I doubted my ears when I heard what the branch manager said.

"On the verge of bankruptcy? The Reblanc Mercenary Corps?"

"Yes, Professor."

"You're saying they're about to go under?"

"That's correct."

Unbelievable. The Reblanc Mercenary Corps was far too large to be talking about bankruptcy.

What started as a small mercenary group formed by gangsters operating in the Reblanc region had grown by taking on dirty and dangerous jobs that others avoided. They expanded tremendously during the Four-Year War.

Now they had branches everywhere and had become a guild whose name was recognized by everyone.

For such a mercenary corps to be facing bankruptcy—what could have happened?

"Please explain in detail."

"Recently, there was a major territorial war in a certain region of the Empire. Both families fought an all-out war prepared for mutual annihilation, and our mercenary corps got involved. It was a massive contract that required mobilizing everyone except the minimum personnel needed at each branch."

It's not particularly unusual for mercenary corps to be active in territorial wars.

Not many nobles in the Empire can maintain large standing armies. Most operate with a small number of regular knights and untrained serfs who are only mobilized during wartime.

So as the branch manager said, mercenary corps are often hired to bolster forces in major territorial conflicts.

"Don't tell me you lost?"

"That's right. We lost. The client family was completely destroyed and scattered. And most of our mercenary corps leadership was captured as prisoners by the opposing side."

"Captured as prisoners? Who takes mercenaries as prisoners? And who's supposed to pay the ransom?"

"Our mercenary corps, of course. Who else would it be?"

My eyes suddenly caught a small frame hanging on the wall.

It had the grandiose motto "Loyalty Thicker Than Blood" written on it.

"Huh... So you don't have money because you're trying to raise the ransom?"

"Yes. I'm ashamed to admit it, but that's the situation... Headquarters took all the funds from every branch. It's absolute chaos right now."

"I see..."

"Those fucking idiots!" Hindrasta, who had been listening, suddenly shouted.

"How could they throw everyone including branch members into some contract like that! And the leadership? Don't tell me the captain and all his sons went too?"

"The client promised to cede part of the territory to our mercenary corps if we won the war. That's how much that family had staked on this territorial conflict. But who could have predicted such a miserable defeat? Honestly, I still can't believe it myself. Of all places, our Reblanc Mercenary Corps..."

I folded my arms and leaned back against the chair. This really was a life-or-death crisis for the mercenary corps.

If what the branch manager said was true, they couldn't return the money Hindrasta had saved up.

And since Hindrasta belonged to headquarters rather than a branch, that was even more likely to be the case.

"This is ridiculous," Hindrasta snorted.

"Did you really spend every last coin on the ransom? Surely you must have kept some money for food and lodging?"

"What we have now is just living expenses for the branch members. It's not enough to pay Sophie's wages. If you don't believe me, I can open the safe for you. But please promise me something."

The branch manager looked back and forth between Hindrasta and me.

"It's really just pocket change. It's far less than what Sophie mentioned, but it's barely enough to run the branch right now..."

"I understand. I'll guarantee it. I'll make sure Sophie doesn't take the money."

When I stepped in, the branch manager got up with a relieved expression and opened the safe.

Inside were a few gold coins, about twenty silver coins, and some copper coins. It was truly almost empty.

Now I understand why the branch manager had been reluctant to open the safe for Hindrasta earlier.

If Hindrasta took even that much, they might literally starve to death.

If he had shown it earlier, he couldn't have stopped Hindrasta from taking the money, but now with me here, I could prevent that.

Not that I don't understand Hindrasta's position.

Headquarters in Reblanc is too far for Hindrasta, who's trapped in Polymorf, to easily visit. And since the branch wouldn't open the safe, suspicion had built up in her mind.

Still, for a dragon, she's showing remarkable patience.

"Has the mercenary corps really collapsed...? I can't believe it."

Hindrasta muttered, staring into the desolate safe.

To be honest, I'm having trouble grasping the reality of it too.

The Reblanc Mercenary Corps is a major guild renowned throughout the Empire. They're a powerful mercenary corps that contracts directly with the Imperial Army.

For such a corps to be defeated in a mission where they mobilized all their mercenaries—just how powerful was their opponent?

"According to those who returned alive, there was an unknown swordsman who turned the battlefield upside down."

"An unknown swordsman? He was alone?"

"Yes. A young man wielding a great sword who fought so well that people were ground up like meat in a grinder whenever he appeared."

The branch manager shook his head.

"With skills like that, someone should definitely recognize him, but nobody knows who he is."

A swordsman with incredible skills that even mercenaries who've fought their whole lives have never seen before... This sounds suspicious.

"Anyway, I'm sorry about the situation, Sophie. You'd be better off going to headquarters. Though honestly, I can't promise anything there either..."

"How could this happen? I thought you didn't have money because you couldn't fulfill contracts and had to pay penalties."

"Isn't that a bit self-centered? Our mercenary corps wouldn't falter just because one person is missing."

"What did you say?!"

I had to intervene to stop another fight from breaking out.

# # # # #

After wrapping things up at the mercenary corps, we came out.

Hindrasta was muttering to herself with a haggard face.

She must be shocked that she couldn't get the money she expected right away.

"Let's eat first. Then we can think about what to do."

"Okay..."

Ismera, Olicia, Merylda, and Knightley, who had been waiting outside, rushed over.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine. Sophie is also unharmed."

"That's a relief. So, Sophie, did you resolve the issue?"

Sophie shook her head weakly at Merylda's question.

"Far from resolving it, I might lose all my money."

"Let's talk about it over food."

I was already starving from following Olicia around, so we headed to the restaurant we had planned to visit.

During the meal, I explained what had happened at the mercenary corps.

"The situation is completely messed up. You won't be able to get your money, huh?"

At Knightley's words, Hindrasta massaged the back of her neck as if she was getting a headache.

"Those idiots, why would they burn the entire mercenary corps on a single contract?"

Then suddenly, Hindrasta started shedding tears.

"Uuugh, my money... If I had known this would happen, I would have collected it as I earned it..."

There she goes crying again.

"What am I going to do now... I don't even have money to buy cake... That was money I earned through hard work..."

"Wipe your tears, Sophie."

As Hindrasta wiped her eyes with the tissue Ismera handed her, she suddenly looked at me.

"Help me."

"Me?"

"You promised to help me. You promised to help me get my money back after the competition ended."

"That's right. I think I heard that too." "Me too."

Merylda and Knightley agreed.

I was already thinking about how to help Hindrasta recover her money.

First, we need to visit the headquarters in Reblanc.

We should hear more details there and find out if she can get her money, or if we need to explore other options.

Anyway, Hindrasta is my student, so I should help resolve her difficulties.

Although she came at me first, I kept her at the Academy, so I have a responsibility.

"Let's go to Reblanc together after we eat. How's that?"

"Really?! Wait a minute..."

When Hindrasta trailed off, I understood what she was thinking and smiled.

"This time, it'll be just you and me."

She seems afraid of running into Linus again without knowing.

Somewhat relieved, Hindrasta stopped crying and started eating.

Merylda, who had been watching her with a pleased expression, suddenly asked:

"By the way, Professor and Vice Principal, why did you go out together?"

"Yeah, I'm curious too. You don't usually wear clothes like that, do you?"

Knightley pointed at Ismera's dress.

"I came out to buy a gift for Olicia."

Ismera answered without hesitation.

"She made vegetarian late-night snacks for me every night during the competition. She helped in many other ways too. Olicia contributed greatly to our Academy winning first place in the competition. When I heard that Professor Dian and Olicia were going out, I decided to join them."

"Ah, I see. Come to think of it, I should do something for Olicia too."

Knightley was quickly convinced by Ismera's clear explanation.

However, Merylda didn't say anything and just stared at Ismera.

# # # # #

After the meal, Hindrasta and I decided to head back first.

The others said they wanted to look around more to buy gifts for Olicia.

Back at the faculty bachelor quarters, I knocked on Orendi's door.

"Orendi! Are you in there?"

After a moment, Orendi opened the door in casual clothes.

"Professor Dian? Sophie? What brings you here on a weekend afternoon?"

"Take us to Reblanc."

"What? Reblanc? Why are you suddenly going there?"

"We need to collect money from the Reblanc Mercenary Corps."

"Huh...?"

I urged the confused Orendi to open a dimensional gate to Reblanc.

Having a mage around as transportation is really convenient.

That thought crossed my mind as we landed right in front of the Reblanc Mercenary Corps headquarters.

"Open up!"

Sophie ran to the main entrance and pounded on it.

"It's Sophie! Give me my money!"

Soon the door opened, and a young woman appeared.

"Sophie...? You traitor! Didn't you run off to the Academy?"

"Traitor?! Who ran off?! Ask Dian over there!"

The woman who had been staring at Sophie in confusion turned her gaze toward me.

After looking at me for a while, she exclaimed in shock:

"Big brother Dian?!"