Reviving a Bankrupt Academy: My Financial Battle

BOOM!!!!

I was working on documents in my office when a loud noise suddenly echoed.

My face scrunched up at the abrupt sound, but… that was all.

"Something else got blown up, I guess."

Where was it this time? The martial arts training ground? The magic research lab? The herb production field? Or maybe the graduate dormitory?

Explosions like this were an everyday occurrence at Grandis Academy, happening once or twice a month. It wasn't for nothing that repair costs were a fixed monthly expense.

Of course, that was an everyday occurrence for the professors and students, but for me, the Finance Director, it was just a pain in the ass.

'Still, it shouldn't be a big problem.'

The repair company offered discounts for the training ground, research lab, and graduate dormitory because they exploded so frequently. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it was my greatest achievement last year.

Other buildings didn't get discounts, but lecture halls and auditoriums didn't usually collapse anyway.

But honestly, with all the repairs we've been paying for, shouldn't they fix at least one building for free?

Grumbling, I put down my pen and got up from my seat to check which building had collapsed this time.

"F-Finance Director! It's an emergency!"

"I haven't seen you before. Are you new?"

"Yes? Ah, yes, I am! I just joined the exam administration department!"

"Then let me tell you something in advance. Buildings collapsing is a common occurrence at this academy. You don't need to panic and shout like that—"

"The entrance exam hall collapsed!"

"What the fuck?"

No, why would that place collapse?

There wasn't an event like this during the entrance exam in the game…?

"The Headmistress happened to be at the exam hall, so she prevented further collapse, but the supervisor told me to call for the Finance Director immediately!"

"Let's go right away!"

"I'll guide you with magic!"

"Teleportation magic?"

"Acceleration magic!"

Since they couldn't use teleportation magic, they were probably around Rank 5. A bit of an awkward skill level to get into the exam administration department.

Well, they must have other strengths to have been hired.

Receiving the acceleration magic from the newbie, I jumped out the window without hesitation. My office was right next to the Headmistress's, so it was quite high up, but fortunately, the newbie was quick-witted for someone new and used shock absorption magic instead of panicking, allowing us to land safely.

The shock absorption magic tool the Headmistress had installed for me also did its job.

We ran straight towards the entrance exam hall.

"What's the damage report!?"

"Sir? W-well, fortunately, there are no injuries! And of course, no fatalities."

"Not that! I'm talking about the financial damage!"

"Y-yes?"

What's the point of telling me, the Finance Director and a mere Rank 1, about the injury status?

Of course, assessing casualties was important, but that was the Medical Director's job. I had my own responsibilities as the Finance Director.

Ultimately, I would be handling the medical expenses and compensation for any mental distress caused to the injured, but the reason this newbie's superior called me specifically was probably to assess the financial damage, not to escort the injured.

"Quickly!"

"Well… one side of the entrance exam hall's wall is half-destroyed! The fortified magic on it collapsed, leaving a huge hole, and the debris fell on the surroundings. Oh, and also."

"And?"

"One of the rank measurement devices is broken, but compared to the collapsed wall…"

"No, my measurement device and wall repair costs!!!"

The measurement device? The measurement device is broken!?

This was a bigger deal than I thought. While the newbie, startled by my cry of despair, wisely shut their mouth, I quickly reached the entrance exam hall with the help of the acceleration magic.

"What the hell is that?"

"This is the first time I've seen the entrance exam hall destroyed."

"Wow, he brought down the wall with a single swing of the sword?"

"Everyone, please step aside."

"Huh? Adam sun──mmmpph."

"Hey, that senior is now the academy's Finance Director! Don't call him so familiarly just because you saw him once in your first year…!!"

I ignored what sounded like a familiar voice and pushed through the murmuring students to witness the scene of devastation, just as the newbie had described.

"The wall…"

"Fortunately, the other walls are intact. Thanks to the Headmistress's quick action."

"The Headmistress?"

"Yes, that's right."

Why was the Headmistress at the entrance exam hall instead of doing the paperwork I asked her to do?

I wanted to nag her, but she did prevent further collapse, so I decided to let it slide for now.

Looking at the state of the collapsed wall…

"F-Finance Director! You're here!"

"It's been a while, Exam Supervisor Dalcoon. What's the exact damage situation?"

"As you've already heard from the new recruit, the wall itself didn't collapse completely. It could have led to a major disaster, but thanks to the Headmistress's intervention, it was prevented. However…"

Yes, from what I could see, the collapsed wall itself wasn't too bad.

Of course, half of one side of a massive building had crumbled, so the scale was tremendous, but in an academy where entire buildings frequently got half-destroyed, this was child's play.

Normally, the weight would have shifted, causing the entire building to collapse, but that's why we spent a fortune on fortifying it with magic. And with the Headmistress lending a hand, it ended with just this much damage.

'This shouldn't cost too much.'

Considering that the entrance exam hall wasn't used much except during entrance exams, there was no need to rush the repairs. We could take our time, which meant no additional fees for expedited service.

But Exam Supervisor Dalcoon trailed off.

It was ominous, but I knew what was coming next.

"One of the rank measurement devices… is completely destroyed."

"Repairs…?"

"Well, it's possible, but as you know, Finance Director…"

"…Damn it."

Exam Supervisor Dalcoon, sensing my displeasure, took a step back.

While I was despairing over the reality, I overheard a hushed conversation between the newbie and Dalcoon.

"Um, Exam Supervisor? Why did the Finance Director react like that?"

"Come to think of it, you joined a month ago, right? That measurement device was made by dwarves."

"…What? Really?"

"Yes. The Headmistress purchased it from the dwarves 50 years ago. And as you know, during those 50 years…"

"The dwarves' city was half-destroyed by monster attacks."

"That's right. And because of the reconstruction costs, the dwarves started charging exorbitant fees for repairing their magic tools. Since only dwarves can fix what dwarves make, we have no choice but to pay whatever they ask."

"B-but is it that expensive? Even if it is…"

"It's expensive, right? It would take you and me a lifetime to earn enough. But more than that, the dwarves are real assholes. They know they're the only ones who can fix it, so they basically tell us to take it or leave it. Last year, the Headmistress's office almost got blown up."

"Oh."

What do you mean "oh," you guys.

I glanced at Dalcoon and the newbie, who were whispering, and they immediately straightened up, which somehow made me even more annoyed.

Scolding Dalcoon and the newbie here wouldn't reduce the repair costs. It would only make me feel a bit better, and even that would likely turn sour once I faced reality again.

So, I left the two, who were just salary workers, and entered the entrance exam hall through the collapsed hole, being somewhere between the one who paid the salaries and the ones who received them.

Naturally, there was hardly anyone inside the exam hall. The applicants must have already evacuated.

But there were those who remained, those who had to remain.

"Ah, Finance Director!"

"…You've arrived, Finance Director."

"..."

There was the Headmistress, waving cheerfully as if she had accomplished something.

And then there was a woman with a cold expression, the complete opposite of the Headmistress.

And finally, there was the applicant who seemed to be the cause of all this.

"Headmistress, you've worked hard. Preventing the building from collapsing instead of handling documents in your office, I'm impressed by your foresight."

"Haha, is that… so?"

I couldn't speak to the Headmistress so casually in front of others, even though we were usually alone. So, I indirectly conveyed, "What are you doing here? But good job, so I'll let it slide this time…" and then turned to the woman whose expression was cold, bordering on emotionless.

"Chief Examiner Ciel."

"Yes, Finance Director Adam."

I might speak casually to the newbie and address Exam Supervisor Dalcoon with a degree of respect considering his age and experience, but in front of this woman, I had no choice but to use honorifics, just like with the Headmistress.

A Rank 7 swordsman and the Chief Examiner overseeing all exams at Grandis Academy.

She was one of the four powerhouses, the real authority figures beneath the absolute ruler, the Headmistress.

Oh, and for the record, I was also one of the four powerhouses. Though in terms of actual power, I was the weakest.

"I heard you called for me urgently."

"Yes. If it were just a collapsed wall, a post-incident report would suffice, but an unexpected event occurred, so I deemed it appropriate to summon the Finance Director."

"…You're referring to the measurement device."

"I believe it would be easier to understand if you see it for yourself."

Chief Examiner Ciel's gaze directed me to a pile of scrap metal, its original form unrecognizable.

To be precise, it was a pile of scrap metal that was about to drain a tremendous amount of money.

'Shit.'

Dalcoon had said it was completely destroyed, so I was prepared, but I didn't expect it to be this mangled.

The thought of seeing that arrogant dwarf from last year again made me see my resignation letter flash before my eyes.

"Adam, Finance Director, you don't have to be so disheartened. I've heard that even dwarves are relatively lenient with frequent customers, so it'll be better than last year."

"…Yes."

As you can tell from their words, both Dalcoon and Ciel considered the broken measurement device a serious matter, but only because of the 'dwarves.'

They were sympathizing with me, the Finance Director, who had to negotiate with the notoriously difficult dwarves, not focusing on the 'repair cost' itself.

They assumed the academy could easily afford it, even if it was expensive. They were unaware of the dire financial situation, three years away from bankruptcy.

Only the Headmistress seemed anxious, so I approached her and revealed the reality.

"Everything you earned this time is gone."

"…!!!"

The Headmistress's face flushed momentarily, then turned red for a different reason as she glared at the culprit.

Right, the culprit.

Just who the hell broke the measurement device? It could measure up to Rank 5? Does that mean they're Rank 6 or higher?

'If you have that kind of skill, why are you trying to come to the academy instead of going to the royal family or the Empire?'

Were they hiding their power? Did they want to show off in front of weaker people?

With that thought in mind, I looked at the culprit.

"…Hmm?"

"Ruth Spero, currently estimated to be a Rank 6 swordsman."

"Hello…"

That's the protagonist.

The one who was supposed to get the lowest score in the entrance exam?

No, more importantly than that,

'Can I shift the repair cost onto the applicant?'

You're the protagonist, so you'll pay it off quickly and grow stronger, right? Actually, you're already this strong, so you don't even need to grow, do you?

Wait, does that mean you don't need to come to the academy?

"Applicant Ruth, may I ask you one question?"

"Yes."

"Why do you want to enter the academy? This is a place of learning, not a place to prove your strength. With your skills, you could easily be recognized even as a knight or an adventurer."

"…Can't I enter the academy if I'm strong?"

"It's not necessarily that, but I don't think three years at the academy will be of much help to you, Applicant Ruth."

When I cleared the first part, the academy arc, of , I was roughly around Rank 4.

But Rank 6 from the entrance exam? Seriously, why are you even coming to the academy?

It wasn't just a strange question. Both the Headmistress, who had lost a week's worth of deep-sea fishing wages, and Ciel nodded in agreement.

It was like someone who already had a doctorate trying to get a master's degree again. There was simply no need for it.

In response to my question, the protagonist said,

"…I'll pay double the tuition."

"Applicant Ruth, it's not about the money—"

"Five times."

"Welcome, student Ruth! Grandis Academy welcomes you!"

"Thank you."

"..."

"....."

Well.

What can you do?