"Anes, you're resigning? Are you in your right mind?"
The Imperial Chief Administrator looked across with wide eyes, as if he had
heard something absurd. In his hand was the resignation letter submitted by
Anes.
And Anes answered without a moment's hesitation.
"Yes."
"Don't just repeat 'yes.' Convince me. You went through all sorts of
hardships at the tower and finally got the Imperial Administrator position,
and now you want to go back to the tower? Does that make sense?"
"I'm serious."
"Why are you doing this all of a sudden? Are you sick?"
But Anes had long made up her mind.
She always performed her duties to the best of her abilities, but she wasn't
foolish enough to accept being treated as expendable. Hence, she decided to
retire after the Penitence Palace mission.
The illusions she had about the Imperial Administrator position were
shattered.
"The work doesn't suit me."
"Could it be as hard as the Imperial Tower? It's better here!"
The Chief Administrator raised his voice in an attempt to hold onto Anes.
From his perspective, a competent newcomer like Anes was a rarity that
might come around once every few years. She was also quiet and diligent.
Letting her go felt like a severe loss.
However, Anes's expression remained as blank as ever.
Though she was merely an administrator here, Anes was a fairly wellknown magician at the Imperial Tower. No matter how tough life was there,
she never felt like she was treated as expendable.
The Chief Administrator spoke anxiously.
"I always emphasize this. It's easiest when you just carry out your duties. At
the tower, how often do you have to deal with people?"
"It's fine."
"I heard a new auditor is being appointed this time. What if they're the
exact opposite of you? Can you still endure it? It'll be too late to turn back
then! Even if you turn your back on the tower, you can't come back here!"
"Yes. It doesn't matter. I'll be going now."
Anes turned around, her short, black hair swaying.
"Anes, wait there for a moment! Anes!"
Despite the Chief Administrator's cries, her steps did not stop.
Click. Click.
She started turning the cube with a light heart.
Anes would now head to the Imperial Tower.
A restaurant in the bustling area near the Imperial Tower.
"…A letter?"
I furrowed my brows at the word "letter."
It was a natural reaction. Wasn't the root of all this the few letters I had
written while drunk? Could it be that the replies from the other four had just
arrived?
Fortunately, I soon realized that my guess was wrong.
"It's a letter sent from the tower. They didn't know your address, so they
sent it to the palace first. Would you like to read it?"
"Sure."
"If it was sent at this time, it's probably about the inauguration ceremony."
Fortunately, it wasn't a letter about the proposal. I spread out the two letters,
feeling relieved.
First, the first letter.
Dear Auditor,
Congratulations on your appointment as the auditor of the Imperial Tower
this year, and I wish you continued health and success. I am already looking
forward to seeing how your unrecorded career will be filled with
achievements at the tower.
I am Nox, the head of administration at the tower.
Isn't it difficult to convey sincerity and dedication with mere writing? We
have prepared an inauguration ceremony at the fine dining restaurant
'Dawn's Rest.' Please visit on time, and I will surely greet you.
'The head of administration at the Imperial Tower.'
As Solana said, it was about the inauguration ceremony. The head of
administration was a high-ranking position, though lower than the auditor. I
then proceeded to read the remaining letter.
Congratulations on your appointment as auditor.
It's really a pleasure to have a talent like you at the tower. May the magic
you use be blessed. I've never heard of a commoner thriving at the tower,
but I have high hopes for you.
I am Widro, the head of administration at the tower.
The auditor position is not easy, but I have a lot of information that could
help. I have prepared an inauguration ceremony at the fine dining restaurant
'Sunset's Breath.' I look forward to our pleasant meeting.
After reading both letters, I closed my eyes.
Two heads of administration, a single inauguration ceremony held at the
same time, but in different locations as indicated in the letters… All clues
pointed to only one thing.
"…Look at these guys."
This was definitely a faction.
There were two factions within the Imperial Tower.
The intention of the design to have me, the new auditor, visit only one side
on my inauguration day was obvious. They wanted to see which head of
administration I would align with from the very first day.
So, in simple terms…
─Who are you going to side with?
That's what they're asking. Just a bunch of fledglings.
My gaze turned to Solana across from me.
It was like a fresh sunflower was facing this way. She seemed curious about
the contents of the letters and my reaction, staring at me with bright eyes.
"Solana, do you know about Nox, the head of administration at the Imperial
Tower?"
"Yes, he's the leader of the Practical Faction."
"And Widro?"
"I know him. He's the leader of the opposite faction, the Theoretical
Faction."
Solana's brows furrowed.
"…Could it be that the letters were from those two?"
"Exactly."
"Oh dear, it doesn't seem like good news."
She put her small hand on her forehead.
"Actually, the Imperial Tower doesn't just have conflicts with the outside.
There's a sharp rivalry between the two factions inside as well. It's not
widely known, but those in the know are aware."
"A rivalry between two factions?"
"Yes. It's about theory versus practicality… That's the rivalry."
"I heard that magic scrolls have developed quite a bit."
"That's right. As the level of scrolls has risen significantly, many of the
existing spells are now being questioned."
Solana's subsequent explanation was simple and clear.
As scrolls had developed beyond a certain level, there was a sharp rivalry
within the Imperial Tower between the Practical Faction, which blindly
trusted scrolls, and the Theoretical Faction, which still adhered to the
traditional methods.
'Asking me to choose between the two, how absurd.'
Anyway, her explanation confirmed that there were factions and that they
were trying to involve me in this conflict structure.
A slight worry appeared on Solana's face.
"Did they make any unreasonable demands of you?"
"Don't worry about that part."
I had no intention of siding with either faction.
And I had no intention of being manipulated according to their whims.
What concerned me more was something else.
"How are my background and career currently known?"
"Hmm… Since it's erased, there isn't any career to speak of. Your status
would be listed as a commoner."
"Ah."
Of course. It made sense now.
What concerned me the most now was their attitude.
I reread the key sentences in the letters.
─I am already looking forward to seeing how your unrecorded career will
be filled with achievements at the tower.
'Let's see what achievements a guy with no career will accomplish.'
─I've never heard of a commoner thriving at the tower, but I have high
hopes for you.
'What kind of commoner sets foot in the tower? If you can thrive, go
ahead.'
The meaning was so clear that I couldn't help but laugh.
Phew.
I exhaled a long puff of Sun Grass smoke.
"I'm being treated like a complete parachute."
A commoner by birth with no career.
For the heads of administration who had been at the Imperial Tower for a
long time, there wouldn't be a better prey than this. How convenient and
pleasant it would be to chew me up and use me as a puppet auditor.
"…"
It was then that I felt Solana's gaze fixed on me.
She was looking at me with her chin resting on her hands on the table. At
first glance, she looked like a sunflower with a flower base.
I also chewed on Sun Grass silently and met her gaze. We had moments like
this in the past, where we just looked at each other without saying a word.
Solana was the first to break the silence.
"But, Teacher."
"Why?"
"Spending time together like this, doesn't it feel like that?"
"It does."
Immediately, we spoke simultaneously.
"It feels like a class."
"It feels like a date."
Then Solana squinted her eyes from side to side.
"…A class? What am I learning right now?"
"If you're top-notch, you should be able to learn from anything you see."
"That's enough. Anyway, this isn't a class."
Solana lightly waved her hand as if to dismiss it.
"Anyway, you look quite happy right now, Teacher. What is it about? Can I
hear it too?"
"Nothing special."
I chewed on the Sun Grass with a crunch.
The small popping sensation in my mouth. It felt good.
"They just want me to give them a sharp scolding."
It wasn't a difficult matter at all.
Just a bit annoying.