episode_0019

Beatrice’s repatriation plan.

The benefits of this plan were threefold.

1. Prevent future building destruction by sending back the building destroyer, Beatrice.

2. Additional bribes can be received quickly in the process.

3. In addition, the disciples of the Tower Tower will also have no one to provoke if Beatrice disappears, so they will not suffer financial losses.

By sending back one Beatrice, you gain the benefit of a bribe, and at the same time, you reduce your costs since no more classrooms will be blown away.

That’s why in , Beatrice was determined to send her back, regardless of whether she was the heroine or a comrade.

And the key to this plan is the chairman.

“Chairman.”

“Please speak.”

“When I first told the chairman about Princess Beatrice, he said there was no problem.”

“It’s still like that now.”

Of course, this plan wasn’t made in a flash. On the day I received the bribe from Beatrice, I finished negotiating with the dwarf and went straight to the chairman to discuss it.

Because Beatrice, who was unable to leave the academy due to her being a hostage, could return to her home country, the only way for the chairman to step forward was for him to do so.

At that time, the chairman heard everything about Beatrice and told me that I didn’t have to worry.

At that time, I was so busy with things like preparing for the entrance ceremony and negotiating with candidates for bribes that I just let it go.

When the time came to actually execute it… … the chairman’s boasts made me feel uneasy for no reason.

“… … Can I trust you, right?”

“Minister of Finance, why don’t you trust me? I’m a little upset.”

“The chairman boasted last time that a lot of money would come in soon, but then he started futures trading───”

“It’s different now! Anyway, this time it’s really okay! I’m going to tell that Arken myself!”

“Arken? Are you talking about His Highness Archendelminos?”

That’s the king of our country.

I said metaphorically that even a king has to crawl in front of the chairman.

Did you really have a direct connection with the king?

“What the king, in my eyes he’s still just a baby.”

“Would that connection be enough to repatriate Princess Beatrice to her home country?”

“I know his very personal secret. He would hate it more than death to have it exposed, so I’ll do it. And honestly… …it’s not like the four princesses of the Kingdom of Delphi are worth that much. And that border dispute isn’t that important. ”

“Hmm.”

Honestly, the chairman is right.

Of course, Beatrice’s value does not come solely from her status as the Fourth Princess. The reason Beatrice came to Grandis Academy in the first place as a lure to study abroad was because of the border dispute between the Kingdom of Delphia and our kingdom.

If the conflict was important, there’s no way Beatrice could be sent back to her home country. She’d be a hostage if the time came. But if it was really an important conflict in the first place, the Kingdom of Delphia wouldn’t have sent her as a hostage.

In the end, Beatrice herself thought she could return, just as the chairman had boasted.

This border dispute is not that big of a deal. If it were, the ball would have been called in to threaten war at any moment.

It was just a minor dispute, and the Kingdom of Delphia was also a small country, so they quickly bowed their heads and sent the four princesses as hostages. Since it had gone this far, the Kingdom was not properly monitoring Beatrice. They would send her back if there was an appropriate opportunity.

‘The problem is that Beatrice moved first.’

It’s a completely different story if we decide to send her back at the kingdom level and if Beatrice herself tries to return first. If we’re not careful, it could be seen as disrespecting our kingdom.

Just like how prison guards treat prisoners with less serious crimes and less severe sentences more kindly, the moment they find out that the prisoner is attempting to escape, the prison guards’ attitude changes.

In the end, it could be said that Beatrice reaped what she sowed after the chairman refused and her trickery was discovered, leading to her being placed under strict surveillance.

Anyway, if the chairman knows the king’s private secret, then it would be possible to send Beatrice back with that… … Yes. Maybe.

“Then there is no problem. Then please help me.”

“Okay! When should I contact you?”

“It’s now.”

“… … Yes?”

“Please consider that for every extra day that Princess Beatrice stays at the Academy, one classroom will explode.”

“… … I will contact you by the fastest means.”

I think we need to get the wreckers out ASAP. The last of the five classrooms that Beatrice has destroyed was this morning.

Compared to the walls of an entrance exam room or an auditorium completely collapsing, a classroom being blown up is a commotion that other students would also cause, but it’s a different story if five places were blown up in just one week.

‘The protagonist, the youngest knight, Beatrice, the disciple of the magic tower… ‘

Are these students? They are enemies.

I looked at the chairman with a sigh, suspecting that perhaps these were spies sent by the Carpenters’ Guild to generate repair costs.

“How long does it take to get an answer?”

“All 8th graders of the kingdom have direct magical tools to Aken, so it should be done in an hour at the latest.”

“Okay. Then I will go straight to Princess Beatrice. If there is no problem, I will bring her right away. Chairman, you can appeal appropriately. ”

“It was hard asking Archen. I put in some effort. It was a very presumptuous suggestion, but you are my student, so I did it. Something like that?”

Now, if you pretend, it’s pretend.

He looked at the slowly growing chairman with proud eyes and added some words.

“And there is no need to mention that it is my job to extort bribes. The chairman is an honest and upright person, and I am a person who likes money and bribes. We should clearly divide the roles like this.”

“… … I’ll keep that in mind.”

I’m human, so I don’t like this kind of role, but the Academy is going bankrupt, so I don’t have time to worry about personal interests.

‘By the way, if we want to repair all the classrooms as quickly as possible, it will cost extra… … .’

ah.

I really want a cigarette.

I’m used to the throbbing pain around my head and temples now. Damn stress.

Even if things go well and Beatrice is repatriated today, I know full well that there are still other financial ruiners left.

I could only sigh in frustration.

*

… … I smoked a cigarette.

If Laura was here, I would have complained, but it’s work time now. So I just quietly cursed and smoked alone.

‘I’ve already burned a whole pack.’

Considering my financial situation, I should even save on cigarettes, but I just can’t quit.

Otherwise, I feel like I’m really going to go crazy. I’m definitely going to have to work overtime today. Even the memory of leaving work is starting to fade.

But how can I get these cigarettes? They are special order products, different from the ordinary ones, so they are not easy to buy.

‘I heard that I wouldn’t be able to live there for a while the last time I bought it.’

After hearing that, I thought I should save as much as possible and spread it out, but the main character spent it all a week after entering school.

After processing the bills for repairs to the entrance examination room, entrance ceremony hall, lecture rooms, etc. and looking at the financial balance, I felt like I couldn’t afford not to smoke.

In fact, shouldn’t we expel all of them, not just Beatrice, from the academy? Should we cancel the protagonist’s admission even now?

While I was seriously thinking about the original plot development and such, I stopped walking.

“What is it? What the hell is going on?”

“It’s a duel! You always fight, but this time it looks like you’re going to have a real fight!”

“In the middle of a street like this? Are you crazy? This is going to be so much fun! Let’s go!”

“… … What is it?”

The place I was headed to was the royal dormitory where Beatrice stayed.

Since royals with lower ranks in the kingdom’s line of succession would occasionally come to Grandis Academy to avoid purges or make connections, the academy had a separate dormitory exclusively for royals.

However, our country’s royalty does not enroll every time, and it is common sense that royalty or royal families from other countries would not enter other countries’ academies, so the dorms were also empty for a longer period of time.

However, it is said that Beatrice, the only royal family member, is currently using it alone.

What the heck is this crowd?

“Duel?”

No, even if you duel, you do it on the street, and in front of the royal dormitory?

I’m already annoyed, but I’m getting more upset for no reason.

Because the students had already gathered in a swarm, the crazy guys who were actually supposed to duel were nowhere to be seen.

However, I, a first-class student, did not have the confidence to break through among these students.

“Guard, rank and name.”

“Oh, yes?”

“Adam Keynes, Secretary of the Treasury. Rank and name.”

“Hey, Chief of Finance… …!? This is Lowell from the 2nd Platoon, 1st Company, 3rd Guards Brigade! Sorry I didn’t recognize you! ”

“I didn’t know who you were either, so there’s no need to apologize, just help me disperse those students.”

“Okay!”

I caught one of the guards who was patrolling nearby. Hmm, this guy looks trustworthy.

It was the same last time, and it seemed like there were a lot of people in the guard unit who didn’t know my face, but there was nothing I could do about it.

They may not know the chief of staff for examinations, the dean of student affairs, or the dean of academic affairs, who they see quite often, but how would they know the head of finance? When I was in the military, I couldn’t recognize the officers in the headquarters if I didn’t look at their rank insignia.

As I returned back to the crowd with Lowell, who had caught my eye in an instant, I noticed that even though it had only been a moment, there were more students there.

“Please.”

“Yes! Students! Step back for a moment!”

“Hey, it’s the guards.”

“Who is the person behind you… …? Judging by the badge, is he a faculty member?”

“Hey, back off for now!”

The guards wear distinctive uniforms and official weapons, making them easy for students to recognize. Unlike me, who can only tell they’re faculty and staff by looking at their badges, they feel refreshed.

As Lowell took the lead, waving his pole, a path opened up in the crowd that had formed a wall. After all, no student would want to block the guards and get punished.

So you push your way through the students like that.

“You’re not thinking of backing down, are you, Princess?”

“… … Dare.”

“Yes, your noble status may have helped you in that small kingdom, but this is a foreign country. You have to get used to this kind of treatment.”

“Even if that’s true, it’s just ridiculous that there’s no respect at all.”

“Well? I’m not particularly inferior to you, so why should you respect me?”

“You seem too confident about being part of the Empire, even though you’re not royalty. The Archmage is your teacher, not your parents.”

“As if you were the concubine’s daughter?”

“You.”

“What? If you want, come on. The location is perfect, right? I’ll make you cry in front of the dormitory… … !!”

Among the students gathered in a circle, two female students were facing each other.

A yellow bracelet that indicates that they are new students in the magic field. And an unusual magical power blooming from the bodies of the two female students.

… … It was Beatrice and Chloe.

The four princesses of the Kingdom of Delphia and the disciple of the magician who provokes them.

The two seemed ready to clash at any moment, as if they had exchanged some pretty harsh words.

“Mr. Finance, please come behind me. I will keep you safe.”

“It’s okay, follow me.”

“Chief of Finance!? If you’re a first-class person, how can you act like that… … !!”

Yeah, I’m a first-class person. But what? I have my own way of protecting myself.

But here, I didn’t think it was necessary to take out that ‘means’. Considering the price, I didn’t want to take it out unless it was a real life-threatening situation.

Anyway, while Beatrice and Chloe’s magic was raging, I walked straight towards them and opened my mouth.

“What are you two doing here?”

“… … Minister of Finance?”

“What are you… … Wait a minute.”

As I walked towards them, the students surrounding me whispered, but none of them knew who I was. However, these two were different.

One of them had already met me, and the other, by virtue of his position, knew me. It was obvious that if I stepped forward, the fight would stop.

Beatrice, with a puzzled expression, and Chloe, with a puzzled expression, looked at me at the same time.

“Both of you, calm your magic.”

“But… … … .”

“Do you want to be disciplined in this position?”

“… … … … .”

Not only professors, but also department heads can discipline students when there is a good reason to do so. And of course, if a student is disciplined in front of this many students, there will be a lot of gossip.

Beatrice stabilized her magic with a somewhat dissatisfied expression, and Chloe followed quietly, as if she had become convinced of my identity.

It was a completely different look from the way he had been raising his voice and provoking others just now.

But it was also natural. Even if they fight and curse at each other, it’s just a matter between students. It’s just crazy to do it to teachers and staff.

“Chief Financial Officer Adam… …right?”

“Yes, Chloe student.”

Unlike before, Chloe approached me with a polite tone.

I’ve heard that he has an extremely arrogant personality, but that’s only true for his fellow students. He was quite polite in front of the faculty and staff who could discipline him.

Imperial Tower Lord, the disciple of the Great Mage. If he were to be punished for something unpleasant, it would be a disgrace to his master, so he had to be polite.

Chloe, who spoke softly, opened her mouth with a smile.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Chloe Pisty of the Imperial Tower.”

“This is Adam Keynes, the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Chloe, can you tell me what’s going on here?”

“Of course. It is a very proper and legal duel.”

duel?

Was this really a duel? Not a street fight?

“Student Beatrice, is that true?”

“… … … … .”

“Student Beatrice?”

“… … Yes.”

Unlike when the two of us meet, in situations like this Beatrice also has to speak to me politely.

Of course, it’s not like that every time. I just differentiate between the titles ‘princess’ and ‘student’ depending on the atmosphere and situation when we meet.

And now is the time for me to stand up strong, so I called myself a student. Surely you won’t say anything about this later.

Anyway, this is a real duel.

“Is there a duel arena?”

“Yes. I got approval from the Dean of Students.”

“… … Confirmed.”

An official duel ticket issued by the Academy. It has the student council president’s seal on it, and it was issued just 10 minutes ago.

Yeah, that’s right.

But why are you doing this here?

“I confirmed that it was an official and legitimate duel, but this duel───”

“I’m truly sorry, but… … Mr. Finance Minister.”

“What is it?”

“I understand that no one, other than the chairman and the faculty members in charge of refereeing, can forcibly stop a duel that has been officially sanctioned by the Academy.”

“… … … … .”

“I am exercising my legitimate rights right now. Even the Minister of Finance cannot stop the duel arbitrarily.”

Although she confronts me head-on, Chloe’s intentions aren’t particularly antagonistic or driven out.

Even while refuting, he continued to direct his glaring eyes at Beatrice.

I don’t know the details, but it seemed like Chloe had a lot of animosity and hatred for Beatrice. What she said to me just now must have been just because she wanted to fight Beatrice quickly.

But what do you want me to do?

“Duel-related rules Article 7. Duels approved by the Academy will be held in the Academy’s dueling arena or martial arts arena, or in other locations with the permission and supervision of the referee.”

“Uh… … .”

“Who told you not to fight? I told you not to fight here.”

It doesn’t matter to me whether you duel or not. Likewise, I don’t really care why Chloe hates Beatrice.

But if you’re going to duel, then do it in the arena. If that’s the case, then why did you spend so much money on building it?

You two are wizards. If you keep firing magic here and all the buildings nearby collapse, that’s all money and repair costs. Since they collapsed because you broke the rules and dueled, you could claim compensation, but rather than going through that troublesome process, it’s best to just not collapse.

… … Anyway, I think I’ll be able to talk to Beatrice about the repatriation issue once this duel is over.

Let’s just have them fight and be done with it.

“The judgement of the arena is still blank, so I will be the judge. Let’s go straight to the arena.”

“… … … Yes.”

“Yes… … .”