Chapter Index





    Ch.275275. Eh, Eh… No way…

    “Principal Rupert! What on earth is going on here!? I really don’t think this is right at all!”

    “Professor Edwin, please calm down first.”

    A few days after the dinner with Selden Alphonse and the faculty.

    Professor Edwin entered Principal Rupert’s room with veins bulging in his neck as he began to speak.

    “How can I possibly calm down? I even gave up my farming business because I trusted your word, but are we really going to continue leaving the academy’s management to Selden Alphonse?”

    “He created this academy. I don’t have any special authority in this matter.”

    Professor Edwin, still unable to calm himself, repeatedly fanned himself with his palm as he continued.

    “Let’s say accepting commoners into the academy is acceptable. After all, other academies have been admitting children of commoners with exceptional talents. But if we implement a differential tuition system, will the parents of noble children just sit quietly and accept it?”

    Rupert let out a groan of distress.

    And for good reason.

    Hadn’t he given Selden Alphonse the same advice as Edwin?

    However, Selden Alphonse claimed he had a way to make nobles attend the academy without complaint despite the differential tuition system, and Rupert couldn’t possibly oppose him given his confident demeanor.

    ‘I really tried to believe him, but…’

    Suddenly, out of nowhere, he called his butler and said, “Send a letter to my father-in-law”…

    Moreover, Selden Alphonse wasn’t even married yet, was he?

    Rupert clutched his throbbing head as he spoke.

    “Didn’t I gather all the faculty members to tell you about Selden Alphonse?”

    “Yes, you did. I acknowledge he’s an impressive person. However, there’s a clear difference between rescuing graduates captured by Principal Giselle and managing an academy.”

    “…That’s true.”

    “At this rate, he’ll fill all the incoming students with commoners.”

    “And is that a bad thing?”

    Edwin blinked in surprise at Rupert’s question.

    “…Pardon?”

    “I asked if it would be bad to fill the academy with commoners.”

    “W-well, no, but if tuition is expensive, parents of commoner children won’t consider sending them here, and conversely, if tuition is cheap, the academy will definitely operate at a loss.”

    “…”

    “No matter how wealthy Selden Alphonse may be, you know very well how enormous the annual funding for the academy is, don’t you?”

    Rupert let out a short sigh.

    “I’m sure Selden Alphonse has his own plans.”

    “…Plans? I heard he’s not even married, so how is sending a letter to someone he calls his father-in-law supposed to be a solution?”

    “Perhaps he’s about to get married soon? He’s certainly of the right age.”

    “Haha! Let’s say that’s true. Even if his prospective father-in-law is wealthy enough to ensure the academy’s financial stability, do you think that solves all our problems?”

    “…What else is there?”

    “Not only will rumors spread that Lake Academy is only for commoner children, but nobles won’t even give it a second glance.”

    “…”

    As Rupert fell silent, Edwin squeezed his eyes shut before opening them again and continuing.

    “For the sake of the academy’s reputation, noble children should pay the same tuition as commoner children. Honestly, it’s not even difficult, is it?”

    “According to your logic, it would be the same either way.”

    “…Pardon?”

    “If we lower the tuition to a level that commoners can afford, do you think the nobles will be pleased with that equality?”

    “W-well, that’s…”

    “Rather, they might question whether their children will receive proper education if the tuition is too cheap.”

    Edwin nodded as if acknowledging the point.

    “You’re absolutely right. Then we need to find a solution as soon as possible.”

    “…As I mentioned, since the young master has requested help from his so-called father-in-law, wouldn’t it be better to wait and decide after that?”

    “Sigh… Principal Rupert, is Selden Alphonse’s father-in-law the Emperor himself?”

    “Y-you’re going too far with your words. What if someone hears you…”

    “I’m just making a point. Unless it’s the Emperor, no matter how much money someone has, a complete solution is impossible.”

    Who was Edwin?

    Though his words were somewhat direct, he was someone who had always spoken the truth and was forcibly dismissed by Principal Giselle for it.

    That’s why Rupert had intended to give him the position of Dean, overseeing all professors.

    He was that intelligent and had exceptional foresight, which is why Rupert wore such a troubled expression.

    “…Then I’ll ask the young master again exactly how he plans to resolve this.”

    “Thank you for accepting my advice. I don’t mean to say Selden Alphonse is bad. However, the differential tuition system is such a significant issue that it could be seen as reverse discrimination against nobles.”

    “Yes, I understand. If I have a serious conversation with the young master, I’m sure he’ll understand our concerns.”

    “Exactly. It’s not like we’re doing this for our own benefit, is it? Rather, it’s for the good of the academy.”

    Edwin had several reasons for being so passionate about this.

    After falling out of favor with Principal Giselle, he applied to other academies, but perhaps due to pressure from the Association, no one would accept him.

    With no choice, he returned to his hometown and started farming.

    It felt like the whole world had turned its back on him.

    Yet he didn’t regret it.

    He thought his current life was much better than teaching students in a dishonorable way.

    However.

    Separate from his principles, life was hard.

    Work he had never learned before was arduous, and after several failed harvests, he began to struggle financially.

    And then.

    Lake Academy came to him like a waterfall in a drought.

    He initially refused, thinking he would soon be dismissed because of the Association, but Rupert assured him that wouldn’t happen.

    And with comfortable welfare conditions that left him speechless and a salary beyond imagination…

    Edwin thought to himself.

    If he received such treatment, he would show results worthy of it.

    That’s why he was so passionate.

    Rupert understood Edwin’s feelings, and since other professors had also been cautiously visiting his room for days, expressing opposition to the differential tuition system, he had no choice but to nod in agreement.

    “I’ll speak frankly to the young master even if it puts me out of his favor.”

    “If it’s difficult for you, Principal, I’ll speak to Selden Alphonse instead.”

    “No. This is the principal’s duty.”

    Edwin, who had worked under several principals throughout his teaching career, felt a slight tightness in his nose at Principal Rupert’s exemplary attitude.

    The ideal academy principal he had envisioned was right before his eyes.

    “…In that case, all of us professors who share your opinion will go together to support your statement.”

    “It’s fine. If we go as a group, the young master might feel defensive.”

    “I-is that so?”

    Principal Rupert smiled gently at Professor Edwin.

    “How do you perceive the young master, Professor Edwin?”

    “Well, he’s remarkable. Given that he built defense formations to block monster waves, he must be exceptionally intelligent, and considering he paid off the debts of academy graduates, he must also be benevolent in character.”

    “Benevolent…”

    “…Pardon? Did I just say something wrong?”

    Principal Rupert adjusted his posture and smiled meaningfully.

    “It seems the rumors have been distorted.”

    “I don’t understand what you mean.”

    “While it’s widely rumored that Lake territory’s monster wave was blocked due to excellent defense formations…”

    Principal Rupert’s voice trailed off.

    Professor Edwin swallowed hard with a tense expression.

    “While it’s widely rumored that it was blocked…”

    “What if it was also supported by the young master’s excellent swordsmanship?”

    “I heard he never attended an academy and was quite deficient in swordsmanship since childhood… Plus, at one point, he was at the edge of the Eastern Continent, in a rui—”

    Professor Edwin covered his mouth with his palm, and Principal Rupert continued regardless.

    “That’s why I said the rumors seem to have been distorted.”

    BOOM!

    While Professor Edwin was still furrowing his brow in confusion, there was a commotion outside, and faculty members rushed into Principal Rupert’s room.

    “P-Principal Rupert!”

    The professors wore urgent expressions.

    Principal Rupert rose, his face full of questions.

    “What’s the matter?”

    Then, one of the professors, sweating profusely, pointed outside.

    “E-Emperor Malius has just visited the Lake territory mansion.”

    “…Pardon?”

    “And Selden Alphonse has summoned you, Principal Rupert, and all of us professors.”

    Recalling his earlier conversation with Edwin, Principal Rupert slowly turned his head.

    Professor Edwin’s face flushed as his lips trembled.

    “N-no way… Could it be…”


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