Extreme? What do you mean by that?

The young prince asked as if he truly could not understand.

What part of the advice just given could possibly be considered extreme?

“Well... normally, mansions are expensive... and mansions in the capital are even more expensive. Telling someone to just hand one over seems a little excessive.”

Ah.

At the young prince’s response, Lee Han thought the other party had understood.

Indeed, unlike the Skull Principal, this young prince was reasonable and listened to his disciple’s words...

That is a misunderstanding on your part, disciple.

“...”

No, it was not!

Disciple. The noble family that owns this mansion is already wealthy beyond measure. Would they starve merely because they donated one mansion? The wealthy should naturally share their wealth.

It was truly an opinion befitting someone who had boldly abandoned all royal wealth to wander the continent.

Naturally, to Lee Han, it sounded insanely extreme.

Even so, wouldn’t losing a mansion in the capital give them heartburn so bad they couldn’t eat?

Even if the cabin built inside Einroguard’s grounds disappeared, it would turn his stomach upside down...

They should be grateful that I am teaching them without forcibly taking anything. How kind is that? Honestly, I want to teach them harshly so they will follow even half of your example, disciple.

“??”

Lee Han was flustered by the sudden praise.

“What did I do? I don’t think I’ve ever donated anything.”

You are collecting gold coins to give to the poor, are you not?

“...No!”

Lee Han jumped in shock.

How could the prince think of something so absurd?

“I’m collecting gold coins to do business. To become the Empire’s greatest... well, that might be too much, but one of the top businessmen...”

In the past, he would have confidently said he would become the Empire’s greatest businessman, but after meeting the Skull Principal’s projection, his goal had been adjusted slightly downward.

Since he had duties to fulfill as a mage, it seemed he would not be able to devote himself entirely to being a businessman.

In the end, Lee Han made a major compromise and settled for becoming one of the top businessmen. That much might be possible even as a side job.

I know, disciple. Then what happens after you collect the gold coins?

“After collecting gold coins? I’d have to collect more.”

And after you collect more and more, until you can collect no more?

“...”

Lee Han was momentarily speechless.

He had thought about collecting them, but he had never seriously considered what came after.

Should I climb on top of a pile of gold coins and lie down like a dragon?

Having a thought that would make other dragons say, “That is prejudice created by fairy tales!” Lee Han opened his mouth.

“I’ve never thought about that...”

I know, disciple. You will act exactly the same as you do now. Just as you give to your friends, you will give to others as well.

“...No, they’re...!”

Lee Han belatedly realized what the young prince was talking about.

The fact that Lee Han was letting his friends and juniors stay at the villa and taking care of them had simply happened by chance.

“It just happened that way!”

I understand, disciple. Shall we put it that way? You could also happen to give to others...

This person. There’s something subtly Skull Principal-like about him, isn’t there?

Lee Han felt anew that the other party truly was the Skull Principal in his youth.

No matter how gentle and smiling the prince was, the essence of stirring people’s emotions was still there.

Come now, disciple. Do not be afraid to take from the wealthy and distribute to the poor.

“I understand, but still, extorting a Valdrogard student is a bit... I’ll handle it myself.”

Although the prince urged him on, Lee Han asked for understanding.

No matter what, Lee Han had not yet reached the young prince’s level. Deceiving an innocent Valdrogard student and extorting a mansion was too much.

Hmm. It might have been a bit different if the opponent were Professor Verdus.

Gonadaltes: Sorry for the late reply. I was delayed while organizing Einroguard’s guest reception methods.

Ipelldrem: No! Thank you so much! I didn’t expect you to go that far.

Ipelldrem replied joyfully.

In truth, among the members of <Einroguard’s Watchers>, Gonadaltes did not leave a very good impression.

From the moment Ipelldrem first joined, Gonadaltes had immediately picked a fight, preventing the use of Wardanaz ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) as an alias, and had remained quite curt ever since.

But seeing this today, perhaps Gonadaltes was not such a bad person after all.

To think Gonadaltes would organize things so diligently.

Gonadaltes: First, open the door, and when the guest enters, take them to the basement.

Ipelldrem: ...Are you making fun of me right now???

Ipelldrem immediately became serious.

It was etiquette never heard of before in Ipelldrem’s life.

Gonadaltes: Tch. Forget it. I prepared all this for nothing. This is why Valdrogard mages can’t be trusted. Figure it out yourself.

Ipelldrem: Ah, that’s not it. It just... sounded too absurd.

But Ipelldrem did not know.

The opponent was an Einroguard mage who had experienced everything.

Traditionally, no Valdrogard mage had ever won an argument against an Einroguard mage.

When Lee Han got angry in return, Ipelldrem deflated completely.

Ipelldrem: I apologize for my rudeness. Please tell me again. I absolutely won’t commit such rudeness again.

Gonadaltes: This is your last chance. The reason you take them to the basement is that it’s the best place to check the earth mana supporting the mansion.

Ipelldrem: I-Indeed...! That makes sense!

Gonadaltes: In the case of House Wardanaz, they keep sinful demons imprisoned underground to turn the wheels of mana, so they would be even more interested in other families’ basements.

“...”

Ipelldrem wore an expression full of suspicion.

This seemed like a lie...

There’s no way House Wardanaz would do something like that.

Come to think of it, this Gonadaltes had often shown a blunt and hostile attitude toward House Wardanaz before.

Ipelldrem decided not to believe that part completely.

Ipelldrem: I under... I understand. Wait! Our family villa was purchased not too long ago, so there’s nothing special in the basement. What should I do?

Gonadaltes: It’s fine if there’s nothing special. What matters is checking the basement’s mana, not how complex the magic placed there is. Just introducing the basement first is enough. Even that much will make the other person look at you admiringly.

Ipelldrem: I’ll keep that in mind!

The young prince, watching their conversation, thought to himself.

The prince’s own method seemed much more considerate than his disciple’s...

***

“Sorry to keep you waiting so long, Wardanaz. Please come in.”

Once the master was ready, the butler called Lee Han. Lee Han quickly tucked his notebook into his jacket.

“Irendy! Lee Han of House Wardanaz is here. Wardanaz, this is Irendy of House Kraha.”

The butler formally introduced each party’s status according to protocol.

Irendy’s appearance resembled Gainando’s sister far more than Adenart did. If Lee Han had not known the other party’s family, he might have thought she was Gainando’s biological sister.

“P-please take care of me, Wardanaz! I’m Irendy of House Kraha!”

“...”

“...”

Lee Han and the butler exchanged bewildered glances. Irendy looked as though she did not even realize what mistake she had made.

“I have always respected the high reputation of House Wardanaz. Please provide much guidance and instruction regarding magic in the future. My major is the enchantment magic school, and my specialty is temporary phenomenon capture using gems...”

“...Please take care of me too.”

Lee Han felt very guilty about receiving formal speech from a third-year senior.

It’s not as if I lied. It’s those Valdrogard fellows who spread strange rumors.

If he revealed his identity as a second-year here, it might unnecessarily complicate the path to the basement.

To get what he wanted from the other party, it was better to pretend to be an upperclassman.

“You resemble Gainando.”

“Huh? Do you know Gainando?”

“...He’s a promising junior from the same tower.”

“Huh? Gainando is a promising junior??”

Damn it. How could I make such a mistake?

Lee Han clicked his tongue.

He had made amateurish mistakes twice, unbecoming of an Einroguard student.

However, Irendy seemed to understand on her own. She nodded and muttered.

“Gainando was much more outstanding than I thought... I had no idea...”

Who would have thought that a distant relative with whom she barely kept in touch would be a promising talent at Einroguard?

She felt that she should work harder as well.

“...”

Lee Han inwardly resolved to give Gainando a serious warning as soon as he returned.

“Ahem! Now, please follow me. I’ll guide you to the basement.”

“...?!?!??!”

The butler standing behind them nearly fainted.

Not the reception room, not the exhibition hall, but the basement?

“M-Master. Not the basement! Not the basement!”

The butler’s mouth fell open.

If word of this got out later, it would be such a disgrace that he would not be able to hold his head up anywhere.

The boy from House Wardanaz opened his mouth. The butler wanted to squeeze his eyes shut, dreading what words would come out.

“The basement, you say. You know Einroguard students very well! Any Einroguard student would naturally want to check the manor’s basement first. I’m truly surprised.”

“As a mage of House Kraha hosting a guest, I should naturally know at least this much.”

“??????”

The butler doubted his ears at the two mages’ conversation.

What had they just said?

Do Einroguard mages have such... customs?

Come to think of it, Einroguard mages were rumored to be eccentric. Thinking of it in that context, checking the manor’s basement first made sense.

“To be able to check the earth mana supporting the manor. I’m truly delighted.”

Hearing this confirmation, the butler pondered inwardly.

Should the basement be introduced first when meeting Einroguard mages in the future?

“This way, please!”

Irendy walked quickly, leading the way. The butler guided Lee Han with a complicated expression.

“How is it, Master?”

Lee Han carefully took out his notebook, avoiding their gazes.

I can feel the energy, so it seems certain that no one has touched it yet.

“!”

Lee Han’s face brightened upon hearing the answer.

After going to such lengths to access the manor’s basement, it would have been disappointing if there had been nothing there.

“Could it be inside the basement?”

No. It seems we will need to dig farther down.

As expected, it won’t be that easy.

Lee Han felt slightly disappointed.

If it had simply been sitting in the basement, he could have obtained it very easily, but they had to dig deeper.

Well, it would have to be at least that deep for no one to have touched it until now.

“Then I’ll send the others outside.”

Lee Han spoke with determination.

At this point, it seemed he had no choice but to create a new Einroguard custom.

When visiting someone’s manor, one was given about thirty minutes alone in the basement to dig into the ground...

You do not need to do that, my disciple. It does not matter at all if others are watching nearby.

The young prince explained.

Protected by reading magic, the prince was confident in quietly retrieving the item and slipping it to his disciple even with others watching nearby.

“I-Indeed. That’s fortunate.”

Ah. But you still need to dig the ground.

“...”

Lee Han closed the notebook and casually called the two over.

“Do you happen to know that this manor’s mana isn’t very good?”