While solving the challenges, had the participants shown signs of hesitation or weariness, others might have suggested, "Let's call it a day." But the freshmen were performing so exceptionally that everyone was overly enthusiastic, urging them on.

This left Doin feeling utterly miserable.

His mana was rapidly depleting.

"We're ready."

Yi-Han's words sounded almost scary now.

Doin wiped the sweat from his forehead and sent a desperate look to Yi-Han.

'What's going on?'

Yi-Han couldn't have missed that look. He became lost in thought.

Why was the opposing mage acting like this?

"Sir Doin. Are you perhaps feeling unwell? You're breaking out in a cold sweat..."

"Ah, no. I'm fine. I'm fine."

Doin gripped his staff and held back a sigh.

Now he couldn't even think of what test to give.

'What... magic should I...'

Thud!

The staggering Doin finally sat down. It was dizziness from mana exhaustion.

"Are you alright?!"

Yi-Han immediately ran over.

He had been thinking from earlier that Doin might be sick, so his reaction was quick. Yi-Han supported Doin and said,

"You seem unwell, why didn't you say so earlier?"

"Urgh..."

Doin almost blurted out, 'It's because you were thoughtlessly doing too well,' but he held it back.

However, he couldn't say that. The other party was from the Wardanaz and Dargard families, after all.

"Oh dear. It seems Sir Doin overexerted himself despite not being in good health."

"It's unfortunate, but it can't be helped now. Today was truly enjoyable."

The guests rose amicably, offering worried farewells.

Some guests approached Yi-Han's group separately to shower them with praise.

"That was excellent. I'm sure rumors will soon spread about a great mage emerging from the Dargard family."

"Ah, no. Thank you."

"The Wardanaz family's reputation is indeed well-deserved. I was truly moved."

"Thank you."

"If you have any thoughts after graduation, I'd like to personally sponsor..."

Among them, there were even people proposing personal sponsorship to Ratford.

Seeing that, Yi-Han felt a bit aggrieved.

'Why only Ratford?'

Of course, he understood.

Such sponsorships were usually offered by wealthy individuals to talented but poor people.

The rich and nobles could pre-emptively bestow debts or favors to someone who might become an outstanding great mage in the future, and in return, the mage could receive gold coins immediately, so it was mutually beneficial.

However, if this was proposed to the young master of a high noble family, it would be a rude accusation of "Is your family poor?"

It was truly a regrettable situation.

"It's, it's fine."

"You don't need to decide right now. If you change your mind later, come find me."

Ratford nodded with a dazed expression.

Meanwhile, an elder approached Yi-Han. Yi-Han could immediately tell that this person was not ordinary.

'Two rings. One necklace. One bracelet. They're all artifacts.'

For someone who could keenly grasp the flow of mana like Yi-Han, such discernment was possible just from appearance.

Even among the empire's wealthy, it was rare for someone to carry around artifacts of that level.

"Did you recognize the artifacts?"

The other party asked with interest.

"Yes. If it seemed rude, I apologize."

"It's fine. If you have the ability, it's only natural to recognize them. I am Aladne from the Greenbel family."

"I am Yi-Han from the Wardanaz family."

Aladne, a spider mixed-blood, had the impression of a kind grandmother, but her every movement was flawless and her posture was unwavering.

"Sir Doin is not such an incompetent mage, so today's event was surprising."

"We were just lucky."

"I'm not a mage, but... there is no word that suits magic less than luck. Only skill exists. Not only was it surprising that you dispelled Sir Doin's magic so easily... but to exhaust all his mana as well."

"!"

Yi-Han was surprised.

'Ah. I see.'

Come to think of it, Doin's condition had been a bit strange.

If his health was that poor, there should have been signs from the beginning.

Naturally thinking by his own standards, he had failed to consider that the opposing mage's mana could be depleted.

'I did something I need to apologize for.'

However, Aladne seemed to interpret Yi-Han's surprise in a different way.

"No need to be surprised. I didn't bring it up to reprimand you. An excellent mage should have a strong sense of pride. Especially against someone who dared to test your skills. Ending it so gracefully is something Doin should be grateful for."

"...No, that's..."

Yi-Han wanted to clarify the misunderstanding, but Aladne had already reached her own conclusion.

Even if it was for the gathering's entertainment, a mage who challenged him without the skills to back it up was unforgivable.

That he had crushed them with the Wardanaz family's pride!

"It really isn't like that."

"If you say so, let's leave it at that. Anyway, I was surprised. It's not new for mages from Einroguard to be outstanding, but it's the first time I've seen a first-year student this excellent. Even for the Wardanaz family."

"Thank you."

"Since you're students, you'll be staying in Granden City during the break. If you ever need help, feel free to visit the Greenbel family anytime. The doors of our mansion are always open to capable individuals."

"!"

Yi-Han was surprised again.

Aladne seemed to interpret that surprise differently as well.

"Shall I try to guess? You're probably thinking about what you might need help with right now."

"No... that's not it."

"Sometimes there are matters that are difficult to resolve even with the power of a high noble family, or things you'd rather not handle in the name of a high noble family. There are definitely times like that. In that case..."

Aladne bowed and then withdrew.

Asan, who had returned after receiving lots of praise from his older brother and sister, spoke in an excited voice.

"Wardanaz! Did you hear? I was praised! They praised me!"

"Asan... I don't think you need to attach such great meaning to a single word of praise."

Yi-Han looked at his friend with pity.

It seemed like it would be more comfortable to just ignore it and live on, so he felt sorry for Asan going out of his way to do this.

"Right. What kind of praise did you receive?"

Since his friend was so happy, Yi-Han asked out of courtesy.

Asan spoke with a flushed face.

"They said I did well, that I made a good friend, and that I should work hard to follow that friend in the future."

"?"

"??"

Yi-Han and Ratford tilted their heads.

Ratford whispered softly so Asan wouldn't hear.

"Sir Wardanaz. I don't know much about nobles, but is that considered praise among nobles?"

"No. That's not praise. Ratford."

Regardless of what the two thought, Asan was happy. Yi-Han spoke with sympathy.

"Asan. If you're bored during the break, come to the Wardanaz family's mansion. No. Even if you're not bored, come visit often."

"Than... ks?"

Asan answered with a puzzled look, sensing something off.

"By the way, Wardanaz. I can't just let you go after you helped me like this. Do you need anything? If there is, let me know. I'll repay you in the name of the Dargard family."

Yi-Han, who was about to say it was fine, paused.

Come to think of it, there was one thing he needed.

"There is something I need."

"Oh. What is it?"

"Pay back the silver coins you borrowed."

"...Ah, no. That's a given. Anything else?"

"I can't really think of anything."

Asan was flustered.

Wasn't repaying borrowed silver coins a natural thing to do?

"Don't tell me you came directly just for that."

"Of course. I just came to see a friend."

"Right? That's how it is...?"

Asan nodded, trying to convince himself, but still felt uneasy.

The Maykin family's mansion located in Granden City resembled a busy and prosperous alchemist's workshop rather than an elegant noble mansion.

A practical design without unnecessary decorations, workers and alchemists constantly entering and exiting the mansion, the scent of various herbs and potions wafting from inside...

"The scent of herbs is impressive."

"Yeah. The scent of money is impressive."

"Pardon? I said the scent of herbs."

"Ah. Sorry. I was thinking about something else."

Yi-Han apologized to Ratford.

Seeing the numerous workers bringing in ingredients and alchemists coming and going, he could understand why the Maykin family was wealthy.

Moreover, this wasn't even their main residence but a villa.

"I should get close to Yonaire from now on."

"Aren't you already close?"

Yi-Han approached the mansion's main gate.

The gatekeepers guarding the entrance were so busy that they couldn't even properly look at Yi-Han and shouted.

"Line up and wait! Five carriages just went inside! No matter how much you try to push through, you have to wait!"

"Well. Actually, we..."

"I said no! Whichever merchant group or workshop you're from, you have to line up and wait! It's the rule! If you don't follow the rules, what about all these people waiting here!"

"That's certainly true."

Yi-Han was convinced by the gatekeeper.

The long line of carriages and workers waiting in front of the main gate.

They were from various places such as guilds, merchant groups, and workshops.

Of course, Yi-Han hadn't come for business but to see a friend, but that wasn't a reason to cut in line.

"Let's go and wait."

"Uh... I think we can just pass through separately..."

"Ratford. What would the people waiting behind us think? Let's wait so we don't cause any trouble for the Yonaire family."

Ratford followed behind Yi-Han, tilting his head.

Was this how visiting a noble mansion usually was?

'I don't think so...'

"What brings you two here?"

An alchemist who was waiting ahead of them spoke to the pair.

With a long robe and various potions and reagents dangling from it, his appearance spoke more clearly about himself than if the words "I am an alchemist" were engraved on him.

"We came to meet someone from the Maykin family."

"I see. I'm waiting here for the same reason."

The alchemist smiled amicably upon discovering companions with the same purpose.

According to the alchemist who was waiting ahead, the people visiting the Maykin family's mansion here were divided into two types.

One was those who had formally contracted with the Maykin family and came to deliver promised goods.

And the other was those who wanted to catch the Maykin family's eye to receive sponsorship or make a contract.

The Maykin family was a reliable patron. Whether it was a merchant group, guild, or workshop, if they caught the family's eye, they could receive generous gold coins and work.

That's why those numerous people were waiting with herbs or reagents they had gathered, or alchemical potions they had personally made.

"I see."

"But you two... do you need to wait here?"

The alchemist was puzzled after seeing Yi-Han and Ratford's attire.

After living in the city for a long time, one could usually guess a person's status just by looking at their clothes.

The two of them clearly seemed to be from noble families.

"If you want something, you have to wait."

"You're right about that. I spoke unnecessarily."

The alchemist nodded.

Even if they were from noble families, if there was something they wanted, they had to wait.

Of course, it wasn't that he didn't think 'If they're from noble families, couldn't they send a servant to make an appointment?' but he let it go, thinking they must have their reasons.

After the person who had brought a suspicious egg in a cage went in, followed by the employee of a merchant group who had obtained reagents from the snowy mountains, it was finally their turn.

"This way! Come this way! What is your purpose for coming!"

"We're alchemists. We came to have our potions evaluated."

"Understood! Please go to the west building! Three new alchemists in the west building! Three alchemists!"