Reviving a Bankrupt Academy: My Financial Battle

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Ruth and Chloe's eyes met.

It wasn't a friendly gaze, to say the least; rather, it was filled with hostility and wariness.

If it were hatred or disgust, I would understand. There might have been some conflict between them that I didn't know about.

But this was, how should I put it…

'Like watching the budget allocation meeting?'

The professors who took on the role of fighting cocks at that time hurled fierce words and criticisms at each other, but it wasn't that they truly hated each other.

It was just that they belonged to different departments, had different interests, and were simply faithful to their roles and benefits.

Ruth and Chloe's current glares were similar. Of course, they weren't exactly the same, but it felt like there was a reason beyond simple, one-dimensional hostility.

As they glared at each other, Chloe was the first to smile sharply and then looked at me.

"By the way, Finance Director, was 'yesterday's' matter handled well?"

"What? Yesterday?"

"Yes. You know, the thing between you and me."

"…What?"

Well, what she said wasn't wrong, but why was she being so ambiguous?

Ruth, faltering for a moment at her boastful words, then turned a trembling gaze towards me.

What's wrong with you too?

"…Finance Director, I'll accept the secret offer you made to me."

"What?"

"Well, you were the one who called me out and made the offer first. Naturally, I should reciprocate your sincerity, shouldn't I?"

"W-wait. A secret offer? Finance Director, what in the world…?"

Protagonist, you said you would do it earlier, didn't you? Why are you accepting something you already agreed to?

And what's this about a secret offer? If this gets out, you won't be able to join the student council.

More importantly, this time, it was Chloe who approached me with questioning eyes.

"Finance Director."

"Finance Director!"

"You two?"

Why are you looking at me like that?

What's with that disappointed tone?

"We demand an explanation."

"What does that even mean?!"

"Haa…"

One was the protagonist of this world, a Rank 6, and the other was the Archmage's disciple, a Rank 5 mage.

Since I would probably continue to see them until they graduated, I tried to avoid doing anything that would make them turn against each other, but.

Hey, you student bastards.

Am I your friend?

"Student Ruth, student Chloe. What are you doing?"

"Uh, what?"

"That…"

"It's true that I worked with Miss Chloe yesterday, and it's also true that I made a personal offer to student Ruth just now. But what's the problem? I didn't mean for you to boast about it to each other and question me like this."

Well, I understand that you want to brag to each other since you're still students.

Chloe was recruited by me with the promise of compensation, and Ruth got a great opportunity to join the student council.

More importantly, they were acquainted with the Finance Director, a… well, it's not for me to say, but a high-ranking person. If I knew the vice-principal when I was in college, I would want to brag about my connections.

Although there wasn't much of an age difference, they were still students, kids, so it was understandable.

But they shouldn't be criticizing me for it.

"And both of you, stop being so ambiguous. You need to convey accurate information to avoid misunderstandings. First of all, Miss Chloe and I simply wrapped up the summoning ritual that took place in the magic department's forest yesterday."

"…Summoning ritual?"

"Student Ruth might not know this yet, but it will be announced soon. A few days ago, the academy detected the mana of summoning magic, and the Security Unit arrested the associate and assistant professors who were involved. Miss Chloe simply entered the forest on my behalf since I couldn't."

"...…."

For some reason, Ruth seemed to be looking back and forth between Chloe and me with a surprised expression.

From experience, even if I asked what was wrong, he would just say it was nothing, so I let it slide.

More importantly, it was your turn now, protagonist.

"And the secret offer that student Ruth mentioned is about joining the student council."

"Th-the student council? This… Ruth Spero?"

"Is there a problem? Student Ruth is Rank 6 and is more than qualified to be a member of the student council. More importantly, the authority to appoint student council members lies with the student council president. I'm just a senior who is somewhat close to him, and he asked me to pass on the message."

Anyway, that's how it was from now on. Since that junior would easily accept it if I just said I told him so for this and that reason.

It wasn't that he was a free spirit, but rather that he just didn't care.

Thinking about the incidents that junior caused when he was at the academy, I seriously wondered if he had no brain at all.

Well, anyway.

"That's how it is for both of you. I've finished explaining everything, so do you still have anything to say to me?"

"...…"

"...…"

"I am the Finance Director and a staff member of Grandis Academy. Therefore, it's natural for me to care for, give preferential treatment to, and be friendly with all of you students, but that doesn't mean I give special treatment to specific students. Please keep that in mind."

So, protagonist and Chloe, you're not special just because you received a request or offer from me.

Of course, considering , these two were indeed special, but protagonist or companion or whatever, they simply fit my conditions. If you didn't fit my conditions, I would have cut you off without hesitation.

Unless the protagonist was Rank 6, the only students I gave special treatment to were the bribed students like Lisha. Strictly speaking, they weren't students, but customers.

Although I might have been a bit harsh, the conclusion was simple.

You're students, and I'm a faculty member, not your friend.

'Why do you keep acting close to me?'

I've only met the protagonist three times, and I only worked with Chloe for a day.

Then why are you approaching me as if we're close? Shouldn't I be the one feeling close since I've seen you in ? Aren't I a stranger to you?

It's incredibly awkward that you're acting as if we've known each other for a long time.

I don't particularly want to be personally close to you either. If the protagonist was a perpetual last-place student like in the game, I would have to train him somehow, but he's already Rank 6, and Chloe will do well on her own.

You're not bribing me like Lisha, you're not connecting me with a pushover like Kaern, and you're not introducing me to merchant connections along with bribes like Beatrice.

'Tsk.'

Seeing my emotions suddenly escalating, it seemed like the side effects of the military stimulant were kicking in again. I should ask the Headmistress to remove the toxins when I get back to the office.

Anyway, I've said what I needed to say, so it's time to go to work…

"…Lies."

"Student Ruth?"

"It's nothing. Anyway, then what about the student council?"

"After the student council president replies, we'll meet again. The meeting place is…"

"Let's have it at the dormitory where I'm staying."

"What? But…"

"At the dormitory."

"…Hmm, alright."

I guess I'll consider it as seeing that dormitory again after a long time.

After seeing off Ruth, who had a strangely dark look in his eyes, only Chloe remained, but…

"…?"

What?

Where did she go?

***

Chloe Piste was confused.

Because she met her future self, another version of herself, yesterday?

Because she heard that Ruth Spero was a Regressor?

Because she ran into Ruth, the stranger from yesterday, while coming to see the Finance Director?

Because she just heard a truly righteous speech from the Finance Director?

All of them were correct, but at the same time, none of them were.

Strictly speaking, it wasn't because of Chloe herself, but because of the 'other Chloe.'

'Wait, why aren't you coming out! You said you wanted to see him!'

'…I'm not ready yet.'

'Not ready? You kept nagging me about how to do my hair and makeup when I said I was meeting the Finance Director this morning!'

Even outside the dream, the spiritual body of the adult Chloe could share her vision and communicate through thoughts.

The future version of herself she met in the dream yesterday was truly mature despite her haggard appearance.

That relaxed adult Chloe froze completely when she was told that she was meeting the Finance Director today.

To be precise, she shut herself away, regardless of possession or anything else.

'Why are you so shy! Didn't you travel with the Finance Director in the future?!'

'W-well, that's true. We were together for years.'

'Then why!'

'…What can I do if I still get nervous every time I see him?'

No, is this for real?

She was nervous every time she saw him even though they were together for years?

Was this shy person really her future self?

Chloe, feeling truly skeptical, tried to leave the alley with a sigh, but.

She stopped.

'No, let's go!'

'Ah, no! Just a little more, just need to fix my clothes…'

'Fix your clothes? We came out suddenly while talking!'

While the Finance Director was talking to Ruth Spero, the adult Chloe, possessing only Chloe's legs, dragged her to a nearby alley.

She said she was nervous to keep looking at the Finance Director's face, that she needed to fix her clothes and makeup, or something like that.

Naturally, Chloe was frustrated.

'What would the Finance Director think if I suddenly disappeared! We have to go!'

'I'm not mentally prepared yet…'

'Mentally prepared, my ass!'

Didn't she ask in the dream why he didn't look back at her? What if he turned his head away because he was embarrassed after actually seeing her?

While struggling to move her legs, Chloe glared at Ruth Spero's retreating figure.

'The Regressor, the Regressor.'

Since she had decided to believe her future self, she had to believe the absurd story about regression. It violated the laws of magic she knew, but… there were many things in the world besides magic.

Anyway, if Ruth Spero was really a Regressor, and the stranger in the forest yesterday…

'What am I doing in the future? To the extent that the Regressor wants to eliminate me?'

But there were still many ambiguous points. If, by any chance, she really became a villain in the future, there would be no need for the stranger to let her go in the forest.

The killing intent that the stranger, Ruth Spero, showed back then was real. Ruth could have really killed Chloe.

And she even allowed Chloe to use [Dancing Flames].

The most likely possibility was…

'He's not certain. Whether he should eliminate me now or not.'

It became clearer when she recalled what the disguised Ruth said.

He talked about the 'summoning magic' and the 'person behind it' more than about Chloe herself.

'He has hostility towards me, but more than that, there's information he needs to find out.'

However, according to the Finance Director, the summoning ritual wasn't that important or dangerous.

It was just a story about a few professors who didn't even use proper materials or defenses being caught by the Security Unit.

Besides the peculiarity of summoning magic, it was just an everyday occurrence in the vast Grandis Academy.

Then why was Ruth so obsessed with the summoning magic and the person behind it?

'Is there something the Finance Director didn't tell me? No. He said it would be announced soon, and if there was information he wanted to hide, there would be no need to announce it and draw attention in the first place.'

Although it was still difficult to reach a clear conclusion due to the lack of information, the most reasonable guess was…

1. There's a hidden mastermind behind the summoning ritual that the academy didn't discover.

2. Ruth Spero is tracking that mastermind, and after seeing me, who shouldn't be there, coming out of the basement, she misunderstood that I was connected to the mastermind.

3. Therefore, she threatened me to confirm if I was really involved.

'But that misunderstanding was just cleared.'

The Finance Director himself said that Chloe went to the basement at his request.

If her guess was correct, and Ruth Spero misunderstood that Chloe was involved with the mastermind, she wouldn't have to worry about being attacked by Ruth anymore.

But for some reason…

Chloe couldn't shake off a strange sense of foreboding.

'There's something more. Something I don't know.'

And that was probably—the reason 'why' she died by Ruth Spero.

Naturally, her future self would know… but…

'...….'

'…Why aren't you saying anything?'

'If I close my eyes, I won't see Adam. Then I won't be nervous.'

'First of all, how could you be so… shy when you were with the Finance Director?'

'Of course, I was acting desperately. When people are excited and nervous, their faces become stiff.'

This is driving me crazy.

She was so charismatic yesterday, but when it comes to the Finance Director, she changes completely.

This is me? My future self becomes such a pitiful sight? What in the world happened to make her love the Finance Director so much?

Chloe decided to stop thinking about it. Didn't the adult Chloe say it herself? That Chloe wasn't her unless she properly met the Finance Director.

She sincerely wanted to believe that. She didn't want to acknowledge that such a pathetic future was the same 'me.'

In the situation where they both denied that the other was themselves…

Chloe finally took the chance while the adult Chloe was distracted and ran out of the alley.

Dash!

'W-wait!'

'Wait, my ass! I can't stand to see you like this!'

A promise was a promise, so Chloe had to meet Adam and become close to him. No, she couldn't stand it if she didn't.

The Finance Director just said that they were only in a student-teacher relationship, but for the sake of the adult Chloe's goal, that relationship had to change. Naturally, wouldn't it be more efficient to say something to him instead of dawdling like this?

While the adult Chloe was screaming, Chloe ran towards the Finance Director, who was looking around.

"Miss Chloe? Where did you go—"

"Finance Director!"

"Uh, yes?"

Chloe had no experience with romance, let alone love or even liking someone of the opposite sex, but…

Perhaps ignorance is bliss. Precisely because she knew nothing about romance or love, Chloe could be bold.

Just like now.

"During the festival!"

"What?"

"How about we go together!"

"…?"

The adult Chloe, despite being a spirit, almost fainted at the incredibly straightforward question, and.

Chloe, who had made the bold move, was a bit embarrassed, but she confidently linked arms with him.

Objectively speaking, Chloe was beautiful, her breasts were fairly large, although not as much as that princess, and she was the Archmage's disciple and a Rank 5 mage.

And if he brought up the student-teacher relationship, she could just push for it with the excuse of festival patrol or a short break.

There was no reason for a man like the Finance Director, who was just a bit handsome, to refuse this—

"I won't."

"…What? No, why not!?"

"I have to work."

"Ah."

"How can a faculty member leisurely go to the festival? Moreover, I'm the Finance Director. I probably won't be able to leave the office during the entire festival."

"S-sorry…"

Chloe, who was excited, became subdued at the immediate rejection and the perfectly valid reason.

And the Finance Director, who was already tired from working every day and was just asked "I'm a student, so I'll be playing and going to the festival, do you want to come too?" as if to show off, sighed.

And the adult Chloe in her mind.

'....'

Was quietly…

Very quietly…

Looking at the Finance Director, Adam, with enraptured eyes.