Two days later, the departure schedule for the prince’s party was set. It was one week from today.

Although the lord was expected to provide support in dealing with monsters, that support would only extend as far as the vicinity of the ice wall. Clearing the monsters surrounding the mine would be entirely the prince’s responsibility.

Upon hearing the schedule, Dreaon asked Erseria whether he could purchase magic stones.

“We have about ten thousand in stock.”

“How many of them might be available for sale?”

“About a quarter of that amount. Magic stones occasionally appear within the territory of winter, after all.”

Erseria possessed a surprisingly large quantity of magic stones for a lord. Without hesitation, Dreaon requested to purchase all of them.

“Would installment payment be possible? I will pay half upon returning alive.”

Dreaon took out a heavy pouch and placed it on the table. Inside were rare sapphires, fully packed.

He had previously learned that, due to geographical characteristics, blue sapphires were rarer than diamonds in Growen, so he had prepared accordingly.

The reason he could afford so many sapphires was due to the personal funds he had unofficially accumulated as a mage.

However, even with the sapphires he had prepared, he could not purchase all the magic stones he needed. At present, the more magic stones he had, the better.

“What are you talking about?”

Erseria frowned in confusion after confirming the sapphires.

After all, they weren’t going to their deaths—how could someone propose such a payment arrangement?

Dreaon himself well understood that his proposal was unreasonable. Yet, he shamelessly pushed forward with the deal.

“He will return alive. And I will repay double the amount of magic stones provided.”

“What… could it be?”

The “he” Dreaon mentioned was none other than Ubbus. Erseria briefly fell silent.

Dreaon alone noticed the peculiar tension Erseria held toward Ubbus—one that even Ubbus himself was unaware of.

Then, Erseria realized something else. It was Dreaon’s true objective.

“The magic stone mine beyond the ice wall. That’s why you’ve come, isn’t it?”

“Correct.”

There was no need to hide it. He had previously concealed his alias and identity out of consideration for Growen’s rulers,

not for his own convenience. But when it came to obtaining magic stones, he was willing to risk anything.

Erseria paused briefly. Even a quarter was an enormous amount for an ordinary person to possess.

She had known from the beginning that they were no ordinary individuals. Above all, this man was personally vouched for by the Grand Duke of Growen.

That meant access to the magic stone mine had already been approved at the Grand Duke’s level.

“Very well. I will take half now, and the remaining half upon your return—doubled.”

“Very wise.”

Thus, the deal was concluded. Meanwhile, both of their gazes turned toward the empty spot where Ubbus had yet to appear.

Ubbus had lost the third drinking contest yesterday and passed out.

It was now afternoon. They had sent someone to wake him, but judging by his absence, he was still in poor condition.

Recalling Ubbus, pale and hungover, made one click their tongue helplessly.

“Please, at least grant him abstinence until departure.”

“Of course. It’s a bit disappointing, though. My ideal type is someone who can drink as much as I can.”

This explained why the Winter Lord had chosen Ubbus.

Dreaon sighed deeply, imagining how he might soon lose a subordinate right before his eyes.

But that was a matter for later. If the lord hadn’t taken an interest in Ubbus, this deal would never have happened.

In simple terms, Ubbus had unknowingly become the guarantee for the transaction.

Therefore, the only thing Dreaon could do for Ubbus was this.

“Still, please treat him gently. He is my most valued one.”

“Hmm. Don’t worry. To survive and return from there, he’ll at least need to be free of hangovers. And judging by how boldly you’re demanding magic stones, you must have a solid plan?”

Everyone coveted the magic stone mine. But knowing about it and being able to act were two different matters, especially when the mine lay beside a monster nest.

Erseria’s gaze turned cold for a moment. It was a warning: Are you trying to send my ideal man to his death? Dreaon laughed heartily and stepped back.

“Of course. I’m risking my life as well.”

“Very well. I’ll place my trust in you.”

Erseria withdrew her cold stare as if nothing had happened and chuckled softly.

Erseria was beautiful, but due to her sharp aura, there were moments when she felt eerily like a witch standing right before one’s eyes.

‘Seems you’ve gotten yourself into trouble.’

Who would have thought drinking could decide a romantic interest? Especially when the person involved had no clue at all—there was nothing more to say.

As Dreaon was about to conclude his conversation with Erseria,

the Grand Duke and his wife, having heard the news that the prince’s departure date had been set, were making their way to the office where they were.

‘Will they truly complete their mission safely and return to the capital?’

Though they had originally come to the land of winter with that intention, now that the date was set, worry was unavoidable.

Perhaps due to her slightly darkened expression, Raymond spoke up, as if understanding her concern.

“They must have their reasons. The prince is a mage, after all.”

“But… no matter how skilled a mage he is, he can’t single-handedly defeat a monster nest. More than anything, I’m worried about Sir Ubbus. Excluding his status as a priest, he seems almost like a civilian.”

Aside from being a good drinker, he truly didn’t seem extraordinary. But Raymond’s opinion differed from hers.

“No. In my view, Ubbus seems to be the prince’s key.”

“Key?”

“Yes. The key that opens a door that cannot be opened.”

Even after the prince’s party arrived at Growen Castle and were granted permission to stay, Raymond did not cease his surveillance.

According to reports from the knights monitoring the prince and Ubbus, it was not Dreaon but Ubbus who was actually using magic.

Yet Ubbus was not a mage. He was assisting Dreaon in experiments—transferring magically altered magic stones onto weapons.

“Is that even possible?”

“Theoretically, it’s not impossible. But it seems Ubbus has discovered a method.”

A single magical artifact was worth more than three years’ salary for an average commoner, precisely because mages had to exert immense effort to create one.

But if Raymond’s observation was correct, simply transferring a modified magic stone onto a weapon would effectively create a magical artifact.

‘If one magic stone can create one magical artifact, it would be no different than having an infinite number of mages.’

This was the key Dreaon possessed—Ubbus’s unique ability.

“He is far more remarkable than I thought.”

“If my guess is correct. And…”

Raymond stepped aside. They say speak of the devil, and he appears. From afar, Dreaon’s “key” was staggering forward unsteadily.

“…Sir Ubbus?”

Yerpi cautiously called his name.

He was practically clinging to the wall as he advanced, looking pitifully like a caterpillar.

The smell of alcohol radiated stronger as Ubbus drew closer.

“I heard the departure date has been set.”

“I’m on my way there to hear about it now.”

As they spoke, the stench of alcohol grew even stronger. He must have lost yesterday’s drinking contest, just as expected.

Yerpi’s brow gradually furrowed. Seeing this, Raymond raised a hand, stopping Ubbus in his tracks.

“Stay there and speak from a distance.”

“This is truly unfair…”

Though he grumbled, Ubbus stopped where he stood—apparently aware of his own condition.

If even such a heavy drinker as Ubbus was in this state, how could Erseria possibly remain unscathed?

It was truly a mystery. If given the chance, Raymond wanted to personally witness the two drinking together.

Of course, that could only happen if Ubbus was still alive by then.

‘But didn’t you say it was a bet?’

A bet usually involved stakes. In Ubbus’s current state, what exactly had he lost?

It seemed better not to ask, but curiosity itched at his tongue, making it impossible to hold back.

“By the way, what did you wager in the drinking contest?”

“…I’m not sure. It was definitely a wish bet. But the lord hasn’t revealed their wish yet.”

Ubbus nervously rolled his eyes. It was best not to ask further.

Standing in the corridor, they began walking toward the lord’s office, keeping a distance from one another.