episode_0028

“Up until now, professors in the magic field have been able to choose one of their research results and keep it. This was the chairman’s consideration in the early days of the academy’s establishment to attract excellent professors, but there is no need for it to continue until now.”

Professor Circe’s words were easy to listen to, as expected from an educator, and she was only talking about the main points. It was more like a lecture to students than a declaration of conscience or a confession.

That may be why the professors’ reactions became even more intense.

“Professor Circe! Stop acting rashly!”

“Circe! What are you talking about!”

“That’s our tradition!”

It is true that the magic field, which boasts the largest number of professors, is the one that made the declaration of conscience, so their voices are the loudest.

The number of professors in the martial and administrative fields combined is greater than that of the magic field. However, they do not react as violently as the magic field professors.

Anyway, since it was a fact that the professors at Grandis Academy secretly knew, there was no need to get excited for no reason.

Because Professor Circe continued to speak despite the shouts of the magic professors.

“As a privilege and benefit, professors in the magic field focused on research results that were profitable or that would greatly help their careers later. When I was first hired as a professor, this was exactly the kind of benefit I heard about.”

Professor Circe spoke somewhat cleverly and ambiguously, following the ‘advice’ of a certain finance minister.

It is true that professors in the field of magic have had achievements that were profitable or helpful for their careers. However, even if the profits are very small, is there an achievement that is profitable at least and is not helpful for their careers?

As Dean Billend cautiously responded, magic professors knew that no matter how traditional or customary it was, if they crossed the line, they would be finished. That’s why they avoided possessing excessive research results.

However, this did not mean that all magic professors were like that, and the mere ‘possibility’ of having large-scale research was an outrage to professors in other fields.

It’s just that the magic field is the strongest in Grandis Academy, and it was something that the founding chairman tacitly approved, so they didn’t say much.

But now it’s a different story.

Even though they knew that Professor Circe was deliberately trying to provoke them by speaking ambiguously, the professors in the field of martial arts and administration were willing to let it slide.

There was no reason to point it out in detail.

“Ownership of research results, what the… … !!”

“Even if the magic field represents Grandis Academy, isn’t this going too far!”

“According to the employment contract, the Academy should clearly own the research results, but is it possible that the magic field is violating that rule using excuses like convention?”

“That’s too much! You’ve been doing that for decades!”

“There must be many important studies that you already own! Are you even scholars after all that? ”

Even though there was no professor who did not know the conventions of the magic field, the professors of martial arts and administration expressed their resentment and indignation as if they were hearing it for the first time.

The former was a lie, but the latter’s feelings were real. How could it be that, as professors at the same Grandis Academy, only the magic field receives such benefits?

Resentment and jealousy built up through discrimination.

If you really think about it, the fundamental cause is the chairman who tacitly gave permission, but at the time, it was the early days of the academy, and there must have been a reason for bringing in professors. Above all, people tend to harbor resentment toward those who continue to enjoy and use it right in front of their eyes, rather than the one who first gave permission.

So the martial arts and administrative professors raised their voices against the magic professors.

In a conference room that turned into a market in an instant.

“I was delighted with this welfare, but I had great doubts. It was truly a double standard. If I had remained silent, this privilege would have continued as usual, in the name of custom. But I simply could not do that.”

The custom has already been well used, and in the most unusual way.

“We did not become professors purely for profit. We are scholars and educators who wanted to see the end of the studies, martial arts, and research that we wanted to do. How could such an educator turn away from his conscience?”

Of course, it is not a wrong statement, but there are many professors who have seen the highest salary and various benefits in the industry. Professor Circe herself was not much different.

“So after much thought, I am standing here. Even if I am branded a traitor, even if I am looked down on, even if I am fired, I don’t care.”

It’s not okay. If she really gets fired, Professor Circe will do her best to fight back.

“I am simply making a declaration of conscience as a professor at Grandis Academy.”

In the end, it was a confession full of lies. Anyone who knew the truth about Professor Circe would have cursed her for being an absolute hypocrite and shameless.

However, since Professor Circe’s customs were kept a secret, only Dean Billend, the chairman, and the finance director knew about it. Likewise, no one could possibly know about the backroom deal with the finance director.

If no one knows, is a lie a lie? Even if there is someone who knows, it’s okay.

Even if it is a lie, if it benefits them and is morally right, many people will turn a blind eye to it.

And so Professor Circe’s declaration of conscience ended.

“… … … … … .”

“… … … … .”

Perhaps because she had just raised her voice, the magic professors were glaring at Professor Circe as if they were going to devour her, while the martial arts and administrative professors were looking at her with friendly eyes, creating a contradictory situation.

The head of the martial arts department, a middle-aged man covered in scars, nodded.

“Professor Circe, thank you for your declaration of conscience.”

The dean of the administrative department and the older female professor also smiled.

“It must not have been easy, but it was a courageous act.”

And the Dean of Magic.

Standing next to the chairman with a determined expression, while receiving the questioning gazes of the magic professors, everything was understood.

Even Dean Billend, who had already heard everything from the chairman, opened his mouth.

“… … As the head of the magic department, I feel a great sense of guilt over Professor Circe’s declaration of conscience. Chairman. ”

“… … … … .”

“There is no lie in what Professor Circe said. I will resign as the Dean… …with the responsibility of being the Dean.”

“Dean!”

“Dean! No! Why would you do that, Dean!”

“Professor Circe! You… … !!”

“Everyone be quiet.”

“””… … … … … .”””

The chairman, who had been sitting at the head of the table and silently listening to everything, shut everyone’s mouths with a cold expression.

The influence of the chairman, who has maintained the academy solely on his own resources without any support or donations, is absolute. He is free from any vested interests and can thoroughly enforce his own beliefs.

A single word from the chairman could really force Dean Billend to resign. Beyond that, the magic professors could also be replaced… … … There would be great chaos, but the problem is that if it’s the chairman, it’s possible.

All the professors looked at the chairman with emotions such as anticipation, anxiety, frustration, hope, and resignation.

“… … This is a story from more than a few decades ago. At that time, I had just established Grandis Academy, and I was busy recruiting capable professors who could properly teach students. ”

“There were some who came to see my name, but most of them were in the martial arts field, and there were almost none in the magic field. So while I was worrying about that, the dean at the time made a suggestion to me.”

“To attract magic professors, let’s allow special ‘welfare’.”

“After much thought, I accepted the suggestion. And so, decades have passed and now it is.”

“I never thought that welfare would continue as a tradition and custom until now.”

No. The chairman remembered the custom. However, since it was a custom she herself had permitted, she simply took it into consideration and kept it a secret.

It made sense from the professors’ perspective, too. The chairman rules the academy like an iron man, and usually such iron man rule imposes a corresponding workload.

It is a well-known fact that the lights in the chairman’s office are almost always on, even at night. Some students even look to it as a lighthouse.

However, the professor of magic in question, and even the most notable young genius in the academy, made a declaration of conscience.

The chairman has a clear sense of purpose and confidence.

The opportunity to break the custom I started, and a certain confidence that came from it.

──A kind of self-loathing.

“As the chairman of the academy, it is my fault for not noticing this problem sooner.”

“Chairman.”

“Dean Billend, I decline your resignation request. And Professor Circe.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“If it weren’t for your declaration of conscience, this evil called custom would have continued. I sincerely thank you.”

“Thank you for your compliments. I just did what was expected.”

“And of course, this won’t go away easily.”

The chairman stood with the judge who passed judgment. But what kind of punishment should be handed down?

It goes without saying that doing away with conventions is a given, and it certainly allays the grievances of the magic professors and the administrative professors who have been benefiting from it for decades.

It’s true that the magic field is the center of Grandis Academy, so it shouldn’t be at a point where it’s completely unstable.

Could there be such a punishment? The professors held their breath and waited for the chairman’s words, while harboring doubts.

“Dean of Academic Affairs, Dean of Finance.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

The chairman suddenly called the two managers who had come in with her.

The chairman spoke in an extremely cold voice to the two managers who had walked out in a polite manner.

“Dean of Academic Affairs, please re-investigate the research results in the field of magic and organize and submit the research that you have traditionally owned.”

“Yes!”

Even with the reckless order to investigate all of the decades of research, the fanatic chairman responded with a cheerful, energetic tone.

“Minister of Finance.”

“Yes.”

“Cut the salaries of all magic professors for the next 10 years.”

“… … !!!”

“Hey, Chairman!”

“Of course, the salary of newly hired professors will not be reduced. It only applies to professors who are currently employed.”

“Okay.”

Usually, a professor’s income is not made up of just his annual salary.

In addition to annual salary, there are various other types of income, such as paper allowances, research allowances, and compensation for conducting external research.

The story is a little different for Grandis Academy. It’s simply because the basic salary itself is at an extraordinary level. Simply put, it’s 10 times more than other private academy professors. Of course, other bonuses and special allowances are separate.

Because of this, professors often lived off their annual salaries rather than their research or paper allowances. That is why they reacted much more violently to the word “salary cut.”

Since the main income is so high, there is no need to be too concerned about side income. However, a salary cut that reduces the main income is considered a very high level of punishment at Grandis Academy.

The professors in martial arts and administration seemed to be generally satisfied, as they also knew how powerful a pay cut was in this academy.

But the eyes of the magic professors were filled with discontent.

“Are you dissatisfied?”

“That… … … .”

Soon, as the chairman’s gaze turned to them, they all shut their mouths and bowed their heads.

Beyond just momentum and authority, just meeting the gaze of an 8th-rank being naturally made my mouth close.

“I won’t touch anything else except the salary cut. Are you still dissatisfied? Even though you have decades of research achievements? Even though you have continued to enjoy special privileges different from professors in other fields?”

“… … … No, Mr. Chairman.”

” Dean Billend. This should never happen again, but if any strange traditions, customs, or practices occur in the future… … please report them without fail. ”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“Okay.”

After saying that, the chairman quietly left the conference room. The head of academic affairs followed him, and Professor Circe, who had been told in advance, also followed her.

And naturally, the magic professors’ gaze turned to Dean Billend and the only remaining finance director, Adam Keynes.

Even though the chairman talked about a salary cut.

Because they didn’t say ‘how much’ the pay cut would be.

“Dean Billend.”

“… … Minister of Finance.”

“We will now discuss the salary reduction plan. Please go to the dean’s seat and take a seat.”

“Okay… … .”

Dean Billend’s face darkened. After talking to me, he must have been very distressed as he went to the chairman’s office and heard the whole story about this incident.

He might lament why this happened when he was the dean, and maybe even blame me.

‘I said I wasn’t here to discipline or punish you for your customs.’

But it is not wrong. This happened because of Professor Circe’s ‘voluntary’ declaration of conscience.

What would you say to me if I knew that all of this was done to reduce costs, a significant proportion of which was ‘professors’ salaries’?

Of all the triggers I could have created, the conventions of the magical field were the most suitable and the timing was perfect.

I quietly looked around at the other professors who were laughing at the depressed magic professors.

‘Actually, they’re all similar.’

It’s just that the field of magic is large, but of course such practices and corruption exist in other fields as well.

Of course, most professors are good people. They are proper scholars, educators, and sincere people.

But as with all organizations, aren’t there times when a few loaches muddy the waters?

‘Just tell me, you little shits.’

Last year, I was so busy adjusting to work that I didn’t have time to do anything like this, but this year is different.

Starting with the conventions of the magical field.

I will save this academy from bankruptcy by drastically reducing costs and increasing revenue.

Yeah, that’s right.

Then… … …

──I’m sorry, Mr. Finance Minister… …for being such an idiot Chairman.

──You live. Live in my place… …

… … … Then, what is it?

I thought I heard a voice again just now.

After shaking his head, thinking it must be his mood, his eyes sparkled.

Did they realize that the next ten years of their lives were in their hands? The eyes of the magic professors were filled with fear.

‘Then, how much should I cut it to make it seem like I got a good pay cut?’

I would have cut the research budget, but I was afraid that it would shake up the entire field, you guys.

Anyway, I got my hands on a legitimate sword through an opportunity that no one could say anything about.

It was time to have some exciting sword dancing.