The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success - Chapter 77

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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 77
Victor stood beside Anastasia’s desk, sipping coffee.
Anastasia was tidying up a book titled “If That’s How a Subordinate Looks at Their Boss, Then I Don’t Need One” while brushing away coffee grounds.
The coffee still looked hot, suggesting he hadn’t arrived long ago.
“It’s been ages, Namia.”
He grinned and extended his hand with a flourish.
“Yes, it really has been a while.”
I took his offered hand and replied.
“I thought you’d arrive tomorrow at the earliest.”
“Well, I rushed over to see you.”
Victor answered with a playful raise of his eyebrows.
“Ah, of course I’m not starting work today—I just came to say hello.”
“You came on a non-work day just for that? Don’t tell me you’ve fallen ill?”
“Namia becoming Minister of Education? I couldn’t bear the suspense. If this is an illness, it’s already critical.”
He shook my hand cheerfully, his grip warm.
“Honestly, who would’ve thought such turbulent winds would blow through the upper ranks while I was gone? You must’ve had a rough time. But wait….”
Victor was continuing our conversation with obvious delight when he suddenly stiffened, his gaze shifting past me.
Kibon was staring intently at our clasped hands.
Victor awkwardly released my hand, reading the room, and asked.
“…Who’s this guy? Namia, do ministers these days travel with bodyguards? Did someone order him to sever the part of your hand that touched mine?”
“He certainly has the look of someone who’d do it, but that’s not the case.”
I glanced back at Kibon and explained.
“He’s a New Intern, but he’s my secretary now.”
“A New Intern? We got an intern in our department?”
Victor looked surprised as he appraised Kibon, then chuckled.
“Nice to meet you, intern. Seeing our young minister use you as a secretary, you must be younger than Namia, right? I’ll speak casually with you. That’s more comfortable for you, isn’t it?”
“It’s not.”
The atmosphere instantly froze. I jabbed Kibon in the ribs and spoke up.
“Kibon, everyone in this department speaks casually to you—why are you like this?”
“I didn’t say it wasn’t allowed.”
I finally sighed and turned to Victor with an explanation.
“I’m sorry, senior. Kibon is a foreigner, so his Imperial language is a bit rough. He doesn’t read situations well, and his culture is quite different….”
“Ah, I see? So he’s a lacking friend who requires considerable attention from us. And I happen to be quite good at giving attention to those kinds of people.”
“That said, he’s not lacking in other ways…. Despite appearances, he completes every task assigned to him, and, well, that’s about it.”
Victor rolled his eyes and nodded slowly.
“I see. So he’s a madman worth using.”
Sensing Kibon was about to respond again, I quickly silenced him.
If he stayed quiet, at least there wouldn’t be problems. Even in the Empress’s Chamber, he managed to keep silent—that was something.
He was simply watching me in quiet contemplation….
‘Honestly, what intern stares at their boss like that?’
I sighed inwardly and let my thoughts drift.
During all that time, I’d been so consumed with work that I hadn’t noticed, but now that I’d ventured into new spaces alongside him, it became crystal clear.
When the Empress said he was hiding something from me—could it possibly be romantic affection? At the very least, the Empress’s intuition was never something to dismiss.
In that moment, my imagination took flight.
[Get a hold of yourself, Kibon. You’re a New Intern, and I’m the Minister of Education.]
[Is there any law saying a New Intern can’t have feelings for the Minister?]
[Of course not. Who could possibly legislate the human heart?]
In my fantasy, Kibon remained expressionless throughout, yet his gaze never wavered from me.
Ever since I’d met him, it had always been that way.
It was while I was lost in such imaginings.
“In any case, Namia.”
Victor winked and flashed a disarming smile.
“Starting tomorrow, I’ll address you formally as Minister of Education when I’m at work, but for today, let’s spend time together as close senior and junior colleagues. I’d like to hear what’s happened with you all this time.”
His sky-blue eyes crinkled with playful mischief.
Unlike Kibon, whose sharp features carried an edge, Victor’s rounded countenance radiated an almost disarming harmlessness.
“I didn’t even ask Anastasia about you because I wanted to hear it directly from you. I’ve been waiting for you all along.”
“Ah… well, to explain how it all began…”
I was just beginning to speak when—
The area outside the Scroll Department Office suddenly erupted into noise.
“Hey, Victor! You’re back in the country?”
“Victoooor! You bastard, you should’ve said something!”
“Aren’t you going to come pay your respects to your senior? Huh?”
A throng of civil servants came pouring through the door.
They immediately surrounded Victor.
“Come on, everyone, don’t make such a fuss. I just slipped in quietly to make a good impression on the Minister of Education, you know?”
Victor chuckled and waved his hand dismissively.
Of course, the civil servants around his age paid him no mind whatsoever.
“This guy’s changed! He went abroad and now he’s ignoring all his friends.”
“Shouldn’t you have gathered us first? I’m feeling hurt here.”
I rolled my eyes and held my tongue.
Right.
This kind of scene… I’d grown familiar with it since my Academy days.
* * *
Victor was popular with everyone.
He had excellent grades, excelled at sports, possessed an outgoing personality, and had an appealing appearance. It was only natural that he’d become Student Council President with an unprecedented vote share.
“Hmm, Namia Loapi?”
Among countless students, he’d noticed me—four years his junior—for an official reason.
“Your parents have never attended a single parent-teacher conference. Is there perhaps some issue?”
As befitted a Student Council President, he maintained a list of students with certain problems.
I was summoned to the Student Council President’s Office because my parents had never shown up for conferences.
“Huan Loapi visits every year, doesn’t he? Is there perhaps something the Academy could help with?”
Victor asked with eyes brimming with goodwill.
I shook my head firmly.
“There isn’t.”
“Hmm.”
At that, Victor’s expression grew serious.
“Right. If someone suddenly called me in and started asking personal questions like that, I wouldn’t want to talk either. Would you?”
“No, I wouldn’t.”
“I knew you’d answer that way.”
He chuckled as he spoke.
“I see you topped the entrance exam?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm. Something seems off, definitely.”
Victor smiled gently.
I forced myself to look away from those pale sky-blue eyes that seemed to hold the heavens within them.
“This won’t do. Namia, let’s become closer friends.”
“Okay.”
“…Aren’t you going to ask why?”
“Because we won’t become close friends anyway.”
“Ehehe… you’re quite an interesting junior, aren’t you?”
Victor laughed with delight.
Then he met my gaze and smiled brightly.
“I’ve made a decision just now.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll become close with you and wait until you tell me yourself what problem you’re facing.”
“Yes.”
“And if I can solve it, I will. After all, I’m the Student Council President responsible for the welfare of all Academy students.”
Without waiting for my response, Victor stood up.
He put on his jacket as he spoke.
“Let’s go have lunch.”
“Pardon?”
“Let’s eat lunch together. We need to become closer friends, don’t we?”
“Well…”
“I might not be able to solve your problem. But… I can listen, can’t I? And in doing so, your heart might feel a bit lighter.”
“…”
“Until then, let’s become close friends. So let’s go to the Dining Hall together today. And next time too.”
I reluctantly stood up. I couldn’t refuse when my senior was asking to eat together. Yet as I watched his retreating figure, I thought to myself.
‘Ah, this person… is truly kind.’
As we walked down the Corridor together, I’m not exaggerating when I say that everyone we passed greeted Victor.
“Hey, Victor! Want to shoot some hoops later?”
“Victor, senior? Could you take a look at this when you have a moment?”
“Oh, isn’t it Victor? You’ve been neglecting us lately, haven’t you?”
Victor walked down the Corridor, responding to everyone with warmth and cheer.
Watching him, I found myself thinking anew.
‘Ah, this person is… truly kind to everyone.’

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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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