Chapter 6
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Chapter 6
Luca Class fell silent for a moment, his mouth opening and closing without sound.
I shrugged awkwardly and added, "Well, but from the next exam onward, your scores were consistently much better than mine anyway."
"Well, but from the next exam onwards, Luca's grades were consistently much better than mine..."
At that, Luca's green eyes flashed with intensity.
"That's because you deliberately bombed every exam—just enough to barely qualify for the Imperial Palace! Don't deny it!"
"Hmm."
"Everyone else might not see it, but I'm smart enough to notice something like that!"
Truth be told, this wasn't the first time Luca had thrown a tantrum like this.
During our Academy years, he was the only one who remained fixated on the fact that I'd topped the entrance examination.
Whenever test scores were released, he'd come running to my desk as if possessed, desperate to see the results.
Then he'd stare intently at my pathetic test papers.
'Our scores are worlds apart, yet he kept insisting we were rivals. And here he is, still doing it.'
I'd naturally assumed his obsession would end after we graduated from the Academy.
But it seemed his interest had never faded—he simply hadn't had the opportunity to talk to me because we worked in different departments.
"Ahem! Anyway! You were my first rival, and I still want to compete with you in something!"
"Ah, okay..."
"Hey, don't you usually ask what I want to compete in?"
"I don't have that much enthusiasm..."
"Hey!"
Well, Luca was actually right about everything.
Aside from the Academy entrance exam, I'd never truly demonstrated my abilities.
Even during the civil service recruitment, I'd deliberately scored just at the passing threshold.
'Of course, I wrote Huan's employment report entirely for her too.'
During that time, Huan diligently studied for the written assessment. That's why she managed to score at least average on it.
'Well, it wasn't anything particularly special.'
After all, I'd done all of Huan's assignments throughout the Academy as well. That's why her assignment scores were always perfect.
[Don't discourage our Huan. Understood?]
And regarding my salary...
[Write down your salary account here.]
I was in my fourth year, yet I'd never actually received my salary. Overtime pay was the only money I could call my own.
It was a pittance, but precious to someone who'd never possessed money in her entire life.
I had a purpose for saving that money—something I absolutely had to do.
"Namia, let's compete on promotion speed instead. How about it? Let's see how far up we can climb in this organization."
"Hmm... You've already won, and you'll keep winning. That's it, right?"
When I spoke calmly, Luca's expression turned frustrated again.
Watching his emotions fluctuate, I offered him sincere advice.
"Live your own life now, Luca. Stop focusing on me."
"And are you living your own life well?"
Unable to contain himself any longer, Luca clenched his fists and shouted in response to my words.
"You're living like this because of your family, aren't you? It's so predictable. Your salary gets taken away anyway, so of course you'd want to live carelessly!"
Luca Class spoke, struggling to hide his pity beneath an expression of frustration.
"I'll grant that during your Academy days, but Namia Loapi, you're an adult now. You absolutely don't need to live like this."
He worked his lips for a moment, then exhaled a deep sigh.
"I don't know all your circumstances, and I know this is terribly presumptuous of me to say... but just cut ties and live your own life. Stop that pathetic look in your eyes, and let yourself use your abilities freely!"
I lowered my gaze, stung by the fierce criticism of my hollow expression.
And I remained silent for a long while.
'He's saying all this? My poor nutritional state must have shocked him.'
Countless times before, Luca Class had stood before me spouting things like "Use your strength! Face it head-on!" with genuine excitement.
But this was the first time he'd openly meddled by bringing up my family circumstances.
"A-ahem! Ahem, ahem!"
As my silence stretched on, Luca Class began nervously gauging my reaction.
When the quiet persisted, he made an awkward sound and spoke with an uncertain expression.
"W-well, if I was out of line, then I... I... I..."
I exhaled quietly and turned my gaze toward Luca Class, slowly opening my mouth.
"Yeah, you're right. You're insane."
"It's not that bad! I was just trying to apologize... huh?"
Luca Class, about to bounce around again, flinched as he met my eyes.
It was probably because my gaze held focus, unlike usual.
"You're right—you don't know all my circumstances."
As my voice, usually so casual, turned serious, Luca Class's eyes widened.
Contrary to his assumptions, I was actually doing my best to live as I could.
Because I had a clear goal that no one else knew about.
'I'll endure like this, and endure again. And I'll definitely prevent the war. That's how I'll find my real father. Until I find him, it doesn't matter if I don't use my abilities.'
Silence fell over the infirmary for a moment.
Luca Class exhaled deeply. His excitement had subsided, but the sigh still carried a sense of helplessness.
I smiled faintly and spoke again.
"Still, I know you said that for my sake. Thank you, Luca Class."
Our relationship had been the same ever since Academy days.
So this conversation was unprecedented.
Perhaps this was the first time I'd shown genuine sincerity to anyone. It felt like it had simply been far too long since I'd received anyone's concern.
Even if that person was Luca Class, who'd always pestered me going on about being my "rival."
"I'm not saying I'll live like this forever. It's just that I have my own desires. There's something I absolutely must obtain from those people."
Luca Class bit his lower lip with a look of regret. Then he chuckled and spoke.
"But what can you do about it?"
"What?"
"Everyone's going to know now that Namia Loapi is incredibly talented."
Luca Class looked at me with a triumphant expression.
"If you wanted to hide your abilities that badly, you shouldn't have used 172 scrolls. There's already a rumor going around that you alone created 166 scrolls and activated all of them at once."
"Oh, that?"
I returned to my apathetic expression and spoke.
I knew better than anyone the hopeless atmosphere that permeated our department.
"You really don't know the Scroll Management Department well. Our division is meticulously chaotic."
I calmly laid out my future for him.
"Six scrolls have already been reported as completed, so there's no way they'll let rumors spread that I single-handedly created 166 scrolls."
"...What?"
"I'll take responsibility for the inventory report error. So I'll face disciplinary action."
"That's absurd! What kind of insane organization is this.... Or at least, the Magic Tower would...."
"The Magic Tower, isolated from worldly affairs, would never learn of this in the first place. And there's no reason for anyone to deliberately inform them."
I spoke with indifference.
"The only person who might offer even a courtesy acknowledgment would probably be Crown Prince Kiaros? He'll probably hand out a commendation or something."
Whether I faced discipline or not was irrelevant—the commendation had been my goal all along.
With that commendation, I could meet Kiaros once more.
Actively countering the original story required power and resources.
But I had no money, no status, and no authority.
'Why am I even thinking about the original story? How inefficient. I wish Kiaros—someone with money, status, and power—had remembered it instead.'
As a low-ranking civil servant, I couldn't prevent major catastrophes like war. Only someone with Kiaros's level of authority could stop such things.
So I made my decision.
I would cling to Kiaros's side as much as possible and feed him hints about the future.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org