An Unexpected Appointment
“People look like trash from up here.”
Ascal had always wanted to say that line. He gazed down from the window of the department head’s office. People bustled about below, while he enjoyed the luxury of sipping coffee at his leisure. That sense of superiority. That feeling of elevation. It was a privilege reserved only for high-ranking officials.
Indeed, Askal had finally clawed his way to the threshold of what people called a “high-ranking official.” As the new head of the Evaluation Department, he was now someone who could be called a person of power without it sounding too absurd.
“Would you like more sugar in your coffee?”
That feeling lasted only a moment. The instant he saw Lia, Askal’s shoulders, which had been puffed up with authority, slumped. High-ranking official or not, the very embodiment of power stood right before his eyes.
Ascal stirred his coffee with a spoon, suddenly deflated.
“It’s fine as is. Come to think of it, Lia, it’s been quite some time since you started working as my ‘temporary’ aide.”
Ascal tried to sound weighty. Lia, who had been clearing away his empty cup, looked up at her superior, waiting for his next words.
Ascal swallowed hard.
In truth, Lia’s activities before becoming emperor had never been described in much detail. At most, the records mentioned her scheming in the shadows or accumulating various practical experiences. Askal could only guess that she was a journeyman. Once she felt she had gathered enough experience, she might leave his side.
“So, do you intend to continue serving as my aide?”
Lia’s movements stopped. Had he struck a nerve?
Well, this place would be far too small to serve as a nest for the future emperor.
Ascal began preparing a gracious farewell.
It was a pleasure working with you. Let’s greet each other warmly if we ever meet on the street.
But just as he was envisioning a beautiful parting, he sensed something off. After a long silence, Lia spoke in a low voice.
“Was my ability so lacking that I cannot assist you, Lord Askal?”
“N-no, that’s not it.”
“Then, am I qualified to become your official aide?”
Ascal broke into a cold sweat. Lia had interpreted his words differently. In truth, he had never once considered what would happen after her temporary term ended.
He had to come up with an excuse, anything.
“There’s still one final test remaining.”
“A test?”
“A truly excellent aide should achieve results without needing to be told. I’m talking about taking initiative.”
It was a fairly plausible excuse. Lia nodded, seemingly convinced.
“Then I will bring you results.”
Lia left.
Wait. What have I just done?
Only after Lia departed did Askal, deep in thought, realize his mistake. He was already struggling to handle the tangled mess of his work, and now he had activated auto-hunt mode. And not just any auto-hunt—he had unleashed what was probably the empire’s most high-performance model.
“All the backlog of reports has been cleared!”
“The chronic complainer is trembling in fear and apologizing, though I’m not sure why!”
“All those troublesome artifacts that were too complicated to categorize have been neatly sorted!”
“A baroness was so moved by the handling of her case that she donated her entire fortune!”
“Just how did you do it, Director?!”
Uh. So the auto-hunt really did activate.
“It’s all thanks to your hard work.”
Ascal muttered words completely at odds with his true feelings and hurried back to his office.
He had trapped himself. It was like sending a level-100 subordinate who had been idling away into internal affairs. He had poked a sleeping tiger’s whiskers and set it loose upon the world.
While Askal clutched his head in agony, Lia, having finished her work, entered the office. She was already holding the completed report in her hands.
“Here is today’s work report.”
Ascal reviewed the report Lia handed him and nodded. He had already heard the rumors circulating among the staff, but seeing the report in person made her efficiency all the more terrifying. What was especially ruthless was how she had minimized her own presence and credited every achievement to Askal himself. It was a result so flawless that he could not find a single fault no matter how hard he tried.
“……Congratulations. You pass.”
Left with no choice, Askal pulled the contract from his desk drawer and stamped it. Once Lia signed, the official aide contract would be finalized.
“But even now, I still think your talents are far too great to be satisfied with merely being an aide. Wouldn’t you like to swim in a bigger pond? I have a contact in the Magic Department. If you wish, I could send you there.”
Ascal, unable to let go of his lingering hope, spoke up. His contact was Robin, the Minister of Magic. Given how favorably Robin viewed him, he would surely accept a recommendation of such talent without hesitation. Of course, by the time Robin realized Lia was a ticking time bomb, it would already be too late.
The thought alone was delightful. But reality, as always, refused to follow expectations.
“Give it to me. Quickly. The contract.”
“Here it is.”
Her voice had grown slightly cold. Askal hastily handed over the contract. Lia snatched it up as if afraid someone might steal it away, clutching it to her chest like a mother bird guarding her egg.
Terrifying.
So she was still hungry, unwilling to end her career as a mere department head’s aide. Just how far did the princess’s ambition reach?
He really was incompetent. The former director. I respect him.
Thanks to the previous director, who had died suddenly without any handover, Ascal was suffering from a splitting headache. Documents were full of holes and inconsistencies, and the work methods were so haphazard that only the former director himself could have understood them.
Without Lia’s help, Ascal would have spent months sorting through paperwork only to collapse in bed afterward.
There’s far too much budget left over.
The real work had all been dumped onto Division 1 while the former director spent his days enjoying horseback rides with high-ranking officials. In practice, the true head of the Evaluation Department during that time had been Kane, the head of Division 1.
Wait. Does that mean if I seal off Division 1, the entire Evaluation Department will grind to a halt?
Ascal had not yet abandoned his plan to be dismissed from management due to incompetence. If anything, becoming director had opened up new high-risk, high-return strategies.
Perfect. This is it. From now on, I’ll reduce this Evaluation Department to ashes.
In that moment, Askal’s devilish little brain began to turn.
“Starting today, Division 1 will be granted a week of vacation. It’s a reward for all your hard work.”
Ascal summoned Kane to his office and made the announcement. Truthfully, he would have preferred to give them a month or more, but a week was the limit of his current authority.
“And here is a royal luxury travel voucher for the Kelly Kingdom. Everything has been prepared so you need only bring yourselves. Enjoy your week to the fullest.”
The Kelly Kingdom was famous as a resort frequented even by foreign nobles and royalty. Naturally, the cost of living was high, but the royal voucher Askal provided included top-tier accommodations and meals, eliminating any financial concerns.
“Something this valuable… am I really allowed to accept it?”
“Yes. You’ve worked hard all this time.”
Honestly, watching Kane work had earned Ascal’s genuine respect. While other officials slacked off at every opportunity, Kane was different.
That was why, even after becoming director, Ascal had continued to speak to Kane with formal respect, treating him as a senior colleague.
“Director Askal……”
Kane dropped to his knees. A single tear rolled down his face, etched with exhaustion.
“So there really is someone who understands me.”
Kane! Your report is late again! You’re utterly incompetent!
You call this work? Hah, if I weren’t such a generous superior, you’d already be begging on the streets.
Hmm. I hear you received a bonus this time? Tonight’s company dinner is on you.
For a brief moment, scenes from the past flashed through Kane’s mind like a revolving lantern.
They say a man will die for the one who truly understands him.
Though Kane had worked with utmost sincerity, he had never once been acknowledged by the former director. Now, within his chest, a true sense of loyalty was beginning to take root.
“Your clothes will get dirty. Please stand up, Division Head Kane.”
Ascal extended his hand. Kane took it, rose to his feet, and wiped his tears with the back of his hand.
“Until now, even without recognition, I worked solely with the desire to build a better empire. But from this moment on, my loyalty belongs to you.”
“What?”
What did he just say? Wait, isn’t that treason?
Ascal awarded Kane a bonus. Askal had successfully appointed Kane!