Chapter 48
He possessed great power, and knowing how to use people as tools, he rose quickly. It didn’t take him long to reach the top of the Mage Tower. Many had shed blood along the way, which made it possible.
But at the very top, someone was already there. A presence so strong that, for the first time in his life, Utiath couldn’t even dare to challenge it. For the first time since ascending the tower, he felt powerless.
Just a little more… just a little more power. With that, this world would soon be mine.
Then, his eyes fell upon a woman. A delicate, almost herbivore-like figure hidden among the Helderios monsters. She looked small, almost bite-sized—but the power she held was beyond imagination.
If only he could harness that power!
He crept toward her silently, as he always did—reading her mind, turning her into a tool, and claiming that immense power for himself.
“Would you like to enter the Mage Tower with me? Someone like you could enjoy wealth and glory. You could rise even higher than Davien—or even the Emperor himself.”
Gazing into her innocent red eyes, Utiath began his subtle manipulation.
Who wouldn’t want wealth and glory in this world?
Follow me, and you could have all the riches and honor in the world. Don silks and jewels. See everyone kneel beneath you.
His cunning words, like creeping vines, began wrapping around her heart.
Soon… that power would be mine.
But his plan immediately went awry.
“No. Please leave immediately.”
Her clear, crimson eyes instantly repelled Utiath’s manipulation. Her resolve was solid—there was no space for his trickery to take hold.
He had been certain of success, and when it failed, he was thrown off guard. He even resorted to an old, cheap seduction trick he hadn’t used in a while. Seeing the fear in her eyes, he felt a momentary thrill.
But the result was…
“Kyaaa!”
A massive book struck him.
Blood ran down his swollen forehead.
Ha, look at that.
At the top, for the first time, he had been struck by a woman. A humiliating failure.
But he wasn’t the type to give up after a single failure.
He approached the second encounter carefully, planning to charm her with gentlemanly manners.
Yet seeing her trembling red eyes, glowing white hair, and sensing her mana and aura as he had before, desire surged uncontrollably. He couldn’t help teasing her just a little—wanting to see those shaking crimson eyes again.
As he watched her shiver, Utiath realized she was rather beautiful. Her white hair and large eyes…
Well, not as beautiful as him, but rare enough to be remarkable in the Empire.
That thought didn’t last long.
“You have the power to rule not just this Empire, but the entire continent. You know it too, don’t you? So why are you using it to heal weaklings?”
To use such immense power merely as a healer for fragile people? It was laughable.
Even funnier was her answer.
“My goal is to live a long, peaceful life. I have no interest in ruling a continent or the world.”
She wanted to live quietly, despite such power? Without harming anyone?
If she couldn’t be mine, he wanted to kill her right there. His hand clenched.
No—he needed her power. He suppressed the murderous intent bubbling inside.
Ha, there was no way he could waste this opportunity and kill her now.
He watched her silently. She was a prize beyond imagination.
“Wow, you really think that way, huh? Humble, perhaps? I like it even more.”
Hahaha. Look at that—just a little persuasion and she’d be easy to manipulate.
Her weak personality, her naïve thoughts, all of it pleased him.
He regretted his hasty attempt to seize her power on the first meeting.
But what could he do? It was already done. He could start again from now. Utiath grinned.
Though Helderios was a significant obstacle, it didn’t matter. In fact, it made things more exciting. The harder it was, the sweeter the reward, wasn’t that how it worked?
I’ll make you mine. And I’ll let you live the long, peaceful life you desire. Forever, in my tower that no one else can reach.
“Your power will be mine.”
Utiath leaned back in his chair and laughed maniacally.
At the top of the Mage Tower, a meeting was in progress.
The wizards conversed quietly among themselves, and though their master suddenly convulsed with loud laughter, they kept their mouths shut, exchanging wary glances as if by unspoken agreement.
Today was the first day of work in the capital.
I woke up bright and early, put on my newly issued senior healer outfit, grabbed my wand, and left the mansion early in the morning.
A newcomer can’t be late on the first day, right?
The Helderios family’s grand carriage was too extravagant for me, so I had planned to ride a small carriage borrowed from the Fifth Knight Squadron commander. That was before I saw the twins waiting in front of the mansion, along with the absurdly large carriage.
They insisted I ride the carriage and refused to let me go otherwise. They barreled toward the medical headquarters.
When we arrived, the head of the headquarters greeted me personally, smiling broadly.
“We’ve been waiting for you, Kae!”
A skinny man with a salt-and-pepper beard bowed deeply—ninety degrees—just for me, a mere subordinate.
“What…?”
Lloyd and Davien’s eyes glinted with hostility as they watched him.
“You understand what to do, right?”
“If anything like last time happens, I’ll destroy it completely.”
The head smiled benevolently.
“Absolutely. I’ll stake my life to ensure it never happens again.”
He continued bowing until the carriage disappeared.
“Kae! Follow me, please.”
He escorted me to my office with utmost politeness. Every healer we passed bowed respectfully.
Excuse me—I’m just a new employee on my first day…
It felt like I was the inspecting chairman.
He quickly guided me to my office. Inside, a cute healer with pink hair tied high stood waiting.
“Lucy, you’re here promptly. Come over! This is Kae, joining us today.”
Lucy hesitated, then approached reluctantly.
Ah, she’s my senior healer colleague.
First steps in social life start with a bright greeting, right? I bowed politely.
“Hello! I’m Kae, joining today. I look forward to working with you.”
Lucy’s eyes widened in panic. She glanced nervously at the head.
“What are you doing! Bow properly!”
At his scolding, Lucy bowed deeply, still trembling.
“H-hello. I’m Lucy.”
Her terrified expression… this was the first time I had a senior bow so formally. Fear filled her eyes.
“If you have tasks, ask Lucy. She does excellent work and is quick to notice details. If anything bothers you, call me anytime. Have a pleasant day.”
The head smiled and left immediately.
Making a newcomer assign tasks to a senior? What is this?
Lucy sighed, then went to a small desk in the corner piled high with documents. Around it were many boxes, which she struggled to organize. It looked almost impossible to handle alone.
“I’ll help you!”
I took a box from her. She shouted in surprise.
“Ah! No, Kae! You should rest! I’ll handle it.”
Kae… I thought the healer headquarters followed strict seniority—first in, first served. Seeing her tremble and refuse, I gently placed the box back on the desk.
Davien, Lloyd… what did you do to my workplace? I can’t even work.
“Then… what should I do?”
“Uh… just rest for now. That’s your desk.”
The desk she pointed to was wide and luxurious, a stark contrast to Lucy’s small, shabby corner desk.
Huh, I’ve landed quite the parachute.
I sat down gloomily. The chair was soft and comfortable, clearly expensive. Lucy busily sorted through the mountain of documents.
Morning passed.
I spent the entire morning sitting idly in my chair, while my senior floundered through piles of paperwork.
‘You want me to waste a whole year like this?’
No way.
I stood up again and approached her. Her face went pale, as if she had met the reaper.
“Is… is something wrong?”
Seeing her trembling, I realized I could do anything and she’d still be scared. At least I could relax. I lifted one of the document boxes beside her desk.
“Ah!”
“I’ll help you with this.”
I returned to my seat and started organizing the papers.
This was nothing—something I had always done back in Zeronia. Treating patients all day, sorting cursed documents after work, then sleeping. A tough, busy life had made me capable of handling paperwork.
Lucy, we’ll handle this together.
By the end of today, this mountain of paperwork will be gone! I began organizing rapidly.
