The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success - Chapter 160

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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 160
“Leave it be.”
Kiaros spoke in a low voice.
“I was planning to send her that way anyway.”
The original plan had been to lure Aran and send her toward Namia.
But the moment Aran arrived in the underground, she didn’t spare a glance at Biberus and immediately rushed toward the Experimental Subject Prison.
“Well, that works out.”
Kiaros brushed his hair back as he spoke.
He didn’t know why Aran was rushing in that direction, but there was no reason to stop her.
Because…
‘Namia needs a private conversation with Aran.’
Aran’s arrest and interrogation were merely a matter of time. Once the Red Knight Order captured her and questioned her, everything would come to light.
But Aran was Namia’s biological mother.
I thought she deserved the opportunity to hear the truth directly from her mother’s lips. Perhaps that’s why Namia’s expression when looking at her at the end had been so desperate.
‘The Empress is there, and the Raven Servant I stationed is capable, so it should be fine.’
Kiaros glanced at the confident Jayden, then at Kibon in his dog form, whose wary eyes were barking repeatedly—”Woof! Woof!”—before turning his gaze away.
All the Researchers had been subdued, and Biberus was completely restrained.
He had prepared contingencies in case Jayden’s abilities proved insufficient, but fortunately they weren’t needed.
“We’ll wrap things up here.”
Kiaros began issuing cleanup orders with practiced efficiency. Since the Empress was stationed here, he planned to finish his work thoroughly and then head to check on Namia.
* * *
The Empress, who had been examining the Prison where my father was held, suddenly stopped.
“Huh? Namia?”
She furrowed her brow and drew her sword.
“Someone’s coming.”
“What?”
I widened my eyes in surprise.
The Raven Servant beside us immediately turned upon hearing the Empress’s words.
“It’s true. Someone is approaching.”
But I don’t hear anything…
I was bewildered, but it seemed that those skilled in combat could detect approaching presences far more quickly than I could.
“Is it the way we came?”
“Yes. It appears to be that very passage.”
“Two adult men. Both carrying considerable weight. They must be Knights.”
“That’s strange. This Secret Passage was created by us using information provided by Cedric Loapi, so even the Red Knight Order shouldn’t know of it.”
The Empress and the Raven Servant, tense and alert, carefully moved toward the entrance of the Secret Passage through which we had entered.
I felt I would only be in the way if I stayed there, so I quietly began backing away in the opposite direction.
“Namia.”
The Empress spoke in a low voice.
“We’ll check the passage. If anything happens, just escape with a Teleport Scroll. Understood?”
“Yes. But I can help using a scroll as well.”
“Ahahaha! How cheeky of you!”
The Empress laughed mockingly at my cautious suggestion.
“Children without field experience only become a hindrance once they gain a little power!”
She was right about that.
I was the strongest, but in combat situations, my lack of experience meant my judgment faltered in critical moments.
‘Knowing one’s limitations is a virtue in itself.’
So I immediately accepted the Empress’s opinion and decided not to overstep.
As the Empress and the Raven Servant carefully placed their feet toward the corridor we’d come from, I instead peeked my head cautiously in the opposite direction.
After all, my body alone could use a teleportation scroll, so I thought I might as well check the situation on the other side. It was the instinct of a civil servant—investigate first, then act.
‘If it were me, I’d use a diversionary tactic. I absolutely need to check both corridors.’
But then….
‘Huh?’
There was a woman rushing fiercely down this way, passing through the prison cells without hesitation.
Black hair, blue eyes, features almost too beautiful.
I knew this woman. She was my mother.
[If possible, I’ll send Aran Sertiz in that direction.]
I see. As promised, Kiaros must have sent my mother.
I took a deep breath.
I could disappear using a teleportation scroll whenever I wanted.
I even had attack scrolls and defense scrolls.
Though I really didn’t want to imagine it, even if I ended up in close combat with my mother, I could protect myself.
“Wait a moment.”
I stepped out into the corridor outside the prison.
And I blocked my mother’s path as she rushed toward me.
“Wait, stop.”
My mother, already breathless from running, stopped with heavy gasps.
Our eyes met. I swallowed hard.
‘This person….’
She gave birth to me, and conducted experiments on me….
In a sense, she was the only person who knew the truth about me.
How much of my magical abilities were created through experimentation, and why did I suddenly gain the ability to see the future….
I walked slowly and stood before her.
And my mother….
“Who are you?”
She didn’t recognize me.
It wasn’t some unrealistic, touching reunion where blood would call to blood and she’d recognize me at first sight.
‘Well, we’re essentially strangers anyway.’
If I hadn’t stolen a glimpse of her before, I naturally wouldn’t have recognized my mother either.
My mother stared at me intently, her face full of wariness as she asked.
“Why are you coming out of Sedric’s Prison?”
Ah. Mother was heading to Father’s prison?
I quickly grasped the situation and answered.
“Cedric Loapi is safe. He escaped successfully last time.”
“What? Why are you saying something different? And how should I believe that? Do you know who you are?”
“I am Namia Loapi.”
“What? Who?”
I stared at Mother and spoke each word deliberately and clearly.
“Your daughter.”
I thought Mother might be shocked beyond measure.
But after a brief silence, she furrowed her brow and tilted her head in confusion.
“You’re not as pretty as me? You have a rather dull, gullible expression. I suppose Cedric’s blood mixed in.”
It was a response beyond imagination. So I simply gazed at her and answered.
“Ever since childhood, I’ve been chased by debts left behind by my biological mother, worrying every night about a harsh life, which is why my features turned out this way.”
“Hmm, your father made such a fuss about me being the most beautiful in the world that my expectations were too high.”
“Left alone, Father must have cherished his poor daughter twice as much, taking on both his own love and the share that should have come from the mother who abandoned us, which is why he spoke that way.”
“Ah, that’s not my fault.”
Mother answered innocently.
“Biberus deceived me. Back then, I didn’t know the debt had gone to you.”
“My goodness. Over forty years old, and yet living in a world where ‘I didn’t know’ solves everything…”
I hated Mother greatly. Yet at the same time, I harbored certain hopes.
I desperately wished that everything I knew wasn’t true—that a warm, loving mother would suddenly appear before me like a beautiful lie.
‘…I never imagined a meeting like this.’
In all my imaginings, my mother would always hold me and cry, saying, “I’m sorry, there was a misunderstanding.”
But the mother I met for the first time was far too composed and unnaturally oblivious.
“But why are you here?”
Mother asked, crossing her arms.
I took a moment to breathe deeply. It was obvious that getting emotional with someone like this—asking “Why did you abandon me?”—would lead nowhere.
‘Think clearly, Namia. You don’t expect anything from this person anyway. Even if she’s worse than you imagined, there’s nothing to be disappointed about.’
I had to push my emotions aside for now.
At the very least, I needed to get a definitive answer to my conclusions so far.
Yet despite myself, sharp words spilled out.
“Why does it matter that I’m here? You… you don’t care what happens to your daughter anyway.”
The word “mother” couldn’t escape my lips.
“I do care. You’re my daughter, so I hoped you’d live well.”
But suddenly, a sensible answer came. I was so dumbfounded that I was left speechless.
Mother stared at me and spoke.
“That’s why I was going to return the Crown Princess position to you.”
“…What?”
“But why did you come here of all places?”
What are you giving back to me? What in the world are you talking about?

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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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