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The Luftragina Archipelago. Simply put, it was a group of uninhabited islands.
It was an archipelago owned by the Headmistress. Grandis Academy, the Headmistress's territory, was clearly inland, so how did she end up receiving a remote archipelago?
"Kraken often appear near those islands."
"…Are you talking about the Kraken I know? A Rank 7 monster, a bit lower than a Manticore, but capable of destroying a port city on its own? The disaster of the sea, once called the Sea God by sailors?"
"Yes. But since they don't come out of the sea, they're actually more difficult to kill than a Manticore. Moreover, Manticores move alone, but for some reason, there were over ten Kraken gathered near that archipelago. So, no ships could sail there, so I just killed them."
"You… did it alone?"
"Honestly, if all 13 of them attacked at once, it would have been a tough fight, but after I killed about three of them, the rest ran away. Anyway, because of that, they gave me ownership of the islands, saying they didn't know when the Kraken would return."
It was a story that gave a glimpse into what kind of existence the Headmistress was in the past, but anyway.
Due to the Luftragina Archipelago being a Kraken habitat, there were no port cities nearby. The entire surrounding area was abandoned due to the risk of Kraken appearances, so we had to rent a magic ship from the nearest port city.
The negotiation was easy. That nobleman's son happened to be attending Grandis Academy.
But what about the safety issue with the Kraken appearing?
"I'll go myself."
"No one can argue with that."
Who would complain if the strongest person in the kingdom accompanied them? Moreover, she was the one who single-handedly drove away all those Kraken.
Of course, things weren't finished just because the Headmistress and I made the decision, so we went through one more simple process.
In other words, we simply informed the department heads at the department head meeting.
"We're changing the midterm exam content. The theme is survival, and the location is the Luftragina Archipelago, which I own."
"H-Headmistress…?"
"There are three weeks left until the midterm exams, right? Submit the plan from now on."
"Headmistress!!"
"…Understood."
I entrusted… or rather, dumped the task onto the Head of Student Affairs and the Chief Examiner.
The Academic Affairs Department, the Planning Department, the Food Service Department, and the Security Unit weren't completely unrelated, but it wasn't as important as the Head of Student Affairs, who directly received complaints from the students about the exams, and the Chief Examiner, who had to manage the exams themselves.
It was a move that was somewhat different from the Headmistress's usual behavior, but what could they say? They just had to obey.
Before looking at the Headmistress, who seemed to have undergone a dark evolution in a slightly different direction, with proud eyes.
I quietly spoke to the Head of the Food Service Department next to the despairing Head of Student Affairs and the discouraged Chief Examiner.
"As you know, you only need to prepare basic survival kits this time. You know the rest, right?"
"Of course. But I have a question. If the midterm exam is conducted like this, won't at least 70% of the academy students be going to a deserted island?"
"That's right."
"Roughly calculating, the expected cost is less than 1/10th of the previous midterm exam, this is… a coincidence, right?"
"Naturally, it's a coincidence. You could say it's good luck for the Finance Director."
"…I understand."
The Head of the Food Service Department's eyes changed slightly, but if it meant saving the budget, it was a good thing for the Food Service Department as well. Wasn't this what mutual benefit was all about?
The expected problems were that the Student Affairs and Exam departments would have to work like crazy for the remaining three weeks, including surveying the island and creating a new plan, the stress of the nobles whose children were attending the academy and 'that' Headmistress having to pass through their territory, and the complaints and protests from the students during the exam?
It was nothing. We saved a lot of budget in return.
Moreover, I had already thought of solutions to those problems.
"By the way, will the Finance Director also be going to the island?"
"What? Why would I go? It's extremely hot, humid, and annoying there, and there are a lot of mosquitoes. Naturally, I should stay at the academy and work with the air conditioning magic tool on."
"…Finance Director?"
"Yes, Headmistress."
"Finance Director, come with me."
"…What?"
Wait a minute.
This wasn't part of the plan.
I desperately tried to maintain my composure and signal the Headmistress with my eyes, but she just smiled and nodded.
"The other department heads, except for the Chief Examiner and the Finance Director, please take care of the academy. It's only for a week, though."
""""As you command.""""
"Understood, Headmistress."
"No, wait—"
"The meeting is over! Everyone, go back to your work!"
Adam Keynes, Finance Director.
Trip to a deserted island confirmed.
***
Vroom—
The magic ship cut through the water with a powerful sound.
"It's refreshing. This is my first time riding a magic ship."
"Your Highness?"
"Although the Delphia Kingdom borders the sea, we weren't wealthy enough to operate magic ships. It's the sea, after all."
"That's true."
Unlike other equipment that used magic stones, the cost of a magic ship was on a different level. It was because it was a ship, after all.
To be precise, the 'sea' itself, where the ship sailed, was the problem. The sea was a place that humans and other races on the continent hadn't yet conquered.
Rank 2 and 3 monsters appeared like small fry, and powerful Rank 5 and 6 monsters were also frequently seen in the sea.
Therefore, a magic ship wasn't just a ship that moved with mana; it was also equipped with all sorts of weapons to effectively repel monsters, and at least one mage had to be on board in case of emergency.
After taking these measures, we were finally able to create port cities and explore the sea, but even that was limited to the coastal areas. Sailing far out into the ocean was still a dream.
Moreover, even a magic ship built with such effort would be destroyed like a piece of paper if a Rank 7 monster, a Kraken, appeared.
Except for the hegemonic Empire and the powerful kingdom right behind it, there were few places that could properly operate magic ships.
Perhaps for that reason, Beatrice enjoyed the sea breeze on the vigorously sailing magic ship.
"Of course, I've taken ordinary ships to nearby areas where monsters don't appear, but this is my first time going to an archipelago this far from the continent. Ruth Spero, isn't it the same for you?"
"…I've never seen the sea before."
"Since we don't know when we'll be able to ride a magic ship like this again, let's enjoy it to the fullest. And you over there? You're Milia, right?"
"Y-Your Highness shouldn't remember my name! Please just ignore someone like me and enjoy yourselves…"
"How can we do that when we're on the same team? The rule is that if you form a team, it has to be one person from each of the magic, martial arts, and administration departments. And I personally chose you."
"Your Highness…!"
"You've already received an invitation to join the student council, aren't you getting ahead of yourself?"
"…That's…"
After meeting Ruth Spero on the street, Beatrice formed a team for the midterm exams.
Beatrice herself from the magic department, Ruth Spero from the martial arts department, and Milia from the administration department.
Although she was a commoner with no family name, the freshman who had only been enrolled for a little over a month received an invitation to join the student council.
Beatrice was keeping an eye on Milia for that reason alone.
'Her major is civil engineering, which will be quite helpful for the survival theme.'
Ruth Spero, even with restrictions, was a Rank 6, so there were no problems, and if there was a problem, it was Beatrice herself, a half-baked mage.
But even for the midterm exam where she couldn't bring artifacts, she had already prepared her own method.
All preparations were perfect. Thinking so, Beatrice nodded and looked around at the vast sea.
"Those magic ships over there are going to different islands, right?"
"Th-the Luftragina Archipelago consists of 27 islands… so they're probably going to different places depending on their year."
"Roughly 7,000 students are taking this exam, so that's about 250 people per island."
Grandis Academy, unlike other private academies, had a small number of students. Unlike public academies, tuition fees were a major source of income for private academies.
Naturally, since the Headmistress of Grandis Academy was the wealthiest person in the kingdom, the tuition fees were low, and with the strict entrance exam, the number of students was relatively small compared to the size of the campus and the educational environment.
However, conversely, that exclusivity made nobles and commoners confident in their abilities continue to knock on the academy's doors.
Beatrice, gently stroking the clock artifact that was no longer functional as an artifact and was exceptionally allowed to be brought in, nodded as if making up her mind.
'Definitely.'
She would get high grades, get first place, and receive a scholarship.
Even if it was just that, combined with her part-time job, she would help Adam.
"...…."
Ruth Spero was watching Beatrice intently.
"Ugh…"
Milia, a commoner caught between a Rank 6 swordsman and a princess from another country.
Could only let out a troubled groan with a heavy heart.
And finally, the magic ship arrived at one of the uninhabited islands of the Luftragina Archipelago.
As soon as the hundreds of students on board disembarked…
"The midterm exam will now commence. The only supplies you have are the survival kits that were just handed out! Survive on this island for the next week! The detailed rules will be displayed in the sky, so check them whenever you want! That's all!"
Vroom—
The ship mercilessly departed.
"…Huh?"
The question of a certain noble student…
…represented the feelings of the students left alone on the deserted island.
***
"Headmistress."
"Yes, Finance Director."
"Did you bring me here on purpose?"
"You could say that. How is it?"
"If you ask me how it is…"
—It's the best, of course.
On one of the islands in the Luftragina Archipelago, a small island farthest from the mainland and closest to the ocean.
Unlike the other islands, there was a small house built there. It wasn't exactly a villa, but it was enough to live in.
And the Headmistress and I.
Were lying comfortably on hammocks, leaving the other staff to manage the students.
"But what is this house?"
"It's a house I built to use as a base when I was hunting Kraken. I told the staff who went on the preliminary survey to clean it up, and it's in better condition than I expected."
Well, the staff must have thought the Headmistress would be staying here and cleaned it up. It was only natural for the wealthiest person in the kingdom (lol) and the dictator who ruled the academy (lol).
The only difference was that I was also here.
"We've already eliminated any potential trouble during the exam, and we've thought of ways to deal with the students' complaints, right? Then all that's left is to relax and rest!"
"Indeed… I don't know how long it's been since I last lay down so comfortably."
"It's only for a week, but it's a vacation I'm giving you. I brought plenty of food, and I told the staff not to come unless it's really important, so…"
The Headmistress moved a little closer and smiled at me.
"…It's really just the two of us."
Yes, it is.
How long has it been since I had a break like this? …Come to think of it, it's the first time since I became the Finance Director.
Although I feel a sense of compulsion that I should be staying at the academy and working on documents instead of resting like this.
'It's a rare break.'
There's a limit to how much I can keep working while relying on military stimulants and the Headmistress's energy.
Since things have turned out like this, it might be more efficient to just rest fully and recharge before working again.
As the Headmistress, now uncomfortably close, looked at me with an unreadable expression, I raised my hand and clapped twice.
Clap clap.
"Hi, Circe."
"…Finance Director?"
"You know the communication magic tool I received from the Headmistress? I modified it to activate in response to my clapping."
"B-but why the communication magic tool?"
"I have something to ask her."
By the way, why aren't you answering when you can clearly hear me?
Clap clap.
I clapped again to urge her, and a voice came from the fist-sized crystal ball I had in my pocket.
──What is it… again?
"Why are you so prickly? Professor Circe, if you're so angry at such a young age, you'll die early."
──That's because someone reduced my salary by 98%! Because of that, I starved yesterday…!
"I'm certain that even if it were much less than that, it wouldn't affect your livelihood."
──You haven't lived like that yourself, Finance Director, so how would you know?!
I am living like that.
Well, she wouldn't believe me even if I told her, so let's just get down to business.
"Anyway, you're on Island 4, right?"
──…Yes. But for some reason, the proportion of magic department professors among the supervisors assigned to Island 4 is unusually high. Their gazes are quite piercing. Is this a coincidence?
"Of course it's a coincidence. Who would do that, knowing that the magic department professors dislike Professor Circe? Honestly."
──...…
"Anyway, there should be a lot of coconuts on Island 4. We even accelerated their growth for the students' survival."
──That's… true. But why are you suddenly asking?
"Could you bring me some? I suddenly have a craving for coconuts. About 20 would be nice."
──You…!!!
"Well, if you're dissatisfied, you can quit the academy. Then the rumors about Professor Circe might spread throughout the kingdom, the Empire, and even the Holy Kingdom. Ah, you did read the precautions when you signed the contract regarding the hair loss cure research, right?"
──…Precautions?
"If you leave the academy before completing the research, you'll have to pay a penalty for all the materials, equipment, and facilities you used until then, plus a percentage of the expected profit from the hair loss cure research. It's nothing much, right?"
──...
"If you're going to quit, please tell me now. The Headmistress is right next to me, so we can take care of it immediately!"
──…I'll get the coconuts.
"And be thoughtful enough to make holes in them and put straws in."
──What do you mean…
Click.
It seemed like she was about to say something at the end, but I cut her off. If she was dissatisfied, she could quit.
"With this, our snacks are taken care of, Headmistress."
"...…."
"Headmistress?"
"No, it's nothing… nothing."
Why was she acting like that again? She seemed a bit sulky and fidgeted before returning to her original position next to me.
It seemed like it had become more difficult to understand the Headmistress's feelings since the incident on the rooftop.
'Whatever.'
Let's just sleep until Circe brings the coconuts.
Feeling the Headmistress's gaze seemingly directed at me.
I quietly drifted off to dreamland.
It was a sweet sleep I hadn't felt in a long time.