As soon as Vanessa saw Ghislain, she began to cry again. “I’m so sorry! Huuuh, I destroyed the building, wasted all those Rune Stones, and caused such a huge loss to the estate... Uwaaaah!” “It’s okay, really. It happens. No one got hurt, so it’s all fine. Hahahaha,” Ghislain reassured her, still laughing. After all, what was a building compared to having a 6th Circle wizard in his domain? If it meant keeping such a powerful wizard, he’d gladly build hundreds of new buildings. Wizards of that caliber couldn’t be enticed with mere money. His instincts had been right when he recognized her as the greatest talent in the history of the Crimson Mage Tower. “No, it’s not okay! Our estate is poor, and everyone is struggling. I should’ve saved every penny to help, but now... I’ll eat just one meal a day from now on... Huuuuh,” Vanessa sobbed. The more she spoke, the more Ghislain’s smile faded. “We’re not that poor anymore.” “I’ll work hard washing clothes for the rest of my life to repay the debt... Huuuuh.” “If you start doing laundry, that’s going to cause even more damage,” Ghislain said, his words painfully honest. Vanessa only heard it as, "Your laundry will ruin the clothes." “You’re right! Someone like me should just die. Please, kill me now... Huuuuh.” Ghislain sighed deeply. Vanessa was incredibly talented, but her self-esteem was utterly shattered. She had been mistreated and oppressed for so long that even the smallest mistake made her overly sensitive and guilt-ridden. If she had Belinda’s personality, she’d probably say, "I’m a 6th Circle wizard! Who cares about a stupid building? Give me more money!" and carry herself with confidence. Then again... This time, the mistake was massive. If she were still in a menial position, it would take her a lifetime to repay such a debt, so her reaction made sense. Seeing her continue to cry, dripping snot and tears while repeating apologies, Ghislain helped her stand. “I told you, it’s fine. And reaching the 6th Circle is a much bigger help to me. I’ll build a new lab for you, so don’t worry about money. Just focus on your training. That’s the most important thing, okay?” “Huuuh, my lord!” Vanessa, touched by his kind words, buried her face in his chest, crying tears of gratitude. After patting her back a few times, Ghislain gently pushed her away and took a closer look at her. Her face was pale, as though she hadn’t seen sunlight in ages, and her skin was covered in soot, making the dark smudges even more noticeable. Her clothes were filthy, evidence that she had spent all her time holed up in her room, focusing on nothing but research and training. Ghislain could almost see the musty smell rising off her, and he forced a smile as he patted her on the shoulder. “...Training is important, but now that you’ve reached the 6th Circle, maybe you should wash up and take a walk outside from time to time.” “Yes! Yes, of course!” Vanessa finally noticed her own appearance, blushing in embarrassment as she scurried away. Ghislain turned to Lowell and gave him instructions. “Rebuild the lab, make it stronger and bigger. Set up a training dummy area where she can safely use magic.” “Yes, my lord. We’ll rebuild it here since the foundation is already set...” Ghislain quickly placed an arm around Lowell’s shoulder and whispered in his ear. “Build it far away. Much farther from the castle, in a safe, isolated place. You understand what I mean, right?” “...Yes, my lord.” Satisfied, Ghislain turned to the others. “Let’s keep the fact that Vanessa is a 6th Circle wizard a secret for now. There’s no benefit in letting this news spread.” Everyone, still in shock, nodded in agreement. No matter how talented Vanessa was, no one had expected her to reach the 6th Circle so soon. The close aides agreed with Ghislain’s reasoning. There was no need to draw unnecessary attention. The villagers, who had kept their distance and hadn’t overheard the conversation, wouldn’t be a problem when it came to keeping the secret. ‘This must be kept hidden.’ ‘A 6th Circle wizard, usually only found in the service of great lords, now resides here.’ ‘It’s a powerful card no one knows about!’ Reaching the 6th Circle was exceedingly rare. Many wizards dedicated their lives to magic, only to die without even reaching the 5th Circle. Once someone reached the 6th Circle, they could serve the most powerful lords or even aim for the highest position within the Mage Tower. Although Vanessa’s mana reserves were lacking, making her a “half-baked” 6th Circle wizard, that could still be an advantage. Anyone foolish enough to underestimate her would get a painful surprise. While Ghislain and the others were making preparations to keep the secret, Alfoy and the other wizards arrived in a hurry. “Fire? What happened to the fire? And it sounded like another spell went off?” Alfoy exclaimed, flustered. Ghislain waved at him with a smile. “Hey, Alfoy. It’s been a while. You’ve been working hard, right?” “Uh... yes, my lord....” Alfoy started sweating nervously as he tried to avoid Ghislain’s gaze. Ghislain turned to Lowell and asked, “How have the wizards been doing with their tasks?” Lowell glanced at the wizards, then started to tattle. “Well... the pace has slowed, and they haven’t been able to meet the schedule.” “Is that so?” Alfoy immediately panicked and waved his hands frantically. “No! We’ve been working hard! It’s just that we weren’t feeling too well!” Ghislain gave him a kind smile and nodded. “It’s fine. If you’re tired, you’re allowed to rest.” “...Really?” Ghislain smiled warmly, as if everything was truly fine, and nodded again. “You can make up for it by working even harder going forward. There’s a lot to do.” A chill ran down Alfoy’s spine. There was no way this lord would let them off so easily. And what did he mean by “a lot to do”? Surely there weren’t even more tasks waiting for them? Ghislain, noticing the wizards' uneasy expressions, grinned and said, “Prepare yourselves.” Before returning to the castle, Ghislain made a stop at the mercenaries’ camp. “Welcome back, Your Grace!” Randolph, who had been training the mercenaries, greeted Ghislain enthusiastically. Standing next to him was Fergus, who smiled warmly. “Haha, my lord. Did you return safely?” Fergus asked. Ghislain was surprised to see him and asked, “I told you to rest comfortably in Fenris, didn’t I? Why are you here at the camp?” “I’ve been assisting the commander,” Fergus explained. Fergus, who had been resting in Ferdium due to health issues, had accompanied Randolph to Fenris. While he couldn’t physically participate in training due to his frail condition, his wisdom had been invaluable in guiding the mercenaries. Shaking his head, Ghislain spoke with concern. “You should still be resting. I’ve told you many times, it’s not easy to come back from death.” “Haha, I’m fine. I’ve been feeling much better thanks to you, my lord,” Fergus replied. Thanks to the medicine Ghislain had frequently brought him from Ferdium, Fergus’s health had improved compared to his previous life, though it still wasn’t enough to ease Ghislain’s worries. ‘I wish he’d rest a little more,’ Ghislain thought, but Fergus was too stubborn to listen. Sighing, Ghislain turned to Randolph and offered a late greeting. “How have you been?” Randolph, as if waiting for the question, immediately launched into a tirade. “How have I been? These mercenaries aren’t human, that’s how!” His face was dark with frustration. Having spent most of his life training disciplined soldiers and knights, now dealing with mercenaries was like a nightmare. The mercenaries didn’t follow orders properly, and many of them lacked even basic common sense. They only obeyed Ghislain because of his strength, but they were unruly by nature. No matter how much he drilled them, the only tactic they were good at was the one Ghislain had trained them for—charging head-on. “How in the world did you manage to fight a war with these people?” Randolph asked. “Are they causing problems?” Ghislain inquired. “Problems? They’re barely functional! These people don’t have the slightest sense of discipline!” In the military, the most important thing is following orders. A unit must work together toward a goal, but mercenaries acted however they pleased, each convinced they knew best. They believed that simply surviving was proof enough that they were right. “I’ve drilled the bare minimum of essential knowledge into their heads, but beyond that, it’s impossible. Ugh, I could kill them all,” Randolph groaned, rubbing his temples as if his head was about to explode. Before his complaints were even finished, the mercenaries rushed out to greet Ghislain. “We’re saved! The lord is back!” “Ugh, we’re so tired!” It was clear that all of them were covered in bruises. Randolph must have beaten them during training for their insubordination. “Well, I’ve taught them what you asked, so I’m leaving,” Randolph declared firmly, eager to leave. Ghislain, a bit disappointed, nodded. ‘I was hoping he’d take on a little more... but I guess I’ll handle the rest myself.’ Still, after inspecting the group, Ghislain realized Randolph had handled the most troublesome part. He had managed to instill the basics of military training and discipline in them. The new recruits were also coming along well. Truth be told, Randolph had already dealt with the most difficult tasks. “You’ve done an excellent job. I’ll make sure you’re well rewarded,” Ghislain said gratefully. Randolph, feeling a sense of pride, responded, “I’ve even taught the illiterate ones how to read and write.” Though it had actually been Fergus who taught them to read, Randolph had no qualms about taking the credit, knowing it was technically true that he had managed the schedule. “That’s great. Knowing how to read is essential,” Ghislain replied. He had insisted Randolph teach the mercenaries to read and write. Even the best soldiers needed basic literacy to carry out more complex missions. One of the mercenaries, Gordon, proudly boasted, “I can read and write now!” Gordon had always suffered losses in contracts due to his illiteracy, so this was a point of pride for him. “Oh? Really? Congratulations. Can you even read a contract on your own now?” Ghislain asked with a smile. Gordon pulled a small book from his waistband and waved it around. “Of course! I’m even writing in my own book now!” “Writing a book, are we? What’s it about? I’m curious. Could I see it?” Ghislain asked, genuinely intrigued to see how much Gordon had improved. Gordon shook his head vehemently. “No way! This is private, and no one’s allowed to see it.” “Alright, that’s fine,” Ghislain chuckled, not pressing the issue. But the mercenary next to Gordon wasn’t as willing to let it go. “Come on, what’s in there? Even the lord’s curious. Just let us see. You’ve been writing in that thing secretly every day.” “I said no! Leave it alone.” “Come on, show us!” The other mercenary grabbed Gordon’s arm, trying to snatch the book. But with Gordon’s muscular frame, there was no way he was letting go easily. Soon, more mercenaries joined in the scuffle. “Stop it! I said no! I’ll kill you all!” Even Gordon, strong as he was, couldn’t hold out against five or six men pulling at him from all sides. He thrashed about, trying to protect his book, but it was almost out of his grasp. “Aaah!” Gordon let out a scream as the book slipped from his hands. Thud. The book landed right at Ghislain’s feet. Curious, Ghislain picked it up and opened it to a random page. [April 2nd: Clear skies.] Today, Commander Randolph nagged me again to work harder. He’s always up in my business. Seriously, his memory is shot. I’m already doing great, but he keeps scolding me. It’s getting too much. The weather’s cold because of the winds, and he keeps glaring at me to keep training. He must have picked up some terrible habits from his own training. Definitely not the kind of person I want to become. My dream is to be a great knight, but I’ll never be like him. Never... Today’s entry ends here. Thud. Ghislain immediately closed the book and shut his eyes. He couldn’t keep reading someone’s personal journal. That would definitely be a breach of privacy—or maybe “privacy dementia,” as Gordon had written. ‘Well, at least he’s learned to read and write,’ Ghislain thought. Even if the spelling and grammar were atrocious, the fact that Gordon could read and write at all was progress. As Ghislain reflected on this peculiar situation, Gordon, having defeated the mercenaries in the tussle, rushed over, out of breath. “Give it back!” “Oh, here you go...” Ghislain handed the journal back to him. “You read it, didn’t you?” “...No.” “You totally did! Who reads someone’s private journal like that?” Gordon whined, stuffing the book back into his waistband. He kept glancing nervously at Randolph, clearly worried about the insults he had written about the commander. Ghislain, finding the whole situation both amusing and pitiful, changed the subject. Since Gordon had made decent progress, there was no need to inspect the others. “Alright, let’s move on to check the rest of the estate,” he announced. Lowell, as the temporary overseer, led the group through the estate, showing off the new homes and infrastructure that had sprung up. Though many buildings were still under construction, the development of the estate had progressed considerably. “Good. We’ll review the future construction plans once we return to the castle. But for now, let’s go check the most important site,” Ghislain said. The group left the outer walls and headed toward their next destination. Lowell, who had been leading them, finally reached their goal and stopped, his face filled with emotion. “Just as you said, my lord... It’s all here.” The aides who had accompanied Ghislain during his absence couldn’t help but gasp at the sight before them. “Wow... this is incredible!” “I expected something big, but this...?” “I can’t believe my eyes. Even seeing it in person, it’s hard to comprehend.” Everyone rubbed their eyes, trying to make sure what they were seeing was real. Before them lay an endless golden sea of wheat, taller than a man’s height, swaying in the wind and stretching out as far as the eye could see.