The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success - Chapter 196

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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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Special Side Story Episode 9
The Training Institute Director’s face flushed with bewilderment.
The Crown Prince’s arrival alone was startling, but the sudden request he made was equally unexpected.
“…Pardon?”
“It’s a personal favor. There’s no precedent for it, and it’s rather peculiar, so you might find it absurd….”
“Oh, no, not at all.”
The Training Institute Director immediately shook his head.
“Just moments ago, the Minister of Finance instructed me to provide each New Intern with a piece of hard candy during this evening’s meal. He said it was simply a reward for encouragement.”
“…Hard candy?”
“We keep plenty stocked as snacks for the staff. I was about to mention that the Minister of Finance was being thoughtful, but if the Crown Prince has also made a request, I should tell them that….”
Kiaros, who desperately wished to conceal his identity, smiled broadly at those words as though everything had worked out perfectly.
“Ah, then I can simply attribute it all to the Minister of Finance. Just tell them he was being especially considerate.”
“Ah… Yes….”
Though the Training Institute Director acknowledged Kiaros’s vague request, his expression remained thoroughly puzzled.
Indeed, it was bewildering to have the Crown Prince suddenly appear and demand a change to the evening menu. Kiaros added casually.
“It’s nothing significant—just a matter related to the Imoat Kingdom. Make the dessert cake.”
It wasn’t entirely a lie.
He had come this far because her counsel regarding the Imoat Kingdom had pleased him.
He had merely shared his troubles with her, and she had said she had received “the greatest birthday gift” from it. Reflecting on it now, if the greatest birthday gift she had received from him was truly just that, it would be a blow to Kiaros’s pride.
“Ah, yes. I understand.”
The Training Institute Director’s expression immediately shifted to one of comprehension.
He wondered if perhaps a distant relative of King of Imoat, Kiaros’s maternal family, had enrolled as a New Intern. The evening menu was already quite divisive in preference, so it seemed the student’s parents had voiced their opinion about the meal. And it just so happened this particular New Intern must prefer cake.
“Then I shall take my leave. I came only to say this much. Do not forget to keep my visit confidential.”
After that, Kiaros left the Training Institute Director’s Office without even being offered a cup of tea. And he vanished in an instant.
The Training Institute Director, unable to even properly see Kiaros off, hurried down to the Dining Hall. It was time to carry out the royal command.
* * *
With the Cleaning Lady’s assistance, Namia escaped from the Storage.
“Oh, you spilled ink in the Lecture Hall? We can clean that up, but why didn’t you eat lunch?”
“It’s fine.”
“I have some fruit I brought to share with my colleagues—would you like some?”
The Cleaning Lady pulled a peach from her pocket. Namia accepted it without hesitation.
The Cleaning Lady pushed her out, insisting she go and that she would clean up the ink herself.
In the end, Namia had no choice but to return to the Lecture Hall, biting into the peach.
“Oh, and there was an intruder at the Training Institute. Would you report it to the appropriate person? They seemed to be an outsider, and I didn’t think they had authorization.”
“Is that so? Understood. I’ll report it right away.”
After reporting to the Cleaning Lady, the Lecture Hall she returned to remained empty. The other departments had all returned, and laughter could be heard echoing from various places.
In the Lecture Hall where the Finance Ministry staff had gathered, which she passed by, Huan was also surrounded by people, chattering away.
‘What….’
Namia took another bite of the peach and thought.
‘I wasn’t alone either, after all.’
Even eating as slowly as possible, Victor never arrived. With nothing else to do, I flipped through the textbooks alone. By the time the schedule wound down, Victor finally showed up.
“Ah, Namia!”
Victor flashed a warm smile as he spoke.
“Sorry about that. Did you eat lunch well? I ran into so many people I know here and there, and Father came by too… But we’ve already finished today’s material, you know. If you join our department like this, you’ll be an ace right away, an ace.”
“Ah, yes.”
“But why were you still here? I naturally assumed you’d gone back to the Dormitory to rest!”
I couldn’t bring myself to say that I’d been waiting for my senior.
It would have been better if he’d said earlier, ‘We’re done, so let’s each have some free time.’
As a junior, how could I leave my post when my senior hadn’t said when he’d return?
But I had no enthusiasm to explain all that. Instead, I tilted my head and asked.
“Then why did you come back, Senior?”
“Ah.”
Victor chuckled and picked up a pen from the desk.
“I left this behind. It’s incredibly precious, so of course I had to retrieve it.”
It was the very pen I’d given him. I was a bit surprised and said.
“Senior, the ink leaked when I was opening it a bit. Just throw it away.”
“Hm? It’s fine. I can fix it. I can just buy more ink.”
Victor chuckled and pulled out a handkerchief, wrapping the leaking pen carefully.
“Throw it away? Someone gave this to me. Don’t say such things—it hurts my feelings. This is my most treasured possession. I’ll keep it with me no matter what.”
“But you left it in the Lecture Hall earlier….”
“Left it? I just set it down for a moment. It’s not like the pen has legs and will wander off somewhere.”
Victor waved the pen wrapped in the handkerchief as if it were the most precious thing in the world.
The pen’s ink was already seeping into the handkerchief. At first glance, the handkerchief looked more expensive than the pen.
“Oh, and Namia.”
“…Yes?”
“Look forward to this evening. I asked Father for a favor. I asked specifically for you, but it looks like all the New Interns will benefit.”
“Yes?”
“You said it yourself. Today is a special day for you. I don’t know why, but I’m going to make it even more special.”
Victor winked. At the same moment, the Lecture Hall door burst open.
“Victor! Class is over, right? Let’s head back together now.”
It was a civil servant dispatched from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was also Victor’s close senior from the Academy.
“Yes, Senior! Namia, see you later!”
Victor grinned and patted my shoulder a couple of times before disappearing with the civil servant.
* * *
After all the seniors left, the New Interns gathered in the Assembly Hall.
The first person to approach me was Luca.
“I’ve decided on my dream. Within five years, I’ll definitely examine the Imperial Family. A Dragon-kin examination… That’s my real dream. It’ll be truly amazing.”
His eyes were already gleaming with fervor.
Then he grabbed me and started lecturing.
“You decide on your dream too. Wake up, I’m saying. You need to become my true rival. Why do you still have such a vacant look? Come on, tell me a goal you can achieve within five years. Let’s have a friendly competition.”
“There’s nothing like that….”
“Ah, you must have learned about practical work from meeting Victor! Set a short-term goal right now. That way you can give your all to each day!”
“Hmm….”
“At the very least, say you’ll become a Minister within five years!”
“Become a Minister within five years….”
“Hey!”
It was just as Luca let out an exasperated shout.
Agnes came running from far away.
“Ugh, I got held up by a classmate. They keep asking me to introduce the Melby Kingdom. What’s so interesting about our country anyway? There’s nothing to see, nothing delicious, and all we have are stuffy old traditions. I don’t get why everyone’s so curious about it.”
Agnes clicked her tongue in irritation and linked her arm through Namia’s. Then she grinned and whispered suggestively.
“Namia, how did your date with your senior go?”
“A date?”
“I actually overheard you in the corridor.”
“Overheard what?”
“Your senior telling you to look forward to this evening. He asked your father, the Minister of Finance, for something, didn’t he?”
Namia tilted her head and spoke without enthusiasm.
“Ah… maybe something like candy will come out? My senior said he could manage at least that much.”
“Either way, he said it’s all for you. It sounds incredibly romantic.”
But at that very moment.
“Attention! Has everyone gathered, New Interns?”
The Training Institute Director stood before the podium. His direct appearance was unscheduled.

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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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