Reviving a Bankrupt Academy: My Financial Battle

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Meeting with Milia wasn't difficult. For some reason, she had applied for a living expenses scholarship.

I entered the Administration Department faculty office, gave a polite greeting, and requested to meet with Milia to discuss the scholarship. They gave me a room.

Usually, professors would be in their private offices or research rooms, but there were also times when they were required to work or have meetings in the faculty office. I timed my visit accordingly.

It was common for students and faculty to have consultations like this at the academy. The only issue was that the Finance Director himself had come to discuss a scholarship matter.

"Just who is this Milia student? Does anyone know her?"

"She's a civil engineering major. A Rank 3 mage."

"Is that all? And that's why… the Finance Director came personally?"

"Well, I hear she's going to join the student council?"

"Ah."

Their questions were immediately answered.

The student council wasn't anything special. It was because they knew about the relationship between the current 'student council president' and the 'Finance Director.'

Of course they knew. After all, it had only been two years since I, the Finance Director, was a student in the Administration Department. The professors who taught me were still there.

They were still a bit bewildered that I, their former student, had suddenly become the Finance Director, controlling the lifeline of their salaries.

But none of them had any negative feelings towards me, as I was always very respectful to my former teachers. While I treated everyone equally in public and didn't give special treatment to all Administration Department professors, my former teachers had gained a valuable connection.

Especially after the jaw-dropping pay cuts in the Magic Department, the Administration professors were behaving with a strange humility.

There's a clear difference between seeing someone holding a knife and seeing them swing it in front of you.

"Well, if it's about the student council, it can't be helped. He went through so much back then…"

"Honestly, I still can't believe it. Those two, always causing trouble, are now the Finance Director and the student council president? Especially Adam, well…"

"Cassandra really fooled us. Telling us to postpone the entrance ceremony because there would be an earthquake, warning us about monsters coming to outdoor practice classes, saying there was a traitor in the academy…"

Regardless, the professors were convinced because of my relationship with Cassandra. The two of us were quite famous in the Administration Department, in many ways.

How many embarrassing moments did I have because of Cassandra? How many professors seriously suggested I go to church because they thought I had a mental illness?

Eventually, they realized that Cassandra was the cause, but before that, it was an established fact among the professors that I had delusions.

Because of all that, it was understandable that I came in person for a mere scholarship matter concerning a single student.

From my perspective, I had to be cautious since it involved 'that' Cassandra.

The professors naturally came to understand and focused on their work.

"Um, Finance Director? You called for me…?"

"Come in, Student Milia."

As a result, I was able to contact Milia very naturally.

This meeting would be officially documented, but that was precisely why no one would suspect anything. I planned to do my best to keep Milia's identity hidden.

I smiled at Milia as she entered hesitantly and first presented her with the scholarship documents.

Speaking formally to create a sense of familiarity was a bonus.

"I'm Adam Keynes, the Finance Director. I'm here today because of the scholarship you applied for, Student Milia."

"The, the living expenses scholarship, right? Did I… get it…?"

"Please have a seat. I understand you don't have any classes after this, so we can talk leisurely."

"…Yes."

She had a truly desperate look just now, but it must have been an act, right? Even though the Wish Cult was heretical and a cult, they wouldn't send a spy into enemy territory like the academy without providing funds.

Perhaps the scholarship application was just an excuse, and she planned to use it for some scheme. Though I didn't know what she had in mind.

After calming the excited Milia down, I had her sit down. I offered her warm tea.

I did my best to create a soft and gentle atmosphere.

"First, let me give you the conclusion. Unfortunately, you cannot receive the scholarship at this time, Student Milia."

"What? Why, why not!?"

"Your grades, relationships with peers, volunteer work, and attitude scores are all good… but there are a few issues."

"What issues? I made sure I met all the requirements…!!"

"As you said, there are no problems with other aspects, but there's something you need to know according to the school regulations."

"Something I need to know?"

"Here, the section about your background and circumstances."

Swoosh

I handed Milia the scholarship documents I was holding. To be precise, it was her scholarship application form.

The application form was completely blank except for the essential parts that had to be filled in. Even so, her grades and attitude were good enough for her to be selected as a scholarship recipient.

This was when the school regulations came in handy.

"Bu, but the professor said I didn't have to fill out this part…"

"That's just for convenience. However, according to Article 12, Clause 6 of the scholarship regulations, applicants for the living expenses scholarship must provide detailed information about their background and circumstances to prove that they truly need financial support for living expenses."

"But…"

"Normally, we would overlook this… but your case is a bit special, Student Milia. I need to check it myself."

That was a lie. There were many more unique cases than Milia, several times over. How many students were there at this academy?

Even if she were a truly unique case, it wouldn't have come to me. It would be crazy to ask the Finance Director to handle a single student's scholarship.

This was just an excuse. Those familiar with the academy's paperwork would think, "Does that even make sense?", but it was different for a student.

Even if she was a spy for the Wish Cult, she was still just a student who had been enrolled for barely three months. There was no way she already knew the ins and outs of the academy.

Indeed, Milia's expression was filled with despair… Was it just my imagination that it seemed like a despair with a slightly different meaning?

"Don't be so nervous, Student Milia. It seems it was difficult for you to write it on the application form, so I came to hear your story directly."

"My… story?"

"It's simple, isn't it? Just your background and circumstances. If it's reasonable, the scholarship will be granted immediately."

This was the starting point of my plan: approaching Milia with the scholarship as an excuse.

Of course, I couldn't expect everything to go smoothly from the start. There were still about three weeks until the final exams, and if I suddenly said to Milia, "You're from the Wish Cult, aren't you?", it would be game over.

The reason she couldn't write her background and circumstances was simple. There was no way she could honestly write that she was from the Wish Cult.

Of course, she could have made something up, but Grandis Academy was generous with scholarships. There was no reason to write a lie that could be exposed when they didn't even require it.

This was all because there were so many scholarships given out. If it were a high-value scholarship, it might be different, but for a living expenses scholarship, the amount wasn't that big, so they were lenient.

'Of course, she'll make something up.'

Then, I would thoroughly investigate the fabricated background and circumstances. If her lies were revealed? I would press her. If I found evidence related to the Wish Cult? I would press her again.

I couldn't give off the impression that I already knew about Milia and the Wish Cult. It had to be her who made the mistake and got caught.

That way, I could steer the conversation about the attack with the upper hand.

As someone who had to intervene in the attack itself and control its direction, this was an essential process.

But then…

"Th-that is… well…"

"…?"

Somehow…

Milia's reaction had been strange from the start.

She seemed truly flustered and restless.

'If she's a spy from the cult, she must have received elite training.'

It felt too genuine to be an act to make me lower my guard. Even as I tried not to be fooled, my senses, honed from working as the Finance Director, whispered to me.

That she was truly flustered. That it wasn't an act.

Naturally, I had no intention of proceeding based on such intuition. I didn't, but…

"I-I'm from the Milio territory!"

"Milio territory? Where is that? Who's the lord?"

"Uh…"

Milio territory? There was no such place among the territories of the kingdom that I knew of. Could she have slightly changed "Milia" to make it sound like a place?

More importantly, why was she rambling like this? It was too much to be an act to make me lower my guard. Even an ordinary person with no knowledge would find this suspicious.

As doubt clouded my eyes,

"Ac-actually! I'm from the Nocturne territory!"

"…Ah, I see."

"Yes! I lived there before coming here!"

"But if I recall correctly, the Nocturne territory was devastated by the Wish Cult and is now uninhabited."

"…"

Milia fell silent, her eyes as if saying, "I messed up."

With such a spectacular self-destruction, it was only polite for me to step in.

Discarding all the plans I had made, I quietly glared at Milia.

"Student Milia, I'll ask you frankly."

"Well…"

"What exactly is your relationship with the Wish Cult?"

I tried to create a threatening atmosphere, but I was Rank 1, and Milia was a Rank 3 mage. If she decided to silence me, I wouldn't be able to resist.

Of course, there was no problem. I had a trump card in my pocket, and the Headmistress was protecting me with her aura from a distance.

How would Milia react? Would she deny it? Would she try to silence me? Or would she act boldly?

While I was hastily coming up with a plan, anticipating all the possible responses she could take,

Milia…

"…orry."

"Excuse me?"

"I'm sorry! You're right, I'm from the Wish Cult! Please forgive me!"

"No, I…"

"I know what the cult did to the academy in the past, but I have nothing to do with it now! Besides, the cult has fallen!"

"Student Milia?"

"I came here to get a diploma because it seemed like the cult had no future! I've been having strange dreams lately, and it's been hard! I don't care about the scholarship or anything, just please don't expel me!"

Grab

She suddenly started crying and clinging to my leg, begging. My pants were coming off!

Even though the Headmistress's aura protected my body, it couldn't prevent my pants from being pulled down. In the end, Milia, being a Rank 3, was stronger than me, so I had to desperately stop her.

Frozen in place, holding onto my pants that were about to slip off, completely flustered by the unexpected reaction,

"Adam, no, Finance Director! I suddenly heard a loud noise, what's…"

"What happened!?"

"Huh…?"

The professors rushed into the room, having heard the commotion caused by Milia.

And there they found Milia, crying and kneeling, clinging to my leg, and me, awkwardly holding onto my pants.

As I received the professors' questioning and disdainful glances, things started to get weird.

'Ah, shit.'

I suddenly felt like smoking…

***

Several days had passed since Ruth became the vice president of the student council at Adam's suggestion. In the meantime, Ruth had gathered a lot of information.

Of course, there wasn't much useful information, but it was better than nothing.

Despite being the vice president, she hadn't even been to the student council room. Instead, she had met with the student council president several times at cafes and such.

Lately, Ruth was particularly focused on the Wish Cult.

'I don't know about anything else, but I have to do something about those fanatics.'

The Wish Cult was planning something at the academy. Although it wasn't a large-scale operation, Ruth vividly remembered their madness.

And then there was Milia, the spy who had infiltrated the academy.

Ruth was most wary of her because she had recently become close to Beatrice.

'For some reason, she seems different from the personality I know…'

Ruth had been wary of Milia ever since they were on the same team during the deserted island midterm exam, but no matter how she looked at it, Milia was different from the fanatic Ruth knew.

Unlike the fanatic who was burning with loyalty and ambition for the cult, Milia seemed very timid and anxious.

It was plausible to think she was acting, but Ruth secretly observed Milia every time she met with Beatrice, and she was remarkably consistent. So much so that it was hard to believe she was acting.

More importantly, the Wish Cult was very wealthy because of their ability to grant wishes. Their method of gathering donations by squeezing the lower class, not the upper class, was certainly inefficient, but each branch had enough money to stockpile.

In the past, Ruth had killed the Wish Cult fanatics and distributed their vast wealth or used it effectively… but,

'Is her seeming poverty also an act?'

Ruth, who had a lot of money from the rock salt mine but was frugal out of habit, often ran into Milia.

This was because Milia also frequented discount stores and grocery stores. These were not places where a wealthy cult spy would normally go.

Wouldn't it be more normal to use the abundant funds for more espionage activities instead of wasting time pretending to be poor?

Ruth was suspicious, but since it was easy to keep an eye on her, she continued to follow Milia's movements.

'No way…!!'

While I was momentarily distracted, Milia disappeared. When I asked another student, they said she was called to the faculty office for something related to her scholarship.

At that moment, it hit me. There was no way a spy from the Wish Cult, overflowing with money, would need a scholarship. It had to be related to the cult's activities.

I quickly grabbed Dark Sword, concealed myself in the shadows, and hurried to the faculty office.

I thought I might be able to catch the cult red-handed. But,

"Finance Director, what is the meaning of this…? What were you doing with Student Milia?"

"I know I shouldn't be calling you this, but Student Adam. I'm disappointed."

"Don't tell me you were… with a student in that room…?"

"It's a misunderstanding. A misunderstanding."

"…"

What Ruth saw was…

Adam, awkwardly clutching his pants, while Milia, the one she had been so wary of, was kneeling in front of him.

Why? Why Adam? What was going on with that fanatic?

Ruth's thoughts briefly stopped.

'Adam, you…'

A mix of emotions surged within her: the feeling of defeat she felt while eavesdropping on the Headmistress and Chloe's conversation, the sense of betrayal that Adam might have been involved with that fanatic, the anger and fear she felt towards the Adam of the past, and the relief of seeing the face of the Adam she had longed to see.

She quietly sharpened Dark Sword's blade.

If Adam had really done something with that fanatic…

'Then I'd rather…'

Kill Adam and then herself. After all, if Adam died, the world wouldn't burn even if the Headmistress died.

Was this a side effect of Dark Sword? Was I being too extreme?

As Ruth stroked Dark Sword with those thoughts, her eyes…

…were dull and lifeless.

——————