On Official Duty with My Tower Master Ex-Boyfriend - Chapter 27

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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 27
‘I never expected this to be our first stop.’
Arriving at the Monster Sanctuary, I looked down at the small white Magical Beast cradled against my chest.
The creature that had once been roughly my size had shrunk small enough to fit entirely in one’s arms.
If I hadn’t formed an Empathic Bond with this Magical Beast before, I wouldn’t have recognized it as the same individual I’d rescued from the whaling ship.
It seemed to be a fairly powerful Magical Beast—something weak Magical Power alone couldn’t manage.
“For now, this place is your home. Even if it feels strange, you can’t run away.”
[Chirp.]
I couldn’t fathom how it had escaped from the Sanctuary, which was hardly a shoddy operation.
Given that it showed no fear and bore no fresh wounds, it didn’t seem anything had happened at the Sanctuary itself.
I tilted my head and stepped inside, whereupon the staff rushed out in surprise.
“Goodness, Inspector!”
“You little troublemaker! Where have you been?”
The staff accepted the creature, which had grown oddly subdued, and let out sighs of relief.
“Thank you so much. We were planning to release it soon since its recovery’s been excellent, but it suddenly disappeared.”
“We haven’t seen it since dawn. Where did you find it?”
“In front of the Inn, actually.”
“The Inn where you’re staying, Inspector?”
“Ah! It must have wanted to say thank you.”
The staff smiled warmly and stroked the creature.
“We see that sometimes. Some animals will track down the person who rescued them just to visit once.”
“I’ve heard of it, but this is my first time witnessing it.”
Even in the staff member’s arms, the Magical Beast kept its gaze fixed on me.
The creature’s emotions I felt streaming through our bond ran deeper than mere gratitude.
“Is it that you want to stay with me?”
[Chirp, chirp…….]
It appeared that was indeed the case.
While many Inspectors kept Magical Beasts with them, none had ever kept a Crystal Whale.
On the open sea, there’s no telling what might happen, so one couldn’t take a weak Magical Beast along. And I’d long felt it would be cruel to expose this creature to the sight of a Magical Beast bound in chains aboard a ship.
Besides, having been tethered aboard that whaling vessel, this one surely carried trauma from the sea and from ships themselves.
‘I can’t ask a Magical Beast like that to follow me—a Crystal Whale Inspector.’
And honestly, I lacked the means to care for a Magical Beast right now.
“I’m afraid that won’t be possible. I’ve come to Melgote for work, and if you stayed with me, you’d only be bored.”
Those pink-hued eyes glistened with such pathos it was difficult to turn away, but I couldn’t make an irresponsible choice, not for the creature’s sake.
“Then, may we take it to the Magic Tower?”
At the voice behind me, I turned to see a familiar face.
“Ben.”
“Of course, Wizard. This one heals quickly—the wounds have already closed—and it’s lively enough that we were planning to release it today anyway.”
The staff member explained the creature’s condition in detail with a cheerful expression.
I turned to Ben with a playful warning.
“You’re not going to use it in any dangerous experiments, are you?”
“Only monitoring its Magical Power responses. We also raise them as sentries. You’re welcome to visit anytime.”
The trustworthy answer drew a soft laugh from me.
Having passed through the Magic Tower several times and met Ben a few times now, he’d become strangely familiar to me.
Ben examined the fox Magical Beast thoroughly, then declared he’d take it away today.
“Then I’ll see you whenever I visit the Magic Tower. You hear that? So behave yourself. And don’t run away again.”
[Chirp!]
“Perfect! This one’s docile—it’ll be easy to care for. I need to fill out the Magical Beast entry log, so could you wait a moment?”
I waved to the Magical Beast as it receded in the staff member’s arms.
I wasn’t sure how long I’d remain in Melgote, but given that I’d be spending time at the Magic Tower, I’d soon forget about it.
“Inspector. Will you be coming to the Magic Tower again today?”
“No. I thought I’d rest a bit. And see the sights of Melgote.”
At my answer, Ben nodded.
“That’s fortunate. The Tower Master will be secluded until tomorrow as well.”
“Secluded? Is something wrong?”
“No. He said he’ll be shut away in the stacks until tomorrow and won’t come out. When he speaks that way, he truly doesn’t emerge no matter what happens in the outside world.”
“The stacks.”
I knew well the image of Cade wandering through the stacks.
‘He fooled me into thinking he was a librarian.’
After a formal parting with Ben, I left the Sanctuary and climbed into the carriage, lost in thought.
‘The stacks…….’
I abandoned my plan to visit the Central Plaza and redirected my destination instead.
The Library would be my next stop.
‘This is rest and sightseeing too, anyway.’
I walked slowly through the Library, drawing in deep breaths. There was a certain calm in the scent of aged books.
As I watched the neatly uniformed Librarians move about, one person inevitably came to mind.
Cade had worn such a uniform once.
‘Why did he pretend to be a librarian? Did he want to be close to books?’
The volumes I’d borrowed through him were always filled with Dried Flower Petals…….
Such romantic tales were all in the past now.
I turned my eyes from the Librarians and searched for books on Empathy.
‘I still don’t understand how I managed to draw away Aster’s Empathic energy.’
No—it hadn’t felt like taking at all.
It was more like redirecting the current of a stream.
Since I’d managed it almost by accident, I was even uncertain whether it truly was my own ability.
《Where Lies the Boundary Between Empathy and Sympathy》
《Empathy Psychology: A Perspective on Control》
《How Empathy Changes the World》
I pulled out book after book and searched earnestly, but nowhere could I find what I was seeking.
I swallowed my sigh and quietly gathered Empathic energy into my palm.
A small golden pool materialized, shimmering in my hand.
‘Hmm. Aster seemed to be encountering this for the first time as well. And it’s not written about in any of these books.’
Who in the world could I even ask?
While I was deliberating, my attention suddenly caught on something, and I turned my gaze toward it.
《Ancient Language Section》
That was written on a shelf placard.
‘The Ancient Language Section. Maybe I could find something there.’
Buoyed by hope, I combed through the Ancient Language shelves thoroughly.
But regrettably, the Ancient Language Section held few books.
Being old volumes, many were kept separately for preservation.
Since lost Dark Magic was composed in Ancient Language, many texts had been relegated to the Restricted Section.
I found myself drawn irresistibly to gaze at the staff-only entrance that likely led to the Restricted Section.
The temptation that I might find answers to my questions there made it difficult to tear my eyes away, but I managed to turn my gaze back.
‘Get a grip. I’m a Civil Servant.’
……A Civil Servant with far too many questions.
‘No, absolutely not! What if I’m caught sneaking into the Restricted Section?’
But maybe I wouldn’t be caught.
‘Even if I wasn’t caught, it’s fundamentally wrong to enter such a place without authorization in the first place.’
And yet……!
After an intense inner struggle, I hurried out of the Library only to discover that evening had already fallen.
My forearms ached from repeatedly lifting and setting down heavy books.
‘In the end, I found just one thing.’
I rubbed my sore shoulders and muttered to myself.
‘That controlling another Attumer’s energy of its own accord is so rare it can scarcely be called rare—it exists at a level of extreme scarcity.’
***
Arriving at the Inn, the innkeeper recognized Vivian Solling and quickly produced some mail.
“Miss. You went out not long ago, and a Letter came—I’m only delivering it now. It seemed to be a personal matter, so I didn’t send it to the Observatory.”
“That’s fortunate. I didn’t come in to work today. What is it?”
The Letter I received from the innkeeper bore the name “Ginstown Morgue” written upon it.
My steward had forwarded it from my residence here.
“Thank you. It is indeed personal.”
I reached my room in quick strides and opened the Letter without even removing my coat.
《The unidentified body you sought has arrived. Cremation is scheduled for 7 PM two days hence. Please visit within this timeframe.》
My eyes fixed on the words “two days hence.”
‘Two days from now? Wait. When was this sent?’
I checked the date written at the end of the Letter. It was from two days ago.
Which meant the body could be viewed until…….
‘Today!’
I glanced at the clock in panic. Six in the evening.
Even with a carriage leaving this instant, there was no way to reach Ginstown Morgue before the end of today.
My vision darkened.
Of all times, the Letter had to arrive while I was in Melgote.
‘I should have instructed the Morgue to forward mail to this address beforehand.’
With so much to attend to upon arriving, that detail had simply slipped my mind.
I rushed out of the Inn and boarded a carriage.
“To the Magic Tower, please. Quickly!”
Right now, the only people I could rely on were the Wizards.
The moment the carriage came to a halt at my urging, I bolted through the Magic Tower’s entrance.
The urgency combined with running left me gasping for breath.
Fortunately, I spotted Rana the moment I stepped into the lobby. Fortune had favored me.
I approached Rana, steadying my breath, my eyes wide.
“Inspector. Hello?”
“Hi, Rana. I need a favor.”
“What kind?”
“Could you take me somewhere? Using Teleportation?”
“Huh……?”
Rana’s bewilderment shifted to discomfort.
Understanding her hesitation, I drew a Money Purse from my pocket and held it up.
“Of course, I’ll pay.”
“Money’s fine, but not everyone can Teleport with another person.”
“What do you mean?”
Rana made a cutting gesture with her hand across her limbs as she explained.
“Unless you’re a Wizard of considerable skill, you don’t even attempt it. Your limbs could be severed during the transfer.”

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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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