The phonograph developed by Bernstein caused a trendous sensation.
As long as you had the modified magic stone with the music stored on it, anyone could listen to the music they desired.
However, the original recording function was removed due to concerns of potential misuse, as directed by the Crown Prince.
Despite this, rumors circulated in secret that so high-ranking officials still possessed prototype phonographs with the recording function intact.
For example, the 3rd Princess of the Empire, Yulia Barba.
-Enough! How many tis are you going to listen to this? Isn’t it enough already?
“This is the 380th ti. Let’s make it to 400.”
Lia looked at the phonograph with utmost affection.
It was a confession from the person she loved.
No matter how many tis she listened, she never got tired of it.
-Well, even I used to call him out and tornt him when I was feeling down, so I understand how she feels. But it’s quite painful to watch myself like this from a third-person perspective...
-Urgh, if only he had called her Yulia, I could have enjoyed it too.
Regardless, Lia turned the phonograph again and replayed it.
For a while, only Ascal’s voice echoed through the house.
****
Ascal had been feeling both happy and tornted these days.
“What’s wrong, Ascal-nim?”
Ascal cautiously looked at Lia, who was pouring tea.
Her soft platinum blonde hair, slling of jasmine, her translucent and clear skin that seed to reveal blue veins. Her sapphire-like blue eyes and long eyelashes.
The more he consciously observed, the more he thought that when God created her, He must have been carefully asuring with a spoon but then accidentally knocked over the bag.
“Ah, it’s nothing.”
When their eyes t, Lia smiled brightly.
“Oh, you have a white hair here.”
Lia took a step closer, brushed Ascal’s hair, and picked out the white hair.
It’s unbelievable.
Since the first mont he recalled his mory, he had never imagined that this would happen.
That terrifying tyrant, Yulia Barba, was personally plucking out his white hair.
If he were to phrase it as the title of a novel from his previous life, it feels like .
‘To be honest, I’ll say it.’
‘I’m extrely happy. I feel a sense of purpose in life.’
However.
“There are only 32 docunts left to handle today. I’ll help you finish them quickly so we can leave together.”
‘Damn Crown Prince.’
He dumped all the work on the Evaluation Departnt. The problem was that “evaluation” was a versatile term that could be applied to audits, inspections, personnel, and practically anything else.
Originally, it was just another pointless tax-wasting departnt, but it had turned into a jack-of-all-trades.
‘To think that he got from the very start...’
After Elenia powered up Ascal, he made a fatal mistake.
Like a newbie who had just started going to the gym and suddenly went wild with a burst of adrenaline, he processed a week’s worth of work at super speed.
That was a mistake.
The next day, the Crown Prince started sending a shipload of work.
That was manageable. He got through it.
The next day.
It doubled again.
Eventually, it reached the point where even Ascal in his awakened mode was struggling under the workload.
It was his own doing.
He could almost hear the Crown Prince’s voice.
“You’re the only one who can be the next Pri Minister, Ascal!”
The Empire’s black ox, Bernstein.
The Empire’s white ox, Ascal.
“Moooooo!”
“Calm down.”
Lia, who was reviewing docunts, approached and gently stroked Ascal’s chin.
“There you go. Good boy.”
Ascal cald down.
Despite everything, there was one consolation for Ascal.
****
“Appointnt of personnel authority? What is this, Your Highness?”
“Do you know what that is, Ascal? The Empire is a very wicked nation. Whether the person likes it or not, if you use this, they will be forcibly attached to the state.”
“……It has the Emperor’s seal.”
“Yes. Ascal! Gather the slaves, I an talents! And assign them where they’re needed! This is the privilege I bestow upon you.”
The Crown Prince knew how to use the carrot and the stick well.
In other words, he had given Ascal the recruiter’s privilege to conscript anyone into service during warti.
Work conditions, location, duration. Everything was up to Ascal’s discretion.
From now on, anyone who crossed Ascal would beco the state’s ox and work diligently for life.
However.
.
.
.
“Only 15 left now. At this rate, we might finish by dawn.”
The sun was setting.
‘You need an opportunity to use this thing...’
Was there no legal way to slack off?
At this rate, he might die of overwork before catching the ancient dragon.
Ascal’s eyes rolled around.
And finally, he found the perfect opportunity.
To Ascal Debrue,
Upon receiving this notice, you are required to imdiately participate in military training. Please carefully review the following details and prepare accordingly.
Training Period: We apologize for the inconvenience to your duties, but the training will last for 10 days from the date of assembly.
Assembly Location: You must gather at Leonian Square, located west of the capital, within three days of receiving this notice.
Preparations: Prepare your own weapons and armor, along with any necessary personal items. Food supplies and basic fortification construction tools will be provided on-site.
Training Contents: Basic military training will include horseback riding, weapon handling, tactical understanding, fortification construction, and night patrol.
“This is it!!!”
Lia frowned as she looked at the notice.
“Debrue, that’s Ascal-nim’s forr surna. Ascal, the current minister, is not obligated to participate in military training. It’s another mistake by a lazy administrator.”
To instill discipline among the lax officials, the Crown Prince conducted periodic military training for officials.
It was easier to understand if you thought of it as a kind of reserve training.
Typically, receiving this notice would stress an official so much that they’d imdiately sprout white hair, but Ascal was different.
This was a golden opportunity to legally slack off for 10 days.
He’d be a fool to miss it.
“Lia, even a misdelivered notice is still a notice. If I don’t follow it, how can I set an example for my people?”
Ascal spoke with an air of authority, as if possessed by Socrates.
“Understood. In that case, there’s no choice.”
Surprisingly, Lia accepted it without protest. Though he felt a bit uneasy, Ascal decided to let it slide.
****
“Alright!”
Ascal packed his bags at ho with unparalleled enthusiasm.
To avoid being recognized, he changed his hairstyle and dressed as shabbily as possible. He looked more like a beggar than a minister.
Everything was perfect.
Ascal headed to Leonian Square.
It felt like he was going on a picnic.
.
.
.
“Ascal Debrue? This na is...”
“A common na. That person’s surna is Erindale. Do you really think he’d co here?”
“Hmm... pass.”
The inspector, comparing Ascal’s face and the list, eventually let him through.
He truly was a capable official of the Empire.
As soon as he set foot in the square, he saw people who had arrived earlier.
They were all slumped in a corner, wearing armor.
“This is already my third ti... I feel like I’m going to die every ti I co.”
“The food is so terrible. Last ti, I almost broke a tooth biting into the bread.”
They were all lanting the hardships of military training.
“You think this is hard? After all the tough tis I’ve been through, this feels like a picnic.”
Ascal sat down beside them.
The n looked at him warily.
“Who are you? Where are you from?”
“Call Carl. I’m from the Evaluation Departnt.”
“Damn, it’s the playground of the future pri minister. I’m jealous.”
A Rank 9 Official of the Mariti Departnt, Charles, Spat Out a Thick Gob of Saliva.
“Playground of the future pri minister? What do you an by that?”
“Everyone knows your minister is going to be the next pri minister. That ans the Evaluation Departnt officials’ value will increase as well. After all, it’s the departnt where the pri minister ca from.”
“We low-level officials have to feed our families on a pittance, while you guys even get bonuses and vacations.”
“It’s enough to make you want to quit.”
The atmosphere grew tense.
Officials from the Mariti and Construction Departnts stood up and nacingly surrounded Ascal.
“Is this your first ti at military training, sir from the Evaluation Departnt?”
“It is.”
“The seniors will teach you a thing or two. Look forward to it.”
“Hehe.”
Ascal nodded.
“This already sounds fun. I’ll be looking forward to it.”
Charles squinted and cracked his knuckles.
“Seems you misunderstood. You’re on our bad side now…”
****
Bam-ba-ra-ra-bam―――
“Her Highness the Princess has arrived!”
“Everyone, kneel and show your respect! It’s Her Highness Yulia Barba!”
“Her Highness herself will participate as an instructor in the military training to assist your training! Consider it an honor!”
Stepping down from the carriage was Lia.
Naturally, with her hair down and dressed in splendid yet practical attire for movent, Lia scanned the officials in the square with a solemn gaze.
It seed she was searching for soone.
And as soon as she spotted Ascal kneeling, she smiled brightly.
“The Princess smiled at !”
“No, it was !”
Ascal, whose eyes t hers, closed his eyes in disbelief.
‘No wonder she let go so easily.’
****
The mansion felt a bit lonely.
Without its owner, the mansion lacked its usual vibrancy.
The lone princess was left sitting in a chair, staring blankly at the desk.
Books such as “The Theory of Love,” “When You Don’t Know Yourself,” and “Is What You’re Feeling Love?” lay scattered, half-read.
Sushia sighed.
“That can’t be... No, I must be mistaken. I’ll just go to the office tomorrow and sneak so snacks again. Yes. I’m just excited from seeing sothing like that briefly.”
– – – The End of The Chapter – – –
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