14. This Is the Finance Department: Despair Arc
14. This Is the Finance Department: Despair Arc
The two most promising students in the Magic Department. First and second in the final exams. They had already dueled twice.
No matter how you looked at it, Beatrice and Chloe simply did not get along. Even setting aside their rivalry, their temperaments were the problem.
Both had come from foreign countries, not the Kingdom, yet neither was daunted. They refused to back down easily and clung to things until the very end.
One had suffered from a chronic disease her whole life and never gave up; the other had the ruthlessness to seize and hold the position of the Archmage's disciple among countless rivals.
In the end, it went beyond mere rivalry.
Moreover, the wall of "talent" stood between them. Perhaps Chloe and Beatrice would never grow close.
As if to confirm that, a tense air hung between them.
"................"
"............."
No vague sneers, no retorts. They simply glared at each other.
Silence alone made the atmosphere far heavier than any exchange of words. Passersby and students, driven by survival instinct, gradually backed away from the two.
A fight that begins with words can end with words. But if they refuse to even speak, ending it with words is impossible.
In the ominous, heavy air, just as mana began to slowly leak from both—
The silence was broken by a presence that was both a third party and yet not.
'......Th-this...! Quick! Quick! Set something off!'
'What? What do you mean?'
'Quick! That insane menopausal bitch dares...!! Anything is fine, just make it big enough to be seen from afar! Big!'
'Huh?'
A flinch.
After staying silent, Future Chloe suddenly surged forward and shouted at Chloe. Startled by the sudden outburst, Chloe's head rang, and the heavy atmosphere vanished as she just blinked.
As she stood there dazed, her arm moved regardless of Chloe's will. Future Chloe had directly possessed and was moving it.
"W-Wait!"
"Chloe, you...?"
"This is too far!"
Moreover, her arm was moving to use [Jade Shackles], so Chloe, flustered, blurted out words she had intended only in her mind.
Beatrice reacted suspiciously, but that didn't matter right now.
First, calming her future self was the priority.
As [Jade Shackles] manifested and chains began to sprout from underfoot, Chloe shouted inwardly with growing urgency.
'Calm down! If you set off magic here, it's the end!'
'It's fine! I'll control it so there are no casualties...!!'
'Not that! It'll be the end with Adam!'
'...Oh.'
To persuade her future self, mentioning the Finance Director was effective in many ways.
Of course, even aside from that intention, Chloe was sincere.
'We're already busy with restoration and reconstruction after the terror attack, and if we cause an accident—! It's really the end!'
'...Right, I got too excited. Sorry.'
'Yeah. But why did you suddenly flip out? Why were you trying to set something off?'
'That's—'
The moment the hesitant Future Chloe tried to say something.
Beatrice, who had been watching Chloe raise her arm alone, use magic, talk to herself, and now frown in silence, quickly absorbed the artifact's mana.
Because she could now maintain a state close to constant mana exhaustion, she didn't need to waste mana on [Luminescence] and could reach exhaustion with only a little mana.
"I don't know what you're trying to do all of a sudden."
"What?"
"The spell just now—I can take that as you starting a fight, right?"
[Fireball]
Seeing the [Jade Shackles] Chloe had used for a brief moment, Beatrice made a very common-sense judgment.
In keeping with the preceding mood, she responded to Chloe's magic with magic. After all, street duels like this were common at Grandis Academy, so she didn't hesitate.
But she didn't actually intend to launch the spell.
"Try using magic again, and then it really will be irreversible."
"...How insolent."
She was only using it as a threat and a show of force.
Choosing [Fireball] was in that context. If she truly intended to fight, [Fireball] was inefficient. With Beatrice's skill, she would have used a more efficient spell first—like teleportation magic, for instance.
But in a real fight, the inefficient [Fireball] was perfectly suited for showing off. The blazing sphere of fire on Beatrice's hand was a visual shock and a display of power all by itself.
Chloe had used magic first but canceled it midway, so Beatrice intended to leave it at that.
Therefore.
What happened next was something none of them expected.
"Huh?"
"...Huh?"
First, Beatrice's chronic disease itself remained. She had only found a workaround that involved reaching mana exhaustion and using the artifact's mana; she hadn't cured the disease.
Second, the spell Future Chloe had tried to use by possessing Chloe wasn't the ordinary [Jade Shackles]. It was a [Jade Shackles] raised to 7th Rank or above by Future Chloe's power, not Chloe's own 5th Rank level.
And third.
The aftereffects of canceling the spell caused Future Chloe's dense mana to scatter into the air.
Woom!
"Kuh, hup!?"
No matter how accustomed she became, mana exhaustion was a state a mage's body instinctively judged as a crisis. Naturally, survival instinct tended to override reason.
Accordingly, Beatrice's body absorbed the dense mana that had suddenly scattered into the air.
Naturally, the artifact's mana that Beatrice was managing also wavered.
"This is...!?"
In the end, it was a coincidence born from the fact that Beatrice, having overcome her disease, had never met a mage of 7th Rank or higher. As with any workaround, it had its corresponding side effects and weaknesses.
If it had been 6th Rank mana, her genius might have allowed her to control it somehow. But the mana of a 7th Rank mage, particularly one at the highest echelons, was on a different level.
Losing control of her magic and body, her mana-exhausted body absorbed Future Chloe's mana.
And so, Beatrice's chronic disease flared up once more.
"Run!"
"...!!"
In an instant, the [Fireball] freed from Beatrice's control by her disease fed on the 7th Rank mage's mana, swelling massively in size.
Instead of running at Beatrice's warning to flee, Chloe quickly cast a spell.
'I have to suppress it somehow!'
'Right...!!'
[Jade Shackles]
Right after.
Boom!!!!
With a colossal flame.
Purple chains wrapped around the blaze.
*
"...So this is what happened? Is that right?"
"...Yes."
"Yes..."
"Huh."
It was a sight.
Not just the state of the two building-destroyers, but even more so the surrounding buildings and street were a mess.
"Fortunately, no casualties, but... three buildings destroyed by fire and chains, twelve broken street trees, and of all places it had to be the market street, so property damage... ah."
"Um, Finance Director?"
"Finance Director... sir?"
"Student Milia, please total it up in my stead."
"Y-yes."
As I pressed a hand to my forehead and wiped my face, the building-destroyers seemed to fidget, but I ignored them and asked the accompanying Milia to do the calculation.
For reference, I'd picked up Milia on the way, figuring I'd need her. I had refused Kirke's pleading request to sunbathe for just one more minute and sent her back to her underground lab.
Seeing her scowl while estimating the cost of buildings and various materials, I knew I'd been right to bring her. This is the academy's Finance Department, after all.
Now, then.
"Uh, Finance Director? That female student, is she...?"
"Student Beatrice."
"...Yes."
"Is that what you're curious about right now? Are you serious?"
"...I'm sorry."
I was already pretty pissed off this time.
Honestly, causing a ruckus in the street like this? It's routine at Grandis Academy. There's a reason repair costs are classified as a fixed expense, you know.
But what really angered me was that the culprits were Chloe and Beatrice.
"Student Chloe, Student Beatrice."
"Yes."
"...Yes."
"I am truly disappointed in you both."
"................"
"............."
Do you not know me? Of course you do. I told you during the last duel. I don't care if you fight, so please do it in the duel arena or training hall.
Even Beatrice has been to my dormitory and roughly knows how hard I work, and Chloe has worked with me, so there's no need to mention that.
How should I put it... like being stabbed in the back by someone you trust.
It really pissed me off.
'Do you think I'm a joke?'
Just because I've let things slide, do you really look down on me? I've given you a lot of consideration as a student and faculty member, but it's troublesome if you take that as permission.
My eyes narrowed, and I saw the two building-destroyers fidgeting with their hands together. They'd been quiet for a while, so what was this about?
Especially now, the timing is terrible.
"Are you unaware that a terror attack happened at the academy just yesterday?"
"No..."
"I... know."
"And yet you still caused this accident? If someone had been hurt, the damage could have been worse than the terror attack. I thought the two of you were somewhat close to me—was I mistaken?"
"N-No!!"
"Absolutely not!"
"Then you knew and still did this? I'm disappointed once again."
At my firm words, Chloe and Beatrice looked tearful. But if I didn't firmly rein them in now, they might cause something like this again.
Already tight on reconstruction costs, I was working students under the lure of extra credit, and the ones I could at least trust had pulled this crap.
I tried to hold back my sigh, but it escaped naturally.
"I've finished calculating. Adding it all together, it comes to about this..."
"...Oh dear."
The damage wasn't large compared to the scale of the magic, but it was still an entirely unexpected expense.
Milia, noticing my sour mood, quickly stepped back, and as I somehow swallowed my anger, I looked at the building-destroyers again.
"...Grandis Academy regulations, Chapter 7, Section 2."
"Student Beatrice?"
"Property damage caused by a student within the academy is borne by the academy, and if it's excessive, the student is billed. It's a regulation I know well."
"Now what are you..."
So you're saying the academy should pay?
Just as my expression was about to naturally turn sour.
"However, at present I am but an employee of a grocery store, not a student."
"...?"
"Thus, it means I do not fall under that regulation's scope. And of course."
"Of course...?"
"I mean that I will also take full responsibility for the compensation of this accident."
Beatrice, speaking so confidently, how should I put it...
It was as if a halo shone behind her.
My anger and irritation melted away smoothly. Instead of frowning, the corners of my mouth naturally turned up.
Beatrice, is she a goddess?
"Ah, you really don't have to."
"No. I intend to take full responsibility for what I did. No matter how much you refuse, Finance Director, I will certainly compensate."
"As expected of Student Beatrice. I believed in you!"
As of today, I withdraw my support for Beatrice? No—Beatrice and I are one entity! Criticism of Beatrice shall be considered an attack on me!
While I was mentally becoming one with Beatrice, Chloe—
"O-Of course, the same goes for me!"
"Student Chloe?"
"I, who have the Finance Director's trust, should have stopped it, but Her Highness's chronic disease was beyond my expectations. As someone the Finance Director 'trusts with work,' I must also take responsibility!"
"Wait, what do you mean?"
"What do you think? It means the Finance Director and I trust each other enough to exchange personal requests. Unlike some people who just work part-time at a grocery store."
"...Finance Director, is that true?"
"Huh? Well, yes."
"..."
"What's with that look? Finance Director, shall we talk like 'last time'? Excluding that outsider princess, of course."
What is this?
As soon as Chloe and Beatrice said they'd take responsibility for the compensation, my anger vanished.
But suddenly the conversation was drifting in an odd direction, and the atmosphere turned weird.
"Finance Director, I have something I want to give you anyway. Leave that clingy bitch and come over here."
"What? You've said enough?"
"It's something very important for the Finance Director. Would you mind not interfering? Finance Director? Hurry, please."
Hmm.
Something important? Could it be... that?
I couldn't resist Chloe's strength dragging me, and I was about to calmly coax her, but Beatrice's words were very tempting.
My hesitation was brief.
"Student Chloe? I'll go briefly with Student Beatrice, so please let go."
"Fi-Finance Director. How could..."
Why was she making a face like she'd lost her country?
Tsk, can't be helped.
"...Student Chloe."
"Hweh!?"
"While I'm gone, please clear away the nearby debris. You know, right? Like that time at the lab... that I can only trust and rely on you."
"E-Even if you say that...!"
"I'm counting on you, Chloe."
"...Okay."
Good, solved. Of all places it had to happen at the market, so even if the compensation would come later, the debris needed to be cleared immediately—and now I'd secured labor.
Leaving behind Chloe, who was grinning with a slightly entranced expression, I walked toward Beatrice... what is this.
And why are you making that face?
"What did you just whisper to Chloe? That bitch even used a silencing spell in that short time."
"Who's a 'bitch'? She's your classmate."
"My relationship with Chloe Pisti is already severed in many ways. Anyway... follow me."
Leaving Chloe, who was diligently clearing debris, behind, I followed the slightly sulky Beatrice to a grocery store that stood intact amid the chaos.
Inside the grocery store, which was empty, perhaps because everyone had evacuated nearby from the earlier commotion.
"I work here."
"Is that so...?"
It's a bit late to ask, but you're a princess, right? Are you really working part-time to buy an artifact?
Rather, is that really a work uniform?
'Are work uniforms normally so... bust-emphasizing?'
Is that a work uniform or a socialite dress? Seems a bit excessive.
...No? Using less fabric is more economically efficient? If I think of it as cost reduction, it's fine.
Thinking about it from a Finance Department perspective, it was an acceptable reason, so I let it slide.
Anyway.
"What is this important item you wanted to give me, to bring me here...?"
"This."
"Isn't that a basket?"
A grocery basket full of fruit, small breads, and the like.
She was going to give me this? It's nice, but did it need to be this secretive?
It was unexpected, so I hesitated a moment.
"You have to look underneath."
"...Hup."
Hello? I'm gold coins and this here is a jewel!
—or so the precious metals inside seemed to say.
"B-Beatrice... Your Highness?"
I very naturally promoted Beatrice from "Student" to "Your Highness."
Whether it was intentional or not, Beatrice placed a hand over her cleavage and smiled.
"Is it a satisfactory grocery item?"
"I'm quite full."
I believed in you, damn...!!