The way back.
The journey with the Headmistress was short, only about ten minutes. However, the advice and insights the escort knight gained in that time felt like he had skipped ten years' worth of experience.
Although he couldn't receive proper instruction due to the limited time, he was able to hear about habits he wasn't aware of, advice on his swordsmanship, and the optimal way to utilize his Qi.
With those simple insights, it felt like the door to Rank 6 had opened slightly.
And that's why it was even more regrettable.
"You've returned earlier than expected."
"Are you disappointed?"
"It's not my place to say this to the auditor, but… yes, I am."
How many knights in the kingdom could receive guidance from the Headmistress?
It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so ten minutes felt too short. But the Headmistress left without hesitation as soon as Auditor Marcus returned, so he couldn't complain.
It seemed like the audit hadn't been conducted after all.
"…So, you're just going back? After coming all this way?"
"What do you mean? I conducted the audit."
"Huh? What do you…"
"The Headmistress told me to talk to the contact. So I met with Finance Director Adam and checked all the financial statements, ledgers, and documents he had prepared. I thought it would take several days, but thanks to him organizing and bringing everything, it finished quickly."
"Ah… is that so?"
"Of course."
Doubts still lingered. If he had organized everything, why didn't he enter the academy in the end? Would the rigid and principled Auditor Marcus not go to the academy himself and confirm things?
But with the auditor himself saying so, it wasn't appropriate for the escort knight, who knew nothing about audits, to point it out. They said someone called the Finance Director came out, so perhaps there was a mutual understanding between those involved in finance.
He had been prepared to stay at the academy for several days and help with the work, but it was also good to be returning immediately. Since he couldn't receive any more guidance from the Headmistress by staying at the academy, it was best to return to the royal palace quickly and train.
Anyway, it was a good thing, so the escort knight urged his horse on, recalling the invaluable advice. They were moving away from the giant basin, the cabin, and the academy.
However, unlike the escort knight who had already turned his horse around, Auditor Marcus was still looking towards the academy.
"…Coincidence, luck, and more than that, competence."
"Excuse me?"
"That Finance Director I met today, he was a Rank 1 like me."
"What? Really?"
The escort knight also knew how Rank 1s were treated. That's why he couldn't believe that the Finance Director of this grand academy was Rank 1.
And Auditor Marcus's eyes, how should I put it…
…held a look of deep regret.
"Tsk, if it weren't for the Headmistress, I would have taken him with me…"
"…Are you serious?"
"It's hard to find a fellow Rank 1 in this harsh world. Especially one with such impressive hands."
"Hands?"
"The skin on his pinky is stained black, and there are calluses between his thumb and index finger. On both hands."
The implications were simple. Marcus's hands had similar marks.
The marks of someone who tirelessly worked their pen and wrote documents, even with the ordinary stamina of a Rank 1, the ink seeping into their skin. And the calluses formed from holding the pen for too long.
He could immediately tell why he was in the position of Finance Director at that age and rank.
"Judging from how the Headmistress trusted and left things to him as the contact, it seems he's favored by her. I suppose we'll be seeing each other often."
And additionally…
To the lifesaver who had just turned Marcus away…
"If you ever get trapped in a mine, trust and follow whoever it is, regardless of who they are."
"What are you suddenly talking about…?"
"It's advice from experience, so keep it in mind."
Auditor Marcus, recalling the time he was trapped in a collapsing rock salt mine…
…and how he escaped thanks to the advice of someone less than half his age, smiled faintly.
Even though he was rigid, principled, and prioritized self-preservation…
…he couldn't refuse a request from his lifesaver.
***
Was Ruth a goddess?
"Please accept my bow."
"W-what's this suddenly…!?"
"Just accept it, please."
Ruth Spero, my savior. Ruth Spero, my rock salt mine. Ruth Spero, the savior of futures trading.
I simply worship you!
"It would have been truly difficult without you, Student Ruth. Thank you so much."
"I just…"
"I heard she's your lifesaver. Where did you meet Auditor Marcus?"
"Uh…"
Honestly, I was curious too. How did they meet? It wasn't out of suspicion or anything, but pure curiosity.
The moment the protagonist entered the academy as a Rank 6, all the actions of the
At my question, the protagonist, after a moment of hesitation, said,
"…I met him in a mine."
"A mine? Why were you suddenly in a mine?"
"There was a place I visited for some reason, and it suddenly collapsed, and I was trapped with Mr. Marcus. But we managed to escape somehow."
"So that's why Auditor Marcus considers you his lifesaver."
What could Marcus, a Rank 1, have done? Even if he was older, with a rank difference of 1 to 6, the protagonist must have been the one who led the escape.
So he didn't hesitate to grant the request of his lifesaver. It might seem too easy, but on the other hand, it would have been difficult to sway his stubborn personality if she wasn't his lifesaver.
I would have probably had to physically break him with a dagger.
'It's a relief that things worked out…'
Uh, wait a minute.
"Um, Finance Director? Why the sudden change in expression?"
"I just remembered something annoying. It's nothing."
"Is that so?"
If this was the case, was Cassandra's prophecy correct? In the end, my efforts were useless, and everything was resolved thanks to the protagonist.
I felt a bit strange. It was like I didn't want to acknowledge that that junior's prophecy was correct.
…Wait a minute.
"How did you get here, by the way?"
"Huh?"
"You said you were taking a walk earlier, but people usually walk inside the academy, not outside. And of all the places, why here?"
"...…"
"That's…"
The protagonist had an ambiguous expression at my words, and…
I quickly reached a conclusion.
"What an amazing coincidence!"
"…what?"
"What does it matter anyway! Everything worked out, so it's all good! Thanks to Student Ruth, the academy's finances are safe!"
It's true. What did it matter if it was a coincidence or not? I had already revealed the dangerous financial situation to the protagonist, and she was the one who ultimately prevented the audit.
Moreover, since she even coordinated with Auditor Marcus, there would be no further audits. What did that mean?
'It's finally over.'
No one would know how I used the donations.
There was no need to worry. The donations would be strictly used for the academy's reconstruction.
Although it would be the reconstruction of the financial situation, not the buildings.
'The amount of donations we received this time is substantial, and if I negotiate well and receive at least half of this regularly…'
Even a third would be fine. It was normal for private academies to operate endowment funds with donations like this. It was this academy that was strange for relying entirely on the Headmistress's assets.
It was a big gamble, but the staged terrorist attack was successfully completed, I had a slave for the Finance Department, and I even secured the donations.
Now I didn't have to struggle to survive each day like I did a few months ago. The amount of money coming in was now considerable.
'Various bribes and kickbacks, profits from research results, donations from the Illusion Magic Department, and now the terrorist attack donations.'
The only problem was the interference in the academy's internal affairs due to the donations, but since we passed (?) the audit, which was a favor (?) from the royal family, there wouldn't be any complaints for a while. The justification was post-terrorist attack reconstruction, so those who tried to exert influence with that had no conscience.
And it wasn't like we were unilaterally indebted either, as most of the donors were Grandis Academy graduates or those closely related to the academy. Of course, there would be those with ulterior motives, but with even the royal family giving up their influence for now, no one would openly mention it.
'Speaking of which, they said there were unsettling movements in the Delphia Kingdom.'
Normally, it wouldn't matter what happened in another country, but things were a bit different now.
To continuously receive money from Crown Prince Zeke, there couldn't be any trouble in the Delphia Kingdom. What would I do if the Crown Prince fell from power?
And I had to keep Beatrice at the academy as promised, but while the royal family was wary of the Headmistress now, if they decided to use Beatrice as a pawn in the civil war, they would try to negotiate with the Headmistress.
I had to prevent that as well.
'Even when I earn money, problems keep arising.'
But still…
For the first time, I felt like we had completely escaped the verge of bankruptcy.
Let's enjoy this happiness for now.
…I could probably cut back on the overtime now, right? It wasn't like I was overworking myself for fun.
Just as I was feeling relieved,
"F-Finance Director!"
"Ah, Headmistress! Everything has been resolved. But why are you so late?"
"It's not the time for that!"
"Excuse me?"
No, but… we overcame the worst crisis of the academy, the audit, so why?
An ominous feeling crept up on me, and my eyes twitched.
What was it now, seriously?
"Th-the dwarves…!!"
"Dwarves? Why are the dwarves suddenly being mentioned?"
"The dwarves sent an official letter from their city!"
"An official letter?"
Why a sudden official letter?
And were they even in a position to send something like that? Did they finish repairing their city or something?
I urged her with a look, but perhaps because of the protagonist's presence, the Headmistress kept glancing at her.
How dare a Rank 8 look at the protagonist like that?
"Student Ruth already knows our situation. You can just say it."
"…Even so, it was a secret between the Finance Director and me."
"If it weren't for Student Ruth this time, the entire kingdom would know that secret."
The Headmistress and the protagonist exchanged glances, and then…
The Headmistress, irreverently clicking her tongue, continued.
"You remember that I sold artifacts before, right?"
"Of course."
She said she sold artifacts when we were short on money. I hadn't seen her directly trading them since she had already sold most of them before I became the Finance Director.
Come to think of it, I peacefully negotiated with the dwarves with a dagger because of the rank measuring device. That was already months ago.
It was a tough time then, but thinking about it now, I felt deeply moved—
"…The dwarves requested a refund."
"What the fuck?"
"I don't know why they're requesting it now after all these years, but since this was just directly sent to me, I thought I should tell you quickly."
What? A refund?
They're bringing up a refund after all these years? No, more importantly, you dwarves melt down the artifacts and use them to rebuild your city. How are you going to return them?
The protagonist also seemed dumbfounded. Wait, did she also know about the dwarven city? How did she know?
No, let's not badmouth the protagonist. The important thing right now was those black consumer dwarves.
"A refund? That's absurd, not to mention a shameless request. Just refuse them outright. What nonsense."
"…W-well…"
"Headmistress?"
"I… wrote a contract back then."
"What?"
"I think there was a clause about refunds…"
Ah.
…Ah.
***
"He's not coming."
"…I guess not."
"It's already been a week."
Meanwhile, in the Finance Director's office, Milia, who had served tea to a certain Elven Archmage,
'You crazy bastard, come quickly…!!'
…was desperately cursing Adam inwardly while maintaining a smile.
The Rank 8 Archmage had suddenly visited, saying he hadn't received an answer yet, and she was left alone with him while they waited for the Finance Director.
Milia, who just wanted to finish her work quickly and go home, lamented her damned reality.
And then, the Elven Archmage's 'eyes' turned towards her as he sipped his tea.
To be precise, it was the bizarrely shaped eye that appeared behind him.
"Um…?"
"Can I ask you something while we wait?"
"W-wait a minute?"
"I see a familiar presence within you, similar to my disciple."
The 'Piercing Eye,' which once belonged to a young elf, opened.
Could this even be called magic?
It was processed into the form of magic, but strangely, the skin around the eye remained, and it was attached to the Archmage's chair as if it had a physical form, becoming one with it. As if it wanted to extend its body even a little.
Instead of blood, black tears flowed from it, and the torn, dilated, and blurry pupil pierced through Milia.
"Can you explain this?"
Unlike Chloe, where they coexisted…
…one had completely dominated her.