Although Andersen specialized in combat Magical Device development, while Rose specialized in everyday Magical Devices—a key distinction—even so, every Magical Device had internal circuits and design formulas. Thanks to Andersen opening new horizons in Magical Device design formulas, latecomers like Rose were able to forge a path forward.
To meet Andersen Lind-nim up close like this—it's truly an honor.
"To meet Andersen Lind-nim in person like this is truly an honor."
"Hmm, well. I suppose so."
Despite Rose's enthusiastic reaction, Andersen remained indifferent.
Many nobles and influential figures had already sought him out. He'd likely heard enough praise meant to curry favor to grow calluses on his ears.
'A man utterly devoid of interest in his own fame or reputation.'
The only thing Andersen cared about was Magical Device development. That was why I had brought Rose here.
"Excuse me."
Rose stepped back politely.
"I got a little too excited at meeting someone I truly admire."
It seemed Rose had realized her approach had rubbed Andersen the wrong way. Perhaps because of that, she carefully withdrew and began observing Andersen's reaction.
Having grown up constantly reading the room in her family, Rose had a habit of worrying too much about others' reactions and moods.
"Right, well. Then."
Andersen gave a perfunctory nod and turned to look at me.
"Your Excellency. Do you remember what you promised me when I came to this domain?"
"Of course."
I had a feeling he'd bring that up right away. It was expected—I calmly gave Andersen the answer he wanted.
"That matters related to Magical Device development would be entirely up to you, Andersen."
"That includes who I let into my laboratory."
"That's right."
"Knowing that, why did you arrange this meeting?"
Andersen's voice was thick with anger.
"Appointing disciples is my sole prerogative. I find it deeply offensive that you would seek personal favors in this regard."
"Personal favors?"
"I'm telling you that even if she is Your Excellency's wife, I cannot take her on as my disciple."
Andersen stated flatly.
"I'm already overwhelmed by my current disciples, who barely qualify as human. And you want me to take on another? I refuse."
I could see Andersen's chest heaving rapidly.
It meant he was extremely agitated—less from anger toward me than from the fear of defying me.
'He had followed most of my orders without complaint, after all.'
Andersen was the kind of man who was satisfied with simply conducting the research he wanted in his laboratory. He also knew full well that wealthy investors who stayed out of his hair as much as I did were rare.
'That's why he refused the Academy's invitation and came here instead.'
Even so, he showed strong resolve not to concede, because this was the domain he cared about most.
"Disciple? What do you mean?"
Rose's eyes widened.
"That's news to me. Could you please explain in detail?"
"Give me a moment."
After placating Rose,
Tuk, tuk.
I tapped the table in front of Andersen to draw his attention. I addressed the visibly disgruntled Andersen.
"Who you take as a disciple is, of course, your sole prerogative, Andersen."
"······."
"As a 'mere' investor, I can't infringe on that. Can I?"
At that, Andersen's shoulders loosened slightly. Though he'd put up a front, he'd been incredibly tense.
"I called you here not about disciple appointments, but for a different reason."
"Pardon? What sort of—"
Chwarak.
I unfurled two sheets of paper I had prepared beneath the table. One was a blueprint of Andersen's laboratory, and the other was an internal blueprint of Schmaichel Castle.
"I plan to build a laboratory inside the castle."
"What?!"
Andersen sprang from his seat.
"Now you want me within arm's reach so you can torment me in person? Is this a scheme to slash my research funds every time I don't report results daily?"
"It won't be your laboratory."
"Pardon?"
Only then did Andersen grasp my meaning, and he looked at Rose.
"You don't mean your wife's...?"
"Correct."
I slowly fluttered the documents I'd been holding all along.
Pallang.
"First, design the castle laboratory. Then, wrap up this research."
A brief silence fell.
Looking bewildered, Rose glanced back and forth between me and Andersen before her curiosity got the better of her, and she began examining the blueprints on the desk.
Andersen shot me an accusing look, as if he simply couldn't fathom it.
"...By any chance,"
After a long while, he finally spoke.
"Is this because my laboratory exploded last time? If so, I already covered the damages out of my own pocket."
"It's not that."
"Then is it because I didn't let my disciples sleep for three days? I stayed awake with them, you know. It wasn't abuse."
"I said it's not."
It seemed Andersen saw me as a cold-blooded monster devoid of all emotion.
Of course, there had been times when I chewed him out when research results were underwhelming.
Things like summoning him to my office and pressuring him until he produced results, or forcibly shoving mana into a Magical Device right before his eyes to destroy it...
But in most cases, the outcomes were good. He eventually completed the report in three days and escaped my office, and I ended up making good use of the Magical Device that hadn't been destroyed.
Anyway, wasn't it a good outcome in the end?
Andersen stared at me, his face rigidly set. I crossed my arms and met his accusing gaze head-on.
'Even if he tries to hide it, his pride must be hurt.'
To him, my words must have sounded like this: Your current research results are pathetic, so give up and go help my wife instead.
Even knowing he'd jump to such a hasty misunderstanding, I still had to arrange this meeting.
After all, Rose held the most promising lead to prevent my assassination. I had to invest in Rose, not Andersen, if I wanted to live.
This very meeting with Andersen today was an investment in Rose.
"...Hm?"
What broke the uncomfortable silence was a small gasp of awe from Rose. Her gaze was fixed on the paper I held in my hand.
"What is it?"
"If it's not too much trouble... could I perhaps look at that paper for a moment?"
Pallak.
Without hesitation, I held the paper—Andersen's report—out to Rose. I'd been deliberately holding it in a way she could see clearly, after all.
"······."
Rose began scrutinizing the report with a serious face. Her gaze was entirely different from when she'd examined the contract I'd given her before.
"...Well, do you even understand what you're looking at?"
Andersen shot Rose a sidelong glance and grumbled.
"It's a failed project anyway, so leave it be. If you want to mock my failures, I can't stop you, but..."
"That's not what I'm doing."
"I'll build your wife's laboratory even without you doing that. Just as grand and spacious as my own. I'll spend lavishly from the budget until Your Excellency says it's enough."
"······."
I left them alone and the two got along remarkably well. I couldn't tell whether they were bickering or conversing.
"Andersen-nim, what is this design formula ultimately intended to accomplish?"
"Would you even understand if I explained? I'll tell you since you probably wouldn't know anyway. This is a design formula for mana reversal."
"Mana reversal? Do you mean... reversing the direction of mana to make it flow backward?"
"Yes."
"Is such a thing even possible? Mana always flows in one consistent direction—that's the first principle."
"Hm."
Andersen's expression softened slightly. He'd realized Rose wasn't a complete layperson when it came to Magical Studies.
"Did you graduate from the Academy's Department of Magical Studies?"
"I had to take a leave of absence due to personal circumstances. But I studied under Professor Albert, humble as my skills may be."
"Ah, Albert."
Andersen muttered with a conflicted expression.
"Is there anything to learn from that fool?"
"Pardon?"
"Never mind, nothing. As you said, mana flows in one consistent direction—that's the first principle. But what if that direction could be reversed? Couldn't we interfere with the flow of offensive-type Magical Devices? This research started from that idea."
Andersen's already pallid complexion grew even more gloomy.
"His Excellency personally commissioned this project, and yet this level of completion... I'm garbage. Trash that squanders vast research funding and precious magic stones."
He murmured the lament as if intending me to hear. Since spiraling into self-pity like this was a common occurrence for him,
"······."
I absently examined some other documents. If I humored him at times like this, there'd be no end to it.
"Hmm..."
Rose ignored Andersen's words for a different reason. She was deep in thought, staring intently at one spot on the paper.
Then,
Ttak!
She suddenly slapped her own forehead. Needlessly startled, Andersen asked,
"Was there a bug?"
"...It's not that. Here! Please look here."
Rose placed one of the papers she was holding onto the table. It was a blueprint featuring an intricate, maze-like diagram overlaid with a tangle of equations.
Tak.
Rose pointed to one spot on it with her finger.
"In this blueprint, this part is what ultimately induces the reversal of the mana flow, correct?"
"That's correct, but..."
Andersen's reaction was far from approving.
It was the attitude of 'she's obviously going to try to find some fault to pick—well, I'll at least hear what she has to say.'
"What if we introduced a cross-circuit at the preceding stage?"
"Hmm?"
Andersen's reaction was guarded. It wasn't that he didn't know the term—he knew it, which made him all the more puzzled.
"Are you referring to the cross-circuit that appeared at the Academy's academic conference a year ago?"
"Yes, that's right!"
Rose's eyes sparkled, her face bright with excitement.
"May I say a word about this blueprint first? These design formulas laid out throughout—it's truly astonishing. These are perfect formulas that don't waste even a single percent of mana."
"...Well, I did develop them."
"As expected of you, Andersen-nim. Because it's structured this flawlessly, the mana flow won't be disrupted even with a cross-circuit added."
Listening in, I was inwardly impressed.
'Her sweet-talking game is master-class.'