presence.
It was a terrifying power where magic and physical aura were completely intertwined.
Levi stepped forward and said to Rachel with a smile, "I returned in a hurry and came without an invitation. I hope the dean won't blame me."
Rachel stroked his beard and said slowly, "I'm just an old bag of bones. There's no talk of blame or not."
"But you."
His gaze moved to Levi, sizing him up. A hint of surprise appeared in his eyes, and he chuckled softly, "It seems you gained something pretty good."
Levi shrugged and turned his head to look at Erica.
Erica, who had just entered the academy, was very curious as she walked around the entire lecture hall, looking back and forth at the nebula-like images.
Each of those nebula scenes was different, which made her feel very intrigued.
Levi's gaze softened a little when he looked at Erica. Only then did he come back to his senses and ask the dean, "Where is Count Viktor? He didn't come this morning?"
"Heh heh, I can't invite him."
The dean puffed his beard, with a trace of amusement at the corner of his eyes.
"If you have business with him, you might as well wait nearby."
"Who knows, you might even see someone you didn't expect."
Hearing Rachel say this, Levi nodded.
At this time, the dean turned to Vladimir again, "As for you, General, feel free to walk around."
"Perhaps you can also experience the training ground Professor Viktor left behind."
He pointed with his cane at a mirror in the corner of the lecture hall.
The tall mirror had its eyes tightly shut, and a strange sense of danger slowly seeped out from within.
"However, it isn't dangerous."
Vladimir raised his eyebrows, "Interesting."
He rolled up his sleeves, cracked his knuckles, walked over to the mirror, and reached out to touch its surface.
The next second, he felt a powerful suction force.
Before he could react much, he was already sucked into the magic mirror.
———
Inside this dreamlike star-filled space, Levi wandered around casually.
Colorful images floated like ice floes on the sea, constantly rotating.
However, some images were gradually dimming, like the afterglow of the setting sun.
At this moment, he saw a large group of people, almost all gathered around a star-filled space.
They were staring intently at a huge image.
Levi could not help but walk over as well.
When he saw the student in the image clearly, he could not help but feel surprised, his gaze tightening slightly.
It was Aurelian.
The people gathered in front of the image could not help but exclaim, "Her Highness the Princess has already challenged it thirty times, right?"
"Her perseverance is amazing… and her progress is also the fastest."
"After all, Her Highness the Princess is Count Viktor's student…"
"Looks like the top freshman this year can only be her."
Listening to everyone's praise, Levi stared at the bubble-like mirror image.
Aurelian was standing on a small island, holding her longsword horizontally in front of her, reflecting the shapes of several monsters.
Thin bodies with mole-like heads, holding sharp claws, gathered around Aurelian, taking a ready-to-strike stance.
At this moment, Levi saw clearly.
Aurelian was protecting a woman behind her, carefully observing the largest mole-man among them.
According to the academy's public information, this freshman assessment was divided into ten tasks in total.
If a freshman completed all of them, they could achieve a perfect score in the freshman assessment.
And Aurelian had already completed nine tasks in this town.
Now, she was challenging the final commissioned task.
This was a rescue-type mission.
Aurelian needed to ensure that the woman behind her would not be injured and would not die.
Under this premise, she had to face countless mole groups and the strongest mole-man boss.
Aurelian was continuously challenging this final task in pursuit of a perfect score.
Levi widened his eyes as he watched Aurelian repeatedly fighting the mole-men. When she accidentally exposed a flaw, the monster seized the opening and cut Aurelian in half at the waist.
Suddenly, the entire image flashed, and Aurelian felt herself enter a blue storm filled with flashing lightning once again.
The moment her feet touched the ground, the storm dispersed, and she saw that her body had fully recovered.
The bubble image also returned to the small island, and Aurelian once again prepared cautiously to face the mole-men.
Looking at the scene before him, Levi felt a slight shock in his heart.
Revived?
Or time reversal?
But the onlookers around seemed long used to it.
That final monster was extremely powerful.
Aurelian had already challenged it thirty times.
Seeing this, Levi finally understood.
Just how incredible the "instance" Viktor had created really was.
For the students, this was simply a perfect real combat training opportunity.
In this special instance, they could fight powerful enemies without worrying about their bodies being injured at all.
With every battle, they could gain experience and gather the courage to challenge those fierce monsters again.
But before Levi could react further, a familiar voice suddenly sounded beside him, "Levi?"
Hearing the voice, Levi turned his head.
When he saw who it was, his mind buzzed, and he froze in place.
It was as if he had seen someone who absolutely should not have appeared here.
It was the empress, Claudia.
What happened during the two months he was gone?
Why had this old empress returned as well?
A playful glint appeared in Claudia's eyes as she smiled and said, "You look very surprised?"
Levi answered frankly, "I truly did not expect this, Empress Claudia."
"May I ask why you are here?"
"After you came back, you probably haven't gone to see Oberli yet."
Claudia did not answer directly, but instead turned her head to look at Aurelian, who was still challenging the mission in the image.
There was a gentle look in her eyes, rippling like spring water.
Levi was momentarily stunned, then looked at Claudia again, trying to find an answer from her gaze.
Claudia said with a smile, "As a father, don't you understand the need to keep an eye on your child?"
Levi showed a hint of surprise and looked at Claudia, saying calmly, "But she isn't your child."
"What's the problem with that?"
Claudia turned her head and looked at Levi.
Seeing this, Levi did not say anything more.
Since she could appear here, it was naturally with Emperor Oberli's tacit approval.
"I hope you will continue to maintain things just as you said today."
Claudia said to Levi, holding her chest with both hands.
"That won't require your concern."
"Duke."
The two talked for quite some time, but instead of joy at meeting old acquaintances, they parted on bad terms.
Just as Levi was about to turn and leave, respectful voices sounded from around them, "Professor Viktor."
"Good morning, Professor Viktor."
"Professor Viktor came quite early today."
"Professor Viktor, have you eaten yet?"
Along with the voices, Viktor appeared without anyone noticing.
His hands were in his pockets, and his coat shone brilliantly under the layers of nebulae.
Even the crow on his shoulder had feathers that seemed glossier than before.
He did not pay much attention to the others and instead walked straight toward Erica.
When Erica saw Viktor approaching, her expression showed a bit more joy.
"Professor…"
She raised her hand to greet Viktor, and soon, Viktor stood in front of her.
This made Erica freeze instantly. Looking at Viktor, her body stiffened slightly, not knowing how to react.
"Pro… Professor."
"My father is still nearby…"
"I know."
At this moment, Levi happened to turn back and saw Viktor standing in front of his daughter.
He did have some things he wanted to talk to Viktor about. However, seeing Viktor approach Erica made him frown.
He was just about to step forward to put some distance between Viktor and his daughter.
But the next second, his eyes suddenly widened.
Viktor extended one arm, his broad shoulder enclosing Erica's body.
He pulled her straight into his arms.
"Eh…?"
Her face pressed against Professor Viktor's chest, and Erica's cheeks instantly turned red.
Her eyes became unfocused, and her mind felt as if it had gone blank.
In her entire head, only one thought remained.
'The professor's embrace… So warm.'
"Don't move."
In her dazed state, that was all she could hear.
Viktor's voice slowly sounded by her ear.
"Right now, I need you."
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