Salary Thief

“Then I’ll consider it accepted.”

“Are you leaving already? You could stay a bit longer.”

“No, it’s fine. I need to check the location for the Academy’s counseling room and have many other tasks.”

She’d been tipsy just moments ago.

Perhaps Veronica’s intoxication faded when she thought of work benefiting students, as she promptly rose from her seat.

“Let’s meet next at the Academy then. Thanks for the drinks.”

“This is…?”

“I’m short on cash at the moment. It might be slightly inconvenient, but please use this for payment. Keep the change as well. Consider it a welcome gift for your new position.”

A welcome gift? This?

I stared at what Veronica handed me.

Brilliantly sparkling gemstones of various colors.

Even with my limited knowledge of gems, their substantial size made cold sweat trickle down my back. These couldn’t possibly be fake.

Given Veronica’s personality and status, I had no choice but to believe these were genuine.

“I’ll contact you when the time comes. Wait for my message.”

Though I tried to return them, thinking such valuables couldn’t be accepted, Veronica had already slipped out of the bar.

Had she left while I was stunned? I muttered while staring at the door letting in cold air, seemingly opened by her departure.

“You could’ve at least left contact information…”

I felt like a job seeker who’d only received an acceptance text without hearing when to start work.

***

Had Veronica truly visited the bar?

Sometimes I wondered if I’d dreamed it all while desperately waiting for her during the Owner’s absence.

After all, nothing had changed in my routine for the past week since her visit.

I still worked as the bartender at the Owner’s establishment.

The only difference was several gems reverently placed in a corner of the bar – proof that day wasn’t a dream.

Why hadn’t I used them? How could I? The pressure was too much.

“Ophelia.”

“Yes?”

“Did Veronica visit while I was away?”

“Ah, yes… Once, a few days ago.”

“…Did she leave anything?”

“Those gems over there.”

Then one day.

The Owner suddenly asked about Veronica’s visit.

When I silently showed the gems she’d left me, the Owner heaved a deep sigh.

“I told her repeatedly not to pay debts with such things…”

This clearly wasn’t her first time settling accounts this way.

Just how wealthy was she to spend money like water?

“…What should we do?”

“Veronica gave them to you, so keep them.”

“Huh? B-but she paid for drinks with these…”

“Tsk. Trying to deceive me now?”

The Owner playfully flicked my forehead.

“She obviously told you to keep the change. Just accept it.”

“……”

Ah.

She’d mentioned repeatedly telling her not to pay debts this way.

The Owner must have experienced this multiple times – I should have realized sooner.

As I awkwardly smiled and reluctantly accepted the gems, the Owner pulled out a thick envelope from her coat.

“This is…?”

“Take it. Your severance pay. Veronica told me. You’re transferring jobs? She said to come to the Academy today.”

“Ah, Owner! That’s…!”

Oh.

I’d completely forgotten to inform the Owner.

Perhaps because I’d used hypnosis to get this part-time job.

I’d even forgotten basic facts. Flustered, I opened my mouth to explain.

But the Owner stopped me, seeming to already know what I’d say.

“It’s fine, really. Part-timers quitting suddenly is nothing new.”

“I’m sorry…”

“I said don’t worry about it. Just take your severance pay. My arm’s getting tired.”

“I can’t accept this.”

“Huh?”

“You’ve already given me too much. Taking severance pay too would be…”

My conscience prickled at accepting severance pay.

Getting severance after hypnotizing my way into the job felt somewhat… wrong.

But the Owner began an awkward performance, refusing to back down.

“Ah, a part-timer refusing severance pay. I’d hate to become a criminal…”

“O-Owner…?”

“I’ll weep pitifully in prison… regretting not forcing that severance pay on you…!”

“Alright! I’ll take it!”

Though I knew it was an act, I couldn’t refuse. When I accepted the envelope, the Owner finally smiled and hugged me.

“Owner? What’s this…?”

“These past few months were enjoyable thanks to you, Ophelia.”

“……”

The Owner thanked me while embracing me.

Saying my presence made his previously boring days consistently enjoyable.

That though she’d been lonely, she never felt alone while I was around.

I remained speechless during her embrace.

Could I really accept such gratitude when I’d forced my way into her life through hypnosis?

Finally, I spoke in a barely audible voice.

“Don’t mention it…”

My conscience stung sharply.

***

I looked around in awe.

If this building were in a game, it could be background art from one I’d played.

Seeing the Academy that served as my favorite game’s setting right before my eyes, I kept turning my head until my neck hurt.

Watching me, Veronica – no.

Principal Veronica chuckled quietly.

“Fascinating, isn’t it?”

“Ah, I-I’m sorry.”

“No need. This will be your workplace from now on.”

The Principal smiled at me, making me blush.

Had I been too excited?

Realizing I’d been acting childishly despite the Principal’s presence, I deeply bowed my head.

Smiling at my reaction, she continued.

“I thought hard about the counseling room’s location.”

“Usually it’s on the first floor, right?”

“Indeed. But my thinking differed slightly.”

“…Was I mistaken?”

“While accessibility is important for students visiting counseling… there’s a bigger issue.”

A bigger issue?

As I tilted my head in confusion, she explained.

“Our students are exhausted from constant competition. That’s why I recruited you.”

“Competition, you say?”

“Yes. While thriving students might be fine, others seem… somewhat unstable.”

I immediately understood.

I’d occasionally seen such students during my own school days.

Those pretending to be fine with friends but secretly devastated by poor grades.

She must mean those students.

“While competition helps students grow significantly, having too many left behind isn’t ideal, is it?”

“…That’s true.”

If she knew this, why had students’ mental health been neglected until now?

Though I wondered, I decided to let it pass.

The Principal clearly cared about students.

She must have had more urgent matters.

Someone who never appeared despite daily incidents at the Academy wouldn’t have time for such trivialities.

Unless I used hypnosis, that is.

“However… students with worries won’t visit a first-floor counseling room.”

“Because they’d feel looked down on.”

“Precisely. Being seen entering would burden them.”

It wasn’t wrong.

People want help with their problems yet fear exposure – that’s human nature.

“So I chose a less frequented area. What do you think?”

“Huh? What do I think…?”

“Ah, I hadn’t mentioned yet. This will be your counseling room.”

…This was the counseling room?

I looked around at her words.

A luxurious sofa and table made of premium materials dominated the center.

A work area in the corner with two pristine beds.

Four bookshelves packed with novels and comics.

I’d thought this was a reception room…?

“Th-this place…? It looks too luxurious…”

“We used somewhat expensive items. Noble children won’t enter if standards are low.”

Stunned by the unbelievable sight, I stared at the Principal.

Was this the Academy Principal’s sincerity…?

“Well? Is it acceptable?”

“Uh… Y-yes… I like it…”

“Request anything missing. I’ll prioritize it, though preparation was rushed.”

This was rushed?

I reacknowledged her wealth – she who used gems for drink payments.

Truly wealthy…

“Then I entrust the students to you.”

“Ah, yes…”

Thus I was appointed counseling teacher at the Academy that formed my favorite game’s setting.

Two weeks later.

Lying on one of the counseling room’s pristine beds, I muttered:

“I’m bored…”

Not a single student had come.

Not one.