14. This Is the Finance Department: Despair Arc
14. This Is the Finance Department: Despair Arc
All right. Situation resolved.
'Perfect timing, looks like.'
Good thing I contacted the Chairwoman right after Milia left to deal with her cultists. A little later and things would have gotten ugly.
Was I worried about Malton slipping away? No.
Strictly speaking, letting him slip away was the optimal play.
"That just now... that was the Chairwoman, wasn't it?"
"They say she retired from active duty decades ago."
"Exactly why the terrorists waited until she was gone. They're nothing special as long as she's around."
The Third Guard Corps members had swarmed in to capture Malton, the only one who'd stayed behind and tried to kidnap me.
More than that, it had been the perfect chance to show the faculty and the handful of students still on campus exactly what the Chairwoman's authority meant.
Sure, this whole thing was a rigged game, but a terrorist incident had still occurred. That alone would have shaken the Chairwoman's position if she'd only shown up after the fact.
But instead, she'd personally blocked the escape of a 7th Rank suspected to be the mastermind and crushed him with overwhelming force.
Her standing wasn't about to drop. If anything, it would rise.
'Because people will assume the attack never would have happened if the Chairwoman had been here in the first place.'
In the end, perception mattered more than the facts. And it wasn't even an incorrect assumption.
In every respect, Malton had done me a favor by leaving the academy late.
If he'd retreated alongside the other cultists instead of lingering alone, this whole theater would have been impossible. The Chairwoman encountering the cultists would have meant slaughtering them all, and I didn't want that.
But letting them all go scot-free would have weakened the Chairwoman's position, as I said before.
So — was Malton's decision to stay behind and try to abduct me just a convenient coincidence?
'The hell it was.'
Ksssh.
The communication magic tool in my pocket buzzed. I lowered my voice and answered.
"Student Milia, the transaction has been handled smoothly."
[That's good to hear. Things will be easier from now on.]
"The gratitude is mine. I'm pleased that you proposed this trade — it seems you've come to trust me."
[ ... I simply thought it was the most optimal approach.]
"Naturally."
The trade Milia had personally requested of me: to make an example out of the Holy Knight Commander Malton in this attack.
An example — a sacrifice — had been necessary from the start. If you suffer a terrorist attack and fail to capture a single perpetrator, you've got a serious problem.
The entire Third Guard Corps would be purged, of course. Grandis Academy's security and reputation would hit rock bottom. And the nobles and royals who'd never found an opening under the Chairwoman's iron rule would come swarming like vultures.
So I'd asked Milia early on to select a few candidates. Sacrifices who'd demonstrate that the academy hadn't simply been helpless.
Too many and we'd risk exposing my connection to Milia, so that was out. One or two high-Rank senior officers was ideal. Information leaks didn't matter — I was going to half-kill them anyway.
I'd been thinking one bishop, maybe two.
— Finance Director, regarding that sacrifice you mentioned yesterday.
— Ah, have you chosen? At minimum we'll need a 5th Rank to save face.
— What about a 7th Rank? The Wish Order's Holy Knight Commander.
— ... That's more than sufficient, but what's your intent? A 7th Rank, the Holy Knight Commander, as a sacrifice to show the academy wasn't a pushover?
— He's a nuisance in several ways. Removing him will make my future relations with you, Finance Director, run more smoothly.
I hadn't imagined she'd actually deliver the Holy Knight Commander — and a 7th Rank at that.
In this entire operation's personnel roster, there were only two 7th Ranks: the Archbishop and the Holy Knight Commander. Given that this was the Wish Order's absolute elite lineup, she'd essentially offered up one of only two 7th Ranks in the whole Order.
Her motive was obvious.
'Eliminating a rival. Obviously.'
Milia's standing would rise considerably after this operation, and she clearly wanted to use the opportunity to dispose of a competitor who'd be in her way. The intent was so transparent she hadn't even bothered hiding it.
And having met Malton in person, I could confirm he'd been openly wary of Milia too.
For my purposes — since Milia climbing the ranks served my interests — this was a necessary move.
'With a captured 7th Rank, the critics will have a lot less to say.'
Not nothing, of course, but as long as blaming the academy doesn't become the dominant narrative, that's fine. I can manage the rest.
What mattered more was building the right atmosphere to receive donations and subsidies afterward. The classic misfortune-porn angle — look at this poor academy, it desperately needs your support.
That's why I'd needed a scene like this: buildings collapsed across campus, smoke rising, the whole place looking like it really was about to go under.
The cultists had done a decent job wrecking things, admittedly.
'Tch. A little more rubble would have really sold it.'
Was there some other way I could help the visuals along?
While I was pondering that, an impatient voice came through the magic tool.
[Finance Director? Are you listening?]
"Ah, my apologies. My mind wandered for a moment. What were you saying?"
[The cult members, including the Archbishop, have finished their withdrawal. However, the absence of Holy Knight Commander Malton is becoming a topic of discussion.]
"I'll align my story with yours. Feel free to slander and misinterpret in whichever direction most benefits you."
[ ... There's a sharp edge to your words.]
"Am I wrong, though?"
Besides, time was running short. I couldn't keep this communication going much longer.
"Then once everything is settled, come to the usual building. I'll leave the cleanup on the Order's side to you."
[And you, Finance Director, I hope the business you staged this entire terror attack to accomplish goes well.]
Milia ended the call with a barb of her own. Not that it did much damage.
A lot of buildings had collapsed, yes, but they'd all been old or abandoned. And since the students had been away for final exams, there were zero casualties. No combat meant no injuries among the Third Guard Corps either.
And on top of that, we'd captured a 7th Rank, the mastermind and architect of this heinous terror attack.
'The board is nicely set.'
The cultists had played their parts well. With a setup this solid, half the work does itself if you just stand still.
Ideally I'd start moving right now, but.
First things first.
" ... Finance Director, I brought an elixir."
"Thank you, Student Rus."
I had to deal with her.
To buy time for my call with Milia, I'd faked a dizzy spell, and she'd immediately fetched an elixir from somewhere. And not just any — this was top-grade. How much did one of these cost?
I considered asking her to grab a cheap one from the fridge instead, but the look in the protagonist's eyes was a little intimidating.
So I downed it. Tasted amazing, admittedly. Still expensive as hell.
Anyway, more importantly.
"Student Rus."
"Yes."
"So... you were a woman?"
" ... Yes."
Wow. This person is a woman?
I mean, sure, in <Dark Kingdom> you could pick the protagonist's gender. But the game had no romance elements, and all your companions stayed firmly in the friend zone, so I'd never paid attention to it.
When I first saw her, I'd naturally assumed she was a man.
"Apologies for the indelicate question, but... your chest area..."
"I bind it..."
"Is that actually possible?"
" ... It works."
Is this magic? Is this fantasy? You can hide something that size? It's nearly as large as Beatrice's.
And what about her frame? Can you manage that just by being 6th Rank? Truly, high Ranks are terrifying.
... Well, honestly, whether the protagonist was a man or a woman was none of my business to begin with. All that ever mattered was how much of my budget this protagonist burned through. I'd never cared about the rest.
But the situation was different now.
"So... are you hiding that you're a woman on purpose?"
"I have my reasons."
"Will you continue hiding it going forward?"
"Yes."
Well, that settles it.
This is genuinely a blood-and-tears decision, but.
"It can't be helped. I apologize, since you've already moved all your belongings, but I'm denying the move-in."
" ... Excuse me?"
"Isn't it obvious? A student and faculty member living together is problematic even if you're the same sex. Opposite sex? That's career suicide."
Goodbye, my 50-times-the-rent deal.
At least if you were the same sex, I could spin some excuse if we got caught. But opposite sex? Game over. A senior academy official cohabiting with a female student?
Even I would only reach one conclusion.
"W-we just have to not get caught."
"The mere fact that I have to discuss hypotheticals like that is the problem."
This is a hard no. No matter how much rent you pay, some lines can't be crossed.
The protagonist's eyes wavered violently, but even so.
"Rent. I'll pay more rent."
"Haah... Student Rus. Do you truly believe money solves everything? That line of thinking is honestly offensive. I won't belabor the point. Pack your things and return to the dorms."
"... F-Finance Director."
"I'll discuss what we talked about earlier at the dormitory. Beyond that — nothing."
" ... "
More importantly, why is she so fixated on living together? Wait, is it... that? Can I actually assume that now?
I remember jumping to this conclusion several times before and coming up empty, but is this time for real?
Honestly, seeing her without the disguise, she was strikingly beautiful. It's not that I'm not tempted. But this is hardly the moment for romance.
Still, the protagonist likes me — that's flattering en—
"A guarantee."
"What?"
"I'll... provide a guarantee. So please, please... don't kick me out..."
" ... "
Cancel all of that. She's insane.
Just as the number-one thing you don't do at a funeral is resurrect the deceased, the number-one thing you don't do in a human relationship is ask someone to guarantee you.
And she's offering a guarantee? She wants to stay in the dormitory that badly?
'Is there some hidden treasure in there? An artifact?'
No matter how much a person likes someone, the word "guarantee" does not leave their lips. Rational thinking points in a different direction.
Was there a hidden piece in the dorm? Something I missed when I played <Dark Kingdom> because I didn't read the guides thoroughly enough?
No — first of all.
"First, don't casually throw around terrifying words like that. You don't offer a guarantee even to a lover or family."
"Ah, yes..."
"So just... stay. But disguise yourself more thoroughly as a man."
"F-Finance Director...!!"
"I'm being extremely generous here."
I need to figure out what's in that dormitory that's worth invoking the word "guarantee."
Is she building affection points with me? Am I an NPC? The kind of NPC who gives rewards once you raise your affection high enough?
'Fuck, I still hate that word.'
As someone who's seen firsthand how dangerous guarantees can be.
I was genuinely bothered by why the protagonist of the entire world — this woman — was so obsessed with staying in my dorm. The moment I figure that out, I'm kicking her out.
Although, how am I supposed to explain this to the Chairwoman?
'I'll just hide it.'
She probably thinks the protagonist is a man too, right? The Chairwoman always contacts me before coming by, so I'll just warn her to put on the male disguise beforehand.
In the end it all comes back to: just don't get caught. And honestly, the protagonist's disguise skills are exceptional, so it might actually be surprisingly easy...
"Finance Director! I'm here! Are you hurt anywh— huh?"
" ... Chairwoman."
"Wait, what? Rus Spero? Huh? Chest?"
"Ah."
Yeah.
I knew it.
This was bound to happen...
*
The kingdom's greatest institution, Grandis Academy, had been attacked!
The impact of that single sentence was enormous. Undeniably enormous. But since only a day had passed since the attack, almost no territories had received the news yet.
The kingdom was vast, and a letter typically took days to travel between opposite ends. Still, noble students at the academy were already writing to their families, so it was only a matter of time before word spread.
And the victim of the attack — Grandis Academy itself — was in an uproar. Students, professors, and staff alike had been thrown into chaos by the news of the terror attack.
But there was one person who was utterly indifferent to all of it.
"Ah... sunlight... beautiful..."
"... Finance Director, this person is smiling."
"Leave her be. She's probably having a pleasant dream."
Terror attack or not, Kirke, who'd been buried in her underground lab doing nothing but research, was like this.
Her alopecia areata seemingly having progressed a little further, she was massaging her bare crown in the warmest patch of sunlight.
"In any case, Professor Kirke can be left as is. She's a Finance Department member, but her affiliation has been processed differently."
" ... Do I really have to join the Finance Department?"
"You're free to refuse. If you truly hate the idea."
"Haah... fine."
At any rate, today was a joyous day. It wasn't official on the roster yet, but today was the day the Finance Department — the unofficial team that helped me — was first established!
The slave who'd handle my workload from now on — no — Milia sighed and picked up one of the documents stacked around her.
"For the trust you emphasize so much, I'll make an effort. Huh?"
"What is it?"
"Um... Professor Kirke's affiliation... it says 'Equipment'?"
"Exactly what it says. Is there a problem?"
"... No. Nothing."
The Finance Director, the Wish Order's newly minted bishop, and Equipment with alopecia areata.
Behold, the newly formed Finance Department of Grandis Academy!!
... It was a despair arc.