The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success Chapter 47

 

This was getting a little embarrassing.

Honestly, I’d been planning to avoid talking about my mother’s beauty for exactly this kind of reaction.

‘Well, Dad could’ve exaggerated how pretty she was.’

He never said anything bad about Mom, so it was certainly possible.

In the end, I cleared my throat and added:

“…Right now, you’re thinking I don’t look like my mom, aren’t you? I felt kind of embarrassed saying it myself.”

“No.”

The Tower Master waved a hand, speaking seriously.

“You’d be fine if you put on a bit more weight. Right now you’re so scrawny, like the branches you find on a freezing winter’s day—just laying around on the street getting stepped on.”

He continued with a stern face.

“In your family—any mages?”

“No.”

“Not on your mother’s side either?”

“No.”

According to Dad, my mom couldn’t use magic at all.

From the Tower Master’s line of questioning, it seemed like he was suspecting my mom might be his daughter…

[‘You’re so good at scrolls, Namia. I don’t know who you take after. Neither your mother nor I could use magic at all.’]

[‘That’s possible, Dad. Magical ability isn’t inherited.’]

[‘Really? I heard the Tower Master’s daughter was a brilliant mage, so I figured it was hereditary.’]

By all accounts, the Tower Master’s daughter and my mom had absolutely nothing to do with each other.

Just in case, I cautiously asked,

“Your daughter… I heard she’s extremely skilled in magic.”

“What? Who told you nonsense like that?”

“My dad. He said Mom was from the capital, and that’s what she told him.”

The Tower Master didn’t say anything.

He just narrowed his eyes in thought, then asked again,

“You.”

“Yes?”

“Do you have any… special abilities?”

“…Sorry?”

“You know—some odd power. Something unique, unheard of, something strange like that.”

“Uh… hmm…”

Something did come to mind.

[‘Actually, this is all inside a book, and I’ve reincarnated into it. So I know the future. There’s going to be a war soon, and I’m trying my best to stop it.’]

Was I supposed to just say that?

Just then, the Tower Master waved his hand first.

“Even if you do, just tell everyone you don’t. And the whole ‘creating scrolls as a child’ thing—don’t talk about that either.”

“Oh, okay.”

“…Aren’t you going to ask me why?”

“Would you answer if I did?”

“No.”

After sinking into deep thought, he eventually placed a hand on my shoulder.

“Seems like I’ll be off on a long journey again.”

“Oh, okay.”

“…Don’t most people ask where and why?”

Clicking his tongue, the Tower Master continued.

“I think I’ve finally found a trace of my daughter. I’ll need to look into it more, but…”

Just as I thought—he was the kind of person who would tell you what he wanted regardless of whether you asked.

His bright blue eyes bored into me.

And then…

‘Huh?’

Suddenly, he began digging through his robe.

A moment later, he pulled out a scroll and handed it to me.

“Here.”

Just from a glance, it looked incredibly complex—completely beyond my level to decipher.

I always thought I was pretty amazing, but this instantly humbled me.

“It’s a gift.”

“Oh… thank you.”

“…Shouldn’t you be a little more surprised?”

“I honestly have no idea what this scroll even does… The structure looks super complicated. When am I supposed to use it?”

“If a man ever confesses he likes you, that’s when.”

The Tower Master stood up slowly and added,

“Keep it with you at all times. You never know when someone will confess.”

I stared intently at the intricate magic circle inscribed on the scroll.

No matter how I looked, it was impossibly complex. I couldn’t understand the theory behind it—but it was beautiful and astonishing.

Seeing this, the Tower Master smirked faintly.

“Now you’ve got some life back in your eyes, Minister.”

Then, resting his staff, he ruffled my hair.

“When I came to get you from the Empress’s chamber, your eyes were completely vacant.”

“Ah…”

I looked up, distracted from the scroll.

Then I murmured sheepishly,

“It’s just… being in that room felt a bit…”

“What?”

“I felt like I was intruding. It was a moment meant for family, and I was just… there.”

Maybe it was because we both had missing family and were alone, but I found myself saying this honestly.

“And it’s not like I could just excuse myself and leave…”

Ever since I was separated from my dad, that was the kind of life I’d lived.

In the Roapia baron’s household, I always felt like an outsider.

‘Of course I’d feel that way, surrounded by someone else’s family.’

Every time I saw the affection in the Emperor’s eyes when he looked at Kiaros, something inside me felt a little strange.

‘Meanwhile, I have to go find a cheap inn for tonight…’

Ever since leaving the Roapia estate, I’d been staying in inns.

I was originally supposed to contact Luka today about finding a room to board in, but it got late again.

I thought the Tower Master—who scoffed at noble bloodlines—might make some snide comment.

But unexpectedly, he stayed quiet.

After hesitating with his lips slightly parted, he let out a deep sigh and said goodbye.

“Take care until we meet again. If my instincts are right, it won’t be long.”

There was a slight tremble in his voice that hadn’t been there before.

“And when that time comes…”

The Tower Master couldn’t finish his sentence.

Then, before I could even say goodbye, he vanished like the wind.

* * *

After exiting the Imperial Palace, the Tower Master mounted his horse.

He already had a destination in mind.

‘Arbin, Southern Province…’

That was the birthplace Namia had mentioned.

‘Maybe…’

He was planning to go there and investigate further about his daughter.

Though it was still only a suspicion, he had a feeling Namia might be Aran’s child.

It was something Namia had said earlier.

[‘I heard your daughter was very good at magic.’]

Aran hadn’t been able to use magic at all.

And she had been so paranoid about that fact getting out. Even though the Tower folks hadn’t cared.

She was likely the only one who’d spread such a rumor—especially to the man she briefly met and married while hiding her identity.

‘Aran… don’t tell me you had a daughter? Huh?’

Truthfully, from the moment he saw the scroll Namia created, he’d been reminded of Aran.

[‘I’m sorry, Father.’]

Her final words as she stole his blood and ran, grinning like a madwoman.

[‘I want power more than love or affection! I’ll evolve to gain abilities!’]

[‘Evolve? Powers? What nonsense are you talking about, Aran!’]

Creating scrolls alone at age eight—that wasn’t normal.

Namia definitely had the kind of abnormal abilities Aran had wanted.

‘What on earth did they do to you? What kind of experiment?’

Thankfully, she didn’t seem aware of any of it yet…

It was a relief that she’d already sold her soul to the Minister position.

‘This time… I’ll uncover everything.’

Looking closer at Namia’s features—though she was a bit thinner—she undeniably resembled Aran.

Too many coincidences had piled up.

Still, he hadn’t said anything to her yet because—

‘If the monster my lacking daughter created is really you…’

The Tower Master bit his lower lip and thought to himself,

‘Then no matter what, your grandfather will protect you. Because you’re not a monster. You’re my granddaughter.’

Fortunately, no one else seemed to know Namia’s true identity.

If someone had, there was no way she’d be living freely like this.

The Tower Master cast one last glance at the shining Imperial Palace behind him.

‘Hmph. For now, that bratty Crown Prince should keep her safe. He was practically bug-eyed saying he’d protect his subordinate.’

He still found the young man insufferable—but admittedly, trustworthy.

And now, the Imperial Palace was the safest place for Namia.

‘He’s famously uninterested in women, so at least he won’t lay a hand on her.’