𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏
(1)
“Knox, what do you think?”
ㅤ
Upon hearing his boss’s words, Knox became wary.
It wasn’t out of concern for his health or progress at work. This “what do you think?” was like a cue to assign a new task to a subordinate.
ㅤ
“Yes, what is it?”
ㅤ
Lately, there have been no new registrations, and the wizards Knox is in charge of haven’t been causing any trouble. For Knox, it had been an ideal, peaceful situation.
However, it seems that’s about to change.
ㅤ
“It’s about that boy.”
“Which boy are you referring to?”
“You know, the one they call “Pebble”, him.”
“”Rockwall” Luo?”
“Ah, yes, that’s him.”
ㅤ
His boss had already forgotten the nickname he himself had given. Knox was genuinely amazed that this man could function as an official.
Luo, the fourth-grade wizard known as “Rockwall”, had registered as a wizard in the city of Arche about a month ago. Knox’s impression of him was of a boy who required a lot of attention and had poor comprehension. Moreover, he had run away in the middle of the procedure.
Every wizard registered in the kingdom is provided with a suitable job by the Bureau of Magic. However, given his weak magic power and being just ten years old, there was no workplace in the state-managed facility for him. Since there was a job vacancy from the dismantler at the manpower agency, they had decided to put him there for now.
ㅤ
“That job was completed just the other day. In fact, the client expressed a desire to continue the contract. We are currently preparing the proposal.”
ㅤ
Moreover, it’s a long-term contract renewal. This was a welcome miscalculation for Knox and a timely opportunity. It allows sharing the responsibility of problematic wizards, and administratively, the workload would be reduced.
ㅤ
“Actually, Knox, we’ve received a job request at the Bureau of Magic. They’re requesting a wizard dispatch.”
ㅤ
Regardless of the circumstances, the boss began to explain, simply dropping the paperwork onto the desk.
Knox, not wanting to touch it, merely looked at the document.
While wizards are generally perceived as rogue individuals, that’s not always the case. It’s the rogue individuals who become wizards out of desperation. Even after becoming wizards, they often cause trouble and face penalties. To clear those penalties, they must do voluntary work for the state. For departments with no budget, they are considered valuable labor. However, the work ethic of these unpaid wizards is often poor, and they frequently cause further troubles at their workplaces.
The document mentioned cleaning of a ruined castle.
ㅤ
“He’s just a ten-year-old boy. Why not assign another wizard?”
“Look at the requirements.”
ㅤ
Reluctantly, Knox picked up the document, skimmed through it, and frowned in confusion.
ㅤ
“Adult male, not acceptable?”
ㅤ
Essentially, the client was demanding a wizard who was either a child under fifteen or a female. It would be difficult to find a suitable candidate.
The requirements are strict, and there’s no budget. Knox felt the request was suspicious. His intuition as an official told him it would be best to avoid this case.
ㅤ
“Isn’t it the perfect task for that boy?”
“However, he just registered as a wizard. He doesn’t have any penalties, so he can’t be made to volunteer.”
“Well, you’ll find a way using our budget.”
ㅤ
It was an unexpected assignment.
Checking the “Requester” section in the documents, it said “Royal Garden Administration Bureau”. It’s the department that manages castles and gardens within the kingdom.
“I see,” Knox sighed.
He remembered his boss’s wife was fond of gardening. Probably planning to get seedlings or seeds from the royal suppliers in exchange for providing labor.
In other words, it’s about earning points at home.
Knox gave up resisting. It’s only a loss to upset the boss, and it’s a waste of time and effort. Moreover, if he doesn’t handle this case, the contract with the dismantler might not be approved.
ㅤ
“Understood.”
“Then, I’m counting on you.”
ㅤ
The boss left, looking satisfied.
The only silver lining might be that the work period is short, just ten days. However, the distance to the site is long. In addition to the fare for the travel carriage, he’ll have to calculate lodging expenses. It’s utterly pointless.
In his frustration, Knox tapped his fingers on the desk.
He thought of the timid boy’s face.
For a child who has just come from a rural village, even booking a travel carriage would be uncertain. Teaching everything to that slow-witted boy would be quite a task.
His tapping fingers stopped.
An idea came to mind.
The daughter of the dismantler who had come to renew the contract with the boy.
Her name was Crozet, if he remembered correctly.
What if he explained the job with her present? Given how overprotective she seemed, she’d undoubtedly take care of the boy without being asked.
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