On Official Duty with My Tower Master Ex-Boyfriend - Chapter 55

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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 55
I didn’t know what he was thinking, but it came far too suddenly.
Before I could gather my thoughts, a cold refusal tumbled from my lips.
“Never mind.”
Then he, wearing a suspicious smile, continued in an offhand tone.
“That so? You seemed curious about how the Harbor reconstruction was progressing.”
“……!”
I’d half-turned away, but I stopped and couldn’t help but stride back toward him.
“Go to the Harbor? Really? What about the people? Have you found out what the situation is?”
“Vivian. Calm down.”
Cade, unusually, held up his palms and took a step back.
I realized I’d gotten too excited and stopped in my tracks.
“Ahem, right. The Harbor’s alright, then?”
“Well. Didn’t look particularly good to me.”
As I suspected, the withdrawal of the Imperial Capital’s dispatched personnel had left things in poor shape.
In cases like this, even maintaining a suspended state proved difficult.
If left as is, the people would grow increasingly exhausted, and the docks would shatter again under the waves.
“I’ll go. Have it down as a formal request from you to me. Get the paperwork done quickly.”
“……Isn’t it enough if I suggested it?”
“You’ve only ever harassed civil servants—you genuinely know nothing about actual administrative work, do you?”
“…….”
It wasn’t sarcasm but a lament tinged with exasperation, though I couldn’t tell how Cade took it.
He looked at me as if he had plenty to say, but there was no time for lengthy explanations.
“In any case, I’m going, so prepare the documents. Write it up as deployment for recovery from damage caused by Monster Beast attacks. I’ll get ready and be off.”
The moment I decided to head to the Harbor, my heart grew urgent, and I hastily finished preparing to leave.
I grabbed my notebook to check the day’s damage assessment I’d noted in the carriage, but since Cade and I departed by Teleportation, I never had a chance to open it.
***
The Harbor was more dire than I’d feared.
The docks that had been sealed for repairs were left half-finished and abandoned, their condition worsening.
Each time the rough waves of the Northern Sea crashed in, fragments crumbled away.
“Let’s check on the temporary shelter for the people first.”
“All right.”
As I headed toward the temporary shelter, I noticed Cade and Tris trailing behind me.
“Why are you following? Go handle your own business.”
“Don’t worry. This is my business.”
“……?”
I’d assumed he’d brought me here incidentally while tending to other matters, but apparently that wasn’t it.
Walking with suspicion, I soon arrived at the temporary shelter, situated a little distance from the docks.
Fortunately, it appeared outwardly undamaged, but living here would be exhausting in itself.
Just then, a tall man emerged from inside the shelter and blocked my path.
“Who are you?”
I quickly identified his Coast Guard Uniform and extended my hand first.
“Vivian Solling from the Magical Beast Ecology Survey Bureau.”
“Ah, so you’re…….”
He seemed to know of me, and without further questions, clasped my hand in a handshake.
“A pleasure. I’m Dwailer, with the Coast Guard. And this is……?”
Dwailer started at the sight of Cade, clearly recognizing him.
The Melgote Coast Guard would have seen the Tower Master a few times, at least.
Fortunately, it appeared the Coast Guard had been looking after the safety of the Harbor and temporary shelter.
“Has all the personnel dispatched from the Imperial Capital truly returned?”
“They received orders to withdraw, so there was no choice. I’m sure they left with heavy hearts.”
If I’d been placed here and then suddenly had to leave, my own heart would have been heavy too.
I couldn’t blame people for following orders and departing.
“Dwailer. How are the people staying in the temporary shelter?”
“They’re going through a difficult time.”
I followed Dwailer’s guidance into the temporary shelter.
I’d worried whether we’d have to rely on tents in such bitterly cold weather, but fortunately, the Grand Duke of Melgote had generously offered one of his large warehouses, which now served as the temporary shelter.
In the commercial district, many people had kept shops on the first floor and lived on the second, so those in the temporary shelter had lost both home and livelihood at once.
“Thanks to Vivian’s quick request for supplies, everyone’s managing without freezing or going hungry.”
“Thank goodness.”
Though I’d endured some nagging, my request to the Imperial Government had been processed without delay. It seemed the Grand Duke had also provided additional support—clothing and food for the Disaster Victims.
When Dwailer spoke of difficult times, he meant not just physical hardship but emotional strain as well.
I spent the entire shelter inspection absorbed in thought, and only then casually asked.
“Is there no way to conduct repairs independently?”
Dwailer shook his head with a rueful expression.
“Among the Disaster Victims, there are skilled workers, and if the Coast Guard lends a hand, we could start repairs anytime. It would take time given the small numbers, though.”
“So it’s a materials shortage, then?”
“Exactly. With repairs suspended, the timber’s been left exposed, absorbing far too much seawater. We need new materials, but we can’t fell just any tree without Permission…….”
Since the work had already been halted, any permit request would likely be shelved indefinitely.
‘All that eagerness but unable to act—they must have already tried and been stopped.’
The thought occurred to me, and I posed a sudden question.
“Is it the commander’s opposition that’s preventing independent repairs?”
“How did you know? He warned us that if we repaired things recklessly and they collapsed later, injuring someone, we’d bear all the responsibility.”
“That’s a fair point.”
Not just that responsibility, but also the blame for failing to defend the Harbor from the Monster Beasts—he’d saddle them with it all at once.
I surveyed the Harbor’s long commercial street and docks carefully.
‘There has to be a decent way to do this…….’
Then my eyes met Cade’s directly.
‘Right, I came with Cade.’
His brows rose dismissively, as if he were displeased.
An adequate if not ideal method suddenly came to mind, and I approached him.
“Cade. Any interest in helping with the Harbor repairs?”
“Seems you’d completely forgotten I exist.”
“It’s a bit hectic and chaotic here.”
“…….”
His brow furrowed as if something displeased him.
“Wizards deal with Monster Beasts, the Empire handles Reconstruction. That’s always been how it works.”
It was the refusal I’d expected.
“I understand. I have things to do, so I’ll head back first.”
“……What? That’s it? Right now―.”
“Dwailer. I’ve had a thought.”
I ignored Cade’s voice from behind and turned back to Dwailer.
Other Coast Guard members who’d been on Patrol were just then joining us.
“It’s a bit far, but what if we sourced timber from an uninhabited island? I think we could get help from the Magical Beasts.”
“Could we do that without Permission?”
Dwailer’s eyes lit up, though he seemed troubled by what the commander had emphasized.
“I’m not moving without Authorization. The Tower Master deployed me for Recovery, and I have the paperwork to prove it. If we put down that I’ve requisitioned a few Coast Guard members as temporary workers, there shouldn’t be any liability issues later.”
“Really?”
“So what we’ll do is borrow a serviceable ship―.”
I gave Dwailer and the Coast Guard members a brief overview of my plan, their expressions brightening considerably.
I hated going out to sea, but if it meant restoring the Harbor, I figured I could grit my teeth and board the ship.
“Why go all the way to sea? There are usable trees nearby.”
Just then, Cade’s leisurely voice came from behind.
The Coast Guard members and I turned to look at him and started in surprise.
A crowd of Wizards had gathered behind Cade.
“W-Tower Master. What’s going on here?”
I stammered the question, and he lifted one corner of his mouth wryly.
“The Magic Tower owns a forest. You’re welcome to use timber from there.”
“The timber…… you’ll just give it?”
“Of course not. We’ll bill the Empire.”
Cade answered as though it were obvious, but there was no chance the Empire would actually pay the Magic Tower’s invoice.
He had to know that too.
‘So he’s saying he’ll give it to us.’
The unexpected turn left me speechless. Honestly, I didn’t believe it.
Whether Cade had been concealing such great goodwill all along or had some other intent, I couldn’t say—but for now, his offer was deeply tempting.

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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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