The Tyrant Empress is Obsessed with Me

Chapter 4

4 – Why Did You Really Appear There

There’s a saying: “Seventy percent luck, thirty percent effort.”

Ascal could not agree with this saying at all.

Because it was purely one hundred percent luck.

“There goes Chief Ascal.”

“I heard he was chosen as the Manager of the Year from the evaluation department.”

“He seems to have a certain atmosphere just by walking…”

“Darn, I want to be friends with him.”

His ears tickle.

Ascal managed to avoid people and entered his office.

An extra frame was added.

With a seemingly skilled painter employed, an excessively beauteous portrait of him looking straight ahead with the words written below.

＜Ascal Dever – Manager of the Year Award＞

He had hoped that the hot springs, which erupted in the wasteland, might not be temporary, but no such miracle happened.

Moreover, the rumor that even a small amount of magic was contained in the hot springs, which just taking a bath would be helpful for health promotion, made the tourist site a massive hit.

Thanks to that, the recent evaluation department’s prestige skyrocketed, and Ascal was experiencing a popularity he had never known in his life.

＜Hello. I have been watching you for some time. Lately, my heart races whenever I see Ascal, and I can’t resist it. At 6 p.m. when work ends today…＞

He even received love letters.

And the number of them was quite considerable.

Of course, Ascal knew very well that these were not expressions of genuine feelings, but letters mixed with the ulterior motive of wanting to join him in his fortunate circumstances.

Instead of throwing it into the stove, the letter burned smoothly as if it were made of good material. Excellent kindling.

“Oh, Chief Ascal. It’s just the right time.”

“This is my office. Shouldn’t I be here?”

“Ha ha. I thought you might be out on an errand, as busy as you are.”

Despite the flippant words, Cain laughed heartily, not caring.

Cain, the recently appointed head of Department 1, visited Ascal’s office frequently. Clearly, Ascal seemed to have won Cain’s favor strongly.

While other bureaucrats would have clung to Cain’s legs and tried to seize the opportunity, Ascal really wanted to cut that string with his dagger.

“What brings you here?”

“Haven’t you heard? There’s a dinner party tonight.”

Dinner party.

Memories from my previous life come to mind.

Drinking until we were disgustingly drunk, making empty promises that we’d be together forever, only to have them evaporate in a few hours as we vomited all over a utility pole—the worst culture.

It wasn’t much different in this world.

“Do I really have to attend?”

“Of course. You’re the protagonist, aren’t you?”

“What have I done?”

Cain replied as if baffled.

“You played a central role in bringing about innovation through a revolutionary improvement in magic stones that would have gone unnoticed and buried, and you personally ventured to pre-explore and develop the hot spring in the wasteland, making a significant contribution to the empire’s treasury.”

A biography of some great figure?

Ascal wanted to plug his ears.

“And you were only ten minutes late.”

“Are there any officials who are never late?”

“Not as far as I know.”

I really have to get out of this idiotic place soon.

Ascal made up his mind again. But this determination felt like he had done it numerous times before.

It must be an illusion.

“What should we toast to? ‘To the Barba Empire’?”

“Nah. The Toast should be filled with sincerity.”

“Oh, really?”

“To safely retire at the regular age, receive our severance pay quickly, and live off our pensions until we die!”

“To us!”

Ascal’s forced destination was ‘The Breath of the Whale,’ a luxurious restaurant in the capital.

As far as Ascal knew, it was one of the most expensive restaurants in the empire.

It was beyond the reach of ordinary citizens, and even the well-to-do upper class had to struggle to come here.

In such a restaurant, officials dressed in uniforms rented out a whole floor and acted as they pleased. Ascal was reminded of gangsters from old movies.

“Eat up, Ascal. If it’s not a time like this, when would you ever get to eat at The Breath of the Whale? It’s a law that food eaten with the nation’s money is delicious.”

“Yes. I’m eating.”

From No ble mt L dot c om

The evaluator-chief continued to offer food with a friendly smile. It felt a bit overwhelming. He even went out of his way to sit next to me.

To make matters worse, the first division manager, Cain, was sitting to my right.

It was as if I was sandwiched between two burdensome people on both sides.

It was overwhelming.

Envious eyes were drawn to me from afar.

While from their point of view, my seat seemed to be a royal throne of guaranteed success.

‘Royal seat? More like an execution seat for beheading.’

In the event of a rebellion, not only the royal family but high-ranking officials would be executed one by one.

It would have been more advantageous to remain a lower-level official for survival purposes.

But it was already too late.

“By the way, Ascal, how did you find out there was a hot spring in the wilderness?”

As he drank, the evaluator-chief asked me in a serious tone.

“It was just luck.”

“Come on. We’re just talking amongst ourselves, right? Be honest with me.”

The evaluator-chief feigned disappointment and exaggerated his response.

A smell of alcohol emitted from his slightly reddened face.

“Seriously, it was luck.”

No matter how many times he asked, there was nothing to say other than it was good fortune. Because that was the truth.

“Are you hiding it even in front of your superiors? That’s disappointing, Ascal. I thought better of you.”

The evaluator-chief, who once seemed disappointed, got up from his seat, as if he needed to go to the restroom.

When and what kind of expectations I had met, I didn’t know.

Ascal, bewildered, picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks and ate it.

At least fortunately, the food tasted great. Otherwise, enduring this drinking session would have been impossible.

“In any case.”

In the meantime, Cain seemed to have realized something nodding his head.

Why was he doing that?

Ascal didn’t know.

Drunk youngsters were making a scene.

In that regard, Ascal’s caution not to reveal his secret even amidst the evaluator-chief’s persistent questioning had raised Cain’s internal evaluation of him by another level.

The company dinner drove me crazy in more ways than one.

The next day.

Ascal discovered a delivery of various items in his office.

＜This is a freshly picked persimmon from our hometown. It’s in season, so the taste is excellent.＞

＜These are the latest suits that just came out. They will suit you well, Ascal.＞

＜I carefully selected this bouquet with especially beautiful flowers.＞

Starting with food, clothes, and flowers – a wide variety of items that have some value, and even useless decorations, arrived in his office. The items were from various people such as farmers, successful clothing store owners, and florists.

Baffled, Ascal asked Cain, who happened to be visiting his office.

“What are these things? It’s not a big deal. They’re bribes. It’s time for you to start receiving them, too. You’re recognized as an important figure now.”

“Isn’t it wrong for an administrator to accept bribes?”

At Ascal’s words, Cain’s eyes widened.

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

“…Nevermind.”

It seemed that the common sense of a fantasy semi-modern medieval land was quite different from the modern world.

As there was no real use for the bribes, Ascal passed them on as they were to the orphanage where Aileen was staying. He did so under the name “Tall Uncle.”

This would later become good insurance.

“By the way, since you’ve reached rank 6, you should appoint an assistant. Do you have anyone in mind?”

“Not really.”

“In that case, I’ll narrow down a list of good candidates for you. What do you think?”

“I’d appreciate it.”

That afternoon, Cain came in with a stack of documents.

“Are there this many candidates?”

“Well, you’ve become quite famous these days. There are so many applicants. These are the talents I’ve selected from among them.”

Ascal reviewed the applicants’ resumes.

The first one was a knight with experience working in the Rosemary Knights Order. He was responsible and provided 24-hour close protection, but his disposition was suspicious. Pass.

The second one was a magician who had been researching black magic on the tower and had been scouted by the Empire due to his extraordinary skills. He wanted to study my brain. Was he crazy? Pass.

As Ascal went through numerous resumes, including renowned accountants and even children of nobles, he began to get a headache.

“Just pick anyone for me.”

In fact, it didn’t matter who it was.

He wasn’t planning on working, anyway.

“Alright. I’ll take responsibility for selecting someone that matches well with you.”

Kane clenched his fist as if feeling a strong sense of responsibility. He didn’t need to go that far.

And a few days later, when Kane said he would bring a real talent, indeed,

He ended up bringing in a talented disaster人災.

“Introduce yourself. Your name is Lia.”

Ascal slowly raised his head.

Hair of flowing platinum, eyes as if adorned with aquamarine.

For a moment, Ascal’s body seemed to freeze as if electrified.