Lia maintained an unusually serious expression as she spoke.

Although her words seemed perfectly fine, Viktor couldn't shake off a strange feeling.

Sitting at his desk, he quietly observed Lia. "So, what's the reason you're looking for me?"

It was already so late. If it wasn’t something important, Lia wouldn’t have come to him. Viktor was well aware of her habits and routines.

"Ah, right, right," Lia said, as if suddenly recalling something. She reached behind her waist and fumbled for a moment.

"Here, take this."

She pulled out a small pendant.

The pendant was shaped like a black blade, small and delicate, almost gem-like. Its interior was clear and crystalline, with bat-like wing decorations on each side.

"This is from Gwen's sister, Kevla. She asked me to give it to you as a token of her gratitude for what you did in the Northern Lands."

Viktor lifted a finger, and a stream of white magic flowed from his fingertip. The magic wrapped around the pendant, lifting it into the air and floating it toward his hand.

He gave it a cursory glance.

Suddenly, as if noticing something unusual, he narrowed his eyes slightly and placed the pendant back on the desk.

"And then?" he asked. "She gave me this, but I doubt it's just to express her thanks."

Lia looked at Viktor, seemingly a bit surprised. "How did you know? You're right. She does have a request. She hopes you’ll accompany her for a day tomorrow."

...

Early the next morning, Viktor watched Henie leave the mansion in a rush after breakfast.

With the academy's reopening around the corner, Henie had been assigned a mountain of tasks, leaving her feeling a little overwhelmed. But as a deputy professor, she understood it was her responsibility.

Still, it was undeniably a busy period.

Viktor had specifically reminded Henie that during these hectic days, she could stay at a house near the academy to save the time spent commuting and get more rest.

However, Henie, stubborn as always, insisted on commuting daily, even refusing to take a carriage.

"It's for exercise," she would say.

But Viktor knew better. Henie was simply caught up in her own little stubbornness, unwilling to trouble anyone else.

Not long after Henie left, Kevla arrived.

The moment she stepped in, she greeted Viktor with her usual enthusiasm. "Yo, yo~ Long time no see, Viktor!"

Viktor raised a hand slightly, and behind Kevla, a flash of light appeared. A chair materialized out of thin air.

But that wasn’t all. On the table in front of her, a teacup and teapot seemed to be lifted by invisible hands, pouring her a cup of tea.

Kevla watched the display, wide-eyed and amazed.

"Sit," Viktor said, gesturing for Kevla to take a seat.

Kevla, never one to stand on ceremony, sat across from Viktor, picked up the teacup, and took a sip.

The power of magic—truly extraordinary.

As she drank, Kevla couldn't help but marvel. As a demon hunter, she knew magic would forever remain beyond her reach.

Setting down the teacup, she smiled at Viktor and said, "Viktor, we’re all family, so there’s no need for pretense. You probably already know my profession."

A demon hunter—a profession born to hunt demons.

Viktor remained expressionless, casually picking up a piece of bird food and feeding it to the raven perched on his shoulder.

"And then? You said you wanted me to accompany you for a day. What exactly do you have in mind?"

Lia had already informed him that Kevla had obtained Gwen’s permission. That was why Viktor was curious about Kevla’s request.

Although...

Viktor glanced down at the pendant now hanging around his neck, his thoughts becoming more focused.

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Kevla, noticing the pendant on Viktor’s neck, seemed pleased. "Looks like you don’t dislike the gift."

"This is our demon hunter’s insignia, a symbol of identity. Every demon hunter possesses one, and only one."

Kevla straightened her posture and smiled faintly. "If the owner of this insignia dies, their power won’t dissipate. Instead, it will condense within the pendant, waiting for the next person to inherit it."

"I am its second owner."

Viktor picked up the pendant, examining it closely.

The glossy black pendant seemed to shimmer faintly under the sunlight, with intricate, flowing patterns visible within its depths.

"If that’s the case, why didn’t you give it to Gwen?" Viktor asked.

He knew this item was considered the most precious treasure of a demon hunter. It was also the key to the survival and continuity of the demon hunter lineage.

"This insignia can only be entrusted to someone truly worthy," Kevla said, her smile unwavering as she met Viktor’s gaze. "I trust you because you’re Gwen’s fiancé. Besides, compared to her, you’re far more deserving of this insignia."

Viktor listened quietly to Kevla’s words before tucking the pendant under his clothing.

Kevla’s explanation was still too polite.

Viktor recalled that, in the game, this item had a special name visible only to players: [Blood of the Demon Hunter’s Lifeblood].

It was a quest item, a necessary artifact for players to transition into the demon hunter class.

Furthermore, throughout the entire questline, players could only ever obtain this one insignia.

It represented a demon hunter’s complete trust and the authority over their life and death.

When a demon hunter handed over their insignia, it meant they had entrusted their life and death to its new owner.

As for why Viktor knew this...

It was because, during the class transition quests, players were presented with two choices.

The first choice was to kill the demon hunter mentor after obtaining the insignia, gaining the mentor’s residual power and becoming a demon hunter.

The second choice was to keep the insignia...

Viktor stopped dwelling on the game’s plot and focused on Kevla’s expectant gaze, his expression becoming more serious.

"If you’ve given me this, then..."

"I’ll accept your trust."

...

When Henie arrived at the academy, Sapphirose was already waiting at the entrance, seemingly for quite some time.

She was still dressed in her simple attire, a plain, oversized cloak draped over her shoulders. Her back seemed to carry something bulky, hidden beneath the fabric.

Seeing Sapphirose, Henie appeared pleasantly surprised. "You’re here so early!"

Hearing Henie’s voice, Sapphirose slowly turned her head to face her. Her words were mechanical, with deliberate pauses. "This... was... the arrangement."

Indeed, Henie had made a small promise to Sapphirose the day before.

Because it was already late when they first met, they didn’t have enough time to fully tour the academy. So, they had agreed to meet again today for a proper tour.

"Let’s head inside," Henie said with a cheerful smile.

Seeing Sapphirose hesitate, seemingly unsure of what to do, Henie reached out and grabbed her hand hidden beneath the cloak.

"Come on, let’s go together!"

The two walked through the academy gates, where an overwhelming magical energy enveloped them.

Henie explained, "The magic concentration inside the Royal Academy is three to five times higher than outside. It’s incredibly suitable for mages to practice."

Even though Sapphirose sometimes seemed completely lost, Henie remained patient, explaining everything with enthusiasm.

"It’s still early, so there aren’t many people around. Let’s take a look at the places that are usually crowded."

After the two left, a transparent [Natural Sparrow] had already observed their every move.

At the same time, Rachel Azure stood at the top of the Mage Tower, gazing out the window and overseeing the entire academy. He took pride in the harmony and prosperity of the institution he managed.

After all, the Royal Magic Academy was Rachel Azure’s lifelong masterpiece.

Suddenly, the Natural Sparrow quivered, its magic rippling slightly.

Rachel shivered as well.

"What’s going on?"

For a brief moment, he felt the presence of a powerful creature entering the academy gates.

On his desk, a green, elongated watermelon opened its deep-set eyes.

"Azure, you saw it too, didn’t you?" the watermelon said in a deep voice.

Through the Natural Sparrow, Rachel continued observing Henie and Sapphirose as they walked away. After a moment, he nodded solemnly.

"Yes... She’s definitely not ordinary. I can sense a familiar aura."

Rachel’s eyes gleamed with a faint light as he locked onto Sapphirose’s cloaked figure, as if seeing straight through her.

"That girl, with the aura of a beast..."

"Could only be the work of that individual... the so-called [Traitor]."

The elongated watermelon slowly propped itself up and spoke again. "If there’s trouble, ask Viktor for help. As a member of the Council, he’s also obligated to deal with the Council’s [Traitors]."

With that, the watermelon closed its eyes once more, returning to its seemingly harmless state.

Rachel Azure continued to observe through the Natural Sparrow. A moment later, as if sensing another presence, he looked up.

"The Empire’s Second Prince? Owiser Sol?"

"What’s he doing here?"

...

At that moment, the Second Prince had just entered the gates and immediately sensed Rachel Azure’s surveillance.

Among the Empire’s upper echelons, Rachel Azure’s Natural Sparrow was no secret.

Still, even if he was being watched, it didn’t matter.

He was here to confirm something.

"Greed, are you certain? You felt our companion here?"

"Of course, my friend," Yem’s voice slithered into his ears, like bubbling swamp gas. "I never lie when I’m not hungry."

"""