Chapter 82: Receiving Training

The phonograph developed by Bernstein caused a tremendous 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 some high-ranking officials still possessed prototype phonographs with the recording function intact.

For example, the 3rd Princess of the Empire, Yulia Barba.

n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

-Enough! How many times are you going to listen to this? Isn’t it enough already?

“This is the 380th time. 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 times she listened, she never got tired of it.

-Well, even I used to call him out and torment 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 tormented these days.

“What’s wrong, Ascal-nim?”

Ascal cautiously looked at Lia, who was pouring tea.

Her soft platinum blonde hair, smelling of jasmine, her translucent and clear skin that seemed 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 measuring with a spoon but then accidentally knocked over the bag.

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

When their eyes met, 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 moment he recalled his memory, 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 extremely happy. I feel a sense of purpose in life.’

However.

“There are only 32 documents 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 Department. 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 department, but it had turned into a jack-of-all-trades.

‘To think that he got me 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 Prime Minister, Ascal!”

The Empire’s black ox, Bernstein.

The Empire’s white ox, Ascal.

“Moooooo!”

“Calm down.”

Lia, who was reviewing documents, approached and gently stroked Ascal’s chin.

“There you go. Good boy.”

Ascal calmed down.

Despite everything, there was one consolation for Ascal.

****

“Appointment 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 mean 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 wartime.

Work conditions, location, duration. Everything was up to Ascal’s discretion.

From now on, anyone who crossed Ascal would become 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 immediately 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 former surname. 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 immediately 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 home 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 name is...”

“A common name. That person’s surname is Erindale. Do you really think he’d come 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 time... I feel like I’m going to die every time I come.”

“The food is so terrible. Last time, I almost broke a tooth biting into the bread.”

They were all lamenting the hardships of military training.

“You think this is hard? After all the tough times I’ve been through, this feels like a picnic.”

Ascal sat down beside them.

The men looked at him warily.

“Who are you? Where are you from?”

“Call me Carl. I’m from the Evaluation Department.”

“Damn, it’s the playground of the future prime minister. I’m jealous.”

A Rank 9 Official of the Maritime Department, Charles, Spat Out a Thick Gob of Saliva.

“Playground of the future prime minister? What do you mean by that?”

“Everyone knows your minister is going to be the next prime minister. That means the Evaluation Department officials’ value will increase as well. After all, it’s the department where the prime minister came 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 Maritime and Construction Departments stood up and menacingly surrounded Ascal.

“Is this your first time at military training, sir from the Evaluation Department?”

“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 movement, Lia scanned the officials in the square with a solemn gaze.

It seemed she was searching for someone.

And as soon as she spotted Ascal kneeling, she smiled brightly.

“The Princess smiled at me!”

“No, it was me!”

Ascal, whose eyes met hers, closed his eyes in disbelief.

‘No wonder she let me 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 some snacks again. Yes. I’m just excited from seeing something like that briefly.”

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

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