Episode 1090
Episode 1090
"What do you mean it's too extreme?"
The Young Prince asked with genuine confusion.
Which part of the advice he'd just given could possibly be considered extreme?
"Well... regular mansions are expensive... and capital mansions are even more so. Asking someone to just hand one over seems a bit excessive."
"Ah."
At the Young Prince's response, Lee Han thought he might have finally gotten through to him.
Unlike the Skeleton Principal, this Young Prince was far more understanding and actually listened to his students...
"That's your misconception, disciple."
"......"
Never mind!
"Disciple. The noble families who own these mansions are already obscenely wealthy. Do you think they'd starve just from donating one mansion? The wealthy ought to share their riches."
It was truly an opinion befitting someone who had boldly abandoned all royal wealth to wander the continent.
Of course, to Lee Han, it sounded utterly insane. 'Even if that's true, wouldn't losing a mansion in the capital make them so upset they'd lose their appetite?' Just imagining the Skeleton Principal's cottage in the Einrogard territory disappearing was enough to make his stomach churn...
"They should be grateful we're not forcibly taking it and are instead offering them guidance. How considerate is that? Frankly, I'd like to teach them a harsh lesson so they'd at least learn half of your generosity."
"??"
Lee Han was baffled by the sudden praise.
"What did I do? I don't recall ever donating anything."
"You've been saving gold coins to help the poor, haven't you?"
"...No!"
Lee Han jumped in shock.
How could he even think such nonsense?
"I'm saving gold coins to start a business. The Empire's greatest... well, maybe not the greatest, but at least one of the top entrepreneurs..."
In the past, he would have confidently declared he'd become the Empire's greatest entrepreneur, but ever since meeting the Skeleton Principal's avatar, his ambitions had been slightly downgraded.
Since he now had responsibilities as a mage, he couldn't fully dedicate himself to being a businessman.
In the end, Lee Han compromised, settling for being "one of the top entrepreneurs." Even that might be too much for a side gig.
"I know, disciple. But what will you do after saving up all that gold?"
"After saving it? I'll save more."
"And once you've saved so much that you can't save anymore?"
"......"
Lee Han was momentarily speechless.
He'd thought about accumulating wealth but never really considered what came after. 'Should I just lie down on a pile of gold like a dragon?' Another dragon would probably scoff, 'That's just a fairy tale stereotype!'
"I... haven't really thought about that."
"But I have, disciple. You'll keep acting just as you do now. You'll share with others the same way you do with your friends."
"...No, those guys—!"
It took Lee Han a moment to realize what the Young Prince was implying.
The way Lee Han let his friends and juniors stay in his villa and took care of them was purely coincidental.
"It just happened that way!"
"Understood, disciple. Then let's go with that. You'll 'just happen' to share with others too..."
'This guy... he's just like the Skeleton Principal, isn't he?'
Lee Han was reminded once again that this was the Skeleton Principal in his younger days.
No matter how gentle and smiling he seemed, the essence of someone who could toy with people's emotions was still there.
"Now then, disciple. Don't hesitate to take from the rich and give to the poor."
"I understand, but... I'd rather not extort it from this Baldrogard student. I'll handle it my way."
Though the Prince urged him on, Lee Han asked for understanding.
No matter what, Lee Han couldn't reach the same level as the Young Prince. Tricking an innocent Baldrogard student into giving up his mansion was beyond him.
'Hmm. If it were Professor Verdus, things might have been different.'
[Gonadaltes: Apologies for the late reply. I was delayed organizing Einrogard's guest hospitality protocols.]
Ipelldrem: "No! Thank you so much! I never expected you to go this far for us."
Ipelldrem answered joyfully.
Truth be told, among the Watcher Club members, Gonadaltes hadn't made a particularly good impression.
From the very first time he joined, he'd immediately picked fights (he'd wanted to use Wardanaz as a pseudonym but was prevented from doing so), and ever since then, he'd been quite curt and blunt with everyone.
But seeing him today, perhaps he wasn't such a bad person after all.
Who would've thought he'd prepare so diligently?
Gonadaltes: "First, open the door and escort the guest to the basement when they arrive."
Ipelldrem: "..."
Are you messing with me right now???
Ipelldrem's expression immediately turned serious.
This was an etiquette he'd never heard of in his entire life.
Gonadaltes: "Tch. Fine. I went through all this trouble to prepare, and this is what I get. This is exactly why Baldrogard wizards can't be trusted. Figure it out yourself."
Ipelldrem: "Ah, no, that's not it. It's just... it sounded too absurd, that's all."
But what Ipelldrem didn't realize was...
That he was dealing with an Einrogard mage who had seen all kinds of battles.
Traditionally, among Baldrogard wizards, there had never been a single person who won a verbal spat against an Einrogard mage.
When Lee Han got angry in return, Ipelldrem immediately lost his nerve.
Ipelldrem: "I sincerely apologize for my rudeness. Could you please explain it to me again? I swear I'll never commit such discourtesy again."
Gonadaltes: "This is your last chance. The reason for taking them to the basement is because it's the best place to examine the magical energy supporting the mansion."
Ipelldrem: "I-I see...! That makes perfect sense!"
Gonadaltes: "In cases like the Wardanaz family, they imprison sinful demons in their basements and force them to turn wheels of magic power, so they'll be especially interested in the basement of any noble house."
"......"
Ipelldrem's face was filled with suspicion.
This sounds like a lie... 'There's no way the Wardanaz family would do something like that.'
Come to think of it, this Gonadaltes had always been curt and hostile toward the Wardanaz family.
Ipelldrem decided he shouldn't believe this part at all.
Ipelldrem: "Under... understood. Wait! Our family's villa hasn't been purchased for very long, so there's nothing special in the basement. What should we do?"
Gonadaltes: "It's fine if there's nothing special. What matters is examining the basement's magical energy—not how many complex spells are layered there. Just introducing the basement alone is enough. That much will make them look at you with admiration."
Ipelldrem: "I'll keep that in mind!"
Watching their exchange, the Young Prince thought to himself:
'My method seems far more thoughtful than my disciple's...'
"I apologize for making you wait so long, Lord Wardanaz. Please, come in."
Once the preparations were complete, the Head Butler called for Lee Han, who swiftly tucked his notebook into his robes.
"Lady Irendi! This is Lord Lee Han of the Wardanaz family. Lord Wardanaz, this is Lady Irendi of the Kraha family."
The Head Butler formally introduced their respective statuses to each other.
Irendi looked much more like Gainando's sister than Adenart did. Had he not known her family, Lee Han might have mistaken her for Gainando's full-blooded sister.
"I-I look forward to working with you, Lord Wardanaz! I am Irendi of the Kraha family!"
"......"
"......"
Lee Han and the Head Butler exchanged bewildered glances. Irendi didn't seem to realize she had made any mistake.
"I've always deeply admired the Wardanaz family's esteemed reputation. I humbly ask for your guidance in magic from now on. My major is the Enchantment Magic school, with a specialization in gem-based temporary phenomenon capture..."
"...Pleased to meet you."
Lee Han felt deeply guilty about receiving honorifics from a third-year senior.
'It's not like I lied. It's those other Baldrogard bastards spreading weird rumors.'
If he revealed here that he was actually a second-year, it might unnecessarily complicate their 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 quite a bit."
"Huh? You know Gainando?"
"...He's a promising junior from the same tower."
"What? Gainando is a promising junior??"
'Damn it. What a blunder.' Lee Han clicked his tongue.
For an Einrogard student, he'd made an amateurish mistake not once, but twice.
However, Irendi seemed to accept it on her own. She nodded and murmured to herself.
"I had no idea Gainando was so outstanding... I never realized..."
Who would've thought that a distant relative she rarely kept in touch with was a rising star at Einrogard?
It made her resolve to work even harder herself.
"......"
Lee Han inwardly vowed to give Gainando a stern warning as soon as he got back.
"Ahem! Well then. Follow me. I'll guide you to the basement."
"...?!?!??!"
The Head Butler standing behind them nearly fainted on the spot.
Not the reception room, not the exhibition hall—but the basement??
'M-Master. Not the basement! Anything but the basement!'
The Head Butler's lips twitched uncontrollably.
If word got out about this later, it would be such a disgrace that he wouldn't be able to show his face anywhere.
The boy from the Wardanaz family spoke up. The Head Butler was so afraid of what might come out of his mouth that he wanted to squeeze his eyes shut.
"The basement, you say? You really know Einrogard students well! Any Einrogard student would naturally want to inspect a mansion's basement first. I'm truly impressed."
"As a mage of the Kraha Family, it's only natural to know such things when entertaining guests."
"??????"
The Head Butler couldn't believe his ears at the exchange between the two mages.
What in the world???
'Do Einrogard mages really have... such customs...?'
Come to think of it, Einrogard mages were indeed rumored to be eccentric. If he considered it within that context, inspecting the mansion's basement first did make some sense.
"To think I can examine the magical energy of the earth supporting this mansion. What a delight."
Hearing the final nail in the coffin, the Head Butler agonized internally.
Should he start introducing the basement first whenever he met Einrogard mages from now on?
"This way, please!"
Irendi hurried ahead with quick steps. The Head Butler guided Lee Han with a complicated expression.
"How is it, Master?"
Lee Han carefully took out his notebook, avoiding their gazes.
'Since I can sense the energy, it's clear no one has touched it yet.'
"!"
Lee Han's face brightened upon hearing the answer.
After going to all this trouble to access the mansion's basement, it would've been utterly disappointing if there had been nothing there.
"Is it inside the basement?"
'No. It seems we'll have to dig deeper.'
'As expected, it wasn't going to be that easy.' Lee Han felt a slight pang of regret.
If it had been right inside the basement, he could've obtained it effortlessly, but having to dig further was another matter.
Then again, it made sense that it would be buried deep enough that no one had touched it yet.
"Then I'll have the others step outside."
Steeling himself, Lee Han spoke.
At this point, it seemed he had no choice but to establish a new Einrogard tradition.
Whenever visiting someone else's mansion, request 30 minutes alone in the basement to dig...
'That won't be necessary, Disciple. It doesn't matter if others are watching.'
The Young Prince explained.
Since it was protected by his secret magic, he was confident he could quietly retrieve it and hand it to his disciple, even with others observing.
"I-I see. That's a relief."
'Ah. But you'll still have to dig.'
"......"
Lee Han closed his notebook and discreetly called the two over.
"Did you know the magical energy in this mansion isn't particularly favorable?"