v2 Chapter 18: Facing It

Alongside the High Priest, Haru passed through the gates of the academy where she had been enrolled until a month ago. Though, since she had lived in the dorms on the grounds, she had rarely passed through these main gates.

“We have an appointment with the Academy Director,” the High Priest said at the reception desk.

While responding politely, the staff member wondered why the academy's well-known castaway child was together with the renowned High Priest.

Exposed to such gazes, the two were guided to the Academy Director's office. When they entered, the Director was sitting behind a large desk, writing documents.

The Director told them to sit on the sofa, lightly organized his papers, and then sat opposite them across the low table.

“Well now, High Priest. It has been some time, should I say.”

“We have little involvement with the Magic Academy. Needing no healing is also a good thing.”

“Then, what business brings you all the way to see me?” The Director glanced briefly at Haru. “If it's about this girl, Linus told me she wouldn't be returning to the academy. If she herself is fine with that, then so be it. What further problem is there?”

He said it as if he had no interest whatsoever. The High Priest shrugged, “Haru.”

“Yes.” Haru straightened her posture and looked at the Academy Director. In truth, she had little contact with him. Only around the time before her initial placement was decided, and before she started being sent out on hunts, when she was being assessed.

“At the academy, I completed all my coursework a year ago; recently, it was almost entirely practical training or being sent on hunts. As I am leaving here, I want my graduation qualification,” Haru stated it clearly first.

“Graduation, by regulation, is at age 15, when one moves up from junior to apprentice. You are still 13 and have only studied for about three years,” the Director stated, wondering if Haru had always been this kind of child.

“Students from other countries sometimes can't stay until 15, and some people come after reaching a certain age; there should be people who obtain graduation qualifications even if they aren't 15. Please check the classes I took and my grades. I should meet the requirements for graduation.”

“Hmm.” The Director rang the bell on his desk. “Bring this person's grade report.”

Since she was 13 and originally scheduled for withdrawal, he hadn't looked into her grades. Eventually, a clerk arrived with the grade report. Tea arrived at the same time.

“Hmm, I see. Your academic grades are good. Practical skills were lacking at first, but improved in the latter half. Indeed, you fulfill all the criteria, but...” The Director looked at Haru and said, “Your health seems to have improved, and you could originally remain at the academy, yet you are withdrawing for personal reasons. Such selfishness will not be permitted.”

At those words, the High Priest glanced worriedly at Haru.

“Is there a rule stating one cannot graduate if withdrawing for personal reasons?” Haru challenged.

“It's not a rule. Those who withdraw in such a manner are extremely rare.”

“Then are students who must return home for family reasons also treated as withdrawals?”

“That... They would probably be treated as graduates, but you don't have a home, do you?”

Whose fault is that? Haru wanted to say. But getting angry or flinching here wouldn't do.

“The academy is a place to learn the handling of magic. Gaining power should be what's important. You just said I fulfill all the criteria. Then I should be able to graduate.”

“Sophistry.”

“It's not sophistry. I am speaking rationally. In other words, whether I can graduate depends not on whether I have the power of a magician, but solely on your mood?”

Had he received such scathing criticism recently? The Academy Director grew irritated.

“That's...”

“Academy Director, issue the graduation qualification gracefully,” the High Priest intervened firmly.

“But...”

“Haru is right. From an outside perspective, it sounds like 'We won't let Haru graduate because she has no parents, because we discriminate against her.' Are those the words of the head of an academy that accepts students fairly from all nations?”

The Director was taken aback. True, he had only gotten defensive because a mere 13-year-old child was defying him. Thinking calmly, her grades were good, so she had the qualification.

“Very well. I shall issue the graduation qualification.”

An air of relief flowed at those words.

“Congratulations on your graduation. Is that all?” the Director asked, trying to end it.

Haru was surprised by his words, but replied, “No, there is one more thing.”

The Director, with an obviously weary face, said, “What is it?”

“Please give me the compensation for the hunts I participated in as an apprentice.”

“What?”

“Please give me the compensation for the hunts I participated in as an apprentice, as a decoy,” Haru repeated to the Director.

“You should have been compensated for participating in hunts. What are you talking about?”

“I have not received it.”

“It should have been transferred into your Guild account.”

“I am not registered with the Guild.”

“Parents are supposed to register before enrollment... Ah.” The Director's expression changed for the first time.

At that point, the High Priest said, “I don't fully understand the academy's system, but it seems Haru received no allowance besides room and board. I believe there was supposed to be a small allowance?”

“It's a meager allowance of about 5000 gil per month,” the Director confirmed, “but it should be enough to occasionally buy snacks or small items. Plus, the student affairs office should be arranging pocket-money jobs.”

“I never received the allowance even once,” Haru recounted, “and when I asked about jobs, I was told that since I was going on hunts, I shouldn't take away pocket-money opportunities from others, and they wouldn't arrange anything for me.”

“Nonsense. The allowance should be receivable even without an account. And there are always plenty of student jobs available, more than enough.”

Even if told that, what she hadn't received, she hadn't received.

“It seems, Academy Director,” Sain pointed out, “that there were people here and there who looked down on Haru simply because she was a castaway without guardians.”

“But, that can't be...”

“Speaking of 'can't be,' why wasn't Haru assigned guardians?”

“That is...” Perhaps concerned by the High Priest's words, the Director glanced toward Haru, but answered reluctantly, “Because among the academy staff, there was no one who wished to take Haru in.”

“Then why didn't you place her in the town?!” Sain demanded.

“It would likely have been the same even if placed in town.”

To the Director who said such a thing, Haru, her eyes slightly teary, stated clearly, “When I went into town yesterday, there were many people who said they wanted to become guardians to a castaway child.”

“I thought a magician would be better than a merchant...” the Director rationalized.

“In the end, not a single magician took me in, did they?!” Haru stood up abruptly and shouted. “For three years, no one looked after me; I was alone. I had no money. Even Marsh Grapes—the first time I ever ate them was when someone from the Deep Forest gave them to me!”

Even the Academy Director couldn't say anything in response to that, though he didn't understand why she was so angry about Marsh Grapes.

The High Priest said quietly, “Haru's body bore many wounds that hadn't fully healed.”

“Potions are supplied.”

“I couldn't receive them like everyone else. So I used them sparingly, little by little, and because of that...” The High Priest looked sorrowfully at Haru, who couldn't say any more.

“Listen, Academy Director,” Sain continued, “Why are guardians assigned to children without parents? Because if someone isn't looking after them carefully, indifference ruins a child. Everything you thought you were doing was not being done at all. And surely a child herself cannot complain about it.”

He had only picked up a castaway child. To the Director, who couldn't keep up with the High Priest's accusations, Sain escalated the threat: “Listen. This is a matter serious enough to bring before the Lords' Council. The Lakes region, failing to assign guardians to a child, exploited that child institution-wide—that's what this is. Realize it.”

Still, the Academy Director didn't move. No, he couldn't move. His mind couldn't grasp how a single child could connect to such a large problem.