Reviving a Bankrupt Academy: My Financial Battle

"Headmistress, what in the world is going on?"

"F-Finance Director!"

As I hurriedly entered the Headmistress's office, the Headmistress, who was pacing back and forth, ran towards me.

What happened—no, first…

"Who knows about this?"

"W-well, me and the Finance Director. And a few professors from the magic department, and Dean Billend."

"How did the professors find out?"

"There was an explosion in Professor Circe's lab, and then the hair loss agent started leaking. The nearby magic department professors noticed it and reported it to the Dean, and the Dean informed me."

Dean Billend was one of the few people who knew about the [Little Hair Plan]. Of course, the Dean of the magic department had to know about the plan to cancel the festival by blowing up Professor Circe's lab and spreading the hair loss agent.

To prevent further chaos, we needed the Dean, who had the absolute trust of the magic department professors, to be on our side.

The reason for canceling the festival in this way? The Dean, who was pushed out of the Imperial Magic Tower due to political strife and became even older after the recent salary reduction following Professor Circe's confession, didn't ask any questions.

As expected, smart people were different. He was the most trustworthy person in this academy after the Headmistress.

But more importantly…

"The execution date was the second day of the festival. There's still a day left before the festival starts, so why…?"

"I don't know either! That's why I called the Finance Director before going to the scene."

"…Hmm."

"F-Finance Director…? A-are you going to cancel the festival altogether since things have turned out this way?"

The Headmistress asked hesitantly, as if sensing something unsettling from my silence.

Honestly, it was the first thing that came to mind when I heard the news. It was also what I originally proposed.

But now wasn't the time, unlike a month ago when I first suggested it.

"We've already signed contracts with the trading companies for the supplies, and they'll strongly object if we try to refund them before the festival even starts. And more importantly…"

"Yes?"

"Although we did include a clause about refunds if the festival is canceled for unavoidable reasons, it's limited to 'during the festival.'"

In the end, it was my own fault. The wordplay I used with the fourth son of the Raven Trading Company, or whatever his position was.

Honestly, I wasn't particularly good at negotiating, unlike budget processing or bookkeeping, which could be learned and practiced. Therefore, my strategy relied on wordplay rather than advanced negotiation skills.

It was a strategy I could only use because the academy was clearly in a superior position. Thanks to that, even I, a first-year Finance Director, could negotiate to some extent, but…

'It's backfiring at a time like this.'

It had become more frequent for the trading companies that experienced my wordplay to set precise conditions and restrictions to prevent it. Since wordplay was ultimately a tactic that exploited loopholes, they decided to simply close all the loopholes.

The trading companies that used to be flexible with Grandis Academy, a VVIP customer, started to be strict because of me.

It was definitely a necessary drastic measure, but a drastic measure was still a drastic measure.

"If the festival is canceled before it even starts, we won't be able to refund the supplies, and on top of that, we'll have to pay penalties and compensation."

"…I see."

"I apologize, Headmistress. It's entirely due to my lack of negotiation skills."

I honestly apologized and bowed my head. Even though I studied every day and tried to get used to the work, I wasn't a perfect superhuman, so these kinds of mistakes were inevitable.

It was a right I could only exercise as a student to deny my mistakes and throw a tantrum. As long as I held the position of Finance Director, I had to take responsibility for my mistakes.

The Headmistress, who was quietly watching me with my head lowered, placed her hand on my head.

"It's okay. You're young, Finance Director. And if we're talking about mistakes, the entire bankruptcy crisis is my fault."

"But Headmistress."

"That's enough. If you're talking about taking responsibility for your mistakes, let's consider it settled if you successfully resolve this matter. I'll be expecting your efforts."

"…Understood."

From this perspective, the Headmistress was a really good leader. And didn't she just call me young? Usually, people say "you're still young" in this kind of situation, don't they?

Come to think of it, considering the Headmistress's age, I, in my early twenties, wasn't young, but a child.

As I looked at the Headmistress with somewhat disrespectful thoughts, she narrowed her eyes.

"Finance Director, you're not thinking anything strange, are you?"

"Absolutely not. More importantly, let's go to the scene first."

"That's right! Let's hurry!"

After finishing our conversation, I immediately closed my eyes. Okay, I was ready.

As I mentioned before, the professors' research complex was quite far from the central area of the academy. And the building with the Headmistress's office and my office was located right in the center of the academy.

It was a distance that would take a considerable amount of time to reach by running normally.

Of course, that was for a Rank 1 like me, and it was a different story if I borrowed the Headmistress's power.

Just one thing.

"We've arrived!"

"…Ugh."

"Finance Director, are you alright?"

"I'm… not alright."

The problem was that when moving at the speed of a Rank 8, my weak semicircular canals weren't just stimulated, but practically flipped over.

Normally, my body should have been torn apart just by the sonic boom, but the Headmistress protected me with her Aura. However, even with that, she couldn't protect my insides, so it was accompanied by severe dizziness, my vision flipping, motion sickness, and nausea.

For less urgent matters like on the deserted island, the Headmistress adjusted her speed, but she couldn't do that for urgent matters like this.

While I was calming my stomach, the Headmistress, with a stern expression, approached the gathered professors.

Dean Billend, with a grim expression, was at the front.

"Headmistress, you've arrived."

"Dean Billend. What's going on?"

Naturally, both the Dean and the Headmistress knew about the plan. However, they couldn't show it in front of the other professors, so she just asked casually.

The Dean, also quick-witted, quickly explained only what the Headmistress would genuinely be curious about.

"Two minutes ago, there was an explosion in Professor Circe's lab. However, since the walls and windows weren't damaged, it's presumed that the explosion occurred underground."

"…Underground?"

"All magic department research buildings have separate underground labs for experimenting with substances that are dangerous if exposed to the outside. Fortunately, since the explosion occurred there, the building's structure is intact. Thanks to that, the hair loss agent hasn't leaked outside the building yet."

"Then what happened to Professor Circe?"

"After the explosion, the students and professors who were passing by searched the area, but only the graduate students escaped, and Professor Circe wasn't there. It seems like she's still in the underground lab, unconscious due to the impact of the explosion."

If Circe was unconscious, it meant that this incident wasn't caused by her rampage or arbitrary actions. In the first place, Circe was desperate to recover her salary, so there was no reason for her to ruin the plan.

Then was it just an unfortunate accident?

After calming my stomach, I walked towards Dean Billend.

"Dean, were there any omens? Like any remarks from Professor Circe?"

"Not really. As the Finance Director knows, Professor Circe was focused on the hair loss cure research and didn't leave the lab except for classes. More importantly, explosions themselves are a common occurrence…"

He trailed off, realizing that it wasn't something to say in front of the Finance Director, who had to handle the repair costs for those explosions. I also ignored it since it would only stress me out to hear more.

But if there were no omens… wait.

"Didn't you just say a student? You're referring to a graduate student, right?"

"No, a magic department student."

"What?"

No, wait.

This leak incident couldn't be known. It would be a different story if we failed to resolve it and had to evacuate the students, but since the hair loss agent hadn't leaked outside the building yet, we could resolve it here.

The professors could be silenced by the Dean and the Headmistress, but…

A student?

"Which student?"

The Headmistress, also realizing the problem, urgently asked about the student, but Dean Billend's tone was unconcerned.

"You don't have to worry too much. I can guarantee it with my honor."

"Dean, how can you be so sure?"

"Well—"

"It's because he's personally acquainted with me."

Circe's lab, filled with hazy fumes from the hair loss agent leak.

The doors and windows were closed, but the magic professors were constructing a barrier to prevent further leakage.

And among those professors, a female student who was helping them.

Chloe Piste walked out with a nervous expression.

…No, why are you coming out of there?

"Perhaps you're not happy about it, Dean, but both you and I are from the Imperial Magic Tower."

"Piste."

"Dean, we've finished constructing the barrier."

"Thank you. I wish I had a junior like you when I was at the Magic Tower."

"Didn't you dislike those days?"

"Of course I did. But I still respect the Tower Master. So you, as his disciple, also receive my favor. I would have ignored anyone else."

When Dean Billend was at the Magic Tower, Chloe wasn't even born yet.

Naturally, they weren't senior and junior at the Magic Tower, but since Chloe came to an academy in a foreign country, not the Empire, Dean Billend must have approached her first.

Chloe was still the disciple of the Archmage whom the Dean respected. Since they were in a foreign country, and even belonged to the same academy, he must have wanted to take care of her.

So it made sense that they knew each other, and all that, but…

That's not the point. Why are you here?

"Miss Chloe? What are you doing here?"

"I-I came to have tea with Dean Billend and happened to hear the explosion. So I helped with the containment and barrier construction."

…Well, I guess it's fine if it's Chloe.

She had the social status of being the Archmage's disciple, and from what I saw when I asked her for help before, she was a decent kid, besides her strong grudge against Beatrice.

Since she wouldn't know the whole story, if I asked her to keep it a secret to prevent the festival from being canceled, she would probably do so. There was a reason for Dean Billend's confidence.

Anyway,

"Then we should go inside the lab now."

"That's true, but…"

Dean Billend had a troubled expression. It was natural for him to make that kind of face.

It meant entering the lab filled with the hair loss agent, rescuing Professor Circe, blocking the leak, and taking care of the aftermath.

Of course, there was a reason why the professors weren't readily stepping forward.

"Does anyone here know the structure of Professor Circe's lab?"

"...…"

"...…"

"...…"

I had noticed it when I came to meet the Dean and Circe before, but the professors' labs were all like mazes with complicated layouts.

Since the buildings were often damaged, they would add walls or rooms when repairing them, and sometimes the space would be distorted due to magic.

Frankly, unless they memorized the building plans, even the professors would have a hard time finding their way around another professor's lab.

So, I had to go.

"Then I'll go in."

"F-Finance Director!? Why you?!"

"Because I'm the only one here who has memorized the blueprints."

"…You memorized them?"

"It's only natural as the Finance Director."

That was a lie. I memorized them to prepare for Circe's escape when I went to take care of her.

Still, a professional should know how to embellish things with a bit of a lie in situations like this. It seemed like the way the Dean Billend, the other professors, and even Chloe looked at me changed a little, although it was natural for the Headmistress to look at me like that.

Of course, the professors were all high-level mages, so they could just enter and figure out the structure with magic, but.

"The rest of you, please focus on strengthening the barrier. Headmistress, I'll leave the control here to you."

"Finance Director, just in case, I'll also…"

"If the graduate students or other professors notice and gather, things will become complicated. For the sake of the festival, we have to resolve this here and now, as quickly as possible."

"…Finance Director."

"And you're the only one who can quickly control the situation if something unexpected happens."

"Even so…"

"Didn't you say you expected my effort? This is the effort I can make."

I didn't want to go in either. Who would want to enter a place filled with hair loss agents and with a maze-like structure?

The professors and Dean Billend had to construct a barrier to prevent the hair loss agent from leaking, and if the Headmistress went in instead of me and other professors or graduate students flocked there, it would be impossible to control the situation.

And since I knew the structure, I could get to the underground lab through the shortest route. More importantly, there was nothing else I could do here. If we couldn't resolve this quickly and rumors spread, the festival would be over, and we would have to pay compensation and penalties.

The Headmistress seemed to be staring at me, especially at my hair.

Of course, I wasn't saying I would just go in like that.

"First, please cast all the protective and defensive magic you know on me. Starting with simply blocking the hair loss agent… just all the defensive magic you know."

"Ah, I understand. Everyone, help the Finance Director!"

""""Yes!!!""""

The magic department professors, relieved that they didn't have to go in themselves, desperately cast defensive magic on me. Some even looked at me with renewed respect or patted me on the shoulder before leaving.

It wasn't necessary to go this far just to block the hair loss agent, but the building could collapse again, and…

'More importantly, we can't rule out the possibility of Circe's schemes.'

Even Circe wouldn't be able to penetrate the protective magic cast by Rank 7 and 6 mages in layers, even in her weakened state.

And where is everyone going?

"I need someone to accompany me."

"A-accompany you?"

"I'm only Rank 1, you see. Although I can get to the underground lab quickly since I know the structure, it's impossible for me to rescue Professor Circe and block the leak at the same time. I need a skilled mage."

"...…"

Wow, look how quiet everyone is. Even if their lives weren't in danger, their hair could be, so all the professors were avoiding my gaze.

If they trusted their defensive magic, they could just close their eyes and go in. Was it just because of the possibility of something unexpected happening and the ominous feeling?

Just as I, feeling strangely annoyed, was about to grab a suitable person to take with me.

"I-I'll go!"

"Miss Chloe? It's okay. The professors are here."

"It's better to have more professors here to construct the barrier. I'm the lowest-ranked here, so it would be perfect for me to go in."

"Piste, that's…"

"Dean Billend, I believe in my magic."

"…Hmm."

"Ahem."

Chloe's last words stabbed at the consciences of the professors who couldn't go into the hair loss agent because they didn't trust their defensive magic. It was a comedy that no professor was coming out despite that.

Chloe, although nervous, stood next to me with a confident expression.

"Th-then let's go in! Finance Director!"

"If that's Miss Chloe's will, then alright."

Honestly, Chloe was easier to control than a professor whose face I didn't even know.

With the Headmistress's worried gaze and the professors' murmurs of admiration.

Chloe and I entered through the slightly opened barrier.

"Let's go."

"Yes!"

For whatever reason, Circe had ruined the plan.

If it was intentional, I would naturally punish her.

And if it was a mistake, I would still punish her.

Just you wait, bitch.