Chapter 6

Chapter 5

Going on a Mission – 2

After hearing crap like, "Don't worry, if there's a problem, it'll just lead to war anyway," I couldn't keep still. I hurriedly handed over my duties to my deputy and distributed the urgent tasks to the section chiefs while preparing to head to the Academy. It's been four years since I started my civil service career, and this is the first time I've been sent on such a terrible mission.

"By the way, since we're withdrawing everyone except the necessary personnel from the Academy, who will be the assistant there...?"

"None."

"Hmm, then how much support will I get?"

"None."

"...What about the activity funds?"

"None."

"Then what do I have?"

"None."

It's absolutely terrible. I don't know who said you can't spit on a smiling face, but I felt like I could punch the smiling face of the Foreign Minister as he chuckled.

"I'm sorry. The Three Kingdoms are in such a mess that we had to pull everyone out completely."

"How can I operate in such an environment? Even the northern mission gets proper supplies!"

"Still, don't worry too much. The important thing is that you're stationed at the Academy."

No matter how many times I hear him say not to worry, it's impossible not to worry. I sighed deeply, recalling my last conversation with the Foreign Minister.

It's already heartbreaking to be sent on an indefinite mission as a section chief, and even more so to be sent to the Academy. To top it off, I'm going without any support. It's not just a figure of speech; I really have to go in alone and settle down at the Academy.

"At least I can come back and rest during the holidays. It's like being a student at the Academy."

"Please, just shut up."

The Minister's words, clearly meant to provoke me, made me grind my teeth. Talking about holidays. What does a holiday mean to a civil servant? It's just a change in the workplace. The Minister's mocking expression, as if to say, "What are you going to do about it?" cut deep.

My life, with such a direct superior, is legendary. What a bastard.

"I'm leaving now. Please give me the mission certificate."

If I can't change my future of being stuck at the Academy, it's better to get away from this face I can't stand as soon as possible. Every time I see the Minister, I feel my mental strength draining.

I extended my hand to request the mission certificate, and the Minister, smirking, handed it to me. His expression, as if he had just eaten something awful, was quite entertaining, but there wasn't enough time to keep him around.

"You don't have any parents to cover for you if you cause trouble, so be careful."

"Ah, Your Excellency!"

I decided to tease him one last time.

"Focus on the investigations based on what I told you for Section 1."

"Sure."

"Separate the Level 2 documents for Section 2. You know it needs to be done quickly, right?"

"Yes, of course."

"Sections 3 and 5 don't have much to do, so handle them as needed."

"Understood."

"I will keep that in mind."

"Ugh... Good luck, Deputy."

"Thank you."

In front of the Ministry of Finance building, I gave final instructions to the section chiefs, feeling uneasy. The deputy, who had to adjust to my absence, needed more support, and the Section 5 chief, who had some sense, could be trusted. But would the other section chiefs remain quiet without a chief?

'Should I take the Section 2 chief with me, even now?'

If the three section chiefs unite, who knows what might happen. Even while I was living in the office and monitoring them, they managed to incite the Golden Ball's wrath.

Who's next after the Golden Ball? The Victorious Ball or the Iron Blood Ball? I might have to run to the Ministry of Works, bow my head, and offer the section chiefs as sacrifices. I didn't know anything, please save me!

"Why are you looking at me like that? It's scary."

The Section 2 chief, feeling a chill from my gaze, shivered and asked uneasily. He might have glimpsed a parallel universe where he was offered as a sacrifice.

"No, it's nothing."

I considered casting the Water Ghost Metaphor on the Section 2 chief one last time but ultimately shook my head and gave up. To avoid provoking the Three Kingdoms, I, the inspector, had to go alone.

There's no reason to suddenly take the Section 2 chief now. Honestly, there are plenty of reasons, but I can't take him.

'Really, can I trust them? Can I trust these bastards?'

I looked at the smirking section chiefs. For a moment, everything went dark.

"I'll try to avoid any problems. I can't give the chief, who is already suffering in a new place, any more trouble."

As my expression twisted, the deputy finally spoke, and I nodded. Yes, if I can't trust the section chiefs, I can trust the deputy.

"Still, if anything happens, contact me immediately."

"Yes, I will."

"...Alright."

After quietly whispering to the deputy one last time, the carriage finally took me south.

"Damn, the road is a mess."

The carriage, which started off confidently, began to bounce around like it was dancing to a club's rhythm as we approached the Academy. Driver, driver, pump this party...

I remember the budget for road construction in this area, but looking at the state of the road, it seems the funds were used for expanding the local official's residence. Bastard, you're the first one I'll deal with when I arrive.

As I recorded the name of the unknown local official at the top of my hit list, the carriage bounced again, welcoming my decision. You must be tired of driving on such a road. I had already formed a small bond with the carriage, even as I left on a solo mission.

The driver is outside, but the overwhelming social gap makes it impossible to talk to him, so the carriage is my only friend. Still, I didn't particularly enjoy this bumpy expression of friendship.

"Damn. I can't use teleportation."

While teleportation isn't a common spell, major cities in the empire have teleportation magic circles installed for smooth travel. Logically, considering the importance of the Academy, there should be a magic circle there, but due to the unique characteristics of the area, it has been strictly excluded.

When the Kepelopen Empire was still a small kingdom, the then-strongest nation, the Apeles Empire, had its capital in the area where the Academy is now located.

The Apeles Empire promoted education and built the current Academy magnificently. The Kepelopen, who overthrew the Apeles, couldn't bear to demolish or relocate the Academy, so they decided to use it as is. At the time, they lacked the funds to do otherwise.

However, to prevent the Apeles Revival Army from gathering, the city, which was the capital of the enemy nation, was intentionally kept from having easy access, so no magic circles were installed. This is why the Academy has never benefited from teleportation, and why one must travel by carriage or hire a mage capable of teleportation.

While the reason might have been valid at the time, 300 years after the fall of Apeles, it's no longer a concern. The Apeles Revival Army was long ago extinguished by the relentless pursuit of the Kepelopen.

In fact, the main reason for not installing a magic circle is the cost. Teleportation magic circles aren't cheap to build or maintain. There's no one who needs to go to the Academy area, and the Academy has all the necessary facilities, so there's no need to go out.

'Fucking Minister.'

A few months ago, the Minister rejected a proposal to install a magic circle at the Academy for these reasons. If I had known I would be sent here, I would have pushed for its approval. Ultimately, the problem was the Minister. I wish he would suddenly die somewhere.

"Chief, we can see the Academy."

"Oh."

Without anyone to talk to, I had let my mind wander, but I perked up at the driver's words and looked out the window at the massive walls of the Academy. Wow, they're so high...

"Grand. To see such a size from this distance."

"As you might know, merchants catering to faculty and students have gradually gathered, making the area quite large. With the families of merchants and other merchants catering to them, the Academy has transformed into a city."

'Academy City...'

It feels like there might be a student who can shoot a railgun.

After that, the driver and I fell silent again, and only the creaking of the carriage could be heard. After a long and difficult journey, the sight of the Academy broke the silence, but we were still too awkward to have an open conversation. The suffocating silence was finally broken after passing through the city gates.

"The security personnel have been significantly reduced."

As I put away the mission certificate I showed to the guards, I checked the street outside. There were many people and quite a few shops, but no guards. All the people were civilians living in the Academy City, or the Academy itself.

"Hmm, is that so? It's my first time at the Academy, so I'm not sure."

"Usually, there are four guards at the city gates."

That reminded me of the two guards at the gate when I passed through, instead of the usual four.

'They really pulled out all but the minimum personnel.'

"There will be no assistant at the Academy."

"Everyone has been withdrawn, so no one can help you."

"If it's troublesome, you should have been the Minister."

The Minister's (highly subjective and distorted) words echoed in my mind. Hearing it and understanding it intellectually is one thing, but seeing it with my own eyes made it hit home. I have to survive alone, as an inspector, in the unknown space of the Academy, where I've never been before.

'When is the holiday...?'

In college, it's usually in June. Is it the same here?

Feeling like a college student hoping for the semester to end as soon as it starts, I finally ended my long carriage ride when the carriage stopped at the main building of the Academy.

Author's Note

I've started a mission as a civil servant, hoping to have a superior even in a life away from the constant criticism of my superiors.

I hope you enjoy Karl's life at the Academy (not as a student)!

Thank you very much for the support from Danjanhollic!