Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Magic Tower Master's Proxy
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I can really do this well?
Can't you reconsider?
Those words rose all the way to the tip of her throat.
However, she couldn't bring herself to say them out loud in the end.
There had to be a reason the Master entrusted such a task to her.
So, the doll decided to play the role her owner desired.
Ever since coming to the Magic Tower.
Demia felt like she was living but not truly alive.
Administrative duties that remained difficult no matter how much she studied.
An endless workload that never decreased no matter how much she worked.
In that process, her freedom and will were strictly restricted.
Sometimes, she even resented the Master who had entrusted everything to her.
But whenever that happened, Demia forced herself to straighten her resolve.
-There's no way the Master entrusted me with this without any basis.
-If there's a problem, it must be because my efforts fall short.
Demia simply endured and desperately hoped.
That someday, all of this would come to an end.
That the day would arrive when the Magic Tower stabilized according to the Master's will, allowing her to rest easy.
And finally.
It was all right there in front of her, within arm's reach, shimmering tantalizingly.
Of course, she knew.
That she was far from perfect—not even adequate.
But what could she do?
This was her limit.
She couldn't put in more effort than this, couldn't perform any better.
If she managed a sound sleep by chance, inexplicable guilt tormented her, and when exhaustion left her dazed, the walls seemed to close in from all sides.
Sometimes, tears welled up without any warning.
That was the clumsy, stitch-by-stitch culmination she had reached, and Demia was quite satisfied with the outcome.
'Rishir...'
But that man had ruined everything.
Demia planned to resent him with every ounce of her being.
But why was this?
"You called for me—"
With him standing right in front of her, those negative feelings melted away like snow in the sun.
Something warm and gentle seemed to caress her.
Was it because he was currently drawing the full attention of the Bondaress Merchant Group leaders?
She didn't know.
What was certain was that with his help alone, she might be able to end this exhausting nightmare.
'I'm here in the Master's stead... I absolutely can't let him look down on me...'
Finishing her usual vow, Demia calmly opened her mouth.
"Yes. I called for you. You know who I am, right?"
Her appearance, untouched by the passage of time, retained the fresh innocence of a girl.
But her fatigue-worn, resigned expression and thick dark circles forcibly lent an air of gravitas to her demeanor.
The Tower Master's proxy gazed down at him with her posture rigidly upright.
"Of course. You're the Tower Master's proxy, aren't you?"
"Do you perhaps know the reason I summoned you here today?"
"...Is it because of the matter I resolved last time?"
"Yes. Polda. He seemed greatly impressed by your efforts."
Demia handed Rishir the document she had prepared.
"He expressed intent for long-term sponsorship. In an amount equivalent to the existing one."
Rishir's eyes widened as he checked the figure on the document.
If it wouldn't be rude, just one ice cream—
"As expected of a major merchant group's leader. Quite generous with his spending."
"They're not always like that."
"Pardon?"
"Merchants know precisely when to open and close their wallets. For them to show this level of sincerity, it's only possible because you demonstrated sufficient value."
"..."
Rishir nodded slowly.
In Demia's eyes, it looked like he was deeply moved by her praise.
This was the moment the teachings from the book [How to Handle Subordinates] proved their worth.
'He must have a good impression of me now, right?'
Judging that enough groundwork had been laid, Demia cut to the chase.
"The preface was long. The reason I called you here today is to discuss an extension of that previous matter. Whether Polda's case was shared among the merchants or not, it seems the various merchant leaders have taken a liking to you. They promised sponsorship to the Magic Tower and requested an audience with you. You can guess their intent, can't you?"
"Those gentlemen have problems with that fellow called Kal as well?"
"Not only that—they seem to believe your influence spans the entire northern back alleys."
"..."
"Does anything come to mind?"
After deep contemplation, he let out a wry chuckle.
Then he nodded cautiously.
"Is that so? Then—"
Demia fell into thought.
How could she get him to step forward and lend his aid willingly?
-Why did the Tower Master leave someone like this in charge...
-This is awkward. If he weren't the Tower Master's proxy...
Thoughts she always had, but handling subordinates as his representative was truly no easy task.
No matter how much she tried and pondered, voices of dissatisfaction arose.
As if reminding her that without being his proxy, she was utterly insignificant.
"Then..."
Suddenly, her stomach churned.
'Come to think of it, he's an honorary mage—'
He wasn't formally affiliated with the Magic Tower. Meaning, he had no need to outwardly defer to her.
'What if I misspeak and he refuses to help?'
Disappointed merchants. Retracted sponsorships. Goals drifting even further away.
The worst-case scenario easily materialized in her mind.
Her stomachache worsened, her lips growing heavy.
'He... knows I opposed his honorary mage appointment, right...? He must look down on me deep down...?'
This was strange. Normally, she wouldn't falter like this.
Demia felt the mask she had crafted seemed thinner than usual today.
Fearing her pathetic true self might show, she poured all her focus into her expression.
Her voice as well.
"I-I want to give you... an opportunity to help the Magic Tower, but..."
But despite her efforts, what emerged from her lips was a pathetically feeble voice.
The content was even more laughable.
Oh no!
As Demia panicked and moved to salvage the situation.
Rishir smiled with perfect composure.
"Oh my, such a precious opportunity. In that case, I'll gratefully accept."
As if simply playing along with the joke.
A response utterly free of any preconceived notions about how a 'Tower Master's proxy should act.'
Demia had no idea how to handle this.
Even the difficult books she had read didn't cover such a case.
"Y-Yes... K-Know that it's an honor..."
So Demia simply spoke from the heart.
And glanced at Rishir's reaction.
How on earth did she look in his eyes right now?
He laughed again, as if finding it all amusing.
Demia burst into laughter as well.
A pure, innocent smile that carried not a shred of the Tower Master's proxy dignity.
After the conversation ended, Rishir stepped out of the office.
Waiting anxiously by the door were Master Meltas, Didoa, and Marina, their faces full of worry.
"Rishir, you alright!?"
"We were waiting without a word from you—must've been annoying, right? If so, sorry. Rishir. How've you been? Oh, right, the reason I'm waiting here is—"
"You're too wordy, Didoa!"
It was the attitude one might show someone who had returned after being mauled by a magical beast.
And understandably so—the proxy's peculiar personality had a notorious reputation even within the Magic Tower.
She pathologically asserted her authority as the Tower Master's proxy, even in front of the Masters.
So, in front of a mere honorary mage like Rishir, who knew how bad it could be?
She had persistently opposed his honorary mage appointment, after all.
It wouldn't be strange if Rishir had suffered some unfair treatment.
"Huh? Oh. She's actually pretty fun. On the way to meet the merchant leaders this time, we agreed to tour the city together. She said there's a place she wants me to take her."
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"The execution grounds, maybe?"
The three reacted as if they had seen a ghost.