I Became a Civil Servant Who Can Use Magic

Viscount Felon, who had been hiding in his office, was bound and dragged out by the reinforcements.

What the viscount saw as he was being dragged out was Loen, looking at him with an indifferent expression while crossing her arms.

Loen and the viscount’s gazes collided.

“…”
“…”

Viscount Felon spoke.

“So you knew everything.”

A question mark appeared in Loen’s mind.
What do I know?

Looking at Loen, who didn’t show even the slightest change in expression, the viscount became convinced once again.
If only it weren’t for the Imperial Guard..

He raised his head to look at the blue sky.

Even though everything he had built up had crumbled, the sky was still unchangingly blue.

Then, the viscount, who bowed his head deeply, spoke as he passed by Loen.

“I have no regrets for my actions. Even if I could go back in time, my choice would remain the same.”
“??”

Loen looked at the viscount’s back with an expression of disbelief.

It seems he didn’t expect his core forces to be crushed by just two people before even starting the rebellion, as he had completely lost his will to fight.

There was no need for interrogation.
The viscount admitted to the charges willingly with a resigned face.

The rebellion plot of a margrave who should have been protecting the border.
Close cooperation with a high-ranking official of the Red Band.

Originally, Ria had planned to summarily execute the viscount, but as the situation grew bigger, that became impossible.
It was finally decided that the viscount would be transported to the capital, tried, and then publicly executed.

The knight commander and the vassals who participated in the rebellion also ended up imprisoned, waiting for their day of death.

“To think it was a plan to start a rebellion beyond simple communication.”
“Even though they clearly knew they’d be suppressed.. why on earth did they do it?”
“How should I know.”

Various words were exchanged among the reinforcements.

“I heard she repelled a 5-star elf magician in one go?”
“They mobilized about 150 knights of the Knightly Order, but were subdued instantly by a magician from the Inspection Department.”
“They say dozens of Red Band assault troops came for support but were all wiped out.”
“They’re real monsters.”

The end of the story was always the same.

As expected of the Inspection Department!

And Loen, the Inspection Department rookie who made a huge contribution to raising the status of the Inspection Department!

‘This is tough..’

Loen just found this situation burdensome.

It was to the point where she missed the tense atmosphere when Viscount Felon was biding his time.

It couldn’t be helped because…

If she goes here.

“Could that woman be the one?”
“Hey! Watch your mouth.”

‘I don’t really care though.’

If she goes there.

“Is that the person who took out a 5-star magician in one go?”
“If we mess with her, we might not even have bones left, huh?”

‘I can hear everything, you bastards.’

Because no matter where she went, as soon as Loen appeared, people would whisper, as rumors spread so quickly.

By the way, Ria contributed the most to spreading the rumors.

“Inspector Loen! So you were here, I’ve been looking for you for a while. Why are you sitting in such a secluded corner?”
“Ah, just because. But why were you looking for me?”
“Senior Ria says to come eat.”

Senior Ria and food. Going to the dining hall. Where a lot of people are gathered.
Gazes pouring from all directions. Senior Ria’s fuss.

Loen made an instant decision.

“I’m feeling a bit unwell…”
“Ah~ I see. Understood.”

The adjutant disappeared.
Loen let out a sigh of relief.

“Phew.”
A moment later, the adjutant appeared again.

“Inspector Loen. Senior Ria says to come eat.”
“Huh? I just said-”
“She says if you don’t come, you’ll sleep in the same room.”

After the viscount was captured, the ownership of Felon Fortress passed to the imperial family.
Thanks to that, Loen got to use separate rooms from Ria and enjoy comfortable sleeping arrangements.

But now in the same room again?
Being a body pillow again?

“Let’s go.”
“Are you feeling alright now?”
“Yes.”
“..?”

Loen headed to the dining hall with the adjutant.
As they approached the dining hall, the number of people gradually increased.
The whispering also gradually increased.

The moment they entered the dining hall.
As expected, the gazes of people around focused on them.
The bustling atmosphere of the dining hall suddenly subsided.

Anyone would think an enemy had appeared.
Loen grumbled inwardly.

“It seems everyone is quite afraid of Inspector Loen, haha.”
“I guess so. Even though I didn’t do anything particularly.”
“Hmm.”

The adjutant thought to himself.
Nothing much, she says.

“Maknae! Over here!”

The source of the rumors waved at Loen.
Loen, holding a tray, naturally sat across from Ria.
The adjutant took a seat next to Ria.

After the clash with Viscount Felon, Ria and Loen grew closer rapidly.
They had become close before by sharing a room, but after going through a life-and-death battle together (from Ria’s perspective), they decided to treat each other comfortably.
However, becoming comfortable wasn’t only advantageous.

“Well~ Look who it is. Isn’t it the witch of the Inspection Team?”

There she goes again.
Loen slightly pursed her lips.

She didn’t know because she was dispatched to Viscount Felon’s territory right after joining, but.
As it turns out, Senior Ria had a very lively personality.

Due to the suspicious atmosphere felt from the moment they entered the viscount’s territory, and the following psychological warfare with the viscount, she had been relatively quiet until now.

Not anymore.
As the threat has disappeared and the inspection dispatch is nearing its end, Senior Ria revealed her original personality.
A personality that likes to talk a lot, is easy-going, and enjoys playing pranks.

“Um, can’t you not use the word ‘witch’?”
“Why? It suits you well~ The only female magician in the Inspection Department, and your appearance is, how should I say~ fierce.. no, mysterious. It’s a perfect match with a witch, I’m telling you. Right, adjutant?”
“That’s right.”

What’s right about that?
“Or should I change it to a different nickname?”
“Didn’t you say you weren’t the one who spread the ‘witch’ nickname?”

Our maknae is sharper than I thought.
Ria suddenly pretended not to hear.

“Did I say that~”

Loen sighed.
Geez. It’s not like she’s a precious child, what is this.

Loen, who uses polite speech to her superiors.
But when talking with Senior Ria, cases ending with ‘-yo’ are gradually increasing.
“Don’t you have any other nicknames?”
“Hmm…”

Ria closely examined Loen’s face.
Black hair, red eyes, white skin, pretty but cold impression.

Her gaze gradually moved lower.
Large, slender, tall for a woman, the uniform suits her very well.

Ria nodded and concluded.
And as if about to say something amazing, she looked around and leaned forward.

Loen and the adjutant gulped.
They waited for her mouth to open.

What kind of new nickname would it be?

“There isn’t one.”
“…”
“Pft! Ahem. I’m sorry.”

The adjutant burst into laughter.
A vein popped up on Loen’s forehead.
Even when the knight commander was rambling, Loen had shouted ‘You keep talking, I’ll cast magic’, but this time…

Suddenly, she remembered what Senior Gilbert had said before going on the inspection dispatch.

Going with Ria? You’re going to have quite a hard time.

That wasn’t just an empty remark.

“Maknae. You’re not angry, are you?”
“Me? Of course not.”

Loen claimed innocence while raising one corner of her mouth.

She’s angry.
Ria and the adjutant were certain.

“By the way, is there no information about the viscount’s son?”
“Ah~ that? It’s obvious without looking. He must have smuggled his precious child to Allied Nations territory before starting the rebellion, right? No need to pay attention to it.”
“I see..”
Other agencies will take care of it.
Ria swallowed the rest of her words.

The boy, Darus, who she thought was the protagonist but turned out not to be.
The kid seemed really nice.. it’s a shame.

‘I hope you’re doing well there.’

“Ah! Come to think of it, we’ll meet the team leader when we return this time~”
“The team leader?”

During the time Loen joined the Inspection Team, the Inspection Department’s chief and team leader were away on a distant inspection dispatch, so she hasn’t seen their faces even once until now.

“Yeah. They should have arrived at headquarters by now?”

The team leader.
I wonder what kind of person they are. I hope they’re a good person.
Loen asked Ria.

“What’s the team leader like? Their personality or appearance, things like that?”
“Hmm~ Hmm.”

Ria, who was pondering, met eyes with the adjutant.
The adjutant nodded slightly.
You too? Yeah. Me too.

“Cute.”
“A scary person.”
“Pardon?”

The opinions are too extreme?
Loen made an expression of disbelief.

“Is that all?”
“And a demon.”
“A demon?”
“Shh!”

Hup.
Loen hurriedly covered her mouth.
All sorts of thoughts flashed through her mind.

What, a demon? Why is a demon in the Inspection Department?
I never heard or saw anything like this in the original novel?

Ria continued.

“I don’t know the details either. They’re a person with many secrets. But they’ve definitely been imperialized, so don’t worry. Ah! And you must never! say things like ‘short’ or ‘kiddo’ or ‘little one’ in front of the team leader.”

For reference, imperialization refers to the state where non-human races have loyalty to the Emperor and the Empire installed.

But still.
The nonsense about a demon being imperialized…
It was as shocking as saying a dog could speak human language.
Loen gave up thinking at that point.

I’ll know when I meet them.
Setting aside the team leader, then what about the chief?

“What kind of person is the chief?”
“Ah~ that bastard chief?”

Loen’s pupils shook.
The connection between the words ‘chief’ and ‘bastard’ was extremely smooth.

Maybe his first name is Chief and last name is Bastard? Something like that?

“He’s a bastard crazy about women.”
“Hmm..”

Loen gained a great realization.
The only normal people in the Inspection Department are me and Senior Gilbert..

After the meal, Loen spent the day killing time in a corner, avoiding people’s eyes.

The next morning.
Loen, who woke up from sleep, changed clothes and went outside.
However, the atmosphere in the fortress was very unsettled.

Did something happen?

Loen caught a soldier running down the corridor and asked.

“Why is everyone so busy from the morning?”
“In-Inspector! Well.. they say the Imperial Princess is visiting Felon Fortress. So everyone’s busy preparing to welcome her.”

The soldier disappeared quickly beyond the corridor with a look that said ‘Is that answer enough?’

Why is the Imperial Princess coming here?
A question mark appeared in Loen’s mind.
Even after thinking repeatedly, no particular answer came out, so she went outside the castle for now.

Coming outside, she saw soldiers running here and there, cleaning the wide open space between the fortress and the castle gate.
They even laid down a red carpet on the ground and cut the grass as if measured with a ruler, giving ‘angles’ even to the grass.

This somehow familiar feeling..
Loen was suddenly reminded of her past life.

“Maknae! You heard the news too, right?”
“Yes.”
“I wonder why the Imperial Princess, who was about to return to the capital after finishing her tour schedule, is coming here~”
“…”
At that moment, there was a sound of soldiers freaking out from the direction of the castle gate.

“Whoa..”
“Aaah!”

The soldiers guarding the castle gate threw themselves to the sides.
Soon after, a car crossed the castle gate and entered the fortress.

The gazes of people around all focused in that direction.
Loen and Ria were no exception.

Screech.

The car suddenly swerved sharply and charged towards where Loen was.
When it reached Loen, the car body spun sideways and stopped in that state in front of Loen.

Loen and Ria’s mouths opened.

The reason they were surprised was none other than.
The car was a snow-white vehicle with intricate golden patterns engraved on it, exclusively for the imperial family.

It arrived already..?

The woman with golden wavy hair sitting in the driver’s seat of the car turned her head sharply to look directly at Loen.
She rested her arm on the window and greeted Loen.

“Long time no see?”

While the woman’s golden eyes continued to look at Loen, Loen just kept her mouth firmly shut.

Sensing the unusual atmosphere between the two women, Ria quietly slipped away.

Loen, who let out a small sigh inwardly, finally opened her mouth.

“…… It’s an honor to meet you, Your Highness.”