The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success - Chapter 8

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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 8
Luca returned to his seat with a sigh.
‘Really, Namia is just….’
Thinking of Namia, a sigh escaped unbidden. Simultaneously, recalling that characteristic apathetic expression of hers, irritation flared within me.
‘But why does she open her eyes so half-heartedly? It’s infuriating. Does she lack even that much enthusiasm?’
Namia Loapi.
She had entered as the top student and garnered everyone’s attention, but ever since, she had consistently remained in the lower ranks. So everyone casually dismissed it, thinking, ‘She must have gotten lucky on the entrance exam.’
But Luca was different.
Because ever since the entrance exam, he had kept his eyes on her, making competition with Namia his goal.
‘I don’t know much about defensive scrolls, but somehow, it feels like something extraordinary.’
Of course, that talent would be another of the things Namia had hidden all this time.
And once again, that talent would quietly be buried, just as Namia had foreseen.
‘But what on earth is her situation? I’ve known since the Academy that she’s been severely discriminated against by the Baron and Baroness.’
He had vaguely noticed that the Baron and Baroness Loapi only looked after Huan.
The Baron and Baroness Loapi, who occasionally visited the Academy, had never once shown interest in Namia.
Namia herself had accepted the Baron and Baroness’s indifference as natural throughout her time as a student.
‘Everything is strange.’
He had always thought she was somewhat thin. But when he began to examine her condition in earnest, his heart felt worse.
‘If her nutritional state is that poor, then… No, she said the additional allowance was hers, so she’s not even eating properly? She’s hoarding that money so desperately—what on earth is she trying to do?’
If only, just once, he could compete with her on skill!
If only he could be recognized as her confident rival, even now!
It was as Luca exhaled a heavy sigh with a troubled expression.
“Luca.”
His direct superior, the Emergency Team Captain, suddenly addressed him.
“Will Namia Loapi regain consciousness this afternoon?”
“Yes?”
Luca blinked before responding.
“Consciousness… She regained it early this morning, didn’t she?”
“What?”
At Luca’s words, the Team Leader scrambled to his feet. Then he added as if troubled.
“The Crown Prince said he would visit once Namia regains consciousness.”
“Yes?”
At those words, Luca’s eyes widened and his mouth fell open.
It was natural for the Knight Order to protect the Crown Prince.
So, just as Namia had said, Luca too had assumed only an Imperial commendation would follow as a reward.
“The Crown Prince, the very future of the Empire, is taking such care of Namia?”
“Exactly. In fact, even without that scroll, he could have easily evaded it, but he wants to express his gratitude anyway.”
In that moment, Luca recalled Namia’s earlier words and smiled bitterly.
Her words that no one would care….
Even his own superior was proving her wrong.
Despite Kiaros having clearly referred to Namia as his ‘lifesaver’.
‘Then… will the Scroll Management Department also move according to Namia’s predictions?’
Earlier, since it was another department’s affair, I couldn’t press the matter further.
But to think that instead of praise, she’d face disciplinary action for standing out—
If that department’s atmosphere was truly like that, just imagining it made my breath catch.
‘If I were in Namia’s situation, could I live with such passion?’
Only then did Luca swallow hard at the sudden realization that struck him.
‘All the achievements go to Huan, all the salary goes to her parents, and whenever she tries to demonstrate her abilities, her superiors are too busy suppressing her.’
The way Namia had spoken about her future with such resignation only made my heart heavier.
To become so indifferent to such unfair and unjust treatment—I could only imagine how many frustrations she must have endured alone.
I was beginning to understand why she carried that lifeless expression on her face.
‘If she knows so well that nothing changes no matter how much ability she displays, just how hopeless must her life feel?’
While Luca was lost in thought, the Team Leader asked urgently.
“Anyway, she’s still in the Hospital Ward, right? I need to report this immediately.”
“No… She left the Hospital Ward long ago. She came to work.”
The Team Leader’s jaw dropped.
“What? She was discharged early this morning and came to work? That doesn’t make sense.”
“That’s what I’m saying. I think she should rest for at least a day, but her will is incredibly strong.”
At Luca’s words, the Team Leader sighed as if troubled.
Then he ran his hand through his hair and asked again.
“So, did Namia go to that Scroll Production Department?”
“Team Leader, that department isn’t called the Scroll Production Department, it’s…”
“Oh no. I need to inform the Crown Prince right away. Seeing how he said he’d visit the Hospital Ward, he’ll probably visit the Scroll Supply Department directly.”
This was certainly a situation that even Namia could never have anticipated.
* * *
Luca insisted until the end that I should rest for at least another day.
Of course, I ignored his words and left the Hospital Ward on schedule.
‘My precious vacation days… my precious sick leave… absolutely not.’
I crossed the Imperial Palace Garden with the same expression I always had when coming to work.
I wondered if I’d said too much to Luca, but I decided to just forget about it.
I no longer had the energy to maintain my pride.
‘Regardless, I absolutely cannot use vacation time. I’d rather spend my lifespan than my vacation days.’
Like any workplace, the number of vacation days and sick leave I could use in a year was fixed.
If I didn’t use them by the end of the year, they’d convert them to cash.
Just like overtime pay, it wouldn’t appear on the official salary statement—it would be paid in cash.
‘It’s all my money! Really, truly my money!’
I desperately saved money and endured among those wretched Loapi Baronial Family people.
On the surface, I wore an expression more indifferent than anyone else’s, but inside, I shouted with more passion than anyone.
‘My life is worth living! Really, it is! As long as there’s no war! There are things I absolutely must do!’
Of course, finding my real father and all that was just the mundane concern of an ordinary person that wouldn’t even appear in the grand original work.
Regardless, my true desire was to prevent war. So I intended to do my best from my position.
‘These masterminds aren’t easy to deal with. They won’t give up just because we failed this time.’
Of course, the masterminds were one thing, but I still had to go to work.
And so, after receiving the IV treatment and feeling lighter than ever, I stood before the door to the Scroll Management Department Office.
‘Phew.’
After taking a deep breath, I carefully cracked the door open.
I tried to open it as quietly as possible, but the click sounded unusually loud.
At the same moment, all eyes in the department snapped toward me in the tense silence.
‘The atmosphere is clearly terrible.’
Well, it was what I’d expected.
As I quietly made my way to my desk, Oson, my direct superior, strode purposefully toward me.
His expression was ominous.
“Namia.”
“Ah, yes….”
“We need to talk for a moment.”
Of course.
This meant ‘I’m about to give you a hard time.’
The moment I lowered my head, Oson’s voice cut through sharply.
“What are we supposed to do about this? What?”
This wasn’t actually asking me to think of a solution. It meant ‘just stay quiet for now.’
In an instant, the tension thickened, and everyone in the department fell silent like mice.
Oson erupted again.
“Do you have any idea what situation we’re in because of your reckless actions?”
His voice was so loud it echoed throughout the entire building corridor.
When I was a newcomer, my heart would race and my body would shrivel up in moments like this. Even watching someone else get scolded terrified me.
But now I’m in my fourth year since joining. So now….
“The number of scrolls reported in the report didn’t match the actual count! That’s how incompetent this department has become!”
What was today’s lunch menu again?
Oh, right. There was definitely cube steak scheduled for this week….
“If you’re so capable, why didn’t you just go to the Magic Tower in the first place!”
Was that yesterday or today?

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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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