I Became the Finance Director of an Academy on the Verge of Bankruptcy

[──So, we obtained information about the location of the holy relic.]

“Hmm, a secret vault…”

“Really?”

“Guess we have to believe it. It’s not like it’s impossible either. The last confirmation was decades ago after all.”

“Tsk.”

Somewhere, at a round table.

Men and women of all ages were gathered, frowning or shaking their heads.

A meeting only for bishops of the Wish Church and above.

Due to the heresy declaration by the Holy Kingdom, these meetings were rare unless it was something really important, but at least today’s matters were enough to gather all the high-ranking officials of the church.

The inexplicable disappearance of the Dark Sword. The terror at Grandis Academy and the plan to retrieve the holy relic.

These were things that could shake the foundation of the church, and attempts to redo something that had failed decades ago. It was only natural to be cautious.

The old bishop at the round table turned to Millia, a summoning magician communicating with a magical communication device since she was at the academy.

“However, Millia, isn’t the true intention of that finance director questionable? I can’t fathom what benefit he thinks he’d gain by attacking his own academy. No matter how you look at it, it seems like a trap.”

[You’re right, Bishop. It would be one thing if it was simple, but even if someone waited for a chance when the academy was empty, a large-scale attack like this is extremely dangerous.]

“What then…”

[But the state of the church right now… isn’t it difficult? Even if we know it’s a trap, we’re left with no choice but to fall for it.]

“…Hmm.”

Millia, a third-ranked mage, was mentioned as a candidate for bishop due to her position. She was in a position to understand the sudden disappearance of the Dark Sword.

Since the Wish Church naturally attracted those who were powerless and weak, having high-tier personnel like a third-ranked mage was rare even within the church. It was precisely because of this status that she was sent alone to the academy.

However, the fact that Millia was alone in a place that usually required at least a bishop level was probably also because the church had essentially given up on the academy.

Ever since the archbishop and elite personnel from decades ago were scattered by one headmistress.

While the church’s influence might be maintained, its actual combat power still hadn’t reached that point.

“The church leader…”

“You know it well. He’s trying his best to find the Dark Sword no matter what.”

“It’s preposterous. How could it just vanish without a trace in an instant?”

“We’re keeping it as secret as possible, but rumors are circulating among the believers. The church is looking more and more like it’s on the verge of collapse.”

Especially since the information about the disappearance of the Dark Sword, known only to a select few high-ranking officials, was becoming harder to contain.

It’s only natural. The power of the Dark Sword, the doctrine of granting wishes, was the root of the church. If that became impossible, it was only expected that the church would start to tremble.

Thus, even though she was only a candidate for bishop, Millia was able to assert herself significantly in this meeting.

Though she didn’t know the finance director’s true intentions, if this operation succeeded, the thrill of declaring that they had in fact successfully terrorized Grandis Academy, a relic they could present publicly, would allow them to propagandize that the church was still whole to the faithful.

In many ways, Millia had brought the most realistic method to the table.

“…Above all, it’s time to consider the worst-case scenario.”

“The worst-case scenario?”

“That the Holy Kingdom has made a move.”

“………!!”

That was the matter everyone at the table had unconsciously been avoiding.

Everyone had thought about the possibility but dismissed it.

“But does that even make sense? No matter how much they have fallen, the Holy Kingdom is still a state. To wager the fate of such a place on a relic!”

“If they succeeded, it would explain the sudden disappearance of the Dark Sword.”

“That’s true! But would you do that? Would you meddle with a conceptual relic, risking the fate of the Holy Kingdom and the goddess church? Yeah, let’s say it outright.”

The one who protested most fiercely was the Knight Commander of the church, gritting his teeth.

Perhaps it was because the Dark Sword had vanished, but his once robust, muscular body was now gradually shrinking.

Perhaps that was why he was trying so hard to counter the worst-case scenario. If it was simply lost or stolen, there might still be a chance to retrieve it, but if it meant that the Holy Kingdom really made a move…

They would never be able to get it back.

“Do you think our… Wish Church has that kind of value? That the Holy Kingdom would gamble its fate? If it failed, the Holy Kingdom would have just committed suicide!”

“…But.”

“Right now, isn’t it more plausible that the Holy Kingdom did not make such a gamble, but that the Dark Sword disappeared through some method we don’t know of? Most importantly, if what the bishop says is true.”

The Knight Commander’s gaze turned to the magical communication device. It used to be a common means of contact, but now it was only employed in rare situations.

Beyond it was Millia. A mere candidate for bishop, but someone whom no one at this meeting could treat disrespectfully.

A believer who brought the means to revive the crumbling church, she was the only one who could connect with the finance director, key to the terror plan. Naturally, she would be leading this terror plan.

The Knight Commander didn’t like that.

Just moments ago, he had realistically countered the claims that it was the Holy Kingdom’s doing.

He was someone who had a clear perspective on reality, especially regarding his own standing.

“That adds considerable weight to the responsibility of Millia our believer.”

[Bishop Maltun, thank you for your concern.]

“Millia.”

[Yes.]

“May I dare to share this responsibility with you?”

[……….]

The Knight Commander’s words were not pure concern; they were a demand to transfer the leadership of this plan to her.

He sensed not Millia’s intentions to save the crumbling church, but rather the ambition to solidify his own standing with this opportunity.

From Maltun, who aimed higher than the Knight Commander, Millia was an unwelcome presence. If this plan succeeded, she would most certainly become a bishop, and thereafter, her influence on the church, having revived it, would be absolute.

Other bishops were also aware of Millia’s intentions. However, regardless of that, it was a fact that she brought a way to revive the church, and if she succeeded, she was undoubtedly a talent deserving of proper treatment.

In fact, the chilly glares from other bishops were directed at Maltun for openly mentioning it.

“Maltun Knight Commander, please watch your words!”

“Watch my words? I’m not sure what you mean.”

“You’re attempting to wrest control of this plan without even knowing much about Grandis Academy and the finance director! If such pettiness leads to failure, will you take responsibility!?”

“Well, of course───”

“Let’s stop.”

“……Church Leader.”

“Church Leader.”

At the sudden voice, everyone at the round table hurriedly stood. However, the one called the Church Leader was neither a muscular figure like Maltun nor any other elder bishop.

Just a boy. He looked like he had just entered his mid-teens, and even the clothing fit to his size was dragging along the floor.

Yet, the boy’s eyes shone dazzlingly. To be precise, one half was shining brightly while the other half was darkened.

It was a truly contradictory and bizarre sight, yet the bishops and Knight Commander all silently bowed their heads.

“Maltun.”

“Yes, Church Leader.”

“This plan will be led by Millia our believer.”

“……Understood.”

However, unlike the other bishops, Maltun bowed in acknowledgment not out of faith but due to the pressures of his status.

Thus, he could say nothing. It was more important to avoid being marked by someone above than to keep an eye on a new competitor.

The boy, who was walking strangely and unsteadily, turned his gaze toward the man in a mask who had remained silent throughout the meeting.

“Archbishop.”

“I am at your command.”

“Follow the list submitted by Millia to the academy. Until you arrive at the academy, you shall lead the assigned personnel. After arriving, follow Millia’s orders.”

“Understood.”

The man called the archbishop bowed deeply, and while everyone was bowed, the boy sat at the head of the table.

Unsteady, anxious, yet innocent.

The Church Leader of the Wish Church smiled.

“Millia.”

[……Yes, Church Leader.]

“I have high expectations placed on you as a believer. Please retrieve the holy relic.”

[In the name of the church.]

“In the name of the church. You may return now. Now then, the next agenda───”

Thud.

In the middle of the Church Leader’s light statement, the magical device disconnects. It wasn’t like an image was transmitted through the device, but the Pope Millia, who had been maintaining her composure, exhaled a sigh.

It seemed things were not going to flow easily.

‘Maltun.’

‘He was quite a useful guy in the ‘past’. He had just enough ambition to make it easy to utilize, and he never aimed for the Church Leader’s position, so coexistence was possible.

Although he was a seventh-ranked with the help of the Dark Sword, and even supported Millia when she rose to the position of archbishop and church leader.

But this time, it felt different.

‘The current state of the church is what it is, and the fact that that lad is at the sixth rank, along with the Dark Sword… something has changed.’

What could the reason be? It seemed the change began before Pope Millia herself awakened.

Due to that change, Maltun had become an enemy. However, thanks to that, she could start establishing a standing that could only be formed after bringing down the academy and securing the holy relic.

As allies turned to enemies, as crises turn into opportunities now.

Certainly, only two were the most suspicious.

‘That finance director, scoundrel.’

One was a lunatic who had asked her to terrorize the very academy she attended for reasons she could not comprehend.

The other one was at the sixth rank, a clear sign that a huge change had occurred. Whether that was due to some different cause or if that lunatic herself was the cause…

It could be slowly uncovered while thoroughly acting.

“Millia student? Millia student~?”

“………!!”

“Now where did she go…?”

At the devilish whispers echoing from somewhere, Pope Millia held her breath. She used her known magic as much as possible to conceal her presence.

This place, where she had just communicated with the magical device, was not a dormitory or an intact room, but rather a cleaning supply closet. The reason for communicating here, which smelled musty and damp, was simple.

She had to hide from that devil.

“Millia student! I have something to discuss! Just a minute will do, so please come out!”

“………….”

“Oh… this is troubling.”

Having thought about it numerous times, that finance director was something beyond an evil creature.

In reality, while bringing numerous documents claiming to be for the terror plan and raising suspicions… it turned out the finance director was naturally offloading work onto her.

Thinking these were necessary documents for the terror plan, she had reported strange points if she found any. The finance director had used that to treat Millia as a biological error detector.

Realizing this and pressing him, the response was even wilder.

──’Isn’t it only natural to help a partner for the sake of a ‘trust relationship’?’

──What kind of nonsense…

──’If you don’t want to, I’ll just pretend this terror plan never happened. Since the church was the one who mentioned it ‘first’, I have no attachment!’

──…………

Of course, seeing the documents he prepared, it seemed that the finance director needed this terror as well, but Millia was in greater need. If by any chance the finance director had teamed up with another terror organization, then Millia might simply be buried in the crumbling Wish Church.

After all, even being a Pope and so forth requires a foundation to be possible. For Millia, who was more desperate than ever, she was unquestionably in a subordinate position.

Thus, she had avoided outright refusal and ran away instead. Even if asked later where she had been, she could just make an excuse about something.

However, why was that guy so sharp for a Rank 1?

“It seems to be nearby….”

“………!!”

Why does he have such good instincts?

Thud. Thud.

With the door closed behind her, Millia desperately held her breath inside the dark cleaning supply closet. This storage box, located in the corner, rarely drew anyone nearby.

However, footsteps were heard. A brisk walk was slowly approaching.

And then.

“Oh, here you are?”

“Ugh, aaah…!!”

“Why are you acting like you’ve seen a monster?”

It would have been better if it was a monster.

As the finance director stuck his diabolical grin through the opening of the supply closet door and grasped Millia, she screamed.

And thus, Millia was dragged away, subjected to the finance director’s power and coerced into an unremunerated 18-hour workday, attending classes.

And having spent two weeks like that, among the personnel who arrived at the terrorist group barely reaching the empire where the main base of the Wish Church was.

Maltun the Knight Commander spoke.

“But wouldn’t it be better to just take that finance director hostage instead of being manipulated by him?”

“……What?”

“Millia, I’m not undermining your plan, but I feel this way is better.”

Despite his words spoken clearly to undermine Millia, she found herself resonating.

“………….”

“Millia?”

“……Ha.”

More than expressing displeasure, she couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of sympathy…

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