“PROFESSOR ZANE!!!”

The three voices overlapped.

Before Zane could even react—

They ran toward him.

And the next moment, they were already there.

Maera grabbed him first, her arms wrapping tightly around him. Selene followed right after, clutching onto his coat as if letting go would make him disappear again. Even Drevin, who was usually composed, stepped in close—hesitant for a second, then joining them.

Zane blinked.

“Oh…!!”

For a brief moment, he just stood there, slightly surprised.

Selene’s grip tightened.

A soft sob escaped her as her face pressed into his outfit, her shoulders trembling slightly. Maera held on just as firmly, her breathing uneven.

Zane looked down at them.

Hmm…

They’re happy to see me.

A small smile appeared on his face.

Then, casually—

“I know you’re happy to see me,” he said, “but you shouldn’t let your guard down.”

His tone turned slightly playful.

“What if I’m just someone disguising myself as Zane?”

The effect was immediate.

All three of them stepped back.

Their expressions sharpened instantly.

Serious.

Alert.

Mana subtly rising.

Zane stared at them for a second—

Then burst out laughing.

“Pffft—!”

He covered his mouth slightly, clearly amused.

“Look at you all…”

Maera’s brows twitched.

Selene sniffed slightly, wiping her eyes.

Drevin just stood there, silent.

Zane’s laughter faded, but his gaze softened.

There were still tears in their eyes.

And something else too.

Something heavier.

He could feel it clearly.

A faint trace of anger.

Maera stepped forward again.

This time, there was no hesitation.

Her fist drove straight into his stomach.

Thud.

Zane didn’t move.

Didn’t even flinch.

Maera’s head lowered slightly, her voice quieter now.

“…Where were you, professor?”

Her grip tightened.

“So much happened…”

For the first time—

Zane felt it.

A small flicker of guilt.

He raised his hand slowly and placed it on her head.

Patting it gently.

“I’m sorry for being late, kid.”

His voice was softer now.

And for once—

There was no joke behind it.

For a moment, no one spoke.

The tension that had burst out earlier slowly settled, replaced by something quieter. Their breathing steadied, and the overwhelming emotions that had taken over them just seconds ago began to calm.

Selene wiped the last trace of tears from her eyes and looked up at Zane.

“But… professor,” she asked softly, “where were you till now?”

Zane placed his hands casually in his pockets.

“Well… you could say I was dealing with the ones responsible for that attack I stopped.”

He tilted his head slightly.

“And I couldn’t leave midway.”

Inside his mind—

This much lie to students is acceptable… right?

Selene’s eyes widened.

Maera’s expression shifted as well.

Drevin, who had been silent till now, finally spoke.

“…That makes sense.”

He looked at Zane with a new understanding.

“Even when you weren’t here… you were still out there protecting the world.”

Zane froze for a fraction of a second.

A small bead of sweat appeared near his temple.

“…Yeah,” he said lightly, scratching his cheek. “Something like that.”

Then he waved it off.

“Anyway.”

His eyes moved between the three of them.

“Why are you all sneaking around at night?”

His tone turned slightly sharper.

Selene straightened a little.

“Yes, professor…”

She hesitated.

“It’s just… a lot happened after you left.”

Zane nodded once.

“I heard about the attack.”

Selene shook her head slightly.

“It’s not about the attack…”

Her voice lowered.

“It’s what happened after.”

Maera stepped forward.

“Selene…”

There was a warning in her tone, but Selene didn’t stop.

Instead, she looked directly at Zane.

“Professor… please help us.”

Zane’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Help?”

“For what?”

Maera answered this time.

Her fists clenched.

“To save Ron… Lia… and Jax.”

For a brief moment after Maera’s words, everything went quiet.

Zane didn’t respond immediately. His gaze lingered on them, but his focus had already shifted elsewhere.

Then—

He listened.

Not to their voices, not to the wind, but to the world itself.

His awareness spread outward in a smooth, silent wave. The academy came first—every student, every flicker of mana, every lingering presence he could sense. Then beyond it, into the academy city… then the entire kingdom… and further still—

Across the world.

Countless presences brushed past his senses, but he filtered through them effortlessly.

And then he found them.

In the east.

Ron… and Lia.

Their presence was there—but dimmer than it should have been. Unstable and weakened.

Zane’s expression didn’t change, but his thoughts sharpened slightly.

they’re injured…

Then his awareness shifted again.

To the west.

Two familiar presences stood out immediately.

One was moderate strong for this world and unmistakable for Zane.

Caelum Lysander…

Zane paused for a fraction of a second.

Right , he was in the demon kingdom.

The second presence—

Much smaller and faint.

But much familiar.

Jax…?

That made his thoughts still for a moment.

How is he there…?

A possibility surfaced almost instantly.

Is it because of his demon heritage…?

A faint, almost amused thought followed.

Interesting.

And then—

Another thought.

Saving my student… along with their other students… while teaching them on the way…

A small, almost invisible smile touched his mind.

That doesn’t sound bad.

His awareness withdrew just as smoothly as it had expanded.

From the outside, nothing had changed.

He still stood there, looking at them like before.

Then—

He tilted his head slightly, acting as if he had just processed what they said.

“Save Ron, Lia, and Jax…?”

A hint of surprise entered his voice.

“They’re in danger?”

His eyes narrowed just a little.

“From whom?”

Selene took a step forward, gathering herself before speaking.

“Professor… Ron and Lia… they’re in their respective kingdoms…”

Her voice trembled slightly.

“As prisoners.”

Zane’s expression shifted, just enough.

“What…?”

Selene clenched her fists.

“Lia’s sister… and Ron’s brother… they’re planning to kill them.”

Zane’s brows furrowed, as if hearing this for the first time.

“How do you know this?”

Selene nodded quickly and began explaining.

“After the attack on the academy, many nobles tried to withdraw their children. They questioned the academy’s safety…”

Her voice steadied as she continued.

“And around that time… Ron and Lia disappeared.”

“We searched everywhere. We even informed Professor Seris… but there was nothing.”

She paused for a second.

“Then, one month ago… official letters arrived.”

“From Glimmereach and Thesmeris.”

Zane’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Selene continued.

“They stated that Ron and Lia were being formally withdrawn from the academy.”

“But it wasn’t real.”

Her voice hardened.

“It’s a ploy. Their elder siblings are behind it.”

“Professor Seris couldn’t interfere… those documents were official.”

“And she stopped us from going after them…”

Selene looked up at Zane.

“But we’re going anyway.”

A brief silence followed.

Zane gave a small nod.

Then—

“What about Jax?”

The moment his name came up—

Selene froze.

Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out.

Her eyes lowered.

The silence spoke enough.

Maera stepped forward instead.

“…Professor,” she said, her tone heavier now, “this all started with Jax.”

Zane looked at her.

“He disappeared about two months ago.”

Maera continued.

“He and Selene were in the market that day. They were attacked.”

Selene’s fingers tightened slightly.

“I… don’t remember everything…” she whispered.

“Just… a glimpse.”

Her voice cracked.

“He was… going away from me…”

Zane watched quietly.

Maera continued.

“After that, we tried everything. Ron, Lia, all of us… we used every connection we had.”

She paused briefly.

“I even used my family’s influence.”

“I’m a duke’s daughter.”

“But even then…”

Her expression darkened.

“We found nothing.”

Selene looked up again, her eyes filled with stubborn belief.

“I know he’s alive.”

“He is.”

Zane’s gaze softened slightly.

So they don’t know that…

Jax is in the Malgrith Kingdom.

A faint thought passed through his mind.

Hmm…

Then—

He spoke.

“I’ll help you.”

All three of them looked up instantly.

“They are my students.”

His tone was calm, but firm.

“I’ll help you find them.”

“And save them.”

For a moment—

They just stared at him.

Then relief, happiness, and disbelief all hit at once.

“Thank you, Professor…!”

Selene’s voice trembled again, but this time from relief.

Maera exhaled deeply.

Drevin gave a silent nod.

Zane looked at them, a faint smile on his face.

Inside—

This might actually be interesting.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep