The old man returned to the secret shop and then quickly made his way back to the lab, holding two broken magical devices in his hands.

The wager he proposed was to have Shin Haeryeong judge the repair process of the magical devices to determine the winner.

“I never agreed to this, you know?”

Lee Jaesang said with a blank expression.

“What…?”

“The bet. I never said I’d do it.”

“You little…!”

The old man stopped himself from getting angry. Come to think of it, Lee Jaesang had never actually agreed to the wager.

“Damn it.”

Admitting once again that he had let his emotions get the better of him, the old man glared at Jaesang with narrowed eyes.

“Are you really not going to do it? Even if I offer you one of these magical devices for free if you win?”

Jaesang chuckled calmly.

“The bet is about magical engineering, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Then I’m not interested.”

Despite often calling himself a genius, Jaesang made an exception for magical engineering. He had even struggled with the system during his first class. There was no reason to engage in a losing bet.

“If it’s just about showing your skills, there’s no need for a wager, is there?”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

The old man clicked his tongue. Ever since he lost the Draconix, the upper hand had always been with Jaesang, and he wanted to change that dynamic. But now, Jaesang was backing out.

“Teacher.”

Shin Haeryeong, who had been observing the situation, spoke up, drawing the attention of both men.

“I’d like to see it too. Your magic, I mean.”

“What? Why?”

“Because whenever you use magic, there’s always something to learn.”

Haeryeong smiled. Having decided to learn everything Jaesang had to offer, she was eager for any opportunity to witness his magic, especially with exams and club activities falling by the wayside. She was always ready to take notes.

“Well, if you insist…”

“Don’t be like that. You said you’d take responsibility for me, remember?”

– I’ll take responsibility for Haeryeong’s growth.

“I did say that.”

Jaesang pondered for a moment. He had promised to take responsibility, but that wasn’t a reason to accept the wager.

“You told my dad you’d take responsibility, but you haven’t taught me anything since.”

“That’s true.”

Even though he had been preoccupied with dark magic and other matters, it wasn’t entirely untrue that he hadn’t paid attention. The sense of responsibility and a twinge of guilt ended Jaesang’s hesitation.

“Alright. If that’s what makes you happy.”

The old man’s face brightened at those words, his smile as wide as a child’s.

“Ahem. So, will you do it?”

He was confident that if Jaesang accepted the wager, he would win. After all, he hadn’t earned the title of the greatest magical engineer through bets.

“Hmm…”

“What’s the matter?”

“Old man, can I take a look at that magical device for a moment?”

“You’re not trying to pull a fast one, are you?”

“Of course not. I’m just checking to see if you did.”

“Even if I say I didn’t, you wouldn’t believe me. Fine, take a look. I swear on my honor, I haven’t done anything.”

Jaesang examined the magical device closely, deep in thought.

‘The mana circuit is broken… To fix it properly, I’ll need a component to reconnect the circuit.’

Jaesang didn’t have the spare parts to reconnect the mana circuit. The old man, on the other hand, either had them or could make them.

‘I can’t make them myself.’

Creating parts for a magical device he had never seen before was beyond Jaesang’s expertise in magical engineering. After a moment of contemplation, he spoke up.

“Does fixing it mean it just has to work?”

“…? Isn’t that obvious? If it’s not fixed, it won’t work.”

“So, the first one to get it working wins?”

“That’s fine by me.”

The old man’s original plan was to let Haeryeong judge who was the better magical engineer. But even if speed became the criterion, he was confident he would win. After all, it was magical engineering. He had been studying it long before Jaesang was even born.

“Alright.”

“Are you saying you’ll do it?”

“Yes. It’s a request from a student, after all. I’m quite the good teacher.”

“Hmph. Just don’t try to weasel out of it.”

The old man and Jaesang each took one of the magical devices. The spherical device was a type of projector that cast images into the air.

“Okay, Haeryeong. You give the signal to start.”

Haeryeong pulled out her smartphone and a piece of paper. It was a telekinesis-themed magic circle.

“What’s that for?”

“I need to hold the smartphone to keep time, but then I can’t take notes, right?”

As soon as she finished speaking, the magic circle activated, suspending the smartphone in mid-air. Haeryeong smoothly pulled out a small notebook and pen from her pocket.

“Your enthusiasm is impressive. I like it.”

“Thank you. I hope you’ll like my magic too.”

“I’d prefer if you called me grandpa. It feels more familiar.”

Haeryeong glanced up and down at the old man. Calling a kid in shorts “grandpa” just didn’t sit right with her.

“…I’ll just stick with teacher.”

“You’re eager to learn already. Good!”

Pleased with her response, the old man smiled, and Haeryeong started the stopwatch.

“I’ll count down from three.”

Three, two, one.

Her slender finger tapped the smartphone screen, and the old man began moving his hands swiftly. A multitude of tools appeared from seemingly nowhere.

‘…What a sneaky little kid.’

Jaesang had been given no tools, just the broken magical device.

‘Learn the knowledge, but not the personality,’ Haeryeong thought sincerely.

Unconcerned with the eyes on him, the old man quickly repaired the magical device. Even Haeryeong, who hadn’t expected much, couldn’t help but be impressed. His skill with the tools was masterful. And his delicate touch on the mana circuit seemed more mechanical than human.

‘Surprised, aren’t you?’

The old man was quite pleased with Haeryeong’s reaction.

‘There’s no way that kid can fix it.’

He hadn’t given Jaesang any tools, nor the materials to make spare parts. Fixing it under these conditions? Impossible!

‘Hmph. I must win this time.’

The old man was steadily crafting spare parts.

‘Impressive, isn’t it?’

Haeryeong was genuinely surprised. She hadn’t seen the exact state of the magical device, but from a glance, she could tell it wasn’t easily fixable. If she were to repair it, it might take her 10 minutes, maybe even 30. Yet, the boy was crafting spare parts in just a minute.

‘There’s no way the teacher can win this, right?’

As Haeryeong meticulously recorded the old man’s actions in her notebook, she turned her head. Jaesang was simply drawing a magic circle on a piece of paper, doing nothing else.

‘What on earth is he planning…?’

Her curiosity piqued even further.

“Alright, it’s done.”

Jaesang lifted the paper with the magic circle and the magical device.

“What, what?!”

The old man was so shocked he dropped the spare parts he was making. It had only been a little over a minute. He hadn’t even finished his repairs!

“Don’t lie! You couldn’t have fixed it without any tools!”

Jaesang grinned.

“You said the first to get it working wins, right?”

– Click.

With the sound of the device powering on, Jaesang continued.

“Watch closely.”

The device began to hum. At first, it emitted a strange noise, but soon it stabilized.

– Whoosh.

A light projected from the device, illuminating the air.

[In today’s news, an event in Gyeongju…]

The news began to play.

The old man rubbed his eyes and checked the device again. It was still projecting the image. With his mouth agape, he turned to Jaesang, who shrugged.

“See? It’s working.”

“But… how…?”

– Pew…

Jaesang turned off the device and said, “You lost again.”

“Argh!!!”

The old man clutched his head as if he were about to tear his hair out.

“How did you fix it?!”

He snatched the device from Jaesang’s hand and examined it roughly.

“You didn’t seem to do anything, yet you fixed it faster than me?! What kind of… huh?”

It was then he noticed something strange. The mana circuit was still broken, just as it had been when he handed it over.

“…It’s not fixed?”

It was puzzling.

“It’s the same as when I gave it to you.”

He had clearly seen it working.

“…Wow.”

The voice from beside him drew the old man’s attention. Haeryeong was genuinely astonished, too surprised to even jot down notes.

“You used a portal? To connect the mana circuit?”

“A portal?”

The old man finally noticed the faint traces of spatial magic.

“A portal?!”

Using a portal to bridge a broken mana circuit was unheard of. It required the mana control and magical knowledge of a top-tier mage.

‘If it’s him…!’

The old man recalled Jaesang’s mana control skills, which he had witnessed when Jaesang inscribed magic onto Draconix bullets.

“Whoever gets it working first wins, right?”

“So this was your plan all along!”

He had joined the bet, claiming it was for the sake of his student.

“This… this is just…”

The old man shook his head vehemently.

“I refuse to accept this! Such trickery! I won’t stand for it!”

“You won’t accept it?” Jaesang smirked, continuing, “You didn’t even provide any materials.”

“Ugh…”

“That’s… a bit disgraceful, don’t you think, sir?”

Jaesang’s playful grin made the old man swallow his words in embarrassment.

“Ugh… Fine! I lost! Is that what you wanted to hear?!”

“Oh, I appreciate your quick acceptance. It would’ve been cooler if you’d admitted it earlier.”

“Argh! One day, I swear, I’ll break that nose of yours!”

“I did warn you that your love for bets would be your downfall.”

“And I’ll rip that smug smile right off your face!”

“Anyway, when should we go pick up the magical artifact?”

The boy roared in frustration after losing the bet, while Jaesang teased him mercilessly.

‘…They’re like children.’

Hyerang vowed never to become an adult like them.

***

After the commotion settled down.

“So, Hyerang, are you going to be his student now?” Hana asked, surprised, having missed the earlier events while getting a signature for the expense report.

“Yeah, Hyerang decided to go for it.”

In the end, Hyerang chose to become the old man’s apprentice. As an aspiring magical engineer, she couldn’t overlook his skills, so it was an expected outcome.

“Does that mean… Hyerang will be leaving school?”

Hana, who had grown quite close to her, looked downcast.

“No, that’s not it,” Jaesang replied confidently. “She’ll graduate high school first. She’ll probably study with him after school.”

“Oh, that’s a relief.”

Hana seemed reassured, but then something occurred to her. “Wait, won’t that conflict with the dorm curfew?”

“That’s what I’m pondering. Maybe I should suggest to the school that he be brought in as an after-school instructor.”

Since he was the one who introduced them, he felt a certain responsibility.

“The old man did mention he had some plans of his own…”

Honestly, Jaesang wasn’t sure he could trust that. He just hoped the old man wouldn’t start betting with the principal.

[…Contractor.]

Suddenly, Cynthia, who had been silent while the old man was around, spoke up.

[I’m going to the spirit realm.]

What was this sudden announcement?

‘Why…?’

[I have a bad feeling.]

‘Could you be more specific?’

[Anyway, I’m going!]

With that, Cynthia returned to the spirit realm, leaving Jaesang bewildered.

‘Well…’

Had he been too lenient with their contract? He had granted her a high level of autonomy, so it wasn’t entirely unexpected for her to go off on her own. But to just announce it and leave like that…

‘What could possibly be so ominous?’

Jaesang didn’t have to wonder for long. Suddenly, an overwhelming surge of mana filled his lab.

“What the…?”

“Ahh!”

The powerful mana whipped through the room, sending papers flying into the air. And then, a door appeared on the ceiling.

“?”

Jaesang and Hana stared at the sudden door, both wearing expressions of confusion.

“Excuse me.”

“???”

When the old man emerged from the door, their confusion only deepened.

“Sir…?”

“I need a favor.”

“What? Why?”

“Your student is here, isn’t she? It’s only polite to make accommodations.”

“…And what about my opinion?”

“Not my concern. I’m here to see my student. Keep the door open.”

The old man landed gracefully from the ceiling door and casually walked out of the lab.

“…Sir, what was that?” Hana asked, eyes wide with shock.

Jaesang didn’t respond, just stared at the ceiling door.

“…Sir?”

“Hmm…”

In truth, Jaesang hadn’t planned on claiming the magical artifact he won from the bet. He was grateful for the old man’s help in areas he couldn’t manage himself. But to have his peaceful lab suddenly invaded…

“…Should I just take it all?”

“What?!”

“Just kidding.”

“R-right?”

Jaesang, wearing his usual expression, began picking up the scattered papers.

“You scared me… I can’t believe you’d suggest stealing…”

“Even as a joke.”

After gathering a few sheets, Jaesang glanced at the ceiling again and muttered, “…I’ll take the most expensive one.”

“Sir?!”

Unaware of the bet’s outcome, Hana worried for a long time that Jaesang might actually turn to theft.