My Husband Is Not the Magic Tower Master - Chapter 17

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 17

I’m no saint like Elline, so naturally I’d drawn up my own little revenge scheme.
Like everywhere else, each department in the Magic Tower operates within the budget they report annually. And regularly, they conduct audits where they have to account for unnecessary or unexpectedly exceeded expenses. Naturally, the head of each department has to attend these.
The quarterly audit happens to fall at the end of this month, so the team leader should start preparing themselves for the headache that’s coming their way.
Well, what can I do? They pushed me out here, so they’ll have to pay the price—sweetly.
I settled into a chair beneath the tent with a benevolent smile.
Now this is it. The sweet taste of leverage.
“Sometimes I think you have surprisingly unique qualities, Rosé.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment. Thank you.”
I gave him a thumbs up, and a soft laugh spilled from him.
The wind caught his hair, and Carlo’s curved Glasses caught the light, gleaming.
Suddenly I felt the urge to see what he looked like without those Glasses.
‘…I really am something else.’
If there was anything surprisingly unique about me, it was probably this—this new side of myself.
Why did my chest keep tickling like this?
I cleared my throat. Ahem.
“Why aren’t you sitting? We need to have that meeting.”
“I’ll contact the Rear Guard first.”
“How are you going to contact them when we haven’t done anything yet?”
Ah, he really does live up to the workaholic reputation.
My mood cooled immediately. Without anyone watching, the moment we arrived he didn’t give us a chance to catch our breath before jumping straight into work reports.
I jeered at Carlo, who was meticulously manifesting a Butterfly Form with Mana to prepare the work report.
We’d been tasked with research and survey work during the Demon Realm expedition, and simultaneously we were the Vanguard.
The Security Department’s research surveys typically consisted of reports on sturdy Barrier designs and various statistical data collection.
In other words, what we had to do here was….
“Laying down Security Magic around the tent and measuring the Resistance needed for Demon Realm access should come first. We can’t have anyone getting hurt from rookie mistakes like some people might make—”
That comes before contacting the Rear Guard.
Of course, there’s always that part of me that wants to slack off and laze around.
But whether or not that’s the case, I should organize what needs reporting and actually report it properly.
“Well, if we report early, all the better. You’re a priority target for the King—”
Carlo seems to have stronger ambition than he looks.
Fine. You work diligently.
I’ll rest a bit, then work.
I settled into the Hammock I’d added as an option and watched nothing but the clear blue sky while Carlo drew up the expedition report template.
The weather was quite nice.
If I ignored the fact that we’d been rushed here after Demon Beasts simultaneously breached multiple points in the Wards that protect the city from intrusions, it was the sort of day you could enjoy camping without a care.
‘I did pack a Soup Set in various flavors just in case.’
Doubting that Carlo would want to eat with me, I considered pulling it out but ended up putting it away again.
People really have no sense of romance. One of the advantages of being the forward team is usually that you’re given plenty of time to observe your surroundings without anyone watching you. But it seemed our workaholic colleague had no desire for that whatsoever.
Our workaholic colleague didn’t seem to have any interest in that at all.
“I’ve reported the current operational plan.”
Just as Carlo finished his communication, he approached and took a seat in a nearby folding chair.
Since I’d been lying in the Hammock expecting it to take longer, I startled and sat up at the sound of his footsteps.
“Already?”
“You can rest a while longer if you’d like.”
“No, if there’s work to do, we should do it together. Just share the operational order with me, and I’ll start the Security design right away.”
With that, I extended my hand to Carlo.
“Come on.”
He and I had deeply intertwined our Attributes during our last Demon Beast battle, so transmitting plans through Magical Power—whether in written form or message—was easy.
A bit of physical contact was necessary, though. So far it was just hand-holding, which was fine.
This one-night, two-day business trip was sudden and unexpected, but we turned out to be quite the good team.
When I hastily pulled Carlo into the briefing meeting and said our Magical Chemistry was good, that wasn’t just something I threw out carelessly.
With some people, the force feels like water and oil, repelling each other.
But oddly, Carlo and I clicked from the start.
It was to the point where it felt strangely familiar, as if we’d meshed before, long ago.
“Thank goodness we work well together again.”
“…Yes, we do.”
Seated in his chair, Carlo studied our interlaced fingers for a moment before turning his gaze away.
Shortly after, he avoided my eyes entirely.
He seemed to be growing quieter with each passing moment.
Perhaps after finishing the status report with such enthusiasm, the thought of actual work had lost its appeal. I didn’t ask further questions, wanting to concentrate on the Magical Fusion.
Carlo’s true feelings were none of my concern anyway.
I stood before him, gazing at our joined hands, and closed my eyes for a moment.
A soft whoosh.
The searing Mana of fire transmitted through me.
I read through his magical usage records, my eyes rapidly scanning the flowing text before me.
‘A report on Mana resistance testing and the origins of the primordial Demon Realm occurrence.’
The contents just submitted to the Magic Tower scrolled clearly into view.
The research proposal he’d transmitted in haste matched closely with the plan I’d outlined earlier.
The first day: Base Camp installation; the second day: Security Magic design around the camp and investigation of the Resistance needed for the Demon Realm.
Once the preliminary survey was complete, the follow-up would be entrusted to the Exploration Department.
‘In this respect too, we’re perfectly aligned.’
Still holding hands while his gaze remained elsewhere, I glanced up at Carlo.
He was indeed a capable colleague.
Within the Security Department, he was the person whose work direction aligned best with mine.
Perhaps that’s why my thoughts suddenly veered in an odd direction.
What if Carlo were to begin a workplace romance with someone other than me….
‘It would be difficult to even imagine.’
The thought that I would face considerable inconvenience in my duties also crossed my mind.
Though he had his difficult aspects, Carlo was a skilled mage I wouldn’t want anyone to take from me.
I disliked allowing emotions or complications to interfere with work.
Already worn down by overtime, I hated the thought of losing such valuable talent even more.
Whatever my feelings toward Carlo were, I hoped deeply that he would continue to stand beside me as an ally.
‘Whether it’s longing or truly camaraderie, I’m not sure.’
Caught in those tangled emotions, I could only release a hollow laugh.
How had I come to this….
“…Have you finished transmitting?”
Meanwhile, I felt Carlo apply gentle pressure to the hand he held.
As silence stretched between us facing each other, an awkward atmosphere settled in, and he—unusually—seemed to be urging me forward.
“If we stay like this much longer, the flow could twist in reverse.”
At those words, I felt a slight jolt of realization.
“Almost done. Just a moment.”
I hurriedly lowered my unfocused gaze and swiftly withdrew the Mana I’d been channeling into him.
Just as I was about to release the hand I’d been holding to Carlo’s.
A sharp tingle.
“Ah.”
A powerful Mana pulse burst accidentally from my fingertips.
In that moment of carelessness, I inadvertently absorbed Carlo’s Mana.
Between attributes, his Mana—flowing back toward me instead—dyed purple the instant it touched me, and brilliant light erupted forth.
“Oh, I’m sorry—”
“Rosé—”
And then, all at once, I found myself face to face with a long cascade of magical usage records spanning years.
Five minutes ago, Movement Halt Magic.
Five days ago, Rapid Attack Magic.
Five years ago, Fall Healing Magic.
“…What?”
When I came to my senses, my vision—which had been engulfed in deep violet—blurred as if from an optical illusion before snapping back into focus.
I found myself unable to speak, only blinking rapidly.
What had I just seen.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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