On Official Duty with My Tower Master Ex-Boyfriend - Chapter 22

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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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Chapter 22
The Magical Beast Ecological Investigation Bureau was divided into four departments: the Terrestrial Monster Department, the Aquatic Monster Department, the Winged Monster Department, and the Crystal Whale Department.
Since the Crystal Whale was the only magical beast in the sea, the Crystal Whale Department was sometimes called the Marine Monster Department.
Whether they were an Attuner or not, it was convention that newly hired Ecological Investigators were assigned to either the Terrestrial or Aquatic Monster Departments.
It wasn’t law, but approaching flying beasts was difficult in itself, and the Crystal Whale was simply too massive.
The larger a magical beast, the harder it was to form an Empathic Connection with it. Traveling back and forth across the vast ocean made it unsuitable for learning and gaining experience as a newcomer.
So initially, I was supposed to be assigned to the Terrestrial Monster Department.
But near the end of basic training, the Bureau Director realized I was the daughter of Samuel Solling—a renowned Crystal Whale scholar and passionate advocate for Crystal Whale protection—and reassigned me to the Crystal Whale Department.
It didn’t help that my ability proved superior to expectations during the verification process for becoming an Attuner.
Others might have seen it as windfall, but I wanted nothing more than to avoid the Crystal Whale.
“I’m grateful, but it feels like more than I deserve.”
“More than you deserve? How long have you been an Attuner? You don’t even know how capable you are yet. How many beasts are on this floor, anyway?”
The Bureau Director’s question was easy to answer, but I deliberately hesitated.
I thought if I took time to give a low number, he might think he’d misjudged my ability and transfer me to the Terrestrial Department after all.
But the Bureau Director spoke first.
“Look at this. The ones who can’t sense a few always answer right away. They count fast.”
I hadn’t thought of that.
And so, though it was unprecedented, I—a mere newcomer—was assigned to the Crystal Whale Department.
It goes without saying that I became known within the bureau as a case of nepotism.
That’s when I learned that an investigator’s transfer to Crystal Whale duties was considered a promotion.
I also learned that Aster, who was supposed to be promoted to the Crystal Whale Department from the Terrestrial Monster Department, had his transfer cancelled because of me.
The fact that this Aster was the most likable and popular person in the bureau was a tragedy for me.
‘The resentment never ends because of that. And now it’s reached Melgote too.’
Investigators from other departments criticized me just as harshly as my own colleagues whispered behind my back.
“Her? The nepotism hire who stole someone’s position?”
“Her Attunement Ability is good, and she does solid work.”
“That’s not something she did alone. She’s just riding on her father’s coattails.”
“True. Who else would be investigating terrestrial beasts if they couldn’t do the job?”
“Sigh. There’s nepotism in the Imperial Government itself, even.”
If I made even a small mistake, they said I was nepotism and clearly didn’t know how to do anything right; if I did well, they said I was just benefiting from my father’s position, their eyes glinting with resentment.
Hating the Crystal Whale and hating to hear about my father, enduring both at once was enormously stressful.
The Bureau Director clearly understood the atmosphere, yet he was so opposed to letting me transfer departments.
I even endured it for a whole year while requesting a department transfer interview.
‘He must have said it was because there were only two Attuners in the Crystal Whale Department.’
After much deliberation, the brilliant solution the Bureau Director offered was: “Bring me the Magic Tower Master’s Seal, and I’ll transfer you to whatever department you want.”
“So that’s why I ended up in Melgote.”
The senior who’d been listening silently to my story chuckled.
“It’s an interesting story, though. Whether you’re incompetent nepotism or not doesn’t matter to me.”
“That’s how it seemed.”
“It’s not a bad thing to get close to a junior with someone powerful backing her, even if she can’t do the job, right?”
“I didn’t realize you thought that way, but…”
It didn’t sound entirely wrong.
“Let’s head back now. If I keep you much longer, Yukel will have my head.”
Simona’s words didn’t sound like a joke, so I hurried along.
The senior, who’d been checking on my mood since yesterday, even winked playfully as we parted in the hallway.
Thanks to her, I entered the office with a suppressed laugh, and though it was still bleak, it felt somewhat better than before.
Yukel gave me a look as if asking why I was only now returning, and I managed a sheepish smile.
‘Aster still hasn’t arrived.’
His desk had been empty since morning.
It seemed he’d gone straight to the Magic Tower, but whatever he was doing there was taking a while.
‘So even two Attuners should be fine, shouldn’t it?’
Pointless dejection filled my day with nothing but sighs.
“Here, wait—no, never mind.”
A colleague next to me started to hand me some documents, then stood up and placed them on Aster’s desk instead.
I could see at a glance they were related to the Magic Tower, so I naturally reached for them before awkwardly pulling my hand back.
‘I was the one sent on Magic Tower business.’
In just two days, everything had become Aster’s work. At least, that’s how everyone in this office seemed to view it.
He’d calmed a rampaging magical beast in public and was then chosen by the Tower Master. Of course he was the Attuner everyone looked to now.
‘The Attuner Cade chose.’
Cade might already be viewing Aster as his proxy for Imperial Government matters instead of me.
Whether or not he saw him as dangerous.
‘So what am I doing here?’
It was at that moment I thought my desk was like an island, isolated from the rest of the office.
“Administrator!”
A staff member rushed urgently into the office.
“The Magic Tower has requested a research vessel from the observatory. An Abnormal Climate site has been discovered, and it seems the administrative team is needed as well.”
“What? What on earth is it?”
Yukel sighed and pointed out several staff members, and they hurriedly gathered their things.
“Ah! They also say they need another Attuner.”
At the staff member’s added words, they all froze and turned to look at me.
I shot up from my seat like a child who’d been waiting for good news.
“They need me?”
***
Aster couldn’t understand his current situation at the Dock.
The moment he’d arrived at the Magic Tower, he was told to verify the health status of all the beasts there.
When that ended, he was ordered to figure out why a single-horned rhinoceros—imported from who knows where, larger than two carriages combined—was angry.
‘An Attuner of my caliber would barely manage to lower its guard with that size.’
He thought that was the end of it, but then he was brought to the Dock.
‘What the hell is he trying to do this time?’
Aster looked around at the long row of shops lining the harbor; across the street stood cranes and large warehouses unloading heavy cargo.
Unlike his confusion, the Tower Master sitting on the railing, gazing out at the sea, looked perfectly at ease.
‘At least it doesn’t seem like we’re going out to hunt monsters.’
Aster remembered that the wizards had only recently finished subjugating monsters, but that alone wasn’t reassuring.
He grew anxious wondering if instead of setting civil servants on fire, the Tower Master was planning to drown one in the sea.
Recalling the rumors he’d heard about the Tower Master, such a concern wasn’t baseless.
He’d thought the Tower Master had finally become more docile after hearing that Vivian hadn’t hurt a single fingertip for days—that he’d finally finished his suppression campaign against the Imperial Government—but he couldn’t let his guard down.
The Tower Master he’d actually seen seemed to be concealing something behind his eccentric reputation, leaving a chilling impression.
‘Still, I could probably bring it up now. Even if his suppression campaign is over, his grudge against the Imperial Government will remain.’
Aster feigned indifference and sidled up to the Tower Master.
“The Magic Tower isn’t short on Crystals of Whale, is it?”
Cade gave him an indifferent glance and that was all.
There was no response, but Aster wasn’t discouraged. He pressed on with confident assurance.
“Even if you have no interest in crystals, that won’t matter. What I’m about to propose is something the Imperial Government despises and forbids, so it should pique your interest.”
Only then did Cade turn to look at him with a knowing smile.
“I’m always interested in such things. So that’s why you’ve been hovering around trying to catch my eye.”
“I knew you’d be interested. I’ll come introduce my proposal formally soon.”
Aster wanted to appeal to the Tower Master a bit more, but his aide approaching forced him to hold his tongue.
“They’ve arrived.”
Following the aide’s gesture, Aster turned to see Vivian and Yukel stepping down from a carriage marked with the Marine Observatory seal.
Aster asked the Tower Master with visible displeasure.
“Isn’t one Attuner sufficient?”
“Seems like we’ll need more.”
There was no arguing with that answer.
The tasks the Magic Tower had given Aster were the kind that two Attuners could reasonably divide between them.
Still, having to share work with Vivian specifically didn’t sit well with him.
Yesterday, he’d tried to broach the subject of marriage, but as expected, Vivian’s reaction had been terrible.
‘A fallen house still carries aristocratic pride, apparently.’
Vivian, approaching the dock, looked equally displeased about yesterday’s matter, her expression toward Aster distinctly unfavorable.
“You needed us, you said. What sort of Abnormal Climate is it?”
When Yukel stepped forward to ask, Cade climbed aboard the research vessel that had just docked, offering no answer.
With his aide Ben following, Aster asked in bewilderment as he watched them board.
“We’re going out to sea? Surely you’re not ordering me to commune with the Crystal Whale?”
“Why else would I bring Attuners to the dock?”
At Cade’s dry retort, Aster burst into bitter laughter and turned to Vivian.
“How incompetent must I have looked for them to put a terrestrial investigator on a boat?”
“Exactly. How little they must have trusted an eight-year veteran to call in a one-year novice?”
Vivian shot back without backing down, letting out a scoff.
Sparks flew between the two as they boarded the ship side by side, neither giving an inch.

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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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