"Our grapevines!" Nanny Abigail’s head swam. She never expected the Mage and his assistant to show up just to burn all her precious vines.

The whole reason she had asked Lord Bart for help was because she didn’t want to give up on these plants.

Thankfully, the fire only burned for an instant. Countless streams of blue light burst forth from in front of Bart, landing on the charred, dead branches.

The Nanny couldn’t believe her eyes. The burned husk sprouted new shoots, which then grew at an unimaginable speed until the plant was the same size as those around it.

Bart himself couldn’t perform this series of actions; Rorschach was the one acting as the "Special Effects Master." The rapid sprouting and growth of the plant was, of course, the catalytic effect of "Su Sheng."

"Oh... good heavens..." The Nanny started forward to touch the new grape leaves, but Rorschach stopped her.

"We need to apply the Alchemy Potion first." Rorschach coated the reborn, spotless grapevine with the Bordeaux Liquid.

After getting permission, the Nanny ran her hand over the new plant from top to bottom. The scorch marks were still there, but new woody tissue was already forming over them.

"Lord Bart, and you, sir," she said, "you two are amazing! I don’t know how I can ever thank you."

In truth, Bart was just as shocked. He never thought Rorschach would be able to learn what looked like Natural System magic from the Tower of Forest, and perform it with such skill and flair.

Rorschach stepped forward and handed the rest of the Bordeaux Liquid to the Nanny. "As long as you continue to spray this Potion on the other grapevines, the devil that hates its taste won’t kiss the grape leaves again."

"Yes, yes, of course."

"But don’t spray too much on the leaves, or it will harm the plants." Rorschach was worried the Nanny, with her ’more is better’ mentality, might end up drenching the vines in the solution.

’It is a heavy metal salt, after all. If overused, the leaves will turn black and die.’

"Alright. I’ll remember that, sir."

...

"Cheers!"

At the top of the Town Mage Tower, a fire roared in the hearth. Rorschach and Bart were enjoying a white wine from the Citizen Welfare Winery, along with smoked Sausage and sliced crispy pork knuckle from a wax paper parcel.

"Tsk, it’s a bit too acidic." With current storage technology, white wine didn’t keep as well as dry red wine. Still, this was the finest vintage in the Nanny’s cellar, given to the Town Mage as a thank-you gift.

Rorschach took the opportunity, before his friend got too drunk, to tell Bart the formula and instructions for the Bordeaux Liquid.

Although only the Citizen Welfare Winery had reported the disease so far, the spring wind and rain would help the microorganisms spread. Other vineyards might already be infected, with a major outbreak likely to occur in early summer.

Rorschach didn’t have the time to promote the Bordeaux Liquid throughout Wertzburg himself. It was best for Bart to do it, as it would help his campaign for trade representative.

The young man’s priority was to first build a good relationship with the Brewing Guild.

As for Rorschach’s knowledge of grapes, it came from a retired elder in his previous life. The old man had grown his own grapes, brewed his own wine, drank it, realized he’d poisoned himself, and called the paramedics all on his own—a complete DIY process. Rorschach had helped during the initial stages, but the old man secretly drank it while he was at school, which ultimately saved Rorschach from the same fate.

"...Thanks." Bart couldn’t help but ask Rorschach, "How did you learn Natural System magic? And... it seems different from the kind I know."

Rorschach rolled his eyes. "If you paid attention to the Magic Guild’s academic bulletins, you’d have seen the public research on the Blue Light Barrier and the series of analytical studies on Elf Runes from the Tower of Stars."

Bart used his Mage’s Hand to pick up a piece of pork rind, added a pinch of fried sauerkraut, and popped it into his mouth. "Haven’t I been busy?"

Rorschach sighed and, over wine and meat, told Bart the story of his journey deep into the Black Forest.

Of course, he didn’t go into detail about his reasons for going, only saying it was a joint operation between the Tower of Stars and the Tower of Forest.

"That really happened? Your life has been so eventful since you went to the Tower of Stars, while I’m just wasting my life away here..." Fueled by the alcohol, Bart’s gaze grew distant.

"I don’t even know what it is I love about Milly. I’m afraid that deep down, it’s not Amalia I love, but the pursuit of the Bayern Kingdom’s most beloved Princess."

Rorschach sipped his wine and looked out the window at the scattered, twinkling lights of Wertzburg’s buildings. There was no electricity, only the heat and light of burning kerosene. The streetlamps on the main road flickered in unison with the spring night’s breeze.

"Perhaps your fear stems from the fact that you truly love her." ’If he were really an unscrupulous person desperate to get ahead, he probably wouldn’t ask such a ’naive’ question.’

"You think so?" Bart took another drink, tilting his head to look at Rorschach. "If I had chosen to pursue further studies like you did back then..."

"Even in a world with magic, there’s no point in talking about ’what ifs’."

"That’s not what you said at graduation. I’m sure Rick and I both remember."

"Speaking of Richard, have you managed to contact him?"

"I sent a letter to his family’s estate, but I haven’t heard back. It is what it is. He’s probably busy with his squad, which is better than me running around busy with nothing for the citizens of this city... What are you laughing at?"

"Nothing, just thought of something funny." In Rorschach’s eyes, Bart sounded just like an old father in a public service announcement, muttering about Rick from afar: ’It’s good that he’s busy.’

Bart wiped his mouth. "Hmph, you thought of something funny, and I’ve thought of a great idea!"

It turned out that the great Town Mage of the Empire, Bart, had been inspired by the performance for Nanny Abigail earlier that day and had come up with a terrible idea: for him and Rorschach to put on a Magic Double Act at his wedding.

"Let’s hear it. What special trick do you have that’s suitable for a wedding reception? We can choreograph it." The shameless fellow swirled his wine glass in the air.

’I do all the work while you take the credit?’ Rorschach’s face darkened. He had only meant to do his friend a favor, but now Bart was taking a mile when he’d been given an inch.

He slammed his glass on the table, opened the only closed window, and pointed toward the distant palace. "You! I think you should just return your Mage Badge to the Guild and go be the son of some rich family!

"You said you didn’t want to be a puppet on a string, but it looks to me like you’d love it!"

"Don’t be angry, don’t be angry... I’ve had too much to drink, I was just talking."

"No, I’m serious!" Rorschach broke into a smile. ’I’m going to make you learn new magic!’

The idea had just occurred to him, but it felt more and more necessary. First, he couldn’t bear to see his friend fall behind on his magical path. Second, he wanted to test if the magic he created through his "panel" could be taught to others. Bart seemed like the perfect candidate.

Besides, it was just Deryats’s magic—a "plus" version of the already public Blue Light Barrier. Teaching it to Bart wouldn’t pose any threat to him.

Rorschach slammed his hand on the table and declared, "Starting tomorrow, Rorschach, Valuva’s gold-medal substitute teacher, will begin special training for the ignorant and derelict Town Mage, Bart, so he can prove at his wedding that his Mage Badge wasn’t just bought with money!"

"Rorschach, are you drunk?" Bart sobered up halfway. "Your practical magic skills were worse than mine back at the academy! Besides, where would I find the time..."

Rorschach summoned a forest of blue trees one moment and a hazy, indistinct mist the next. Finally, he spread his hands. "The past is the past, and now is now. You! You’re washed, so you better practice!"

"’Washed’?" Bart, dazed by Rorschach’s Tricks, didn’t understand the internet slang from a past life that Rorschach had blurted out in his drunken state.