Chapter 257
Chapter 257: Old Man
The moment Livi heard the 4 words "Blessing of Water," it finally clicked:
"You were deliberately provoking me."
When he had seen his daughter pulled into Viktor's arms, he had been unable to contain his emotions.
His chant-free Water Magic—the trump card he had kept concealed—had been exposed in a moment of fury, laid completely bare before Viktor.
"The power of a Calamity manifests in many ways. One of them—"
Viktor spoke. The scorching flames at his side surged upward in an instant, condensing into a crimson seed poised to bloom.
This fire magic didn't even require the construction of a Magic Formation. With a mere shift of Viktor's will, it released itself.
"A release speed faster than even drawing a Formation."
Brilliant flames burst into bloom, forming an enormous, blazing flower that erupted with violent force.
An intense heatwave swept through the entire space, and the scene before Livi even distorted faintly under the extreme temperature.
Scorching heat engulfed everything, accompanied by a blinding pillar of light that nearly tore through the deep violet glow surrounding them.
Viktor watched it all calmly, both hands in his pockets.
Soon, the fierce flames dissipated rapidly.
Only once complete stillness had returned to the surroundings did he continue:
"As I thought—I still prefer using fire magic."
Livi exhaled slowly, and asked the somewhat leisurely man before him:
"So then—what is it you need Erika for?"
"What do you think it is?"
Viktor answered with cool indifference.
Each time a Calamity was reborn, Erika's body would unconsciously absorb the Calamity's power.
As though, when a Calamity revived within nature, that power was compelled to pass through her body—leaving traces of itself behind in the process.
And those traces were what gave Erika her exceptional constitution.
"That's something even you don't understand, is it."
Viktor said plainly.
Livi fell silent.
He knew exactly what Viktor was referring to.
When the Calamity of Wood was reborn, Erika's body had bloomed with flowers.
That was the natural energy of the Calamity of Wood, manifesting through Erika at the moment of its revival.
But at the time, Livi had no idea what was happening.
After all—reviving a Calamity, then delivering it a thorough beating—who could have possibly connected those dots?
Let alone the question of whether a Calamity was even something an ordinary person could defeat.
So it was entirely natural that Livi had been completely ignorant of the strange phenomena occurring on Erika's body.
It was only later, through a contact within the Mage Council, that Livi learned the full story.
The reason Viktor had been able to become a Council Member was that he had single-handedly sealed a monster that had appeared in the deepest layer of Endymion.
Cross-referencing the timing—Viktor had become a Council Member right around that period.
So Livi had known the person in question could only be Viktor.
He recalled the scene of the volcanic eruption back then.
And understood exactly what kind of existence Viktor had been contending with.
A Calamity.
Thinking this through, Livi slowly began to speak:
"So you had your eye on Erika from the very beginning."
"Is that right?"
Only now did Livi understand—from the very start, from the moment Viktor confessed to his daughter.
He had already been laying out the pieces of his entire gambit.
Viktor was quiet for a moment before responding with a single line:
"Perhaps."
Hearing Viktor's words, Livi let out a soft laugh:
"Worthy of the Clavena Family's prodigy."
"Of course—a true genius would never truly fall from grace."
He believed he now understood everything.
Viktor had been hiding his strength all along, leading others to consistently underestimate him.
He had been carefully arranging every piece of his plan—and this plan required the most perfect piece on the board.
That piece was Erika.
Viktor had kept himself concealed and unremarkable, waiting for none other than Erika's emergence.
Perhaps, owing to Erika's special nature, she was capable of fulfilling his purposes.
Livi felt a pang of remorse.
Had it been his own doing that exposed his daughter?
Perhaps not.
At that moment, Viktor's expression grew serious once more. He looked at Livi:
"Now, Duke—it's time we spoke about the real matter at hand."
The Duke looked at Viktor and gave a nod:
"Of course."
"I've been hoping to have a proper conversation with you for some time as well."
Erika gave up her struggle in Viktor's arms.
Not because she no longer wanted to break free—but because she was simply unable to move.
Her stern father stood behind her, and she didn't want him to see her in such an embarrassing state.
Yet, having abandoned her struggle, she couldn't help but quietly tilt her head up—and steal a glance at Viktor.
The Professor... is so handsome.
Seeing Viktor from this close, Erika felt he somehow seemed even more handsome than usual.
She couldn't quite make sense of what she was feeling—perhaps admiration, or perhaps gratitude.
Thinking about how the Professor had rescued her twice over from the hands of the Calamity of Wind and the Calamity of Fire.
Viktor's cool, striking figure took root in her mind and refused to leave.
After a brief silence, Livi's calm voice suddenly rang out:
"Erika."
Hearing her father call her name, Erika snapped abruptly out of her daydream.
She quickly twisted her body, and this time successfully broke free from Viktor's arms.
Erika pushed Viktor's arms apart, turned to glance at him.
Then, with a measure of apology, she gave a small bow before hurrying back to Livi's side.
Livi extended one hand, shielding Erika behind him, then raised his head to look at Viktor:
"Next time, I don't want anything this outrageous to happen again."
"We're leaving, Erika."
Erika kept her head lowered as she followed behind Livi, stepping away slowly.
As she passed by Viktor's side, the image of him holding her just moments ago flashed through her mind—and she couldn't help but flush red.
She didn't even dare to look up at him.
Under the gazes of all present, Livi led Erika away.
Those gazes drifted back to settle on Viktor once more.
At some point, Viktor had already tucked both hands into his pockets, paying not the slightest attention to the eyes surrounding him.
Everyone seemed to understand all at once—and quickly lowered their heads, returning to their own business.
The Professors and Lecturers resumed scoring the examinees; the parents hurried to peer through the star-shaped bubbles in the sky to watch their children's performances.
The reporters gripping their Magic Stones busied themselves trying to delete the footage they had accidentally captured just moments before.
Then, the Crow's hoarse voice dropped low beside Viktor's ear:
"Well? Did he talk?"
Viktor's expression remained blank as he replied with indifference:
"We discussed a few interesting things."
Weija listened to Viktor's words and let out a titter.
"Sooo—what is it that Livi is actually after?"
Viktor didn't answer right away.
He raised his head, gazing at the turbulent nebula swirling together in the sky above—much like the thoughts churning within his own mind.
"At the very least, his devotion earns my respect."
***
Livi led Erika out of the Academy.
The 2 of them boarded the Carriage in silence, one after the other.
Sitting inside the Carriage, Erika felt a little frightened.
She was afraid of having angered her father.
After all, the situation now was nothing like it had been before.
Her father seemed to deeply dislike Viktor.
The last time, at her birthday banquet, Viktor had confessed to her.
Honestly, Erika hadn't felt much about it at the time.
Over the years, she had long grown accustomed to being confessed to.
But her father had erupted in fury because of it.
So Erika was afraid her father might be furious once again over the events of today.
Yet the anger she had anticipated never came.
After boarding the Carriage, Livi showed no sign of any emotion whatsoever.
Instead, he reached out and drew all the curtains of the Carriage shut, blocking out the bright sunlight outside.
Then, with great solemnity, he said to Erika:
"Erika, if I were to ask you to leave this country—but I allowed you to choose 1 person to protect you at all times—who would you choose?"
"Don't worry about how I feel. Tell me your truest answer."
Erika's face flushed ever so faintly.
"I..."
In an instant, the tall, dependable image of Viktor surfaced in her mind.
He was powerful and taciturn, with a look of cold, proud indifference ever-present in his eyes.
All of this made Erika feel an overwhelming sense of security.
She didn't understand why her father was asking her this question.
But her mind remained clear. She raised her head and looked at Livi:
"I choose myself."
Livi paused, just slightly—and before he could even open his mouth to ask, Erika continued speaking.
"Father, if even you can no longer protect me—"
"Who else could I possibly rely on?"
Livi looked at Erika, and for a moment, even his breathing stilled.
As though unburdened of some great weight, he settled back into his seat, pressed a hand to his forehead, and let out a few hearty laughs.
Do you see...
This is—our child.
She has grown up.
Livi drew a deep breath, folded his hands together atop his knees, and leaned forward slightly.
"Child—I understand. In that moment, you must have considered a name."
"But in the end, you chose this answer instead."
Livi's gaze softened, settling on Erika:
"You, and you alone, are my only treasure."
Then he straightened up and said to Erika with great gravity:
"Your father won't stand in your way any longer. You may pursue whatever it is you want."
"That includes Viktor."
Hm??
Hearing Livi's words, Erika was thrown into a complete daze. She clamped her eyes shut at once, her hands and feet flailing in a panic:
"Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-Father! What are you saying!!!!"
Livi looked at the flustered Erika and said with perfect calm:
"This evening, I'll be inviting Viktor over to our home as a guest."
"You'll understand then."
As his words fell, Livi's mind drifted to the agreement he had made with Viktor.
He had long since lost hope—had even ceased to allow himself to imagine.
And yet now, an opportunity stood before him with an urgency unlike any he had ever known.
Livi opened his palm. A sphere of blue Magic Power gathered slowly at its center, forming a suspended, translucent orb of water that drew in moisture from all directions.
He lowered his head, gazing at the crystalline Magic Power rolling in his hand, falling into a quiet daze.
I'll bring you back.
I will.