"Welcome, everyone."

I, standing at the podium of the academy, a marketplace of learning, began my lecture with a hearty smile.

-Tap. Tap. Tap.

[Ri.car.do]

The name written on the blackboard began to be displayed in front of the students who had spent their academy life with me in the past.

It's embarrassing.

Just three years ago, I was in the position of sitting at a desk with them, looking at the blackboard.

'Ah...'

Now, my appearance, teaching them as a professor (temporary), was so embarrassing that I couldn't write well.

Of course.

'As expected... studying wasn't the shortcut.'

I harbored a 'shame' different from the universally known 'shame,' with a sneer that said, 'I became a professor in one go, a position you all have to study for over 7 years to achieve.'

"Ahem."

I looked at the elegantly written letters on the blackboard and continued my introduction, knowing that no matter how hard I wrote, no student could read it.

"From today, I am the homeroom professor for the 3rd year B class students, and I am the temporary professor 'Ricardo' who will be teaching you the 'Economics' course."

"..."

"I may be lacking, but I look forward to working with you all."

Seeing the quiet reaction of the students, I thought their passion for learning was great.

-Why is he here...?

-It's him. The villainess's butler.

-Crazy... where did our original professor go? I liked him because he gave good grades...

Of course, impure voices were heard softly like a local broadcast, but since they didn't object, I could accept this as a cute gesture that I could overlook.

-Hey... you can't mess with him.

-Why...?

-Desmunt... they've been revived. They're regaining their influence in the east and growing even more than before, so if we mess with him, Desmunt's butler, we're finished...

-This is the academy. Status and such...

-We're in our third year now...

-Ah, right... after graduation...

It seemed like a conversation would be easy with these smart students.

Before starting the main lesson, I decided to tell the students why I was here.

It was clear that the students would also be wondering about the fact that a perfectly fine professor had disappeared and a temporary professor had come.

"I imagine you were all very surprised when I appeared as a temporary professor in place of the previous professor."

"..."

"If you don't answer, I don't want to say..."

The students nodded and hid their uncomfortable feelings, as they were curious about the reason for the appearance of a classmate who had left the academy as if he had been kicked out after being involved in an uncomfortable incident.

-Nod. Nod.

"Thank you. From now on, if I ask a question during class, please at least nod your heads."

"...Yes."

"Good."

I began to speak to those who were ready to listen in a kind voice about what had happened.

"There was an unfortunate incident at the academy recently."

"..."

"The incident where the heretics attacked during the opening ceremony."

"..."

"You remember, right?"

"Yes."

"Hmm... the reason I came as a temporary professor is simple."

"..."

"A meeting was held about the unteacherly behavior of the professors at that time..."

"..."

"After a long meeting, the president, senior directors, student council president, and other officials ordered the dismissal of all the faculty members who had shown inappropriate behavior at that time, which is why I am standing before you."

Sighs were heard.

The expressions of the students, who nodded as if they understood, could be seen from the podium.

Of course.

The question of 'I understand, but why are you the professor?' did not disappear.

"Anyway, I look forward to working with you all."

Anyway, Malik had drawn his sword in this matter.

-We must take this opportunity to completely overhaul everything.

He emphasized that no matter how well a professor taught, a professor who taught how to run away was not needed in this academy.

-As of this time, the professor of economics and 32 other professors are requested to leave the academy.

-...What?

-Of course, all the support and research labs received from the academy will be withdrawn.

-...Senior director!

-The content of this agenda is a conclusion reached after discussion with the president, and if you have any objections, you can protest to the president and me...

-Do you even know who I am?! Do you know how many students are waiting for my class at the academy!!!

-If you had such a passion for the academy, you should have acted like a teacher. Sending the students to the front lines... and you pushed the students and ran away... is that what an adult should do?

-...30 years! How long have I poured into this academy...!"

Despite much opposition, Malik pushed through with the overhaul of the academy faculty, and with the sudden vacancy of professors, I was hired at the academy at the request of Malik and Shartia.

In any case, it would be difficult to see the young lady's face until the framework of the mansion was built.

"Anyway, this is how I came to the academy to teach you all."

"..."

"As the personal butler of Lady Olivia Desmunt, and in the capacity of a professor of economics..."

At the meaningful words, the students let out a sigh and were filled with sadness about the gloominess of life.

Anyway.

"Before we start the main lesson, I'd like to have a simple Q&A session. If you have any questions for me, your professor of economics, please ask."

Since I couldn't make the first class boring, I, who wanted to establish myself as a popular professor, looked at the students and smiled.

Of course, I couldn't tell them about my first love. I hadn't even started the 'love' part of 'love,' so I didn't think I could tell such an interesting story.

If there was a story I was confident in, it would be about the haunted abandoned house from the novel or the academy's ghost stories, which I was more than ready to talk about, so I smiled and thought about the answers to the students' questions.

But.

"..."

At the lack of questions, I scratched my head with an awkward feeling. If they were going to be like this, I might start the class in a boring way too...

"..."

Just as I was about to open the book at the boring sight of the students digging their own graves.

"Teacher."

A female student raised her hand and began to ask me a question.

"Yes, go ahead."

"Well..."

"Yes."

"Why did you take on the economics class...?"

An accurate question.

A question that pierced the essence, I gave a sheepish smile and a refreshing answer to the female student.

"Are you a noble?"

"Pardon...? No, I'm a commoner."

"I see. Then do you earn your own living expenses?"

"No, my parents send them to me. I do work from time to time, but it's not enough if I work according to my class schedule..."

I asked the female student a slightly rude question.

"This is a rude question, but how much is in your wallet?"

"...I have 15 gold."

"You're rich."

I showed the female student a clear answer rather than talking for a long time. I thought it would be easier to understand by seeing than by hearing for a hundred days.

-Jingle.

I lightly placed my wallet on the female student's desk, gave a faint smile, and told her to open it.

"Open it."

"Pardon...?"

"It's my wallet."

The female student opened the wallet with an expression that said she didn't know what was going on.

"Uh...?"

She began to tremble as she saw the sparkling platinum coins inside the wallet.

"Platinum coins. 30 of them."

"Uh..."

"One platinum coin is 1000 gold, so 30 would be about 30,000 gold."

"..."

The moment a large change occurred in the eyes of the female student who had seen enough money to build a mansion on the outskirts.

-Clink.

I took out one platinum coin from my wallet, placed it on the female student's desk, and returned to the podium.

"This is the reason I can stand before you."

"..."

"The platinum coin on the desk is a token of gratitude for your question, so please put it in your wallet."

A smile began to form on the female student's face. She began to burn with a passion as if she would write down every word I said, with the trust that this professor was the best.

I spoke honest words without lies to the students, with the feeling that I honestly didn't know much about economics either.

The study of economics is 'the study of how to make the best choices with limited resources,' but the economics I thought of was just a way to make a lot of money.

"Believing is your choice."

"..."

"As you all know, I am a commoner and a butler who was lucky enough to work at Desmunt."

"..."

"Unfortunately, due to an unfortunate incident with my employer's personal affairs, I ended up with a huge debt."

"..."

"And I, who am standing before you, have paid off all my debts and am a businessman who can casually give a single platinum coin to a student, and a butler of Desmunt."

"..."

"It would be a lie to say that I achieved everything on my own, but what I can say for sure is..."

"..."

"From now on, I am a professor who will teach you how to become rich."

For a moment, silence fell in the classroom.

The devil of the academy.

The atmosphere, which had been agitated by the appearance of a criminal who had committed all sorts of bad deeds at the academy, was calmed by a single coin, and I could read the feeling of waiting for an opportunity along with suspicion in their eyes.

30% of the students were rich, but.

The remaining 70% were commoners, fallen nobles, and students who felt insecure for financial reasons.

"Do you understand?"

The students lowered their heavy heads and answered. 'Yes.'

Now that the atmosphere for a class was set, just as I was about to take the first step of the lesson.

-Creak...

The tightly closed door opened, and a familiar man's face began to appear before my eyes.

"...You."

I had forgotten.

I had sent him out because I was worried he would get more attention than me, but I, who had to introduce the new student after 50% of the class time had passed, gave an awkward smile and welcomed him.

"Come in."

"..."

I, who had made the cold-eyed Truller stand in front of the podium, smiled at the students and said.

"I have someone to introduce to you all."

A new student has come to the academy.

The rumors about Truller had already spread throughout the academy, so the academy students were admiring Truller's face and whispering.

Truller, with his curly blond hair tied back, had a typical prince-like face.

"This is Truller, who will be transferring to the 3rd year B class."

"..."

"Shall we have a self-introduction? Truller."

Truller glared at me once with an expression full of killing intent, then took a deep breath and opened his lips to the students.

"Nice to meet you. I am Leogard Truller, the second prince of this empire. I am a little older than all of you here, but I came to the academy to learn many things and to have a good influence on the empire in the future."

"..."

"I look forward to working with you all."

-Clap clap clap clap!!!

I gave a small smile at Truller's nice introduction and said.

"Sit here."

I told him to sit in a place full of men.

"Alright, everyone, let's start today's class. The textbook is on page 31..."

I looked at Truller, who was glaring at me with eyes full of annoyance from a desk full of male students, smiled again, and said.

"Truller."

"...?"

"Why haven't you taken out your textbook?"

"..."

"Did you not bring it?"

"...Yes."

I said with a refreshing smile.

"Go out to the hallway."

The correct answer is to send out the one who is not ready to learn.

-Please leave for the hallway.

It's been three days since I entered the academy, and I haven't attended that guy's class even once.

-You didn't bring a pen this time. Please leave for the hallway.

-I can just borrow one.

-No. Not bringing a pen to the classroom means you have no intention of studying, so don't borrow one, and go out into the hallway and reflect.

I was kicked out of the classroom for not bringing a pen.

-You're 4 minutes late.

-There are kids who came later than me!

-Then you can leave together.

I was kicked out into the hallway for being just 4 minutes late.

-You didn't do your homework.

That bastard, who kicked me out into the hallway for not doing my homework, reprimanded me in front of everyone and excluded me from the class.

The most infuriating thing is that he prepares separate homework just for me.

-Because Mr. Truller's behavior is poor, I have prepared a special assignment just for Mr. Truller.

-What did you say...?

-Write a full page in your notebook about the economic growth of the Empire and submit it by tomorrow.

That bastard was being rude, as if he wasn't afraid of insulting the next emperor of the Empire.

At that time, I was angry and didn't do the assignment.

'How dare he... who does he think I am... to give me extra homework...?'

That damned homework. With a sneer that the only thing you, a temporary professor, could do if I didn't do it was to dock my grade, I handed him an empty notebook.

-Hmm... you didn't do your homework?

-That's right. Go ahead and deduct points from my attitude score. I have no intention of taking a class while being treated so unfairly.

I stood tall and stated my firm intention to him, but.

-Hmm... I see. Then I will deduct points from your attitude score, and I will increase the assignment to 2 pages.

-...What did you say?

-And please leave for the hallway. I have no intention of teaching a student with poor behavior.

That damn bastard was busy kicking me out into the hallway while giving me an endless amount of homework.

How dare he...

How dare he...!!

How could he look down on the next Crown Prince of the Empire like this?

I was angry that the so-called economics professor was being rude to the leading candidate for the throne without a change in expression. I couldn't even begin to guess his thoughts, as if he wasn't afraid of the consequences.

"I'll kill him..."

I can't even understand why this damn economics class is twice a day, and Shartia is always absent, with a sign that says [On a business trip.].

"Haa..."

Truller, filled with anger, slammed his fist on the desk and looked at the clock.

The economics class is tomorrow at 11 a.m.

The current time is 2:10 p.m., so if he started his homework now, he was confident that he could finish the 24 pages of overdue assignments.

Right.

He'll let it slide, just this once.

Since the economics class is the only time he can make contact with the pink-haired woman, he'll play along with that bastard's tricks, just this once.

If he becomes emperor, he'll have that bastard's head, and if he builds up his influence at the academy, he can just have him fired, so just this once....

-Flip.

Truller opened an empty notebook and spoke to his waiting aide.

"From now on, summarize the history of the Empire in 24 pages and tell me."

"I will do it, Your Highness..."

"No, that bastard will surely check my handwriting, so I will write it myself."

Truller's pen began to dance on the notebook, filled with anger.

"Recite."

"..."

"I will write."

Truller moved his pen diligently with a sinister smile.

"Kekeke..."

The pink-haired woman's name was 'Yuria'.

According to the information he had gathered, there was a rumor that the pink-haired woman was one his dear brother was keeping an eye on, so it seemed like an interesting situation would unfold if he stole her.

After being released from his confinement, he returned to the academy, and the expression on his dear brother's face when he saw the woman in his younger brother's arms....

"I'm looking forward to it."

He was so excited he couldn't stand it.

Of course.

"How many pages are left now?"

"23 pages left."

"Haa..."

The homework, no matter how much he did, never seemed to end.

*

"The things I want to do."

What kind of class should I have today?

"I wish I could do them..."

Walking to the classroom, I smiled faintly and began to plan today's lesson.

"What do I teach now..."

I was once again amazed by the hard work of the teachers who prepare for class every day.

Of course, once I get used to it, I can seamlessly connect the material from the previous class with other materials, but I was feeling the limits of creating a lesson every hour without a systematic accumulation of information.

"Huuuum..."

I'm worried.

"Should I just tell an old story?"

Opening the classroom door with a heart full of worries, I felt the gaze of the 2nd Prince sitting in a neat posture and smiled.

'Oh...'

Because I was curious about his different expression.

'He feels different today.'

Usually, Truller's expression was like he had eaten something foul, and he was afraid of his name being called from my lips, but.

-Staaaaare.

Today, a strange sense of competitiveness arose at Truller's confident expression, as if he were asking me to call his name.

"Truller, no, student Truller."

The moment I called Truller's name with anticipation.

"Yes."

Truller, who let out a resounding answer, different from usual, walked out and stood in front of me, then slammed a bundle of notebooks on the lectern with a 'thud!' and smiled.

"Oh..."

"24 pages. I wrote an extra 5 pages."

Seeing the deep dark circles under his eyes and his somehow confident smile, it seemed he had completed the assignment perfectly without any room for criticism.

"Hmm..."

"Surely you're not going to tell me to go out of the classroom just because I wrote 5 extra pages, are you?"

"Hey, of course not."

I let out a small smile at Truller's words, which were full of hostility, and waved my hand. No matter how much of a discriminatory professor I was, I couldn't say harsh words to a student who was burning with a passion for learning.

So.

"Did you do it all yourself?"

"Yes. I wrote it all myself, by hand."

"That's admirable, but it would be nice if you spoke a little more politely. I'm not student Truller's friend, what's with the 'yes'?"

"Understood."

"Then..."

Truller smiled and looked at the notebook. With a smile that said, 'go ahead and find fault with it.' He was smiling, waiting for my action to criticize his efforts, but.

"Please return."

I said with a smile, without even glancing at the notebook.

"What did you say...?"

"I said, please sit down."

"The check...?"

"I told you I'm not student Truller's friend."

"You're... not going to check it?"

I let out a small smile and shrugged.

"I'm sure you did it well on your own."

"..."

Truller said, his fists trembling.

"You definitely said you would check it. That ghostwriting is not allowed...!"

"Why bother checking? I believe in student Truller's conscience."

"..."

"Please return. I have a class to teach."

-Thump.

The 2nd Prince returned to his seat, stomping his feet. With his fists clenched, his hand bandaged.

"Alright... then."

Then shall we begin the class?

I picked up a piece of chalk and began the class.

"In the last class, we had a time to study the general history of the Empire and its current situation."

"..."

"We had a time to talk about what positive effects the war had on the Empire's economy, and what effects it had on other countries."

"..."

-Screech.

I drew a huge circle that looked like a mango in the middle of the blackboard and continued to speak.

"As you can see, there are many countries on this land."

"..."

"The big circle that looks like a mango is the Empire."

-Screech.

"The country to the right, that is, to the east of the Empire, is the Kingdom of Balthazar."

-Screech.

"To the south is the Cheong Kingdom, and the country between the Kingdom of Balthazar and the Cheong Kingdom is the Holy Nation."

Along with the sound of the chalk grinding, the map of the Empire drawn on the blackboard was marked in a way that was easy for the students to understand, and the explanation continued.

"The exact location of the beast-kin nation is unknown, but if we draw a rough location based on the known information..."

-Screech.

"You can think of it as being between the north and the Kingdom of Balthazar."

"..."

"As I said in the last class, the territory of the beast-kin nation is not large, and it is a kingdom made up of a small number of people."

Strictly speaking, it meant that the territory of those classified as a nation, not a tribe, was that size, but I didn't want to give a complicated explanation, so I smiled faintly and left the difficult explanation to the students' own discretion.

Anyway.

The location of the Empire was in a rather ambiguous place.

To the west, the sea.

To the east, the Kingdom of Balthazar.

To the south, the Cheong Kingdom.

Finally, to the north, a lawless zone mixed with barbarians and beast-kin surrounded the territory of the Empire.

Despite the unfavorable conditions, the Empire had the largest territory and was classified as a great power with hegemony that could not be compared to other countries.

And yet, if we were to list the differences in strength.

"If we were to divide the measure of strength..."

I began to compare them by drawing circles symbolizing the color of each country. I thought it would be easier to draw a picture than to explain with words they couldn't understand.

Brown.

"The beast-kin nation, which had a great war with the Empire in the past, has now weakened in power, so it's the smallest size..."

Blue.

"The Cheong Kingdom, known as the nation of spears, has a Cheong King called the Divine Spear, so it can be classified as this size. And..."

Yellow.

"This kingdom might be the most threatening kingdom to the Empire."

The Kingdom of Balthazar.

"Because the king of the Kingdom of Balthazar... that is, the Empress, has the power of a great magician and a sword master, so she is dangerous."

Finally, after drawing a white circle, I finished the complicated explanation with a small smile.

The Holy Nation has the second largest territory after the Empire and a strong power comparable to the Empire, but thanks to its title of 'Holy Nation', it was a pacifist nation that would not attack unless it was attacked first.

Brown. Blue. Yellow. White. After classifying the strength of the nations in that order, I put down the chalk I was holding and asked the students a question.

'Then, which of these countries has the strongest economy?'

Is the nation of the Empress, who can use the power of a great magician and a sword master at the same time, the strongest?

Or is the Cheong Kingdom, which has many excellent warriors, the strongest?

Or is the beast-kin nation, which has the unique power of its race, the strongest?

The conclusion was one.

"The Empire is the strongest."

The Empire, with the largest territory and numerous troops, was the strongest nation at the present time. Because the current Empire had the power to wage war with three kingdoms.

"The Holy Nation, like our Empire, is a holy nation that has adopted the Goddess religion as its national religion."

"..."

"It is a non-combative and peace-oriented nation."

"..."

"In contrast, the Cheong Kingdom and the Empress's nation are nations that have signed a truce with the Empire after numerous disputes."

Each country had its strengths.

Excellent technology.

Overwhelming individual military power.

And so on.

But the Empire, which had all of these, was the strongest among them.

I looked at the students and asked.

"What do you all think is the way to become the king of the 'economy'?"

"..."

There was no answer from the students.

It was a natural silence.

Because I, too, had only recently learned the answer.

I closed the book and spoke.

The simplest.

And the most difficult answer.

"To become the king of the economy."

"..."

"You must be strong."

A few chuckles began to leak from among the students at the silly words. Saying that even a child could give such a simple answer.

But. At least in this world, individual military power was the optimal ecosystem for achieving great success.

Just as Darvav and Rowen and the Master of the Mage Tower and many other strong people in the Empire were protecting it from foreign invasion.

"From long ago, there was a saying that if a problem cannot be solved by force, it is because there is not enough force."

"..."

"It's because we are weak. The reason you and I are learning at this academy is to become strong."

I said to the students with a bright smile. That it's good to sit here and use our heads, but wouldn't we rather do something more meaningful?

"So today is an outdoor class."

To become the king of the economy.

"I will roll you."

You have to get dusty.

"Until you say you want to drop out."