When Viktor heard this news, he was extremely shocked, his body even stiffened a little.
It seemed like it was the first time a hint of surprise ever appeared on his face, and Vega was a little taken aback too.
"So, you didn't know Henny is a succubus?"
"Why would I know that?"
Of course, Viktor knew about the species called succubus.
They were only female, and they absorbed a man's energy through certain indescribable acts to increase their own magical power.
The more experienced a succubus was, the stronger her magic became.
"So Henny, who doesn't have even a trace of magic power on her body…"
Viktor suddenly thought of a phrase.
The Shame of the Succubus.
"I think she probably doesn't even know it herself. To be honest, I only discovered it recently too."
Vega pecked at his own feathers, then said slowly, "After the demon that possessed Henny left, the succubus aura on her body slowly started to surface. After all, in some ways, succubi are considered a branch of demons."
The fact that Viktor hadn't noticed this made Vega a little surprised. He had always assumed Viktor already knew such a small thing.
"But Henny clearly looks like a normal human."
"When have you ever seen a normal person's eyes glow yellow? Seriously, when she opens her eyes at night, they're brighter than a lamp."
Vega complained speechlessly.
However, since Henny hadn't shown any obvious succubus traits, Vega continued explaining, "Henny should be a half-blood succubus, no idea what species her other parent was, but most likely human."
Succubi could reproduce asexually, since they were all female, and it was impossible for them to have a child with another succubus.
But they could have children with other species. Even though succubi could transform into whatever appearance a target preferred, once they combined with another species, the child's appearance would take after that species.
Yes, even if a succubus mated with a gorilla, the child would be a female gorilla succubus.
Viktor thought for a while.
If that was the case, Henny's background made sense.
Liya had investigated Henny's origins, she grew up in an orphanage, with no parents since childhood.
Succubi weren't creatures known for maternal love. After their fleeting pleasure, they would simply toss away their child somewhere and continue seeking new excitement.
Whether the child lived or died, it had nothing to do with them.
As for the father?
He was probably already sucked dry.
"So in other words…"
Viktor was silent for a moment.
"Right, becoming a mage through normal means is basically impossible for her."
Vega glanced at Viktor, teasingly saying, "That's why I was asking if you already knew about it. After all, our dear Viktor has quite a sufficient amount of magical energy."
Viktor quickly accepted the fact, calming down again.
Then, he said plainly, "This doesn't help me much."
As a practical-minded player, Viktor wasn't interested in things that served no use.
After all, as a professional power-leveler, efficiency mattered far more than experience.
So he naturally wouldn't care whether Henny was a succubus or not.
That was just her race, it had nothing to do with who she was.
"Even without magical talent, her knowledge is still valuable enough."
Hearing that, Vega gave a sly little smile. No one knew what it was thinking at that moment.
———
Henny lay in bed, slowly opening her eyes.
Her body felt weak, as if a heavy rock were pressing on her back. Her head ached, her mind felt fuzzy, and she was very, very hungry.
She had no idea how long she'd been unconscious.
All she could tell was that she was lying on a soft, comfortable bed.
The room was spacious, something she wouldn't even dare to dream of.
But… why did everything around her feel so familiar?
A faint, clean scent drifted into her nose.
Suddenly, something clicked in her mind, and her eyes went wide.
'Isn't this Professor Viktor's guest room!?'
And how did she know that? Because she had slept here once before.
That was on the second day after she met the professor. Though it had only been one morning, that memory had become incredibly precious to her.
It was that moment that made Henny feel Viktor was a gentle professor.
In her heart, Viktor was like a shining star.
Yes, Henny admired him.
Viktor embodied everything she imagined a mage to be, powerful, calm, mysterious, and gentle.
"The professor… saved me…"
"For someone like me…"
Her face turned bright red. She bit her lip and buried her head under the soft blanket, her fingers clutching the fabric tightly as if lost in some fantasy.
Suddenly, footsteps came from outside the door.
Henny snapped awake, quickly lying flat again and pulling the blanket up, eyes shut tight, pretending to still be unconscious.
The door creaked open. Someone walked in.
She couldn't see, but her instincts told her that person's eyes were on her.
The footsteps drew closer… then stopped by the bedside.
Henny wanted to open her eyes to see who it was, but guilt and panic froze her shut.
For a long time, the person didn't move.
Just as Henny was about to give up pretending,
Whoosh!
The blanket was suddenly lifted. A chill ran through her as her body was exposed. Her eyes flew open, and she grabbed the corner of the blanket tightly.
Looking up, she saw that cold, expressionless face, Viktor's, as if he had done nothing out of the ordinary.
"P-prof-professor!"
Henny's face flushed scarlet. She quickly snatched the blanket and covered herself up again.
Viktor's expression didn't change at all. He sat calmly on the chair beside the bed.
"When did you wake up?"
Henny hid half her face under the blanket, her cheeks steaming like a boiling kettle, only her eyes peeking out timidly to look at Viktor.
"J-just… just now."
Viktor nodded slightly.
"Then get dressed and tidy yourself up."
Henny blushed even deeper, thinking he might have sensed her earlier thoughts.
But then she heard Viktor's calm voice again, "I had the servants prepare some porridge. You can eat a little now, it'll help you regain your strength."
"And also, the academy was destroyed. It'll take a few days to rebuild, so you don't need to go back for now. Just stay here as long as you want."
"When it's finished, I'll recommend you to the dean for a position as an associate professor. You can start teaching your own classes."
Viktor methodically explained all the arrangements, leaving no room for her to refuse, he spoke so steadily that Henny barely had time to react.
"…"
Her grip on the blanket loosened, revealing her pale face.
Due to her days of unconsciousness and lack of nutrition, her skin looked faintly white, which only made her seem more delicate and pitiful.
Even blushing couldn't add much color to her cheeks.
She stared blankly, unsure what to feel.
She wanted so badly to reach out and hug him, even though she knew the distance between them was impossibly far.
"…Professor."
"Mm?"
Viktor's gaze rested calmly on her.
Gathering her courage, she lowered her head and said softly, her voice trembling with anticipation.
"Can I… hug you?"
But as soon as she said it, she shrank back like a startled deer, too afraid to even look at him, hurriedly stammering, "S-sorry! Professor! That was too rude of me, please don't take it to heart, just forget I..."
The next second, Henny's eyes widened.
Before she could finish, a broad, warm chest enveloped her.
When she looked up, all she could see was the black inner lining of his coat.
His scent filled her senses, pulling her into a dazed bliss she never wanted to leave.
She reached out, wanting to hold him, to stop time right here.
But the embrace lasted only a moment.
Viktor let go before she could return it.
He was like a true gentleman, never refusing a woman's modest request, but never crossing any lines either.
Henny stared at Viktor, but his figure began to blur before her teary eyes.
Noble…
That was the only word left in her hazy gaze.
Elegant, mysterious, dignified, no word fit better than that.
"If you need anything, ask the maid at the door."
Leaving only that line, Viktor opened the guestroom door and walked out softly, like a gentle breeze.
Henny's face turned crimson. She buried her face in the blanket again, but no matter how she tried, she couldn't shake the memory of that brief embrace.
Somehow, warmth welled up from within her, filling her chest with happiness.
"Hm?"
Feeling something strange, Henny sat up, held out her hand, and spread her palm.
As always, she tried to form a magic circle, but normally, without magic power, such attempts always failed.
Yet this time…
Glowing green lines formed in the air, gradually shaping into a complete formation.
A small, faint whirlwind spun gently in her palm.
"…"
A cool breeze brushed past her hair, carrying a light chill.
"I… I became a mage?"
Her cheeks were wet.
Before she realized it, two lines of tears had slipped down her face.
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