The Extra’s Academy Survival Guide - Chapter 175

“We are thinking of bringing down Deputy Director Lortel in order to reorganize the power structure within the store.”

“The adopted daughter of former Director Elte Kehelland, Deputy Director Lortel, is a remnant of the old days and has been labeled as a person who should be removed from the store.”

Secretary Lienna, who came to me with papers in her arms, proposed an agreement while acting nervously.

“……”

As I walked through the corridors of the store, the other employees glared at me because I wore a robe with the company’s logo on it.

I had visited the Elte Company’s Silvenia Branch quite a few times already, so I was already somewhat familiar with most of the people there. All of the employees who I exchanged greetings with from time to time were now looking at me strangely.

After becoming close with Lortel, the employees had become noticeably friendlier with me, talking to me quite a bit.

The sight of me naturally going towards Dune’s side seemed to be drawing even more attention to me.

They must have had mixed feelings upon seeing how casually I parted ways with Lortel, who I had been so close to.

Of course, there was already so much wrong in the world that they couldn’t come up to me and question how I could do such a thing.

Also, the reason Dune could confront Lortel like he was doing stemmed from the way his voice had grown to such an extent within the company.

In the first place, the employees of the company were also merchants by nature. They were people who could attach themselves to whoever they had to by following the trend of leadership and the flow of power.

The environment Lortel had lived in since she was a child had always been like that.

“As you know, Lortel is not the kind of person that can be dealt with by simply tying her arms like that.”

Dune, who was walking next to me, spoke with a smile.

“But if you took over the Elte Company’s Silvenia Branch, couldn’t you say that you have completely suppressed Lortel, who is treated as a main power even at the Elte Company’s main branch?”

“Yes, of course. I also never take action unless I am certain it will work to some extent.”

In the warehouse that was full of products, we climbed the stairs, passing by offices full of employees.

“They tried to remove Deputy Director Lortel back at the main branch of the Elte Company as well. Of course, she had gone down there herself to get rid of all of them during break, but during that time, she wasn’t able to keep an eye on the Silvenia Branch. So, we were able to move freely.”

“How do you plan to subdue Lortel when the main office wasn’t even able to succeed? I don’t think you would come up with the plan to kill her and bury her body. That wouldn’t solve anything, after all.”

Dune Grex was a person that never moved without reason. Lortel Kehelland, who had him as a subordinate for several years, had personally criticized him.

He made minor embezzlements to make small profits, but never crossed the line… In other words, he didn’t have big goals.

So, the reason Dune was making such a drastic movement was probably because of something happening behind the scenes.

“Soon, school break will be over, and a new semester will begin at Silvenia. Until then, if we can continue making sure she is unable to do anything, things will work out.”

“If you believe that will work, shouldn’t you tell me what it is?”

Saying that, Dune turned around and looked at me, smiling softly.

“If you watch, you will find out.”

That meant he wasn’t going to tell me.

Even after signing the agreement and declaring that I would betray Lortel in front of her, Dune didn’t fully trust me.

In the first place, merchants didn’t usually trust people easily. That was why I didn’t like them all that much.

“I had no idea you would join our side so quickly. You’re pretty close with her, so I thought it would take some time to convince you.”

“I’ll join any side if the conditions are good.”

Early graduation was definitely a mouth-watering proposition for me, who highly valued a diploma from Silvenia.

“However, you have to make sure to do what you promised. Being able to properly subdue Lortel and how you, a member of the Elte Company, are going to be able to help me graduate early.”

I walked alongside him down the hallway before I suddenly stopped.

Dune, who continued to walk down the hallway alone, turned back to look at me.

“Without that guarantee, there is no partnership. If the terms of the contract are not being followed, there is no reason for me to adhere to them.”

“……”

“So, don’t just say things. Convince me. Otherwise, I will not be able to cooperate with you any further.”

From my point of view, it was a reasonable request.

“You know how risky it was to break my relationship with Lortel Kehelland with my own hands like this, right? I showed you how serious I was.”

“……”

“If you want me to continue working with you, be reasonable and show me that you can guarantee what you promised.”

Dune looked at my expression for a while before smiling and opening a door in the hallway.

It was the office that Dune used personally.

When I went inside, I couldn’t help but open my mouth in awe.

A large table in a decently wide space, a bulletin board that worked like a blackboard, and piles of documents.

Seeing the documents attached to the furniture, to the walls… There were details on logistics and distribution, and an analysis of the macroscopic changes within the power structure.

It was more data than just a month or two could have brought in. Over the last few years, he had been stuck paying close attention to the flow of power within the Elte Company and the entire continent.

It was not something that could be done by simply locking yourself in a room. It was something that could only be done through time, effort, and labor, all while being involved personally within the field.

“It has been more than five years since I started working at the Elte Company with the goal of aiming to succeed.”

He was a man who gave up on going to school at a young age to pursue life as a merchant.

“When the Golden King Elte got taken down from his seat, when Oldek was in chaos due to a logistics crisis, and when Silvenia Academy faced several crises, I quietly sat still, waiting for the perfect moment. I always believed that it wasn’t time, and that a more golden opportunity would soon come.”

“Even through all those moments, you stood still… But now you think this is the right time, so you’re taking action?”

“There are a lot of things that can be accomplished now. So, I hope that you will put your trust in me.”

Dune sat down in his chair as he put his beret down on the table, continuing to speak.

“Lortel Kehelland must be caught.”

Dune sat still as he spoke in a low tone.

The intent of those words was clear.

“So, you don’t need to know anything for now. And if you do know, that would only make me more anxious.”

“You think too lowly of me.”

I dragged a wooden chair across from the table where Dune was sitting as I sat down.

With my cloak hanging down, I lowered my head and spoke.

“Do you really think you are the only one turning every gear behind the scenes?”

The atmosphere completely changed as Dune frowned.

I continued speaking without hesitation.

“Do you actually think you are controlling the entire picture amidst those who know nothing?”

“Ed. If you talk like that…”

“You are thinking arrogantly.”

After slowly closing and opening my eyes, I pondered the last part of the proposal that Dune had sent me.

‘5. Ed Rothstaylor will officially become an employee of the Elte Company and maintain this status for at least five years after graduation.

6. Ed Rothstaylor must attend dinners, meetings, and talks with friendly and influential people of the Elte Company and must maintain friendly relations with them.’

“As soon as I saw that proposal, I felt something was strange. It wasn’t just about requiring my cooperation to capture Lortel, but it also stipulated a relationship even after you take control.”

“There is nothing wrong with maintaining a good, long-term relationship with someone like you, Ed.”

“You are funny, Dune. There is no reason to specify such a thing in the form of a contract.”

A friendly relationship didn’t form by signing a contract. Rather, it was the opposite.

Since neither party was friendly at all, they bound each other in the name of a contract.

Why was he doing that? Ultimately, it was to show someone.

‘Ed Rothstaylor and the Elte Company have become perfectly bonded.’ In order to inform a third party of that fact, the contract was drawn up as evidence.

In other words, the Elte Company needed the name ‘Ed Rothstaylor’.

“Dune. This is rather funny, since my name didn’t have much value in the past. I was excommunicated from the Rothstaylor family and wasn’t considered to be all that strong within the school, either.”

“……”

Dune didn’t say anything. I continued speaking without waiting for him to respond.

“Recently, I was reinstated… But suddenly, disaster struck Rothstaylor Mansion. Now, the power structure within the imperial household needs to be reorganized, and I just happened to become a key figure in that.”

“That…”

“Of course, you can’t refute that. So, what I’m saying is, if the Elte Company tries to get ahold of me by preparing such a contract… I can only infer that you are connected to someone with power within the imperial household.”

I slowly raised my head as I looked at Dune.

“Is that right?”

“I can’t say.”

“Thanks for the reply.”

Dune pouted as if he made a slip of the tongue. However, it didn’t end there.

“There were so many other incidents that happened, yet you ignored them all and only now decided to consult with an outsider. The fact that you are starting to take action now means that the reorganization of the power structure within the imperial household will impact the Elte Company in some way.”

Dune had only given me that single negotiation proposal. No other piece of information was provided.

However, that alone was enough to figure out what was happening behind the scenes.

If you changed the way you interpreted something, information revealed the truth more easily than you might think.

“The timing was perfect. When you were planning to do such a thing, did you already know that there were other people trying to take down Lortel in Oldek? It seemed like the timing was too perfect, as it took Lortel’s attention elsewhere.”

As if the words I was saying were unexpected, Dune immediately began to harden his expression.

“I suspect that everything that happened in Oldek was also a part of your plan.”

“Those are just your suspicions. How can I, an employee at the bottom of the company, intervene in the affairs at the headquarters in Oldek?”

“Because you are not the mastermind.”

I didn’t know the power structure in Oldek very well. After coming to this world, I spent most of my time on Acken Island, so it’s impossible for me to figure out what was happening over there.

“From the start, I never thought you were the mastermind. You must also be nothing more than a chess piece.”

“……”

“I’m looking at the picture behind you.”

You might think that Dune was drawing the big picture on his own, but I could see the even bigger composition that had Dune within it.

“It seems like Silvenia is also involved in some way, as you are guaranteeing something like an early graduation to me. Of course, Lortel’s monopoly over logistics on the island would be enough of a burden.”

However, Obel Forsyth was stingy about such behind-the-scenes deals.

If he really did negotiate with someone, it was probably Deputy Headmaster Rachel. After all, she was someone who could do things without Obel’s knowledge.

The rising prices and the Elte Company monopolizing the distribution on the island. It was Dune who took the profit from that, but it must have seemed as if Lortel had taken the initiative to do so. Because, for a long time now, she’d been sitting as the deputy director of the company.

From Dune’s position, it was easy to win over the support of the school.

If he was able to remove Lortel from her position, he could make a deal to remove the monopoly that had taken over the island. He would give up the monopoly rights over some crucial products that were exclusively distributed by the Elte Company.

Giving up a logistical monopoly was absolutely improbable for a profit-seeking company, but it was a different story if there was a political figure behind it all.

From the school’s point of view, they would naturally be curious about the situation. As both the school and the Elte Company argued over monopoly rights, it was a situation where the school had no power. So, there was no reason for the Elte Company to back down like they were.

“Alright, I admit it. You have good insight, Ed.”

Dune laughed after hearing me speak up to that point.

“It is insane that you were able to figure out this much with just that single contract. I’m glad I didn’t turn you into my enemy.”

Dune laughed as if it was all ridiculous. He then had a serious expression on his face again as he spoke.

“But… if you’ve noticed all of that, then for the situation that Deputy Director Lortel is in… You must have a feel for that, right?”

Lortel Kehelland was being restrained and suppressed in her personal office.

That girl… it wouldn’t be strange if she were to turn the entire world into her enemy.

The headquarters of the Elte Company in Oldek, Silvenia Academy, and even the imperial household were all contributing to her downfall.

Dune raised both hands in the air as if he had surrendered, saying,

“If you’ve realized all of this already, then I have no choice but to reveal everything else to you.”

And then he said without hesitation.

“The seat for the next director of the Elte Company will be the sixth elder merchant, Slogg. He’s always been at odds with Deputy Director Lortel.”

It was a name I only heard in passing during the incident where the lower students took over Ophelis Hall, creating chaos.

I wasn’t well versed in the situation at Oldek, but I was familiar with just how greedy and ruthless their merchants were.

“As for who will take the head seat of the Elte Company, the continent’s greatest commercial association… It is a very sensitive issue in the eyes of the imperial family. After all, it is one of the biggest companies on the continent, with a large economic power.”

“…So?”

“For the three who are fighting for the throne, it would be greatly beneficial to them to be on friendly terms with the head of the Elte Company as much as possible. Having the support of such a powerful person is a huge political advantage.”

Dune, who was good at judging the situation, was able to understand the flow of power by only looking at some documents in passing.

“So, there are quite a lot of people behind the scenes who are trying to help the merchant they are closest to in becoming the director. Regardless of that, the fight for the throne has gotten rather severe, so it was the perfect time to come up with a scheme.”

“Then, who does the merchant Slogg support?”

Dune smiled softly at my question as he said.

“Persica Delphinir Kroel.”

Finally, it felt like it was all starting to come to light.

“The glorious second princess of the Kroel family.”

The second princess, Persica Delphinir Kroel.

Oldek’s wealthy merchant, Slogg Keldricks.

Silvenia Academy’s Deputy Headmaster, Rachel Thyslin.

And finally, Dune Grex, an employee of the Elte Company.

Lortel Kehelland, who was tied up in her office and unable to act as they took her power away from her… Those were the names of the enemies she would have to face.

An imperial princess, a major merchant, the deputy headmaster of the academy, and even a traitor who was beneath her.

In her empty hands, they were all too great of an opponent to deal with.

Now that the whole story had been revealed, I could understand why Dune told me everything without beating around the bush.

It was suicide to take Lortel’s side, given the circumstances.

Most of all, Lortel herself would know that.

Even though she only recently looked over the negotiation proposal and had less of an understanding of the situation, by now she would have been able to organize her thoughts.

If I was able to infer that much, then for Lortel—who was quick-witted—it would definitely be possible to infer all of it as well.

Looking at the situation objectively, Lortel herself would have come to the same conclusion: no one would come to save her now.

I was the same.

The reason I had maintained a friendly relationship with Lortel was because, in any case, her position as an influential person with power within the company had been a great help to me.

Whether it was with my life at the camp or making my way through the storyline, the support of Lortel Kehelland, who was a massive power, had always been a huge help.

But now, Lortel was on the verge of losing all of her power.

The reason I had been able to survive in the wild was because I never disregarded my sense of reason and rationality, no matter how extreme the circumstances.

If I were to make a rational judgment now, the correct answer would be to throw her away.

I would need another reasonable excuse to reach out to her.

She was already on the verge of collapsing, and right in front of me was Dune’s proposal, which was a mouth-watering escape route.

If you thought about it reasonably, no matter how much you considered it, helping her was the wrong decision.

It was likely that Lortel Kehelland herself thought as much, too. As she had always been rational, she must have accepted the fact that no one would take her side.

If I wanted to reach my hand out to Lortel, I would need another ‘reasonable’ excuse.

In other words, a human-to-human bond with her.

Not with her as the head of the Elte Company or as a powerful merchant.

I needed to take her hand as the person she was: Lortel Kehelland.

However, the cost of that decision might be greater than you would think.

However… The traces of the ‘people’ I saw on the battlefield flooded my memory.

Even in a gruesome war, where your survival was more precious than anything else, a person’s heart could open up.

Whether it was love, friendship, or a bond… Whatever it might be, in the middle of hell… They would die on behalf of someone else, give their supplies to them, or guard their corpse without running away, with no regrets or hesitation.

What defines a human?

It is ‘being irrational’.

Rescuing a person who had fallen into the gutter is only possible because we are human.

Not only that, but it was even more important when it came to a person who would come by the camp to chat with you, show their love romantically, stick around by the campfire as a friend on a cold winter day, or lend a hand when you were having a hard time.

Only then did I realize it. A truth that had slowly come to exist, making it hard to guess when it even started.

When did it happen? When did I begin to accept her—not as the head of the Elte Company… But as the person named ‘Lortel Kehelland’?

Thinking that far, I could easily come to a decision.

“Once you find it, you’ll see.”

That monologue was such an obvious truth that there was no reason to say it.

“Alright. By the way… Let me ask you one thing. If you help me with one personal deal, I’ll be sure to join you in your plans.”

After thinking it over, he opened his cold eyes as he asked,

“What is it?”

“I’m going to kidnap a person.”

From here on, the plan was entirely my own.

“Help me as a member of the Elte Company.”

Dune smiled slyly at those words.

“I don’t know the situation, but I guess you are not a clean person, either.”

“Everyone’s the same.”