I Became a Civil Servant Who Can Use Magic

The meeting about Viscount Felon began.
The attendees were the department head, Senior Gilbert, Senior Ria, and Loen.

Loen heard that the team leader and chief were currently driving hammers into someone’s head somewhere outside.

“Let’s begin the meeting.”

At the department head’s signal, Senior Ria stood up and walked to the podium.

Click.

When she activated the ‘magic projector’, the contents of the report were displayed on the wall.

Loen marveled inwardly.
The Inspection headquarters uses such good projectors..
The resolution isn’t much different from the projectors used on Earth.

“Since this is the final review, I’ll explain everything from the beginning again.”
“Go ahead.”

Even the lively Senior Ria became serious during this time.
While she took out documents from her chest and stacked them on the desk next to the podium,
The department head and Senior Gilbert crossed their arms, ready to listen.

Since Loen knew nothing about the content, she quickly skimmed through the report before Ria started speaking.

==
[ Liber Felon ]
Title: Viscount
Territory: Felon Fortress and 3 small cities
.
.
Available Forces

Felon Regiment (6,000 men)
Felon Knightly Order (150 men)
.
.

Loen, who was reading the report, was puzzled.

Isn’t this too little force for a viscount?

The department head, who was secretly watching Loen while pretending to look straight ahead, opened his mouth.

“Rookie. As you’ve probably heard already, you’re included in the inspection of Viscount Felon. So if you have any questions, ask them now.”
“Then.. may I ask right away?”
“Speak.”

She already has questions?
The seniors’ eyes turned to Loen.

Loen was flustered by the sudden focus of attention.
I was just going to ask since it came to mind…

“A viscount should mean a margrave, but for that, the military force seems quite insufficient.”

The department head was impressed.
She hit the nail on the head.
Is this because she’s from a ducal family, despite appearances?

Ria, who was organizing the materials, answered instead of the department head.

“You’re right. While it’s not as crucial as the eastern front, the southern border is still an important place. Normally, they should maintain at least 30,000 troops.”
“Yet they only have 6,000 troops. It’s one of two things. Either there’s an unavoidable circumstance, or they’re deliberately reducing their forces. Well, it’s obviously the latter.”

Gilbert continued from Ria’s words.
Finally, the department head concluded.

“Viscount Felon is diverting military funds to support the elves. It’s beyond communicating with the enemy; he’s actually nurturing them.”

At those words, Loen’s sense of reason disappeared far away.
Is he crazy?

A margrave who’s been given the duty of protecting the border region is supporting the enemy while reducing his forces?
Why on earth? It’s only a matter of time before he’s caught anyway?

“I don’t understand.. What on earth is he so desperate for?”

At Loen’s words, Ria flipped through the report.
She stopped at a part that included someone’s photo.

A group of elves wearing red bands on their heads.
A middle-aged noble who seemed to be in conversation with them.

It was a photo capturing Viscount Felon communicating with elves.

“This photo was taken by a dispatch inspector infiltrating the viscount’s territory. You could say it’s irrefutable evidence.”
“Rookie. Have you heard about the ‘Red Band’?”
“Yes. I know to some extent.”

For reference, the world Loen is living in was based on a novel from Earth.
Of course, it’s unknown whether this world was novelized in another dimension, or if the novel became reality.

Anyway, Loen could be called a reincarnator in the novel.
Although she’s forgotten most of the novel’s content.

Thus, Loen.
Although she had never heard of the Red Band in this life, thanks to her past life’s memories, she could confidently say she knew about the Red Band.

“Aren’t they an anti-imperial elven force steeped in extreme supremacism?”
“You know well. You’re right. They’re stupid pointy-eared bastards who still can’t forget the glory of the Elven Empire. It’s not widely known to the public, but it’s an open secret that they’re in cahoots with the Allied Nations. They’re very! vicious bastards. Have you heard about the book ‘The Elven Struggle’…”

The department head revealed his anger towards the Red Band with an expression like he wanted to chew them up.
Loen learned for the first time that the department head could make such an expression.

His loyalty to the Empire is incredible?
Is this the level needed to become a department head?

The department head, who had been ranting for over 30 minutes about why they must crush the Red Band, finally closed his eyes.
It was to calm his emotions.

I got excited in front of the rookie.

Ria, who was looking at the department head with an expression of disbelief, said a word.

“Shall we take a break for a moment? Department Head?”
“Let’s do that.”

The briefing on the plan hadn’t even started, but a break time suddenly arrived.

Loen didn’t even get an answer to her question.
About what the viscount was so desperate for..

Ria approached Loen, who was inwardly chanting ‘I want to go home’ while looking out the window in the corridor.

“Maknae! What are you doing here?”
“Ah, I’m just spacing out.”
“Really? Should I space out with you?”

Saying that, Ria stood next to Loen and looked out the window with her.
Loen’s pupils trembled uncontrollably.
What is she trying to do?

Gilbert, who witnessed the scene of the supervising senior and the rookie spacing out together amicably, shook his head.

“Looks like they’re getting along well.”

Loen, who was suddenly treated the same as Ria, came to her senses and asked Ria a question.

“Senior Ria. I still haven’t heard the answer, why did the viscount participate in the communicationㅡ.”
“Ah. That? The superficial reason is because of the continuously decreasing central support funds. The eastern front is intensifying, so most of the central support funds are being funneled there.”

How on earth are we supposed to maintain 30,000 troops with such meager support funds!
It’s been a long time since there was a conflict in the southern border region anyway, so I’ll reduce my forces as well.
We need to make a living.

This was the viscount’s stated justification for reducing his military.

Still, reducing from 30,000 to 6,000 is a bit…

“Then what’s the real reason?”
“His son.”
“Because of his son?”
“One day, his only heir suddenly fell under an unidentified curse. Even when they brought in skilled magicians from nearby, they couldn’t cure it. But an unidentified elven magician who came up from the south lifted the curse at once. What do you think happened after that?”

Afterwards, it’s said that the viscount treated the elven magician like a state guest and listened to everything he said.
Even if it meant betraying the Empire and helping the Red Band…

This was the fact confirmed by the Inspection Team.

“The break time is over, shall we go back in?”
“Yes.”

The resumed meeting this time flowed properly without going off on tangents.
Ria skillfully conducted the meeting based on the prepared materials.

The meeting started with what pretext they would use to go for inspection in the viscount’s territory,
And ended with saying they would only execute Viscount Felon and the vassals who actively participated in the communication.

“Senior Ria. Remember, our target is not the entire viscount’s territory, but only Viscount Felon and some of his vassals. Be as careful as possible to avoid any harm to the imperial army.”
“Yes~”
“And, if possible, I’d like to capture the elven magician alive.”
“That depends on the situation. No, with the maknae here, should it be enough?”

Ria looked at Loen and smiled.

Loen also forced a smile in return.
I was just planning to see the world and return…

The department head continued.

“Are you taking your adjutant?”
“Adjutant? Hmm.”

Ria put her hand on her chin and fell into thought.
Then, as if she had made a decision, she shook her head. Then nodded again.
No. No. Should I just take him?

“I’ll take him.”
“And. Don’t forget that you should always assume the worst-case scenario. It’s unlikely, but. If by any chance there’s a direct conflict with the viscount’s forces, escape with the rookie and the adjutantㅡ.”
“Don’t worry~ We have a magician who can make even a 6-star swordsman retreat, right?”
“Ahem. I see.”

Loen broke out in a cold sweat.

At the same time, she realized that the Inspection Department was not to be taken lightly.

To casually discuss escape against forces exceeding thousands and a knightly order of over a hundred.
What kind of conversation is this?

After returning home from work, Loen took out a notebook she had carefully kept in a corner.

“Wow, look at the dust.”

Whoo.

On the front of the notebook, it was written in crooked letters:

‘Original content. Things I remember.’

When she was young, just as she became able to write.
It was a notebook where she had written down what she knew about the original novel before her memories faded.

Loen read through the contents written in the notebook after a long time.

Since she had to make a long journey to the southern border region, she might encounter someone related to the original novel.

While reading the notebook, pff.
A laugh burst out.

“I haven’t heard any news about the original protagonist even after searching with my eyes peeled, would I really encounter them now?”

Loen folded the notebook and put it back in its place.
Then she jumped onto the bed.

Originally, the time Loen reincarnated was much earlier than the original story.
By estimation, it’s at least several decades earlier.
The protagonist might not even have been born yet…

“Or rather, if I reincarnated about a hundred years earlier, I hope nothing happens until I die of old age.”

I hope so.

Loen went to bed, holding onto a hope that was unlikely to come true.