Just How Much Is All That?
The Sophen family was universally acknowledged throughout the empire.
In terms of wealth, that is.
While their prestige and pedigree were nowhere near the Five Great Families, general consensus held that when it came to cold, hard cash, they were second to none. As if to flaunt and prove that very fact, the Sophen estate located near the capital was absurdly sprawling, opulent, and…
“Across the entire empire, the manor of House Sophen, which I have the honor of serving, is the largest.”
…truly colossal.
“It stands eight stories tall, and as for its square footage alone…”
Ziel had finally arrived at the Sophen estate. From the moment he stepped foot on the grounds, the head butler who came out to greet him launched into a tireless barrage of boasts and explanations.
“Furthermore, the grand banquet hall is so cavernous that it could easily accommodate twenty elephants!”
Yet rather than listening to the man's boasting, Ziel was looking at something entirely different.
So many infiltration routes. The security is a complete disaster.
Because the structure was so massive, it had far too many windows. Factoring in the pathways connecting to the underground, the difficulty of breaking in seemed exceptionally low. The patrol routes of the guards were bad enough on their own, but it looked as though the family had barely invested a coin into actual security.
“How does it strike you, Instructor Ziel? Is it not magnificent? What are your impressions?”
“It certainly seems large. I have rarely seen an estate of this size.”
“I knew you would recognize its grandeur at once! Not a single flaw to be found, wouldn't you say?”
A flaw.
At that word, Ziel asked, “May I speak freely if I notice an area that is lacking?”
“Pardon? Lacking in what way…?”
“The security is lacking.”
“Security?”
“You need to readjust the guards’ patrol routes and reinforce the alternate entrances leading into the mansion. Above all else, the third-floor windows are the most vulnerable.”
The corner of the head butler’s eye twitched violently.
Security? How dare he?
Never in all his years had a guest invited to House Sophen uttered such words. To point out security flaws, of all things?
“Instructor Ziel, not long ago, House Sophen's grand estate proudly received an A on its official security evaluation.”
“Then the evaluator was incompetent. A D is more appropriate.”
“……”
He could not accept that in the slightest. Still, getting into a heated argument with an invited guest was hardly proper conduct for a butler.
“……I appreciate your valuable opinion. You truly possess a discerning eye in the most peculiar of areas, Instructor Ziel.”
Naturally, the butler did not forget to slip in a subtle jab of his own—a petty measure of revenge, so to speak.
Ziel’s response, however, was entirely unexpected.
“I know a great many things.”
“……”
He was infuriating. The butler suddenly understood why his lord had thrown a fit whenever the name ‘Ziel’ came up!
“Allow me to show you the way. Right this direction, please.”
He would let it slide just this once. With that in mind, the butler deliberately guided Ziel toward the gardens.
Immaculately manicured landscaping! Mastercrafted sculptures worth millions of cells! An automatic fountain powered by exquisite magic tools! And to top it all off, a gargantuan pond maintained at an annual cost of hundreds of thousands of cells!
“What do you think of this?”
…He had expected a breathless gasp, but—
“It is a garden.”
That was the entirety of Ziel’s commentary.
“D-Do you not feel anything regarding its scale, or the sheer level of upkeep?”
Ziel pondered for a brief moment before graciously adding a single adjective.
“It is a big garden.”
“……”
In all his twenty years as a butler, receiving a guest had never been this excruciating.
The man doesn't have an ounce of manners.
Just as the butler was fuming internally, Ziel came to an abrupt halt before a cultivated flowerbed tucked away in a corner of the garden.
Hm? Ha, I knew it!
He must have been moved by the sight of the pristine blossoms. Indeed, it would be far stranger for anyone to remain indifferent after seeing a garden with so much wealth poured into it.
Does he have an interest in flowers? How unexpectedly refined.
For someone who had just answered so coldly that a needle couldn't draw a drop of blood, he seemed genuinely captivated.
“How do you find them?”
“Splendid.”
“Oho. You recognize their worth at a glance?”
“Yes. There are many rare flowers here.”
“Do you possess some knowledge of horticulture?”
“A reasonable amount.”
“Oho! Our head gardener will be delighted to hear that.”
Just as it should be. A guest ought to express admiration at least once.
Perhaps he isn’t entirely devoid of etiquette after all.
Meanwhile, Ziel’s thoughts were running in a completely different direction.
There are quite a few rare poisonous blooms here. These couldn't have been easy to procure.
Ziel's admiration stemmed from an entirely different motive than the butler imagined.
Depending on the combination, those flowers can yield a lethal neurotoxin… and the petals of that one are the primary ingredient in high-grade sleeping agents.
It was the seasoned perspective of an assassin.
To think someone could cultivate blooms that cost an arm and a leg on the black market with such exquisite care.
When I eventually get a house of my own, I should recruit this estate's gardener.
He couldn't live in the rundown faculty dormitory forever. Ziel, too, nurtured a humble dream of owning his own home someday.
“What is the gardener's name?”
“Ahem. Our family's chief gardener is named Henten.”
“Henten. I shall keep that in mind.”
Completely oblivious to Ziel’s true motives, the butler assumed the instructor had simply been charmed by the aesthetic beauty. His mood brightened considerably. On second thought, Ziel seemed quite well-mannered.
“Now then, allow me to escort you to the drawing room.”
His steps noticeably lighter, the butler felt the irritation from the earlier security critique melt away. As a result, his mouth didn't stop moving for a single second from the moment they stepped inside the manor until they reached the reception hall.
“The foyer floor is laid with imported marble, and the ceiling was decorated by the renowned designer Herenben, inspired by the rhythmic rolling of ocean waves. And that is not all! That small statue over there may seem unassuming, but its appraised value easily reaches several million cells…”
Rather than speaking of history or ancient traditions, the boasting centered entirely around how premium and expensive the materials were, and how astronomical a sum had been spent.
It wasn't subtle bragging—it was brazen, naked ostentation.
Some nobles looked down on House Sophen for this very reason, whispering that they were vulgar for highborn peers. But House Sophen had risen through coin, and their family culture took immense pride in talking about money.
Throughout the grand tour, Ziel merely nodded along without offering much of a response. The butler interpreted this silence in his own way.
He’s utterly spellbound. Well, he’s likely never laid eyes on such opulence before.
In reality, from the moment Ziel crossed the threshold, his instincts had been actively cataloging blind spots, escape routes, and infiltration avenues.
Child’s play.
He needed to revise his earlier security rating. It wasn't a D; it was a solid F. At least, against someone like Ziel.
“Is it not magnificent?”
“Yes. It seems quite impressive.”
“I thought as much!”
Ziel had spotted yet another critical security flaw right at that moment, which kept him from finishing his thought: Though the interior security looks even worse than the outside.
“Here we are. The drawing room.”
A dazzling reception chamber welcomed Ziel. He felt a mild flicker of surprise.
It’s so gaudy that it scatters one’s focus. Escaping from here won’t be as effortless as the other rooms.
Plush carpet lined the floor. Art pieces of every shape and size were displayed on all four sides. Gilded window frames gleamed beneath radiant, intricate chandeliers. Ironically, the drawing room—where security had likely received the least thought—actually posed the greatest defensive hurdle simply due to visual clutter.
“If you would wait here a moment, I shall inform the lord of the house. Should you require anything, simply summon the attendant stationed outside. Ah! And we have a wide selection of teas available. If this blend is not to your liking or if you wish to savor another flavor, please do not hesitate to ask. Needless to say, they are all of the highest caliber.”
A servant stepped forward as if on cue, pouring a steaming cup of tea.
True to the butler's word, the brew was of exceptional quality.
“These are Black Oak tea leaves sourced directly from the renowned region of Gogurt. A single sip will banish all boredom while you wait.”
Having delivered his boast, the butler offered a self-satisfied smile and exited the drawing room alongside the servant.
Ziel gazed at the porcelain cup for a moment before taking a sip. A curious expression flickered across his face.
“Delicious.”
In the blink of an eye, he drained the entire teapot. Then he promptly called for the attendant.
“Did you call, Instructor Ziel?”
“The tea is very good.”
“Thank you, sir. I am glad it suits your palate.”
“What other varieties do you have?”
The servant rattled off the list of top-tier teas they had prepared. “In addition to this one, we have six other varieties of leaves on hand.”
“Then bring them all, please.”
“Excuse me?”
“I would like to taste every one of them.”
The servant blinked in sheer bewilderment. But then the butler’s parting instructions surfaced in his mind.
‘Give him whatever he desires.’
The servant bowed swiftly. “Right away, Instructor Ziel. I shall prepare them immediately.”
Meanwhile, the head butler arrived at the private study where Olton Sophen and Maris Sophen were waiting. The moment the butler stepped inside, Olton rose to his feet with an eager grin.
“Well? How did it go?”
“Splendidly, My Lord. He was struck with awe in the garden, and once he entered the manor, he seemed so utterly overwhelmed that all he could say was that it was impressive.”
A smug, oily smirk spread across Olton Sophen’s lips.
“Just as I expected. Where could a man like that have ever seen such grandeur?”
“Indeed, My Lord. When someone is ignorant, one must simply educate them. Though whether someone of his station can truly appreciate it is another matter entirely.”
“Ahem. Well done, Butler.”
“Thank you, My Lord. Instructor Ziel is currently waiting in the drawing room. Shall we proceed?”
“Mm.”
Just as the butler was about to guide Olton out, a stray thought crossed his mind.
“Ah, by the way, My Lord… Instructor Ziel made an odd remark regarding our estate’s security.”
“Security? Ha. Did he praise it?”
“He claimed that if it were to receive a grade, it would be a D…”
“……”
“He even said he questioned the competence of the professional evaluators…”
“……Ha!” Olton let out a scoff of utter disbelief. “Does that petty instructor fancy himself a security specialist now?”
“Surely not, My Lord. I suspect he merely threw out some fancy words to save face after I pressed him for an opinion.”
“Hmph. Naturally. As if his word holds any weight against a formal evaluation by accredited professionals…”
Maris, however, reacted quite differently.
“Butler, did Instructor Ziel really say that?”
“Ah, yes, Young Master. Utterly preposterous, is it not?”
“Hmm…”
Maris’s troubled murmur caught both older men off guard.
“Instructor Ziel isn’t someone who makes things up, Father.”
“What are you talking about, Maris?”
“Exactly what I said. Nearly everything—no, everything Instructor Ziel says is right. It’s been that way without exception.”
“……”
What in blazes was his own son babbling about?
Olton grabbed Maris firmly by the shoulders. “Get a grip on yourself, boy! You studied under him for a single semester, and now you’re singing his praises like a lovestruck fool?”
“It’s not like that… It’s just that his words have always turned out to be correct. Every single time. And he’s not the type of person to utter empty nonsense.”
Good grief, my head hurts.
“Father, just in case, perhaps we should hire another evaluator to inspect the—”
“Maris, listen to me carefully. Have you ever heard of House Steelheart?”
“No. Only vague fragments…”
“Precisely. That is the kind of house it is. What could a man from such a ruined, insignificant family—a man who isn't even a full professor, but a mere elective lecturer—possibly know about high-level security?”
By that logic, our family has nothing to boast about either except money.
Of course, Maris kept that thought strictly to himself.
“Maris, do not place blind faith in academy instructors. Do you truly believe those people will take responsibility for your life?”
“That wasn’t what I meant…”
“Remember this, Maris. You are the sole heir to this great house. Did I not tell you before? The academy is merely a playground where you pick up a diploma.”
“……Yes, Father.”
“Good. As long as you understand. Let us go.”
Olton narrowed his eyes as he walked. Was this deference because of the Exchange Event? To think his son trusted the man to this extent. Or had the instructor blackmailed the boy under the pretext of covering up his past mistake during the trials?
Daring to critique our manor’s security?
Insolent upstart. Just when Olton thought the man might have a redeeming quality or two.
After all the meticulous security measures I personally oversaw!
He would take this opportunity to thoroughly demonstrate the gulf in their wealth—no, the gulf in their sheer power.
“Ahem. How long has it been since Instructor Ziel was escorted to the drawing room?”
“About fifteen minutes now. By the time we arrive, it should be close to half an hour.”
“Thirty minutes. A most appropriate duration to keep someone waiting.”
Olton smiled wickedly.
Making a guest wait was the classic method of asserting dominance!
“You served him our finest tea, I presume?”
“Yes, My Lord. He will undoubtedly be stunned by the taste.”
“Heheh, excellent. Lead the way, Butler. Maris, follow me.”
The three of them made their way toward the drawing room. Just as they arrived outside the doors, they crossed paths with a servant emerging with an empty silver teapot.
The butler quickly called out, “It seems waiting proved tedious for him. Has he finished his cup?”
“Yes, sir. That was his thirteenth.”
“……Pardon?”
“His thirteenth pot, Butler.”
The butler’s pupils quivered violently. “What do you mean, thirteenth…?”
“He has emptied thirteen whole teapots. It was truly a sight to behold. And he hasn’t visited the washroom even once.”
What kind of nonsense was this?
“Y-You mean to tell me he emptied thirteen entire pots?”
“Yes, sir.”
“All of them… our top-shelf selections?”
“Yes! Exactly as you instructed, sir!”
Olton, who had been listening from behind, interjected in utter disbelief. “He emptied thirteen pots of tea brewed from our highest-grade leaves? Instructor Ziel did?”
“Yes, My Lord! The speed at which he drank was breathtaking! He repeatedly praised the flavors as well. Given how accurately he distinguished the subtle notes between each leaf variety, he must be an extraordinary connoisseur of fine tea!”
The butler felt his soul leave his body.
Putting aside the astonishing feat of drinking thirteen pots of liquid without bursting a bladder—putting aside the mysteries of the human anatomy entirely…
Just how much did all that cost?!
The tea leaves required to brew a single pot of Black Oak cost roughly one hundred thousand cells.
Which meant…
Sweet heavens above.
Ziel had single-handedly consumed 1.3 million cells’ worth of tea!
And in the span of just thirty minutes!
One point three million cells…
That was the average annual salary of a second-circle mage.
The cost of the tea Ziel had guzzled down in half an hour was astronomical.
“……Butler.”
The butler slowly turned his head, only to be met by the terrifying, murderous visage of Olton Sophen.