Victor's Assistant, Knight Peak, First Battle

Two days later.

Ian met Victor.

But not in the Teaching Area. It was still on Maple Leaf Avenue, this time at No. 75.

Victor pushed open the door. He wore a dark green fitted short robe on top and straight-cut trousers of the same color below.

"Come in!"

"Yes, Instructor."

Ian nodded and stepped inside.

Unlike the house Chris lived in, Victor's home greeted him with the mild scent of herbs the moment he entered.

All sorts of Experimental Equipment lay scattered about, while a bookshelf stood to one side, packed full of books.

Ian's throat moved slightly.

A whole bookshelf!

Knowledge was precious and expensive. Being able to own a bookshelf like this was undoubtedly a display of wealth.

Was this the true value of being a potioneer?

Victor thought Ian was astonished by the size of the place and said with a smile, "Once you become a Second-class Apprentice Witch, you can choose a house over here."

Ian's eyes lit up.

So this was where Second-class Apprentices lived. Then Kris was probably a Second-class Apprentice Witch as well.

It had to be said, the gap between Second-class Apprentices and First-class Apprentice Witches was truly vast.

The two arrived at the reception room.

Victor leaned back against the soft sofa, while Ian sat upright.

Ian did not speak. Victor was the first to open his mouth, his voice carrying a hint of teasing.

"Not bad. There are rumors going around among the apprentices lately that I've taken a liking to you and invested a great deal of resources in you."

"Instructor, I really didn't know about that."

Ian's back instantly went a little cold.

Was he being called to account today?

"Don't worry. After all, it isn't actually a rumor!"

Victor shrugged. As he looked at Ian now, there was a trace of sentiment in his eyes.

"Ian, your talent is indeed quite good. But in the potion practicals to come, talent will be secondary instead.

"For the next three months, we'll be making Minor Hemostatic Potions. But only one set of materials will be provided each time. If you want to become proficient, you can only rent a laboratory and buy potions yourself. The former costs one Magic Stone per hour, and the latter costs 0.5 Magic Stones per set. To become proficient, you'll need at least several dozen preparations.

"This will be very difficult for you. Do you understand?"

"I understand, Instructor."

Ian frowned.

If that was the calculation, then his Magic Stones were nothing more than a drop in the bucket.

"Then what if I bought a set of Experimental Equipment?"

Ian wanted to find out.

"Thirty Magic Stones is the starting price. A more complete set would cost at least fifty Magic Stones." Victor looked at Ian with interest.

Right!

Better to rent, then.

"However, if you enter the Potions Department, the department has Experimental Equipment available for rent, and the price is far cheaper than renting a laboratory," Victor added.

This...

Ian's mouth twitched.

Wasn't that the same as saying nothing?

But Victor probably had not invited him here just to discourage him.

Sure enough, Victor spoke calmly.

"Still, since everyone outside is saying that I've invested in you, it would make me look bad if your performance turns out to be too poor.

"But you also know that the situation has been tense lately."

Ian nodded. He was undoubtedly referring to Blackstone School and Horton Wizard School.

"So the Academy needs a large number of potions. The Potions Department has been extremely busy lately, and I happened to be assigned the task of brewing Minor Hemostatic Potions. I don't have enough assistants. If you're willing, you can be my assistant—but there will be no compensation." Victor looked at Ian, his gaze calm.

Hiss!

Ian's eyes lit up.

Whether there was compensation or not did not matter in the slightest!

"Thank you, Instructor."

Ian immediately rose to his feet and gave a deep bow.

Naturally, it was impossible for Victor to be unable to find an assistant. This could only be called special consideration for Ian.

Though being an assistant was not a direct assignment, based on his understanding of the panel, it could definitely raise proficiency as well.

"Of course, there are conditions. In next month's assessment, you must at least place within the top ten."

Victor continued.

"Understood. Thank you, Instructor, for giving me this opportunity!"

Ian thanked him again.

"There's nothing else. I still need to formulate potions, so I won't keep you."

Victor stood and headed toward the laboratory inside.

A maid came in and saw Ian out.

After leaving Victor's home, Ian returned to his house.

Looking at the cramped, stifling little house before him, then thinking of the residence of a Second-class Apprentice Witch, Ian was immediately filled with motivation once more.

He took off his Witch Robe and began moving on the spot.

The blood and vitality throughout his body surged, even turning his face slightly red.

Half an hour later, he finished his practice.

"As the Knight Method advances into Master Level, the Knight progress is getting faster and faster. It should reach the limit soon."

Ian pondered.

His Knight progress had already exceeded 90 and was close to reaching 100.

After that, the only path left would be advancing to Great Knight.

"It's just that the Knight Method hasn't condensed any runes at all. I wonder if only Great Knights have them."

Ian shook his head.

The Knight Method was like a parlor trick—advancing to Master Level had not brought any special changes.

"Still, with this physical condition, along with my own Wizardry, the combat test shouldn't go too badly, right?"

In truth, Ian was not entirely confident.

There were too many things that determined combat. Many times, proficiency was not what decided the outcome.

Take Levi, with his Second-class Talent. His body alone was like a wild bull's; even without cultivating the Knight Method, his physical fitness was probably no worse than Ian's.

And there was Lucy.

Perhaps her proficiency was not as high as his, but as someone from a wizard family with exceptionally high Mental Power, her explosive strength was formidable as well.

"The test three months from now will be the true beginning."

Ian drew a deep breath.

With that in mind, he hurriedly began practicing the Light Body Technique.

His talent was not enough.

Then he would simply keep improving!

Several days later, he reached the consummation of Knight, and his Knight ability could no longer advance by even a fraction.

During that time, he had also been studying the rune feather Mickey had given him.

But compared to the Wizardry he had already purchased from the Library, this was undoubtedly far more difficult.

Still, as an excellent-grade Wizardry, Ian had no intention of giving up on it.

If he mastered it, it could serve as a trump card!

In the blink of an eye, the first lesson after three months began.

The meditation course remained unchanged.

But the Wizardry course had been directly transformed into a combat course.

Inside the Training Ground, one circular area after another had been marked out as Charles explained the rules of combat.

"Each time, opponents will be assigned at random. You fight within the circle; stepping out or being knocked down counts as defeat."

"First group: Ian Green and Halman Morgan."

Everyone's gazes were drawn over, and the members of the Mutual Aid Society wore especially strange expressions.

What a coincidence.

In the distance, Halman looked up as well, his eyes lighting up.

He stretched his body, bared his teeth in a grin, and strode into the ring, staring at Ian as if provoking him.

Naturally, Ian had no reason to be intimidated. It was only practice, after all.

"Ian, I've finally run into you today." Halman gritted his teeth, glaring at Ian with resentment.

"Come on."

Ian remained calm.

"Begin!"

Charles's voice rang out.

Halman stood where he was, preparing to recite an incantation.

But Ian crossed the distance in a few strides and appeared before Halman.

"What are you doing?"

As Halman recoiled in fear, his incantation cut off mid-chant, he saw a fist fill his vision.

Bang!

One punch.

Halman's vision went black, and he crashed to the ground.

"Ian wins!"

Outside the ring, Charles raised his brows. He was training as a knight on the side, too!

And that combat instinct.

It really was good.

I really want him!