'This is bad.'

For a struggling researcher, there was no more terrifying phrase than 'Let's take a look at how your research is going these days.'

In fact, Alcicle was trembling so much that his teeth were chattering.

"Alcicle Pengerin. Get a hold of yourself. Are you going to show weakness in front of the inspector?"

"I... I know. If we kidnap the in-inspector..."

"I said get a hold of yourself."

"Y-Yes, I understand."

"You may have been a bit lost lately, but you're an outstanding researcher. You can do well. Just accurately explain what you've been attempting."

"Yes..."

As an experienced old mage, Eumidiphos was not shaken even by the inspector's visit. She calmly soothed Alcicle and headed out of the cave.

Gainando asked, looking at the inspector.

"Could it be that I saved a villain..."

"I'm not a villain!!"

The inspector felt wronged.

Of course, he knew well that mages were wary of people like inspectors.

-Ahhh! It's an inspector!-

-You think you'll be safe after this?! When this magic is completed, I'll cast it on you first! You won't be able to get drunk even if you drink alcohol!-

-What does someone like you know about magic?! Great magic is supposed to be born by wasting enough gold to fill a castle!-

Mages who received investments for their research couldn't possibly like inspectors.

However, people like inspectors were also necessary for the empire.

Without these watchful eyes, who would protect the investors?

"It's just that mages are a bit wary."

"Gasp. I'm a mage too."

Gainando thought he might have saved an enemy. The inspector was flustered, but Gainando was already slowly backing away.

"Stop it, Gainando. He's just doing his job."

"Th-Thank you."

The inspector was moved by Yi-Han's words.

No one had even said that much for him.

However, Yi-Han's true feelings were different.

'This is serious.'

Come to think of it, Yi-Han had recklessly used Alcicle's rare, high-quality ingredients when his research was already at a standstill.

He didn't know how the situation would unfold, but he couldn't help but worry.

'Even if bribery is impossible...'

Now that it had come to this, there was no choice but to pull the inspector to their side.

If they became friendly, wouldn't he look at things in a way that was slightly favorable to them?

"Ah. Your Highness. Thank you again for saving me."

Before leaving, the inspector politely thanked him. Gainando looked at Yi-Han with a proud face.

"See?"

"See what? Don't disappear without saying anything and make your friends worry from now on."

"Hmph."

Gainando grumbled and followed behind Yi-Han, then suddenly remembered.

'Wait. Come to think of it, Yi-Han also often disappeared without a word and made us worry!'

"Yi-Han did the same thing too!"

"Is that the same as this?"

"Don't talk nonsense."

"..."

Alcicle, who had returned to the magic tower, cleared his throat and formally welcomed the inspector.

Of course, his eyes were slowly avoiding the inspector.

"Alcicle Pengerin. I have come here today as a representative of four people, and this letter bears the seals of those four."

"I... I see."

Alcicle glared at the letter as if he wanted to swallow it.

"Yes. If it's not too much trouble, regarding the magic research currently in progress..."

"Wait! Do you see that boy from the Wardanaz family over there?!"

Alcicle suddenly pointed at Yi-Han.

Yi-Han was puzzled.

'Has he gone crazy from the pressure?'

"Yes? I see him, but..."

"I had the opportunity to teach that boy this time. And that boy is truly amazing!"

"Is that so."

The inspector who had come from the capital had not yet heard the rumors of Granden City.

As such, he simply reacted with 'As expected of the Wardanaz family, he must be good.'

"It's not just that. He... He has more outstanding talent than me."

"Is that so?!"

Even the inspector was a bit surprised by this.

To think Alcicle of the Pengerin family would say such a thing.

In fact, Alcicle's pride was hurt, and he was so upset that his eyes welled up with tears.

"T-Take a look..."

Yi-Han understood what Alcicle was trying to do.

He was trying to change the subject somehow to avoid the inspector.

'My heart aches.'

As a fellow mage, and as someone who had ruined Alcicle's magic tower warehouse while learning cold element magic, Yi-Han vowed to do his best to help.

"Cold, become a shield and float!"

Yi-Han summoned an autonomous ice shield along with fog.

"Fog, spread out! Darkness, gather here!"

"Oh... Ohhh!"

Although the inspector was not a mage, he had seen and verified numerous magics, so he knew well that Yi-Han's continuous casting of magic was remarkable.

Moreover, he was still a young student!

"Bones... No. Not that. Shine!"

Yi-Han rapidly fired off the magic he had.

The inspector constantly exclaimed in admiration.

"Truly amazing..."

"How much have you mastered?!"

"Alcicle Pengerin?"

"Ah, s-sorry."

Alcicle shouted without realizing it, then came to his senses at the inspector's words.

Yi-Han had drawn attention well, but he had drawn it too well, causing even Alcicle to be distracted.

'What in the world is Einroguard...?'

At this point, rather than being amazed by Yi-Han's talent, it was suspicious whether Einroguard was teaching too harshly.

Is this okay?

"Einroguard's education... No... Anyway, isn't it amazing?"

"Yes. It's amazing."

"Today, while teaching..."

"Alcicle Pengerin. But I want to see the research..."

"R-Right. Did you happen to enjoy the scenery on the way here?"

"I didn't have the leisure to enjoy it because I fell off my horse and broke my ankle."

"S-Sorry. I should have had spirits on standby. I was distracted because of the guest."

"It's alright. His Highness saved me."

"R-Right? Do you know how amazing His Highness over there is? He has many followers, and even the empire's high noble families support him!"

"..."

Yi-Han and Yonaire blushed and lowered their heads.

Gainando himself was standing there blankly, not even knowing they were talking about him.

"Huh? Wait. Are you talking about me?"

"...Probably not...?"

The inspector was startled.

"Is that so? Indeed, judging by the appearance you showed, I didn't think you would lack fame."

"R-Right! That's right!"

"But Alcicle Pengerin. I want to see the research..."

Alcicle was on the verge of tears. His eyes were brimming with tears.

Unable to bear it, Yi-Han fake coughed.

"Please wait a moment. Everyone must be exhausted from wandering around in the snowstorm, so I'll bring out some warm drinks."

"Ah. I'm fine."

"Inspector. No, you're not. I know you're robust, but you need to rest a bit after tumbling like that. Besides, the other students too..."

Yi-Han gestured with his eyes.

Then, Yonaire, Ratford, and Nillia hurriedly coughed.

"Cough cough."

"Ahem! Ahem!"

"I can't feel my fingertips..."

'I shouldn't ask Nillia to do this in the future.'

Her frostbite acting was too realistic, making it stand out instead.

"Look. Even the professor here has turned pale from the cold."

"..."

Eumidiphos was dumbfounded seeing Yi-Han say such things to Boladi Bagrak.

She knew he was fearless, but...

What was surprising was that even Boladi Bagrak was quietly standing there and going along with it.

"I-I understand. It would be better to rest a bit."

"Yes. I'll bring out the drinks soon."

Having bought some time, Yi-Han asked Eumidiphos,

"By the way, what kind of research is Mr. Pengerin doing?"

"Alcicle Pengerin is challenging the extreme cold."

Eumidiphos tapped the floor with her staff. Then, the ice fragments covering the magic tower floor soared into the air.

"Do you know that, surprisingly, even cold element mages often don't know the true characteristics of the cold element?"

"Is that so?"

"Yes, it is. Originally, when all magic delves into the extreme, it shows a different appearance. Although he hasn't reached the true extreme cold yet, when he reaches a similar level, he can see unique phenomena."

By the standards of mages, even the flesh-cutting snowstorm raging outside was considered ordinary cold.

When one descended to a level of cold that made such a snowstorm feel like a warm spring breeze, then one could see unique phenomena.

Mana freely moving without any consumption or loss, or matter losing its viscosity and transforming into peculiar forms...

"Or time stopping... You don't seem very surprised?"

"Ah. I was listening in amazement."

In fact, Yi-Han wasn't particularly surprised by such things.

Whenever one reached the extreme, a world that surpassed human imagination always unfolded.

Moreover, even more so with magic.

"Of course, to challenge this, it's impossible with just the mage's power alone, so he's attempting it in various ways..."

When Eumidiphos said that, Yi-Han, who had taken Alcicle's reagents, felt quite sorry.

Those reagents would probably be included in those various methods.

"Still, if he has been diligently researching, it would be difficult for the inspector to say anything, right? There should be records too..."

"Given Alcicle's personality, I don't think he would have recorded the research journal in such detail out of laziness."

"..."

Yi-Han asked Professor Bagrak,

"Professor. Do you have any advice you can give to Mr. Pengerin?"

"Hmm."

Professor Bagrak pondered for a moment, then slowly opened his mouth.

"When escaping, it's best not to leave traces."

"..."

Yi-Han was about to ask what kind of experience he was giving such advice based on, but stopped himself.

"I mean other than that."

"In the current situation, that seems to be the best method."

Professor Bagrak gestured forward with his eyes.

Yi-Han turned his gaze and was shocked.

Alcicle was looking around and hurriedly packing his belongings.

"What are you doing?!"

"Uh, uhh? This? It's nothing. I-I just suddenly wanted to gather some things..."

"No matter what, escaping is not allowed!"

"E-Escape. What are you talking about? I'm not trying to escape."

However, Alcicle's eyes were rolling around restlessly from side to side.

Yi-Han persuaded Alcicle.

"The inspector doesn't know much about magic anyway, right? It would be better to prove that you have diligently researched and haven't wasted anything else."

"I did buy a lot of sardines though..."

Yi-Han ignored it as if he hadn't heard.

"Do you have any journals? Any data?"

"Over there."

"...Wasn't that a trash pile?"

At Yi-Han's words, Alcicle made a slightly hurt expression.

"Gainando will be dealing with the inspector, so let's find it as quickly as possible."

Yi-Han began rapidly sorting through the trash pile, no, the warehouse where the journals and data were piled up.

Dusting off, separating by the dates written on the papers, and quickly organizing, Alcicle watched with a moved expression.

"Can't I take you as my disciple instead of sending you to Einroguard?"

Eumidiphos gave an ambiguous smile at Alcicle's question.

If he did that, the professors at Einroguard might raid Alcicle's magic tower.

"It wouldn't be bad to try if you want to."

"No. You'd want to happily and enjoyably spend time with your friends at Einroguard. I didn't need such things, but still."

Alcicle decided to be considerate of Yi-Han.

Of course, Alcicle had learned magic alone because he didn't need things like friends, but among nobles, there were many who considered it happiness to hone their friendship together with friends.

Yi-Han was probably such a case too.

"Happily and enjoyably?"

"Pardon?"

"It's nothing."