The Villain Professor's Second Chance

"Lift," I commanded, my voice steady and filled with intent.

At first, the chest wobbled, sightly, then slowly, it began to rise. The strain was immense, but I held my concentration, willing the chest to move higher. Sweat trickled down my forehead as I focused all my energy on maintaining the lift. Inch by inch, the chest ascended until it hovered af ew feet off the ground.

I moved it carefully around the room, testing my control and precision. The engraved circle made a remarkable difference, providing a stable and consistent channel for my psychokinetic powers. I could manipulate the chest with greater accuracy and less effort than ever before. After several minutes, I gently lowered the chest back to the ground, releasing the spell with a sigh of relief.

The exertion had been significant, but the results were undeniable. The engraved magic circle was a success, vastly improving my ability to use psychokinesis.

As I sat back in my chair, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. The past few days had been challenging, but I had made significant progress. My decision to focus on control magic, specifically psychokinesis, had proven to be the right choice. The engraved magic circle on my arm was a testament to my determination and ingenuity.

'While effort is undoubtedly important, talent plays an equally—if not more—crucial role in mastering magic. It's futile to expect a fish to climb a tree, so choose your path wisely'

I chuckled as I remembered my own words from the first lecture.

Draven should have taken those words personally and moved on.

"It's a great improvement, but it's still far than enough and reassuring," I uttered.

The improvement of my understanding and mastery of magic starting from a scratch is something that normal people wouldn't be able to achieve, and something that I could achieve because of [Comprehension] and my modern logic.

But for now, my mana has now once again dwindled with only 400 remaining. Let's think about something else.

The day was still young, and there was much to be done. I had already made significant strides in improving my magical abilities, but the real test would be applying these skills to the challenges at hand. As I planned my next steps, I knew that I would need to balance my time between furthering my magical studies and addressing the immediate needs of my territory.

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I glanced at the stack of reports on my desk, detailing the latest developments from the field. The bandit activity was slightly reduced because of the knights, the disease outbreak was slowly contained, but the sightings of strange creatures were becoming more frequent. Each issue required careful planning and decisive action.

"Lift," I commanded, my voice steady and filled with intent.

At first, the chest wobbled slightly, then slowly, it began to rise. The strain was immense, but I held my concentration, willing the chest to move higher. Sweat trickled down my forehead as I focused all my energy on maintaining the lift. Inch by inch, the chest ascended until it hovered a few feet off the ground.

I moved it carefully around the room, testing my control and precision. The engraved circle made a remarkable difference, providing a stable and consistent channel for my psychokinetic powers. I could manipulate the chest with greater accuracy and less effort than ever before. After several minutes, I gently lowered the chest back to the ground, releasing the spell with a sigh of relief.

The exertion had been significant, but the results were undeniable. The engraved magic circle was a success, vastly improving my ability to use psychokinesis.

As I sat back in my chair, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. The past few days had been challenging, but I had made significant progress. My decision to focus on control magic, specifically psychokinesis, had proven to be the right choice. The engraved magic circle on my arm was a testament to my determination and ingenuity.

'While effort is undoubtedly important, talent plays an equally—if not more—crucial role in mastering magic. It's futile to expect a fish to climb a tree, so choose your path wisely'

I chuckled as I remembered my own words from the first lecture.

Draven should have taken those words personally and moved on.

"It's a great improvement, but it's still far than enough and reassuring," I uttered.

The improvement of my understanding and mastery of magic starting from a scratch is something that normal people wouldn't be able to achieve, and something that I could achieve because of [Comprehension] and my modern logic.

But for now, my mana has now once again dwindled with only 400 remaining. Let's think about something else.

The day was still young, and there was much to be done. I had already made significant strides in improving my magical abilities, but the real test would be applying these skills to the challenges at hand. As I planned my next steps, I knew that I would need to balance my time between furthering my magical studies and addressing the immediate needs of my territory.

I glanced at the stack of reports on my desk, detailing the latest developments from the field. The bandit activity was slightly reduced because of the knights, the disease outbreak was slowly contained, but the sightings of strange creatures were becoming more frequent. Each issue required careful planning and decisive action.

As I was lost in thought, a firm knock echoed through the room, snapping me back to reality. With a subtle gesture of my hand, I employed psychokinesis to open the door, revealing Alfred standing outside. He wore his usual stoic expression, a thick, ornate tome held reverently in his hands.

"Your Monthly Magician Journal, my lord," Alfred announced, his voice carrying a tone of respect as he entered the room. With a bow, he placed the journal delicately on the table, its cover shimmering faintly with embedded runes before withdrawing from the room with practiced efficiency.

Alone once more, I turned my attention to the tome before me, lifting it with my mind and flipping it open to reveal its contents.

The Magician Journal was a treasure trove of knowledge, renowned for its in-depth articles and cutting-edge insights into the world of magic. As I focused on a particular section, a hologram-like projection emerged, casting scenes and text into the air as if conjured by some unseen force.

The first headline seized my attention immediately, displaying the image of a young girl whose eyes sparkled with an unmistakable intelligence and determination. She was hailed as the "Genius Child" by the university, a title befitting her remarkable prowess in the arcane arts. A member of one of the eight great houses of the Regaria Kingdom, Elara Valen was a name synonymous with excellence.

Her trait, "The Perfect Magician," spoke volumes of her unparalleled mastery of magic, a feat that even seasoned practitioners could only dream of achieving.

As I absorbed the details of Elara's achievements, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and admiration. Her ability to master spells that would take others years to grasp was a testament to her extraordinary talent and dedication. But at the same time, a thick envy and hatred appeared within me.

It must be Draven's soul remains rejecting those who seem to have a greater potential than him.

How foolish.

A professor is in a certain sense, a teacher as well. The ability to love potential is a must.

These kinds of envy and hatred are not something I could tolerate. Begone.

As if responding to my command, the slight pressure on my chest disappeared.

Turning my attention to the next article, I was met with a less flattering sight—the narrative of my own perceived decline. The piece chronicled my journey from a prodigious young magician to a fading figure in my thirties, highlighting my inability to fulfill the promises I had made to the university and the magical community at large. It was a sobering reminder of the expectations that weighed heavily upon my shoulders, a reminder that time was not on my side.

"Draven, the senior magician, once a prodigy, now seems to be fading into obscurity," the article declared, its words echoing in the recesses of my mind. The mention of my unfinished breakthrough in control magic served as a stark reminder of the challenges that lay ahead, challenges that I could no longer afford to ignore.

As I closed the hologram with a heavy sigh, I felt the weight of my responsibilities pressing down upon me. The road ahead was fraught with uncertainty, but I knew that I could not afford to falter. But the feeling of getting rushed is annoying, even for me.

"Hm... My next lecture is in two weeks. I guess I should use the time to take some necessary action," I stand up from my seat and put on my coat.

"Let's go to the Drakhan's territory and visit the hidden tomb of the king of heroes."

I gathered a few essentials, including my notes and some enchanted tools, and headed out of my study. The halls of my estate were quiet, the echoes of my footsteps the only sound accompanying me. As I made my way toward the carriage that would take me to Drakhan's territory, I couldn't help but reflect on the journey that lay ahead.

Exiting my room, I was met by a handful of servants bustling about with their daily tasks. They paused, their eyes widening in surprise as they saw me heading for the door with such purpose.

"Lord Drakhan, where are you going?" one of the servants dared to ask, her voice tinged with curiosity and concern.

"To the Drakhan territory," I replied curtly, continuing my stride without breaking pace.

Alfred, ever the attentive butler, appeared from around a corner, his expression one of mild alarm. "My lord, this is quite sudden. Might I inquire as to the nature of this unexpected journey?"

"I'm going to visit the hidden tomb of the king of heroes," I explained, trying to sidestep any further questions. "It's necessary for my research."

Alfred's eyes widened in astonishment. "But, my lord, traveling alone to such a place is dangerous. Surely you should take a retinue of knights for protection."

I frowned at the suggestion. In the past, I had avoided taking my knights with me, fearing they would witness my struggles and declining prowess. But that was Draven's concern, not mine. "Fine," I conceded. "I'll take five knights with me. Gather them immediately."

Alfred nodded, clearly relieved. Within moments, five knights were assembled, their armor gleaming and their expressions a mixture of curiosity and determination. With my small entourage prepared, we set off towards the carriage waiting at the estate's entrance.

The journey to Drakhan's territory was not a short one, and as we traveled, I took the time to explain the significance of the region to the knights, who seem to be knights that didn't quite familiar with the Drakhan Earldom. Maybe they were hired talents from the capital.

"Our territory encompasses three major cities,"