The Academy is Doomed

Chapter 111

Amon was kneeling and listening to Reinbelt’s lecture.

“Young man, you’ve only learned bad things, already trying to commit embezzlement and corruption? I was terribly wrong in my judgment of you!”

Honestly, Amon had nothing to say even if he had ten mouths.

Setting aside Reinbelt’s principle of ‘poverty and frugality,’ embezzlement and corruption were crimes that anyone would know shouldn’t be committed.

But even though he had nothing to say, he had complaints.

‘What’s so wrong about me keeping the money saved from construction costs? It’s not like I’m trying to do shoddy work! A dragon is doing the construction, for crying out loud!’

However, Amon wasn’t foolish enough to express these complaints and confront Reinbelt.

Right now was the time to lie flat and carefully appease Reinbelt.

“Yes, yes. Elder Reinbelt, you’re absolutely right.”

“Tch! I’ll be watching you closely.”

“Of course, of course. I’ll keep it in mind.”

After letting Reinbelt’s threats go in one ear and out the other, Amon sighed.

Even a rotten croaker is still a croaker – though fallen now, Amonis Academy was once among the most prestigious institutions, and the construction costs for the collapsed buildings were enormous.

Three-tenths, no, one-tenth would have to go to silencing Brestle, so this perfect opportunity to pocket two-tenths was flying away.

‘Who says this is just for my benefit? This is for everyone’s good.’

He felt bitter and wronged.

‘But it’s too early to give up. Surely another opportunity will come…’

“You rascal! I can see in your eyes that you’re still harboring wicked thoughts!”

“Eh…!?”

“I shall strictly discipline you, who are steeped in selfish greed!”

“No, this is getting ridiculous, you old man!”

Amon and Reinbelt were rolling around on the ground, tangled together.

“Hmm, so you say you’ll take charge of this construction?”

Rommel, who had escaped from Amon’s persistent brainwashing, was looking at Rustianel with a dubious expression.

He had no idea that Rustianel was a dragon.

“Are you perhaps aspiring to be an architect?”

“What? No, that’s not it.”

“Hohoho, child. Architecture is no game. If you’re not careful, many people could get hurt.”

Rommel nodded kindly.

“Leave this construction to me. Yes, just watching me work will be a great learning experience for you.”

“Uh…”

“It seems you have some interest in architecture, and since this is a good opportunity, I’ll teach you various things.”

Rustianel tilted his head with a disgruntled expression.

Though a young dragon, Rustianel had lived for at least several hundred years, several times longer than Rommel, and had devoted considerable effort to architecture.

Moreover, as the prodigy of the Gold Dragon clan, the rising star of the architectural world, and the magician of architecture (all self-proclaimed), he couldn’t simply brush off Rommel’s comments.

“Would you like to see the estimate first?”

“Estimate?”

“Yes. The estimate has been ready for a while.”

“Hohoho…”

Rommel scratched his cheek incredulously as he took the estimate.

‘What kind of estimate could such a young child… huh?’

Rommel’s eyes grew wide.

Material costs, labor costs, architectural consultation fees – everything was meticulously detailed in the estimate.

It was a perfect estimate even to Rommel, who had long been in the construction business.

‘This, this young child made such a precise estimate?’

No! Brestle made the estimate!

But Rommel, unaware of this fact, trembled.

‘Ugh, impressive.’

At that moment, Brestle, who was busy with work in the vice principal’s office, was grumbling while flapping her itchy ears.

Anyway, Rommel let out a deep sigh and said,

“Ahem, the estimate is certainly thorough. But an estimate alone…”

“I’m not finished yet. Look here.”

“Hm?”

Rustianel took out a pen and drew a line.

“Material costs. I can completely eliminate these costs.”

“What? Ah, does the academy have materials in storage? No, do you have separate materials you can mobilize?”

Rustianel smirked.

“I’ll utilize the existing materials.”

At those words, Rommel also smirked.

“Hoho, child. Don’t say such nonsense. Those materials can’t be used. There’s too much damage for them to be recycled…”

Before Rommel could finish speaking, as Rustianel waved his hand, the debris scattered on the ground began to transform.

Rommel’s jaw dropped at the sight of the elegant column that was completed.

“Wh-what!? What in the world!?”

“Didn’t you know? I’m a dragon.”

“D-dragon…?”

It was hard to believe.

Why would a dragon be restoring a destroyed academy!

But regardless of the reason, seeing the columns and outer walls being created every time Rustianel waved his hand right before his eyes, he had no choice but to believe it.

“Why would a dragon…?”

“Please drop the honorifics. Anyway, isn’t the reason unimportant?”

“…”

“And as you can see, if I do the work, we can eliminate labor costs too.”

Rommel swallowed and stared blankly at the building being constructed at a rapid pace.

Rustianel continued speaking.

“Plus, I pride myself on my knowledge of architecture. So there’s no need to hire a separate architect, meaning no consultation fees either, right?”

“…”

“So I agreed to complete it for seven-tenths of the costs listed in the estimate as my service fee.”

Seven-tenths of the estimate.

Rommel closed his eyes tightly.

Even if he didn’t charge consultation fees due to his friendship with Reinbelt, if he did the work, he would need to use at least as much as the estimate due to material and labor costs.

No, given the nature of construction, there was a possibility it could cost even more.

‘No matter how much I try to save, I can’t do the construction for seven-tenths of that amount.’

Rustianel stared intently at Rommel, who had his eyes tightly shut.

“Well then, I think I’ve sufficiently explained why I should take on this construction. Now, would you tell me why you should take it on?”

This was construction undertaken by none other than a dragon.

In terms of cost and time, there was no way he could compete.

How powerless humans are before dragons.

Feeling doubtful about his own profession, Rommel said weakly,

“There is none.”

“Hehe, right?”

Rustianel, basking in the feeling of victory, casually waved his hand.

Simultaneously, a pristine building was completed.

“Now, six buildings are left. Well then, shall we continue?”

Though unsure if it was right for a dragon to rejoice in defeating a human, anyway, feeling triumphant about winning against a renowned human architect, Rustianel was about to move forward proudly.

“…Hm?”

At Rommel’s suddenly puzzled voice, Rustianel stopped in his tracks.

“What? Is there a problem?”

“No, not exactly a problem, but…”

Frowning while examining the completed building, Rommel spoke with a hint of regret.

“This appears to be a style that was popular about 500 years ago. It looks like the architectural style of the great architect Gieud Riges… Ah, nostalgic. I used to reference it a lot when I was studying.”

At those words, Rustianel’s eyes trembled.

“…About 500 years ago, you say?”

“Yes. Looking at the sculptural form of the raised columns and the finishing of the walls…the window placement pattern is certainly characteristic of Gieud Riges’ architectural style, maximizing natural light by arranging windows like that…”

Rustianel listened quietly to Rommel’s words.

As a dragon who lived for thousands or tens of thousands of years, Rustianel was far removed from the human concept of ‘latest.’

However, as the rising star of architecture, the magician of [etc. omitted], it was natural to be interested in humans’ latest technology.

“…Then what’s the latest style these days?”

“Hmm, let’s see.”

Rommel crouched down and began sketching plans on the dirt ground.

“This outer wall section should be done like this…”

“Ah! It definitely feels more sophisticated!”

“The columns should be made thinner.”

“What? What about the load?”

“It requires more columns, but if arranged like this, the columns won’t be visible. And this is a style I conceived independently…”

“Wow! That’s amazing!”

Rustianel was listening to Rommel’s explanation with sparkling eyes full of amazement.

Seeing Rustianel like this, Rommel shuddered.

‘This can’t be! A dragon is trying to learn my architectural techniques!’

Overcome with emotion, Rommel spoke excitedly.

“Also, recently, there’s a strong trend toward adding engravings to buildings like this!”

“Engravings on buildings!”

“Yes! And by inlaying gold to create a luxurious effect…”

“Inlaying with gold!”

The two architects were chattering away happily with their heads close together.

* * *

“Huff, hah…”

Amon, breathing heavily, clenched his fist.

“Finally, victory.”

At the feet of Amon, who muttered in a resolute voice, Reinbelt was lying down and squirming.

Although he was a Grand Sword Master, he was thoroughly exhausted from moving non-stop to fetch Rommel.

Moreover, it was an unfair fight with bare hands against Amon, who engaged in fistfights with ogres barehanded.

“It was a fair and square fight, Elder Reinbelt.”

Of course, Amon wasn’t unscathed either.

One eye was so swollen he couldn’t open it, and his nose was so swollen it would make a proboscis monkey call him big brother.

But a victory was a victory.

“Now two-tenths of the construction costs are mine!”

Amon let out a mighty shout.

With Reinbelt down, he planned to embezzle the construction costs fair and square.

“Now then, Rustianel!”

The moment he turned his head calling Rustianel.

Crash-!

He witnessed the sight of a newly completed building magnificently collapsing.

“…Eh?”

“Teacher Amon, did you call me?”

Seeing Rustianel approaching with small steps, Amon asked while trembling,

“W-why did you demolish the building you just finished?”

To that question, Rustianel answered with a bright smile,

“They said it was an outdated style from 500 years ago, so I’m going to rebuild it!”

“I-is that so? I see.”

Right, it would be better to build in the latest style.

Just as Amon was trying to calm his startled heart, Rustianel continued with sparkling eyes,

“By the way, teacher. The trending style these days is decorating buildings with engraved precious metals!”

“…What?”

Amon’s cheek trembled.

What nonsense is this about decorating buildings, which aren’t even portable, with precious metals!

“So about that, I think we’ll need to use all the costs listed in the estimate.”

“What!? What kind of dragon talk is this!”

“Since there are no labor or material costs, we should just barely make it. I won’t get my service fee, but since I’m doing the work anyway, I want to do my best.”

Shocked by those words, Amon grabbed Rustianel’s wrist, almost ready to kneel down.

“Ru-Rustianel? What horrible things are you saying?”

“Why? Weren’t we allowed to use all the costs in the estimate anyway?”

“I-I need to take two-tenths…”

“Why do you need to take that, teacher?”

The Gold Dragon, cold-hearted in business dealings, seemed unable to understand Amon’s embezzlement.

“Anyway, leave the construction to me! I’ll complete it as quickly as possible! Since Teacher Rommel said he’ll help too, we should be able to finish soon!”

Teacher Rommel!

Amon glared and whipped his head around.

‘Like friend, like friend. That old man was the source of all trouble!’

Just as Amon, his face contorted like a demon, was about to shout at Rommel.

“Wow! So this is Amonis Academy!”

Startled by the sudden bustling voices from behind, Amon turned around.

Dozens of people were gathered at the main gate.

‘W-who are these people?’

While frozen in confusion.

They too were whispering in confusion.

“What’s this? Why is the academy in this state?”

“The buildings are collapsed, and the inside is reduced to ashes?”

One of them sighed.

“They said Amonis Academy was ruined, I guess it really is ruined.”

“Yeah. Gold Road Trading Company was distributing enrollment flyers, I guess there must have been some mistake.”

Hearing their whispers, Amon felt like he’d been doused with cold water.

‘These are prospective students who came after seeing the promotional flyers!’

Amon moved painfully due to the injuries from his fight with Reinbelt.

“O-our academy isn’t ruined!”

“Oh? Not ruined…Aaaaah!”

Seeing Amon’s appearance, they fled in terror.

With one eye so swollen he couldn’t open it, and a nose surpassing that of a proboscis monkey, who wouldn’t flee when Amon approached limping!

Seeing them scatter and run away, Amon stopped in his tracks.

“…Sigh.”

Amon slumped down with a sigh and looked up at the sky.

“The sky looks hazy, it seems like it’s going to rain…”

Clear streams of water trickled down the cheeks of Amon as he muttered.