episode_0027

My goal as the Academy’s Treasurer is to get our finances back on track.

I did several things for him, such as bribing some students, trying to return Beatrice, and negotiating with dwarves and merchants.

Most of them were focused on ‘income’. The idea that money was in short supply, so money had to be earned.

However, this has obvious limitations.

‘Ultimately, you can’t expect long-term income unless you get grants or donations.’

Since bribery has to be done secretly, it can’t be on a large scale, and if it grows unnecessarily and the academy actually becomes corrupt, that’s a problem in itself.

This time, I was able to get through this month and extend my lifespan with the artifact I received from the king, but this was only an unintended, temporary gain.

The lifespan of the Academy? It has increased. But even in that time, time passes. If you spend a day earning a day, it is just maintaining the status quo.

Of course, that doesn’t mean we should slack off on our efforts to increase our income. The reality is that it’s difficult to even maintain the status quo.

That’s why another method was needed.

Increasing income isn’t necessarily the only way to normalize finances.

‘Then we can just reduce the costs.’

If you can’t significantly increase the amount of money coming in, you can just reduce the amount of money going out.

And of all the Academy’s expenditures, this is the one I decided to touch.

“Hey, Mr. Finance Minister. Are you serious? Are you going to abolish the custom? ”

“Of course, I won’t do away with all the conventions. However, in the future, magic professors will no longer own the results of their research.”

“That’s ridiculous! That’s our privilege──”

“The fact that you consider the chairman’s favor as a privilege is proof that you have already deviated far from your original intention. According to the employment contract you signed when you were appointed as a professor, it states that all research results are jointly owned by the academy and cannot be used arbitrarily.”

“But, it is already a well-known fact that Grandis Academy gives professors ownership of their research results! If you abolish that now, you will not be able to attract competent professors… … .”

“Grandis Academy has already earned a reputation as the best in the kingdom, and there are so many professors who want to work at our academy. Above all, if there are professors who want to be hired at our academy just because they have research achievements, we will also decline.”

“No matter what… … .”

“First of all, shouldn’t you be clear about what you’re saying? You’re giving it to ‘professors in the magic field’, not ‘all professors’, right?”

“… … … … … .”

It’s abolishing the conventions held by magic professors.

What does that have to do with cost savings? It doesn’t really have much to do with this. To be honest, Professor Circe’s practice is so unusual that it’s rare for the academy to suffer a big loss even if it owns research results.

Just as not all research generates money, usually profitable research is shared with the academy. In fact, the money coming in from research profits is considerable.

Just looking at Professor Circe’s research on improving healing potions, there have already been many studies with similar profitability throughout the history of the Academy, and those profits are the greatest contributor to keeping the Academy afloat even after the Chairman’s wealth has nearly completely depleted.

The abolition of customs is only an ‘opportunity’.

The most essential, yet easiest to manipulate, tool for achieving the cost savings I want.

“Even so, even if you are the Minister of Finance, you cannot arbitrarily abolish a practice that has continued for decades!”

“Hmm.”

“This is a clear outrage and an abuse of power by the Minister of Finance!”

If you take away what they have been given, everyone with vested interests will rebel. Even if it comes from the chairman’s favor, as the saying goes, if favors continue, they think they have a right.

It is similar to how, in the military, even when a new company commander orders the new recruits to cancel their orientation, the soldiers secretly continue to do so, saying that it is a waste to break a long-standing tradition.

After all, there is something to be gained from the practice: the soldiers get pleasure from tormenting the new recruits, and the professors get profit.

Of course, I expected this kind of backlash.

‘But you know.’

There is a reason why I am saying this to Professor Circe and not Dean Billend.

“Don’t worry, I’m not the one abolishing conventions.”

“Yes… … ? No way, the Chairman… … !?”

I can think that way. I can confront the chairman even if I’m prepared to suffer losses, but it’s impossible to confront the chairman.

How are you going to beat an 8th-ranked martial artist who created the academy himself, ran it with his own money for decades, and is always serious about education?

Moreover, I am known to be the chairman’s confidant, closest aide, and secret lover, and there are false rumors about me, so it is understandable for me to do so.

“No.”

“Okay, then.”

“That’s Professor Circe, right?”

“… … … Yes?”

As Professor Circe said, if I step forward, there will be considerable backlash. I could use Professor Circe as a meat shield, but I can’t avoid being cursed at either.

Ultimately, it could be seen that the new Finance Minister is trying to get rid of the ‘tradition’ that has been in place for the sake of performance.

From the professors’ point of view, the Academy has no financial problems, its chairman is still the richest man in the kingdom, and it seems likely to continue to exist for another 100 or 200 years, so it is only natural.

But what if, instead of the new Finance Minister, it were a professor in the same field of magic who steps forward?

But even that was abused to the point where Dean Billend was concerned.

What if a party is considered not to have used the practice yet because it has not been ‘officially’ announced?

“What… … are you talking about?”

“Aren’t you already using the custom? Even if it’s abolished now, it won’t have much of an effect on you, Professor?”

“If I do that, I will become a public enemy to the magic professors! Why should I accept such an offer?”

“Instead, you can get to the Holy Land faster.”

Towering.

Professor Circe, who had been reacting violently, stood still in shock.

Did you really think I didn’t know?

“Professor, you needed money urgently. Didn’t you clearly say ‘pure faith’ and give it to the church for free? ”

“… … How about that.”

“Do you really think that the Academy would just leave it alone, saying that it is a custom and there is nothing that can be done about it, when you have forcibly possessed research results of that scale? I have already talked to the church.”

“… … … … .”

Thanks to that, I was able to clearly understand what Professor Circe’s true intentions were. That cardinal was a quick-witted person and handed me the entire conversation with Professor Circe.

From the church’s perspective, there was no way they would not accept the research results, since a professor they had no relationship with suddenly donated them, claiming they were theirs as was customary.

However, the Cardinal seemed to realize that the matter was quite serious and suggested that he return it, but after much thought, he declined. He probably did not want to antagonize the Academy, or more precisely, the chairman.

Of course, it’s not like I handed over the contract because it was a contract like a household. Since the church was the only one that could make healing potions anyway, even if I got them back, I would have to deal with the church again, so I just made a new deal right there on the spot.

Instead of the Academy saying anything about this, I would receive a certain number of healing potions free of charge every month. This was still a bit lacking, but the rest was given to me as the right to make personal ‘requests’ to the Cardinal whenever I wanted.

“You were planning to completely move to the Holy Land by handing over the research for free, establishing a solid connection with the church, and continuing the relationship while developing a hair loss treatment. Even if you shared the intellectual property rights and handed over most of the profits to the academy.”

“… … … … … .”

“Anyway, all we need from the professor is a record of having accomplished something that the church said was impossible.”

It must have been sincere that he had been trying to develop a hair loss treatment for 20 years. If his goal was simply to move to the Holy Land, he could have moved on now that he had donated the recipe for improving the healing potion, but according to what I heard from the Cardinal, what Professor Circe wanted was a high-ranking position in the Holy Land.

In the end, it seems that the academy was used as a stepping stone for advancement, but in fact, this itself is not a big problem. Just as the chairman condoned the current practice in order to recruit professors, it is quite common for professors to move between academies. Although they are criticized as traitors, it is not illegal.

It’s just that Grandis Academy is the best in the kingdom, so up until now, there were almost no people who wanted to go there.

“Of course, you will be greatly criticized and hated by magic professors, but that doesn’t mean you will become everyone’s enemy.”

“… … You are speaking of professors in the martial arts and administrative fields.”

“From their perspective, the magic field is the only one that is receiving excessive privileges. If a young genius professor who has ‘never used conventions’ steps forward to break that, everyone will be happy.”

What if I refuse? Of course, it’s obvious.

I’m going to expose Professor Circe’s customs and plans to move to the Holy Land. And I’m going to use the confusion to achieve my goal. That was the original plan.

However, since the magic field is the main focus of Grandis Academy, if there was that much chaos, it would take too much time and effort to resolve it. That is why a different method was chosen.

Professor Circe is already cornered, but we still need to throw out some bait to make it easier for her to fall for it.

“Of course, you don’t really want to spend 20 years researching hair loss medication. Wouldn’t you like to shorten the period if possible?”

“That means… … .”

“For the next three years, I will increase your research budget by ten times the current amount. Can you guess how long it will take in three years? Of course, I will not give it to you through the magic field, but I will give it to you directly.”

“You already know?”

“If it’s a feud with other magic professors, then of course it is. Dean Billend also made a promise.”

Why would the Dean ask professors from other departments to say hello to him because they are worried? From the Dean’s perspective, who tries to avoid getting involved in politics as much as possible, he did his best to show consideration.

Yesterday, I received the documents sent by the chairman and immediately looked into it through my junior. He said that students in the magic department often saw Professor Circe arguing with other professors.

“I guess you get a lot of jealousy and restraint. Should I say it’s the fate of a genius?”

“… … … … .”

“If you do it yourself, the professors in the magic field, except for Professor Circe, will receive considerable criticism from others. Wouldn’t that be quite refreshing?”

Anyway, Professor Circe has no choice but to accept it. You shouldn’t have acted so arrogantly. You were trying to harm the Academy and the Chairman too much, weren’t you?

But if they really succeeded in researching hair loss medication and gave 80% of the profits to the Academy, the Academy’s financial situation would improve significantly, so I was willing to be very generous. Just a little bit.

“… … If you reject this offer, you will immediately publicize my custom.”

“Don’t worry. You won’t be fired because of hair loss research. However, your position as a professor, who is already subject to jealousy and restraint, will become even more difficult. It might not take 20 years, but twice that. Research funds will also be cut off for unknown reasons.”

“So you didn’t announce it officially and kept it a secret? … … That’s a secret. ”

“Then what are you going to do?”

In his impatience, he reaches out his hand in front of Professor Circe’s eyes.

She was looking at my hand carefully.

“… … After development, I believe it will be easy to move to the Holy Land.”

“If development is successful, I will negotiate with the church directly, so please focus on your research. You will probably get glares when you go out anyway.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Finally, Professor Circe took my hand.

Migration to the Holy Land? I’ll help you. As long as the Academy doesn’t go bankrupt before then.

If they go bankrupt, it’s a promise that won’t be kept anyway, and if they really succeed in developing a hair loss treatment and prevent bankruptcy, that’s the extent of their help. Of course, I’ll give the Cardinal a quick tip about Professor Circe’s ‘personality’.

‘I have a bit of a bad taste in my mouth.’

Once you’ve screwed me over, I won’t let you go easily.

Fortunately, the cardinal was a man of common sense, so he was able to minimize the damage, but if he had not made the donation in the first place, he would have been able to negotiate in a much more advantageous position. He would have gained more. Since the church already had all the research materials, if he had cast a spell, it would have been really difficult.

I’m really pissed off at the fact that he didn’t even apologize for the shit he did with his healing potion research, and that he shamelessly said he’d spend 20 years researching with the Academy’s money. You really need to be prepared. I’m going to suck you up, because you seem capable.

I don’t know why you’re so obsessed with the high-ranking positions in the Holy Land, but if you just focus on developing hair loss medication, it’ll be a good thing anyway───

──Circe, your appearance at the Academy was a disguise. How dare you bring the Kingdom of Geara into this state!

──You’ve definitely seen that… …perennial last-place student at the Academy?

──I will never, ever forgive you… …! Circe!!

──Yes, I was very immature back then. I need to kill everything related to the past this time.

“… … … … .”

“Minister of Finance?”

“No… …It’s nothing.”

What was it just now?

The moment I held Professor Circe’s hand, I heard someone’s voice, as if it was an auditory hallucination or tinnitus.

It wasn’t my voice. It was a voice I knew, a voice I had heard somewhere before.

The voice I had clearly heard, along with its content, disappeared from my memory in an instant. Only a vague trace remained, and I don’t even remember what was said.

… … What on earth was that?

Professor Circe looks at me with questioning eyes.

I could not help but look at him with a somewhat distorted expression.

*

Monday, the day many people curse.

From that Monday morning, the large conference room of Grandis Academy was bustling with people.

“What’s going on all of a sudden? Is there something important to discuss?”

“The research budget allocation meeting has already ended.”

“The chairman said something. He told all the professors of magic, martial arts, and administration to cancel their classes and gather together. ”

“Anyway, it’s good that there’s a break. When it’s over, should I take a long-awaited day off? Surely this won’t count toward the number of breaks I can take?”

“But where is Professor Circe…? Could it be that she didn’t come because of her brilliant research? And where is Dean Billend?”

Professors of magic, martial arts, and administration.

The professors gathered in the same conference room where they had previously gathered for the budget planning meeting were all in commotion, each thinking of a reason for the meeting, expressing joy at the cancellation of classes, or chatting with fellow professors.

Some professors were anxious that there might be a problem at the academy, and some even talked about an invisible professor among the almost all professors gathered there.

Soon the professors’ voices died down.

anything.

It was because someone with a huge presence was approaching the conference room.

“All professors stand up.”

“The chairman is coming in.”

The deans of the martial arts field and the administrative field, who sit at the very front, control the professors as representatives.

As all the professors stood up politely, the conference room door opened.

“I’m sorry for asking you to gather so early in the morning. Everyone, please sit down.”

“Meet the Chairman.”

“””””See you, Chairman!”””””

The greetings and respect are treated with the utmost respect, as if welcoming the king of a country.

At least within the academy, the position of the chairman was equivalent to that of a king, so it wasn’t a particularly strange analogy.

The chairman, who had accepted the professors’ greetings with a slight nod, sat down at the head of the table, leaving behind the four people he had brought in.

The Dean of Academic Affairs, and the Dean of Finance.

When two of the most powerful figures among the department heads appeared, the professors’ attention was focused.

Compared to the other two, it wasn’t of much interest.

“Dean Billend.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“Get started.”

“Okay.”

One of the remaining two, Dean Billend, with a somewhat gloomy expression, came forward with heavy steps before the professors.

After a brief cough, he opened his mouth.

“This emergency meeting is due to a professor’s declaration of conscience.”

“Declaration of Conscience… … ?”

“What does that mean?”

“Snow… … Ma?”

“Professor Circe, tell me.”

“Yes, Dean Billend.”

And the last person, Professor Circe, stepped forward with her usual cool expression. It seemed like she had noticed someone in the middle, but anyway.

Most of the professors in martial arts and administration tilted their heads at the appearance of the young professor known as the greatest genius in the field of magic.

Only a few magic professors opened their eyes wide as if they sensed something.

“I stand here as a professor to make a declaration of conscience. I express my infinite gratitude to the chairman who gave me this opportunity.”

“Go ahead.”

“In this place, I─── The ‘privilege’ that professors in the magic field, including myself, have been enjoying.”

“Oh, no way… … !!”

“Professor Circe! Shut your mouth right now!”

“Nonsense!”

Only then did the professors, or rather the professors of magic, realize what Circe was trying to say and stand up or raise their voices.

With a single gesture from the chairman, they were forced to shut their mouths or sit back down.

Behind him, the Dean of Academic Affairs glared at the professors who were trying to resist with their eyes wide open, and the Dean of Finance continued to write something down as if it was his job as a secretary.

Dean Billend lowered his head with a somber expression.

“I want to confess to those bad habits and corruptions.”

Professor Circe.

A bomb was detonated in the conference room.