The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success Chapter 41

It was real. I really was fluent in ancient language.

After a brief silence, the one to speak first was the Minister of Justice.

“Hoo… Miss Namia. Even at the Academy, advanced ancient language Klasses are only open to high-achieving students—I know that much.”

He was right. My grades at the Academy were low, so I hadn’t even qualified to take the advanced course in my senior year.

Apparently, just knowing I was from the Scroll Management Department gave him a decent guess at my academic standing.

He declared sternly,

“Reciting a few memorized sentences doesn’t count as fluency.”

I bowed politely and continued,

“Kartī arha haoalum katēna. (I studied using books.) Atina kaloba anatusa. (I haven’t merely memorized a few lines.)”

“Is that even believable? Why would you self-study that?”

“Atanaka arin kayurōm aratana. (Ancient language contains the roots of scroll magic incantations.)”

At my explanation, the Tower Lord grinned slyly.

Then, proudly proclaimed,

“Yep. That’s real free-talking, alright.”

“Atana. (Indeed.)”

The Minister of Justice clicked his tongue in disbelief.

Well, that reaction was understandable.

A twenty-three-year-old department head?

‘Whether by precedent or experience, it really is an absurd idea…’

But…

There was no clause saying a twenty-three-year-old couldn’t become a Minister.

Everyone’s eyes turned to the Minister of Justice. He looked flustered, then blurted out,

“A-also! You must walk like a high-ranking noble—with proper training!”

I stood up at once and straightened my back.

Then, with impeccable posture, I made a graceful circuit around the room. I usually didn’t bother, but if I focused, I could absolutely pull it off.

After a moment of silence, I stopped in a perfect pose.

Kiaros murmured in disbelief.

“…I thought you dragged your feet because you were low on energy.”

“I was conserving energy. I’m honored to have cleared up the misunderstanding.”

Even with all this, I was technically a baron’s daughter and had taken noble etiquette Klasses.

I’d learned all the proper manners at the Academy. I just didn’t follow them because it was a pain—not because I’d forgotten.

As I gracefully returned to my seat, the Minister of Justice protested once more.

“A-and! You must know the ever-changing regulations! Especially personnel clauses—they change all the time, and you need to memorize when and how they’ve been updated if you’re going to manage subordinates!”

With my hands neatly folded, I answered sweetly,

“Ah, you’re referring to the personnel-related clauses.”

Then I launched into a rapid-fire response without missing a beat.

“On February 11th of this year, Clause 33, Article 9 regarding civil servant residence was amended. On May 29th, Clause 4, Article 2 related to disciplinary actions was also revised.”

“…”

“However, Royal Palace Civil Servant Law Clause 56, Article 11—which states that a department Minister must be appointed by the imperial family upon recommendation by two members of the department including the nominee—has never once changed since the founding of the empire. Additionally, Magic Tower Law Clause 39, Article 12 specifies that a member of the Tower holds rights equivalent to a Scroll Management Department staff member.”

“M-Miss Namia, you don’t mean to say…”

The Minister of Justice stared in disbelief.

I added bashfully,

“I agree with the Tower Lord’s recommendation. I also nominate myself.”

In other words, with the Tower Lord and myself both recommending me—that fulfilled the minimum condition for appointment.

The Tower Lord shouted with glee, pumping his fist.

“Nice! She’s got the personnel clauses memorized cold! Hahahahaha!”

The Minister of Justice blinked rapidly in stunned silence. He clearly needed some time to process the sheer absurdity of this situation.

Then I looked shyly over at the Empress.

If an imperial appointment was needed, my best shot was…

“Miss Namia Roaphie.”

That moment, Kiaros interjected.

“Do you want to become a Minister?”

Of course I did!

Being a Minister meant I could report directly to the Crown Prince.

Not to mention—I’d have access to all kinds of Klassified departmental documents.

‘That would make giving Kiaros hints about the original story so much easier!’

Up until now, I could hardly do anything to respond to the events of the original plot because I was just a bottom-rung employee.

I used to joke all the time: ‘Unless I become Minister or something, what can I do?’

And now… it was actually happening.

‘N-not that I have any k-kind of ambition for power, no, no—!’

It’s just… I couldn’t join the Tower anymore! How tragic!

‘Agh, no. What am I thinking right now…’

I rolled my eyes and gathered myself.

‘I—I have to stop the war! That’s all! I absolutely don’t want to be Minister for selfish reasons. Nope! Ahem!’

A bit of guilt prickled at me, but I could easily ignore it. There’s nothing easier than ignoring your own inner voice.

With the purest expression I could manage, I nodded.

“I would be honored to dedicate my body and soul to the role.”

Kiaros solemnly opened his mouth.

“Then I shall—”

“Great!”

Before he could finish, the Empress shot up and yelled.

“Namia Roaphie! I hereby appoint you as Minister! Your Majesty, Your Highness, you agree, right? Yes? Yes? Yes?”

The final step—imperial appointment.

The Empress had sealed the deal.

“This girl has more than enough capability! I’ll vouch for it myself! I’ve always believed that positions should be earned by merit!”

“Yeeeeeeeeees! Excellent!”

Before Kiaros could say anything, the Tower Lord also leapt to his feet.

“That’s the spirit!”

The Empress and Tower Lord both extended their hands.

I braced myself, thinking another fight was about to start.

“Bravo!”

But instead, they clapped hands in a massive high five.

The slap was so loud, the Crown Prince’s aide flinched in surprise behind them.

“Namia as Minister! Hahaha! Wonderful, wonderful! Tower Lord, you had a brilliant idea!”

“Thank you for the appointment, Your Majesty! I see now you’re an excellent conversational partner! That was perfect timing!”

These were the same two who had nearly wrecked the room fighting just minutes ago.

But now, they couldn’t stop laughing and slapping hands.

“She makes wonderfully original scrolls! If she stays in contact with the Tower, she’ll become an outstanding mage!”

“And she’s got remarkable civic qualifications! She’ll be a brilliant asset to the royal palace!”

Just earlier, they were tearing into each other’s professions—now they were harmonizing like best friends.

The Tower Lord’s eyes gleamed as he even brought up the former Minister.

“I guarantee she’ll be better than the last guy! He couldn’t even produce a single scroll properly! Always whining to the Tower!”

“That guy also had all sorts of family corruption scandals, didn’t he? Namia’s family is such a mess she can’t afford to get involved in corruption!”

Finally, the Emperor—who had been quietly smiling this entire time—rose to his feet.

“So let it be.”

With clear disapproval in his eyes, he gently removed the Empress’s hand from the Tower Lord and clasped it in his own.

“We are on the brink of a great conflict. We cannot afford to fight amongst ourselves over something so trivial.”

It sounded like he was trying to soothe the Minister of Justice as well.

“If the Tower and the Imperial Family each take a step back, we can settle this.”

In short, this was the compromise to resolve what would otherwise have been a massive clash between two powerful entities.

“But we cannot leave the Scroll Management Department as it is, after what happened. We will dismantle the department, reorganize it into the ‘Scroll Division,’ appoint Namia Roaphie as Minister, and reassign the remaining staff under her.”

He raised his brow and added,

“And until we uncover and eradicate the force that dared target both the Crown Prince and Empress, the Scroll Division will remain under imperial jurisdiction.”

In the end, he was pulling the department away from the Tower’s control—at least temporarily.

The Tower Lord clicked his tongue, clearly displeased. It made sense—he was losing authority.

But even he had to admit he hadn’t managed the department properly.

“Ahem. It’s temporary. Ahem. In exchange for appointing Namia Roaphie as Minister, we will cooperate.”

Dear heavens.

I tried to keep a straight face, but my head was spinning.

I was really becoming a department head.

‘This is insane. I’m seriously… going to be Minister…’