The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success-Chapter 8

Luka let out a sigh as he returned to his desk.

‘Seriously, Namia is just...’

He sighed again, the image of Namia’s always indifferent face flashing through his mind, and with it came a fresh wave of frustration.

‘I mean, what’s with those half-lidded eyes? She can’t even bother to open them properly? How lazy can you be?’

Namia Roafi.

She entered the academy as the top scorer, attracting everyone’s attention—then steadily hovered at the bottom of the rankings. Most people just shrugged it off with a, “She must’ve gotten lucky on the entrance exam.”

But Luka was different.

Because ever since that exam, he had set his sights on competing with Namia, watching her constantly.

‘I don’t know much about defensive scrolls, but... it felt like something amazing.’

Of course, that talent was just one of many things Namia had been hiding all this time.

And just like every other time, it would probably get quietly buried again.

‘But what the hell’s really going on with her? I knew she was treated horribly by the Baron and Baroness since academy days...’

He’d long noticed that the Roafi couple only ever paid attention to Juan.

When they came to visit the academy, not once did they show any interest in Namia.

And Namia, in turn, had always acted like that neglect was completely normal.

‘Everything about her is strange.’

He’d always thought she looked a bit thin—but once he actually examined her condition, it felt even worse.

‘If her nutrition’s that bad... wait, even though she says overtime pay is hers, she doesn’t even buy food? What’s she saving that money for?’

He just wanted, for once, to compete with her at full strength.

To be recognized, even now, as her legitimate rival.

Luka let out another long, conflicted sigh.

“Luka.”

His direct supervisor, the Emergency Team leader, suddenly called out.

“Do you think Miss Namia Roafi will regain consciousness by this afternoon?”

“Huh?”

Luka blinked, then answered,

“Consciousness...? She already woke up earlier this # Nоvеlight # morning.”

“What?”

The team leader shot to his feet, flustered. Then added awkwardly,

“The Crown Prince said he’d come visit once she woke up.”

“...What?”

Luka’s eyes widened, mouth hanging open.

The Imperial Knights existed to protect the Crown Prince. That much was obvious.

So like Namia said, Luka had just assumed she’d receive a formal commendation and that would be the end of it.

“The Crown Prince—His Highness, the future of the Empire—cares that much about Namia?”

“Exactly. Honestly, even if those scrolls hadn’t been there, he probably would’ve handled it just fine. But still, he insists on thanking her personally.”

At that, Luka recalled what Namia had said earlier and gave a bitter smile.

That no one would care...

Even his own boss had dismissed it.

This content is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

Even though Kiaros had referred to her as “the one who saved his life.”

‘Then... is the Scroll Department going to handle this the way Namia predicted?’

He hadn’t commented earlier since it wasn’t his department.

But the idea that she might get punished instead of praised—it was suffocating just thinking about it.

‘If I were in Namia’s situation, would I be able to stay passionate about anything?’

And then, Luka swallowed dryly as a realization hit him.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

‘Juan gets all the credit, her parents take all her pay, and even if she shows her abilities, her superiors just stomp her down.’

The way Namia had calmly talked about her future stuck with him—her tone so flat, it hurt.

Just how many times must she have been crushed on her own to reach the point where she’s that numb to unfairness?

He was starting to understand why her expression always looked so lifeless.

‘If she’s that sure her effort won’t change anything... then just how little does she expect out of life?’

While Luka was deep in thought, the team leader asked urgently,

“Anyway, she’s still at the ward, right? We need to report this quickly.”

“No... She already left the ward. She went back to work.”

The team leader’s jaw dropped.

“Wait, she got discharged this morning and went straight to work? Are you serious?”

“That’s what I said. I figured she should rest for at least a day, but she was really firm about going in.”

The team leader sighed, clearly stressed.

He ruffled his hair, then asked again,

“Wait, so she went to the Scroll Manufacturing Division?”

“Team Leader, that department’s name isn’t—”

“Ah, right, right. I better notify His Highness right away. If he planned to go to the ward, he’ll probably head straight for the Scroll Distribution Department instead.”

This was definitely a situation even Namia hadn’t seen coming.

***

Luka kept insisting I should take at least one more day off.

Naturally, I didn’t listen. I left the ward right on time.

‘My precious vacation days... my hard-earned medical leave... No way I’m using them.’

With the same blank expression I wore every morning, I crossed the Imperial garden on my way to work.

Maybe I’d said too much to Luka—but whatever. I decided to just forget it.

I didn’t even have the energy to feel embarrassed anymore.

‘There’s no way I’m using vacation. I’d rather use up my lifespan.’

Like every job, there was a fixed number of vacation and sick days you could use per year.

If you didn’t use them by year’s end, they’d be converted into cash.

Just like overtime, it wasn’t listed on your official pay stub—it was handed out in cash.

‘That’s my money. Really mine!’

I had to save desperately, grinding through the hell that was the Roafi family.

On the outside, I had my usual half-lidded, uninterested expression. But inside, I was screaming with passion louder than anyone.

‘I’m doing okay! I swear I’m doing fine! As long as there’s no war, I’ll manage! I’ve got stuff I need to do!’

Sure, all that “find my real dad” stuff wasn’t grand enough to be part of the original novel. Just a small, personal goal from a nobody.

But stopping the war—that was my real, honest goal. So I’d do whatever I could from where I stood.

‘These people pulling the strings aren’t going to stop just because they failed once.’

But that was them. Me? I had a job to get to.

So with a body lighter than ever, thanks to the IV, I arrived at the Scroll Management Department’s office.

‘Whew.’

I took a deep breath, then cracked the door open just a sliver.

I opened it as carefully as I could, but the click of the handle echoed much too loudly.

And in that tense atmosphere, all the department’s eyes immediately turned to me.

‘Yup. This vibe is definitely bad.’

Exactly as expected.

As I quietly moved toward my desk, my immediate supervisor, Oson, stomped over.

His face looked grim.

“Namia.”

“Ah, yes...”

“Let’s talk.”

Of course.

That meant, I’m about to grind you into the floor for a while.

As I bowed my head, Oson snapped sharply,

“What are we supposed to do about this? Huh? What are we gonna do?”

That wasn’t a question asking for solutions. It meant shut up and take it.

The air instantly turned icy, and everyone else in the department fell into dead silence.

Then Oson shouted again,

“Do you even realize what your little stunt did to us?”

His voice was so loud it practically rattled the whole hallway.

Back when I was new, my heart would’ve pounded just hearing someone else get scolded.

But I was four years in now. So by this point...

“There was a discrepancy between the reported number of scrolls and the actual number! We’re officially an incompetent department now, thanks to you!”

What was the lunch menu today?

Oh, right—cube steak was on the schedule this week...

“Look, if you’re that talented, why didn’t you just go join the Magic Tower?!”

Wait, was that yesterday or today?