Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

"What's the big deal?"

"Ron Ralph."

When Wayne uttered the name, he cautiously observed the other person's expression:
"You should still remember him, right? You valued him highly back then, and even appointed him as..."

"Of course I remember."

Cassandra's voice was devoid of emotion.

"He has broken through to the Great Wizard level."

Wayne's speech quickened:
"This is no ordinary breakthrough...it's the potential to become a king!"

"The entire main world was shaken by the extraordinary phenomenon that occurred when he broke through! The four Witch Kings personally appeared to congratulate him!"

"and……"

He lowered his voice, as if sharing some earth-shattering secret:

"He married Princess Eve."

Cassandra's hand trembled as she held the wine glass, nearly spilling the drink.

"When did this happen?"

"Just a few months ago!"

Wayne pulled a crumpled newspaper from his pocket:
"I happen to have one here..."

Cassandra took the newspaper and quickly unfolded it.

The headline on the front page used the largest font size:
[A wedding of the century! Newly crowned Archmage Ron Ralph marries Eve St. Mange, heiress of the Crown Clan!]

[The four great witch kings personally attended to offer their congratulations; the scale was unprecedented!]

An illustration is provided below the title.

Those were photos from the wedding ceremony—an endless, dreamlike sea of ​​stars, four thrones suspended in the air, and a stunningly beautiful woman in a white wedding dress…

And then there's the young man standing next to her, whose appearance hasn't changed much.

Cassandra's gaze fell on her daughter's face in the picture.

Eve is smiling.

That kind of smile, I had never seen on my daughter's face before.

So radiant, so blissful, so...unreserved.

"Ta...no, ma'am, are you alright?"

Wayne asked with some concern.

The strongest man of our time, who once dominated the world, now wore an expression that... was neither sad nor gratified.

If I had to describe it, it would be more like a daze caused by an overwhelming amount of information that the brain couldn't process.

"fine."

Cassandra put away the newspaper, trying to keep her tone steady: "Go on."

Wayne then spoke at length.

About Ron's founding of Narrative Potions, about his pioneering work in the Bloodless World, about his rapidly rising influence within the Schools of Thought...

The story revolves around how Eve supports the entire clan after her mother goes missing, how she copes with pressure from all sides, and how she gradually grows into a capable clan leader...

Each message made Cassandra's thoughts even more complicated.

She discovered that during the sixty-three years she had been absent, the person she was most worried about... was doing very well.

In fact, they are living much better than when she was alive.

After what seemed like an eternity, Wayne finally stopped rambling on.

He has already revealed all the publicly available information he knows.

You said a lot.

Cassandra spoke slowly.

"This information is very useful to me."

"It's my honor to be able to help you!"

Wayne quickly said:

"If there's anything else you'd like to know..."

"Nothing."

Cassandra stood up.

"But there's something I need to tell you."

"what's up?"

"Forget about what happened today."

“You have never seen me, never spoken to me, and do not know that I have returned.”

"you……"

Wayne paused for a moment, then nodded:

"I see."

"I won't say anything."

It's not that I 'can't speak'.

Cassandra's eyes sharpened:
It's 'I don't remember'.

The next second, a mental force, like an invisible tentacle, gently probed into Wayne's consciousness.

The feeling was strange—it didn't hurt or feel uncomfortable; it was like a gentle hand turning the pages of a book.

Then, some pages were gently removed.

Wayne's eyes remained vacant for more than ten seconds.

When he came to his senses, he found himself sitting in the corner of a small tavern, with a glass of wine that had gone cold in front of him.

What am I doing here?

He looked around blankly.

Then, his gaze fell on a small bag on the table.

The bag contained some good-quality magic stones and a small note.

The note only had two words written on it: "Thank you."

"This is……?"

Wayne picked up the bag, looking completely bewildered.

He had absolutely no idea where this thing came from, nor why he was sitting there.

"never mind……"

He shook his head and put the bag away.

"He probably drank too much..."

Outside the tavern, Cassandra stood in the shadows of the street, watching the old wizard walk out with a bewildered expression.

Her fingers gently stroked the newspaper in her arms.

The memory erasure technique just now can precisely erase specific memories from the target's consciousness without causing any side effects.

This is a skill she mastered when she was young, and she still uses it with ease today.

But to her surprise...

"I actually kept the payment."

Cassandra remained silent.

Such a small amount of magic stones was of course insignificant to her.

But I would never have done that before.

In the past, if she needed to obtain information from someone, she would use a more brutal method—mental intrusion, forced reading, and then erasing all traces.

Clean, efficient, and without leaving any future problems.

As for that wizard?

He's just a worthless old man with no potential; he's dead, so be it.

Who cares how many ants they step on while walking?

But now... she not only chose a gentler approach, but also offered compensation.

"I've changed."

Cassandra realized this, and a strange feeling welled up inside her.

That feeling was somewhere between relief and fear.

Reassuringly, she seems to be returning to her "true self," the Cassandra Saint-Mange before the ethereal remains of the "Abyss of Greed" coalesced.

What's frightening is...

"Am I still me?"

The question swirled in her mind.

Years of wandering, long enough to change everything about a person.

Her power waned, her mindset shifted, and her perspective on the world changed.

In the past, I regarded conquest as my sole creed, strength as the standard by which everything was measured, and the ability to generate value was used to evaluate the people around me.

My current self...

"What do I care about right now?"

The answer requires almost no thought.

Eve.

She wanted to see her daughter.

I want to see for myself if what the newspapers say is true.

I want to know if Eve has truly found happiness, and if she really... no longer needs her as a mother.

"Perhaps it is precisely because I am not here that she has been able to grow up to where she is today."

Cassandra thought bitterly.

“If I had stayed by her side... she might have always been that little girl living in her mother’s shadow.”

This realization brought her a sense of relief, but also a pang of pain.

Her absence, ironically, became Eve's best opportunity.

Without her suppression, Eve can truly spread her wings and fly high;

Without her control, Eve can find her own path;
Without her... Eve can become the true "Eve Saint Menge," not just "Cassandra's daughter."

"But I need to see it with my own eyes at least."

Cassandra made the decision.

"To confirm whether she is truly happy, whether she truly... no longer needs me."

"Then, we'll decide what to do next."

"And that brat Ron... he actually kidnapped my daughter!!!"

The black cat passing by was startled by the sudden surge of resentment and stumbled away with a meow.

………………

In the study of the northern manor, Ron, who was being nagged, sat at his desk, his quill pen hovering in mid-air, not yet falling.

A stack of blank, specially made parchment was spread out on the table, specifically for writing formal academic papers.

At this moment, this stack of valuable parchment only has a few lines of hastily written words.

"On the Systematic Modification of Extraordinary Characteristics of Vampires: A Transgenerational Life Engineering Study Centered on the 'Sunwalker Project'"

After writing the title, Ron fell into a strange state of stagnation.

It wasn't because of a lack of material—quite the opposite, research materials on the "Daywalker Project" filled three entire bookshelves in his study.

From the initial theoretical concept to the subsequent experimental data, from individual modification cases to group promotion plans, every record is detailed to the point of being tedious.

The problem is that……

"It's been too long since I've written something like this."

Ron put down his quill and rubbed his aching temples.

The last time I seriously wrote an academic paper was during my Monday night level.

In preparation for his qualification to become a Potions Professor, he spent a long time writing a paper on the "Basic Theoretical Framework of Narrative Potions".

That paper was later hailed as a "groundbreaking and landmark work" by the academic committee of the School Alliance, establishing his academic standing in the field of potion science.

But from my own time scale, that was something that happened nearly a hundred years ago, and several decades in the main world's timeline.

In the years that followed, he spent most of his time in seclusion cultivating, managing the Chaotic Blood World, and the Furnace Star...

I haven't really encountered academic papers, which require calming down and carefully considering every word and sentence.

"I have so much in my head, but when I put it on paper, I don't know where to begin writing it down..."

Ron sighed, his gaze inadvertently sweeping across the corner of the desk.

There were several photos displayed there, carefully protected by an ornate silver frame.

The images in the photos are vivid and lively, taken during their honeymoon.

The first photograph was taken in the "Glass Islands," where Ron passed by in his airship when he first arrived in the Central Lands.

In the picture, Eve is wearing a light blue chiffon dress and standing barefoot on the beach.

The sea breeze tossed her black hair, and her amethyst eyes reflected the starry sky on the sea's surface.

She turned her head to the side, a childlike smile on her lips.

Ron remembers that moment.

They had just arrived at Starfall Bay, and Eve couldn't wait to take off her shoes.

Barefoot, I stepped into the fine sand and ran excitedly towards the beach like a child.

As the seawater reached her ankles, she suddenly turned around and shouted something at him.

The sound of the waves was too loud for him to hear clearly.

The second photo was taken in the "Emerald Forest," so there are a few more people in the picture.

Besides Ron and Eve, there were Dale, Caroline, and a young witch with a somewhat stiff expression. That was Airo.

In the photo, the young princess of the Farouk royal family is trying to force a smile, but it looks rather awkward.

Her body was slightly turned to one side, as if she was trying to maintain some distance from the camera.

Ron looked at the photo, shook his head, and chuckled.

Airo's appearance on the honeymoon was completely unexpected.

Or rather, it was Lilia's "strong suggestion".

At that time, Andrei had just passed away.

The passing of the old king was a huge blow to the entire Kingdom of Farouk.

For Airo, it meant losing a loved one.

Lilia keenly noticed that her student had been depressed lately.

Although Airo never showed sadness in front of others... in fact, she became increasingly aloof after becoming a full-fledged wizard, and almost never showed any strong emotions.

But as her mentor of many years, Lilia was still able to read the student's inner turmoil from various signs.

For example, the occasional lapse in concentration while practicing magic, the gaze he gives when alone out the window, the stiffness he displays every time the word "hometown" is mentioned...

So Lilia found Ron and made a tactful request:
"Mentor, could we bring Airo along on our honeymoon?"

"She needs a change of environment, to temporarily leave those places that evoke painful memories for her."

"And... I think being with her family might make her feel better."

Ron, of course, did not refuse.

Although he and Airo had only met a few times in total.

When he left, Andrei had only recently ascended the throne and had not even gotten married yet.

And now, Andrei's descendants have multiplied for several generations.

But in any case, that bloodline connection still exists.

The letter that Andrei entrusted to him before his death now lies quietly in his storage bag.

“I think… what Airo needs is more than just a change of environment.”

Ron said this to Lilia at the time.

"She needs to know that even if Andrei is gone, she is not alone in this world."

Thus, what was originally a honeymoon trip for just the two of them turned into a small "family trip".

Dal and Caroline were responsible for taking care of their daily needs, while Airo...

Well, Airo mostly watched coldly from the sidelines, only occasionally participating in some activities after Eve's persistent pleading.

The third photo captures just such a scene.

In the scene, Eve is holding Airo's hand, trying to drag the stubborn little girl into a dessert shop.

Airo's expression was full of resistance, yet she didn't truly break free.

Behind them, Dale was covering her mouth and chuckling, while Caroline looked helpless.

"However, it's supposed to be a honeymoon..."

Ron sighed softly.

Despite calling it their honeymoon, they actually only spent less than a week on the trip.

For newlyweds, this time is far too short.

There was nothing they could do—both he and Eve were now considered to be in "high positions of power."

The governorship of the Chaotic Blood World, the academic work of the School Alliance, the daily operations of the Crown Clan... each of these requires a significant investment of time and energy.

It's already quite difficult to squeeze out a week of free time; any more than that would really interfere with important matters.

"Owner?"

A soft voice interrupted Ron's reverie.

He came to his senses and saw Ailan standing next to the desk, holding a wooden tray in her hands.

The tree spirit's green hair shimmered with a lustrous sheen in the sunlight, and the tiny flowers at the ends swayed gently with her breath.

"You've been spacing out for almost ten minutes."

Ailan's voice carried an undisguised smile:
"Is the paper... not going well?"

Ron glanced at the almost blank parchment on the table, then reluctantly put down his pen.
"Did you see it?"

"Master's brows are almost furrowed."

Ailan gently placed the tray on the desk.

The vine steadily lifted the teapot and poured him a cup of fragrant herbal tea:
"This is my newly blended 'Refreshing Tea,' which includes extracts of peppermint leaves and calming herbs to help improve concentration."

"And these rose cakes..."

She then used another vine to lift a plate of delicate pastries; even before biting into the filling, the fragrance of roses could be smelled.

"It was made according to Your Highness's taste, but I reduced the sugar, so it should suit you better."

Ron took the teacup and sipped it.

The cool tea soup, with its subtle herbal aroma, did indeed clear my somewhat groggy head a bit.

"Thank you, Ailan."

He put down his teacup, looked at the stack of almost blank academic papers, and said with a wry smile:
"However... this paper is probably not something that can be solved with a cup of tea."

Are you worried about not having enough material?

Ailan tilted her head, and the little flowers at the ends of her hair tilted to one side as well:
“I remember you prepared a lot of information about the ‘Daywalker Project’, Master…”

"There are definitely enough materials."

Ron rubbed his temples:
"The problem is that these formal academic papers have too many rules and formatting requirements..."

"How to write the introduction, how to arrange the literature review, how to present experimental data, how to build the theoretical framework..."

"To be honest, it's been far too long since I've been in contact with these things."

Ailan listened quietly and poured her host another cup of tea.

at this time……

"Clang."

The study door was pushed open from the outside, and a richly dressed, black-haired woman walked in as if no one else was there.

As she walked, she casually untied the ribbon that bound her long hair.

"I'm so exhausted, I'm so exhausted..."

Eve muttered to herself, casually tossing her ornate outer robe aside.
"Those old guys from the academic alliance are such a nuisance; they spent a full two hours reviewing a budget..."

The outer robe drew an arc in the air before landing on the ground with a "thud".

Cecilia, who was standing behind her, almost reflexively stepped forward, bent down to pick up the expensive garment, and used a dust removal spell to clean the dust off it.

The black-haired princess was completely unaware of the maid's movements behind her.

She walked straight up to Ron, opened her arms, and said coquettishly:
"Honey, I want a hug."

Ron chuckled, put down his teacup, and pulled his wife into his arms.

Eve leaned against his chest, relaxing completely and letting out a satisfied sigh.

“That’s how it should be…” she nuzzled her husband’s chin. “This is what it feels like to come home.”

"Was today's meeting tiring?" Ron gently stroked her long hair.

"It's more than just tiring."

Eve nestled against his chest, her voice muffled:
"Those old guys are all about finding fault; they ask about every single budget item..."

“It’s a project that was approved long ago, but they insist on bringing it up for discussion again.”

“I suspect they did it on purpose, wanting to see me, the ‘new patriarch,’ make a fool of myself.”

"Thanks for your hard work."

Ron took a rose cake from the tray and brought it to her lips:
"Eating something, especially something sweet, can improve your mood."

Eve opened her mouth and took a bite of the pastry, eating it bite by bite with her husband's help.

That natural intimacy made Ailan's eyes crinkle with delight.

Cecilia, sensing the situation, lowered her head and pretended to be intently cleaning the already spotless outer robe.

"correct……"

After Eve finished her snack, she noticed the almost blank stack of parchment on the desk:
"Professor, are you writing your thesis?"

She only calls him "husband" when she's being affectionate; otherwise, she habitually refers to him as "mentor."

"Yes, the papers were selected by the full professor."

Ron nodded.

"How's it going?"

Eve leaned forward, glanced at the sparse handwriting, and then turned to look at Ailan.

The tree spirit immediately nodded in understanding, covering its mouth and chuckling softly:
"The owner stared at the first line of the title for half an hour, and then spaced out for another ten minutes..."

"Oh?"

Eve drew out her words:
"So... even our great wizard Ron has times when he can't write a paper?"

"..."

Ron pinched her cheek: "Don't gloat."

"I don't have any."

Eve mumbled, "I'm just... um... concerned about you."

She leaned against her husband's chest, her fingers idly tracing circles on his chest.
"But to be honest, you're still the same as before, always wanting to do everything yourself."

"This kind of paper can be easily written by one of my subordinates."

"His men?"

Ron raised an eyebrow.

"correct."

Eve turned around and looked at the silver-haired maid who was pretending not to exist:
Cecilia.

Cecilia paused for a moment, then looked up somewhat blankly: "Your Highness, did you call me?"

"Aren't you currently writing your thesis for associate professor eligibility?"

Eve propped herself up from her husband's arms:
"how is the progress?"

"Go back to Your Highness..."

Cecilia answered somewhat nervously:
"Most of it is already done, and we expect to submit the first draft next week."

"That's just right."

Eve nodded in satisfaction, then turned to Ron:
"Once Cecilia finishes writing hers, you can have her write it for you."

"Anyway, you provide the core content and data; she only needs to polish and organize it."

"This……"

Ron hesitated.

I never even considered having someone else write my paper.

As a researcher who has worked in academia for many years, he still has some "academic fastidiousness" at heart.

Even if it's just about the format and wording, it still feels a bit inappropriate.

Eve noticed his hesitation and rolled her eyes at him:
"You're a great wizard now, why do you still care about these things?"

"Which of those old fogies in the academic alliance didn't have their students do their papers?"

Do you really think they have time to write a paper word by word?

"and……"

Her tone became serious:

"The promotion of the Daywalker Project needs more exposure."

"This paper is not only for your full professorship selection, but also to demonstrate the value of this plan to the wizards of the main world."

"You need more helpers, more resources, and more attention and support from people."

"Instead of spending so much time writing it yourself, it's better to save that time for more important things."

Ron remained silent for a moment.

Eve is absolutely right.

The "Daywalker Project" has evolved to the point where it is no longer a secret project that can be carried out discreetly.

The various clans of the Chaotic Blood World, especially those forces connected with "Twilight City," had long been aware of the existence of this plan through various channels.

Some see it as a threat, some see it as an opportunity, and others are watching and waiting.

Since keeping it a secret is no longer of much use, we might as well take the initiative and make the academic value and social significance of this plan public.

A high-quality academic paper is the best "promotional material".

"Ok."

He finally nodded:
"Cecilia, after you finish your thesis, could you please help me organize the relevant information for the 'Daywalker Project'?"

"Yes, sir."

Cecilia had no choice but to agree: "It is my honor to serve you."

Eve gave a satisfied "Mmm" and leaned back into her husband's arms.

"That's right."

She yawned slightly: "So tired...let me lean against you for a little while longer..."

Ron adjusted the angle to make the other person a little more comfortable.

This is their daily life after marriage.

When he was in the main world, the two of them would be busy with their own things during the day, but would get together at night to share their experiences.

Although they are not as inseparable as ordinary newlyweds, they have their own unique understanding and warmth.

Outside the window, the afterglow of the setting sun gradually painted the sky red.

Ailan quietly put away the tea set and left the study with Cecilia. (End of Chapter)