NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 43 - The One More Precious Than A Sacred Relic Has Arrived! (4)
✦ Chapter 43 – The One More Precious Than A Sacred Relic Has Arrived! (4) ✦
At the entrance to the Imperial Treasury.
Tether, the secretary of the Second Imperial Princess, sat slumped on the floor.
“Haaaaaah…”
Occasionally, the only sound that broke the silence, which was almost unbelievable, was Tether’s sigh as if wishing the ground would swallow her whole. This was because the guards and the guardians had all left at once.
The reason for their departure was simple and clear—
— It’s better to report this to higher-ups.
— This is Miss Tether’s jurisdiction and responsibility, isn’t it?
— That would be better! Rather than getting ourselves involved…
— There’s no reason to cover for someone who lied.
When a major incident occurs, what could be more enticing than the notion that one bears no responsibility? A fire in one’s own home is a catastrophe, but in another’s, it’s mere spectacle. In the end, everyone prioritized their own well-being and safety, and it was Tether’s fault in the first place.
As a result, they had all left to file their reports.
“It’s my fault… It’s all my fault…” Tether muttered with a resigned expression. She couldn’t stop them from leaving. It was true that she had lied, and if they tried to cover it up and the situation escalated, they would all have to bear the responsibility together.
However, beside such a dejected Tether, one person still remained — it was Ezekiel, the Inspector from the Imperial Magic Tower.
Phew─!!!
He exhaled a long plume of sunweed smoke and asked, “Tether.”
“Y-yes?” The head that had been bowed deeply raised to face Ezekiel. Her face was filled with fear, clearly dreading the punishment to come.
However, Ezekiel’s question was about something else entirely.
“Are you the only secretary for the Second Imperial Princess?”
As someone who had once served in the imperial court, Ezekiel found it particularly perplexing that there could be a disruption in imperial business, especially in matters directly related to a princess.
And then…
The answer he received was quite unexpected.
“Yes. It’s just me.”
“Alone?”
“That’s right…”
It seemed his suspicions were correct.
Ezekiel exhaled the sunweed smoke like a sigh.
‘The Imperial Court, still the same as ever.’
A single Imperial Princess, considering her influence, could be regarded as a living, breathing institution in her own right. With mountains of work piling up to the sky, it was truly bizarre to allocate only one secretary from the start.
“As far as I know, there should be nearly ten secretaries.”
“That used to be the case. In the past, but…”
“Explain in detail.”
Tether’s explanation continued for a while, but the gist was simple and all too familiar.
The Second Imperial Princess Hedera’s secretarial staff originally consisted of ten people. However, when she suddenly left the mortal world for the celestial realm to enjoy life there, the staff was reduced.
The problem arose when Hedera returned without warning.
Since the Second Princess had returned, the work needed to be resumed, but the other secretaries had already been reassigned. As a result, Tether was left to handle the workload of ten people.
“Of course, they do pay me the salary of ten secretaries. And occasionally, they offer some conveniences…”
Ezekiel silently gazed into Tether’s eyes; the dark circles prominently visible behind her glasses.
Somehow, he felt he understood her situation.
— Ezekiel, I’m thinking of downsizing an organization this time.
— Could you handle that work as well?
— You’re capable, aren’t you? I’ll pay you generously.
— Ezekiel, this time…
— You’ve already done it before.
— There’s no one as good as you anymore.
— See, I told you you could do it. So this time…
In the distant past, when Ezekiel was full of passion and energy but naive about the ways of the world, he too had often taken on additional tasks beyond what he was initially promised.
At first, you hear words of gratitude repeatedly, but later, everything is evaluated by strict standards as if it is taken for granted, and even later, you are asked to take responsibility.
They keep pushing and pushing, until you break down.
It’s a way of handling people as if they were mere parts in a machine.
Come to think of it, there was one more thing he was curious about.
“The Second Imperial Princess, if she had thoroughly prepared before moving, there wouldn’t have been a problem. Why did she return in such a hurry? What was so urgent?”
“Well, I’m not sure if I should speak about Her Highness’s circumstances…” But Tether soon made a decision, “I suppose this much should be fine. She said she received a communication. Of course, I don’t know the contents.”
“A communication?”
“Yes. She mentioned receiving a letter.”
“………….”
Ezekiel unconsciously gnawed on his sunweed.
A single communication was the cause. And the means of communication was a letter.
“……………”
And a thought naturally occurred to him.
‘Could it be because of me?’
The reason why the Second Imperial Princess Hedera rushed down to the mortal world; the culprit who caused her to descend without any preparation, resulting in an overworked secretary like Tether. Could that person be…
Himself.
“…………..”
…There was no doubt. No matter how he thought about it, the letter was the cause.
Meanwhile, Tether bowed her head, seemingly ashamed.
“In any case, I feel nothing but apologetic towards you, Inspector. Out of fear of punishment, I unintentionally lied… I’ll accept whatever punishment you deem fit.”
“…Well.”
Ezekiel saw his past self in Tether; the difference was that Ezekiel had endured for years before breaking, while Tether had bent under the pressure and resorted to lying.
There would likely be punishment according to imperial law later, but Ezekiel didn’t entirely resent the lie. If she hadn’t done so, Tether might have broken as well.
‘Tether, was it? She seems to have promising abilities.’
Just considering the level of the instantaneous teleportation magic she had demonstrated earlier, he could be certain. Tether was capable.
Watching a capable person wear down was not a pleasant sight.
“You said the management of the relics of the Imperial Treasury was your responsibility, right?”
“Y-yes, but…”
“Let’s first think about the treasury. I have some insights about the elemental stone rampage that occurred inside.”
It was the most practically helpful story for the current situation, and he was also trying to change the subject, but it seemed that Tether didn’t perceive it that way.
“Ah, ah!”
Did she interpret it as a question of how she would present the relics with the treasury in such disarray? Tether’s face turned pale as she bowed deeply, looking utterly mortified.
“Inspector, I’m truly sorry!”
The secretary’s waist bent at a ninety-degree angle.
“Actually… the elemental stones inside the Imperial Treasury shouldn’t have been on the first floor to begin with. They should be at least on the second floor, but I lacked the ability to move them.”
Ezekiel listened quietly while chewing on his sunweed.
“Elementals are such sensitive and delicate beings, aren’t they? So I left them as they were, but this is the first time I’ve seen them rampage like this. It’s my first time, so I don’t know how to resolve it…”
“I see.”
Of course, it would be her first time.
…Because Ezekiel hadn’t visited until now.
“I’d like to bring out the good relics for you right away, but there’s nothing I can do…!”
She continued to speak quickly and then stopped talking at one point. A particular word from what Ezekiel had said earlier seemed to have struck her, causing quite a shock.
“Ah?”
And a look of confusion spread across her face.
“Inspector, did you say you have an idea about this rampage? Did I hear that correctly?”
“Yes, you did,” Ezekiel nodded quietly.
“Why don’t we hurry? We might be able to resolve this before the superiors who received the report arrive.”
“…………!”
Tether unconsciously clenched her fists.
However, the hope that enveloped her was short-lived.
“But I’m already a criminal. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to ask for your help…”
“There’s no need to worry about such trivial matters.”
…Especially since it doesn’t seem to be entirely your fault.
However, Tether, unaware of the circumstances, had a different thought.
‘This Inspector is truly extraordinary.’
To call it a trivial matter when elementals were rampaging in an unprecedented situation?
His breadth of mind was immeasurable.
And both his ability and his magnanimity were unfathomable.
He was a man simply like the ocean.
Tether immediately followed beside Ezekiel.
“A-Inspector! Then I’ll do whatever you need me to do. I’ll give you anything you want!”
“That’s not necessary.”
“No, I mean I’m volunteering! What do you want? I’m humble, but still…”
“No, really, it’s fine.”
Ezekiel found Tether’s reaction rather burdensome.
“………….”
It was understandable.
Both Tether’s hardships and the elemental rampage.
…Somehow, it felt like he bore some personal responsibility.
~~••~~••~~
In a VIP guest room within the Imperial Palace.
The aroma of incense filled the air, enveloping everything.
In anticipation of meeting the dragon-people, Hedera was stroking a stone slab placed in one corner of the VIP guest room. This mysterious slab would probably be the main topic of today’s meeting.
There were less than 10 minutes left until the dragon-people arrived when—
“…Hm?”
—Hedera suddenly sensed something.
The heightened spiritual perception unique to those with Dragon Blood. There was no doubt. The source was the Imperial Treasury located in the mountains behind the Imperial Palace.
The energy detected was truly ominous.
As if something was running amok.
…Wait, in the Imperial Treasury?
“………….”
Hedera furrowed her brow slightly.
It seemed she would need to go and see for herself.
— End of Chapter —
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