Reviving a Bankrupt Academy: My Financial Battle

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After sending the dejected Kaern off on the magic ship.

Despite the brief interruption, the survival midterm exam quickly resumed. The students' mood wasn't bad either.

This was because Kaern Deste, who caused the commotion, didn't have a good reputation.

"The youngest knight was disqualified? That guy who monopolized the small spring and washed his armor all day?"

"That's a relief. He kept shouting about knights and whatnot, making it difficult to hunt."

"It was convenient to use him in reverse. The prey would run to the opposite side of where he was shouting. But I guess we can't use that anymore."

Honestly, it was unlikely that a guy who wore full plate armor even in this weather would participate in the survival test properly.

The gathered students naturally dispersed.

And I watched Beatrice and Milia secretly securing the supply box.

Beatrice seemed to have become quite accustomed to survival, but…

'Milia.'

She was a student to watch, a name to remember. Not now, but in the future.

When the protagonist became a second-year a year later, Milia would be at the center of a key event. In a somewhat negative way.

Still, for now, she was just spreading rumors, so there was no need to bother with her. It was enough to keep her in mind.

'By the way, I thought there would be another incident, but I unexpectedly gained something.'

Honestly, compared to the things that had happened so far, this was an everyday occurrence, and it didn't require any expenses.

More importantly, it was a great gain to have an opportunity to meet Julius and get money from him.

After seeing off the Exam Supervisor and the professors, who bowed to the Headmistress and me repeatedly before going back to their work, I quietly whispered to the Headmistress's ear.

"Headmistress, you did well earlier."

"Eek!?"

"…Headmistress?"

"Ah, ahem. Sorry. I was a bit surprised… Anyway, it worked out well, as the Finance Director said."

"It's thanks to you."

It was true. When Ruth pointed his sword at me, I stopped the Headmistress from throwing a punch, didn't I?

I desperately gestured with my hand behind my back. Please hold back. Rank 6 or not, everyone would die if the Headmistress threw a punch.

More importantly, she unleashed her anger in front of Kaern, effectively pressuring him and getting what she wanted.

The Headmistress was also becoming a great Finance Director (?).

'Sir Julius.'

He wasn't a character who directly appeared in . He was only mentioned as an important figure when recruiting the youngest knight, Kaern Deste, as a companion. Of course, that was only in the academy part that I played.

A Rank 7 swordsman, the captain of the Royal Knights, and one of the wealthiest people in the kingdom.

Although I wanted to meet him, I didn't know much about Julius. I only knew his personality and information from the in-game description and Kaern's dialogue.

But if it was about that.

"Headmistress, do you happen to know Sir Julius well?"

"Well, I suppose so. I met him when I was with my younger brother, and that fellow was his disciple."

…Younger brother?

You had a younger brother?

"Ah, when I say younger brother, I mean Margrave Claudia. I'm a little, just a little older than him, so we decided to call each other that when we traveled together for a while."

"Uh… I see."

You called the Rank 8 swordsman, the Margrave, your younger brother? Wouldn't Lisha faint if she heard that? I'm suddenly very curious about the Headmistress's past.

But the Margrave I know is an old man with white hair? The Headmistress is older than him? What is this? The Headmistress, judging by her skin and other factors, doesn't seem like she's forcibly stopping aging, but rather her body itself is young.

Is this that "reversing age to return to youth" thing from martial arts novels?

"Anyway, I see him sometimes when I go to the royal palace, but that Julius fellow is, how should I put it…"

"…?"

"A pushover?"

"What?"

Did a pushover just call someone else a pushover?

I experienced a brief cognitive dissonance, but seeing the Headmistress's somewhat embarrassed expression, I organized my thoughts.

So…

Even the Headmistress called Julius a pushover? And he's the wealthiest person in the kingdom?

Isn't he the best? How did he become so rich?

"I would love to meet him after this is over."

"Didn't the Finance Director want to meet him for that reason?"

"That's true, but I didn't expect him to be evaluated that way by the Headmistress."

"…Hmm, should I be happy or angry about this…"

"You can be happy."

Anyway, meeting that pushover would be after the deserted island midterm exam. As I was about to return to that island with the Headmistress, who seemed to be staring at my cheeks for some reason, two people caught my eye.

One was the protagonist.

'What's with him since earlier?'

He kept glancing at me while carrying the supply box with Beatrice and Milia, I wonder what he was thinking.

But I never knew what the protagonist was thinking, did I? So, let's pass on that for now.

The other was Professor Circe.

"Professor Circe."

"...."

"Professor?"

Why was she trembling so much? She must hate me quite a bit, but she was afraid of the Headmistress to the extent that she was trying to hide behind me.

No, why is she…

"…Wait a minute."

"...…."

"Your rank…?"

The mana I felt from Professor Circe was considerably weak. This wasn't a change that could be caused simply by fear.

Although I wasn't a mage, I knew when this kind of phenomenon occurred.

Rank demotion.

A rare phenomenon caused by life-threatening injuries or severe trauma.

Professor Circe, who was originally a Rank 6 mage…

Had become Rank 5… but.

"Professor Circe, why didn't you say something earlier? Did you dislike coconuts that much that you experienced a rank demotion?"

"…What?"

"Then, from today onwards, please bring tropical fruits. I'm a bit tired of coconuts anyway."

So what?

Anyway, that rank demotion thing would resolve itself if she just rested for a few months, right? She would return to her original rank, right?

Of course, it was questionable whether Professor Circe, whose salary was reduced by 98% and who had to devote herself to the hair loss cure research every day, could afford to rest for a few months.

However, considering that the Headmistress shed tears because of this woman, and just calculating the profit we could have gained from the improved healing potion research made my blood boil, there was no way I would show her any consideration.

I patted the seemingly speechless Circe on the shoulder and returned to the Headmistress, who was smiling triumphantly for some reason.

"Headmistress? Did something good happen?"

"…Actually, there was something I wanted to do on this business trip. A somewhat personal goal."

"You had something like that?"

"Honestly, I could do it anytime, but it's not something I can force on others… I've been holding back, only making small moves when I could have just gone for it."

"What is it?"

By the way, the Headmistress's gaze towards me had been somewhat intense since earlier.

When Beatrice took out the clock artifact, I had that kind of thought, even though it was narcissistic, but.

Could this be…?

"Th-the tropical fruits!"

"…Fruits?"

"I just wanted to eat them all! B-but if I eat too much, there won't be any left for the students, right!? So I was holding back, and the Finance Director just happened to mention it! Yes, that's it!"

"Aha."

Damn it. I need to fix my narcissism.

Well, considering the age difference between the Headmistress and me, would she see me as the opposite sex? It wasn't twice or three times the difference, but more than six times.

I thought I was quite perceptive when it came to rational matters, but I should abandon that thought as well.

While feeling embarrassed, I asked one more question before returning to the island with the Headmistress.

"By the way, Headmistress? How are the 'preparations' going?"

"Y-you mean the plan preparations? It's going smoothly. I may not know much about academy affairs, but I'm quite knowledgeable in this area. I'll be able to get the timing just right."

"That's a relief. Impact is important."

There would probably be a lot of complaints and protests from the students after the exam ended, but I had a plan.

However, it wasn't just my plan, but also a plan the Headmistress herself suggested. When I first heard it, I thought she had gone crazy from stress, but after hearing the whole thing, I understood.

Moreover, in this plan, she wasn't the incompetent and naive 'Headmistress,' but the 'strongest person in the kingdom.'

As an expert who no one in the kingdom could argue with, I had no choice but to trust her.

Thinking so, I returned to the small island in the Headmistress's arms, and since it was already evening, I must have dozed off without realizing it. When I came to my senses, I was already in bed.

"Ah."

"You were sleeping soundly, Finance Director?"

"Ah."

I was so embarrassed.

And this time, it wasn't my cheeks that were damp, but my forehead. I thought it was impossible to drool from my forehead even if I was sleeping, so I asked the Headmistress.

"…Did you notice? I played a prank. I secretly put seawater on you."

So that's what it was. Then, all this time, it wasn't my drool that made my cheeks damp, but seawater?

After realizing that I had been completely fooled, I tried to get revenge on the Headmistress by drinking with her until late, but…

…I was the one who fell asleep first again. How could she not be drunk at all even after emptying over 20 bottles? Is this what Rank 8 is like?

This time, the damp spot was on the back of my neck.

Why was she putting seawater only on these parts…?

***

A week passed.

Although the number of commoners was the highest, Grandis Academy also had a considerable number of students from noble families and other privileged backgrounds.

Throwing those students onto a deserted island, giving them only basic survival kits, and telling them to survive for a week was obviously not a normal exam.

Therefore, although a considerable number of students gave up midway, the number of students who completed the exam wasn't small either.

And those students were.

"Is this water? Real drinking water? Not the kind that will make me have diarrhea all day if I don't boil it!?"

"Oh my, meat. Meat! Cooked meat! Sob, it's so good…!!"

"Hey, hey! If you go over there, you can wash up! They even give you soap!"

"Crazy! I'm going first!"

"Finally, freedom!"

They were shedding tears of joy at the feast and shower facilities that the academy had prepared in advance at the behest of the Finance Director.

Complaints? Of course they had them. Protests? Of course they wanted to make them.

But after a week of surviving like beggars, they didn't even have the energy to raise their voices. And in that situation, they were gathered on the largest island, having passed the exam, and a feast was laid out before them.

Complaints and protests were forgotten as they drank water to their heart's content, ate their fill, and washed their grimy bodies clean.

There's a saying called the Peak-End Rule.

No matter how difficult the process was, if the end was good, it would be interpreted positively. The most famous example was reminiscing about one's time in the military.

A week? Of course it was hard. But the students who gave up midway weren't here. Those who gave up were in a nearby port city, and the only ones here were those who persevered and completed the exam.

Naturally, their conversations were also about the exam.

"Did you see that kid from Baron Valentine's family crying and giving up? If he's a noble, shouldn't he be able to handle this easily? It was a bit pathetic."

"Honestly, I'm not saying this because I managed to do it, but it wasn't that impossible, was it? If you can't even handle this, can you even call yourself a Grandis Academy student?"

"That's why I, uh, that boar? I took it down with my sword! With my arrows! I hunted it alone!"

"You almost got trampled by that boar."

"Anyway, I didn't get trampled, so it's fine! I'm the one who survived, so I'm the strongest!"

They were students who had lived together on a deserted island, for better or worse. Although there were incidents of looting, there were many more cases where they formed friendships within their teams or between alliances.

As those students gathered and talked about their week-long adventures, laughing and making fun of those who gave up midway.

Complaints and protests were fine, but did they really need to be brought up in this atmosphere? It was better to eat and chat to their heart's content now and voice their complaints after returning to the academy.

However, that thought was interrupted.

[Now, we will have a word from the Headmistress!]

"The Headmistress?"

"Suddenly?"

"Students, you've all worked hard. I imagine there were many complaints since this was the first time we conducted an exam in this way. Nevertheless, I sincerely congratulate all of you who completed this difficult exam."

The Headmistress's words lightly lifted their spirits.

"And so, as a special reward for those who completed the exam, additional scholarships will be awarded."

"""""Woohoo!!!"""""

Although it wasn't a large amount, it was a reward that seemed to compensate for their hardships.

And then…

"Everyone, do you see anything on the horizon over there?"

"Huh…?"

"What's that? It wasn't there before?"

"…Wait, isn't that huge? How far is the horizon from here, for it to look that big…?"

"It's a Kraken."

"…What?"

"W-wait a minute! A real Kraken? A Rank 7 monster!?"

"I-is it coming this way!?"

"Help me!"

"Students, there's no need to panic. The most important fact right now is that Kraken are surprisingly delicious."

"H-Headmistress…?"

"Everyone, watch closely."

The students momentarily panicked at the sight of the Kraken suddenly appearing and approaching at high speed, but.

The Headmistress easily subdued the students with her Aura and leisurely walked on the surface of the sea.

She was so calm that the students, instead of panicking or running away, watched her.

"She's walking on water…?"

"Is that even possible?"

"Humans can't do that. Only people like the Headmistress can."

"Wh-what does that matter! The Kraken is right there—"

"It's been a while since I last hunted a Kraken."

*Splash!!!*

The Headmistress smiled gently and kicked off the surface of the water, creating a huge splash.

Although a large wave formed as an aftereffect, it miraculously avoided the island where the students were located, creating a spectacle.

High above, at a height where they had to crane their necks to see, the Headmistress's figure shimmered.

[Kwwaaaaaarrrrr!!!!]

"Hmm, it's a young one. Normally, I would tell it to bring its parents, but…"

Aura.

The criterion that distinguished Rank 5 from Rank 6, the equivalent of Sword Qi for martial artists.

Even a Rank 7 martial artist could only imbue their fists with Aura, but the Headmistress's entire body, and even the island where the students were located, was completely enveloped in it like a protective barrier.

At the unimaginable scale, the students, and even the Exam Supervisors and professors who had been informed beforehand, gaped in awe.

"I can at least feed the Finance Director a nourishing meal!"

[K-wha…!?]

*Crack!!!!*

An earsplitting roar. And the sight of the Kraken bursting like a balloon.

A Rank 7 monster with legs over 30 meters long and a body length well over 100 meters, even though it wasn't fully grown.

The disaster of the sea, boasting a size comparable to a royal palace, not even comparable to ordinary buildings…

Was killed with a single punch from the Headmistress.

The Headmistress, who had brought back only the Kraken's legs after skillfully handling the sinking Kraken that was spewing blood and ink with her Aura, as if accustomed to it.

"Hmm, the waves are a bit high, aren't they?"

*Crash!!!*

She erased the tsunami created by her punch with a light wave of her hand and returned to the students with a smile.

Placing dozens of Kraken legs, each comparable in size to an average tower, on the beach, she cheerfully shouted,

"Now, let's eat!"

""""....""""

Naturally.

None of the students on the island voiced any complaints or protests after returning to the academy.

Moreover, the Headmistress's Kraken hunt was observed even in the port city where the students who gave up midway were staying, along with the huge wave.

"What was that sound…?"

"It was the sound of our Headmistress subjugating a Kraken. You remember the terms of our deal, right?"

"…We'll lend you magic ships for free from now on, only for Grandis Academy. Thank you for subjugating the Kraken."

"There's more."

"Hmm?"

"There's still the Kraken subjugation reward that the Viscount promised, isn't there?"

"...…."

It was a truly satisfying outcome for everyone, including a certain Finance Director receiving free magic ship rentals and the Kraken subjugation reward from the noble of the port city.

"…How did I die?"

Only the Regressor was left with an unsolvable question.