Bullying!
This was outright bullying!
That was the only thought in everyone’s minds at that moment!
The Mark on the stage appeared humble, but his every action was sending a signal to the crowd—he did not welcome this Imperial Princess!
The magic arrays in Mark’s hands were intricate and overlapping. Although they were all low-level ordinary arrays, once stacked together, they were like a massive tangled ball of yarn, impossible to unravel!
Similarly, many were shocked by another fact.
That was, Vice Dean Mark was truly worthy of his reputation—he could actually release that many arrays!
Condensed without chaos, interwoven without scattering, overlapping thousands of times, yet manifesting effortlessly, with no sign of collapsing.
That magical power and precise Mind were truly befitting of the Imperial Royal Academy’s Vice Dean!
This move not only outshone the Princess’s radiance on stage, but also excited many Commoner students.
Look!
Even without being a Noble, one could reach such heights!
At that moment, many Commoner students seemed to have planted a figure in their hearts—their lifelong goal was to become someone like the Vice Dean!
And on the stage, looking at the silent Velis, Mark smiled.
“Well? Lady Princess, anyone with even a slight grasp of Mind can see the core array hidden within this formation.”
Mark’s words made the professors and Teachers present secretly spit in disdain. How shameless!
With such intricate, overlapping arrays, one would likely need a Mage Sealer-level mage to make sense of it!
And Velis was at most an Apprentice Mage. How could she possibly see it?
But everyone held their breath, wanting to see how this Imperial Princess would respond.
If Velis wanted to ask for help, even if those present were willing, they would be powerless.
Moreover, they wanted to watch the show unfold. They were certainly not going to offer Velis any hints.
“If Your Highness has no idea, I could offer a small hint…”
“Of course, if you still can’t see it…” Mark sighed, “then I can only say the Princess has yet to touch the Light, and cannot dispel the Fog of the Darkness.”
“But even if you cannot answer, I, Mark, am still willing to recommend you as a Teacher of our academy.”
Mockery! Utter and complete mockery!
At that moment, some people looked at the peerless beauty on the stage with lowered eyelids, and a hint of Sympathy and Pity rose in their hearts.
Dean Mark was going too far!
Even if Velis had a notorious reputation, she was still just a young maiden about to turn 17!
Even if she was a bad person, that didn’t mean the teachers and students present were also bad people, walking the same path as her.
Seeing Mark so aggressive, combined with Velis’s Beauty and her fragile, helpless appearance, it was only human nature for some to feel sympathy.
Of course, there were also plenty who were gloating.
Just then, a sound came from the viewing platform. Everyone turned to look, and saw Emperor Lubas standing up.
“Enough. Stop here, Velis.”
Lubas said softly, and everyone’s hearts tightened.
It seemed that the Imperial Princess who had so magnificently proclaimed her great deeds was about to bow out so hastily.
Unexpectedly, Velis let out a soft laugh. “Father, why do you say that? I was just thinking about how wonderful the scene of me becoming this academy’s Teacher would be.”
“My apologies for keeping everyone waiting.”
Velis raised her head, her confident gaze stabbing into Mark’s heart like a shock.
Did she figure it out?
No, impossible!
There was absolutely no way she could figure it out!
A cold sweat formed on Mark’s forehead. He had originally planned to use this spell to thoroughly humiliate the Imperial Princess!
After all, the decree had come from the Empire’s Emperor himself. Even if it was only a verbal message, it was tremendous backing for Mark.
That was why he dared to be so reckless!
But if Velis saw through it, wouldn’t everything he had prepared be wasted!?
And if his hidden array wasn’t exposed, it would be a tremendous Shame to Velis!
That way, Emperor Lubas would surely secretly commend his merits. A promotion, a raise, or even a position at court was possible!
But if Velis did see through it, this array would only make him look as ridiculous as a Joke!
Under everyone’s tense gazes, amid Lubas’s impatient expression, with Mark’s footsteps quietly retreating…
Velis spoke with a soft laugh. “Vice Dean Mark, dispel the array.”
“What you’re holding in your hand…”
“What you’re hiding…”
“What you want to use to defeat the Imperial Princess…”
Velis took a deep breath, her gaze firm and full of derision.
“Is what I mentioned before—the Illumination spell!”
In an instant, a silent beast crashed down like raging waves.
Mark’s body trembled. He stumbled and fell to the ground in disbelief.
In the violent shock to his Mind, the arrays he had been using for disguise all dissipated.
The teachers and students below rose to their feet, staring at the stage in shock, wanting to see if Velis’s astonishing answer was true!
Then they saw the layers of arrays dissipate, until only one remained—an Illumination spell that had automatically activated due to unstable Mind!
The beautiful light bathed Velis, making her look like a true Goddess descending from the heavens!
Xi’eryou stood backstage, tears shimmering in her eyes. She sat down on the ground with a smile, letting out a long sigh of relief.
The teachers and students in the hall were speechless, staring blankly at the scene.
Originally, Mark had intended to set a Trap for Velis.
He had mixed an equally ordinary Illumination spell among the many ordinary spells, then specifically used the final question to pressure Velis.
To many, what was hidden beneath layers of Basic arrays must be some obscure or advanced spell.
It was a fixed way of thinking.
But no one expected that it was still a Basic spell inside!
And even if Velis guessed that, with so many Basic arrays across the Vistoria Continent, she could never have guessed it was an Illumination spell!
The very Illumination spell that Velis had used earlier to counter Ophelia, making that Genius girl look foolish!
The Illumination spell that quoted the Sages and used their deeds to conceal her own strength!
Now, using it as the final boulder to block Velis from becoming an academy Teacher was perfect timing!
If it succeeded, it would not only obstruct Velis’s entry into the academy, but also mock her—a critical blow to shatter her reputation!
But…
This complex scheme, calculated in an instant, was completely exposed under the True Eye!
Now, as Velis softly spoke the answer, all of it was destroyed!
The light of the Illumination spell fell upon Velis, and at that moment, it was instead the panicked, trembling Mark who looked like the Joke!
Below the stage, there were those in Shock, those in Admiration, and those who felt Regret that Mark’s design had been seen through…
But in the end, everything returned to Calm.
Everyone was watching the Imperial Princess on the stage.
Under the Illumination spell Mark had released, she was so Radiant, so Unreachable!
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Someone started clapping, breaking the Silence that hung over the hall like water.
Everyone looked up and saw Emperor Lubas clapping monotonously, as if appreciating Velis’s answer, or perhaps applauding in resignation.
Then, Thunderous Applause rang throughout the Moon Hall!
At the same time, Velis let out a long breath.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, on completing the Okam Empire Imperial Royal Academy Inaugural Speech!
Its brilliance was more than exceptional! Everyone is astonished by your performance today!
Reward—Magical special weapon, Sakura Death Word!
Given the Host’s current circumstances, the reward has been temporarily stored in the System space.]
What a considerate System!
But thinking of its malicious Punishment, Velis gritted her teeth in frustration.
Finally, no more Tentacles growing on her face. She still breathed a sigh of relief.
Even if she had been male in her past life, now that she was Velis, she couldn’t accept becoming an ugly freak.
Thankfully, that was all over.
Amid the Thunderous Applause, an old man slowly walked out from backstage, leaning on a cane.
Behind him, two young ladies in uniform carried exquisite wooden boxes.
Velis didn’t recognize him, but that didn’t stop her from guessing his identity in that instant—the current Dean of the Imperial Royal Academy, Sylvester Joyeuse!
“I am the Dean of the Imperial Royal Academy—Sylvester Joyeuse!”
The old man’s tone was steady, his gaze sharp, confirming Velis’s guess.
He said, “Congratulations, child. This is what you deserve!”
With that, under the old man’s cheerful, Kind expression, he turned and took the item from the wooden box held by the young lady behind him.
“This is the Royal Academy Teacher Badge, along with a Permission Card. Keep them safe.”
Velis looked at this old man gazing at her so Kindly, and in that instant, a Strange feeling welled up in her heart.
This was the first person, besides Xi’eryou, who had shown her such Warmth.
Even if he was an old man.