The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success Chapter 40

I blinked slowly.

This man was definitely not a normal human being.

His pronunciation was perfect, but his logic and conversation skills were about as coherent as a bag of wet socks.

Kiaros let out a deep sigh and stepped in.

“We can’t just fire everyone in the Scroll Management Department indiscriminately.”

It was the first time anyone at this table had said something completely rational.

“These people rely on their jobs to make a living. If we’re not careful, innocent people could suffer.”

It wasn’t the Tower, but the Crown Prince himself who was protecting our department.

“Even if we decide to dissolve the department, it won’t be an across-the-board firing. Only those with issues will be let go, and others will be reassigned.”

Oh, thank the heavens.

My job security, at least for now, was intact.

“Ha! Foolish.”

The Tower Lord scoffed.

“You’re saying some filthy dark organization is targeting the imperial family? If it were me infiltrating the bureaucracy, I’d plant someone perfect—an ideal model employee. Someone untouchable, no matter what happens.”

…He had a point. If I were planting spies, I’d definitely insert at least one highly competent mole who’d never raise suspicion.

“I understand that. But since we can’t identify them yet, there’s no other choice.”

“No other choice?! You just cut ‘em all loose and blow the department sky-high!”

The Tower Lord seemed hell-bent on disbanding our division.

I looked on the verge of tears from the betrayal, and even Kiaros raised an incredulous brow.

“Didn’t you come here to protect the Scroll Management Department?”

“Well, I do hate it when people mess with the Tower…”

The Tower Lord cast a glance at me, his bulging eyes glinting.

“But talent is more important.”

The Empress let out a disbelieving snort and rolled her shoulders threateningly.

“Isn’t this mess partly because the Tower didn’t properly manage its affiliated department? Then shouldn’t you be taking responsibility?”

“I will. Let’s just shut it down. Fire them all.”

And we were right back where we started.

“Hmm… But producing 166 scrolls, huh…”

The Tower Lord stroked his chin, his eyes glinting with greedy curiosity as he looked at me.

“That’s not possible with normal mana. Just how powerful is your mana? What’s your calculation speed like?”

“Tower Lord.”

“I need to run some tests right away—”

“Tower Lord.”

Kiaros’s voice dropped low with warning.

“Why should innocent people lose their livelihoods to atone for your mistake?”

“Then what’re you gonna do? Huh? Huh? Huh?”

The Tower Lord mockingly prodded, his tone infuriating.

The Emperor still said nothing.

Unable to bear it, the Minister of Justice whispered to him.

“Your Majesty… Shouldn’t you say something…?”

“Hahaha.”

The Emperor simply smiled gently and replied,

“I’m observing how far my son will go to protect what he treasures. Parents shouldn’t overshadow moments like these.”

While the Emperor remained silently amused, the Tower Lord, done with his taunting, crossed his arms proudly.

Shrugging, he declared,

“Besides, the Tower has a duty to protect mages. Namia Roaphie is an incredible mage recognized by the Tower—”

Wait. Since when?!

“—and letting her rot as an ordinary low-level civil servant is simply unacceptable to the Tower!”

The Empress exploded again, practically breathing fire.

“Unacceptable?! I’ll tell you what’s unacceptable! She’s a phenomenal civil servant—one I personally vouch for!”

“Civil servant? Hah. I guarantee you, no one in that department has magical talent that even compares to hers.”

Well… that part was true. I nodded enthusiastically.

“She’s unbelievably gifted. If she’d come to the Tower when she was younger, I’d have raised her as my successor!”

I glanced sideways and cautiously raised a hand.

“Um… So you’re saying I can’t be your successor now?”

The Empress practically spat blood.

“Why do you care about that?! Namia, are you really planning to leave me?!”

The Emperor muttered, “That’s not even your line.”

Ignoring him, the Tower Lord clicked his tongue.

“She’s too old. Been tainted by the mortal world. Her innate mana is exceptional, but by the time she reaches old age, there’ll be a clear gap between her and those who’ve been cultivating their magic purely since childhood.”

Ah.

So if I wanted to take the Tower Lord’s spot, I’d have to wait until my elderly years.

“We don’t normally accept anyone past twenty. But Namia Roaphie—you’re an exception. That alone is an incredible honor.”

The Tower Lord shrugged and added,

“The Tower is meritocratic. We can’t stand seeing someone with your skills working under idiots who can’t even use magic properly.”

“You seemed okay with watching that for years,” Kiaros muttered, sounding uncharacteristically snide.

“Do you even know what kind of superiors Namia’s been stuck with?”

At his sarcasm, the Tower Lord picked his ear and looked away.

“Well. Whatever. She can’t stay under those losers. I know that minister guy…”

“That minister’s already been dismissed by me. He had far too many problems.”

“Right. I heard he embezzled quite a bit.”

“You knew and didn’t report it to the palace?”

“Well… I was busy. My daughter’s issues and all…”

From my perspective, the Tower Lord was plenty problematic himself.

Sensing he was losing ground, the Tower Lord raised his voice again.

“The point is—his unfitness is proof that the department is doomed! The Tower can’t deal with incompetents like that!”

He threw a mini tantrum, stomping his feet from his chair.

“What’s the point of having someone like Namia around if she’s stuck as a low-level peon who can’t even get her voice heard—”

“Either way, I suggest you stop trying to take Miss Namia Roaphie.”

Kiaros drew a clear line.

“She doesn’t wish to go. That is the Imperial Court’s official stance on this imperial civil servant.”

The Tower Lord groaned and clutched his forehead.

As much as the Empire wanted to avoid conflict with the Tower, the Tower wasn’t eager for that fight either.

Now that Kiaros had stated the official position, the Tower Lord couldn’t push it further.

“Hmph. Still, someone with her talent should maintain contact with the Tower—”

And then his eyes suddenly sparkled with an idea.

“Yes! That’s it! Perfect!”

He was the only one excited. Everyone else looked deeply unsettled.

Raising my hand high in the air, the Tower Lord exclaimed:

“Let’s make her the Minister!”

Everyone’s faces went slack as if struck by lightning.

Mine included.

M-m-m-m-Minister?!

The real thing?

That position you can barely dream of even in your late forties?! Me?!

“They said all the top brass got axed, right?”

The Tower Lord practically shouted with glee.

“Obviously they need a new head, don’t they? Then it’s her! She’s brilliant at magic, can maintain communications with the Tower, and upholds our honor!”

“Tower Lord.”

The usually quiet Minister of Justice stepped forward.

“Didn’t you just say you wanted the Scroll Creation Division disbanded?”

“I retract that statement.”

So much for the weight of his words.

The minister sighed and shook his head.

“Do you think being a department head is a joke? It’s not a position you can fill just because someone’s good at magic.”

I looked around cautiously.

A 23-year-old… as Minister?

Even I understood why the minister was about ready to flip the table.

“Then what should she do, huh?!”

The Tower Lord narrowed his eyes and snapped.

The Minister replied in a tone like he was scolding a problem child.

“For starters, she needs to be fluent in advanced ancient language to access Klassified records, and… Hah. Honestly, it’s ridiculous that I even have to explain this.”

He crossed his arms and looked at me, clearly annoyed.

“Namia Roaphie. State your thoughts.”

Everyone’s gaze suddenly turned to me.

So I bowed slightly, and slowly opened my mouth.

“Barsh kartèn kailtero masku atum.”
(I am fluent in Ancient Language.)

A moment of silence followed. I glanced around and added,

“Arten loki cabaré.”
(I can also speak it conversationally.)