episode_0025

“AAAHHHH!!!”

Crunch! Crunch!

All sorts of noises and screams echoed through the room. Fortunately, it was a private dormitory that only a few students could use, so there was no need to worry about the duel venue being blown up by noise from between floors, but the room, which should have been neat and tidy, was a mess.

And in the center of the room, amidst all the traces of destruction.

The owner of the room, Chloe Pisty, took a deep breath.

“How… … How… … !!”

Her hair, which had been tied up, was loose and flowing, her eyes were bloodshot, and her hands were covered in cuts and bruises.

Meanwhile, Chloe, clenching her fists so hard that her nails were digging into her flesh, muttered with bloodshot eyes.

“How!!”

Chloe Pisti won the duel. She dueled Beatrice twice and won both duels.

But paradoxically.

Chloe didn’t win. At least she thought so.

“Ugh… … Ugh… … .”

The magic that Beatrice showed off in the second duel.

It wasn’t the kind of magic that a half-baked idiot who couldn’t even use magic properly due to a chronic illness could just see and imitate. How much effort had Chloe put into infusing multiple properties into ?

People call Chloe a genius. In fact, Chloe also boasts that she is a genius who alone can become the Grand Mage’s disciple.

It was a lie.

Chloe may be gifted, but she was never a genius.

If there is anyone who is truly a genius, it is… … …

“No!!!”

Kwajik!

Chloe, who suddenly remembered Beatrice’s face, slammed her bleeding fist into the already half-collapsed desk.

Even if he was a 5th-grade wizard, if he didn’t use his magical powers, he wasn’t much different from a normal person. Chloe’s fist had a wound that was bursting and more blood was flowing out.

Was the pain numbed by excitement? No. Even at this moment, Chloe was feeling vivid pain, a pain that seemed to be piercing her brain.

Still, facing the pain.

It was to remember.

“Beatrice… … .”

I will never, ever give up on you.

How many hardships and adversities did he have to endure from being born as a mere slave to becoming the disciple of the great wizard? It was a position he had barely, barely achieved. It was a position he had earned through constant effort every single day.

However, Beatrice was threatening her position simply because she was a genius. She was stealing the attention of her beloved teacher.

──If only your talent was like that child’s… … …

One day, Chloe overheard her teacher’s words without meaning to.

Since then, Chloe has been angry at Beatrice. When her magic was interrupted at the entrance ceremony, she thought she was just showing off and turned away.

So she provoked him and confirmed the chronic disease she had only heard rumors about. Only then could Chloe feel relieved. Since she had that chronic disease, it wouldn’t matter how much of a genius Beatrice was.

But in the second duel, Beatrice triumphantly overcame her chronic illness.

Why on earth? Because you’re a genius? Because you have talent that your teacher recognizes?

“… … … … .”

Chloe.

In the middle of a messy room, I looked down at my bloody hands and pondered a problem for which there was no answer.

“… … There’s definitely something.”

Beatrice’s chronic illness showed no signs of improvement. And yet, in just a week, she figured out how to overcome it, albeit imperfectly.

In the past, attempts to resolve this at the level of the Kingdom of Delphia had already failed, and if she had been able to overcome it on her own, she would have done so a long time ago.

There is something.

Something, or someone, that influenced Beatrice during that week.

“… … … Let’s go.”

After Chloe, with her eyes shining with dreary light, decides to investigate Beatrice.

As always, Chloe Pisti, a mere prodigy, has work to do to maintain her status as the Archmage’s apprentice.

As always.

It was time to practice and work hard.

*

I got off work.

I was able to relieve my worries by solving this month’s expense issue with the artifact the king gave me, and luckily, I was able to leave work today since the workload itself wasn’t that heavy.

We were going to go together, but Laura had to go first because she had to work overtime today.

‘It’s 10 o’clock at night.’

I got off work much earlier than usual, so I think it’s okay to enjoy a little free time.

So, I made up my mind and instead of going to the dorm, I turned towards the shopping district.

This is something I realized after working hard for a year after first entering the game. No matter how much magic exists and how developed many fields are, the era in is basically close to the Middle Ages.

Basically, when the sun goes down, the day’s work is over. In addition to fireplaces and candles, there are also magic lamps, but they are expensive items that can only be found in the lord’s castle in an ordinary territory.

But Grandis Academy is a different story.

As expected from our chairman, he poured money into various places while building the academy.

“If you go over there, you’ll find a famous night food shop!”

“It’s definitely cheaper if you buy it at night. I think I’ll buy it at this time in the future… … .”

“Honey! Let’s go together!”

Even though the sun has set and night has fallen, the Academy is not dark. Rather, the magic lights installed throughout the room are brightly lit, creating a unique night view.

There is a saying in the kingdom: there are only two places in the kingdom that are bright at night: the royal castle and Grandis Academy.

Honestly, every time I see them, I want to take off all those magic lights and sell them, but the night view and night market of Grandis Academy have long since become famous, so I can’t do anything about it.

anyway.

Students who have a day off tomorrow, merchants making late-night sales, and couples enjoying a night date all gather to create the night streets.

I also walked quietly between them.

‘I used to play here often when I was a student.’

Thanks to that, I know the geography of this night market very well. I especially frequented it with Laura and that damn junior. To be exact, I was dragged around.

At the time, I really didn’t want to go, but now that I think about it, it’s all just memories.

As I walked through the night market, feeling a sense of nostalgia, I soon arrived at the store I was aiming for.

“… … Okay.”

A place I tried to visit several times after becoming the Minister of Finance, but eventually turned back.

I mustered up my courage and went into the general store.

“Goodbye!”

“Please sell a lot.”

I kept my eye on it but never bought it.

I ended up flexing it.

‘I want to try it soon.’

Normally, I wouldn’t have money to buy things like this. I do get a salary, but I have to return everything except the minimum living expenses to the finances.

But didn’t you receive something a little different today?

Not the Treasury Secretary, but the Adam.

That was just an excuse made by Beatrice.

Wouldn’t I be greedy for money? As Beatrice said this and handed me a box filled with precious metals and gold, I became greedy and had other thoughts.

──Isn’t this something I can afford to splurge on?

And in the end, I couldn’t resist that temptation. I closed my eyes and sold my conscience.

I walk down the street at night with a strange sense of guilt, feeling the weight of the ‘object’ in my hand.

“Huh? The Minister of Finance?”

“Huh? Oh, Lisha Youngae.”

“Last time, it was before my admission was confirmed, but now I am a student at Grandis Academy, so you can call me Student Risha.”

“Then I will excuse myself from now on. Student Lisha.”

“Yes.”

This must mean not to be too formal. If we interpret it in aristocratic terms, it means that since we have already exchanged bribes, it is okay to be a little more friendly.

Plus, the families of Lisha and Claudia probably think of me as an idiot who uses my position as Finance Minister to take bribes.

Did he think that if he acted moderately friendly, I would fall for him like a fool? Well, considering my age and career, I would look like a reckless rookie rather than a high-ranking official at the Academy.

“I received the fruit you sent me last time. It was firm, juicy, and delicious.”

“Is that so? That’s good.”

“I would like to ask you to do this often in the future.”

“The fruit is a specialty of Claudia’s territory. If the Finance Minister wants it, it’s fine. ”

It is true that the fruit is a specialty, and it is true that a box of fruit was sent to me, but the contents are obviously different.

I roughly looked into it and found that he had thoroughly laundered the goods by changing the carrier several times in the middle using the fruit merchant of Yeongji. He was definitely a master of bribery, as expected of a nobleman.

As we walked for a while, exchanging formal smiles, Lisha’s gaze soon turned to the ‘thing’ I had bought.

“Mr. Finance Minister? Is that a fountain pen in your hand?”

“You have a keen eye. I bought this with great determination.”

As a finance manager, the things I touch the most are documents and pens. However, because I write and sign so many things for work, my pens break or get damaged often, which has been a bit of a problem since last year.

Since the pen is an Academy product, I could just apply for a new one and receive it, but I wanted a fountain pen that was sturdy and comfortable to use, so I didn’t have to do that.

‘I didn’t buy it because I didn’t really need it.’

Beatrice’s instigation broke my reason. I bought something this expensive.

However, the expression on Richa’s face as she looked at the fountain pen was subtle.

“But that’s the cheapest fountain pen, so even students don’t use it much… … … I made a mistake. Sorry. ”

“What is there to be sorry about? It’s true.”

Well, that was the limit because I only took one gold coin from the bribe box Beatrice gave me. The rest of the precious metals and gold? Of course, I included them all in the treasury.

This was clearly embezzlement, but my position as Chief Financial Officer not only made it possible, I was able to ensure that no one knew about the embezzlement.

Does this mean with great power comes great responsibility?

‘… … I think it comes with more responsibility than I thought.’

To be honest, even if it is a more expensive fountain pen, the appearance and decoration are flashy, but the actual substance is not much different from this. Rather than saying that I spend less, I should say that after working as a finance manager for a long time, I have become efficient in spending extravagances.

Now that I think about it, it was the first luxury I’ve had since taking on the position of Finance Director. I guess I could think of it as a reward to myself as a first-year employee.

However, I spoke first because, apart from the fact that I was really okay, Lisha was fidgeting as if she had made a slip of the tongue.

I felt it the last time we met, but compared to how well you handle windows, you seem a bit awkward in this area.

“By the way, what business does student Lisha have at the night market?”

“Ahem. I came out to enjoy the night view rather than buy anything… … … I was also changing my mood.”

“A change of mood?”

“Recently, some of the students in my faction have been spreading ridiculous rumors. As a member of the Claudia family, I immediately put an end to it, but I was fed up with the idiots who believed in such conspiracy theories, so I came out to see the night view.”

The Grandis Academy offers equal opportunity, but of course it does not offer equality of status.

It simply means that both nobles and commoners are given the same opportunity to learn, but entering the academy does not make nobles and commoners the same.

Because of this, students from noble families like Lisha Claudia often formed factions with students from other noble families that were closely connected to their home families.

‘Rather than that, he speaks quite frankly about his own faction, saying things like they’re stupid and frustrating.’

Is it because they think they are essentially on the same boat, having already given and received bribes?

The more information and connections you have, the better. From my perspective, it’s a good thing.

Is that a rumor?

“Can you hear me?”

“That’s such absurd talk… … … and I’m worried it might confuse the Finance Minister.”

“I’ve already left work, so now it’s not the Treasury Secretary, it’s Adam Keynes.”

“Wow, this is really nonsense, so please don’t laugh at me.”

What the heck is that?

With a deep sigh, Lisha openly showed her regret for her own faction with her eyes.

“I heard that some organization will soon terrorize Grandis Academy.”

“Oh.”

“Isn’t that ridiculous? Terrorism? Grandis Academy? I, as a student, find it ridiculous, but the Finance Minister must be even more so. It’s embarrassing.”

“Well… … That’s right.”

If you think about it, it’s not exactly a false rumor, but why is such a story already out there? Is it some kind of foreshadowing?

‘Should I at least give you a hint?’

Given Richa’s personality, it’s probably worth considering since she won’t just accept help and wash her mouth clean.

I hesitated for a moment, but then I noticed the spear hanging on Risha’s back as she let out a sigh.

──Beware of Lisha Claudia.

──Even if she herself is a good person, she might be different when she holds a weapon.

……okay.

It’ll be a long time in the future anyway, so it’d be better to give you a heads up when the time is right rather than telling you now.

“Chief of Finance? Are you worried because of the rumors of our idiots? … … .”

“Hey, what should I worry about? There are only five security guards at the academy, and the chairman is in charge. Who could commit terrorism?”

“I think so too. They just like sensational stories, so please don’t take it to heart.”

“Okay. I have to go this way, so I guess we should part ways now.”

“It was a nice conversation, Mr. Finance Minister. Have a good night.”

“I hope student Lisha gets in well too.”

I leave the bustling night market behind and enter a dark alley. I went to the night market with a fickle mind, but I got an unexpected harvest.

Isn’t the academy terrorism a cliché that’s bound to happen? In fact, terrorism did happen in .

I just didn’t think much about it because it happened after the main character became a third-year student. If the financial management was wrong, the academy would only have one year left to live, so even if there was no terrorist attack, it would almost certainly go bankrupt anyway.

However, the rumors are already circulating two years before the launch.

‘The movement of the grass itself has been around since the first grade.’

A spy who was sent by a terrorist group to infiltrate Grandis Academy. That ‘student’ must be doing something about it.

Let’s keep that in mind. For now, it was just an appreciation. I wanted to try using a fountain pen sooner.

As soon as I got to the dorm, I went into my room, opened my thesis, and immediately grabbed a fountain pen───

“Uh.”

──Before trying it.

There was a document lying on the desk.

I don’t suspect an intruder. This was one of the urgent communications between me and the chairman.

I don’t know how it’s done, but if I’ve already left work and something is really urgent, the CEO puts the paperwork on my desk. I’m a Grade 8, so there has to be a way.

In that case, I had a small question as to why he didn’t come to me in person, but since we were both busy with work, our schedules might not match up, and since I had to go to the office to do my job properly anyway, I ended up meeting with the chairman.

Anyway, I put down the fountain pen set that I hadn’t even opened yet and read the document.

The content was very simple.

The handwriting, which appears to have been written by the chairman himself, is somewhat trembling and seems to be filled with a variety of emotions.

I have just received a reply to my request for an interview with Professor Circe. The appointment is tomorrow, so this is an urgent message. I also need to prepare for the interview.

The issues of work and research funding within the magic field must now be gradually investigated.

In addition, at the end, the chairman’s apology was written somewhat out of the blue, and each and every letter written with firm pressure was filled with sincerity.

And I knew very well why the chairman wrote such things.

“I need to get ready.”

Of course, the person I’m going to meet tomorrow is Professor Circe, but there’s one more enemy I have to deal with.

… … A ‘custom’ that exists at Grandis Academy, especially among the magic professors, and is taken for granted.

Some say it is history and tradition, some say it is deep-rooted evils and bad customs, and some say it is welfare for professors. That is it.

It can be said that it was created by the chairman several decades ago.

It was a problem I really needed to solve.