"Damn cowgirl! It's all your fault for having that broadcast played! I might have missed the most enviable moment of my life! How are you going to compensate me for my loss?!"
In the Headmistress's office, where the collection of expensive wine bottles seemed to have quietly grown even larger, Greg leaned forward with his hands braced against the wide mahogany desk, growling at the figure sitting in the high-backed chair with her back to him.
Olivia, the Headmistress with her signature wide-brimmed cowboy hat and wavy burgundy hair, slowly spun her chair around while naturally tucking a monitoring magic crystal into a drawer.
She looked up, her eyes beneath the brim flashing with undisguised mockery and mischief.
"You mean... that ambiguous moment in the classroom just now, where our esteemed Princess was hesitating to speak?"
She snorted, crossing her legs with her Martin boots resting on her other knee.
"Heh, don't make your respected Headmistress laugh, kid."
Greg: "...I really don't know where you get the idea that I respect you. I probably have more respect for a drunkard throwing a fit on the street than I do for you."
Olivia's expression stiffened for a moment, but the smile remained on her face.
"Fine, considering your contribution, I won't hold it against you. Let's get straight to the point."
She sat up a bit straighter. Though her posture was still casual, her tone took on a hint of formality.
"Greg Sass, I have some good news for you."
Greg maintained his cold face, merely raising an eyebrow and asking bluntly, "Oh? And what's the price?"
"Price?"
Olivia blinked her beautiful eyes, putting on an innocent expression.
"What price? Greg, do you have some kind of misunderstanding about your beloved Headmistress?"
Greg: "Don't think I don't know what kind of person you are, you damn cowgirl! There's no way I'm getting good news from you without paying a price!"
"Oh my, Greg, those words really break my heart."
Olivia dramatically clutched her chest, then spread her hands with a look of pure innocence and sincerity.
"Is this really how you view me—the head of this academy, who works tirelessly for the welfare of the students, an upright and selfless person—with such prejudice and malice?"
Greg answered decisively: "Yes."
Olivia: "Then you've truly misunderstood me. I'm telling you this great news purely as a reward and encouragement, and it won't cost you a thing!"
Now it was Greg's turn to be surprised: "Really?"
Olivia nodded.
Greg hesitated: "Since you put it that way... fine, what's the good news?"
Olivia replied: "The good news is: in view of your independent subjugation of the core threat, the Undead Knight, during yesterday's incident—winning honor for the academy and removing a major hazard for the city—the academy management has decided after an emergency meeting—"
She paused deliberately before continuing.
"You, Greg Sass, have been officially nominated as one of the second-year representatives to represent Glory Cael Magic Academy in this year's Hundred Academy Exchange."
Greg's eyes lit up slightly: "Does that mean... I don't have to attend those boring theory classes anymore?"
"In your dreams."
Olivia mercilessly shattered his fantasy. "How can the greatness of the academy's education be demonstrated if you don't attend class?"
She changed the subject, offering a carrot:
"But you don't need to worry about grinding for impression points anymore. In other words, you can officially step down from your temporary title as a Disciplinary Committee member. Of course, for the specific paperwork, you'll need to go to Student Council President Vivian yourself."
Greg felt a bit disappointed at first, but on second thought, getting rid of the tedious Student Council chores seemed alright.
This way, he'd have more free time after class for rest and... exploring the dungeon.
"That's fine," Greg nodded, accepting the arrangement. Then he looked at Olivia and pressed, "And?"
"And what?" Olivia tilted her head.
A vein throbbed in Greg's temple.
"Stop playing dumb, you damn cowgirl! My mission reward, obviously! The bounty for subjugating the Undead Knight! I remember the commission issued jointly by the City Management Office and the academy clearly stated a reward of 120 gold coins for the primary contribution! Where's my money?!"
"Eh?"
Olivia put on an extremely confused expression and picked at her ear.
"What bounty? What 120 gold coins? Greg, are you too tired lately and seeing things? Did the academy ever issue such a commission? Why don't I know about it?"
Greg nearly choked.
He slammed both hands on the desk and leaned forward, almost grabbing Olivia by the collar across the table. He gritted his teeth and hissed:
"You bastard... you didn't pocket my reward money for yourself, did you?!"
Olivia countered with a straight face: "What do you mean 'pocket'? As the Headmistress, I have the right to use a student's reward money to satisfy my personal desires!"
Greg stared intently at Olivia with eyes full of utter contempt, squeezing out words through his teeth:
"You really are... a bottom-of-the-barrel piece of trash."
He finally understood why this cowgirl had so confidently said earlier, 'I'm telling you this great news purely as a reward and encouragement, and it won't cost you a thing.'
Because the price had already been paid in advance!
"Hehe, thank you for the compliment~"
Instead of being annoyed, Olivia acted as if she had received praise, even performing an elegant, albeit mismatched, bow.
"After all, my goal is to be the woman of the Cowboy King! Moreover..."
A glint of cunning flashed in her eyes as she leaned forward slightly, lowering her voice:
"I have leverage over you now. How could I not make good use of it to secure a little reasonable benefit for myself? It's called a win-win; I win twice."
"......."
Greg's face quickly returned to calm.
"But fortunately, I'm not exactly a good person either. So, it's fine."
"?"
Olivia raised an eyebrow, seemingly not understanding what he meant.
Greg unhurriedly pulled a palm-sized recording stone from his inner pocket.
He injected a faint trace of mana, and a clear magical image immediately appeared on the surface of the stone, silently playing a looping video—
In the image, Olivia was sitting in her chair, saying with a straight face:
【As the Headmistress, I have the right to use a student's reward money to satisfy my personal desires!】
Rate on N.U.
