Page 175

I’ve been plagued by ominous dreams ever since I saw the 1st Manager’s pouch, which seemed worthy of at least unique grade.

Those were dreams wherein the spy’s limbs were hung in each of the four cardinal directions of the academy, with their head in front of the main building. Those dreams also included the Principal, who was driven into an enraged rejuvenation by the sight. Was it a demonic summoning ritual or something?

Ah, and the students panicking and complaining to their families was just the icing on the cake. Upon hearing their children’s tearful complaints, the families protested to the administration. Thanks to that, I got a thorough scolding from the Minister.

‘Why does it feel so real?’

These dreams, which selected only the worst of scenarios, felt all the more maddening because of their plausibility. It was even more infuriating because a minor slip could lead to this reality.

It was frustrating. Now, I had to avoid even the smallest disciplinary action at all costs. Writing just one report could instantly land me in prison, branding me as a repeat offender in the eyes of the authorities.

For a moment, I imagined Marghetta crying outside the prison bars. Such imaginations always seemed to come to me in high quality.

The guilt was overwhelming. Should I prepare some poison for a noble end?

“Oppa?”

“Ah.”

Louise’s voice pulled me back from the brink of despair.

“What’s wrong? Is something bothering you?”

Louise looked at me with a pitying gaze when I asked her while struggling to mask my expression.

“I think oppa is the one with something on your mind.”

I couldn’t find a proper response. There was indeed something, and it was important.

However, realizing that I had given it away through my expression only added to my sorrow. I used to maintain a poker face, but I’ve been getting caught too often lately.

‘Is she that perceptive?’

Perhaps she also benefited from the universal protagonist buff aside from her own romantic dilemmas. Or maybe not.

Anyway, hiding everything was no longer an option since I had been caught by Louise. Insisting that there was nothing wrong would only make me seem more suspicious, prompting her to pry further.

This also made sense considering the 1st Manager’s behavior. Given her personality, she wouldn’t just sit quietly at the academy. She was likely to storm into the club room for a visit.

‘It’s better to tell her.’

The unexpected visit would seem odder if I remained silent, especially when I knew it was happening.

Plus, the 1st Manager had already met the club members during the club fair. It should be okay to talk about it.

“Actually, we’re expecting a guest.”

After a brief hesitation, I finally spoke up.

Yes, it’d be better to be upfront and keep them busy in the club room. After all, it was the 2nd Manager’s job to roam around and hunt for internal spies. The 1st Manager would only have to play her role after the spy was found.

“A guest?”

“Yes, the one with white hair and red eyes from the club fair.”

“Ah, that unnie?”

She nodded, remembering clearly. Indeed, it was hard to forget the 1st Manager’s distinctive appearance.

“She’s quite the free spirit.”

Louise seemed to understand when I mentioned the troublesome nature of our guest. Strictly speaking, it was made all the more convincing because my description was accurate.

Dealing with both the 1st Manager and the Red Wave was bothersome.

‘Shit.’

How did we end up with these guests?

“She likes bread, so I should prepare some in advance.”

The gentle smile on Louise’s face as she spoke made me feel even more frustrated. Why were the guests like this when the host was so kind?

“You don’t have to go out of your way; she’s not a picky eater.”

“Hehe, but we should still treat our guests well.”

Louise was so kind, and yet…

“We’re here.”

“Haha, we’re a bit late.”

Soon after, the group of tardy club members filed in.

‘Is it all about balance?’

Seeing the members made me wonder. Was the club leader’s boundless kindness a counterbalance to its unusual members?

Perhaps Louise was the moral compass of the club.

***

Riding in a carriage for long periods was tedious. It was bumpy and stuffy. Besides, you’d sometimes have to sleep outdoors if you couldn’t find a town or city to stay in at night.

But this time, the journey was enjoyable.

What was a little carriage ride when I was heading to meet my boss? I’d walk to the edge of the continent if I had to.

“La la la~”

I hummed to myself in excitement.

“Are you that happy?”

The 2nd Manager asked the obvious.

“I would have been happier if I went alone.”

“Then you should try being the spy hunter.”

The 2nd Manager’s mocking smirk was irritating, so I retorted sharply.

“Cut it out!”

And then, I hit him. How dare someone so weak talk back to me?

The Executive Manager once said that there was only a one-letter difference between being right and a beating. I was only acting in accordance with the Executive Manager’s beliefs.

I nodded in satisfaction as I watched the 2nd Manager squirm at the slightest touch. His reactions had been so good lately that it felt so satisfying to hit him.

“I wish it could stay like this.”

“What a terrible thing to say.”

True, it was a dreadful statement.

But I kept that thought to myself. Either way, I had already fulfilled today’s quota for tormenting.

“We should arrive by evening, right?”

“Yes, that should be about right.”

I glanced at the map and responded to the 2nd Manager, who was rubbing his shoulder. We had just passed through the lands of Baron Landon, so we should indeed arrive by evening.

“I never expected the Red Wave to be involved with the academy.”

He also added that we couldn’t handle them like in the old days, making me tilt my head in confusion. The way he spoke seemed as if he had dealt with them before.

“Have you encountered them before?”

“Often, when I was a team member. Why do you act as if you’ve never seen them?”

“I only saw them once before becoming a manager.”

The Red Wave was notoriously difficult to encounter. The empire had a zero-tolerance policy towards them, often resulting in on-site execution. Even attempts to capture them for interrogation often ended with their self-destruction.

That was why I had only seen them once when I was a team member. And even then, I wasn’t fully involved in the interrogation.

“It’s unfair that you saw them on your own. It was difficult for me to encounter the Red Wave.”

It felt both unfair and frustrating that the 2nd Manager was monopolizing encounters with such elusive enemies.

“What can I do? The previous Executive Manager ordered us to kill them all.”

The 2nd Manager’s nonchalant shrug irked me further. The previous Executive Manager was always the issue—he was no fun, not flexible, and not impressive at all.

If I had any unpleasant experiences during my time in the Prosecutors’ Office, then it was almost always because of the previous Executive Manager. Life had been much more enjoyable since boss, the current Executive Manager, took over.

“…But wasn’t the previous Executive Manager the Minister?”

I thought out loud, suddenly remembering. Wasn’t the person who served as the Executive Manager before our current Executive Manager the Minister? Although his tenure was short, he did serve, didn’t he?

“Not officially, no. He was promoted to Minister before the Emperor even approved it.”

“Wow.”

So it was technically a double promotion. That’s impressive, though it’s not something I’d envy.

“Anyway, back when we were still under the previous Executive Manager, an entire village would be flattened if they spotted any traces of the Red Wave.”

Hearing that reminded me of something. They reasoned that everyone could potentially be an accomplice, so wiping them out was justified.

Thinking about it now, it didn’t seem sane. It wasn’t even efficient. Instead, it just drove people to hide in fear or act out in anger.

“We can’t exactly flatten the academy now. This is tricky.”

In our current situation, that approach wasn’t even an option. The previous Executive Manager’s methods were…

“So let’s do it right this time. We should aim to capture as many as possible, alive.”

“Yesss~”

I nodded, pleased with the agreement. The 2nd Manager finding spies meant more resources for me.

Meeting the Executive Manager was good enough for me, but this wasn’t bad, either.

As my mood gradually improved, I turned to look at the object beside me.

‘Will he like it?’

I prepared a gift this time, unlike during the club fair.

This was also something the Executive Manager said when the Minister was imprisoned.

So, the Executive Manager should like it too. Being under probation or imprisoned was essentially the same.

‘It’s said to be a nutritious dish in Armein.’

I also took care in selecting the menu. Just giving him tofu would be too bland.

The people of Armein were impressive. Who would’ve thought to make a cake out of tofu?

***

I was resting in my lodging when I suddenly heard a knock on the door.

They had finally come.

“Coming—”

Click—

“Wow, it opened.”

“The academy’s no big deal, huh?”

These bastards.

Their audacity to unlock the door and enter before I could open it for them was appalling.

These crazy idiots. Even if a door could be opened, it was common courtesy to wait for the host to welcome you.

“Executive Manager! Long time no see!”

As I stared at the sight with mixed feelings, the 1st Manager approached me while waving her hands.

That’s right. They came to help, so I should welcome them—

“I brought you a gift!”

…right?

“A gift?”

Instinctual warnings shot up my spine. Was the word ‘gift’ always this ominous?

“Yes! We’ve been preparing it for days!”

‘Damn.’

Hearing those words made it even harder to say no. As dubious as the gift obviously was, I couldn’t dismiss the efforts of my subordinate without a good reason.

It was predictable, but the thought of dealing with the aftermath was all too clear.

‘This is driving me crazy.’

This was workplace harassment. I could never have imagined something like this happening when I was a Team Manager.

“Thank you.”

I braced myself and accepted the box that the 1st Manager handed over.

Was it just my imagination? The weight felt similar to something I had accepted recently.

‘Ah.’

As soon as I opened the box, I froze. Unfortunately, it wasn’t just my imagination.

“Do you like it?”

I quietly lifted my head at the giggling remark from the 1st Manager.

“The 1st Manager went to great lengths to find it. It’s so obscure in Armein that there was hardly any stock available.”

I barely managed to nod as the 2nd Manager added, having just come back after locking the door again.

So now I’m eating this obscure food for the second time.

“…Thank you.”

Thank you very much, you bastards.

“I’m glad you like it!”

“Wow, I’ve never seen anything like this in my life.”

I just stared down at the cake, flanked by my two laughing enemies.

‘Damn this.’

And so, the three of us shared the tofu cake. It was delicious, which made it all the more annoying.