Viktor sat quietly in the study when he heard a knock on the door.
A light breeze brushed past, and the door to the study opened automatically.
Henny stood at the doorway and cautiously walked inside.
With her head lowered, she came before Viktor like a child who had done something wrong, not daring to meet his gaze, only occasionally sneaking glances at him from under her lashes.
Viktor's eyes roamed over Henny without restraint.
A black robe covered her body completely, concealing not only her figure but also the succubus allure she possessed.
Who would have thought that this usually quiet and unremarkable girl had such a "high configuration"?
In fact, among everyone Viktor had seen so far, Henny probably ranked at the very top.
Viktor shook his head, withdrew his gaze, and spoke calmly, "What is it?"
Henny kept her head lowered and reported softly, "Some families wish to cooperate with you."
"Cooperate?"
Viktor frowned slightly, not quite understanding what she meant.
Seeing this, Henny explained, "Last night, many nobles sent messages to your item shop. Most of them want to discuss cooperation regarding the mana potions."
Viktor tapped his fingers on the table. 'So, someone had already started paying attention to that, huh?'
Although mana potions were extremely expensive, their effects were equally remarkable. Any mage who truly needed them usually wouldn't lack the money to buy such powerful items.
'So, some people wanted a share of the profit now?'
Viktor didn't really keep up with the item shop's affairs, since Liya was the one managing it.
As for Henny…
Viktor remembered that after she woke up, she'd kept telling Liya she felt bad for being taken care of so much, saying she wanted to help out around the house.
After that, Liya had seemingly taken her in as a temporary little assistant.
Henny's job at the academy had been a teaching assistant anyway, so helping out as an assistant fit well enough.
Yesterday, since Liya and he attended the banquet together, Henny had stayed behind to manage the shop for the day.
But things turned out differently from what Viktor imagined. Henny said from the side,
"They wanted me to ask if you have… any more stock of the mana potions."
"Oh?"
Viktor looked curious and gestured for her to continue.
"They said they hope you can let them purchase the mana potions in bulk. They're willing to buy them at a price one hundred Geos higher than the cost price."
"Then, they'll sell your mana potions in their own family shops and in other cities. The profit from the original cost price would be split seventy-thirty, with seventy percent going to you."
Viktor began to think.
'These families… want to do charity now?'
Actually, after calculating the returns, it wasn't really charity.
Even if the profit margin was just one hundred, they would still be earning something.
But that didn't even count the additional expenses for shop management, labor, transportation, and other messy costs.
To Viktor, who knew the truth, these people were basically offering him free money.
They must have heard somewhere that the potion's actual cost was only three hundred Geos.
Viktor guessed Liya had probably spread that rumor on purpose.
And the real cost? Just some tree fruits worth barely a few coins.
Even if Liya sold them at what they believed was the "cost price," then let other shops sell them at a thousand Geos each, the seven hundred gil profit would still be an enormous sum.
And seventy percent of that seven hundred would go to Viktor.
Meanwhile, they would even pay above "cost" for the bulk purchases.
Meaning they'd earn even less.
It sounded good, but still.
Viktor narrowed his eyes.
Having dealt with players for so long, Viktor understood this very clearly, when doing business, always assume the other party has bad intentions.
You never know what traps might be hidden behind the sweetness they offer.
Sure, some people might genuinely want to curry favor with him, after all, he was now the princess's teacher, a titled noble, someone even the Second Prince tried to flatter.
He was clearly at the height of his reputation.
But…
If things were as Henny described, where they would only owe him seventy percent of the profits after sales, then what if they simply chose not to sell?
If they didn't sell anything, they wouldn't have to pay him a dime.
In that case, they'd be buying large quantities of mana potions at what they thought was "cost," hoarding them or using them themselves, breaking the potion's market price and undermining the Clavenna family's selling rule of "only two bottles per person per day."
Viktor didn't mind earning more money, he was quite short on cash, but he wasn't about to step into an obvious trap.
Those old foxes just wanted to take advantage of Henny's inexperience.
Viktor glanced at her again.
The little succubus might be remarkable in magical knowledge, but when it came to business, she clearly didn't understand a thing.
"This matter will be put aside for now. Wait until Liya returns and let her handle it."
Let professionals handle professional matters.
He believed that if those nobles were really trying to dig a pit for their business, Liya would make sure to tear a layer of skin off each of them.
"As for you."
Viktor stood up and walked straight toward Henny.
Thinking she had made some mistake, Henny immediately lowered her head and bit her lip nervously, almost unable to stand properly.
"Mm…"
Viktor reached out and patted her head. Henny froze, a wave of warmth and happiness welling up inside her as she looked up at him blankly.
Expressionless, Viktor said calmly, "Go to the item shop later. Just focus on selling the goods."
"Don't let it delay your magic studies."
Henny nodded rapidly, listening carefully to Viktor's instructions. His words filled her heart with happiness.
A warm current surged up inside her once again, rising all the way to her head.
"I'll definitely catch up to you, Professor! When that time comes, I'll definitely, definitely..."
Halfway through, Henny seemed to think of something, her face turning bright red like a steaming kettle, unable to utter another word.
No one knew what kind of indecent thoughts were running through this flustered succubus's mind.
Viktor withdrew his hand and walked toward the door. Vika flapped her wings and landed on his shoulder.
Before leaving, Viktor said to the dazed and blushing Henny behind him, "Remember to close the door."
By the time Henny came back to her senses, Viktor had already left the mansion.
She felt a faint sense of loss, but also, for the first time, a sense of purpose.
Placing her hand over her chest, she murmured softly, "I have to… become stronger."
———
Viktor sat in the speeding carriage as it rumbled down the dusty path toward a grand and luxurious estate, the Delin Residence.
Getting off the carriage, Viktor was greeted by a servant at the gate, who gave a polite bow.
"Mr. Viktor, please wait a moment. I'll inform Miss Gwen right away."
Ever since the end of the Demon War, Gwen had been resting at home for the past few days.
Viktor nodded to the servant and leaned casually against the carriage to wait.
Creak~
The large door opened, and a woman stepped out.
The first thing that caught Viktor's eyes was her long purple hair. When he looked at her face, his brows furrowed slightly.
It wasn't Gwen, it was her older sister.
Kefra.
"Well, well~ isn't this Viktor?"
Kefra smiled playfully, squinting her eyes, raising one hand in a claw-like gesture and making a light swipe in the air, her rather unique way of greeting.
At that moment, looking at this lively woman, Viktor felt a bit dazed.
After all, this was a person who had never appeared in the game, and yet, she was alive.
If players really did appear in the future, what role would this eldest sister of Gwen's play in the story?
Viktor didn't know. He hadn't thought that far ahead yet.
His top priority was still simple, survive.
To survive, Viktor had to grow stronger, much stronger.
And if he still couldn't escape death, then he would simply become strong enough to ignore everyone.
Kefra, seeing his silence, mistook it for him ignoring her. Her eyes narrowed in irritation.
"What, you're not happy your sister came to greet you? Do you insist Gwen herself come out to welcome you instead?"
Viktor came back to his senses and nodded without hesitation, not giving her any face.
"Yes."
Kefra, "…"
She shrugged helplessly.
Faced with this expressionless brother-in-law, she really didn't know what to say.
Forget it, no point getting angry. After all, he had saved her life.
Even if she'd paid him for it.
But to Kefra, life was always more valuable than money.
When she'd been on the brink of death, if not for Viktor's priceless healing potions, she wouldn't be standing here talking to him now.
That alone was enough to change how she saw him.
Kefra exhaled, calmed herself, crossed her arms, and asked, "So? What do you need with little Gwen?"
"I'll say this first, if you're not here to ask her on a date, then don't bother her. She's busy."
Just then, Gwen walked out, wiping sweat with a towel, a knight's longsword in hand, looking confused.
"Sis? Who are you talking to, Viktor!?"
Viktor glanced down at Kefra, a teasing smirk flickering in his eyes.
"This is what you call 'busy'?"
Kefra covered her face with one hand, not wanting to deal with him, especially not after her own words had just backfired on her.
Standing at the door, Gwen's tone turned slightly annoyed the moment she saw Viktor.
"Why are you here?"
Hearing her tone, Viktor rested his chin on his hand, wondering if he'd somehow offended her before, but after thinking it over, he couldn't figure it out.
So he decided to just get straight to the point.
Looking at the knight's silver sword in Gwen's hand, he thought for a moment, then spoke in a tone she knew all too well.
"…Spar for a bit?"