The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success - Chapter 40

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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 40
I blinked slowly.
This person was truly not an ordinary human being.
His pronunciation was flawless, but his words and their meaning were so disconnected that it was Kibon Altes-level incomprehensibility.
Kiaros interjected with a deep sigh.
“We cannot simply dismiss all the employees of the Scroll Management Department without cause.”
It was the first sensible remark I’d heard in this entire conversation.
“Their livelihoods depend on this work, and innocent victims could emerge from such a process.”
It was the Crown Prince, not the Tower Master, who was protecting our department.
“Even if the department were to be dissolved, we would not dismiss everyone at once. Rather, we would first dismiss only those with issues, then reassign the rest to other departments.”
Ah, what a relief.
My employment security was at least temporarily assured.
“Hmph, how foolish.”
The Tower Master let out a scornful laugh.
“Dark Organizations targeting the Imperial Family, you say? If I were them, I’d plant an exemplary civil servant into the bureaucracy—someone so perfect they’d never be fired no matter what happens.”
That was also a valid point. Even I would likely place an exceptionally competent spy into the Scroll Management Department, someone who would never be caught.
“I understand. However, we cannot yet classify who that might be, so we have no choice.”
“No choice? Cut them all and blow up the department!”
The Tower Master was now actively trying to dismantle our department.
I felt the sting of betrayal, and Kiaros responded with exasperation.
“Didn’t you come here to protect the Scroll Management Department?”
“Well, interfering with the Magic Tower is annoying, but….”
The Tower Master glanced at me with gleaming, predatory eyes.
“The Magic Tower values talent above all else.”
The Empress let out an incredulous laugh.
Then she swayed her body threateningly as she pressed the point.
“Isn’t this situation a result of the Magic Tower’s failure to manage its own department? Then the Tower Master must take responsibility!”
“I will take responsibility. We’ll dissolve that department. Fire everyone.”
It was going in circles.
“Hmm, but 166 scrolls created….”
The Tower Master stroked his chin thoughtfully, his eyes gleaming with avarice as he looked at me.
“Normally impossible with ordinary mana. How extraordinary is your mana? And your calculation speed?”
“Tower Master.”
“This won’t do. I’ll take you with me and conduct various experiments right away….”
“Tower Master!”
Kiaros issued a warning in a low voice.
“Why should innocent department members lose their livelihoods to atone for the Tower Master’s mistakes?”
“Then what? How? What’s your plan? Hmm? Hmm? Hmm?”
The Tower Master pestered us with irritating persistence.
The Emperor remained silent throughout.
Unable to bear it any longer, the Minister of Justice leaned in and whispered to the Emperor.
“Your Majesty, why do you say nothing…?”
“Hehehehe.”
The Emperor answered with a gentle smile.
“I’m watching to see how far our son is willing to go to protect something precious. If a parent makes their presence too obvious in such matters, it won’t do.”
While the Emperor maintained a satisfied expression without saying another word, the Tower Master, having finished his pestering, crossed his arms with triumphant pride.
Then he shrugged his shoulders and spoke.
“Ah, the Magic Tower also has a duty to protect mages. Namia Loapi is an extraordinary mage recognized by the Magic Tower, and….”
When did I become that?
“It is absolutely unacceptable for this child to waste away as an ordinary low-ranking civil servant!”
The Empress erupted in fury once more, breathing fire as she cried out.
“Unacceptable? What do you mean unacceptable! This child is an extraordinary civil servant that I have recognized!”
“A civil servant? Hmph. I’ll stake my reputation on it—there’s no one in that Scroll Management Department who can cast magic better than this child.”
That much was true. I nodded vigorously.
“The talent is beyond reason. If this child had come to the Magic Tower from childhood, I would have groomed her as my successor!”
At the Tower Master’s words, I rolled my eyes and carefully raised my hand to ask a question.
“Excuse me, are you saying that’s not possible at this point?”
Then the Empress cried out as if coughing blood.
“Why are you curious about that! Namia, are you really planning to leave me?”
And the Emperor muttered, “That’s not your line.”
Pretending not to hear, the Tower Master clicked his tongue.
“You’re already too old. You’ve absorbed too much of the secular world’s influence. Your innate magical power is tremendous, but in your later years, there will be a significant gap compared to those who have cultivated their magic power purely since childhood.”
Ah.
It seemed one had to look far ahead to old age if aiming to become the Tower Master’s successor.
“That’s why we don’t normally accept anyone over twenty. But since it’s you, Namia Loapi, we’re making an exception. That alone is an enormous exception.”
The Tower Master spoke with a shrug of his shoulders.
“The Magic Tower is an organization based on merit. I would rather die than see a talented person like you working under people who can’t even cast magic properly. It would be an affront to the Tower’s honor.”
“You seemed to have been watching quite well all this time, though.”
Kiaros, who always carried himself with grace, spoke with uncharacteristic sarcasm.
“Did you even know what kind of superiors Namia worked under and how she fared?”
At Kiaros’s sarcasm, the Tower Master scratched his ear and feigned ignorance.
“Well. In any case, she can’t stay under those superiors. I know that Minister fellow….”
“That Minister has already been dismissed by me. There were many problems.”
“There were many problems indeed. I understand he’s been quite active in that regard.”
“You knew? Then why didn’t you give the Imperial Family a hint sooner?”
“Well, it was bothersome… and I’ve been quite busy with my own daughter’s matters.”
From my perspective, the Tower Master had quite a few problems himself.
Realizing he was losing ground, the Tower Master suddenly bellowed again.
“It simply shows how lacking the Minister’s qualifications were! The Magic Tower is naturally strong in meritocracy, so we don’t associate with incompetent fools like that!”
The Tower Master threw a tantrum, sitting down and kicking his feet like a child.
“What good is having someone like Namia Loapi? She’s just a low-level employee—naturally, there’s no way to communicate with her….”
“In any case, I’d advise against taking Namia Loapi with you.”
Kiaros drew a firm line.
“First, because she herself does not wish it. This is the Imperial Family’s official position regarding Imperial civil servants.”
The Tower Master pressed his forehead with a groan.
The Imperial Family found friction with the Magic Tower burdensome, but the Magic Tower equally could not afford friction with the Imperial Family.
Now that Kiaros had invoked an official stance on my behalf, the Tower Master could no longer insist.
“Hmm, still, someone with that level of talent should continue coordinating with the Magic Tower….”
That was when it happened.
The Tower Master’s eyes gleamed with sudden brilliance.
“Yes, that’s right. Excellent.”
Of course, only he seemed pleased, while everyone else was seized with unease.
The Tower Master lifted my hand high and declared:
“Let’s make this one a Minister!”
Everyone’s faces went slack as if struck by lightning.
I was no exception.
‘A, a, a, a, a, a, Minister?’
A real Minister?
That position—the one you could only reach in your late forties even if you climbed as fast as possible? For me?
“The heads of that Scroll department are all gone, aren’t they!”
The Tower Master exclaimed with excitement.
“You’ll need a new Minister, won’t you? Then let’s go with this one. She’s skilled in magic, so we can maintain coordination with the Magic Tower, and we can preserve the Tower’s honor!”
“Tower Master.”
The Minister of Justice, who had been silent, stepped forward.
“Didn’t you just propose dissolving the Scroll Creation Department?”
“I’m withdrawing that statement.”
The Tower Master’s words carried remarkably little weight.
The Minister of Justice sighed deeply and shook his head in disbelief.
“Tower Master, do you understand what a Minister’s position is? It’s not a seat anyone can occupy just because they’re somewhat skilled in magic.”
I simply rolled my eyes silently.
Me, a Minister at merely twenty-three years old.
The Minister of Justice had every right to be exasperated.
“Then what should we do? Hmm?”
The Tower Master narrowed his eyes into triangles and pressed the issue.
The Minister of Justice responded as if teaching a problem child.
“First, advanced ancient languages are a prerequisite for access to ancient documents… Ah, never mind. It’s ridiculous that I’m even explaining this.”
The Minister of Justice folded his arms and turned his gaze toward me, then spoke with obvious irritation.
“Namia Loapi, why don’t you tell us what you think.”
All eyes suddenly converged on me.
So I lowered my head and slowly opened my mouth to express my thoughts.
“Barush Katen Kailthero Masku Atum. (I am well-versed in the ancient tongue.)”
A brief silence fell. I gauged the atmosphere before adding,
“Arten Loki Kabare. (Free conversation is also possible.)”

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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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