As Yi-Han furrowed his brow, trying to recall his memories, the imperial princes and princesses began to take action.

Prince Bogajun tapped the table with his finger and said, "Judging by the weight of the egg, it doesn't seem to be a flying creature."

Princess Judrantas immediately countered, "We can't be so certain about that. There are heavy flying creatures too."

"I know that. But for the sake of speculation, we should consider the most probable options..."

"That's where you're wrong."

"What's wrong is the knight escort being involved in a bribery case... Ahem."

"...Well, you couldn't even solve the plague in Cleudran Town, so it's no surprise you can't even guess this correctly... Hmph."

'No, this is more entertaining than I thought.'

Yi-Han, who had been listening from the side, understood why the nobles followed the imperial family members and participated in these gatherings.

It was surprisingly amusing to watch the imperial family members bicker with each other on a razor's edge.

Of course, the nobles didn't follow them around with such ill intentions...

Tap, tap-

"?"

Yi-Han turned his head. Looking behind him, he saw Princess Adenart from the same tower standing there.

Adenart slightly bowed her head in gratitude and handed Yi-Han a well-wrapped pouch.

Seeing this, Yi-Han was greatly moved.

'As expected of an imperial family member, she knows how to show gratitude!'

Last time, when the princess was forced to take on a challenging task due to her followers, Yi-Han had intervened and helped her out.

To think she hadn't forgotten that favor and was trying to repay it with silver coins like this.

'The future of the Empire is bright.'

"Thank you."

Yi-Han responded and untied the wrapping string.

Then, from inside, instead of shining silver coins...

...a shining medal came out.

"????"

Yi-Han was momentarily taken aback when a medal came out instead of silver coins.

What was this?

'Aha. Since silver coins have limitations in weight and volume, she gave me a highly exchangeable accessory instead.'

Yi-Han was once again amazed by the princess's consideration.

As expected of the top... no, second-ranked student in the year, her intelligence was truly outstanding.

To think she would give an accessory that could be sold right away.

"Mr. Wardanaz. That is a token of gratitude."

"..."

At the follower's kind explanation, Yi-Han's expression crumpled.

A token of gratitude.

When a member of a family was indebted to someone, the family would give this as a gift to express their gratitude.

If one presented this token when in need of help, they could receive assistance from that family anytime, anywhere.

Adenart's maternal family was also quite powerful, so the value of this token was immense...

'...Why not just give silver coins.'

However, it was of little use to Yi-Han.

It wasn't as if Yi-Han was going to seek the support of the imperial family to engage in politics or enter the Empire's social circles...

Moreover, such tokens were tricky to exchange for silver coins. If he were unlucky and got caught, it would be seen as disregarding the other family's sincerity.

Yi-Han suppressed a sigh and replied with a pretense, "Receiving something like this... It feels too much for me."

"Haha. Not at all. The princess is deeply grateful for Mr. Wardanaz's dedication."

"Is it really alright for me to accept this?"

"Yes! Of course."

The princess also nodded, as if urging him to accept it.

When his attempt to receive something else instead failed, Yi-Han suppressed his bitterness and pocketed the medal.

"Thank you."

"Wait. Why are you giving it to him on your own?"

Bogajun spoke sternly to Adenart's follower.

While Bogajun and Judrantas were arguing, Adenart was trying to take the talented person away on her own.

Judrantas also stopped the quarrel and intervened.

"Trying to forcefully give a token of gratitude. Don't you know that even goodwill can become a burden if forced upon someone?"

'Surprisingly, they can say sensible things too.'

However, Adenart's followers were not to be taken lightly.

"Giving it on our own, you say? Prince Bogajun. This is a token of gratitude from Princess Adenart to her friend. The two of them are studying together at Einroguard."

"Ugh..."

"Urk."

Bogajun and Judrantas simultaneously groaned in frustration.

There was no better excuse to build a connection than the fact that they were studying at the same school.

Such a cowardly move...

'To use the fact that they're attending Einroguard like this.'

When the two imperial family members were at a loss for words, the follower continued with a triumphant tone.

"Do you understand now? Mr. Wardanaz is a close friend of the princess."

"?"

Yi-Han tilted his head.

Was that so?

'Were we that close... that close?'

Of course, he had prepared meals for her, and since they were in the same tower, they had done various things together, but he was a bit doubtful if that made them close friends.

Even if they were friends...

"Hehe! Hehe! Hehe!"

Gainando seemed to think the same way and was about to strongly protest.

'If it's about being close, I'm closer to him!'

Of course, since his other words were sealed, it had little effect.

"Be quiet. There are many eyes watching."

Yonaire poked Gainando's side.

Yi-Han had gone out of his way to help him maintain his dignity in front of the nobles who had come to the gathering today, yet he was trying to kick it away.

This cousin of hers needed to learn some gratitude.

"Hmph. Friendship at school is like a joke. Just because you studied together doesn't mean you have to serve them."

"Rarely, you're saying something sensible. That's right. Isn't it even stranger to think someone will serve you just because you have a bit of a connection?"

The two imperial family members changed their approach and tried to shake the friendship.

Of course, neither Yi-Han nor Adenart were swayed.

Adenart was originally an expressionless person, and Yi-Han didn't have any particular thoughts about it.

'It's not wrong though.'

It was nonsense to say that one would serve someone just because they attended the same school.

By that logic, Gainando would already have followers...

"By the way, how about we try to guess the identity of that egg?"

"I think you'll be able to do it."

Bogajun and Judrantas suggested the riddle to win Yi-Han's favor.

Of course, that wasn't an action that would win Yi-Han's favor at all.

'I said I don't want to do it, yet these guys keep...'

It would be better if they just fought among themselves, but they kept trying to involve Yi-Han, which was extremely bothersome.

Just as he was about to refuse nicely, something flashed through Yi-Han's mind.

'!'

A strangely familiar egg.

He felt like he had seen it somewhere before...

'Basilisk's egg!!'

The memory of Professor Boladi receiving it and being disappointed was vivid. It was to the point where he wondered why he only remembered it now.

"Isn't that a basilisk's egg?"

Yi-Han asked in a slightly startled voice.

Of course, as long as it didn't hatch, it didn't really matter whether it was a basilisk's egg or a dragon's egg...

Wasn't it a bit dangerous?

'Do imperial family members usually solve this kind of riddle when they gather? Even though it's not Einroguard?'

The noble who brought the egg, Brodon, laughed as if asking what he was talking about.

"It's not a basilisk's egg, Mr. Wardanaz."

"Is that... so?"

When the other party answered confidently, Yi-Han hesitated. He thought he might have seen it wrong.

"Yes. Believe me. There's no way I would bring such a dangerous egg to this gathering."

"Where did you get it from, if I may ask?"

"I bought it from a merchant, but?"

"..."

Yi-Han's face stiffened as he tried to believe him.

To think it wasn't an egg he raised or obtained himself, but one he bought from a merchant.

Suddenly, he had a bad feeling.

'...It should be fine.'

Come to think of it, whether it was a basilisk's egg or a dragon's egg, as long as there were no signs of hatching, it shouldn't be much of a problem.

They would take it back with them after the gathering ended...

Crack!

As the sound of the egg cracking and something trying to come out from inside was heard, Yi-Han immediately reacted.

"Everyone, get down!"

The rigorous training he had received at Einroguard did not betray Yi-Han.

Thanks to that, he was able to draw his staff and cast a spell faster than anyone else.

"Spring forth and unfold!"

A huge mass of water gushed out in midair and transformed into a curtain, enveloping the glass case.

One of the most dangerous things when dealing with a basilisk was its evil eye.

The moment you made eye contact, the curse of petrification would be cast. The basilisk's eyes were dangerous even for a newborn.

"I will... Ugh!"

"Stay still!"

"No, I..."

"You too!"

Yi-Han grabbed the collars of the prince and princess who were trying to intervene and shoved them behind the table. So that they wouldn't stick their heads out and make eye contact with the evil eye.

Clang, thud!

The sound of glass shattering was heard, and a dull sound bounced off the water curtain.

Yi-Han was surprised by the impact that seemed like it would pierce through at any moment.

"It should be a newborn, but how?"

"Ah! Mr. Wardanaz!"

From the side, Zolbabden, who was hiding under the table, shouted as if he understood.

"Lord Brodon often gives growth potions to his eggs to take good care of them!"

"..."

As expected of an information source in the Empire's social circles, Zolbabden was excellent at gathering information.

Of course, it wasn't particularly helpful information in the current situation!

Brodon, who hadn't fully grasped the situation yet, shouted as if denying reality.

"It might not be a basilisk!"

"Whatever it is, something thrashing around like that is a vicious creature! Everyone, don't come out from behind the table! Sharakan, come forth! Ferkuntra, your power is needed!"

Realizing the situation was serious, Yi-Han tried to make the first move with his strongest cards.

If he hesitated and held back, the situation could only escalate.

However, just as Yi-Han was halfway through summoning Ferkuntra, the water curtain was finally torn.

Hiss!

Surprisingly, the sound of sizzling came from the water barrier. Unable to break through with brute force, the monster inside had used poison to tear it open.

Through that torn gap, the monster's appearance flashed.

A vicious monster born from the mixed souls of a snake and a rooster, a basilisk!

Pat!

As if sensing who the most threatening mage in this place was, the basilisk immediately directed its evil eye at Yi-Han.

Its vertically elongated pupils flashed, exuding the wicked curse of petrification.

"...The one who has contracted with you calls upon you with due authority!"

-?????-

However, Yi-Han remained completely unfazed even after being hit by the petrification curse.

In fact, he was so focused on chanting the spell that he didn't even notice the basilisk had cast the petrification curse.

Pat, pat, pat!

The petrification curse was cast in succession, but Yi-Han deflected them all.

And Ferkuntra was summoned.

Rumble, boom!

Thunder and lightning struck inside the room, and a huge lightning spirit began to take shape above Yi-Han.

What kind of chaos is this?! You really bring trouble wherever you go!

"...I will explain that later! The basilisk is trying to escape! Please stop it!"

At Yi-Han's urgent cry, Ferkuntra quickly grasped the situation.

If a basilisk was trapped inside that water curtain, it was no ordinary matter.

There seemed to be quite a few non-mages present, and it could lead to a major disaster.

Of all the mistakes you've made today, summoning me was undoubtedly your wisest decision!

Ferkuntra's body swelled up greatly and shot out like a thunderbolt.

And it charged into the water curtain.

Whether it was a basilisk or whatever, it would subdue it in one go...

...Didn't it faint?

"Pardon?"

It fainted. It seems to have collapsed from exhaustion.

Ferkuntra removed the water curtain and showed the collapsed basilisk. It was lying there as if dead.

Sharakan also poked the basilisk. Nevertheless, the basilisk did not get up.

"Is that... so?"

Yes.

For a moment, an awkward silence hung between Yi-Han and Ferkuntra.

Yi-Han spoke in an embarrassed voice.

"Anyway, thank you for coming."

...

Ferkuntra glared at Yi-Han.