I Became a Civil Servant Who Can Use Magic

Silence fell over the arena.

Because something that overturned everyone’s expectations had occurred.

First, the process of the duel.
Contrary to the spectators’ expectations of exchanging flashy spells, the content was actually closer to a duel between a swordsman and a mage.

However, some inspectors who had been active on the front lines recognized that Loen’s method was the combat style of ‘war mages’.

Of course, they were surprised too.
How on earth could a rookie from a ducal family who just joined do this?

But to the majority of spectators who didn’t know this, it didn’t seem like a duel between mages at all.

Running, jumping into the air, summoning blades to strike the opponent.
It was very different from what they expected.

The result was the same.

Seraphine losing?
It was unbelievable even though they saw it with their own eyes.

“How did this happen..”
“I thought Seraphine would overwhelm her?”

There’s a decisive reason why the situation turned out like this.

Loen. She’s somewhat famous.
As a member of the Franz family, she has shown talent in magic since childhood.
It’s also widely known that she won against a Tower mage.

Indeed, she was one who inherited the blood of an archmage.

However, Seraphine.
The youngest of the Bastard ducal family.
A mage born in a knight family.

Thanks to her exceptionally outstanding magical talent, she was an unprecedented genius who even gained the recognition of the family head who disliked mages.

Due to her tendency not to hide her skills, there were few in the imperial capital and Inspection Headquarters who didn’t know Seraphine’s name.

Because of this, she’s much more famous than Loen.

But that was the problem.
She was too famous.

Right after the duel was arranged.

The first thing Loen did was gather information.
Because you need to know your enemy to establish appropriate countermeasures.

Senior Ria. Do you know anything about Seraphine?

The Enforcement Department’s youngest? Of course I do.

Like the magic she mainly uses, or her combat style?

Oh, that. The Team Leader would know well? She knows all that stuff even though she pretends not to.

Afterwards, Loen received information about Seraphine from Ead.

From the magic she mainly uses to what she uses for check spells, and even what kind of fighting style she prefers.

After that, she thoroughly prepared everything targeting only Seraphine.

To catch her off guard, she dug up all her memories from her past life.
Even memories from Earth where, despite being a world without magic, there was abundant knowledge and application of magic.

After going through such a process, she was able to complete her current combat style.

Loen’s goal was just one.
Seraphine.

On the other hand, Seraphine didn’t do that.

Similar age, similar environment, same level of status.
She thought Loen was no different from herself.

That’s why she assumed it would be a typical magic duel.
She prepared accordingly.

Should I gather information? Or should I prepare thoroughly? She had such thoughts for a very brief moment, but.

She soon dismissed the idea.
‘Why should I, against an opponent who’s not even a double casting mage?’

Seraphine wasn’t confident she would lose.
Looking at the difference in strength, it was understandable.

This was the most decisive reason.

Loen, who thoroughly prepared targeting Seraphine.
Seraphine, who didn’t.

That difference determined the outcome.
Of course, the unexpected variable of ‘Loen’s double casting’ also played a part.

Now that the duel is over.

Seraphine was still lying face down on the ground.

Thanks to the magical protective measures, there was no major damage.
But the shock of defeat was too great.

And.. to be honest.. she was embarrassed.
That’s why she kept lying down.

At that moment, someone broke the silence lingering in the arena.

“This duel is invalid!”

It was the cry of Drake from Enforcement Division 1, sitting in the front row of the spectator stands.
At this, the spectators murmured.
Suddenly, at this point?

“To enter a duel while hiding the fact that she’s a double casting mage. Isn’t this clearly an act of deception, everyone? And you.”

Drake immediately started politicking.
Conveniently, there was a plausible justification.
He pointed at Ria with his hand.

“Casting speed 1.5 times faster, not having learned double casting… Did you think we wouldn’t know you were spreading such ridiculous false information? Is that how an inspector should act?”
“It’s not false information though?”

Ria stood up abruptly and responded.

“Isn’t it natural for everyone to have different standards? To me, it clearly felt 1.5 times faster? And I didn’t know about the double casting either?”

Actually, she did know. But she pretended not to know to expand the betting pool.
But what are you going to do now?
Ria was confident.

Indeed, it was a spirited attitude befitting the Inspection Department.

Gilbert, sitting a couple of seats away, quietly sighed.
I knew this would happen.

“This isn’t funny. It’s clear from the circumstances that you spread false information to lure people into betting. Are you trying to back out now?”
“Huh.. If our youngest had lost? You would have kept your mouth shut then.”

At Ria’s words, Loen, standing in the arena, nodded.

‘To set up a duel with impure intentions and now pretend to be wronged.’

It was packaged as a duel between the youngest members, but in reality, wasn’t it a fight between a 4-star mage and a 5-star double casting mage?

If Loen hadn’t mastered double casting, it would have been her inevitable defeat.
Drake surely knew this fact. Yet he deliberately provoked her.
To avenge the humiliation of being beaten by Inspection Team Leader Ead.

‘You should have checked thoroughly before requesting a duel in the first place.’

Loen shook her head.

However, the spectators seemed to think differently.
More precisely, most of them were in a position where they had no choice but to agree with Drake’s words.

Many people participated in the betting.
The ratio was 9 to 1.
Nine out of ten bet on Seraphine.

The result? Seraphine’s defeat. Loen’s victory.

Consequently, they all lost their money.
So Drake’s words were like a lifeline to them.
If we all band together and insist, maybe we can invalidate the bet?

“His words are right. If it weren’t for the false information, I wouldn’t have participated in the bet!”
“That’s right, that’s right.”
“This bet is invalid!”

The arena quickly turned into chaos.

Ria was still confident.
Psyche trembled as if frightened and tightly hugged the wooden box.

“S-Senior Ria. We’re okay, right?”
“Don’t worry~”

The Director and Deputy Director chose to remain bystanders.
Because they just found the current situation interesting.

From their perspective, it wasn’t a serious situation to begin with.
So rather than intervening unnecessarily, they decided to watch for now.

Meanwhile, the spectators’ protests to invalidate the bet grew louder.

At that point, Ead, who had been quietly watching, stepped forward.

Boom!

She jumped into the air and landed in the center of the arena at tremendous speed.
The impact of her landing was enough to generate a powerful shockwave.

The arena fell silent again.

Confirming that the spectators’ gazes were gathered, Ead spoke in a low voice.

“If you have a complaint, come forward. Don’t just flap your lips like children.”

No sooner had she finished speaking than the aura of a 6-star swordswoman dominated the surroundings.
She said to come forward, but the moment you actually go…

At this, not only the spectators, but even Enforcement Division 1 Team Leader Drake closed their mouths.

“…”
“…”

Thump thump.

Meanwhile, Ria led Psyche onto the arena.
Gilbert followed behind Ria with a sigh.

Ria, who received the wooden box from Psyche who had followed groaning, soon displayed a bright smile and said.

“Everyone has no complaints, right?”

The wooden box shook back and forth following her hand movements.
Clinking sounds leaked from inside the box.

However, no one dared to open their mouth.
Even Drake just gritted his teeth.

“I-Is this okay?”

Psyche, who approached Loen’s side, whispered in an anxious voice.

“Probably?”

Even Loen, who answered, was quite perplexed.

Isn’t this too much of a forceful suppression?
This will only worsen rumors about the Inspection Corps.

Suddenly, an idea flashed through Loen’s mind.

‘If it’s come to this, then rather.’

There’s a more effective method than forceful suppression.
In her past life, this was called ‘divide and conquer’.

Loen stepped forward.

“Ahem.”

As Loen’s fake cough rang out, the spectators’ gazes all turned to her. Loen, who calmed her mind with a deep breath, held out her fingers spread in their gaze.

“I’ll accept only 10 people.”

What? And why 10 people when there are five fingers?
This was the thought that arose in everyone’s minds.
Loen’s words continued.

“I will return half the amount bet to 10 people.”

What is this?
The spectators looked around at each other.
At that moment, Drake opened his mouth.

“Hey. What we want is to invalidate the betㅡ”
“Me! Me! Me!”

Someone quick-witted raised their hand high and jumped out, cutting off Drake’s words.
And then, shedding tears profusely, they pleaded their utmost injustice.

“The reason I participated in the bet was actually…. To treat my mother’s illness at home.. Sniff.”
“Please go over there.”
“Th-Thank you!”

When Loen beckoned with her finger and called him, he came running with the happiest face in the world.

“9 people left.”

Only then did the spectators grasp Loen’s intention.

Detailed stories erupted from here and there.
Confusion spread like wildfire among the spectators.

However, the story competition was short-lived.
Soon, the spectators began to argue among themselves.
It was to pull down potential story-tellers who might take the remaining nine spots.

The Enforcement Department was also swept up in the spectators’ wave before they knew it.

“W-Wait! Everyone, please calm downㅡ”

Eventually, the Inspection Department gradually faded from the spectators’ interest.

‘By now, we could slip away without them noticing.’

Loen turned her head with a satisfied face to look at her team members.

“Shall we return to the office now?”

The Inspection Department members were speechless.
Soon, Ria and Psyche, who came to their senses, showed different reactions.

“Sh-Should we?”
“To use such a vicious method so nonchalantly! You’re amazing, Loen!”

Leaving behind the spectators who were still busy pulling each other down, the Inspection Department group leisurely left the arena.

A few people watching the situation from afar and Seraphine, who quietly raised her head.
Only they blankly watched the Inspection Department’s retreating figures.

Deputy Director Silina, watching that scene from afar, pointed at Loen and said.

“I like her.”

For whom beating the devil and the allied forces is the only hobby,
A war maniac who spends more than half the year on the frontlines.

The second-in-command of the Inspection Corps who doesn’t hesitate to use instigation, fabrication, scheming, and deception for victory.
The Inspection Department rookie, Loen, seen through her eyes.

‘Looking at her actions, she seems similar to me?’

She was a promising talent.
Very much so.

The Deputy Director asked the Director.

“That rookie. Is it true she’ll be officially promoted to senior after completing just one mission?”
“Already eyeing her, are you.”
“I’m just curious.”
“I’m telling you in advance, but the frontline is still too early. She needs to gain more experience.”
“Of course.”

Seeing the Deputy Director’s eyes shining despite her words, the Director said.

“Why don’t you do something about that look in your eyes that says you’re dying to take her?”
“If you keep saying that, I’ll be hurt, you know?”
“I sincerely hope you would be.”

Finally, they too rose from their seats and returned to their respective offices.