[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
Chapter 418: Unfamiliar Peace (2)
A week later.
Arriving at the Special Duties Department office, there was a letter placed on the desk.
‘An official document... for the members of the Dark Trackers?’
Oscar quickly checked the contents.
[As a result of interrogating the captured executives, no additional bases or forces have been confirmed as of yet.]
[Thus, we announce that the organized activities of the Black Fingers have effectively ended.]
[However, we will not rule out the possibility of unidentified remnant forces and plan to conduct searches for the time being.]
[Members who have not been contacted separately are requested to stand by until new orders are issued.]
It was a message announcing the collapse of the Black Fingers and the indefinite standby of the Dark Trackers, who had lost their purpose.
‘It seems those guys were really the end of it. Even though we missed the First Finger.’
Of course, such details were not written in the official document.
It was probably for the morale of the Dark Tracker members.
Because it had already been ten years since they had first fought against the Black Fingers.
“.......”
For the past week, Oscar hadn't just been idling away endlessly either.
The first thing he did upon returning to the White Tower was examine the communicator.
To state the result first, he hadn't achieved any particular success.
Because it was an item designed so that no records whatsoever would be left behind.
He had contacted old man Andre from time to time, and apparently, the Yellow Tower shared the same opinion.
‘They probably made it with this kind of situation in mind from the very beginning.’
In the end, he failed to find out who the First Finger was.
He could only hope that the Imperial Family would somehow find a clue.
While he was reading the official document over and over again, the troublemakers came in.
“Good morning, Oscar.”
“Open the windows and ventilate the place a bit. The room smells.”
“Is that so? I can't really tell.”
Looking at the guys making a noisy fuss as soon as they entered, Oscar silently opened the window.
“By the way, what were you reading? Your expression was quite serious.”
As Fran asked while taking a seat, Oscar explained lightly.
“An official document. Distributed to all members of the Dark Trackers.”
“Is it perhaps related to what we did?”
“Right. Officially, the organization known as the Black Fingers no longer exists.”
“Oh.......”
The three of them made slightly surprised expressions.
Over a time that could be considered long or short, they too had fought various battles as members of the Dark Trackers.
“It's a standby order until an additional official document comes down.”
“Does that mean... it's like we've been given a kind of vacation?”
“As members of the Dark Trackers, yes. But it's not like our Special Duties Department work disappears too.”
Resolving various civil complaints, incidents, and accidents happening within the Sirin territory.
Because that was the role of this department.
At those words, Fran slumped on his chair.
“Since we're on the topic, can't we recruit some new members too? We can't keep doing this with just the four of us forever.”
“You're saying something I agree with for the first time in a while. I was going to bring it up sometime too.”
Rarely, even Veronica chimed in with agreement to his opinion.
“We're mid-level mages of the Magic Tower now, so we can't stay buried in piles of paperwork forever. It's not like violent crimes happen frequently in Sirin anyway.”
“Hear, hear! I read over 10 documents a day just asking to find lost cats!”
“Hmm.”
Thinking about it, they weren't wrong.
When he had formed the department with these guys, they had all been merely at level 4 or 5.
But now they had all grown to the level of looking towards level 7.
‘This is indeed the time when they need to focus most on their training.’
Above all, as Veronica said, violent crimes don't happen often in Sirin.
Because the White Watchers, who maintained the territory's security, were doing their jobs much too well.
“Killian, are you of the same opinion?”
“Of course. Recently, I've been sparring with the Mad Fiend, and I've always regretted the lack of time.”
“......Sparring? With that guy?”
Had they become quite close after fighting as a team?
“That's right. As expected of someone from the Violet Brigade, he makes many irregular attacks, which is quite helpful.”
“Uh, could I maybe join in on that too?”
As Veronica showed interest, Killian willingly nodded his head.
“It's funny for me to allow it or not in the first place. Ask him. I'll guide you.”
“......Since both of you are doing it, it feels somewhat awkward to be left out alone. I'll go too.”
It was nice to see all three of them so sincere about their training.
They were probably thirsting for it more because they instinctively felt that level 7 wasn't far off.
“Then I'll proceed with recruiting new members.”
“Huh? Really?”
“Having heard you out, there's nothing bad about it. You guys should slowly start focusing on personal training, and it would be good for the juniors to gain practical experience little by little from now on.”
Rather, it felt a bit late even now.
It was his own mistake for failing to look at his surroundings because he had been running while only looking straight ahead until now.
“Once we recruit all the new members... yeah, you guys should seriously go on a vacation or something.”
“Would that be alright?”
“Yeah, because you've worked hard all this time.”
Fran beamed at those words.
“Sounds great! I should drop by my family home for the first time in a while. Killian, are you off to the forest again?”
“Mhm. A few of my tattoos got ruined in the last battle, so I need to get them redrawn.”
“We're going in the same direction, so let's share a taxi. I'll drop you off at the forest entrance.”
“Not bad.”
Veronica, who was listening to their conversation, turned her head this way.
“What about you?”
“What about me?”
“Aren't you resting?”
“Well, shouldn't the Department Head hold down the fort? I can't just leave everything to the chicks and go.”
“Tell me if you need it. I'll cover your shift. Unlike those guys, I don't have a home to return to anyway.”
“I thought you dropped by the orphanage sometimes when you had time? Don't you need to go see them?”
“The director is busy enough as it is, and she takes care of me every time I go, so it's uncomfortable.”
Veronica narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms.
“By the way, I don't think I've ever seen you take a break. Do you even rest properly?”
“I'm human too, so of course. I rest sometimes.”
“What exactly do you do when you rest?”
“Umm.......”
What did he do when he rested?
Oscar, briefly searching through his memories, answered.
“I read newly published magic theses, read Special Duties Department documents and reports from each department.......”
“That's not resting, that's working.”
“It's taking it easier than usual, so it's no different from a break.”
At those words, Veronica stared at him with eyes as if she had seen something she shouldn't have.
“......Do you have to live like this to reach level 7 at our age?”
Muttering lightly to herself, she shook her head.
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
“I don't know, do whatever you want. But if you collapse and whine about overwork, I'm not taking care of you.”
Sending them away with Veronica as the last, Oscar immediately went to meet Sasha.
Since it was a matter of replenishing the department's personnel, the Magic Tower Master's permission was required.
“Sasha, are you busy?”
“Ah, right now... hold on a second.”
Sasha, who was processing paperwork while controlling seven quill pens, replied hastily.
She quickly handled the urgent matters first and then sat on the sofa.
“I'm sorry. Did you wait long?”
“No. It's my fault for visiting when you're busy.”
“Hehe, I am a bit busy. But it's better than staring blankly at the sky with nothing to do.”
“Heh, that's a relief.”
“I heard you played a massive role in wiping out the Black Fingers' base this time.”
“It wasn't even worth calling a massive role.”
After exchanging small talk for a moment, Sasha kept glancing at her wristwatch and asked.
“By the way, what brings you here?”
“I have a favor to ask. About the Special Duties Department, I want to slowly start recruiting some new members.”
“Ah~ It's certainly just the four of you there, right? I was actually planning to ask you about that.”
She quickly brought over the relevant documents, signed them, and completed the approval.
“Around how many people are you thinking?”
“Hmm. Rather than recruiting a few frequently, it would be better to suffer a little and recruit many at once. Wouldn't around twenty be good?”
“You can just write the interview date on this document and post it on the bulletin board.”
“Thanks.”
As expected, things like this are convenient when your disciple is the Magic Tower Master.
Because it's processed in two minutes with just a single word, without the need to go through official procedures.
Tucking the documents into his coat, Oscar looked at the mountain of paperwork and asked.
“Take it a bit easy. You'll ruin your health.”
“Hey, I take walks every night while listening to my favorite songs and stuff.”
“That's a relief.”
“I'm more worried about you, Master, than myself.”
“Hm? Why me?”
“Well... you're a total workaholic, Master.”
Oscar's eyes widened.
“I am?”
“Yes, aren't you?”
“I've never once thought so. Isn't this just a normal level?”
“No way, that's definitely not true.”
Sasha vehemently shook her head.
“Master, you've always been busy ever since I was young. And Vice Tower Master Marlon always said he was worried too.”
“Hmm.......”
First the Emperor uncle and Veronica said so, and now even Sasha.
At this point, he really started to wonder if he was the weird one.
‘Actually, I feel like I was lazier when I was young.’
When his Master was still alive, that is.
Back then, he used to frequently devise tricks to somehow avoid work and play around.
Though he had never done so again after he passed away.
‘Maybe that influence is significant.’
He must not smear mud on the White Tower his Master left behind.
With that obsession, it seemed he had tried his best not to leave even a speck of a flaw.
Perhaps that habit still remained.
Oscar stood up, looking at Sasha, who kept checking the time.
“Anyway, thanks. You look busy, so get back to work. I'll get going too.”
“Ah, yep! If you need anything, please come find me anytime!”
Bowing deeply, Sasha swiftly returned to her seat and started working again.
How should he put it, watching that sight gave him a somewhat peculiar feeling.
‘It is heartwarming because it's like watching a daughter who has succeeded socially and risen in the world, but.......’
A feeling of sadness because the time she spent with him had decreased.
Not wanting to disturb Sasha, Oscar quietly slipped out of the room.
After posting the recruitment notice for new members on the first-floor bulletin board, he returned to his room at an early hour for the first time in a while.
“.......”
The Mad Fiend was nowhere to be seen, perhaps having gone to spar with Killian.
Sitting on the sofa in the frighteningly quiet room, Oscar felt a strange sensation.
‘I think this is the first time.’
Since opening his eyes in this body, that he had had this little to do.
Every time, something would erupt and people would look for him, but thinking about it, that seemed to have been quite a while ago too.
Feeling restless, Oscar threw on his coat and headed to the garden on the 10th floor.
“Phew.”
This place always felt relaxing no matter when he visited.
Oscar slowly walked along the dirt path while taking in the fresh scent of grass.
Certainly, perhaps thanks to the atmosphere, he was able to organize his thoughts well.
‘First off, are there two things I need to focus on right now.’
One is finding the First Finger.
However, this part has already left his hands.
Because unless the Imperial Family discovers additional clues, there is nothing that can be done on this end.
‘And the other one is.......’
Somehow removing the Great Emperor inside his soul.
But this too has no solution for now.
He has no choice but to wait until the Future Soul Research Institute contacts him.
“.......”
Thinking about it only makes his head hurt more for no reason.
As expected, is reaching level 8 without thinking about anything the best course of action right now?
As Oscar was just smacking his lips, a familiar face appeared on the opposite side of the path.
“Oh, isn't that Sir Oscar?”
A familiar face he hadn't seen in a very long time.
Recognizing him, Oscar broke into a bright smile.
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]

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