episode_0040

festivities.

I felt this way when I was a student, but I really don’t understand why they do this event.

Although it may be different in the relatively leisurely fields of magic or martial arts, the administrative field is called the hope of the commoners, so most of the kingdom’s genius commoners flock there. In such a place, you have to maintain top grades, so you really have to study like crazy.

Everyone around me, except for Laura, the daughter of the Edelwein family, and that crazy junior who didn’t really care about grades, focused only on homework and studying, regardless of festivals or anything else.

That’s why, even if it’s a festival, it doesn’t have much of an impact on the administrative field unless the students decide to just have fun or give up on their studies.

‘Ah, I could hear the sound of magic and martial arts guys having fun.’

Is it because of that experience? Honestly, I don’t know why we should hold festivals.

Does it help with your studies or education? No.

What is the meaning of rest? When I see students walking around drunk every night, I think they are resting well on their own.

Can you afford the finances? It’s obvious that they’ll ask for a festival budget, let alone a funding one.

The Academy says festivals are the rule? Fuck them all. If the Academy goes bankrupt because of the festival, you’re going to take responsibility?

No matter how I think about it, it’s right to abolish the festival.

First of all, from what I’ve seen in web novels, whenever a festival is held, terrorist attacks, attacks, and other crises that didn’t exist before occur.

As soon as I came to that conclusion and returned to my office, I quickly wrote up a plan to cancel the festival and handed it over to the chairman.

“That, the Minister of Finance?”

“I believe the CEO will understand.”

“Ah, but even so, this is a bit… … I don’t think so.”

“Yes?”

Mr. Chairman.

What does that mean?

*

The chairman, who had met Julius for the first time in a long time, couldn’t help but be greatly embarrassed as soon as he returned to his office.

My brother, I didn’t have time to think deeply about the news that the Count had given me.

Because the Minister of Finance came up with a truly outrageous proposal.

“So, let’s get rid of the festival?”

“Yes.”

The chairman was about to answer, “Does that make sense?” to the expression on the finance minister’s face as if he was wondering if there was a problem.

Immediately afterwards, I swallowed those words again.

Because I knew all too well what kind of person the Minister of Finance was.

‘It can’t be done based on mere emotion or reason.’

Adam Keynes, as befitting his position as Minister of Finance, is a man who sees everything in terms of money.

That’s not a bad thing. In fact, Adam studied and worked hard to achieve his current results despite having no experience or knowledge.

It is no exaggeration to say that he practically dominates Grandis Academy together with the chairman himself.

… … Of course, it’s closer to trying to survive somehow rather than dominating.

Even so, this incident was somewhat shocking.

‘It’s an event that has been held every year since its first establishment.’

It’s not just because of that symbolism. The indecisive and gullible chairman died after the incident on the rooftop. Now, there’s only a chairman with iron blood like Adam… … I want to think so.

Anyway, as Adam said, it is not good to hold a festival with the current state of the Academy’s finances. Even the Grandis Academy festival is a huge festival that lasts a week.

Still, there was a reason why the chairman expressed his opposition to Adam’s opinion.

“Even if we leave all other issues aside, the students’ backlash will be enormous.”

“This is the part that needs to be reviewed.”

“Well, I guess the Finance Minister doesn’t know much since he comes from an administrative background… … … Festivals are pretty important events for magic and martial arts.”

“Are you talking about drinking, making eye contact, and running around like crazy while studying all night in the administrative field?”

“That’s true, but to be exact, it’s important to the children of the great nobles.”

“… … … Hmm.”

“As you can see from the bribes Adam received, there are quite a few children of high-ranking nobles in the magic and martial arts fields, such as the Claudian and Reinhold Counts, the Marquis of Kellam, and the families of the students of Lisha. And for them, the festival is a place for legitimate socializing and trading.”

Can the Academy, a space for learning, be used as a space for politics?

The chairman’s answer to that question was, “It doesn’t matter.”

Those who are born as part of the great noble family cannot shed their shell until they die. The shell of the great noble family is an armor that protects and feeds them, but at the same time, it is a prison that prevents them from ever escaping the standard of the great noble family.

Even if they came to the academy and became students, it would be the same. Their essence was that of aristocrats, and their every action and word could not help but have political influence.

The chairman was not someone who did not understand even such things. Right now, the chairman is the ‘chairman of Grandis Academy’, but at the same time, he is also the ‘8th rank of the kingdom’.

For the children of the nobility, politics and infighting are part of everyday life, and the stage where they are maximized and displayed is the festival.

“Since Grandis Academy became the most prestigious school in the kingdom, children of high-ranking nobles began to enroll there, and it naturally became a ‘custom’ for them to gather in one place during festivals and share stories.”

“It’s customary again.”

“But this isn’t a bad habit or an evil practice. I don’t know everything about the academy, so if the Dean of Academic Affairs hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have known.”

“Ah, that guy was the third son of Marquis Kellam.”

“In the end, he was driven out of the family due to a factional fight and ended up working as the head of the academic affairs department, but his knowledge remains the same.”

“Then… … .”

“They are taking bribes from students like Risha and others, so if you suddenly cancel the festival, they will naturally ask the finance director what happened. They can’t just push through.”

“… … … Hmm.”

“Didn’t they say bribery is the art of relationships?”

The finance director, who had heard everything the chairman had to say, closed his eyes for a moment as if lost in thought. The chairman cheered inwardly.

I did it! I convinced the Finance Minister. I can control his thoughts!

As I nodded with pride at having won my first logical argument with the Finance Minister, the Finance Minister, who seemed to have finished his thoughts, looked at the Chairman.

For a moment, my heart raced at the sight of those eyes, but I pretended to be calm and looked back at them.

“Besides that, during festivals, we allied with various higher-ups for supplies. And I don’t care at all, but even so, it’s an academy, so festivals… … … .”

“Yes, the chairman is right. There would be many problems if we just got rid of the festival.”

“That’s right! As expected, he’s the Minister of Finance!”

“But even considering that, the cost of the festival is a huge blow to the finances. Considering the artifact refund I received from His Majesty last time, the money saved for this midterm exam, the compensation I received this time, etc… … I think I can do it this year without too much trouble.”

Chook.

He hands over the documents that the finance minister had brought.

It contained detailed graphs and commentary on the festival budgets that had been implemented so far.

“What about next year, the year after that? What if we can’t increase our budget? Isn’t this the time when we should save money on this festival?”

“… … That’s it.”

“My thoughts are the same. It’s not that I have no personal feelings, but even so, the festival is an unnecessary waste of money. A gathering of children of the great nobles? Just set a date other than the festival. An alliance with the upper class? Just say you won’t buy anything starting this year, but is that illegal? The money that visitors spend? It goes into the pockets of the students and shop owners, not the academy. The students’ backlash? Of course, it’ll be considerable, but I’m more afraid of the academy’s bankruptcy. ”

“… … … … … .”

I thought I convinced the Finance Minister, but I guess I failed in the end.

If that’s the case, then at least.

“I’ll earn the festival budget… … !”

“Would you like to go monster hunting? If someone who has been quietly serving as the Academy Director for decades were to suddenly start hunting monsters and making money, no one would suspect anything.”

“Then, like last time, an ocean-going fishing boat.”

“Are you serious? I didn’t send you that to make money in the first place. I just wanted to let you know how much money you lost in futures trading.”

… … That’s what it was like.

Sure enough, I spent a week on an ocean-going fishing boat, without sleeping, slaughtering sea monsters and sending over 10 ships full of cargo.

However, the money earned was barely enough for the Academy’s one-day budget. That was the minimum cost, such as labor and maintenance costs, and it excluded things like building repair costs.

Since then, I have become more conscious of my spending.

“If the chairman, who had been quiet for decades, suddenly started making money outside, anyone would think that the Academy’s finances were at a somewhat dangerous level, if not on the verge of bankruptcy. That’s why he chose a deep-sea fishing boat, which allowed him to hide his identity, and if possible, to do the hardest physical labor as quickly as possible.”

“… … … … .”

“Even if you came after a week, didn’t you have a hard time because the work piled up? Whether it’s monster subjugation or something else, the chairman can’t leave the academy.”

This time, we defeated the Kraken and received a reward from the Count of the port city, but how many people in the kingdom would be able to defeat such a monster? Even if we hide its identity, it will be revealed through its fighting style.

As the finance director had said, it was impossible for her, as the chairman, to be away from the academy for long.

So does that really mean we have no choice but to get rid of the festival?

But the chairman was a little bit depressed.

“Anyway, it’s a festival, but it’s not something that can turn the Academy upside down or anything, so it’s right to get rid of it.”

“Is that so… … .”

“… … However, it is true that there is some truth to what the chairman said. If we suddenly get rid of it, the aftermath will make things difficult. ”

“Minister of Finance?”

“So, we need to find a middle ground between maintaining the festival and eliminating the festival.”

“Huh?”

What on earth does this mean?

The chairman could not understand how to find a middle ground between things that could not possibly coexist.

The finance minister nodded as if he had reached a conclusion.

“Let’s just do it for a day or two.”

“… … A festival?”

“Isn’t this supposed to be a week-long festival? Let’s hold it for just one or two days to minimize the students’ complaints and other aftereffects. Isn’t this okay? The meeting of the children of the great nobles can be held within one or two days.”

“Are you serious?”

“Additionally, if you look at the records of past festivals, more than half of the revenue from visitors is concentrated on the first and second days. In fact, even if it is revenue, most of it goes into the pockets of students and shop owners, but it is better than nothing if the Academy takes some of it.”

“Ha, but how… …? Should I issue an official notice saying that the festival period will be shortened?”

“That’s okay, but you don’t have to do that. I have a good idea.”

“What are you thinking?”

“There was an unavoidable accident.”

I just heard something very ominous.

“Oh, quiet?”

“There must be an unavoidable ‘reason’ for ending the festival after only one or two days. Of course, it’s not like the academy’s finances are on the verge of bankruptcy, so it can’t last long. It’s something that all students can easily accept. ”

Is there really such a good reason?

However, the chairman knew from experience that the words spoken with such conviction by the finance minister, even if they were radical, were clearly based on a clear foundation and were necessary at the same time.

Above all, the chairman looked at the finance director with a glimmer of anticipation at the mention of holding a festival.

“2 cases 4 days ago, 3 cases 2 days ago, 1 case yesterday, and already 1 case today.”

“… … … ?”

“The number of times an academy exploded or a building collapsed. Now, these incidents are a daily occurrence for students, and they are just accepted.”

“… … No way?”

“An accident occurs at the festival. The location is the magic professors’ laboratory. An explosion and building collapse occur there, canceling the festival for the entire academy. ”

“Ha, but it won’t be an easy accident. The festival takes place all over the academy, and as the finance director knows, the academy is so big───”

“Of course I know. The lab is intentionally located away from where the students live, so there shouldn’t be any problems with the festival going on whether there’s an explosion or not.”

“Then… … … .”

“So, let’s use ‘Circe’ here.”

“Professor Circe?”

How on earth did they use Professor Circe to cause such an accident that they had to cancel the festival midway?

Given the nature of the Finance Minister, he would probably not want to cause a truly major accident where multiple buildings collapse, as this would incur additional costs. But would it be possible to cause such an accident while minimizing costs?

“I guess it was because the season was changing, but the wind was blowing from the research building to the center of the academy.”

“Why is the wind suddenly… … .”

“It will be the same at the festival a month later. The weather is like that every year. So what if the ‘hair loss inducer’ that Professor Circe is researching as part of her research on hair loss treatment is accidentally leaked?”

“… … … Yes?”

“What if Professor Circe’s lab collapses by accident, and the hair loss agent she was using for research accidentally gets sprayed into the sky, and then gets blown away by the wind blowing toward the center of the academy?”

“… … … … .”

“Even if the festival continues, the students will reject it.”

Did I really go crazy because of work stress?

An idea that would terrify even the chairman who thinks highly of the finance minister.

But aside from the plan itself, what if it works?

‘The festival was canceled because it was unavoidable, so the students and the top will understand, and since the festival was held anyway, complaints will decrease significantly. All complaints about the festival being canceled midway will be directed at Professor Circe, who caused the accident. Since it was canceled midway, the budget can be recovered, and the remaining supplies can be used as they are.’

There may be some bumps in the road, such as the purchase of supplies for a week-long festival, the budget already spent, and the number of visitors, but you can minimize the cost of holding a festival while still holding it.

But there’s just one problem with this plan.

To be precise, it was a problem that the chairman could solve.

“… … How will Professor Circe persuade him? If this plan is implemented, he will become a public enemy or receive great discontent among the students. ”

“Oh, that’s true.”

“If you don’t have a good method, leave it to me. I’ll ‘persuade’ Professor Circe.”

Of course, the finance minister won’t know how the persuasion will proceed. That’s better.

For a moment, the chairman’s eyes looked bleak.

“No, it’s okay. Professor Circe is a damn traitor, but if you tighten her too much, you never know what she’ll do. So you have to throw her a carrot.”

“Carrots?”

“Just trust me.”

On the smiling face of the Finance Minister as he spoke.

The chairman was speechless for a moment.

It’s not that he’s handsome or cool or anything.

“You can look forward to it.”

“… … … … .”

Because it was a truly evil smile that the Finance Minister sometimes gave.

Am I really that sick that I get excited even at that kind of expression?

The chairman lowered his face, which was beginning to turn red, and quietly prayed for Circe’s soul to rest in peace.

*

“Are you crazy!? Why would I accept such a plan!? There are already many times when magic professors pretend to make mistakes and use magic on me, and now the students are also hostile to me───”

“Professor Circe, your clothes are quite shabby.”

“… … … … … .”

“I see that the number of graduate students has decreased considerably. Maybe that’s why the cleaning hasn’t been done well. Still, I’m glad that the research seems to be going well.”

“That’s it! Who cut my salary by 98%!”

“But you still give me the research funds regularly, right? Of course, if I use it for personal use, it’s over. Anyway, this is a good thing for Professor Circe too.”

“What nonsense are you talking about… … .”

“20% of the reduced annual salary.”

“… … … !!”

“If you accept this plan, I will restore it. You will have to do research during the festival anyway. I will reduce the number of lectures to a minimum, so just do research until your resentment subsides.”

“That, that’s it.”

“You weren’t planning on going anywhere during the festival, were you? Did you have other thoughts?”

“Absolutely not! Absolutely not.”

“Then I guess you’ll accept it. Think about it carefully. It’s 20%.”

“… … … 20%.”

“That’s 10 times my current salary.”

“… … I will.”

“I can’t hear you very well.”

“I will, I will! I’m sick of just filling my stomach with water every day! At least I want to eat like a human being… … !!”

“Excellent choice, Professor.”

“… … … you devil bastard.”

“10%?”

“I will never talk nonsense again. I will follow whatever the Minister of Finance says!”

“That’s right.”

Professor Circe.

Completed recruitment through salary negotiation(?).

After leaving the lab and receiving a bow from Professor Circe, I took a short walk down the streets of the Academy.

The negotiations are over, but there is still work to be done.

‘It’s obvious that Circe is strange.’

I’ve been thinking about this for a while, but Circe seems to be bad at hiding her thoughts and feelings. Is it because she was a genius and was admired, so there was no need to hide it?

Anyone who saw it could tell that he was trying to do something during the festival, whether it was personal or revenge on me.

Anyway, while I was thinking about what to do for my ‘next task’ while remembering Circe.

“… … Mr. Finance Minister.”

“Huh?”

“Well, I happened to pass by and it seemed like you had something on your mind.”

A voice I’ve heard before.

Red hair, a black ribbon holding her ponytail, and even the way she approached you with a timid expression.

It was Chloe Pisti, the female student I met during my duel with Beatrice.

“Chloe student?”

“Is there anything I can help you with?”

hmm.

If you think about it, he’s just the right person for the job?

“Is it okay if I can’t give you extra credit or a scholarship?”

“Okay, it’s okay.”

“Then you came at a very good time!”

“Hic!?”

It seemed like he was trying to avoid me, but at the same time, it was clear that he was forcibly approaching me for some reason.

What does it matter? She’s a high-level human resource that can be used for free. He grabbed Chloe’s shoulder so she couldn’t run away.

“I have a few favors to ask of you, Chloe.”

I said that and laughed.

“… … Yes.”

Chloe.

So awkward, yet so slightly natural.

He nodded.