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Chapter 2 …
The new recruits were split into groups they’d stick with for the entire three-month training period.
My group consisted of Yuriana and the Magic Tower Lord’s son—the second male lead.
Did the author sort us by rank and then suddenly think, “Oops”? Why is this so lazy?
The heroine ranked first.
The second male lead ranked second.
And then there was me—dead last.
The other recruits had plenty to say about us.
“Wow, it’s the top-ranked group. Except for one person?”
“Pfft, why’d they divide them like that?”
Because that’s how the original author wrote it.
If someone spent all day working at an orphanage while preparing for employment, isn’t it impressive enough just to pass, even if they ranked last?
Sure, placing dead last on the entrance exam might hurt your career prospects.
But this worn-out, exhausted former office worker from a past life had no interest in climbing the ladder.
Even if you succeed, you just become middle management and have to take care of subordinates.
And middle management was infuriating beyond words…
“Haah.”
For a moment, unpleasant memories from my previous life surged up so hard I nearly cried.
But let’s not waste energy on pointless things.
Anyway, events were proceeding just like the original story.
Because the heroine and second male lead are destined for the Dirt Spoon Department.
The Imperial Palace departments were broadly divided into three categories.
The first was the Central Department.
Even to a modern Korean, it would feel familiar—Labor, Education, and similar administrative branches.
The second was the Magic Knights Department, responsible for magical and military security.
And finally, the Department of Dark Magic Collection and Suppression.
…Abbreviated, of course, as the Dirt Spoon Department.
In the original story, it was described as the harshest department of them all!
Since they had to combat dark magic—essentially “murder magic”—it naturally required exceptional magical skill.
Because of that, only a tiny number of elite personnel were assigned there each year.
This year, only two recruits would be selected.
Heh. Which means I’m safe.
There was no way they’d pick me over the heroine and the second male lead.
I’d just tour the departments during training, then latch onto a decent one like a leech.
Still, I should probably get along reasonably well with people during training.
As I checked our group assignment and moved to our designated location, Yuriana—who had arrived first—lit up when she saw me.
“Leila! You’re here!”
“Hi, Yuriana.”
Good. No need to worry about the heroine side.
The real problem was the second male lead.
Seimus Finley.
Purple hair, pale skin, and deep, cold black eyes.
He had sharp, catlike features and the decadent aura of a dangerously handsome man.
Currently the Magic Tower Lord’s son, and later he becomes the Magic Tower Lord himself, right?
The Magic Tower was an independent institution separate from the Imperial Palace, and he and Yuriana would eventually develop a rivalry arc.
But more pressing than romance flags…
Wow. Look at that outfit.
It was like telling a new employee to wear business casual and watching them show up dragging around three-striped slippers.
He’s even wearing a skull bracelet.
The latent boomer tendencies buried deep inside me nearly burst forth.
Damn it. Bite your tongue and hold it in.
Still, since we’d be in the same group, I made an effort to sound friendly.
“Hi, Finley.”
“……”
“Looking forward to working with you.”
“……”
Only then did he glance at me from the corner of his eye.
And then turned away!
That little—look at that catastrophically failed social life.
Was it because he was the Magic Tower’s ace, so aside from Yuriana—the top recruit—everyone else was beneath him?
Fine. From now on, you’re just Grape Head to me.
But I didn’t have much time to grumble internally.
Over the next three months, we had to rotate through every department and experience each one firsthand.
And by some unfortunate coincidence, our very first week assignment was the Dirt Spoon Department.
And the first sight that greeted us there was—
“Oh my goodness.”
Yuriana clapped a hand over her mouth.
Every few seconds, documents appeared in midair with a poof.
The mountain of paperwork is growing!
And the original male lead, Carlyle Rupesque, stood there staring at the ever-rising pile.
The current heir of the Grand Duke of the North.
He could’ve easily coasted through life on House Rupesque’s wealth and influence, but instead, as befitting a true romance fantasy male lead, he devoted himself to eradicating dark magic.
And like all male leads, he has hidden family secrets and emotional scars.
The heroine would handle healing those eventually. Not my problem.
More importantly, right now—
He was staring at that growing mountain of paperwork in real time.
With eyes full of sorrow.
I squeezed my eyes shut as my own past came rushing back.
I didn’t realize it while reading…!
A worldbuilding so cruel it could turn even a romance fantasy male lead into a miserable office worker!
This is more horrifying than the apocalypse!
“Welcome to the Dirt Spoon Department, recruits.”
Still, pain was pain, and work was work.
The male lead collected himself and greeted us.
“Have you heard what our department does?”
At his question, Yuriana nodded vigorously.
“Yes, Young Duke Rupesque.”
“This isn’t a banquet. That title isn’t necessary.”
“Ah, b-but…”
Of course Yuriana was flustered.
The Imperial Palace had only recently begun accepting commoner bureaucrats.
Very recently.
And the Rupesque family was one of the great noble houses that had existed since the Empire’s founding.
For a commoner bureaucrat, not using a noble title was nearly impossible.
But the workaholic, practical male lead shook his head.
“You can address me comfortably as your senior. And Lowell.”
“Ah, yes.”
“How much do you know about dark magic?”
“Dark magic refers to magic cast by a person with malicious intent.”
“Malice” wasn’t something mild like, I’m so annoyed my incompetent boss is making me work overtime.
It had to be hatred so intense you wanted to completely ruin another person.
Without that level of hatred, ordinary magic wouldn’t corrupt into dark magic.
“I’ve heard the Dirt Spoon Department prevents the distribution of artifacts that trigger such dark magic, and removes them.”
“You understand well. Also, we’ve been slightly understaffed lately.”
Slightly?
There’s another mountain of paperwork forming right now, and this is slightly?
Maybe he noticed the look in my eyes, because Carlyle gave a light cough.
Was he embarrassed?
“Ahem. Then let’s start with some light paperwork. All three of you, over here.”
So understaffed that they were deploying trainees immediately. Truly, an excellent work environment.
The male lead guided us to desks with comparatively smaller mountains of paperwork.
On top of them sat three vintage typewriters.
Naturally, in a romance fantasy world, there were no computers or internet.
Instead, documents were written with these typewriters.
Then, if you tied the item you wanted to send to the corner of the document with a magic string…
“Ooh.”
Just like sending an email attachment, both the paper and item vanished with a poof.
“Today’s task is basic. Send simple reports to the people listed here.”
The male lead handed each of us a stack of documents.
Oh, starting off with manual labor.
This was the romance fantasy version of printing, copying, and office errands! I love it!
But as I looked through the documents, I frowned.
Hmm, the content differs slightly depending on the recipient…?
If I wasn’t careful, this could become a headache later.
Just then, Yuriana hesitantly raised her hand.
“Um, Rupesque… Senior. This is my first time using a typewriter like this. Could you explain it one more time?”
“Of course.”
I glanced sideways as the male lead explained it to the heroine.
For the first time since regaining my memories of my previous life, my heart fluttered.
Oh wow… this visual is excellent…
The heroine’s story with Grape Head was “rivalry.”
With the hidden mastermind, it was “interesting.”
And with the male lead—
It was the classic “mutual salvation” arc.
Because both Yuriana and Carlyle had lost family to dark magic.
Right, because dark mages cursed their families.
【“I already know what you’ve been through. So, Crosswell…”
“Yes, Senior.”
“I… want to help you.”
“…Me too. I want to become someone you can rely on as well, Senior.”】
Yes, yes. Please have your beautiful romance while also wiping out dark magic.
That way I can keep living comfortably while stealing my paycheck.
Heh. I really am hopelessly small-minded.
After finishing his explanation, Carlyle sighed and looked at me and Grape Head.
“Now then, does anyone else have questions?”
I cautiously raised my hand.
Before starting work, there was one thing he hadn’t explained.
“Um, Ma—… Senior?”
“What is it, Lowell?”
“What font style are we standardizing?”
“…Hm?”
Toward the startled male lead, I held up several sheets of paper.
“It’s just… the formatting seems to differ depending on the document’s purpose.”
Some documents used extremely ornate cursive.
Others used practical, readable script.
It looks like each has a systematic formatting structure, and I’d rather clarify that now.
And then—
The male lead’s red eyes flashed.
