The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success Chapter 118

Aran slowly opened her mouth at Beavers’s words.

“If I volunteer, will I be selected?”

“Hard to say. But in any case, in an experiment where most subjects die, you—Aran—have survived twice in a row.”

In fact, among the executives who had undergone experiments using the Dragon’s Chosen’s blood, Aran was the only survivor.

There had been an executive who first succeeded and discovered Kiaros’s dark period. But even he died a week after revealing the future.

“So you’re thinking it would be good if I volunteered.”

Aran spoke blankly.

“There are certainly cases of success, but for the most part, they all die.”

“Aran.”

“So back then—twenty-three years ago—I didn’t realize how chronically short on test subjects you were.”

“Aran, Aran. That’s ancient history.”

Beavers gave a soothing smile.

It was Beavers himself who had exploited the twenty-year-old Aran, whose eyes were fixed only on the desire to “get good at magic.”

He had demanded the Tower Master’s blood—and a large sum of money. He concealed the shortage of test subjects and instead lied that one needed money to undergo the experiment.

“I only have this much… I stole it from my father.”

“You’ll need more. Mmm, should we lend it to you? The interest is a little high, but you can pay it back.”

“I don’t want to pay… Then give me just one year.”

“One year later? Why?”

“On the way up from the South I met a man I like. They say he’s a noble family’s second son. If I marry him, I can have him pay it back. Then I’ll take the experiment, get good at magic, and return to the Tower with him.”

“Haha, is that so? Right. A noble’s second son should have plenty of money.”

“My father will probably give my husband even more money. My father’s rich.”

Back then, Aran truly knew nothing.

The Tower Master had taught Aran only that “a husband is a man who waits on you,” so she thought that was what marriage was.

“Father will scold me now, but if I return strong in magic, he’ll be pleased!”

So Aran married Cedric without a second thought.

And when she learned Cedric had no money, the ignorant world she knew finally cracked.

“Fine. I’ll undergo the experiment. If I get skilled at magic and return to the Tower, Father will sort everything out somehow!”

She had already gone too far. She believed she needed results of that magnitude to go back.

She underwent the experiment while pregnant. But there was no effect.

“The fact you didn’t die is impressive enough… Would you consider joining the Reformists? We can make your dreams come true here. We’ve got plenty of other experiments ready.”

“But the experiment fees…”

“Fees—for a comrade? Don’t worry. We’ll handle everything. In exchange…”

“In exchange?”

“Forget your family. We’re going to dream of a bigger world.”

Aran could only nod. She figured Cedric would raise their daughter well enough.

Cases like Aran’s were, in truth, very common among the Reformists.

Those who fell into the Reformists’ grasp eventually rose to executive rank. They became addicted to the feeling of their bodies growing stronger after each experiment.

“Aran, in this new world you’ll rise very high. How long will you cling to the past? We’re each other’s family now.”

Beavers smiled gently.

“Even when you lost the monster test subject you were managing last time, I didn’t reprimand you at all—despite that specimen ending up in Kiaros’s hands.”

“It didn’t cause any real trouble. With just that one subject, they couldn’t have traced our trail anyway.”

“Regardless.”

At Aran’s sulky excuse, Beavers continued in a coaxing tone.

“I abandoned a son myself. He was lacking in many ways—but that’s ordinary humans for you. I don’t even remember his name now. Because I’ve been reborn.”

“…”

“I think you’d better take this experiment, Aran. Your wavering comes from never having tasted true power. Let’s try once more, yes?”

Aran gave no reply. Beavers grinned and added,

“Also, hand off your monster-subject management to someone else. Set your mind at ease before the experiment.”

“…I want to keep managing the monster subjects. I know I made one mistake.”

“Do you?”

“While we’re at it, I want to handle the human test subjects too.”

Most subjects died, so there weren’t many to manage in the first place.

Beavers stroked his chin.

“Not until that muscle-bound straight-shooter of a test subject is transferred to us. He was your husband, wasn’t he?”

“What… That foolish mistake of my youth is long forgotten.”

“In any case.”

Despite multiple experiments, there was only one person who still hadn’t become a member of the Reformists:

Cedric Roapia, still in prison.

Even as he grew stronger, he continued to refuse an executive position.

“I know you visit that subject from time to time. We haven’t killed him because it’d be a waste—but I worry he might influence you in the wrong way.”

“If I truly cared about that man, would I have stood by when he joined here to pay my debt? He doesn’t even know I’m Aran.”

“Hm.”

“I only go because he’s a remarkable specimen… to persuade him—to become an executive like me.”

“Then persuade him.”

Beavers shrugged.

“After you persuade him, we’ll decide. All right?”

“…”

“The age of the Dragon’s Chosen is ending. Our age is coming. You know this.”

He patted Aran’s shoulder twice, then left the conference room first.

***

Tomorrow at last was the day to catch the High Priest. My heart thudded with excitement.

I looked around my room, thinking things through.

‘Tomorrow I should have Keyvon hide here.’

With so many secrets, there was far too much to account for.

‘The High Priest will definitely go for Kiaros. Kiaros won’t be overly tense—he doesn’t know the High Priest is a test subject.’

Honestly, I wanted to pack the room with knights. But doing that would be the same as telling Kiaros, “You’re in your dark period. I don’t trust you.”

While I was thinking that, Keyvon came in.

“Did you call for me?”

“Ah, yeah. Sit here.”

I seated Keyvon at the table—where Kiaros and the High Priest would sit tomorrow.

If I draped the tablecloth long enough, Keyvon could more or less hide underneath.

“Hey, Keyvon.”

“Yes.”

“You’re good with your body, right? Her Majesty the Empress recognized that. How strong are you?”

“When you are about to order me to do something that requires physical skill, Minister—you may rest assured I’m strong enough that you needn’t worry about anything.”

Goodness… how cute, that bravado…

I chuckled inwardly and asked,

“If an insanely strong, monster-like man rushes in like the wind, could you hold him off for a moment?”

“Even if an immensely strong ‘monster’ charges like lightning, I can hold him off for a long time.”

He was very confident. But lacking accreditation, so I checked once more.

“This isn’t just your private delusion, is it? Do other people agree with that assessment?”

“Yes.”

“Who?”

“…His Highness the Crown Prince…”

His moment of hesitation gave me slight pause—but I decided to trust him.

“Right, well… You’re not the type to make things up and deceive me.”

In any case, I decided to be satisfied with Keyvon.

When the High Priest lunged at Kiaros, Keyvon would leap out and block him for a moment—long enough for me to scream. Then the knights outside would rush in and subdue him.

In the original story, the High Priest hadn’t performed well in the war. Once the fighting started, he hid himself away.

In other words—he wasn’t some unbeatable juggernaut.

‘I’m sure his plan is to kill Kiaros and me in one stroke, but if Keyvon suddenly appears and engages him, we’ll buy time.’

Keyvon watched me quietly and said,

“But… why are you asking me this all of a sudden?”