ARML 11

Chapter 11 

Why are you looking at me like you’re doing an X-ray, Grape Head?

Shouldn’t you be giving that kind of look to the female lead?

“I’ve been watching you for a few days, but I just can’t understand you. So I want to keep observing you.”

“Huh?”

“Your grades are lower than mine and Crosswell’s, and your magic skills are average.”

“Hey.”

“When we hang out, you end up being the leader. You say unreasonable things, but they sound right. It’s strange.”

“Did you just insult me to my face…?”

“That weird ability of yours is also really interesting to me.”

“Sigh…”

“So I have to observe you up close.”

What is this guy even saying?

“Wait a minute. I never said I was joining the Black Spoon Division.”

Just then, the dark-haired guy came close and whispered:

“This is what power tastes like, Ms. Lowell.”

“What?”

“Well then, Ms. Crosswell. You must be tired, so I’ll take my leave now.”

“Ah, thank you for coming.”

The female lead bowed in a hurry.

But the moment she looked at me, her pretty eyes filled with tears.

“Layla.”

“Yuliana, this situation is just…”

A complete mess.

But let’s try to fix this. It’s not too late yet!

Before I could say anything, the female lead grabbed both my hands and said, holding back tears:

“Thank you so much for saving me.”

“Uh…”

“From the start, I’ve always been in your debt… I don’t even know how to repay you.”

“No! It’s not like that…”

Just then, someone lightly placed a hand on my shoulder.

It was a firm, strong hand—but the moment it touched me, I got chills down my spine.

It was the male lead.

“Come, Lowell.”

“…Yes?”

“Let’s go to our department for a bit.”

I felt a strong sense of déjà vu from his eyes.

Because I’d had the same look once too.

It’s the look you get when you’re super busy and finally catch someone you can put to work!

The dark-haired guy and the male lead were preparing an employment contract right in front of me.

Is this a dream or reality?

The stack of documents was even higher than the last time I saw it.

‘Is this really my life now…?’

The situation was so unbelievable, I almost passed out.

‘No, no. I told the female lead earlier, remember!’

That there’s no need to cling to one job.

Is the palace the only place to work? No way!

There are jobs everywhere.

Why should I stay loyal to one job my whole life, especially in this day and age?

‘Sure, I did try hard to become a government official…’

But that doesn’t mean I wanted to suffer in the most intense department.

So…

‘I’ll quit.’

Even if I sign the contract, I can just quit right after.

A perfect plan.

I was thinking that when the dark-haired guy caught my eye—and I suddenly had a bad feeling.

He was smiling way too smugly.

‘What the… Why is he smiling like that?’

He was only getting away with it because he’s handsome. If someone average looked like that, people would get mad.

…Wait, is it just me or is his smile getting bigger?

“Haha. Well then, Ms. Lowell.”

“Yes.”

“I apologize for bringing you here by force.”

“…It’s okay.”

“But the situation was urgent. I hope you understand.”

“…Sure.”

I pretended to politely agree, but in my mind, I kept thinking:

‘I need to quit. Fast.’

I quickly skimmed through the contract from the top. It looked like a standard employment agreement.

But when I got to the middle, my eyes widened on their own.

“Um, Minister Crow.”

“Something you’re curious about?”

“Uh… here, it says there’s a required work period. What’s that about?”

<If employed in the ‘Black Magic Collection and Suppression Division,’ the standard rule is a three-year commitment from the official start date.

During this period, resignation or departmental transfer is not allowed.

Leave of absence may be discussed in cases of disaster or physical issues.

Unexcused absences may result in punishment under confidentiality law.>

The dark-haired guy smiled like he was happy I noticed it.

“Most black magic investigations are classified. That’s why once you join, you have to stay for 3 years, no exceptions.”

“What?!”

“If you sign this, you’ll be with the Black Spoon Division for 3 years starting today. Don’t even think about skipping work.”

…I didn’t even know the original story had this kind of setting.

‘If I sign, I can’t quit quickly!’

Then the dark-haired guy said in a sweet, tempting voice:

“Did you see the salary part, Ms. Lowell? It’s three times higher than other new hires.”

“Ah, yes.”

“You’ll also get a 1,000 mark bonus every quarter.”

“Oh… okay.”

I gave a half-hearted answer.

‘1,000 marks is like 10 million won…’

But I’d rather be healthy and spend my money freely!

The dark-haired guy spoke even more gently.

“I understand your concerns, Ms. Lowell. It must be scary.”

“….”

“But being able to see black magic cores is extremely rare.”

Now that I think about it, that ability is strange too.

‘Aren’t I just a side character who appears briefly at the beginning?’

Why is the “kind and quiet classmate” getting hit with all this hardship?

I pleaded with the dark-haired guy.

“Maybe it was just a coincidence? Sometimes people push their brain too hard and suddenly get super strength. Maybe I had a moment like that?”

“Hmmm. Who knows.”

He looked at me with narrow eyes and said,

“Maybe you’re actually from a family… with this kind of power.”

Huh? What family?

Then even the male lead joined in.

“Since she’s here, you should confirm it, Edgar.”

“Of course. If only we’d met earlier! We need to call Lumiere.”

Male lead…!

‘You didn’t even comfort the female lead, and now you’re doing this to me?!’

And what is this development?

‘A secret about my birth?’

Isn’t it a little too early to reveal something like that?

300 years ago, the “Mad Emperor” killed the Saint.

After that, the Temple of Time and Purification, and the families tied to it, all declined.

But the Crow family remained respected because they managed the Central Temple.

‘Wait… did our orphanage get money from the dark-haired guy too?’

A thought I never expected crossed my mind.

Anyway…

The dark-haired guy’s follower, Priest Lumiere, had honey-blond hair and bright blue eyes. He looked like a little chick.

He looked confused as he was dragged into the Black Spoon Division office.

“You’re a Holy Power Holder!”

“…What?”

He touched me a few times with his glowing hands and gave me a bloodless death sentence.

‘Nothing happened for 20 years, and now this?!’

The priest also seemed flustered.

“Being able to see magic cores is a form of holy power! But how did it suddenly show up?”

“I have no idea…”

“Normally, it would’ve shown up when you were a child…”

“Maybe I just never had a reason to use it?”

Would the people who abandoned ‘Layla Lowell’ at the orphanage have known?

‘If they did, maybe they wouldn’t have left me?’

My heart grew heavy. The chick-like priest flapped around excitedly.

“This is amazing! Oh wow, with the number of Holy Power users dropping, this is a miracle!”

“Um… Priest, does this mean you can find out where I’m from?”

“It’ll take time, but it’s possible. Holy power runs in families!”

He nodded so hard it made a buzzing sound.

“Maybe you’re a descendant of a now-extinct noble family.”

“Aaah…”

“I understand, you must be overwhelmed! Ah, I want to tell the other priests right away!”

Overwhelmed, my foot.

‘Sure, it’d be nice to find family, but I don’t want powers like this!’

Why would a background character like me have this kind of ability? This is a flag for future headaches.

Just then, the male lead stopped the excited priest.

“Priest Lumiere. This must be kept a secret for now.”