"Ahem."
Regant, the Tower Master of the Magic Tower, who had just been verbally murdered by Liana for saying she smelled, cleared his throat.
The Grandmaster and Mu-myeong still had smiles tugging at the corners of their mouths, though they held back from actually laughing.
Because if they let it out, the conversation would never move forward.
But here's the thing—
These kinds of stories are always funnier the more relatable they are.
"The need for a gag becomes more urgent. You said she even broke one made of iron, right?"
"Yes, that's correct. Would the Magic Tower happen to have anything stronger?"
Since it was the Magic Tower, Isaac figured they could create something like ultra-pure iron or use a giant furnace.
But Regant clicked his tongue and shook his head.
"We're mages, not blacksmiths."
"Still, I need something to keep her mouth shut. I can't keep holding it closed with my hand."
"I'm fine with it."
"..."
Isaac gently placed his hand over Liana's mouth again. She seemed to accept it almost as if she'd been waiting for it, which gave him a strange feeling.
"Even if it breaks, we need something to hold her back—"
"No need for that. Just use something that doesn't break."
"Something that doesn't break?"
"There's a spell called Silence. It completely blocks out the target's voice. If we cast that, the problem's solved."
"Hm."
Isaac nodded, satisfied with the solution. It wouldn't break, and Liana wouldn't be uncomfortable.
"Good, then I'll leave it to you."
"…This isn't some shop where you place orders. I need time to prepare it, so come back later."
As Regant turned to leave, the Grandmaster and Mu-myeong called after him playfully:
"Ha, try washing next time."
"You get those comments because you stay cooped up in your room doing research all day."
"…Oh right, Isaac."
Regant pretended not to hear them and turned back to Isaac.
"If possible, try to keep your face covered."
"…Sorry, what?"
Isaac blinked in confusion at the sudden comment, and Liana quickly chimed in beside him.
"Isaac's really handsome."
'…She really thinks about this all the time.'
Through the subjugation spell, Isaac had been realizing just how highly Liana regarded him. Before becoming a vassal, he had never heard such words from her.
"That's exactly the problem."
Regant nodded like she had hit the nail on the head.
"Did you know that items modeled after you are being traded secretly within the Tower?"
"…What?"
"Oh! I was going to say that!"
Mu-myeong inserted herself between Regant and Isaac, clearly having been dying to spill the news earlier.
She laughed, finding it all very amusing.
"Disciple, did you know that dolls, portraits, even novels modeled after your appearance are being sold? Ever since you left for Evergard, the mages have been making them for fun."
"What the heck is that—"
Isaac looked utterly dumbfounded, but the explanation was straightforward.
Mages usually shut themselves away in their labs or rooms, reading theses, doing research, or studying.
They might be powerful mages, but they're still people.
Naturally, they get stressed. And to the female mages, Isaac was like a sweet, irresistible nectar.
First of all, he was undeniably handsome.
It's not like the Magic Tower lacked attractive men.
But take the Tower Master, Regant, for instance.
He barely washed, looked disheveled, and always smelled of tobacco or alcohol.
At best, the men carried the scent of dusty parchment.
They proudly wore robes no one could remember the last time they washed.
Sadly, none of the male mages appealed to the female mages.
Likewise, male mages didn't view the female mages as "women" either.
Then along came Isaac.
A stunningly handsome man.
Neatly tied ponytail, a subtle lingering rose scent, well-maintained body from regular exercise, and a trace of sorrow and regret always glimmering in his eyes—a perfect recipe for a brooding, alluring charm.
"You've raised the standards too high for the female mages."
Now, to them, all other men were basically like tardigrades crawling on the street.
"That's not really my fault, is it?"
"Well, just keep that in mind. If a fireball comes flying at you out of nowhere, just accept it—it'll be from some jealous guy."
"..."
Isaac looked at him incredulously, but Regant was completely serious.
When Isaac arrived earlier, the way the female mages greeted him and the subtle looks they gave him had definitely seemed more intense than before.
Apparently, with their daily eye candy gone, they'd found other ways to cope.
"...."
As everyone in the group didn't quite know how to react, the one who responded most intensely was, of course—
"Who dares to mess with Isaac—!"
It was Liana, unable to contain her emotions.
The mere thought of novels containing unspeakable things about her ex-husband, or people hugging dolls resembling him while they slept, twisted her insides just by imagining it.
Her reaction earlier had already been intense, but now it was downright dangerous.
"Mmpph!"
Not knowing what deadly words might come out of her mouth, Isaac quickly covered it. Then he turned to Regant with a demand.
"You are the Tower Master, aren't you? This kind of thing is unacceptable, so please ban it."
"Tch. I already tried, but the backlash was intense. Well, now that you're here and stating your position directly… maybe it can be resolved."
Regant shrugged, saying he'd give it a try. With a sigh, Isaac stepped outside, thinking if they stayed any longer, Liana might actually do something drastic.
"Hmph."
"Why are you so quiet?"
"I take after Father."
"...."
As he exited, hearing the exchange between the Grandmaster and Sharen behind him, Isaac came face-to-face with some unexpected arrivals just entering the Crystal Tower.
A man and woman with blue hair.
Comrades of sorts, who had fought alongside him in the North.
They were the Leviath siblings—Reian and Marlin—famous for their Magic swordsmanship.
"Oh? Baron Logan! I heard you went to Evergard, but you're back!"
Reian smiled brightly when he saw Isaac. There had once been a strange wariness and hostility, but having fought together, he now greeted him warmly.
Marlin, still reserved as ever, noticed Liana by Isaac's side and spoke softly.
"…You saved her."
"Ah, Lady Liana! I'm so glad to see you've returned safely!"
Reian Leviath also quickly approached Liana and gave her a bright smile. It seemed his feelings for her hadn't faded.
"Ah! How can you still be so beautiful in such a state? A flower, I believe, should be left untouched, but—!"
Back when they met in the North, Liana had tried her best to remain polite to Reian.
"Even in this bound state, you stir a man's heart like some forbidden fruit. You're a sinful woman, forever accompanied by the word 'beautiful' no matter how you look!"
Well, he was the heir of the Leviath family.
With Helmut in turmoil, there was no need to make enemies or act rudely.
"Even your divorce doesn't diminish your brilliance. Isn't that amazing? I, Reian Leviath, for you—"
"Shut up."
"…Excuse me?"
But that was then.
The polite, diplomatic Liana was gone.
Now stood a vassal-bound Liana who couldn't help but speak her true thoughts.
Isaac quietly tried to cover her mouth again, but Liana, seeing an opportunity, slightly turned her head to dodge his hand.
"Stop talking. That kind of nonsense doesn't make me happy at all. No, it actually pisses me off. It's seriously annoying."
"..."
"Stop acting like you're handsome. You're not. As a man, you're not attractive—not even close. You're just outright unpleasant. Look at Isaac."
"..."
"See? I lived with a man like him. Now go look in a mirror. Do you think I'd be interested in you?"
"..."
"Enough already. Be grateful my hands are tied. If they weren't, I'd have split you in half with Ragnavel."
"Fiery, aren't you?"
The Grandmaster chuckled and clapped.
Sharen nodded and added,
"Just like Mom. I take after Dad."
Isaac gently covered Liana's mouth again. This time, she didn't resist and even leaned subtly against him, as if she were fine now.
"So… why are you here?"
Trying to change the mood, Isaac asked a question. Reian stood there with his mouth open, still unable to speak, so his younger sister Marlin answered instead.
"The transcendent race keeps showing up indiscriminately at the northern front. We came to the Tower to seek advice on how to stop them."
Marlin took a deep breath.
It was uncharacteristically long-winded of her. She must have felt responsible to speak now that her brother was rendered speechless.
"..."
"..."
In the awkward silence, Liana calmly looked at Reian and muttered through the gap in Isaac's hand,
"What are you looking at?"
"..."
"..."