Chapter 5

Chapter 4

Going on a Mission – 1

"Really, I wish I could die suddenly somewhere."

Due to the minister's wicked scheme, I experienced both heaven and hell in a fleeting moment. Not long after returning to my office, I carelessly stuffed the remaining documents into the drawer. I don't think I can focus on work with this mood. Wow, giving and taking away is the worst, and he does it so casually.

Of course, the minister has never once allowed me to retire.

"I'm leaving early."

"Huh? No, it's not even time to leave yet. Where are you going?"

"You guys can leave too."

"Flexibility in working hours is important, right?"

The resistance from the section chiefs quickly subsided when I offered the carrot of an early departure. How happy they must be to suddenly get an early leave when they couldn't even dream of leaving on time. Especially the second section chief, who left first with a joyful expression. That guy needs to get some sleep, or he might go down a strange path again. I briefly considered pulling him back, but quickly turned my gaze away. If I pull him back, I'll have to stay too, and I don't want that.

The day after the historic early departure of the Inspection Department.

"Congratulations."

"Congratulations."

"Congratulations."

As soon as I opened the office door and arrived, the officers gathered and clapped to welcome me. What is this? A new form of harassment?

"What are you guys doing?"

"We all heard. You got your wish, right?"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

That wish burned in the hellish lava just yesterday.

I looked at them indifferently, and the deputy director quietly approached from behind, tapping my shoulder. He pointed to something in the air. Following his finger, I turned my gaze and closed my eyes tightly.

Two ridiculous banners were hanging there, proudly displaying their gaudy appearance.

"Damn it..."

"Director, are you moved?"

"Hehe, I only found out late last night and prepared this in a hurry."

"If there was such an event, you should have told me first. Isn't it a happy occasion?"

One by one, the second, first, and third section chiefs spouted nonsense. The deputy director, standing behind them, lowered his head and avoided my gaze, looking apologetic for not stopping them. Yeah, it must have been a sudden disaster for you too. I can only trust you.

"...Where is the fifth section chief?"

"He suggested we throw a party for you yesterday, but we haven't heard from him since."

"He hasn't even come to work yet. Oh, on such a happy day, to be absent."

Good, I can trust the fifth section chief too. It's too much to try to stop three section chiefs alone, so he must have chosen to go into hiding. It's a wise decision, I suppose.

I laughed. The second section chief laughed along. The first and third section chiefs also laughed, clapping even faster. The deputy director quietly left the office and closed the door.

Not long after the deputy director closed the door, the sound of something being torn and three heads hitting the floor echoed.

"Is it over?"

The fifth section chief approached the deputy director, who was listening to the thunderous voice from the other side of the door, which sounded more and more like the minister. The fact that he came so quickly suggests he was waiting nearby, observing the situation. As a section chief of the Inspection Department, it's a truly excellent way to handle things. It's a pity that he uses this skill to survive under the director.

"It just started."

"Hmm, have you eaten?"

"No. I rushed here after hearing the news."

"Then you should eat now. It will take about an hour."

The deputy director nodded, glancing at the firmly closed door. It definitely won't be over quickly this time. As he moved away with the fifth section chief, a curse echoed from behind, as if coming from hell.

"Are you fucking human?!"

It took not one but two hours. The deputy director, wishing for the section chiefs' well-being, quickly walked away.

Thanks to the three section chiefs' efforts, the Inspection Department had a lively morning, and I was rubbing my stiff neck, having expressed intense emotion vocally for two hours. Will I retire first, or will I collapse from a sudden illness? It's a fierce chicken race... My heart feels petty.

As I sighed, a communication device in front of me glowed blue. Blue light... a direct call from the minister. Another sigh escaped me. They say sighing brings bad luck, but maybe I'm already in a state of bad luck. Otherwise, my life wouldn't be like this. Should I go to church and get a blessing? Maybe if I give a large donation, my fate will change.

"Yes... This is the director of the Inspection Department."

—Huh, why are you answering right away?

As I touched the communication device, the minister's face popped up. The tower is really overdoing it. They could have just made it so we only hear the voice, but why show the face too? I hardly ever did video calls even before the reincarnation.

"Yes, just finished some work and was resting."

Regularly reestablishing the hierarchy with the section chiefs is one of the director's important duties.

—Is that so? Good timing. Come to my office. It's urgent.

"Yesterday you gave me some free time, and now it's urgent? Did you throw your integrity to the north?"

—It's related to yesterday, so shut up and come.

And the communication was cut off unilaterally. Rank is a bully, rank is a bully.

'I don't lose in protocol rank anywhere else.'

Even though I'm constantly criticized by the minister, being a director means I get treated well wherever I go. Especially as a director of the Finance Department, which is the second most prestigious department in the imperial administration. But unfortunately, my opponent is the minister, a real pain in the ass.

"I'll be back in a bit."

I gave a heads-up to the deputy director, who was working, and headed to the minister's office. It seems I'm visiting the minister's office more frequently these days, but it's not just my imagination. Every time I go, all I see is the bulky, muscular minister. What's so good about being dragged here all the time?

"Ah, Director of the Inspection Department. It's been a while."

That doesn't mean I want to see anyone else.

"Minister of Foreign Affairs, sir? What are you doing here?"

The middle-aged man with a kind face, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who was drinking tea with the minister, greeted me warmly, and I hurriedly bowed. Then I glared at the minister. If there was another minister, he should have told me.

The minister put down his teacup on the table, as if to say, "What do you want me to do?"

"I came to deliver an important message before your mission. You should be grateful, as he made a special trip for you."

"Hehe, it's for the empire, and I'm sending the director of the Inspection Department on a long journey. What do I have to be grateful for?"

"Don't flatter him too much. He'll get arrogant and start competing with you."

"Ho, from experience, I'll keep that in mind."

The Minister of Foreign Affairs chuckled and turned his gaze back to me.

"So, Director of the Inspection Department. You've been appointed as the inspector for the Academy, right?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Traditionally, a section chief was sufficient for the Academy inspection. Sending a director indicates that something significant has happened. I assume you've heard some explanation from the Minister of Finance."

'No, I haven't heard anything.'

My eyes naturally moved toward the minister. Yesterday, we just yelled at each other, and I didn't hear anything.

The minister, having nothing to say about that, quietly drank his tea and avoided my gaze. Unaware of the awkward exchange between superior and subordinate, the Minister of Foreign Affairs wiped his forehead with a handkerchief and continued.

"Actually, there are many issues with this year's Academy freshmen."

"Many issues? Do the commoners make up the majority?"

"That wouldn't be an issue. Take a look."

The Minister of Foreign Affairs then handed me the document he had been holding.

"This is a list of freshmen to watch out for."

"Who could be so important that you marked them as 'to watch out for'?"

I couldn't help but be curious. The Academy is the empire's top educational institution and a breeding ground for future nobles, so it's common for high-ranking children to attend. Even the royal family often studied at the Academy, and the same goes for the five great dukes.

Except for special cases like myself, most of the empire's blue bloods attend the Academy. For the Minister of Foreign Affairs to personally visit the Finance Department and mark certain individuals as 'to watch out for,' there must be a reason. Is there such a person...?

My eyes, which were about to quickly scan the list, stopped immediately. The name at the top was extraordinary.

1. Ruitis Robens

I looked at the Minister of Foreign Affairs, momentarily speechless.

"Is... is that the Ruitis you're thinking of?"

"Yes, the Ruitis you're thinking of."

My brows furrowed sharply.

"Wait, why is Prince Armain crawling into the Academy?"

"If I knew, would I be here? The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was in chaos. We asked the Armain side what was going on, but they were also baffled by the prince's firm resolve."

I scratched my head irritably, looking at the name Ruitis. The third prince of the Armain Kingdom, which boasts the second strongest power on the continent after the empire.

While it's not unprecedented for foreign students to attend the Academy, it's rare for high-ranking officials to do so. They have their own educational institutions in their countries, so why would they come to the empire to enjoy the limelight?

"This is insane."

"That would be a problem. There's still a lot to come, isn't there?"

The impact of the first name was so strong, but there were still more names to come. After checking the remaining names, I let out a hollow laugh.

2. Lathier Ostia

3. Tannian Enes

The second prince of the Yubin Union and a prominent candidate for the Holy Church's high priest, respectively.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, looking at my stunned expression, added in a quiet but piercing voice.

"The three from abroad are these. You should remember that the third prince of the empire is also enrolling this year."

"Yes... I know."

That's why it's even more maddening. The empire's prince, the prince of the second most powerful nation, the prince of the next most powerful union, and a candidate for the Holy Church's high priest, all gathered in one place. If a single terrorist attack happens, the entire continent will go crazy.

"Oh."

That's why I'm going.

Looking at the minister, who had been silent, he nodded in agreement. It's exactly what you're thinking.

"The Academy is nominally neutral, but since it's in the heart of the empire and most of the students are imperial citizens, it's a nominal clause. That's why the imperial army has been responsible for the Academy's security. However, with these three enrolling, it's become complicated."

The three countries that sent students questioned the Academy's neutrality. While they understand that the Academy is on imperial territory, they are concerned that the security personnel are entirely imperial citizens. Of course, it's natural for the imperial army to protect the imperial Academy.

The three countries understand this but had to express their concerns. The best solution would be not to send important figures to the imperial Academy, but for some reason, they insisted on enrolling. Therefore, the task of the diplomats is to minimize any threats to these important figures.

Initially, the three countries proposed sending security personnel to the Academy to create a mutual check, but the empire firmly rejected it, telling them to stop being ridiculous. The empire wouldn't want foreign troops on its soil.

After much back and forth, they agreed to allow a small number of security personnel to escort the students, submit a list of these personnel, and withdraw all but the necessary imperial personnel from the Academy.

"However, we can't just leave it at that. If something happens at the Academy, the empire's prestige will be at stake."

"Also, it's time to send an inspector to the Academy. The new freshmen are so impressive that the donations are unprecedented, providing a good reason to send a director-level official."

I couldn't argue with the one-two punch from the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the minister. I understood the necessity and the reason. The problem is that I'm the one who has to do it.

'Is this an Academy story?'

Three men crossed the border and forced their way into the Academy, all in the same year. That means the Academy is the main stage. It's clear that the unseen hand of the creator is pushing the main characters into the Academy.

Damn, I didn't expect the Academy to be mentioned in the free chapters. Who would have thought, seeing only the childhood scenes in the free chapters, that I would end up at the Academy?

As I cursed inwardly, the minister patted my shoulder.

"Don't worry too much. What else could happen besides war if something goes wrong?"

Wow, that's really reassuring.

After that, I had no choice but to prepare for the Academy mission as if being chased.

I reincarnated, but there's no regression? If I could go back exactly four years, it would be great.

Author's Note (Author's Afterword)

I woke up to a sudden increase in views and was surprised. I'll do my best not to disappoint the readers!