NOVEL NEXT After Resignation, I Refuse the Obsession from the Male Leads
Chapter 11
Why are you looking at me like you’re about to take an X-ray, grape-hair?
Those kinds of eyes should be directed at the female lead, right? “I’ve been watching you for a few days, and I find you so hard to understand that I want to keep observing you.” “Mhm?” “Your grades are lower than mine and Crosswell, and your magic skills are average.” “Hey.” “When the three of us go together, you’re the leader, and it’s strange because you say irrational things and it seems right.” “You’re swearing in front of people right now…” “That strange ability also piques my curiosity.” “Haa…”“That’s why I have to observe you closely.” What is this supposed to mean? “No, wait a minute. I didn’t say I was joining the BM-RP Department, though?” As if he had been waiting, the mastermind leaned closer to me and whispered. “This is what power tastes like, Miss Lowell.” “Yes?” “Well then, Miss Crosswell. You must be tired, so I’ll take my leave now.” “Ah, thank you for coming.” The female lead flusteredly said her greetings. But the moment she saw me, tears welled up in her beautiful eyes. “Layla.” “Yuriana, this situation right now…” It’s a mess. But let’s figure out how to fix this situation. It’s not too late! But before I could say that, the female lead grabbed both of my hands and sobbed. “Thank you so much for saving me.” “Uh-huh.” “I’ve been indebted to Layla since the beginning… I don’t know how I can repay you.” “No! That’s not true…” At that moment, someone lightly placed a hand on my shoulder. It was a reassuring man’s hand, but the moment it touched me, a chill ran down my spine. It was the male lead. “Okay, Lowell.” “Yes…?” “Let’s go to our department for a bit.” I felt a strong sense of déjà vu in the male lead’s gaze. It was because I once had that kind of gaze. The gaze I had when I was busy to the point of madness and had captured some hands to put to work…! * * * In front of me, the mastermind and the male lead were preparing the employment contract, and was this a dream or reality? The pile of documents had grown significantly higher since the last time I saw it. ‘Is this my reality…’ My mind was dizzy at the unbelievable situation. ‘N, no! I told the female lead too!’ There’s no need to be tied down to a company. Is the palace the only place to work? No! There were so many workplaces. What era is this that I’m loyal to one workplace for my entire life? ‘Well, I did work hard to become a civil servant.’ That didn’t mean I wanted to roll around in the toughest department. So… ‘Let’s quit.’ Even if I sign the employment contract, I can just quit right after. It was a very plausible method. As I thought about that, I met the mastermind’s eyes, and I had a strangely ominous feeling. The mastermind was smiling in a way that was just too irritating. ‘What is this… Why is he grinning like that?’ Since he looks so pretty, it suits him to smile like that; if he had average looks, it would truly be a provoking smile. …But is it just my imagination that his smile is growing wider? “Haha. Then, Miss Lowell.” “Yes.” “First of all, I apologize for forcing you to come here.” “Ye…that’s not true.” “But since the situation is so urgent, I hope you understand.” “Yes…” I pretended to answer politely, but my mind went back to the thoughts I had just had. ‘Resignation. Resignation quickly is the answer.’ I quickly skimmed through the employment contract from the top. The contents were typical employment contract clauses that I was familiar with. However, when I reached the middle part, my pupils shook on their own. “Excuse me, Minister Crow.” “Do you have any questions?” “Um… here, it states the mandatory employment period. What does this mean?” <When working at the ‘Black Magic Retrieval and Prevention Department,’ the basic principle is to work for three years from the first day of regular employment. Resignation and department transfers are not allowed during this period. In the case of disasters, emergencies, or physical reasons, a leave of absence can be discussed. In the case of unauthorized absence, punishment can be discussed based on the principle of confidentiality.> The mastermind smiled brightly, as if pleased that I had noticed. “The investigation of black magic is mostly classified. That’s why once you join, you have to commit to at least three years.” “Yes?!” “If you sign this contract now, you’ll have to work as part of the BM-RP Department for three years starting today. And be aware that if you miss work without notice, there will be serious consequences.” …I didn’t even know this setting existed in the original story. ‘The moment you sign, your quick resignation is over.’ At that moment, the mastermind asked with a voice dripping with honey. “By the way, did you check the salary section, Miss Lowell? It starts at three times the amount of a new hire in other departments.” “Ah, yes.” “You’ll also receive a performance bonus of one thousand marks every quarter.” “Ah, yes.” My answer was very insincere. ‘One thousand marks would be equivalent to ten million won.’ I want to spend money while my limbs are intact? The mastermind tried to soothe me with an even softer voice. “Miss Lowell. I understand that you’re worried. It must be scary.” “….” “But the ability to see the core of black magic is really rare.” Now that I think about it, that ability is also strange. ‘Aren’t I the character who appears briefly in the introduction?’ Why is the ‘kind and quiet colleague’ of the female lead being subjected to such excessive hardships? I earnestly pleaded with the mastermind. “Maybe it was just a coincidence? Everyone has superhuman strength once in their life when they use their brains, so maybe I have that for a little while?” “Hmm. You never know.” The mastermind stared at me with narrowed eyes. “Could it be that Miss Lowell… actually comes from a family with such powers?” Huh? What family? Just then, the male lead intervened. “Since you’re here, why not check it out, Edgar?” “Absolutely. Whoa, if only we had met earlier, we could have figured this out sooner. I should call Lumiere.” The male lead…! ‘You didn’t even try to comfort the female lead, so why are you doing this to me!’ What’s going on here? ‘The secret of my birth?’ Is it really okay for something like this to be revealed? So soon…? * * * 300 years ago, after the ‘Mad Emperor’ killed the Saintess… It was only natural for the Temple of the ‘God of Time and Purification’ and its subordinate families to decline. However, the Crow family maintained their reputation because they managed the central temple. ‘Did our orphanage receive funding from the mastermind as well?’ It was an unexpected turn of thought. Anyway… The mastermind’s vassal, Priest Lumière, was a person with bright honey-colored hair and blue eyes, resembling a little chick. With a bewildered expression, he was dragged into the BM-RP Department office… “You are a possessor of divine power!” “What did you say?” He touched me a few times with his hand that was emitting light, and then sentenced me to death without bloodshed. ‘After twenty years of nothing happening, why now all of a sudden?’ The priest also seemed taken aback. “The ability to see the core is a divine power…! How could it suddenly manifest?” “I have no idea…” “But the divine power must have been manifested from a young age…?” “I guess she didn’t know because she didn’t have any use for it…?” Did the people who left ‘Layla Lowell’ at the orphanage know about this? ‘If they knew, they wouldn’t have abandoned her?’ As my feelings grew tangled, the chick-like priest flapped about in confusion. “This is incredible! Ahhh, we’ve been worried about the decreasing number of divine power holders, and now a miracle like this happens!” “Hmm… Priest, can this reveal anything about my origin?” “It’ll take time, but it’s not impossible. The divine power is a power that is passed down through generations!” The priest nodded his head vigorously enough to make a buzzing sound. “You might be a descendant of a family that no longer exists.” “Ahh…”“I know how you feel, it must be overwhelming! Ah, I want to let the other priests know quickly!” What’s the big deal? ‘I’m glad I can find my blood relatives, but I don’t need this kind of power!’ The fact that someone like me, a mere passing figure, possesses such power? This was clearly a flag for nothing but trouble ahead. But at that moment, the male lead stopped the excited priest. “Priest Lumière, we must keep this a secret for the time being.” I would greatly appreciate your continued support by leaving a positive rating on NU so I can continue translating this novel. Thank you.
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