I Broke Off My Engagement and Got a Job at the Academy

62 – Fame

After finally escaping from the crowd, I scratched my head while looking at the director.

“…What on earth happened?”

“It’s a big deal! Here, have a drink.”

He handed me a cup of tea. Needless to say, this place was the director’s office at the academy.

“Everyone at the academy found out through remote communication magic. They know what kind of achievement you’ve made.”

An achievement… is what I should call it. It was actually just a magic I created to become a Professor of Magic, but somehow things turned out well.

Perhaps noticing my gaze, the director smiled softly and said.

“Great inventions always start from accidents. Your accident is really enviable. Well, anyway, the academy is in an uproar. You became the protagonist at the Matap Conference.”

“Hahaha…”

“And not just that. It’s beyond the annual level. It’s an overwhelming appearance that everyone can only admire. How can it not be the pride of the academy?”

“Well, if you say so, I appreciate it.”

But honestly, what good does it do for the academy to gain higher status?

The academy held a monopolistic position within the empire. It was the place that created the backbone of the empire. As such, the academy was not influenced by any political factors.

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…So I was able to get a job.

Thinking silently like that, the director calmly sipped his tea and spoke.

“As the prestige of the academy rises, so does its political standing. More sponsorship will come in, and attempts to interfere politically will gradually decrease.”

“Ah….”

If you’re making a lot of money, that’s acceptable. The amount the academy spends is astronomical. In other words, it’s insanely difficult to create a budget.

Not every teacher was hanging on creating a budget. However, it was also challenging to entrust it to professionals like business managers. Ultimately, teachers knew what was most important in education.

Thinking about it, I understood the gentle, almost promotion-worthy smile of Vice Principal.

Not only that, the fact that the academy becomes freer from the pressure of the Imperial Faction also benefits my safety. There was no loss in many ways.

“Not only that, efforts are made to admit talents to the academy from other countries. And, naturally, that helps the academy.”

In short, from Vice Principal’s perspective, raising the name of the academy seemed quite significant. I smiled in line with his expression.

Upon that, Vice Principal sipped his tea once again and spoke.

“Students seem to realize that you’re a more remarkable person than they thought. The interest in you has grown… significantly.”

“Ah… yes.”

I nodded and quickly took a sip of tea.

Vice Principal looked at me and said,

“Well, and thanks to you… something very unique happened.”

I furrowed my brow.

“…Is it a bad thing?”

“I don’t know.”

I shrugged. Then, Vice Principal spoke again after taking a sip of his tea.

“Well, it’s a big deal. Much bigger than you think. But… I don’t quite understand if it’s something that benefits the academy or harms it.”

Usually, when an issue is somewhat significant, it becomes easier to categorize it as either a benefit or a loss. But not understanding?

“…What exactly is happening?”

“Uh… that’s the thing. Hm. Akitelos’s… the Prime Minister’s daughter wants to enroll in the academy. To be precise, she wants to be admitted as a freshman starting next semester.”

As soon as I heard that, I tried to weigh the pros and cons.

…I have no idea.

Akitelos is a nation of the Mines. In the past, it was said to be a nation of demons. Their political form involves electing a prime minister through voting, and that prime minister becomes the leader of the country. When the prime minister dies, there is another round of voting.

And by continuing that form, naturally, there was no distinction in status in Akitelos, but prestigious families inevitably emerged, and this time, the current Prime Minister was known as the leader of one such prestigious family.

In short… the meaning was that this Prime Minister wants to make his daughter the next Prime Minister.

Upon hearing that, I could only furrow my brow.

“No… ha… I really don’t know.”

If the daughter of the Prime Minister of the Mines is admitted to the academy, naturally, the relationship with the faculty deteriorates. The faculty, having a history of countless struggles with the demons, naturally, despises the Mines who inherit the blood of demons.

On the other hand, what benefits can be gained? This side is incredibly straightforward. Money. More money.

Arkethelos is an extraordinarily wealthy nation. The ancestors of the miners who were able to withstand the demon king’s land, once called the Demon’s Abyss, haphazardly developed the bountiful land. As a result, Arkethelos became a country where, on average, citizens lived better than even the empire.

…Of course, comparing it in that way may not have much meaning due to the difference in scale. Nevertheless, what Arkethelos could offer was overwhelmingly in the form of substantial wealth.

The Academy, honestly speaking, is almost always buzzing with activity. It’s just the fate of the place.

Logically speaking, the children of the imperial capital aristocracy, accustomed to all kinds of precious things, invariably enroll in the Academy.

No matter how well they are treated, will it be enough to satisfy them? They might use it as a tool to ignite the students’ enthusiasm through differential treatment based on grades, but… no matter how you look at it, it’s insufficient.

The Academy’s finances are a history of financial juggling. In the long history of the Academy, which is almost impossible to count, there has never been a time when the Academy’s finances were sound.

So, naturally, finances also had to be somehow managed. If necessary, even among the teachers, the knowledge of how to juggle finances had to be a skill to be learned.

Having a shopping district on the island where the Academy is located is also in the same context.

Who would want to leave a pub right next to the sacred academy city where students should study? Because it brings in money.

The Academy is not only a school but also a city. It’s a monster that devours capital on an immense scale. In such a situation, if Arkethelos provides support… it is only natural to be tempted.

“Hmm.”

The guidance teacher had been deeply contemplating until now.

I waited for it quietly. Then, the guidance teacher made a sound of realization and smiled gracefully.

“Sorry. Anyway, thinking about that topic while you’re here was not appropriate.”

“No, it’s okay. Really.”

The guidance teacher smiled at my words.

“Oh, come to think of it, our academy could use your artifact.”

An item that costs 10,000 gold. Naturally, it could be burdensome for the Academy. Even though it might seem like a small amount compared to the total budget of the Academy, the absolute price remains unchanged.

And… if I sell my artifact to the Academy, I’ll have to make a desperate effort to fill the financial hole I’ve created.

No, I can’t do that. It’s obvious that I’ll end up overworked. I bit my lip, thinking about the dreadful future.

It’s ridiculous that my quality of life would deteriorate because I sold the things I sell. Unthinkable.

But if I don’t sell them? That’s also unthinkable. Can’t the academy teachers not sell goods only to the academy? Ridiculous things need to be said to some extent.

I considered the problem in every possible way, and finally, I found a very appropriate answer.

“Um… then, how about I lend my artifact to the Academy for free?”

My own trick. There’s no need to rant about the financial hole, and the Academy receives the artifact. Since it’s a lease, the ownership is still mine. That was the meaning.

And, it seemed like that was what the guidance teacher was hoping for, as he chuckled and said.

“Oh, my. You don’t have to go that far.”

…Saying one thing and doing another. Rather than responding like that, I chose to pass it off casually.

“Haha. If it’s for the development of the academy, it’s a happy thing.”

“Thank you. Really,”

The headmaster grabbed my hand and said. After a while, when the cheerful atmosphere continued, I took out an item and showed it to the headmaster.

“What is this…?”

“…On the way back to the academy this time, there was a cage containing those who were trying to explode the ship that Cordelia professor, many others, and I were on. They seem to be the same people as in the entrance exam… Once they regain consciousness, their brains will be destroyed. There seems to be black magic on them.”

Then, the headmaster leaned forward towards me and said.

“Tell me more about the story.”