"Report, the envoy of Grand Duke Viktor is outside, requesting an audience."

  Upon hearing the ued visit, Edward, who never anticipated someone would e at this time, revealed a surprised expression. When he heard the name "Grand Duke Viktor," he raised an eyebrow with a hint nation.

  The Viktor family was the rgest aristocratic family in the southern border, and Grand Duke Viktor was one of the frand dukes in the kingdom—a promi noble.

  Over the years, almost every few months, messengers from the Viktor family would persistently e to Durin Castle, inviting Edward to attend the grand duke's bas.

  The reason behind this was straightforward. Edward was onown as a on-a-millennium super genius at the Imperial Mage Tower. He achieved the rank of a level-five mage, a Grand Mage, the you in history, before being expelled due to forbidden experiments.

  Although he was expelled, Edward's magical talent did not disappear. In fact, due to his dedicated studies in magid magical alchemy during his reclusive life, his magical power became increasingly substantial. Gradually, he was on the verge of reag the sixth level.

  As for what the sixth level signified—simply put, the Imperial Mage Tower divided the mage ranks into six levels: Apprentice Mage, Novice Mage, Intermediate Mage, High Mage, Grand Mage, and Arch Mage.

  Currently, there were no more than a handful of Arch Mages iire empire. One could imagine how terrifying Edward's magical talent was, achieving the rank of a Grand Mage at a even reag twenty.

  during his time at the Imperial Mage Tower, he became widely known as the you Grand Mage, and if it weren't for the ter troversies he stirred up ial magic, challenging the authority of the elemental magic studies Lord, he probably would have graduated and ied the title of the Elemental Master.

  If that had happened, debts would not have been an issue from the beginning, and he wouldn't have to tighten his belt like he was doing now for film produ.

  However, when Edward left the Imperial Mage Tower auro the southern border, he paid little attention to the olive branches extended by various forces. At that time, Edward was not ied in dealing with those who wao recruit him; he locked himself in the family castle.

  Moreover, the true ruler of the southern brand Duke Viktor, rejected all attempts by forces outside the southern border to recruit Edward. As a result, no one dared to approach him.

  While part of this was because Grand Duke Viktor didn't want to let go of such a rare talent within his territory, Edward was grateful to the grand duke for allowing him to live a leisurely life as a lord, even though he had no iion of supp Grand Duke Viktor in the uping chaos.

  After all, whether it was the past Edward or the current one, he had never ied with Grand Duke Viktn the past Edward, who was immersed in iing magical and alchemical items, the current Edward, obsessed with creating and filming, had no thoughts of socializing with the nobility.

  To be ho, herings seemed to be a high-css form of eai in this world, but how could Edward, who came from a world with a highly developed eai culture, be attracted to such events?

  However, pared to the past Edward, the current o least wasn't as single-minded and isoted. If someone came, he would go and have a chat.

  If the other party made requests that he couldn't fulfill, he would simply refuse. That was the reasonable approach for a mentally mature adult.

  ...

  Leaving Zat and Aya, who had drunk too much, in the living room, Edward quickly arrived at the front gate of the castle with Winry.

  There, the envoy sent by Grand Duke Viktor wore a surprised expression and said, "Long time no see, Baron Durin. Except for the time you just returned from the imperial capital, this should be our seeeting."

  "......."

  Fag Edward's awkwardness, Winry, who was by his side, whispered softly in his ear, "Lord Edward, This envoy has been ing to see us for these years. It's just that you have been unwilling to meet him."

  "......."

  Uedly, the envoy had been waiting at their doorstep for three years. Edward, who showed a subtle expressio a bit embarrassed and said, "Well, I was immersed in magical research before, and I've only retly mao break free from it."

  "That's truly something to celebrate. It seems Baron Durin, you have finally bee a qualified noble. Now, the previous Baron Durin rest in peace," the envoy said with a look as if he had been watg a child grow up for a long time.

  Although Edward's expression seemed a bit embarrassed, he quickly said, "Anyway, why did you e this time?"

  Even though he said this, Edward was already prepared to refuse ht if the envoy mentiohe word "ba." After all, he was currently busy with the produ of "KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World," and he had no time for the tedious noble bas.

  As expected, the envoy's first response was, "Baron Durin, the deadline for the Durin Family's debt is approag. If you don't mind, Duke Viktor would like to invite you to a bawo months from now."

  "No, I have some magical research to do retly. Although I appreciate Duke Viktor's kind iions, I only dee," Edward replied firmly, fully prepared to rejey offer of attending a ba.

  The envoy nodded and said, "Alright, I will report it to the Grand Duke. Anyway, he's used to such responses from you."

  "Haha, I always feel a bit guilty about it. If I mao finish my work in two months, maybe I'll sider attending that 'whatever' ba," Edward added with a light-hearted tone.

  Edward's polite words were just a formality, and the envoy uood, replying, "Uood. I have one more thing to mention."

  "One more thing?"

  "Yes, Viktrand Duke's daughter, Miss Daphhe eldest daughter of the Duke's family, sneaked out of the family. If you happen to find her on your territory, please tact us immediately, whether by letter ical unication. The Viktor family will receive the message promptly, and there will be a certain reward at that time."

  "Uh, okay..."

  Edward, showing a subtle expression, ultimately verbally agreed. However, finding the missing young dy? He didn't even know what Miss Daphne looked like, so how could he find her?

  After some brief pleasahe two parties bid farewell.

  Witnessing the envoy, who had worked hard to e to their doorstep every few months, preparing to leave, Edward once again showed a somewhat embarrassed expression. It was evident that the distaween Duke Viktor's mansion and Durin Castle required several days of riding, indig how much effort the envoy had put into his visits.

  "Oh, by the way, Winry..."

  Edward was about to ask Winry to go bad prepare some food for the envoy to take on the road when, in the blink of ahe envoy standing at the door had disappeared.

  "???"

  Fag Edward's fusion, Winry asked in puzzlement, "Lord Edward, what's wrong?"

  "Where did that person go? How did he disappear in the blink of an eye?"

  Upon hearing his words, Winry said helplessly, "Lord Edward, did you fet? That envoy just used teleportation magic."

  "Huh? A messenger using teleportation magic, a spell that only a few Grand Mages perform?"

  Fag Edward's sarcasm, Winry could only sigh and say, "Lord Edward, did you fet? That envoy was actually Mister Roy, the Chief Mage under Duke Viktor."

  "Roy?"

  "Yes, he's also known as Major Roy. He seems to be your senior at the Mage Tower, just like you, a Grand Mage. And, he set the record for the fastest reag Grand Mage in history, a record you broke two years ago. You should have met him two years ago."