IOBTML 40

The bright blue light that shot out from his fingertips instantly cleaved through the shadow of the Mayong. The massive beast, now exposed, was split cleanly in two.

Splatter!

In that moment, blue blood gushed out from the Mayong’s innards like a waterfall.

Ahwin extended his palm and gently lifted it. At his command, a massive golden gemstone shot out from the monster’s torso. It was the mana crystal, the core of the creature.

The mana crystal floated gracefully toward Ahwin’s hand, glimmering with golden light.

Finally, the crystal erupted with a burst of brilliance before being absorbed into Ahwin’s hand.

Ahwin ran his red tongue over his lower lip.

“Tasteless.”

His assessment was as indifferent as it was dismissive. The mana crystal regurgitated by the beast left an unpleasant sensation. It was dull and carried a foul, bitter undertone.

If other wizards had witnessed this scene, they might have thrown their staffs in frustration.

Ahwin reached for his chest with his left hand, checking how much of the mana crystal had been absorbed.

“Hmm, well, I suppose it’s fairly useful since it’s from a dragon-type creature.”

Stretching his arms effortlessly toward the sky, Ahwin let out a satisfied sigh.

Then, he began to chant softly.

His voice rang clearly through the snow-laden winter forest, echoing with a crisp resonance.

A blue circle formed on the ground around Ahwin, and a magic sigil representing the Arc Mountains etched itself into the earth.

He had flown to the forest upon arrival, but this time, he intended to open a portal to return. His destination: the Mage Tower.

“When I get to the Mage Tower, I should grab plenty of mana crystals. Oh, and clothes too.”

Ahwin muttered to himself.

In his wardrobe at the Mage Tower, countless luxurious, tailor-made suits were neatly displayed. Many of them had been purchased but never even tried on.

‘I might as well grab some accessories while I’m at it.’

He had already decided to burn his shabby, lower-grade mage robes that he had grown tired of wearing.

A satisfied smile crept across his lips.

In an instant, Ahwin disappeared from the forest.

***

The next day, Penelope received an unexpected report from Giselle.

“The wizard has suddenly disappeared. It seems he’s gone,” Giselle said.

“What?” Penelope raised her eyebrows.

“He’s not in his room, and no one in the castle has seen him either,” Giselle added, her face lined with concern.

A whole day had passed without anyone spotting Ahwin in the castle. It was as if he had vanished into thin air.

‘What if he froze to death somewhere? He’s prickly, but he’s still a decent person,’ Penelope thought, trying to ease Giselle’s worries.

“He’ll probably show up again soon. I asked him for a favor, so I think he’s off taking care of that. Don’t worry,” Penelope reassured her.

“Really? But why would he leave without saying anything?”

“Who knows? Maybe he forgot that the people left behind would be worried.”

“When he gets back, please say something to him. No matter how busy he is, he shouldn’t just disappear like that. Aren’t you worried, Penelope?”

“…Yes, I suppose,” Penelope replied, though her voice lacked conviction. In truth, she wasn’t particularly concerned.

‘Why would I worry about him?’

Who was Ahwin, after all? He was the Mage Tower Master, the strongest figure in the entire world. Worrying about him was an utterly pointless exercise.

Recalling how she had nagged him in the past, Penelope sniffled slightly.

‘He’ll be fine, right? Even the emperor didn’t dare say much to him. All I ever did was tell him to eat his meals…’

She sniffled again.

‘I’ll just keep pretending I don’t know Ahwin’s real identity.’

As long as their contract lasted, treating Ahwin as an ordinary wizard and alchemist would keep things simple… probably.

At that moment, someone knocked on the drawing room door. The visitor promptly identified themselves.

“It’s Lianel.”

“Ah, please come in,” Penelope replied.

Lianel stepped inside, dressed as he had been when he first arrived at the castle. Behind him stood his escort knights.

Penelope thought, So it’s finally happening.

“The snow has stopped, so I believe it’s time for me to take my leave. Fortunately, the roads seem passable enough for carriages to travel,” Lianel said.

“Oh, I see. Let me escort you,” Penelope replied quickly, rising to her feet.

“There’s no need to see me off,” Lianel responded. “I’ll be returning here soon anyway.”

“What?” Penelope blinked in surprise. Returning?

“If you permit it,” Lianel explained, “I’d like to stay here again. There’s a particular business you’re involved in that my territory would be very interested in. If someone from my land needs to be sent, it’ll most likely be me.”

“Ah… pardon?” Penelope was at a loss. The Grand Duke himself wants to come back? Why?

“Are you referring to the Ondol heating system?” she asked tentatively.

“Precisely. My territory suffers from winters just as harsh as yours. If we can survive them warmly, there’s no reason to hesitate in making a significant investment.”

Penelope blinked slowly, trying to process his words.

Lianel, noticing her hesitation, offered another clue. “If you allow it, I’d like to return to invest in your project.”

What he meant was clear: he wanted the Ondol heating system implemented in his own territory.

A Grand Duke is interested? This is an incredible windfall!

The Ondol heating system patent was held jointly by Penelope and Ahwin. The dwarves had secured the first-round construction rights, with Pablo bringing in workers for additional involvement.

The Ondol heating project was still in its infancy, with no significant external publicity yet. And now, Lianel had expressed interest in commissioning the system for his territory.

A client from the Grand Duchy! This will be a fortune!

Penelope could already imagine the wealthier nobles and merchants in the Grand Duchy clamoring for the system.

Money! So much money!

“Then, I’ll take my leave, knowing we’ll meet again soon,” Lianel said politely, bowing slightly.

Penelope quickly returned the gesture. “Safe travels. Or rather, take care.”

Lianel paused, looking at Penelope for a moment before turning to leave.

Was that a smile on the Grand Duke’s lips? Or am I imagining things? Penelope wondered as she stared blankly at his departing figure.

***

At last, the Halo Heating Company officially opened its doors in the heart of the territory.

The treasurer was appointed as the manager, while Pablo handled most of the operational tasks.

The treasurer had refurbished an old, empty building, hanging a sign that read “Halo Heating Company” above its entrance. Although the building itself was modest, the addition of Ondol floor heating and a revamped interior gave it a polished and professional look.

On the first day of business, Penelope paid the office a visit.

“This is truly impressive. You’ve all worked so hard,” she praised.

“It’s just what needed to be done. Pablo has been a tremendous help,” the treasurer replied, directing the credit to Pablo.

Pablo, however, responded with humility. “Not at all. This is all thanks to you, my lady.”

“I know how hard you’ve worked, so there’s no need to say that,” Penelope said with a pleased smile as she looked around the office.

One corner of the space was stocked with construction materials, and workers were busily coming and going. The atmosphere was lively and bustling.

Outside the office, a crowd of townspeople had gathered, eager to catch a glimpse of their new lord.

“That’s the new baroness, isn’t it?”

“Yes, I’ve heard. She’s the widow of the late Baron Halo, right?”

“They say she opened the soap workshop. I hear they’re hiring here soon, too.”

The townspeople observed Penelope with a mix of curiosity and admiration. Ever since she had taken over as acting baroness, the Halo territory had seen significant changes.

Even in the bitter winter, outsiders were flocking to Halo. The influx of people brought vitality to the markets and shops, creating more jobs. The residents could feel the improvements firsthand.

At that moment, Penelope rose from her seat and said, “I think it’s time for me to head back.”

“I’ll escort you,” Sir Kane said, stepping close behind her. With her knights providing a guard, Penelope made her way back to the castle.

When they arrived at the lord’s manor, the steward was waiting to greet her. However, his expression was somewhat uneasy.

“Is something the matter?” Penelope asked.

“Well, you see… Lady Fiora Elaik and her family have come to visit.”

“…Pardon?”

Penelope looked at him with surprise.

“And who is she?”

“She is the late Baron Halo’s aunt,” the steward explained.

“….”

Penelope was momentarily speechless. A relative of her deceased husband?

What could have brought her late husband’s aunt and her family to visit now?

Could it be because they couldn’t attend the funeral and are only now paying their respects? Penelope wondered briefly. However, on further thought, she remembered that Fiora Elaik had never even attended the wedding.

A quick glance at the steward’s expression confirmed that he was uncomfortable. It seemed he found this visit highly inconvenient.

Penelope cautiously asked, “Since she is family, I should meet with her, correct? Please escort them to the drawing room—”

Before she could finish, the sound of a commotion echoed from further down the hallway.