Ryder and Johannes were having their lunch break when the topic about that person got opened up.

"By the way, do you already know the location of that person?"

"No new news about it. I tried to ask for an information broker about it but there's still no update."

Ryder felt hopeless about it as he looked up to the sky. Then, Sienna's face appeared in front of him.

"Why do you look so dejected?"

She sat down beside him, pushing them to have space.

"He was contemplating in regards to his problem."

"Ahh... your weird mana manipulation."

She took out her lunch box and ate her meal.

"You didn't eat in the cafeteria?"

"Selena prepared food for me so it's not good to waste it. How about the two of you?"

Ryder and Johannes just looked at each other and forced a laugh.

"Ahhh... good luck on that."

The thing is, in Merwick Flamel Academy for Magic and Alchemy, dormitories are available to the students, separating girls and boys, with a large dining hall and training ground.

But, some nobilities that enrolled in the academy decided to bring their own attendants to tend their daily needs.

In the case of Johannes and Ryder, they both have their own personal attendant but they both have zero skill in cooking.

"Let's change attendants once in a while."

"No. You're a prince so you have an excellent one."

"But she lacks the ability to cook edible food. What's with rice with mana potion soup and body strengthening supplement side dishes."

"Hearing that made me lose my appetite. How about you, Johannes?"

He just smiled and looked at the sky like already given up about that attendant.

"Attendant? What's that term? She's more likely a bodyguard than a normal attendant. She always wields the knife in a strange way."

Ryder patted his back like comforting him and they nodded at each other before standing up.

"Let's grow up learning how to cook."

They forged that promise with teary eyes under the clear sunny sky.

"You have my sincerest compassion."

The two just went back on sitting before going back to their usual mood.

"But still, you only eat sandwiches during lunch. You both rich so why are you too frugal in your meal?

"Money is power so I am saving it."

"I want to focus on improving my mana so I eat less."

"Waa... a magic-obsessed Magic Tower successor and a money-obsessed royal prince."

"Kidding aside, what are you talking about earlier? Does the Magic Tower already find a solution for your case, Ryder?"

"They are all busy with their own work. Even talking to the Magic Tower Leader is difficult to find time. Those senior mages I talked with before were still trying to find clues about it."

"Then, that's unfortunate."

"But there's hope in this academy. I found out before that there's a resident researcher here that could help me."

Ryder felt a little heartburn in watching Sienna eat her meal continuously like she didn't chew the food enough.

"Hmmm... resident researcher. That's good but I heard those are eccentric types of people who just focus on their own research."

"But that's an opportunity for Ryder. This researcher is known for having vast knowledge about advanced mana manipulation and alchemy."

"Is there someone like that here?"

Sienna finished her lunch so she put it back in the carrier.

"So, who's that researcher?"

"He is known as Crazy Alchemist due to his countless experiments that were new to the discipline of the Magic Tower and Alchemy Association."

"Geez. Just hearing his title makes me shiver. Do you really want that person to help you?"

"It's okay. You won't believe it but that person is a disciple of Sage of Purple Alchemy, one of the top brass in the Alchemy Association."

Sienna was surprised about it decided to change her stance about the researcher.

"But we don't know that person's location. Resident researchers are known as hermits of this academy so their laboratories are not easy to find."

"I will try to search in the whole academy to find that researcher."

"You will take years to do that. Can you just ask someone who knows the location. What's that person's name?"

"Well, we tried to find that information but only his nickname reached our ears."

"Sienna, you don't know Crazy Alchemist? It is popular at our school."

"Well, I don't really care about researchers or rumors. Given that that person is an alchemist and not a mage so I have little interest."

"That hurts. I'm an alchemist, you know. So, you have a little interest in me."

Sienna's cheeks turned red due to embarrassment and some other feelings and she smacked Ryder's back in reflex.

"I'm not saying that..."

"Why did you need to hit me that hard?"

"Setting that aside. What's other information about that researcher?"

"Well, aside from being called Crazy Alchemist. There is another one..."

"Shiro Blanca," they both said.

"Shiro Blanca?"

Sienna got curious about that name which she heard somewhere. She thought hard about it until she remembered.

"Ahhh!!!" 

She stood up in excitement, making the other two surprised.

"What's that? Did something bite your butt?"

Ryder stared at her skirt but Sienna immediately slapped him in knock out.

"Not that, stupid. I just remember that someone told me about that person."

"Someone also told us about that."

"And she knows where that person's location is."

"Really?!" Ryder woke up. "Huh? She?"

"Yes. Remember the senior you helped last time. The one being coerced by Zervis. She knows that person's laboratory."

"Really? Where is it?!"

"Wait a minute, you stupid prince!"

"That's a surprise. I thought no one really knows about that person's whereabouts but a student knows it."

"Of course, she was being helped by that person."

"Oh? That's a fortunate thing."

"Then? Where is it?"

Sienna pointed out in the south, showing the mountains behind the academy.

"At the feet of Caraga Mountains. In the middle of Khunlun Forest."

The two got surprised and looked at the mountain before losing hope about it.

"That's a restricted area. It was only being used as a training ground for practical magic and magical experiments."

"And also, it is inhabited by monsters and wild animals. What turn of events."

"But Senior Alexis can go to that place?" Sienna wondered about it.

"Sienna, she's third year and they always have practical magic training so she can go to the Caraga Mountains. We're just second years."

"Huh? Are you both senile now? Remember... we will have practical exams for finals next month in Khunlun Forest for a week."

The two's eyes got widened by that news which gave them hope.

"I forgot about that."

"Haaa... Then, I will just ask Senior Alexis for help and about the location of the laboratory."

"Really? You're an angel, Sienna!" Ryder thanked him and held his hands.

"I-It's okay. Now, I will go first."

She bid farewell to them as they parted ways. She went to the hall with a flushed face.

"Si-e-nna!" Her friends surprised her.

"Oh? What is it?"

"Sienna, did you just meet the Fourth Prince?" one of her friends asked.

"Yes, he was asking about something regarding his problem."

"Ahhh... about the mana manipulation," the other one said.

"Just to ask, Sienna, Fourth Prince is aiming to be an alchemist, right? Then, why should he need to be conscious about his mana manipulation?"

"Well, that is because..."

Sienna explained it to her and Ryder's reason to do that.