The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success - Chapter 118

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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 118
At Biberus’s words, Aran slowly opened her mouth.
“If I volunteer, would I be selected?”
“Well, in experiments where most die anyway, you’ve survived twice in a row, Aran.”
Among the executives who underwent experiments using Dragon-kin blood, Aran was the only survivor.
There had been an executive who succeeded in the experiment for the first time and discovered Kiaros’s dark period. But that executive also died a week after revealing the future.
“It seems you wish I had volunteered.”
Aran spoke without expression.
“There are cases of success, but most die regardless.”
“Aran.”
“I didn’t know back then, twenty-three years ago, that test subjects were always in short supply.”
“Aran, Aran. That’s ancient history.”
Biberus chuckled softly, as if soothing her.
Biberus himself was the one who had exploited the twenty-year-old Aran, whose eyes were only fixed on the desire to become better at magic.
He demanded not only the Tower Master’s blood but also a substantial sum of money. He concealed the reality that test subjects were scarce and instead deceived her into believing that money was necessary to undergo the experiment.
[I only have this much money… I stole it from Father.]
[You need more. Hmm, should we lend it to you? The interest is a bit high, but you’ll be able to repay it.]
[I don’t want to repay it… Then give me just one year.]
[One year from now? Why?]
[I met someone by chance on the way to the Southern Region, and there’s a man I like. He’s the second son of a noble family. After we marry, I can ask him to repay the debt, and then I’ll undergo the experiment. Once I become skilled at magic, I can return to the Magic Tower with him.]
[Ha ha, is that so? I see. Well, the second son of a noble family must have plenty of money.]
[My father probably has even more money than my husband. Father is very wealthy.]
Aran back then knew absolutely nothing.
The Tower Master had only taught Aran that ‘her husband is the one who serves her,’ so she simply thought that was what marriage meant.
[Father will probably scold me harshly now, but once I become skilled at magic and return, he’ll definitely be pleased!]
And so Aran married Cedric without a second thought.
When she discovered that Cedric had no money, her ignorant world finally shattered.
[I’ll undergo the experiment. Once I become skilled at magic and return to the Magic Tower, Father will find a way to resolve this!]
She had already come too far. She believed that returning to the Magic Tower required achievements to match.
She underwent the experiment while pregnant. But it had no effect whatsoever.
[It’s remarkable that you didn’t die at all… Would you ever consider joining the Gaejo Faction? We can realize your dreams here. We have plenty of other experiments prepared.]
[But the cost of the experiments…]
[What experiment costs for a colleague? Don’t worry about it. We’ll handle everything. In exchange…]
[In exchange?]
[Forget your family. We will dream of a much greater world.]
Aran had no choice but to nod. Her daughter would probably be raised well by Cedric.
In fact, Aran’s case was very common in the Gaejo Faction.
Those who fell into the Gaejo Faction’s grasp eventually rose to executive positions within the organization. They became addicted to their own bodies growing stronger after the experiments.
“Aran, in this new world, you will rise to incredible heights. How can you still not forget those old days? Now we are family to each other.”
Biberus smiled broadly as he spoke.
“Even when you lost the experimental creature you were managing before, I didn’t reproach you at all, did I? Even though that specimen fell into Kiaros’s hands.”
“It didn’t really cause any major problems. That one specimen alone wouldn’t have allowed them to trace us anyway.”
“Regardless.”
Biberus continued speaking in a soothing tone despite Aran’s sullen excuse.
“I abandoned my own son as well. Well, he was lacking in many ways, but… that’s how all ordinary humans are. Now I don’t even remember his name. Because I was born anew.”
“….”
“I think you should undergo this experiment, Aran. Your hesitation keeps wavering because you haven’t experienced the power yourself. Let’s try once more. Shall we?”
Aran gave no response. Biberus chuckled and added.
“Hand over the management of the creature specimens you’ve been handling to someone else. Let’s settle your mind before the experiment.”
“…I want to continue managing the creature specimens myself. I made a mistake once, but.”
“Is that so?”
“And I’d like to manage the human specimens as well.”
Most specimens were dead, so there weren’t many specimens left to manage.
Biberus stroked his chin and spoke.
“Not until that muscular specimen who speaks only righteous words comes into our hands. He was your husband, after all.”
“What…. I forgot about that mistake from my foolish days long ago.”
“Regardless.”
Despite undergoing multiple experiments, there was still only one person who hadn’t become a member of the Gaejo Faction. That was Cedric Loapi, who remained imprisoned.
He was growing increasingly stronger, yet he continued to refuse a position as an executive in the Gaejo Faction.
“I know you visit that specimen often. I’m sparing him from death because it would be wasteful, but I’m hesitant because he might have a bad influence on you.”
“If I truly cared about that man, would I have stayed silent when he came here to repay my debt? That man doesn’t even know I’m Aran.”
“Hmm.”
“I’m simply going there to persuade him to become an executive like me, since he’s such an excellent specimen.”
“Then go persuade him.”
Biberus shrugged his shoulders.
“Think it over after you’ve persuaded him, shall we?”
“….”
“Soon the age of the Dragon-kin will pass and our era will come. You know that, right?”
Then, after tapping Aran’s shoulder lightly, he left the Conference Room first.
* * *
Tomorrow was finally the day I would confront the High Priest. My heart raced with anticipation.
I examined my room carefully, thinking.
‘I should tell Kibon to hide here tomorrow.’
With so many secrets, there were too many things to consider.
‘The High Priest will definitely attack Kiaros. Kiaros doesn’t know the High Priest is an experimental specimen and won’t be particularly on guard.’
I wanted to station knights in this room, but then I would have to tell Kiaros, ‘You’re in your Dark Period. I don’t trust you.’
While I was thinking such thoughts, Kibon entered.
“You called for me.”
“Ah, yes. Come sit here.”
I had Kibon sit at the table first. It was where Kiaros and the High Priest would sit tomorrow.
If I stretched the tablecloth long enough, I thought Kibon could hide underneath it reasonably well.
“Hey, Kibon.”
“Yes.”
“You’re pretty capable physically, right? The Empress acknowledged it herself. How strong are you?”
“Strong enough that you needn’t worry at all, Minister of Education, whenever you ask me to do something that requires physical capability.”
Good heavens… such adorable bluffing…
I stifled a laugh internally and asked.
“If an incredibly powerful monster-like human came charging at me like the wind, could you hold them off for a moment?”
“Even if an incredibly powerful monster charged at me like lightning, I could hold them off for a long time.”
He was truly confident. But lacking credibility, I made one final confirmation.
“This isn’t just your own delusion, right? There’s someone else who agrees with that assessment?”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
“…The Crown Prince…”
His brief hesitation gave me some pause, but I decided to trust him anyway.
“Right, well… Kibon, you’re not the type to lie to me and make things up, so I’ll believe you.”
In any case, I decided to settle on Kibon for now.
When the High Priest lunged at Kiaros, I planned to scream while Kibon—hidden away—held them off for a moment. Then the knights outside would immediately subdue them.
In the original story, the High Priest didn’t perform notably during the war. When combat erupted, they hid their body entirely.
In other words, they weren’t invincible under heaven.
‘They must be planning to kill both Kiaros and me in one fell swoop, but if Kibon suddenly appears to engage them, I can buy time.’
Kibon gazed at me quietly and spoke.
“But why are you suddenly asking that?”

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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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