On Official Duty with My Tower Master Ex-Boyfriend - Chapter 56
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Episode 56
I had Cade write an additional request to deploy recovery personnel while avoiding the Coast Guard and technicians.
Though reluctant, Cade did as I asked, and thanks to that, even the Coast Guard commander offered to help.
The first thing to do was divide up the work.
“Tower Master, could the wizards move the trees?”
“If the logs are too heavy, we might not be able to lift them into the air, and not everyone can perform Teleportation while carrying something like that.”
Since each wizard had different stats and specialties, it seemed I couldn’t assign them the same tasks.
That meant I’d need to give the magical beasts different jobs too, and while I wasn’t sure how long my concentration would hold, there was no choice but to try.
“Then let me divide the wizards like this.”
I told Cade what jobs the wizards needed to do and asked him to assign them based on their abilities.
Next, I needed to call over the magical beasts.
“Tris, would you mind turning back into your bigger form?”
Chirp!
While the guard explained the plan to Melgote’s technicians, Tris and I searched for the magical beasts.
Sitting atop the large, soft creature’s back, the cold wind of Melgote felt sharper, though more refreshing than bothersome.
With Tris’s delighted emotions layering over mine, a smile leaked through despite myself.
‘This feels good.’
Whether the warm, fuzzy emotion was transmitted only to me or not, the magical beasts I’d been seeking joined in with the same excited mood.
A procession of magical beasts trailing behind Tris and me drew everyone’s attention.
People who had initially startled and tried to flee couldn’t help but laugh at the creatures’ bouncy, spirited gait.
At least no one foolishly tried to follow when they saw Tris’s massive frame.
What mattered was what came next, now that we’d arrived at the Coniferous Forest.
I brought the rodent-type monsters to stand beside the wizards who were already there.
“You’ve heard the explanation from the Tower Master, right? Once you strip the bark from the felled trees, these small beasts will separate it, and then the larger ones will carry it to the Harbor.
“Will the magical beasts cooperate the way we need them to?”
The wizard asked with worry in his voice. He had a point.
The larger beasts I’d ride on Tris’s back would move with me, so that should be fine, but the rodent-types were different.
The Attunement Ability was very different from giving commands—I never knew when even beasts that had willingly agreed to help might lose interest and wander off.
I couldn’t force a beast to stay if it wanted to leave, so I had to make bark removal into something enjoyable.
“I heard that nuts can be inserted inside the bark.”
When I handed over a pouch of nuts, the wizards nodded with understanding.
Then they used magic to embed the nuts sparsely among the trees, like throwing darts.
With that, the small beasts should find peeling the bark quite entertaining.
Once the work was divided, progress moved faster than expected.
The wizards felled the trees, the rodent-types stripped the bark, and Tris and the larger beasts carried it all to the Harbor.
Meanwhile, the bird-type monsters cleared away the debris from the dock that had been shattered and weathered by the waves.
Small barnacles and seaweed clung to the splintered wood, and they seemed so absorbed in eating them they had no intention of leaving.
“Don’t peck at the good parts!”
I actually had to scold the overly enthusiastic beasts.
“Flatten them to about this size and stack several layers nice and tight.”
“Hm? Nice and tight?”
The wizards quickly dried the timber with heat and reshaped it as needed, while Melgote’s technicians and the guard crew rebuilt the dock.
Then, with a thunderous crash of water, fierce waves came rolling in.
The dock, which had only just begun to take shape, was about to be ruined again.
The worker panicked and tried to flee, but instead of backing away, I looked up into the air.
“Tower Master! The waves—”
“I said I’d handle it.”
The moment our eyes met, Cade swung his hand toward the wave. An invisible barrier of wind held it back.
As people cheered and returned to their work, Cade turned with a startled expression.
Though I’d given him some notice, I hadn’t expected him to block the surge so perfectly.
Thanks to that, the bird-types didn’t flee with the wave and continued their task smoothly.
Watching people and beasts move in perfect harmony, listening to the steady rhythm of work, I felt strangely pleased.
‘The range of my Attunement Ability seems to have grown much longer.’
Contrary to my worries, maintaining attunement with multiple types of beasts simultaneously lasted quite a while.
Whether it was because the focused beasts boosted my concentration, or my ability itself had changed, I wasn’t sure.
While directing the beasts, I offered the wizards my thanks.
“I never expected you’d come all this way to help. I’m truly grateful to all of you.”
“Think nothing of it. Didn’t the Tower Master say to ask if you needed anything?”
“We’ve all benefited greatly from you, Inspector. The Tower Master’s generosity is entirely due to you.”
“We were just thinking—is the Magic Tower really such a peaceful place?”
I still didn’t understand why they kept crediting me with it, but today I just nodded along.
By the time we’d finished repairing the dock and clearing the debris, the sun had set.
To finish in a single day—once wizards and magical beasts were deployed, the speed was truly remarkable.
With the dock widened again, it would be much easier to repair the buildings as well.
“Everyone worked hard today.”
With that, we exchanged light farewells and parted ways, promising to meet again soon to repair the buildings.
Cade brought me via Teleportation to my room in the Magic Tower.
He released my hand and watched me slowly move away, then finally spoke.
“This time too—you’re not saying you’re not grateful?”
“Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m still angry with you.”
I shot him a glare and thrust the words out, then added more calmly.
“But I am grateful. I mean it.”
“…Why would you go this far? Melgote’s dock repairs aren’t even your responsibility.”
“You asked me to help. I said I would.”
……
Cade looked unconvinced, squinting slightly before nodding slowly.
Then he suddenly pointed at the bed.
“Is that yours?”
“Hm? No, it’s not mine. Who brought it here?”
An unfamiliar box sat on the bed.
A palm-sized pink box with a red ribbon tied around it, and something glinted inside.
“If you don’t know what it is, don’t touch it. It looks like some kind of magical device—”
Boom!
Before Cade could finish, the box opened of its own accord, and pink smoke erupted everywhere.
“Ack! What is this!”
“Vivian!”
As I flailed my arms trying to disperse the smoke, Cade pulled me back firmly.
Through the haze, I felt the sound of something creaking and a breeze blowing.
It seemed Cade had opened the window with magic.
The pink smoke gradually faded, and a glittering sparkle effect displayed brilliantly before vanishing.
“…What was that just now?”
“Some childish magical trinket.”
As my vision cleared at the end of Cade’s answer, I suddenly realized he was holding me protectively against his chest.
Startled, I tried to pull away, but the moment my feet moved, I was yanked right back into his arms.
…!
I stumbled and bumped my head against his shoulder.
…?
…?
Bewildered, I tried to move away again, but it was no use.
It wasn’t that Cade was holding me.
Somehow, the fabric where we’d made contact had become stuck to each other.
Shimmering pink powder fell between his chest and my shoulder, glued together now.
He must have been shocked too—I could feel his heart pounding hard against the shoulder touching his chest.
The sensation was far too vivid, and my own heart began racing in response.
“Quick—get us unstuck! Is this some kind of trap in the Magic Tower?”
“…It’s not that.”
Cade rubbed the pink powder between his fingertips, then blew gently to brush it away.
“Rana must be pulling pranks again.”
“Now that you know, do something about it—fast!”
“Vivian, calm down. If you thrash around like that, your clothes will tear.”
As I writhed, pulling at my clothes to get free, he wrapped his arms around my back and held me completely still.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————