Reviving a Bankrupt Academy: My Financial Battle

Festivals.

Even when I was a student, I never understood why we had them.

Perhaps it was different for the relatively leisurely magic and martial arts departments, but the administration department, known as the hope of the commoners, was where most of the talented commoners in the kingdom gathered. To maintain top grades in such a place, I had to study like crazy.

Besides Laura, the daughter of Viscount Edelvine, and that crazy junior who didn't care about grades, everyone around me was focused on assignments and studying, not festivals.

Therefore, unless a student was determined to have fun or had given up on studying, festivals didn't mean much in the administration department.

'Ah, I could hear the magic and martial arts guys having fun, though.'

Perhaps because of that experience, I honestly didn't understand why we had to hold festivals.

Did it help with studies or education? No.

Did it at least provide a break? Seeing the students wandering around drunk every night, it seemed like they were resting well enough on their own.

Could it contribute to the finances? It was more likely that they would ask for a festival budget.

Was it a national rule for academies to have festivals? Fuck that. Would they take responsibility if the academy went bankrupt because of the festival?

No matter how I thought about it, it was right to abolish the festival.

More importantly, in the web novels I read, whenever there was a festival, there would be terrorism, attacks, and all sorts of crises.

So, as soon as I came to that conclusion and returned to my office, I hurriedly wrote a festival cancellation plan and handed it to the Headmistress, but.

"F-Finance Director?"

"I believe you will understand, Headmistress."

"Well, even so, this is a bit… I don't think it's right."

"What?"

Headmistress.

What do you mean?

***

The Headmistress, who had met with Julius after a long time, couldn't help but be greatly surprised as soon as she returned to her office.

Before she could even think deeply about the news her younger brother, the Margrave, had conveyed.

The Finance Director came to her with a truly shocking proposal.

"So, you're saying we should abolish the festival?"

"That's right."

At the Finance Director's expression that seemed to ask what the problem was, the Headmistress was about to retort, "Is that even possible?" but she immediately swallowed her words.

Because she knew all too well what kind of person the Finance Director was.

'Simple emotions or reasons won't work.'

Adam Keynes, befitting his position as the Finance Director, was someone who saw everything in terms of money.

It wasn't that it was a bad thing. In fact, Adam was achieving results despite having no prior experience or knowledge, thanks to his desperate studying and efforts.

It wasn't an exaggeration to say that he was practically ruling Grandis Academy alongside the Headmistress.

…Of course, it was closer to struggling to keep the academy alive than ruling it.

Even so, this was quite a shock.

'It's an event that has been held every year since the academy was first established.'

It wasn't simply because of that symbolism. The indecisive and naive Headmistress died after the incident on the rooftop. Now, there was only the iron-blooded Headmistress, like Adam… or so she wanted to believe.

Anyway, as Adam said, it wasn't a good idea to hold a festival with the current financial state of the academy. Moreover, the Grandis Academy festival was a huge event that lasted for a week.

Nevertheless, the Headmistress had a reason for objecting to Adam's opinion.

"Even putting aside other issues, the backlash from the students will be enormous."

"It's something we have to accept."

"W-Well, the Finance Director might not know this since he's from the administration department… but festivals are quite important events for the magic and martial arts departments."

"You mean when the administration department is up all night studying, they're drinking, falling in love, and partying like crazy?"

"That's also true, but to be precise, it's important for the children of high-ranking nobles."

"…Hmm."

"As Adam also knows since he's receiving bribes, there are quite a few children of high-ranking nobles in the magic and martial arts departments, like the Claudia family, to which Lisha belongs, the Earl Reinhart, the Marquis Kellam, and so on. And for them, festivals are legitimate social gatherings and a place for negotiations."

Is it okay to use the academy, a place of learning, as a political arena?

The Headmistress's answer to that question was, "It doesn't matter."

Those born into high-ranking noble families couldn't escape that shell until they died. The shell of a high-ranking noble was armor that protected and fed them, but it was also a prison that prevented them from ever escaping the standards of a high-ranking noble.

Even if they came to the academy and gained the status of a student, it was the same. Their essence was that of a high-ranking noble, and every action and word they made had political implications.

The Headmistress wasn't someone who didn't understand that. The Headmistress herself was the 'Headmistress of Grandis Academy,' but she was also a 'Rank 8 of the kingdom.'

Politics and power struggles were everyday life for the children of high-ranking nobles, and the festival was the stage where they maximized and displayed those things.

"After Grandis Academy became the most prestigious academy in the kingdom, the children of high-ranking nobles started enrolling, and they naturally gathered at the festival as a 'custom' and discussed various matters."

"Another custom."

"But this isn't a bad practice or deep-rooted evil. I don't know everything about the academy, so I wouldn't have known if the Head of Academic Affairs hadn't told me."

"Ah, he was the third son of the Marquis Kellam, right?"

"After all, he was kicked out of his family and is working as the Head of Academic Affairs because he lost in a faction fight, but his knowledge is still there."

"Then…"

"You're receiving bribes from Lisha and other students, so if you suddenly abolish the festival, they'll naturally ask the Finance Director what's going on. You can't just push through with it."

"…Hmm."

"Didn't you say that bribery is the art of relationships?"

The Finance Director, after listening to the Headmistress's words, closed his eyes as if lost in thought. The Headmistress cheered inwardly.

I did it! I persuaded the Finance Director. I can control the Finance Director's thoughts!

With the pride of winning a battle of logic against the Finance Director for the first time, she nodded, and the Finance Director, seemingly finished with his contemplation, looked at the Headmistress.

Her heart pounded for a moment at his gaze, but she maintained her composure and met his eyes.

"Besides that, we collaborate with various trading companies for supplies during the festival. And although I don't care at all, it's still an academy, so shouldn't we have a festival…?"

"Indeed, you're right, Headmistress. Abolishing the festival would cause various problems."

"That's right! As expected of the Finance Director!"

"But even considering that, the cost of the festival is a huge blow to the finances. Considering the money from exchanging the artifacts received from His Majesty, the cost saved by replacing the midterm exams, and the compensation received this time… we can manage this year without much trouble, but…"

Flip.

The Finance Director handed over the documents he brought.

It contained detailed graphs and explanations of the festival budgets that had been implemented so far.

"What about next year, the year after that? If we can't increase our finances? More importantly, isn't this a time when we should save even the cost of this year's festival?"

"…That's…"

"My thoughts remain the same. Although I don't have any personal feelings about it, the festival is an unnecessary waste of budget. A gathering of high-ranking nobles? They can just meet on a different day instead of the festival. Collaboration with trading companies? We're just saying we won't buy from them this year, is that illegal? Money spent by visitors? That goes into the pockets of the students and shop owners, not the academy. Backlash from the students? Of course it will be significant, but I'm more afraid of the academy's bankruptcy."

"...…."

Did I fail to persuade the Finance Director after all?

Then, at the very least…

"I'll earn the festival budget…!"

"Are you going to hunt monsters? If you, who have been quietly working as the Headmistress of the academy for decades, suddenly start collecting money by subjugating monsters, no one would be suspicious."

"Th-then, like last time, a deep-sea fishing vessel…?"

"Are you serious? In the first place, I didn't send you to actually earn money. It was simply to give you a sense of how much money you lost through futures trading."

…So that's what it was.

Indeed, she didn't sleep for a week on the deep-sea fishing vessel, defeating sea monsters and filling over ten ships with fish.

Yet, the money she earned was barely enough for a day's worth of the academy's budget. And that was only the minimum cost, including labor costs and maintenance expenses, excluding building repair costs.

She did become more sensitive to spending after that.

"If you, the Headmistress, who has been quiet for decades, suddenly start earning money outside, everyone will think that the academy's finances are in a dangerous state, even if not on the verge of bankruptcy. So, to hide your identity and do it as quickly as possible, I chose the deep-sea fishing vessel, the toughest manual labor."

"...."

"And even after returning after a week, you were swamped with work and suffered, weren't you? Whether it's subjugating monsters or anything else, you can't leave the academy, Headmistress."

Although she subjugated the Kraken this time and received a reward from the Viscount of the port city, how many people in the kingdom could actually subjugate such a monster? Even if she hid her identity, her fighting style would reveal it.

In the first place, as the Finance Director said, she, the Headmistress, couldn't leave the academy for a long time.

Then was there no choice but to abolish the festival?

The Headmistress was a bit discouraged, but…

"Anyway, regarding the festival, it doesn't matter what kind of backlash there is, as long as it doesn't flip the academy upside down, so it's best to abolish it."

"Is that so…?"

"…But it's also true that what you said makes sense, Headmistress. If we suddenly abolish it, things will become troublesome because of the aftermath."

"Finance Director?"

"So, we need to find a middle ground between keeping the festival and abolishing it."

"What?"

What did that even mean?

The Headmistress couldn't understand how to find a middle ground between two things that couldn't coexist, but.

The Finance Director nodded as if he had reached a conclusion.

"Let's just have it for a day or two."

"…The festival?"

"The festival usually lasts for a week, doesn't it? Let's just hold it for a day or two to minimize the students' complaints and the aftermath. Wouldn't that be alright? The gathering of high-ranking nobles can also be held within that day or two."

"Are you serious?"

"Additionally, looking at the records of past festivals, over half of the revenue from visitors is concentrated on the first and second days. Although most of that revenue goes into the pockets of the students and shop owners, the academy still takes a portion, so it's better than nothing."

"B-but how…? Should we issue an official notice that the festival period will be shortened?"

"We could, but there's no need for that. I have a good idea."

"What is it?"

"There was an unavoidable accident."

I just heard something very ominous.

"An accident?"

"We need an unavoidable 'reason' to stop the festival after a day or two. Of course, it can't be something like 'the academy's finances are on the verge of bankruptcy, so we can't hold it for long,' but something that all students can easily understand."

Was there really such a convenient reason?

However, the Headmistress knew from experience that the things the Finance Director said with such conviction, although radical, always had a clear basis and were necessary.

More importantly, at the mention that the festival would be held, the Headmistress looked at the Finance Director with a glimmer of hope.

"Four cases four days ago, three cases two days ago, one case yesterday, and already one case today."

"…?"

"That's the number of times something exploded or a building collapsed somewhere in the academy. These incidents are now commonplace for the students, and they just accept it."

"…Could it be…?"

"There will be an accident at the festival. The location is the magic department professors' labs. Due to the explosion and building collapse there, the entire academy festival will be cancelled."

"B-but an ordinary accident won't be enough. The festival takes place all over the academy, and as the Finance Director knows, the size of the academy—"

"Of course I know. And the labs are intentionally located away from where the students live, so normally, whether there's an explosion or not, it wouldn't affect the festival."

"Then…"

"So we'll use 'Circe' here."

"Professor Circe?"

How would he use Professor Circe to cause an accident big enough to cancel the festival midway?

Considering the Finance Director's personality, he wouldn't want to cause a major accident that would destroy multiple buildings and incur additional costs, but could he cause such an accident while minimizing the cost?

"Perhaps because the season is changing, the wind is blowing from the research complex towards the central area of the academy."

"Why are you suddenly mentioning the wind…?"

"It will be the same during the festival next month. The weather has always been like that every year. Then, what if the 'hair loss agent' used as part of Professor Circe's hair loss cure research was accidentally leaked during the festival?"

"…What?"

"What if, due to an accidental explosion, Professor Circe's lab collapses, and by chance, the hair loss agent she was using for research is released into the air and carried by the wind that happens to be blowing towards the central area of the academy?"

"...."

"Even if we continue the festival, the students will refuse to participate."

Had he finally gone mad from work stress?

It was an idea that would make even the Headmistress, who held Finance Director in high regards, gasp.

But putting aside the plan itself, what if it succeeded?

'Since the festival was cancelled due to an unavoidable accident, the students and the trading companies would understand, and the complaints would be significantly reduced since the festival was held. The dissatisfaction with the cancellation would all be directed towards Professor Circe, who caused the accident. Since it was cancelled midway, we can recover the remaining budget and just use the remaining supplies.'

There would be some issues, like the supplies purchased and the budget already spent for a week-long festival, and the visitors who would come later, but in any case, we could hold the festival while minimizing the cost.

However, there was one problem with this plan.

To be precise, it was a problem that the Headmistress could solve.

"…How are you going to persuade Professor Circe? If this plan is implemented, she'll become a public enemy among the students and receive a lot of complaints."

"Ah, that's true."

"If you don't have a good method, leave it to me. I'll 'persuade' Professor Circe."

Of course, the Finance Director wouldn't know how that persuasion would proceed. It was better that way.

The Headmistress's eyes turned cold for a moment, but.

"No, it's okay. Although Professor Circe is a damn sinner, if we push her too hard, there's no telling what she might do. So we have to give her a little carrot as well."

"A carrot?"

"Just trust me."

At the Finance Director's smiling face.

The Headmistress was momentarily speechless.

It wasn't because he was handsome or cool, but…

"You can look forward to it."

"...."

…because it was that truly wicked smile the Finance Director sometimes made.

Was she really that far gone to be excited by such an expression?

The Headmistress lowered her blushing face and quietly offered a prayer for Circe.

***

"Are you crazy!? Why would I accept such a plan?! Even now, many magic department professors pretend to make mistakes and cast spells at me, and if the students also turn against me—"

"Professor Circe, your clothes are quite shabby."

"...…."

"I noticed that the number of your graduate students has decreased considerably. Perhaps because of that, the cleaning isn't done properly either. Still, it's good to see that your research is progressing well."

"That's because someone reduced my salary by 98%!"

"But we're still providing your research funding regularly, aren't we? Of course, it's over if you use it for personal reasons. Anyway, this will be beneficial for you as well, Professor Circe."

"What nonsense…"

"20% of your reduced salary."

"…!!"

"If you accept this plan, I'll restore it. You'll be busy with research during the festival anyway. I'll also minimize your classes, so just focus on your research until their resentment subsides."

"Th-that's…"

"You weren't planning to go somewhere during the festival, were you? Are you having second thoughts?"

"Absolutely not! Absolutely not!"

"Then you'll accept it. Think carefully, it's 20%."

"…20%."

"That's ten times your current salary."

"…Okay."

"I can't hear you clearly."

"Okay, okay! I'm sick and tired of filling my stomach with only water every day! I want to at least eat proper food like a human being…!!"

"That's an excellent choice, Professor."

"…You devil."

"10%?"

"I won't spout nonsense again. I'll follow whatever the Finance Director says!"

"That's the way it should be."

Professor Circe.

Successfully recruited through salary negotiations (?).

After receiving Professor Circe's bow and leaving the lab, I walked the streets of the academy for a while.

Although the negotiations were over, I still had work to do.

'Circe is clearly acting strange.'

I had thought this before, but it seemed like Circe was bad at hiding her thoughts and emotions. Perhaps it was because she was in a position where she didn't need to hide them, being praised as a genius.

Anyone could see that she was planning to do something during the festival, whether it was personal business or revenge against me.

Anyway, keeping Circe in mind and thinking about how to proceed with the 'next task'…

"…F-Finance Director."

"Hmm?"

"W-well, I happened to be passing by and you seemed to be troubled, so…"

A voice I had heard once before.

Red hair, a black ribbon tying her ponytail, and a hesitant demeanor as she approached.

It was Chloe Piste, the student I met during the duel with Beatrice.

"Miss Chloe?"

"Is there… anything I can help you with?"

Hmm.

Come to think of it, she was the perfect candidate, wasn't she?

"Is it alright even though I can't give you extra credit or a scholarship?"

"Th-that's okay."

"Then you came at a perfect time!"

"Huh!?"

Although she seemed to be trying to avoid me, it was obvious that she was approaching me half-heartedly.

What did it matter? She was a high-quality workforce I could use for free. I grabbed Chloe's shoulder to prevent her from running away.

"I have a few favors to ask of you, Miss Chloe."

I said with a smile, and…

"…Okay."

Chloe nodded, awkwardly yet with a hint of naturalness.