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Bang! Boom!!
Fireworks exploded in the night sky, casting fleeting shadows on the two people sitting on the roof.
The Finance Director and Chloe.
They were sitting quite close to each other.
Uncomfortably close.
'...….'
Chloe had a question. Why wasn't the adult Chloe possessing her body now?
Getting close to the Finance Director was the adult Chloe's demand. She possessed her body a month ago and in Circe's lab, so why was she quiet now?
Honestly, the adult Chloe also wanted to take that spot right now. It was only natural.
It was something she had always dreamed of.
'…Adam.'
Although she was just a spirit, the adult Chloe, on the verge of Rank 8, could freely move around Chloe's mind and the surroundings.
This was something Chloe didn't know. She kept it a secret on purpose.
Because this information gap could one day become the sharpest dagger. It was a form of insurance.
Of course, that didn't mean she could completely separate herself. In the end, she was a spirit parasitic on Chloe's dream, so the further away she was, the fainter her ego became. If she went too far, she would disappear.
And right now, the adult Chloe was outside, on a nearby roof.
A place where she could see Chloe and the Finance Director at a glance, but not a suitable spot to watch the fireworks.
…It was a familiar place.
'It was here back then, too.'
The academy life the adult Chloe remembered was incredibly blissful and enjoyable, and at the same time, the worst time of her life.
She was happy to be by the Finance Director's, Adam's, side, but…
…at the same time, she could never truly have the spot next to him.
'Back then, I was here…'
…just like now, only watching Adam.
Chloe once asked her how she knew about this place, how she knew the Finance Director was here.
The answer was obvious. Because it was something that 'happened in the past.'
She happened to see Adam walking and was about to invite him to go together, but hesitated out of shyness.
Adam climbed onto the roof of a random building. The adult Chloe at that time didn't know why Adam came to a place like this.
But she thought it was an opportunity. She just wondered how to naturally approach Adam, who was sitting on the roof.
And then, someone else appeared.
'…The Headmistress.'
The Headmistress, dressed up more than usual, sat next to Adam with a shy expression. It was unbelievable.
The Headmistress was old enough to call even her master, the Archmage, a hero of the previous generation. And yet, she was aiming for Adam?
But the adult Chloe couldn't intervene.
Was it because she was afraid of the Headmistress? No.
It was because Adam… was smiling.
A much brighter, happier, and more joyful smile than when he was with her.
It was an expression he had never shown the adult Chloe.
BOOM!!
She could hear the fireworks exploding. That sound was the same, whether it was now or in her memory of the past.
And so, the adult Chloe could only stare blankly at Adam and the Headmistress. Even as they laughed and joked with each other, she only watched them, hiding on a nearby roof.
And in the end, when the fireworks reached their climax…
The Headmistress, that woman…
Moved to— towards Adam—
'…But…'
It was a future that wouldn't happen now. It was the adult Chloe herself who changed it.
The future of this world was already different from what the adult Chloe knew. Adam chose Beatrice, not Chloe, and for some reason, he was much more urgent and exhausted than the relaxed figure in her memory.
A change she couldn't understand the reason for. It might be a concern for someone, but for the adult Chloe, it was a miracle.
Just like now.
Because she was able to avoid one of the worst futures she knew.
'You just stay there quietly.'
The adult Chloe sneered, looking at one of the tallest buildings in the academy, the building where the Headmistress's office was located.
The Headmistress was inside. The woman who would have arrived long ago and done that disgusting and repulsive thing.
But the Headmistress wouldn't be able to come here.
Although she was just a spirit, there was something the adult Chloe could do precisely because she was the 'current Chloe.'
…After the Headmistress died, she desperately tried to find flaws in the Headmistress to somehow turn Adam's heart away from her. It was a bitter memory.
Among the information she gathered then, there was something useful now.
'I didn't lie.'
A mage on the verge of Rank 8, not strictly speaking alive, and a 'code' that no one knew at this point in time.
That's how the adult Chloe deceived the Headmistress.
BOOM!!
Amidst the exploding fireworks, the adult Chloe smiled and glared at someone with sharp eyes.
Although she had taken measures against the Headmistress, the adult Chloe had to be here just in case. If she were next to Adam now, her mind would be filled with happiness and she wouldn't be able to think of anything else.
As such, the target of her glare was naturally not Adam. It wasn't, but…
'...'
Chloe Piste in this world.
Her past self, who declared that she would never fall in love with Adam.
The adult Chloe was quietly watching her.
Her eyes were dangerous and…
…flickering.
***
The budget-bursting event was over. Or was it the magic-bursting event?
Anyway, it was true that it burst the academy's budget, so it didn't matter.
At first, I thought it was quite a spectacle, but thinking about the budget and materials spent on that event made me cringe.
Why would they do something that simply exploded magic in the sky, something that had no productivity and didn't even contribute to education?
Still, I was able to reduce the budget by restricting the use of magic to only a limited number of people under the pretext of safety.
'Calculating everything… it's manageable.'
Although a considerable portion of the surplus profit we earned so far disappeared, we could at least get through this year.
Yes, this year.
'I'll definitely get rid of it next year.'
Even if a miracle happened within a year and the academy's finances were normalized, I would still cancel it.
Moreover, I'm the one who would create that miracle. If you're dissatisfied, you can earn the festival budget yourselves.
In that sense, it wasn't all bad.
"Thank you as always, Lady Lisha."
"Not at all. This much is nothing to maintain a good relationship with the Finance Director. Ah, and this is…"
"…High-purity gold and jewels. It's much more than what you usually give."
"My grandfather said to give you more. This will also be delivered packaged in an 'apple box.'"
"I'm grateful for the Claudia family's kindness!"
"We also look forward to your continued support."
Firstly, the bribes from the bribed students, including Lisha, increased.
After the midterm exams and the festival, It had been three months since I had maintained my relationship with them. It seemed like they were certain that they could continue the relationship at this point.
I wasn't caught for three months by the Headmistress, who was famous for being strict about bribes? It meant that a certain level of safety was guaranteed, and I had built some trust. Thanks to that, the incoming bribes increased considerably.
I also got some good information.
'Even if it's not an official setting, for a mere Lady to call the Margrave 'grandfather'…'
It meant that the relationship between the Margrave and Lisha was closer than I thought. It was worth remembering.
Thanks to the increased bribes, my fixed income increased a bit, but that wasn't the only good news.
'I found a justification.'
It was truly absurd, but this academy was abnormal in many ways. Even putting aside the financial problems, the professors' perception was like that.
In what other academy in the world would explosions be an everyday occurrence?
Well, it was a custom that had been ingrained for decades, so it didn't change even though there were victims every year. Although there were quite a few injuries, there hadn't been a single death.
Naturally, the collapse and repair of buildings due to these explosions were a critical blow to Grandis Academy's finances.
I guarantee that this damn academy is the only place where building repair costs are a 'fixed cost.'
'I've been waiting for a chance to do something about it.'
This kind of perception should be changed slowly. A radical change would only lead to backlash and discord.
Of course, it wasn't my concern. The academy wouldn't go bankrupt just because of some backlash or discord.
More importantly, there was no time for a slow change, so I needed a shocking and radical trigger.
'This hair loss agent leak incident could serve as a justification.'
A 'common' explosion by the professors almost canceled the festival, and more importantly, if we had failed to respond initially, it could have socially killed the dignitaries who visited the academy.
Although only Dean Billend and a few magic department professors knew about it, I could use it however I wanted.
But…
'I need a finishing blow.'
A hair loss agent leak? Of course, it was a big accident. However, with this much, they could still protest, saying it was a long-standing practice and that it had been fine until now.
Naturally, I could crush that protest using the Headmistress, but in the end, it was the professors who caused the explosions. No matter how coercive we were, it wouldn't be very effective unless the professors themselves changed.
Using the Headmistress was a secondary option, and it was important to find another decisive justification.
A perfect justification that none of the professors could argue with.
And that justification was…
'…Finally, it's time.'
I had already prepared it. Although I had created the plan, I put it on hold because the timing wasn't right, but it seemed like it was finally time to use it.
The plan I devised was a bit… no, even I thought it was truly crossing the line.
But I couldn't change the professors' perception of explosions or the academy's finances with normal methods.
When on the verge of bankruptcy, I had to use drastic measures.
With a determined expression, I took out the plan I had carefully kept and entered the Headmistress's office.
"Headmistress, it's me."
"F-Finance Director!?"
"I wanted to give you a day of rest since you worked so hard for the festival, but this is an important matter."
Tap.
The Headmistress hurriedly put something she was concentrating on into her desk as soon as she saw me enter.
Naturally, it was her private business, and I wasn't curious, so I ignored it.
"Here's the plan."
"Oh, yes…"
"By the way, Headmistress, are you feeling better now?"
"What? My body?"
"You said you suddenly got sick yesterday and couldn't come. I'm glad you seem fine now."
"Th-that's right…"
In the end, the Headmistress didn't come to the roof yesterday. I just watched the fireworks with Chloe.
I wondered why she didn't come, so I went to the Headmistress's office and tried to enter after knocking.
──I'm a bit under the weather! Don't come in, you might catch it!
…she said.
If it was an illness that could affect a Rank 8, it would be practically fatal for me, a Rank 1. I wisely ran away to the dormitory as soon as I heard the Headmistress's words.
I was worried that she might still be feeling sick today, but I couldn't leave this to anyone else considering the confidentiality of the plan, and it was quite an important matter.
Even if I did catch it, I thought the Headmistress would cure me somehow, but thankfully, she seemed to have fully recovered.
Well, it didn't make sense for a Rank 8 to be under the weather, right? She was probably just tired from working too much overtime.
I didn't mention that I watched the fireworks with Chloe. It would be a bit much to brag about it when she couldn't even go because she was sick, even though she was looking forward to it.
Anyway, I placed the diligently written plan on the desk.
"Then please take a look at this plan."
"...."
"Headmistress?"
"S-sorry. I was lost in thought for a moment… I'll read it now."
The Headmistress, who was clearly still thinking about whatever she put in her desk, glanced at it and then unfolded the plan to read.
She seemed like she was going to send me away after reading it and then review it, but…
Her expression changed in real-time as she slowly read the plan.
First, agitation, then confusion, then bewilderment, and finally shock.
The Headmistress, who had even forgotten about whatever was in her desk…
…looked at me with wide eyes.
"A-are you serious?"
"I'm always serious, Headmistress."
"But this is…!!"
"I understand that the risk is high, but if it succeeds, it's a way to catch two birds with one stone."
"It's not just a high risk!"
Flip.
The Headmistress, who rarely raised her voice at me, showed me the title of the plan.
[Academy Terrorism Plan to Secure Donation Opportunities and Reduce Fixed Repair Costs]
Yes.
I am.
"Let's terrorize Grandis Academy."
To save the academy…
I was going to terrorize it.