"... I'm sorry. Everyone. It wasn't intentional."
Professor Thunderstep offered his apology with sincerity.
Of course, the Einlogard students were not the kind to accept an apology so easily.
They had learned to question everything from Einlogard's teachings.
"Do you think an apology will just make this go away?!"
"Exactly! Professor, did you pocket some silver for yourself?!"
"Y-you brats..."
Professor Thunderstep glanced nervously at the Meikin family members.
If this had been inside the school it wouldn't matter, but out in public a reputation couldn't be ignored.
If some strange rumor — "Professor Thunderstep of Einlogard cheats students out of their silver coins" — reached the ears of the Skull Headmaster...
"Do you think I'd do a thing like that!? You can see for yourselves, I didn't even go into the village. There was absolutely no chance to pocket any silver!"
"Then why did you stay outside?!"
"Because that's how the rules go, of course!"
The Meikin family folk watched the ugly quarrel between the professor and the students, bewildered.
"Please, people of Einlogard. Calm down."
"Yes. This is our fault for not making things clear. If we were going to rest, we should have said which village to rest in."
"... Let's get back to business."
Professor Thunderstep cleared his throat.