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Dawn broke. The charity ball, which had continued throughout the night, was also nearing its end.
At the charity ball where some felt regret, some felt satisfaction, some formed new connections, and some secured donations,
Ruth stood blankly from beginning to end.
"...…"
Many approached her. A Rank 6 without any backing was a talent anyone would covet. If they made a good impression here, she might join their territory or trading company after graduation.
Many approached her with that thought, but Ruth only gave soulless replies, showing no interest in conversation.
Some nobles were offended by her arrogance, but…
"Well, it can't be helped."
"Let's try approaching him again later."
"Rank 6 at that age… he might even aim for Rank 8."
Most of them just let it slide. Not only status but also strength guaranteed one's position. Especially the comment about Ruth potentially reaching Rank 8 at her age.
Considering how Rank 8s were treated in the current kingdom, no, the entire continent, a few soulless replies weren't considered arrogant. Rather, they would have been suspicious if she had been too approachable.
Therefore, the nobles were satisfied with having shown their faces to Ruth once. This way, they could approach her again later based on the 'connection they made at the ball.' It was a skillful and practiced method.
Of course, Ruth didn't care about the nobles' thoughts.
'A… ghost.'
She could only recall the conversation she had with Adam a week ago.
──Excuse me? A ghost? Are you saying there's a monster in the academy…?
──It's a metaphor, a metaphor. Anyway, that ghost is called by many names. Financial deterioration, indiscriminate spending, enormous costs.
──Excuse me?
──The academy is currently in a serious financial crisis.
Adam wasn't lying then. With the Headmistress by his side, her expression showing that it couldn't be helped, he explained everything one by one.
That Grandis Academy was being operated very precariously, unlike its appearance.
That just a few months ago, they didn't even have enough money to last a month.
That although they were managing somehow now, it was still difficult.
And that he had even staged a terrorist attack with the cult to receive their support and donations.
Every single word was shocking.
'The academy's financial crisis… I had no idea.'
On the surface, Grandis Academy seemed to have no problems. It was the same yesterday, and she believed it would be the same tomorrow. It looked so affluent that she wondered if Adam's words about the financial crisis were actually lies.
But she couldn't help but believe Adam's sincerity.
From the moment she heard his words a week ago until today, Ruth had been pondering many things.
'Was there a financial crisis before as well?'
If so, the collapse of the academy was easier to understand. It was an academy with the Headmistress, who could kill a kraken with a single punch and easily kill an incomplete Rank 7. It was more likely an internal problem rather than something that started externally.
Moreover, if it was a financial problem, it made sense that even the Headmistress couldn't solve it. Judging from how well she had managed the academy so far, she must have had some financial sense, but she couldn't overcome it in the end.
But even Ruth, who had no knowledge of such matters, could think of solutions like receiving support from the royal family. There was no way Adam didn't know about that, so was there some hidden reason?
'…Let's help Adam.'
It was possible that all of this was a lie, a trick to swindle Ruth's money. Ruth was still slightly suspicious of Adam.
But there was no option not to help. She would help him first, and if she was deceived, she could die with him then. Just a change in the order of events.
If she helped, how would she do it? Should she go to the Imperial Bank and withdraw money? Should she visit the merchant she met during the rock salt mine incident? Or should she exchange it for artifacts that were easier to liquidate?
'I don't know.'
Ruth, who had no knowledge of such matters, couldn't decide anything without consulting Adam. She could ask the merchant, who was still filling her vault, for advice, but if she suddenly withdrew all the money from the bank, he would surely ask why.
She knew from her 'previous' life that the merchant was a good person. He was a bit old-fashioned, so if Ruth didn't tell him honestly, he would be stubborn.
The reason it took her a week was that she was also considering these things. It felt like a short time for a decision that could greatly alter the future.
Thus, even after making up her mind, Ruth couldn't focus on the ball.
When Lisha approached and provoked her, when the nobles approached her, and at other times, she just stared blankly at the ceiling.
But…
"…You look happy."
"…Chloe Piste."
"Why? Are you pondering something serious?"
She couldn't ignore this guest.
As the person of interest approached with a friendly smile, Ruth unconsciously glared at her.
Chloe Piste. The witch who followed the previous Adam until the end.
The one who was a target of extermination in every country due to her massacres and arson, the one Ruth personally killed with Dark Sword in the end.
And this was the one who had taught Ruth a painful lesson in the past by assuming the same.
'…It was too hasty of me to appear in disguise. I should have calmed down, even if it was about Circe.'
At least it wasn't an irreversible mistake, so she just had to be more careful in the future. Ruth was slowly but surely growing within this regression.
However, she still couldn't understand why Chloe was being friendly to her.
"I believe this is practically our first meeting."
"What does that matter? We're the same age, and it seems like we'll be seeing each other often after graduation."
"…Seeing each other often?"
"Whether you stay in the kingdom or go to the Empire, you'll be famous as the youngest Rank 6, so it's only natural. In the future, we'll both reach high ranks and important positions, and we'll hear about each other often, won't we? So it's better to become close now."
"...…"
Unfortunately, it was difficult for anyone other than Adam to discern the truth in her words. But it was true that Chloe was reacting differently from the Chloe of the past.
The reason was obvious. It was because Ruth was Rank 6.
'The youngest Rank 6, not the perpetual last-place.'
That alone made Chloe somewhat favorable towards her. It earned her the attention of students and nobles. At first, she simply thought that entering the academy with high strength would make things easier, but the change occurred in a way Ruth hadn't anticipated.
…But even so, wasn't she quite hostile in front of the dormitory before?
"You weren't like this when I saw you last time."
"Well, back then, I didn't know anything about you. It's different now. I'm quite interested in you."
Surely, that interest wasn't… that kind of interest, right?
Normally, she wouldn't have noticed, but Ruth was currently disguised as a male. In other words, she appeared as a male student.
But what if the interest Chloe was showing wasn't simply curiosity but romantic?
It was a question that came to mind because of Adam's words a while ago. If it was true, it would be a big problem.
However, Ruth had never experienced dealing with such delicate matters, so…
"You don't like me, do you?"
"So… what?"
"That would be troublesome."
She blurted it out without thinking, and…
Chloe, momentarily stunned, said,
"Are you crazy?"
"I thought your interest might be romantic."
"You crazy bastard. I don't like you like that!? In the first place, I can't even like you like that."
"...…"
"I'm just saying let's get along considering our social positions. Please… don't misunderstand."
"…Okay."
As if unable to remain indifferent any longer, Ruth's face flushed slightly with embarrassment, and then…
A familiar voice was heard.
"Chloe Piste… and Ruth? What an interesting combination."
"Oh, Princess? You don't need to go find your brother?"
"I've already met him, so don't worry about it. More importantly, Ruth, would you mind if I had a word with you?"
"Look at her putting on airs."
"I can't act unrefined like you. You should also maintain some decorum as the Archmage's disciple."
"...…"
"…? Anyway, Ruth, I have something to tell you."
Ruth, Chloe, Beatrice.
Those who were hiding something from each other gathered in one place for the first time.
As they were cautiously observing each other,
"…Huh? The Finance Director?"
"Excuse me?"
"What?"
Beatrice, who seemed to have something to discuss with Ruth, muttered to herself after spotting a familiar face outside the window.
Chloe, who had been strangely silent, and Ruth, who had been looking at Beatrice suspiciously, also turned their heads towards the window.
And without a word, they each headed towards the Finance Director in their own way.
"Finance Director!"
"Finance Director!"
"A-Adam… Finance Director!"
"W-wait? Everyone, what's going on?"
One used the recently learned teleportation magic, one opened the window and jumped down from the second floor, and one used the teleportation magic she had learned earlier, albeit clumsily.
Anyway, they succeeded in blocking the Finance Director, who was running somewhere outside the window, gasping for breath.
'Adam…!!'
Ruth had something to say about the ghost story from before, Beatrice about Crown Prince Zeke, and Chloe about the Archmage.
All three of them knew that they had business with the Finance Director, and they briefly exchanged wary glances, but…
The first one to step forward was Chloe, as if someone had urged her.
"Finance Director! I was just with Master—"
"Let's talk later. I'm busy right now."
"…Huh?"
He had said he trusted and relied on her.
Chloe, seemingly twice as shocked for some reason, froze as the Finance Director simply walked past her.
Next was Beatrice.
"F-Finance Director? The basket I gave you earlier—"
"I apologize, but I'm busy with something else right now."
"Excuse me?"
We were close, weren't we? We even exchanged bribes.
The Finance Director walked past Beatrice, who froze just like Chloe.
And finally, Ruth blocked his way.
'I'm fine.'
Unlike the other two, Ruth knew Adam's most important secret. Forget the Archmage and the basket, the financial crisis was the reason why Adam was in such a hurry.
He was probably running around at this hour to find her.
'But I can't say it out loud.'
Adam had asked her to keep it a secret. He couldn't openly talk about it in front of Beatrice and Chloe.
…Although it seemed like the other two couldn't hear anything anymore, anyway…
After a brief moment of contemplation, Ruth looked at Adam, who had a serious expression.
"The ghost story."
"...…"
"I want to continue it."
Adam would understand what she meant.
Ruth, thinking so…
"Student Ruth."
"Yes, Finance Director."
"I understand what you're trying to say, but please step aside. It's urgent."
"…Excuse me?"
"Then, excuse me!"
Dash.
Seeing Adam hurriedly run off somewhere, leaving even Ruth behind,
The three female students, including the cross-dresser, froze in place.
And right after that,
"Ah, Student Lisha!"
"Yes? Uh, Finance Director? Why so suddenly…?"
"I have something urgent to tell you. Let's move somewhere else!"
"Excuse me? W-wait a minute!"
Seeing Adam, who had ignored them, grab Lisha Claudia's hand,
The three female students quietly turned their heads.
Was it just their imagination?
Lisha's flustered appearance only looked like an act to them…