“Indeed, only our rookie thinks of me.”

“Are you going out again?”

Ekision finally brushed his hair back while catching his breath properly.

“I have to. I couldn’t even make it to Delpha.”

Because I rushed back like crazy.

Padrid chuckled while organizing the remaining documents, watching Ekision rub his face, saying he really thought something terrible had happened.

“It’s not something you absolutely have to do today.”

The executives had many tasks besides higher-grade missions.

Not only did they have to complete missions, but they also had to manage the branches assigned to them in various regions.

That’s why at the end of each quarter, the executives said they became much busier than anyone else.

“Still, let’s schedule this summer vacation more comfortably. I thought I was going to die last year. Horas will cause trouble again.”

Usually, Gemvil and Horas handled similar tasks, and Ekision and Hailo did similar work.

But for some reason, as they worked, Ekision and Horas often had overlapping schedules.

So when they were too busy, they would write reports for each other or divide up the work.

When Ekision delegated to Horas, things were generally fine, but the opposite often resulted in Ekision missing things, which made Horas, who strictly observed quitting time, breathe fire.

Last year’s summer vacation was ruined because of this.

Even if someone suggested they simply not delegate to each other, they would act as if that had never happened and work well together, making Padrid’s advice useless.

“Summer vacation?”

Ekision turned his head to Rodi.

“Ah, does the rookie not know about vacations? A vacation is—”

“I know. The teachers at the orphanage took them too. It’s when you go home to rest.”

“Oh, really? Well, something like that.”

Ekision, who had been responding lightly, tilted his head and raised his eyebrows.

“Then when the teachers went on vacation, who took care of you and your friends?”

“Either other teachers came, or we played by ourselves.”

“Ah, so other teachers took turns preparing meals for you? They had their own system—”

“The teachers didn’t usually prepare meals for us.”

“Huh? Then how did you eat?”

“We usually didn’t eat much. We had to go out and beg.”

“……”

“……”

“……”

Suddenly, the atmosphere in the general affairs office became chilly.

It was then that Rodi thought Ekision’s face seemed to have grown cold somehow.

“Padrid, did you say the orphanage where the rookie was has been changed to our children?”

“Yes, Lord Eclise gave direct orders.”

“Then the teachers who were there are no longer needed, right?”

“They’ve already been replaced for being useless, but do you need their current whereabouts?”

“If they’re useless, there’s no need for them to be alive, is there?”

Huh?

Why did the atmosphere become so hostile!

Rodi, puzzled by the gaze fixed on her, suddenly realized her mistake.

Talking like that would make it seem like all the teachers were bad people.

There were kind teachers too.

“It wasn’t like that every day. The teachers took care of us too!”

“Rookie, you don’t need to defend them like that.”

“But it’s true. The director was extrrrremely greedy and scolded the teachers, so they secretly took care of us later. And the boss punished the bad director. He said my friends wouldn’t go hungry anymore.”

As Rodi added explanation upon explanation, Ekision clicked his tongue with an “Ahem” and roughly tousled Rodi’s hair.

His cold expression softened.

“Ah, my hair!”

“You can be moderately kind. How could anyone let our rookie go hungry? Right? Those kinds of people should be thrown in the water.”

“Ekision, profanity is prohibited in the office.”

When Padrid warned him, Ekision made an indignant face.

“I used a euphemism!”

“Using different words doesn’t make harsh language into good language. You know better than to share the intelligence of birds.”

“Oh, come on.”

“If you’re confused, think about how it would sound coming from the rookie’s mouth. Easy, right?”

Ekision, who was about to retort by asking if Padrid’s words were acceptable, quickly gave up.

After all, there was no point in challenging Padrid, as it wouldn’t end well.

Jin, knowing this too, couldn’t take Ekision’s side.

“And Jin, Rookie, I’ve submitted the report to Eclise. Thank you both for your hard work. You handled the situation very well.”

“It was thanks to Rodi.”

“Jin was so cool! And Serinea, Jo, and Meogly too!”

Jin and Rodi, having praised each other, looked at each other and smiled.

“I was worried because it was an unexpected situation, but you handled it calmly, Rookie.”

Rodi’s shoulders seemed ready to soar to the sky after receiving praise even from Padrid.

“Well, shall I go back now?”

Ekision rose from his seat.

“Are you going now?”

Ekision answered as he took Rodi’s empty cup.

“I have to. Rookie, have fun while I’m gone. See you in the evening.”

“Okay, have a safe trip!”

“Okay. I should hurry back. Rookie, let’s have dinner together. Good work, everyone.”

Ekision tapped Rodi’s cheeks lightly and left with the cup.

***

It had been quite a while since the news spread that Duke had come to headquarters and was meeting with Eclise.

Serinea and Jo, who had been directly covered in explosion dust, had also finished their emergency treatment and left the recovery room.

While Jin was away on business, they surrounded Rodi again.

And they were carrying plenty of snacks for Rodi to eat.

Rodi was bewildered, but there was absolutely no way to escape.

Both sides of the bench and the front were all blocked by the three of them.

By now, Rodi was being called “Rookie” instead of by name here.

The three were happy, saying they had received paid leave until tomorrow thanks to Rodi.

“Rookie, you were really calm and cool. You looked just like someone from Cheiles! Meogly said you even ordered him around.”

“Suddenly saying something was strange and then coolly rushing out of the carriage!”

I didn’t rush out…

It was a bit exaggerated, but everyone seemed to be in a good mood that nothing serious had happened.

“Who would have thought the item would be switched there.”

“I know. Whoever it was, they were bold to go against the Magic Tower.”

“They haven’t caught them yet, right?”

Rodi, who had just heard the news from Padrid earlier, opened her mouth.

“They caught him.”

“What? They caught him?”

“Huh? How did you know, Rookie?”

Even while curious, Serinea held out a long stick snack to Rodi, saying she should try this too.

As soon as she put it in her mouth, the layered pastry crumbled with a crisp sound.

“Padrid just told me.”

“Really? What kind of gutsy person was it?”

Jo also snuggled up next to Serinea.

“They said he died.”

This was news Rodi had just heard.

Fortunately, after the search, they caught Camil, but he was already dead, she was told.

And they were able to recover the switched artificial heart a short distance from where Camil had died.

“Three years of research almost went down the drain. Thank you.”

Padrid had praised Rodi once more, saying that if the search had begun after the box reached its destination, they might have found Camil but would likely not have found the artificial heart.

It had been quite a while since the news spread that Duke had come to headquarters and was meeting with Eclise.

Serinea and Jo, who had been directly covered in explosion dust, had also finished their emergency treatment and left the recovery room.

While Jin was away on business, they surrounded Rodi again.

And they were carrying plenty of snacks for Rodi to eat.

Rodi was bewildered, but there was absolutely no way to escape.

Both sides of the bench and the front were all blocked by the three of them.

By now, Rodi was being called “rookie” instead of by name here.

The three were happy, saying they had received paid leave until tomorrow thanks to Rodi.

“Rookie, you were really calm and cool. You looked just like someone from Cheiles! Meogly said you even ordered him around?”

“Suddenly saying something was strange and then coolly rushing out of the carriage!”

I didn’t rush out…

It was a bit exaggerated, but everyone seemed to be in a good mood that nothing serious had happened.

“Who would have thought the item would be switched there.”

“I know. Whoever it was, they were bold to go against the Magic Tower.”

“They haven’t caught them yet, right?”

Rodi, who had just heard the news from Padrid earlier, opened her mouth.

“They caught him.”

“What? They caught him?”

“Huh? How did you know, rookie?”

Even while curious, Serinea held out a long stick snack to Rodi, saying she should try this too.

As soon as she put it in her mouth, the layered pastry crumbled with a crisp sound.

“Padrid just told me.”

“Really? What kind of gutsy person was it?”

Jo also snuggled up next to Serinea.

“They said he died.”

This was news Rodi had just heard.

Fortunately, after the search, they caught Camil, but he was already dead, she was told.

And they were able to recover the switched artificial heart a short distance from where Camil had died.

“Three years of research almost went down the drain. Thank you.”

Padrid had praised Rodi once more, saying that if the search had begun after the box reached its destination, they might have found Camil but would likely not have found the artificial heart.

“I wonder if he was attacked by someone else. Or if he was betrayed again.”

“As long as they found the requested item, that’s what matters. Our job is already done.”

“Are you feeling better now? Not hurting anymore?”

Rodi asked the three of them.

The three looked at each other with round eyes.

“Rookie, are you worried about us right now?”

When Rodi nodded at Jo’s question, all three of their eyes sparkled.

“I’m honored that you’re even worried about us!”

“Oh my, you only do the prettiest things, don’t you? Were you that worried about us?”

“Yes.”

And there was another promise to keep.

Rodi turned to Meogly and offered her cheek.

“Meogly, you can touch it three times!”

At those words, Serinea and Jo looked puzzled.

“What do you mean? Why suddenly let him touch your cheek? Meogly, did you threaten the child?”

“No, I didn’t! How could I threaten anyone!”

“Then why is the rookie doing this?”

Meogly, who had been indignant, even making an X with his arms, suddenly looked dumbfounded.

“Could it be you’re keeping what you said earlier?”

Rodi nodded.

The other two urged, “What is it? What’s going on?”

When Meogly explained what had happened in the carriage, they finally let out sighs.

“Ah, I’m a bit jealous.”

Jo nudged Meogly in the side.

Meogly took out his handkerchief and scrubbed his hands vigorously, just as he had done earlier with Rodi.

“Can I really touch it?”

“Yes!”

As Rodi offered her cheek more, Meogly’s hand came closer.

Then it stopped right in front of her face. It trembled briefly before he withdrew his hand.

“…I won’t touch it.”

Meogly’s face, as he said this, looked not just disappointed but dejected.