The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success-Chapter 83

In the meantime, Kibon kept talking.

"If she were just ‘a little upset,’ she would've grabbed me by the collar first."

"No, but still, you can’t do that to a younger colleague..."

"If it were me."

Before Victor could continue his gentle excuse, Kibon cut him off coldly.

"I wouldn’t have had the time or self-control to think about that."

Even Victor’s boisterous friends outside had gone silent.

Only Anastasia's ragged breathing could be heard.

And then—

Noticing something strange, Kibon spoke.

"Sorry. I didn't quite catch that."

...Hey.

This isn’t the time to pull that kind of thing...

"Ahahahaha! Our intern friend here really knows how to deliver his 'weaknesses' section of his self-introduction in the weirdest situations. Foreigners, man—what can you do?"

Victor laughed heartily and patted Kibon on the shoulder.

Honestly, he was a really nice guy—outwardly.

Then, giving a subtle signal to his friends, he said:

"Go on ahead. Seems like our intern’s got a bit of a bone to pick with me. I’ll catch up after smoothing things out."

His friends eagerly nodded.

"Yeah, Victor! We’ll wait for you."

"Hey, don’t go too easy on him, just 'cause he’s a foreigner, okay?"

"Right. When in the Empire, follow the Empire’s laws."

Throwing in parting comments one by one, they dispersed like the tide.

Victor wrapped an arm around Kibon's shoulder with a broad grin.

"Maybe there’s been a misunderstanding between us... and these things only get messier with an audience around. Let’s talk it out, friend. Hmm?"

***

An alley in the southern district.

"Haa..."

A stout elderly man gritted his teeth as he leaned on his cane.

"...This is insane. Truly."

The man who had reduced an entire alley to rubble—was the Master of the Magic Tower.

Standing amidst the ruins, the Tower Master gave a low whistle.

At the same time, a carrier pigeon swooped down with a sharp cry.

"This... What the hell am I supposed to do with this."

Deep furrows appeared between the Tower Master’s brows.

"What am I supposed to do... Aran, really... you... I..."

Tears shimmered in his eyes.

"This isn’t something I can cover up on my own anymore..."

Aran, his only daughter, was his most precious treasure. He had raised her like a princess in the Magic Tower.

[I want to use magic too...]

[Magic? You don’t have to. My Aran just has to wiggle her fingers, and Daddy will do anything for her, right?]

[But you use magic really well. Why can’t I?]

[Ahh. Because magic talent isn’t hereditary. My Aran doesn’t have a speck of it, sweetie.]

Looking back, he realized he had spoiled her far too much.

[But I want to succeed you as the Tower Master!]

[Oh no, Aran. The Magic Tower values talent above all. There’s no place for someone who can’t use magic, no matter how cute.]

Still, the Tower Master believed he’d raised her with a solid grasp of reality.

[You only get special treatment because you’re my daughter, but really, you’re not even qualified to be an assistant to a low-tier mage.]

[No! I want to use magic too!]

Seeing how upset Aran was over her lack of magic talent, he had even come up with an alternative.

[Marry the next Tower Master. Then you can boss him around in Daddy’s place.]

[I want to do it myself!]

[Gosh, even your tantrums are adorable. But no matter how much you scream, honey, that’s something not even Daddy can change.]

Truthfully, magic wasn’t even that great of a power. There were plenty of scrolls made for regular folks.

Outside the Tower, magic didn’t even command that much respect.

But the problem was—Aran’s whole world was the Tower.

Ever since she returned from that brief teenage runaway phase, her eyes had changed just a little...

That must’ve been when she met those Modificationists bastards.

The Tower Master groaned aloud.

At first, he had tried everything to bring Aran back and keep her in the Tower. He was terrified the Imperial Family would punish her.

But... now I get it.

He gently stroked the carrier pigeon as he thought.

Aran’s already in too deep. And now, the Modificationists... this isn’t something I can handle alone anymore.

Secretly retrieving a daughter who’d gotten mixed up in a shady organization.

He was ready to give up on that now.

At this rate, that very organization could topple the continent itself.

Otherwise, she’ll be in danger too...

The Tower Master slowly closed his eyes.

Namia’s face flashed across his mind—the last time he saw her at the palace.

[I feel like I’m intruding on a family moment.]

According to what he’d pieced together, Namia was Aran’s daughter. His granddaughter.

And she had grown up so heartbreakingly lonely. Always second-guessing herself around other families.

Maybe it was the 'modification'...

That girl had the innate magic power Aran had always dreamed of. But her eyes were filled with loneliness.

It can’t be helped.

Though they had always clashed and bickered, in the end, he knew the only ones he could count on were the Dragonblood.

He finished writing the intelligence he had collected on the Modificationists and tied the scroll to the carrier pigeon’s leg.

[My sweet Aran. Daddy loves you. More than anything in this world.]

[Why would you love a useless idiot who can’t even use magic?]

[Because you’re my daughter. That alone is worth giving everything I have.]

The memories of the love he had poured into her pierced his chest.

Aran, ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) it’s time to stop this twisted love.

Was this the cost of that love? Was the outcome always going to be like this?

Even I... can’t cover for you anymore. You’ll have to face judgment.

But on the note tied to the carrier pigeon, he didn’t write anything about Namia being Aran’s daughter.

He just couldn’t bring himself to.

The Dragonblood... they don’t show mercy. If they find out Namia’s identity, they might execute her on the spot.

The Tower Master squeezed his eyes shut.

Namia... even without realizing it, she’s going to keep getting stronger. Stronger than anyone could imagine.

And meanwhile, the carrier pigeon flew swiftly toward the palace.

Then I...

The Tower Master opened his eyes again. With a flick of his cane, he turned and began to walk.

Might as well go save that idiot son-in-law next.

***

Victor led Kiaros to a secluded corner of the Imperial Palace garden.

Hmm?

Kiaros narrowed his eyes, thinking to himself.

This place... I never would’ve thought of it.

Even though he was born and raised in the palace, this corner was unfamiliar. He knew it existed, but it had never really caught his attention. That’s how rarely people came through here.

"Huu..."

Facing Kiaros, Victor dug through his pocket. That ever-present bright smile had completely vanished from his face.

Kiaros furrowed his brows at the sudden shift in Victor’s demeanor.

He’d expected the usual jolly “Hahaha, are you upset with me or something?”

But surprisingly, what Victor pulled from his pocket was—

A cigar.

A smoker? Huh. Never caught even a hint of it.

And with how sensitive Kiaros’s nose was, that didn’t sit right with him.

Just as the unease began to grow, Victor lit the cigar and exhaled a cloud of smoke.

"Hey."

Through the gray haze, Victor spoke in a low, coarse voice, his eyes dull.

"Know your limits when you’re being coddled, kid. Alright? You little punk..."

Kiaros stood still, expressionless—but dumbfounded.

"If you’re here for three months, act like a three-monther."

Apparently, neither Namia nor anyone else knew this side of Victor.

Was he showing it because he thought Kiaros was a temporary intern? frёewebηovel.cѳm

"‘You treasure her’? God, that’s so cringe I can’t even listen to it, you f***ing..."

Or... was there another reason?

"That woman? I had my eye on her long ago. So, you little foreign friend—go find someone else when you’re back in your homeland. Got it?"

Yeah.

It was probably the latter.