He took a deep breath, suddenly stopped walking, and looked at Serena with trembling eyes.

For the past two weeks since Colin Martora had arrived, Drukan had been utterly tormented by him.

This was because Drukan was the only one utilizing a prosthetic hand made with magic engineering.

The problem was that he had shown it to him without any suspicion when he asked to see it on the first day.

“Ah, I’ve missed this…!”

Colin Martora rushed over and clung to Drukan’s prosthetic hand.

“Aah, this texture…”

Colin Martora kept stroking Drukan’s prosthetic hand with his palm, a look of ecstasy on his face.

Drukan’s expression turned pale as he could feel some sensation due to the mana circuits, though dull.

“This smell!”

“…Please go away.”

Drukan was utterly disgusted.

Of course, no matter what, the prosthetic hand had no smell.

“You’re like a pervert.”

When Drukan spoke with contemptuous eyes, Colin Martora frowned as if displeased.

“I’m sensing the mana smell from here! I’m not interested in the smell of humans like you!”

Colin Martora said while hugging Drukan’s prosthetic hand to his chest.

‘…He’s such a pervert, how can I even describe this.’

Serena stared blankly at Drukan’s gaze pleading for help, then slightly turned her head away.

Dealing with Colin Martora was a bit troublesome.

“……”

Drukan’s expression became desperate at Serena’s avoidance.

“Ah, really, how did you come up with the idea to make such an item with this material…”

Colin Martora started rubbing his cheek against Drukan’s prosthetic hand.

Unable to bear it any longer, Drukan finally moved his hand and pushed Colin Martora away.

“It’s unpleasant, so stop it.”

“Ah… but, but…! Sigh, I haven’t fulfilled my daily quota of prosthetic hand yet.”

“What on earth is that!”

“Well… should I say that I need to see Drukan’s prosthetic hand once a day to calm my mind, or that it makes me feel like I’ve started the day, or that it makes me feel like I’ve finished the day…”

Drukan stepped back hesitantly.

‘He’s impressive in a way.’

It might be my first time seeing Drukan with such a bewildered expression.

Serena shook her head and looked at the mountain of documents and letters piled up.

“…A life of idleness, huh?”

She muttered absentmindedly while looking at the desk.

She didn’t intend to live so diligently, but when she came to her senses, this was her situation.

Serena bowed her head deeply with a slightly tired face.

“Master, what about the meal?”

“Ah, yes. Let’s go. We should go… Both of you go and eat. I think I’ll return to my room right after eating today.”

“Understood!”

“Yes.”

Colin Martora and Drukan answered.

“And Colin.”

“Yes, Master!”

The man with messy hair answered with a bright smile.

It was such a bright appearance that it made her fear what might happen if she didn’t teach him properly, as if he might kill her in an instant.

“Yes, well… good job.”

Serena said glumly as she stood up from her seat.

“And Drukan…”

Serena stopped for a moment as she was about to leave the office.

“Drukan has a wife. And children too.”

“…Huh? Yes…”

“It might be better to refrain from actions that could cause misunderstandings.”

Colin Martora reflexively answered “Yes…” to Serena’s words.

However, his expression showed that he didn’t understand at all.

When he looked to the side, Drukan was already far away, shaking his prosthetic hand vigorously with a pale face.

“……?”

As Colin Martora tilted his head in confusion, Serena left the office.

“Don’t come near me again.”

Drukan said with a contemptuous face towards Colin Martora, then turned around sharply and followed Serena out.

“…Huh? Uh…?”

Colin Martora, left behind blankly, blinked his eyes.

He calmly analyzed the conversation they had just had and its flow, then his eyes widened.

“It’s not like that! Master!”

Colin Martora shouted as he ran out hurriedly, chasing after Serena.

“I, I…!”

He cried with an aggrieved face.

“If I were to marry anyone, I’d rather marry you, Master…!!”

As he was running down the corridor, screaming like this, Colin Martora tripped and fell flat on the floor.

“Ouch…”

Just as Colin Martora, who often fell, sat down on the floor with a low groan, a shadow fell over his head.

“……”

Colin Martora looked up in confusion.

Above his head was Duke Magnus of Kelahinum, somehow emanating a fierce atmosphere.

“Uh… hello, Your Grace.”

Colin Martora hurriedly got up and bowed awkwardly in greeting.

His piercing killing intent was quite severe.

Cold sweat trickled down Colin Martora’s back.

‘Why? Did I do something wrong? Is he hurt somewhere? Did I accidentally hit him when I fell? I heard the Duke of Kelahinum was quite generous…’

As Colin Martora rolled his eyes thinking various thoughts, he remained frozen, unable to even raise his head.

It didn’t matter that he was one of the pillars under the Mage’s Tower, rank was rank.

He couldn’t raise his head without the nobleman’s permission.

“It’s not a good day.”

A chilling voice descended from above.

Colin Martora took a deep breath as he felt his spine tingle.

“I’m, I’m so sorry… sniff. Did I perhaps make some mistake…”

Colin Martora’s voice trembled with fear.

‘I thought only the Duchess of Kelahinum was scary…’

The Duchess of Kelahinum was less scary than expected, and the Duke of Kelahinum, who had a better reputation, was much scarier.

“You dare to say so boldly that you’ll marry my wife in my mansion.”

“Ah, that… um, that’s not what I meant…”

“I know my wife is as cute and lovable as a pig, but covet what you should covet.”

“…Pardon?”

Even if he could understand the doting husband calling her cute and lovable…

‘What’s with the pig thing…?’

Colin Martora’s expression became a strange mix of fear and bewilderment, neither crying nor laughing.

“Don’t covet carelessly, if you don’t want to lose that neck of yours.”

“…Hic.”

Colin Martora took a deep breath.

Unable to control his trembling body, he contorted his face.

He felt like he couldn’t breathe under the fierce killing intent that seemed to cut through his entire body.

‘Monster…’

He thought the master of the Mage’s Tower was a monster, but this man was far more monstrous.

Colin Martora had never seen such a huge monster in his life.

‘…Just who did Master marry…?’

If it were him, he would never have married no matter how beautiful the other person was.

“I, I’ll keep that in mind…”

“Good. Now raise your head, why are you bowing? As if I’ve oppressed you or something.”

‘You did…!’

Colin Martora wanted to retort like that, but he swallowed it down and raised his head awkwardly.

“Yes, I’m sorry…”

“So where is Serena?”

“She went to the dining room, but…”

Colin Martora answered while pushing up his round glasses with the back of his hand.

“I see.”

Magnus, who had come to fetch Serena in case she was late again today, turned away from Colin Martora without hesitation and headed towards the dining room.

“…Scary.”

Colin Martora, who had slumped down on the floor, let out a deep sigh.

He took off his glasses and rubbed his face vigorously.

He wiped away the cold sweat that had trickled down with his sleeve and exhaled deeply.

“I thought I was going to die before I could even learn…”

He muttered softly.

“Even if I die, I have to learn everything before dying…”

Colin Martora uttered these crazy words as if it was nothing.

* * *

“…Oh my, goodness. Wow, you’ve fully recovered.”

“…Is that true?”

Hearing the doctor’s astonished voice, Marquis Lavernia asked the physician who had examined the Marchioness.