I Don't Know the Original, I'm Too Busy Trying to Make a Living-Chapter 170

“If there are no further items to discuss, we’ll conclude the meeting here. Milady, you should have lunch and then head out immediately,” the treasurer said.

“Head out? Where to?”

Penelope asked in confusion, tilting her head. The treasurer, looking slightly puzzled himself, replied, “You mentioned visiting the intermediate school, didn’t you?”

“Oh, is today already Wednesday?”

She had been so preoccupied with everything that she hadn’t even noticed the passage of time.

The day of her scheduled visit with Professor Bake had arrived before she realized it. Penelope was momentarily surprised by how quickly time had flown.

The treasurer offered a small smile. “Everything has been prepared. You can leave after you’ve eaten.”

“Thank you. Oh, it’d be good to take Sain along for the visit. Could you call for him?”

“Of course.”

The treasurer nodded. At that moment, the chief administrator, who had been quietly listening, chimed in with a suggestion.

“Milady, perhaps it would be prudent to hire an additional secretary. You seem to have far too many tasks that require your attention.”

“That sounds like a great idea,” Penelope replied, her eyes lighting up.

It was a sensible proposal.

Currently, Lucas was overseeing Penelope’s business matters in the capital. Given the circumstances, he wouldn’t be able to leave the capital for the foreseeable future. It was clear that Halo Castle needed at least one more secretary to support Penelope.

Clapping her hands together, she declared, “Put out a notice. Let’s search for talent across the entire empire.”

***

After lunch, Penelope boarded a carriage with Sain. Ahwin, acting as if it were the most natural thing in the world, climbed in after them.

But it didn’t stop there.

Demian, Sain’s tutor, entered next, followed by Rub and Katherin.

While it made sense for Demian to join them, the presence of Rub and Katherin left the carriage so packed it felt like it might burst at any moment.

Narrowing her eyes, Penelope turned to Rub and asked, “Are you two coming along as well?”

Her tone suggested she was wondering if they truly had nothing better to do.

Unconcerned by the subtle jab in her words, Rub replied with his characteristic bluntness, “I’m curious if the newly established school offers magic courses.”

“Exactly. If there’s an opportunity, I’d like to observe how magic lessons are conducted for intermediate and high school students,” Katherin added.

“Well... that’s something we’ll have to check,” Penelope replied, glancing out the window with a twinge of guilt.

Her question had been half-intended to tease them, partly as payback for the morning’s embarrassment. She hadn’t expected such earnest responses.

Ahwin chuckled softly, the same smile he wore whenever he teased her by calling her “cute.”

‘I can see you laughing, you know?’

Penelope pouted her lips slightly before quickly smoothing her expression. Meanwhile, Ahwin, noticing her hand resting on the arm of the seat, lightly brushed his fingers against hers.

Startled, Penelope snatched her hand away, placing it firmly on her lap.

‘What’s wrong with me all of a sudden?’

Normally, she wouldn’t think twice about holding his hand, but now her face felt inexplicably hot.

It didn’t help that the moment felt oddly suggestive—like holding hands wouldn’t be the end of it.

‘Go away, you lecherous demon!’ Penelope screamed internally, frantically trying to quell her spiraling thoughts.

However, even as the carriage reached the school, her flushed face refused to cool down.

“Welcome, Milady. We’ve been expecting you,”

Professor Bake—now the headmaster—greeted her warmly at the school gates. Standing beside him was a boy about Sain’s age, holding a bouquet of flowers. Judging by his uniform, he appeared to be a student at the intermediate school.

Behind the boy stood a line of other uniformed students, all neatly arranged. Sain looked at them with curious eyes, as did Ahwin, who had pulled his hood snugly over his head, and the Tower mages. Only Demian wore an expression that seemed to say, I knew this would happen.

The boy at the front stepped forward and handed the bouquet to Penelope. Startled, she accepted it.

“I’m Cliff, president of the student council at the Halo Intermediate School. Welcome, Milady.”

“Thank you...” Penelope replied, slightly flustered. The students immediately erupted into cheers and applause.

A slightly awkward smile appeared on Penelope’s face. She hadn’t expected such an enthusiastic welcome ceremony to have been prepared for her.

‘Well, it would’ve been stranger if the students hadn’t come out to greet me,’ she thought.

From their perspective, Penelope was the ultimate authority figure—their superior. Naturally, they would welcome her with open arms.

‘Still, it feels awkward.’

She had spent so much time worrying about providing for her people that she had never stopped to consider the possibility of receiving their admiration and praise in return. It left her feeling a bit out of place.

Nevertheless, she accepted the students’ greeting and entered the school.

Sain’s cheeks turned pink as he gazed at the uniformed students. He must have been imagining them as his future classmates.

This chapter is updated by freēwēbnovel.com.

Once inside the headmaster’s office, Penelope shared her thoughts with Headmaster Bake.

“I wasn’t expecting such a warm reception.”

“Well, Milady, aren’t you the de facto owner of our school? Thanks to your support, we’re finally able to build a cafeteria and a library. We couldn’t be more thrilled,” Bake said with a hearty laugh.

In other words, they wanted to stay on the good side of their benefactor.

“If there’s anything else the school needs, don’t hesitate to let me know. I won’t hold back on the budget.”

The headmaster’s joy was written all over his face. His genuine love and care for the students were evident.

As Penelope glanced at Sain, who was sitting with flushed cheeks and an excited expression, she spoke.

“I’m thinking of enrolling Sain in the intermediate school soon. Could you share the entrance exam °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° requirements? I’d like to have him prepare and start by the second semester next year.”

“With Sain’s current level, I believe he could be admitted immediately. Demian has been tutoring him, and I understand that he’s already at the appropriate level for enrollment.”

“Really?” Penelope’s eyes widened in surprise. It felt like just yesterday Sain had been learning the basics of the empire’s language, and now he was ready for school?

“Even so, I’d like him to take the entrance exam just like the other students. Education should be fair for everyone. And please, make sure to treat Sain like any other student during his studies.”

“Your words are truly enlightening, Milady. I will ensure everything is conducted with fairness and without excess.”

“Thank you. I appreciate that,” Penelope said with a warm smile.

Following their discussion, Sain’s enrollment was set for the autumn semester, after the summer break.

“Sain, you’ll be starting school soon, so you need to study hard.”

“I will!” Sain replied with determination.

At that point, sensing that the topic of Sain was concluded, Rub turned to the headmaster and asked, “Does the school offer magic courses?”

“Ah, we’re in the process of establishing magic classes. Finding qualified instructors has been more challenging than expected, so we’re starting by hiring teachers from the Tower,” the headmaster replied.

Rub and Katherin’s eyes sparkled at this news.

Surely, they’re not thinking of applying as instructors... right? Penelope thought, beads of sweat forming on her brow. She didn’t dare ask them directly.

Afterward, Penelope toured the school. She inspected the classrooms, dormitories, and the construction sites for the new library and cafeteria. Cliff, the student council president, served as her guide.

“This is the training hall. Swordsmanship classes are held here.”

Inside the hall, students were practicing with wooden swords. They seemed to be putting in extra effort to impress Penelope, but their enthusiasm was undeniable.

Sain’s eyes sparkled with interest.

Cliff’s gaze momentarily shifted to Sain before returning to Penelope.

I can see exactly what he’s thinking, she mused.

It was clear that Cliff didn’t take kindly to Sain. His occasional glances carried a hint of displeasure.

‘Does he resent the fact that Sain has me as a patron?’ Penelope wondered. Perhaps he found it irritating that Sain had a powerful backer.

She chuckled inwardly, careful not to let her amusement show. She didn’t want to meddle unnecessarily in the dynamics between children. After all, there was a chance that Cliff and Sain could become good friends.

‘I hope they get along.’