The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success - Chapter 96

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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 96
At a glance, I could see he looked quite uncomfortable.
Since his biological mother hailed from the Imoat Kingdom, he apparently knew about the bizarre greeting inquiring whether I had any intention of marrying the Crown Prince.
In any case, that wasn’t all. Nobles came flocking over to greet me as well.
“Minister of Scrolls, that was truly impressive. I thought magic of that caliber could only be performed at the Magic Tower….”
But there was a problem. I didn’t know any of these high-ranking nobles. Noticing my momentary confusion, Kiaros smoothly introduced each one to me.
“This is Beron Vegana, the second son of the Vegana Marquis Household. He’s also part of the Imperial Knight Order and is already betrothed.”
Whenever other high-ranking nobles approached, Kiaros introduced them to me one by one.
“This is Aaron Adams, the third son of the Adams Marquis Household. His face is decent enough, but he got caught cheating twice and was dumped both times.”
“Ah… I see.”
“This is Iark Aeron, a viscount. His wife and children are abroad, so he’s a married man. Don’t be fooled even if he pretends to be single.”
“Ah… I see.”
“This is Caron Colsbein, the eldest son of the Colsbein Marquis Household. His future father-in-law is vicious, and his future mother-in-law is terribly wicked. You absolutely shouldn’t marry into that family.”
“Ah… I see.”
Of course, only he remained composed while the other party had to do their best to hide their bewilderment.
Speaking one’s mind without regard for others’ reactions was a privilege of Yongin. Though Kiaros had never used his privilege quite this way before.
That was when it happened.
A red-haired man in priestly robes stood before me, his yellow eyes gleaming brightly.
“It is an honor to meet you, Minister.”
As I grew slightly flustered at the appearance of someone I’d never seen before, Kiaros smiled broadly and made the introduction.
“This is the High Priest, Oliver Ailsen. You should know this already, but priests cannot marry.”
“It is an honor to meet you, Minister. I am Oliver Ailsen, a humble servant of God.”
Despite being the High Priest, his attire was not particularly ornate.
“It has been quite a long time since I was invited to the Imperial Palace, and even longer since I attended a banquet like this.”
True to his words, his invitation to the Imperial Palace was indeed a rare occurrence.
Since the first Yongin Emperor founded the Empire, the authority of the Temple had steadily declined in the long era of peace.
With the brilliant advancement of medicine and the prolonged peace, divine power—the force of wide-area healing—had long been neglected.
Now, hardly anyone among the common people seriously believed in God, and religion was merely regarded as folk belief.
“So I didn’t even realize that Scrolls had developed so much during this time.”
Today was literally the festival of “Saint Cairo,” the celebration of an ancient saint, which was why he had been invited. In ordinary times, the High Priest was merely a peripheral religious figure whom no one paid attention to.
‘Wait… but after the war broke out, the situation completely reversed, didn’t it?’
Naturally, during the war, the role of wide-area healing had been significant.
It didn’t cure any particular disease, but it did restore vigor and bring people into an awakened state.
That divine power, unnecessary in times of peace, suddenly began to receive attention.
‘And then their influence suddenly surged.’
For that reason, in the original work, Jayden also suspected the Temple of being behind the war. However, he ultimately never uncovered any connection to the Temple. But….
‘At that time, when adult Jayden visited, the High Priest’s name was also Oliver Ailsen.’
And there was something that gave me chills.
That Oliver Ailsen was described as appearing to be in his forties. With the description of red hair and yellow eyes, the Oliver before my eyes now was unmistakably the same person.
‘But right now, he looks exactly like he’s in his forties?’
According to the original story, Jayden doesn’t meet the High Priest until twenty years later. That would make him a grandfather in his sixties, yet his appearance is identical?
‘Suspicious!’
Moreover, Jayden said that was his first time meeting the High Priest.
So the High Priest didn’t attend this banquet in the original story?
‘If the Temple had been behind the Gaejo Faction….’
Fifteen years ago, even though the Emperor devastated the Gaejo Faction’s leadership in the Southern Region, the remnants survived and grew in numbers—now that made sense.
Since priests possessed healing powers, they could have unofficially revived the Gaejo Faction’s operatives who had become corpses.
And with temples spread across the entire Continent, they could easily hide the Gaejo Faction while evading the Imperial Palace’s pursuit.
‘Yes. So everything I suspected about there being a larger force behind this all checks out.’
The High Priest who hadn’t aged a day in twenty years.
Had he also joined hands with the Gaejo Faction and become an experimental subject himself? Like the Tower Master’s Daughter?
While my mind spun with possibilities, Kiaros and the High Priest were conversing lightly.
“Indeed. Even when the Imperial Palace sends invitations, you almost never attend, do you?”
“Haha…. A servant of the divine doesn’t belong in such a lavish place. But after so long, I impulsively decided to attend, and I must say I’m quite impressed.”
The Imperial Family had always treated the Temple with appropriate respect—a religious organization that existed even before the Empire’s founding.
Though they didn’t provide special care, they always extended invitations to such events and offered distinguished guest treatment.
Of course, the High Priest usually declined humbly. He understood that he couldn’t exert influence at such gatherings anyway.
‘He rarely even comes to the Capital normally. That’s why even I, with considerable seniority in the Civil Service, am seeing the High Priest in person for the first time.’
In any case, Kiaros was currently extending the utmost courtesy to the High Priest.
For someone generally indifferent to people, he was maintaining quite the cordial conversation.
“The last time we saw each other was five years ago, wasn’t it? Your appearance hasn’t changed at all since then.”
“Is that so? At my age, there’s no greater compliment. Thank you.”
Right…. Five years could pass off as a compliment, but twenty years is definitely strange!
Even as my eyes darted about, the conversation continued.
“Are you currently staying at the Grand Temple in Parens?”
The High Priest didn’t remain at a single temple but wandered between multiple ones.
Parens was a city in the Southern Region, home to the Grand Temple built before the Empire’s founding—the largest in scale across the entire Continent.
It was close to the region where my Father and I lived, and I’d once mentioned visiting it later when time allowed. That “later” never came.
“Yes, that’s correct. Since I’ve come up for the banquet, I plan to stay at the Imperial Palace Temple for about ten days before returning to Parens.”
There was a small temple within the Imperial Palace itself. In truth, it was less a temple and more a small chapel built for form’s sake out of respect for ancient religion.
In any case, since it was a temple, the High Priest had justification to stay there.
I smiled quietly to myself while glancing at the High Priest.
‘A sudden visit to the Imperial Palace….’
This never happened in the original story. But if the High Priest, who could mobilize the entire Temple, moved personally….
There was definitely some grand scheme behind it all.
Standing right beside me was someone who clearly wanted to dispose of him.
‘Last time too, he wanted to dispose of someone, but there’s a person who remained unharmed because of me!’
That was Kiaros.
With even one proper Yongin present, they couldn’t help but exercise caution.
‘Probably this time, he’ll plan another assassination attempt on Kiaros.’
Kiaros uses his heartbreak as an excuse to remain confined within the Imperial Palace, avoiding the outside world.
The High Priest is someone who can stay in the Imperial Palace without much reason, so wouldn’t he be the one moving directly?
While I was lost in thought, Kiaros politely suggested it was time to move to the next area.
“We’ve put considerable effort into the Banquet Hall cuisine. I’ll have an Attendant recommend some suitable dishes for you.”
The High Priest shook his head in response.
“Ah… that’s quite alright. My stomach isn’t feeling well.”
What is this, some kind of indigestion epidemic lately?

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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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