Chapter 2

After recovering the memories of his previous life and recalling the original novel in its entirety, Blen had spent no shortage of time agonizing over what to do.

After all, the extra character he’d transmigrated into—Blen—also died because of the novel’s disastrous ending.

If that was the case, then shouldn’t he do everything he could to avoid dying?

The first idea that came to mind was emigrating to another country.

Unfortunately, there were countless obstacles to that plan.

Giving up one’s citizenship in the Heliorn Empire and emigrating elsewhere was an incredibly complicated process. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs rarely granted approval without an exceptionally good reason, and above all, it cost an enormous amount of money.

Then what about preventing the protagonist from falling into darkness by getting close to him?

That idea was dismissed almost as soon as it appeared.

The protagonist served as a knight protecting the empire and belonged to the Heliorn Magic Knights. Although Blen could manipulate magic, he had no particular talent for physical combat or swordsmanship.

Even if he quit the Department of Magic immediately and tried to join the knights, there was no guarantee he’d be able to make it within the next few years.

So was he really supposed to sit back, watch the empire fall into ruin, and wait for his own death?

That was when his eyes landed on the man standing before him.

“…”

Rainer leaned back in his chair, staring directly at him.

The protagonist’s transformation began with the death of this childhood friend.

In other words, this man’s death was what drove the protagonist down the path of darkness.

Despite his infamous personality, Rainer was an exceptional mage with unparalleled intelligence.

There was a reason he’d become the Minister of Magic at such a young age and was entrusted with leading one of the Imperial Palace’s most important departments.

In the original story, Rainer’s sudden death threw not only the protagonist into turmoil but also the Department of Magic itself.

His death destabilized one of the empire’s key institutions and helped push the nation toward collapse.

Simply put…

If Rainer died, the bad ending became inevitable.

“…Did we have someone like you in this department? What’s your name?”

Rainer’s first words were enough to leave Blen speechless.

How could the Minister of Magic not even recognize the names and faces of the people working under him?

“My name is Blen. It’s written on the application as well.”

Suppressing his disbelief, Blen answered politely.

Rainer tapped a finger against his desk before suddenly rummaging through the stack of documents piled behind him.

Finding the bundle he wanted, he rapidly flipped through the pages before stopping at one.

What’s he doing?

Curious, Blen leaned forward slightly.

Only then did he realize those were personnel records for the members of the Department of Magic.

Each file briefly listed a member’s work history and any notable accomplishments.

Rainer was reading Blen’s.

After about a minute, he closed the file and picked up Blen’s application once more.

All he had to do now was sign it.

Then Blen’s appointment as assistant would be officially approved.

Instead…

Without even reaching for a pen, Rainer tore the application cleanly in half.

Rip.

The crisp sound of paper tearing echoed through the room.

For a brief moment, Blen completely lost control of his expression, blinking blankly.

“…Why did you tear it up?”

“Do you really have to ask? I have absolutely no intention of accepting you as my assistant.”

“…Why?”

“Because you’re incompetent.”

“…”

Only then did Blen understand what Rainer had been looking for in those personnel records.

Before recovering the memories of his previous life, he’d lived by the philosophy that as long as things worked out, that was good enough.

He only did the tasks assigned to him, avoided standing out, and firmly believed in going with the crowd.

As a result, he’d never achieved anything particularly noteworthy.

His personnel file had no accomplishments worth mentioning.

Still…

Did he really have to tear up someone’s application right in front of them?

Damn boss.

That was what Blen was thinking on the inside.

On the outside, however, he maintained a composed expression.

“Minister, I meet every qualification required to become an assistant.”

Each department ranked its members from Grade 1 to Grade 5.

To qualify as a minister’s assistant, there were only two requirements.

One had to have worked in the department for at least one year.

And one had to hold the rank of Grade 3 or higher.

“Meeting the requirements doesn’t make you any less incompetent.”

“I—”

For a split second, his true thoughts nearly escaped his mouth.

Blen swallowed them back with a deep breath.

“Whether I’m incompetent or not… shouldn’t you judge that after working with me?”

“And why should I waste my time doing that?”

Rainer replied without the slightest hesitation.

“It would be far more efficient to choose someone who’s already proven themselves.”

He looked back down at the documents on his desk.

“As I thought.”

“You’re incompetent.”

The smile Blen had painstakingly maintained began to crack.

Meanwhile, Rainer acted as though he’d never spoken at all, returning his full attention to his work.

There was nothing to gain from provoking him any further.

Choosing to retreat for the moment, Blen bowed politely.

“Then I’ll rewrite the application and come back.”

With that, he turned and left the office.

“…Rewrite it?”

Only after Blen was gone did Rainer mull over those parting words.

He frowned, staring thoughtfully at the closed door for a few seconds.

Then, as though it no longer mattered, he quietly returned to his paperwork.

Haa… What an unbelievably insufferable jerk.

The moment he stepped out of Rainer’s private office, Blen muttered the complaint under his breath.

“To be honest, I don’t want to work directly under you either.”

Keeping his voice low, he repeatedly punched the office door in silent frustration.

It was a harmless little tantrum.

Then—

The door suddenly swung open.

“What are you doing?”

Rainer stood there.

“…Nothing at all.”

If he’d been even one second slower, his fist would’ve landed squarely on Rainer’s face.

If that had happened, he might have died at Rainer’s hands before ever reaching the protagonist’s.

For perhaps the first time in his life, Blen wanted to sincerely praise his own reflexes.

With his hands neatly folded, he smiled as though absolutely nothing had happened.

Rainer studied him for a brief moment before walking straight past him and leaving the Department of Magic office.

Judging by the armful of documents he was carrying, he was probably headed to the archives.

Once Rainer disappeared from sight, Blen let out a long sigh.

Returning to his desk, he promptly collapsed face-first onto it.

He’d expected this to be difficult.

But he never imagined Rainer would tear up his application right in front of him.

Still…

Now that he’d made up his mind, he had to keep trying somehow.

If Rainer didn’t work himself to death…

The protagonist would never fall into darkness.

And that disastrous ending could be avoided.

“Hey, Blen. You’re already back from lunch?”

A voice sounded above him.

Looking up, he saw a familiar face.

It was Luwen, his coworker and fellow Grade 3 member.

The only reason they’d become friends was because their desks happened to be right next to each other.

“Why are you lying on your desk like that? Are you feeling sick?”

“No… not really.”

Unless emotional damage counted.

After all, he’d just been called incompetent three separate times by Rainer.

Even so, working in the Imperial Palace’s Department of Magic was generally considered prestigious.

Besides…

There probably wasn’t anyone in the entire palace besides Rainer who would call a Grade 3 member “incompetent.”

Unless emotional wounds counted, that was.

After all, Rainer had called him incompetent three times in that office alone.

Even so, saying you worked for the Imperial Palace’s Department of Magic still earned you a respectable amount of recognition wherever you went.

Besides, there was probably no one in the entire palace other than Rainer who would call a Grade 3 member incompetent.

Just then, the rest of the department members began filing in one after another.

They were all senior to Blen.

None of them looked particularly happy.

“So… who do you think it’ll be?”

“Maybe Fel’s next.”

“Don’t curse me like that. You might as well just tell me to die…”

Only then did Blen realize why everyone looked as though they were heading to a funeral.

The position of the Minister of Magic’s assistant was currently vacant.

A minister couldn’t remain without an assistant forever, so it was only a matter of time before Rainer selected someone to serve under him.

Normally, when an assistant position became vacant, applications would be accepted from members ranked Grade 3 or above, and the minister would choose one from among the volunteers.

But in the Department of Magic…

There was no such thing as a volunteer.

Who in their right mind would want to become Rainer’s assistant?

“The other departments usually pick from the Grade 3 members. Why are we the only ones… It’d be great if the minister chose someone like Luwen or Blen.”

“Senior Fel, don’t say things like that. You’ll jinx yourself.”

Shivering dramatically, Luwen shook his head.

Blen kept quiet about the fact that he’d already submitted an application once… only to have it rejected.

If he asked everyone to support his candidacy, it’d only stir up the department.

And judging by Rainer’s personality, he wasn’t the type to appreciate that sort of thing.

He’d already been branded as incompetent.

There was no point making Rainer think even less of him.

Then…

An idea suddenly flashed through Blen’s mind.

“Um… seniors?”

As Blen cautiously raised a hand, everyone who’d been sighing turned toward him.

“I think we’ve all forgotten one very important detail.”

The others tilted their heads in confusion.

Blen simply smiled.

Work resumed that afternoon.

After making a brief trip to the archives, Rainer returned to the Department of Magic.

Perhaps because Verietta had caused such a commotion before storming out that morning, the atmosphere inside felt even heavier than usual.

Rainer walked straight across the office toward his private room.

Then he suddenly stopped.

Turning his head, he looked at one particular department member.

“You.”

As Rainer pointed at him, the man slowly stood up.

“It’s Fel, Minister…”

“Right. Fel.”

“You’re my assistant from now on.”

Having delivered his decision as though that settled the matter, Rainer turned to leave.

Fel swallowed hard.

“I-I’m terribly sorry…”

“…but I must decline.”

Rainer blinked slowly.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Apparently, he couldn’t quite believe what he’d just heard.

“…Did you hit your head?”

“No, sir.”

Fel took a deep breath, cleared his throat, and began speaking carefully.

“According to Article 5, Clause 5 of the Heliorn Imperial Palace Personnel Act, a minister’s assistant shall be selected by the minister from among those who volunteer for the position. If there are no volunteers, the minister may appoint a department member at their own discretion.”

“So?”

“I just appointed you.”

“However…”

Fel nervously glanced at Rainer before continuing.

“…if the appointed member did not volunteer, they have the right to refuse the appointment.”

“…That’s what the law says.”

As Fel slowly recited the exception written into the law, one of Rainer’s dark eyebrows twitched.

Meanwhile…

Pretending to be busy with his own work, Blen secretly curled the corners of his lips into a grin.

If Rainer refused to accept him as an assistant…

Then all he had to do was create a situation where Rainer had no choice but to accept him.

No matter how terrifying the Minister of Magic was—

No matter how much people joked that he danced with a sword between his teeth—

Even Rainer Winterroel couldn’t place himself above the laws of the Imperial Palace.