Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 1090

Chapter 1090

[What do you mean, ‘extreme?’ How is that advice extreme?]

The young prince asked with genuine confusion. He truly couldn’t understand which part of his suggestion had been considered extreme.

“Well… usually mansions are expensive… and a mansion in the capital is even more expensive. Telling them to just hand it over seems a bit excessive.”

[Ah.]

Yi-Han thought the young prince now understood what he meant.

Unlike the skull principal, this young prince seemed understanding and willing to listen to his disciple…

[That’s just your misunderstanding, Disciple.]

“......”

So that wasn’t the case!

[Disciple, this noble family that owns the mansion is already far wealthier than they deserve. Do you think losing one mansion would starve them? The wealthy should naturally share their riches.]

It was indeed a viewpoint befitting someone who had cast aside all royal wealth and wandered the continent fighting evil.

Of course, to Yi-Han, it sounded insanely extreme.

‘Even if they’re that rich, losing a mansion in the capital would surely ruin their appetite for days…’

He himself would be upset if a small cabin he built in Einroguard’s domain disappeared.

[Forcing them without even taking their property—just teaching them a lesson is already something they should be grateful for. It’s a great kindness. Honestly, I’d like to scold them severely and tell them to at least emulate half of your generosity, Disciple.]

“??”

Yi-Han was startled by the sudden praise.

“Me? I don’t recall ever doing anything that generous.”

[You’re planning to use your accumulated gold to help the less fortunate, aren’t you?]

“…No, I’m not!”

Yi-Han jumped, shocked by the prince’s bizarre misunderstanding.

How had he come to that conclusion?

“I plan to use that gold for business. I’ll become one of the Empire’s top merchants… well, maybe not the very top, but at least someone counted among the best.”

Originally, he would have proudly declared he’d become the Empire’s greatest merchant. But after meeting the skull principal’s doppelganger, he had modestly lowered his goal.

As a mage, he had responsibilities, so he couldn’t devote himself fully to business. In the end, he compromised to becoming one of the top-ranked merchants. That might be achievable as a side business.

[I know, Disciple. Then what do you do after accumulating that gold?]

“After I accumulate it? I’d gather even more, I suppose.”

[After gathering and gathering until you can’t gather anymore, what then?]

“......”

Yi-Han was momentarily speechless.

He had thought a lot about accumulating wealth, but never about what would come after reaching his limit.

‘Should I lie atop a heap of gold like a dragon?’

If a dragon heard that, it would likely say, ‘That’s just a prejudice created by fairy tales!’

“I haven’t thought about it.”

[I know, Disciple. You will continue behaving the same way you do now. You’ll share with others as though they were friends. You’ll end up giving to others too, just like you’ve been doing.]

“…No, those are…”

Yi-Han finally realized what the prince was implying.

The reason he currently allowed his friends and juniors to stay in his villa and provided for them was simply because things had turned out that way.

“It just happened!”

[Alright, Disciple. Let’s say it just happened. And in the future, it could ‘just happen’ that you share with others too…]

‘This man… He’s just like the skull principal, isn’t he?’

Yi-Han once again felt that, despite the kindness and smiles, the prince shared the skull principal’s inner nature. He could subtly touch on a person’s emotions and intentions.

[Come now, Disciple. Don’t be afraid to take from the wealthy and give to the poor.]

“I understand, but still, extorting the Baldurguard student is too… I’ll handle it my own way.”

Despite the prince’s urging, Yi-Han politely declined.

No matter what, Yi-Han hadn’t reached the prince’s level. Tricking a naive Baldurguard student into giving up her mansion was too much for him.

‘Well… if it was Professor Verduus, maybe it would’ve been different.’

Gonadaltes: Sorry for the delay. I was organizing how Einroguard students usually treat their guests.

Ipeldrem: Oh no! Thank you so much for going to such lengths!

Ipeldrem was delighted.

Among the members of the Sentinels of Einroguard, Ipeldrem hadn’t had a very good impression of Gonadaltes.

From the start, Gonadaltes had been confrontational (refusing Ipeldrem’s desire to use ‘Wardanaz’ as an alias) and had often been curt.

But today, Gonadaltes seemed not so bad after all.

Who knew he’d take the trouble to explain so thoroughly?

Gonadaltes: First, when the guest arrives and enters, lead them down to the basement.

Ipeldrem: …Are you making fun of me???

Ipeldrem immediately became serious.

He had never heard of such a custom in his life.

Gonadaltes: Ha. Fine. I tried to help, but this is why we can’t trust Baldurguard mages. Figure it out yourself.

Ipeldrem: Wait, that’s not it. It just sounded… too absurd.

But Ipeldrem didn’t realize something crucial.

He was dealing with a seasoned Einroguard mage.

No Baldurguard mage had ever won a war of words against an Einroguard mage.

When Yi-Han turned hostile, Ipeldrem instantly deflated.

Ipeldrem: I apologize for my rudeness. Could you please explain again? I promise not to be rude this time.

Gonadaltes: This is your last chance. The reason you take them to the basement is because it’s the best place to sense the mansion’s magical energy emanating from the earth.

Ipeldrem: Th-That makes sense…!

Gonadaltes: The Wardanaz family, for instance, keeps imprisoned demons spinning mana wheels in their underground chambers, so they’re especially interested in other families’ basements.

“......”

Ipeldrem’s face was filled with suspicion.

This sounded like a lie…

‘As if the Wardanaz family would do something like that.’

Come to think of it, Gonadaltes had always been curt and somewhat hostile towards the Wardanaz family.

Ipeldrem decided not to believe that part.

Ipeldrem: I underst… I understand. Wait! Our family’s villa isn’t that old, so there isn’t anything special in the basement. What should I do then?

Gonadaltes: It doesn’t matter. The important thing is to check the magical energy of the ground beneath, not how many complicated enchantments are set up. Just starting the tour with the basement is enough. Even that will make the other party look at you with admiration.

Ipeldrem: I’ll keep that in mind!

Watching their conversation, the young prince thought to himself:

The disciple’s approach seems more complicated, but my method was much more thoughtful…

***

“Sorry for making you wait, Master Wardanaz. Please come inside.”

Once the preparations were done, the head butler invited Yi-Han. He quickly tucked his notebook away.

“Lady Irendi! Master Yi-Han of the Wardanaz family has arrived. Master Wardanaz, this is Lady Irendi of the Kraha family.”

The head butler introduced them according to proper etiquette.

Irendi resembled a blend of Adenart and what one might imagine Gainando’s sister to look like. If one didn’t know her family, they might think she was a full sibling of Gainando.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Master Wardanaz! I am Irendi of the Kraha family!”

“......”

“......”

Yi-Han and the head butler exchanged puzzled glances. Irendi herself seemed unaware of any mistake.

“I have always revered the great reputation of the Wardanaz family. I hope to receive much guidance and instruction in magic. My specialty is enchantment magic, with a focus on capturing temporary phenomena using gems…”

“…Pleased to meet you.”

Yi-Han felt guilty hearing an upperclassman use honorifics towards him.

‘I never actually lied. Other Baldurguard folks must have spread strange rumors.’

If he revealed now that he was a second-year, it would only complicate the path to the basement.

To get what he wanted, it was better to maintain the façade that he was older and more experienced.

“You resemble Gainando quite a bit.”

“Pardon? You know Gainando?”

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

“What? Gainando is considered promising??”

‘Damn it. I slipped.’

Yi-Han clicked his tongue inwardly.

He had made a rookie mistake—twice now, something unbefitting an Einroguard student.

Fortunately, Irendi seemed to accept it without suspicion. She nodded and murmured:

“So Gainando is more outstanding than I thought… I had no idea…”

She never imagined that a distant relative, barely in contact, was so highly regarded in Einroguard. It made her want to work even harder herself.

“......”

Yi-Han decided he must warn Gainando as soon as he got back.

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

“…?!?!??!”

The head butler nearly fainted.

Not the drawing room or the gallery, but the basement??

–M-Milady, not the basement! Anywhere but the basement!

The head butler’s mouth opened and closed silently, horrified.

If word got out, it would be a disgrace so severe they wouldn’t be able to show their faces in society.

Yi-Han, the Wardanaz youth, opened his mouth. The head butler shut his eyes, fearing what he’d say.

“The basement? You truly understand Einroguard students! Any Einroguard student would naturally want to examine the mansion’s basement first. I’m impressed.”

“As a mage of the Kraha family, I must know at least this much to properly host my guest.”

“??????”

The head butler was stunned.

What were they saying?

‘Is this really a custom among Einroguard mages?’

He had heard rumors that Einroguard mages were eccentric. If that was the case, maybe it made sense they wanted to see the basement first.

“You can truly sense the magical energy of the earth supporting the mansion? How wonderful!”

Hearing this confirmation, the head butler wondered if, from now on, he should always start by showing Einroguard mages the basement.

“This way, please!”

Irendi trotted ahead happily, while the head butler followed with a troubled expression.

“How is it, Master?”

While avoiding their gaze, Yi-Han discreetly took out the notebook.

[I can sense it. No one’s touched it yet, that’s certain.]

“!”

Yi-Han’s face brightened at the response.

If after all this trouble there was nothing there, it would have been disappointing.

“Will it be inside the basement?”

[No. We’ll probably have to dig deeper.]

‘Of course it can’t be that easy.’

Yi-Han felt a bit regretful.

If it had been just lying in the basement, he could have taken it easily. But now he had to dig deeper.

Still, that explained why it remained untouched.

“Then I’ll have to send them out.”

He braced himself and spoke.

Since it had come to this, he would have to create a new Einroguard custom—when visiting another’s mansion, you get thirty minutes alone in the basement to dig…

[You don’t have to do that, Disciple. It doesn’t matter if they watch from the side.]

The young prince explained.

Since he was protected by his own unique magic, he could quietly retrieve the artifact and hand it to his disciple even if others were watching.

“I see, that’s a relief.”

[Oh, but you still have to dig.]

“......”

Yi-Han closed the notebook and subtly called the two over.

“By any chance, do you know that the magical energy beneath this mansion isn’t very good?”