Paid to Do Nothing
"Well then, I shall take it that you have accepted."
"Are you leaving already? You're more than welcome to drink a bit more."
"No, this is fine. I must check where to place the Counseling Room in the Academy, and I have much to do."
She had clearly been stumbling drunk just moments ago. Yet the moment she thought of her students, Veronica seemed to sober up instantly and rose from her seat.
"Let us meet at the Academy next time. The drinks were excellent."
"What is... this?"
"I do not have any cash on me at the moment. It might be a bit of a hassle, but please take this as payment. You may keep the change. Consider it a hiring gift."
A hiring gift? This? I stared at the object Veronica had handed me.
A handful of beautiful, brilliantly colored gems. Even to someone like me who knew nothing about jewelry, they looked incredibly large. A cold sweat broke out on my neck.
There was no way these were fake. Given Veronica's personality and status, I had no choice but to assume they were the real deal.
"I shall contact you when the time comes, so wait for my word."
I thought there was no way I could accept such things and tried to return them, but Veronica had already slipped out of the bar.
Had she left while I was still dazed? I stared at the door, which had been left slightly ajar to let in a chilly breeze, and muttered,
"She could have at least left a contact number..."
I felt like a job seeker who had received an acceptance text but was left completely in the dark about when to actually report for work.
Did Veronica really visit this bar?
Had I just dreamed the whole thing up in the Bar Owner's absence because I had been waiting for her so desperately? I found myself wondering that from time to time.
After all, despite her visit, my daily routine hadn't changed at all over the past week. I was still working as a bartender at the Bar Owner's establishment.
Only one thing had changed: a few precious gems sat quietly in a corner of the bar, serving as proof that it hadn't been a dream.
Did I spend them? How could I? They were far too burdensome.
"Ophelia."
"Yes?"
"By any chance, did Veronica stop by the bar while I was out?"
"Ah, yes... once, a few days ago."
"...Did she leave anything?"
"Those gems over there."
Then, one day, the Bar Owner suddenly asked me if Veronica had visited. When I silently showed her the gems she had left behind, the Bar Owner let out a deep sigh.
"I told her so many times not to pay her tab with things like this..."
Was this not the first time she had paid like this? Just how rich did you have to be to throw around money like water?
"...What should we do with them?"
"Veronica gave them to you, so they're yours to keep."
"What? B-but she used them to pay for her drinks..."
"Now, now. Don't try to fool me."
The Bar Owner playfully flicked my forehead and said,
"I know she must have told you to keep the change. Just take them."
"..."
Ah. She did say she had repeatedly told Veronica not to pay her tab with gems. The Bar Owner must have dealt with this plenty of times before; I hadn't thought of that.
As I accepted the gems with an awkward smile, the Bar Owner pulled a thick envelope from her coat and handed it to me.
"What is this...?"
"Take it. It's your severance pay. I heard from Veronica. She said you're changing jobs? Apparently, you're supposed to report to the Academy today."
"Ah, B-Boss! That's...!"
Ah. Come to think of it, I had completely forgotten to tell her. Was it because I had used hypnosis to force my way into this part-time job? Realizing I had overlooked such a basic courtesy, I scrambled to open my mouth and make an excuse.
But the Bar Owner stopped me, as if she already knew exactly what I was going to say.
"It's fine, it's fine. It's not like it's the first time a part-timer has suddenly quit."
"I'm sorry..."
"I told you, I don't mind. Just take your severance pay already. My arm is getting tired."
"I can't accept this."
"Hmm?"
"You've already given me so much. Taking severance pay on top of that is just..."
No matter how shameless I was, accepting severance pay pricked my conscience. I had forced my way into this job using hypnosis, so taking severance pay felt a bit too...
But the Bar Owner refused to back down on this, launching into a terribly awkward performance.
"Oh dear, my part-timer won't accept their severance pay. I really don't want to become a criminal..."
"B-Boss...?"
"I suppose I'll be crying bitter tears in prison... lamenting that I should have forced them to take the money...!"
"Alright, alright! I'll take it! Happy now?"
Even though I knew she was acting, I couldn't bring myself to refuse any longer. The moment I took the envelope, the Bar Owner beamed and pulled me into a tight hug.
"Boss? What is..."
"These past few months have been so much fun thanks to you, Ophelia."
"..."
The Bar Owner hugged me tightly and thanked me. She said that thanks to me, her once-boring days had been filled with joy. She had been lonely for a long time, but while I was around, she hadn't had a single moment to feel that way.
I stood frozen in her embrace, unable to say a word for a long time. I wondered if it was really okay for someone like me—who had used hypnosis to force my way into her life—to receive such gratitude.
In the end, I managed to whisper in a barely audible voice,
"Don't mention it..."
My conscience pricked sharply.
I looked around, marveling at my surroundings.
If this building were rendered in-game, it would look exactly like the background of the game I used to play. Seeing the Academy—the very setting of the game I had spent countless hours on—right before my eyes, my neck began to ache from how much I was turning my head to take it all in.
Watching me, Veronica—no, the Principal—let out a soft chuckle.
"You find it fascinating, I see."
"Ah, I-I'm sorry."
"Nonsense. There is no need to apologize. This is where you will be working from now on, after all."
Although the Principal offered me a warm smile, I couldn't help but blush. Had I been too obvious? Embarrassed that I had been acting like an excited child in front of the Principal, I hung my head.
Amused by my reaction, the Principal smiled and said,
"I gave it a great deal of thought. Where should the Counseling Room be located?"
"Isn't it usually on the first floor?"
"Indeed. However, my thoughts differed slightly."
"...Differed in what way?"
"While accessibility is certainly important for students visiting the Counseling Room... there is a much greater issue at hand."
A greater issue?
As I tilted my head, unable to grasp her meaning, she continued,
"Our students are growing exhausted from the endless competition. That is why I invited you here."
"Competition, you say."
"Yes. Those who are constantly succeeding are one thing, but the other students seem... rather unstable."
I understood exactly what she meant. I had seen kids like that back when I was a student myself. Children who desperately pretended to be fine in front of their peers, but were secretly devastated by their poor grades. She was talking about those students.
"Of course, competition is excellent for fostering growth, but is it not a problem if too many students are left behind?"
"...That's true."
If she knew that, why had she left the students' mental health neglected for so long, and why would she continue to do so in the future? It was a puzzling question, but I decided to let it slide. It was clear the Principal cared for the students in her own way. She probably just had more pressing matters to attend to.
After all, she was someone who didn't even show her face when incidents and accidents occurred daily at the Academy. Since she didn't bother showing up for much larger crises, paying attention to such minor details would have been next to impossible—if I hadn't hypnotized her, that is.
"But... students carrying burdens would never visit a Counseling Room located on the first floor."
"Because it would make them look weak."
"Precisely. Just the thought of someone seeing them enter the Counseling Room would be too much of a burden."
She wasn't wrong. Humans were creatures that wished for someone to solve or help with their problems, yet desperately wanted to hide those very vulnerabilities from others.
"Therefore, I chose a place where people rarely pass by. What do you think?"
"Pardon? What do I think of what...?"
"Ah, I have not told you yet. This is where the Counseling Room will be."
...This is the Counseling Room?
At her words, I looked around.
In the center sat a plush sofa and a luxurious table, both clearly made of the finest materials. In the corner was what looked like a workspace, alongside two pristine white beds. There were at least four bookshelves packed to the brim with novels and manga.
I thought this was a drawing room...?
"Y-you mean here...? No matter how I look at it, it seems far too luxurious..."
"I did use rather expensive furnishings. Children from noble families refuse to even step inside if the quality is beneath them."
Dumbfounded by the unbelievable sight, I stared at the Principal. Was this the true scale of the Academy Principal's dedication...?
"Well? Is it to your liking?"
"Uh, well... Yes, it is... I like it very much..."
"If there is anything lacking, do not hesitate to tell me. I will have it sorted out as quickly as possible. I had to put it together in a rush, so I could not pay as much attention to detail as I would have liked."
This was what she called "not paying attention to detail"? Once again, I felt the sheer weight of her wealth—the same wealth that allowed her to use precious gems to pay a simple bar tab. She was filthy rich...
"Well then, I leave the students in your capable hands."
"Ah, yes..."
And just like that, I was appointed as the counselor of the Academy, the very setting of the game I loved.
Two weeks later.
I lay sprawled across one of the pristine white beds in the Counseling Room, muttering to myself.
"I'm so bored..."
Not a single student had come. Not even one.