Chapter 15

No one questioned what had happened.

After all, the delinquent Tower Lord had merely done what he always did.

As if annoyed by the entire situation, Kade waved them away.

“Ben. Show them both out.”

“Yes, Tower Lord.”

Then, before Aster and I had even left the office, he turned his back on us.

I wasn’t sure how I managed to leave the Magic Tower.

Of all people, in front of Kade… Why did it have to be him…?

Only after the heavy doors of the Magic Tower slammed shut behind me did I notice the metallic taste in my mouth.

I released my lower lip, which I hadn’t even realized I’d been biting so hard.

As always, Aster was looking at me with his neat, composed expression.

Back at the Imperial Palace, he had occasionally shown subtle hostility toward me, but he usually hid it well.

What he’d done in the office just now—openly mocking and criticizing me in front of others—was a first.

The moment our eyes met, he smiled.

“Looks like being assigned to the Magic Tower is a picnic for some people. Must be nice.”

“There was a reason I wasn’t wearing my uniform—”

“So I heard you’d been holding out pretty well in Melgot. Turns out you weren’t even going to the Magic Tower and were just hiding at the observation station. Ah, but surely you don’t show up there in casual clothes too?”

“……”

If he knew that much, then he must also know how insanely busy the observation station had been these past few days.

Yet he conveniently left that part out and spoke in a lecturing tone.

“Vivian. I don’t think you realize how lightly you approached this job. Even if you’re a parachute hire, there are lines you shouldn’t cross. I’m only saying this because I’m concerned.”

“Why are you really here?”

“I told you. Since you haven’t been bringing back any news from the Magic Tower—”

“No. Why are you really here?”

The moment I cut him off, the cracks finally appeared in Aster’s model-student façade.

He walked over, looked me straight in the eye, lowered his head slightly, and spoke in a quieter voice.

“You think the reason you walked away from meeting the Tower Lord unharmed is because you’re good at your job?”

“…So you’re disappointed my head didn’t catch fire?”

“You’re giving yourself too much credit. The Tower Lord must’ve simply gotten more lenient. Look at me—I walked out just fine too. Only the papers burned.”

Aster smiled lightly and stepped away.

At that moment, I finally understood why he wasn’t afraid of the Tower Lord.

Someone at the observation station must have told him that the ‘parachute hire’ came back unharmed.

Is he trying to claim the achievement for himself since he lost the promotion because of me?

If that was the case, he probably thought now was the perfect opportunity, since the Tower Lord apparently wasn’t setting government officials on fire anymore.

It was an incredibly foolish idea.

Interfering with this assignment would cost Aster dearly as well.

“Aster. You’d better hope I succeed.”

“…What?”

“Leave me alone. Then the position that was originally assigned to you will be returned to you.”

“You’re seriously trying to use that position to manipulate me now?”

He looked utterly unconvinced.

But I didn’t feel like explaining further.

He had said he’d been sent here on an emergency assignment. That meant he’d soon return to the Imperial Palace, and we wouldn’t have to see each other while I remained in Melgot.

“You’ll eventually realize I was telling the truth. Travel safely.”

“Ah, Vivian Soling.”

Just as I started walking toward the carriage, Aster called out to me in his usual amused tone.

“I almost forgot to mention something. I’ve also been assigned to the observation station. Temporarily, though. For one week. Looking forward to working with you.”

Then he climbed into the carriage, leaving me frozen in place like a statue.

My heart sank.

One week…

I stared blankly at the departing carriage.

It felt as though the longest week of my life was waiting ahead of me.

***

“Lana has arrived!”

Lana entered the office carrying a thick book in her arms.

Ben had warned her to stay away from the Tower Lord’s office today, but she had no choice.

As punishment for sneaking into the giant-monster extermination force and delivering the Third Princess’s invitation to Kade, she had been serving a daily sentence every evening.

The assistant said he’d probably let it slide today, but I want to finish my punishment as soon as possible.

As Lana hovered around him, Kade, who had been staring out the window, lazily waved a hand.

“Get started.”

“Okay!”

Lana settled at a small desk and opened an ancient tome.

Kade’s punishment was simple:

Copy fifty pages of magic circles and applied spell formulas every day for ten days.

Scratch, scratch.

As she diligently moved her pen, she occasionally glanced at the unusually quiet Tower Lord.

The atmosphere around him had been cold for days, but today felt different somehow.

He looks deep in thought.

While Lana stole glances at him from the corner of her eye, Kade truly was lost in thought.

A long time had passed since Vivian’s carriage disappeared from sight, yet he still couldn’t bring himself to leave the window.

Parachute hire?

The word didn’t suit Vivian at all.

Anyone who knew Vivian’s pride and honesty knew she’d reject such an offer immediately.

And yet…

Her reaction had made it seem as though the government official’s accusation was true.

…There must be some misunderstanding.

After much thought, Kade settled on that conclusion.

The idea of Vivian being a parachute hire was simply too ridiculous.

Though it’s amusing how obvious his intentions were, saying that right in front of me. Just who does he think he is?

More than the accusation itself, the government official who had stubbornly continued calling her a parachute hire despite her attempts to stop him irritated Kade.

He had wanted to set the man’s head on fire instead of his documents.

But unfortunately, Vivian had been standing right there.

I couldn’t let her see that.

Hearing rumors and witnessing something firsthand were entirely different things.

…Come to think of it, Vivian probably didn’t want to be called a parachute hire in front of anyone either.

Her pride must have taken a serious blow.

Is that why she wanted to hide the fact that she knows me?

The more he thought about it, the more he felt it wouldn’t hurt to investigate that man.

Once Lana finished today’s punishment, he would have Ben look into him.

No need for me to waste my own time on someone like that.

Meanwhile, Lana had gone from sneaking glances to openly staring at the back of Kade’s head.

The fact that he hadn’t noticed at all confirmed her suspicion.

He’s definitely thinking about something.

Maybe meeting two government officials in one day ruined his mood.

Then she remembered hearing at school that even prickly people became gentler when they started dating.

That’s it! He’s grumpier because he’s single.

His already terrible personality had become even worse lately, leaving the mages walking on eggshells around him.

In that case, it’s time for this adorable youngest mage to help!

Honestly, copying magic circles was boring, and she wanted to do something fun.

“Tower Lord?”

“Finished already?”

“Nope.”

Kade turned toward her and frowned at the excited expression on her face.

“What is it?”

“How about trying dating?”

“……”

“There are lots of older sisters in the Magic Tower who like you, you know.”

Kade immediately sighed, looking exhausted.

“No thanks.”

“Ah, so you don’t want someone in the same profession? Wise choice. Then should I introduce someone I know?”

“The only people you know are schoolchildren.”

“What about that investigator?”

“…Who?”

“The female investigator who came by today.”

Kade visibly stiffened.

Mistaking that reaction for interest, Lana excitedly continued.

“You might not have noticed because you automatically dislike government officials, but she’s really pretty.”

“……”

“She isn’t flashy, but she has black hair and eyes like a forest. She looks intelligent, confident, and dependable. I think she’d suit you perfectly.”

“……”

“You look like a puppy, and she looks like a cat. Imagine how harmonious you’d be standing together! Seriously, you’d look amazing together!”

The more Lana thought about it, the more sincere she became.

Kade was considered one of the Magic Tower’s official beauties, after all.

Their visuals would be incredible together.

The investigator also had a lovely voice and a pretty name.

Vivian, wasn’t it?

“Lana.”

Kade brushed a hand through his hair and strode toward her.

Then he spoke in a surprisingly serious tone.

“You’re more perceptive than I expected.”

“Do you like her? Should I put in a good word for you?”

Lana’s eyes sparkled.

She twisted excitedly in her seat.

To her, this was already a festival.

Kade turned away again, his face becoming cold once more.

“Stop talking nonsense. What are they teaching you at that school?”

“Aww. My festival’s ruined.”

Lana’s shoulders slumped dramatically.

But the next thing he said made them shoot right back up.

“You can stop for today and go.”

“Huh? I still have forty pages left!”

“Finish them later.”

“Thank you for your hard work!”

Before he could change his mind, Lana frantically gathered her things and practically flew out of the office.

I don’t know what happened, but it looks like he’s finally in a better mood!