The Third-Rate Academy Villain Who Refuses to Become a Beggar

The Founding Day festival that occurs only once a year.

Even though there was still about a week left until the official commencement, the number of regular ships traveling between the academy and the two continents had increased significantly. Massive vessels with billowing sails dotted the horizon, their wooden decks crowded with eager visitors and merchants laden with exotic goods from distant shores.

Hundreds of people began pouring into the academy each day, their excited chatter and hurried footsteps filling the cobblestone streets with a palpable energy. Colorful banners and streamers hung from every building, fluttering in the gentle breeze as artisans and vendors hastily erected their temporary stalls along the thoroughfares. The streets were filled with a festive atmosphere, the air rich with the mingling scents of spiced foods, sweet confections, and perfumed incense.

Hundreds would soon become thousands, and all those crowds meant money.

The Founding Day festival was not only a joyous period when the entire Empire was in high spirits, but also the peak season for the Goldenheim family.

"Move quickly!"

"Nothing should interfere with the festival!"

Bringing in goods to sell, transforming empty spaces into festival streets, erecting temporary structures.

The preparations for the festival were carried out under the leadership of the Goldenheim family, who had received an official commission from the academy.

Other merchant companies were also involved to some extent, but there was a significant difference compared to what Goldenheim had secured.

'I never expected they would yield this much to the Golden Turtle Company.'

Behind the scenes was the headmaster's influence.

This was the reward he had promised to provide separately.

A contract entrusting the overall festival commissions and promising a portion of those enormous profits.

It was clearly meant as a bribe: take these bread crumbs and keep the secret about the demon even more securely.

'If I've been paid, I should earn my keep.'

It was payment for information, but a good deal was a good deal.

Gerhard decided to completely put aside the matter of Andromalius and focus on his own tasks.

"The permit will be granted anyway..."

A private betting house for wagering on the outcomes of the jousting competition and magic tournament.

This was the cash cow that would substantially fatten Gerhard's purse during the festival period.

"Hyde."

"Yes."

"Has there been a response from the academy?"

"I was just about to bring it to you."

Gerhard received the letter. There wasn't much to it.

[Student Gerhard,

So you plan to do it again this year, I see. Normally this would be impermissible, but given your tremendous contribution in saving countless lives, as headmaster, I have no reason not to grant a request or two.

Ah, though limited to this festival only, how about having the Golden Turtle officially manage a betting house?]

"...They want me to manage an official betting house?"

That's obviously good.

[However, if the excessive wailing of visitors fills the academy, the festival won't feel like a festival anymore.

I trust you'll handle it well.]

Your greed for money has really spiked.

But since you caught a demon and saved the world, I'll allow it.

Don't set up another betting house; just manage the existing one.

However, if problems arise because you exploit people too much, you'll have to take responsibility.

That would have been the end, and it would have been quite pleasant if it were.

[P.S. - Since this is a business with official authorization, the tax will be 20%.]

"Grateful, but can't give up the money, I see?"

Well, wizards had an inseparable relationship with money. Wizards who pretended to be noble and detached from money had long since become extinct or died off.

"We have to pay taxes?"

"Yes."

"How much?"

"20%."

"The headmaster has been quite accommodating. Setting the tax at only that much when everything is already set up and we're just placing our fork on the table."

It wasn't exactly wrong.

"Well, it's much better than last year."

"Comparing to last year is a bit..."

Last year, Gerhard had opened a private betting house without the academy's permission, and after being caught, he had to cough up half of his earnings as a fine.

"Well, anyway, since I've now obtained the management and operation rights for an official betting house, should I expand it a bit?"

An enthusiastic Gerhard pulled out some blank papers.

"Since he said to do it moderately, I'll limit how much each person can bet. Hmm, should I also prevent people from using others to place bets? No, I can just pretend I didn't know about that. Why block an opportunity to make more money?"

Since it should be a high-volume, low-margin format, he needed to encourage as many people as possible to participate in betting...

"What would be a good approach? First, I'll advertise extensively..."

Offering prizes to those who make the most correct predictions wouldn't be bad either.

Arranging for winners to spend time with the champions was another option.

Most of them would be nobles anyway, so they'd be thrilled at the chance to meet talented individuals.

As the papers started to fill up quickly, Hyde quietly slipped out of the office.

==

"..."

Ariadne Florian rested her chin on her hand and looked around the lecture hall.

The professor giving the lecture, and the students listening attentively.

No one was sitting next to Ariadne, who was seated at the very back of the lecture hall.

It was because she had no friends.

More precisely, not in the Magic Department.

'I expected this, but everyone's already formed cliques, making it awkward to join in.'

It was good that she had befriended Aint Armian and Gerhard Goldenheim as a result of her efforts to get close to those with Grand Duke bloodlines.

And as a bonus, Veriana Kalproten too. Though not a Grand Duke, the Kalproten family was certainly a powerful major family.

'No, is it too early to say I've become friends with Senior Gerhard?'

Although she could approach him readily and had even hunted a demon with him, there seemed to be some invisible wall between them.