NOVEL NEXT After Resignation, I Refuse the Obsession from the Male Leads
Chapter 9
After the ‘black magic rampage incident,’ the departmental tours for new officials were halted.
All new recruits were to remain at home until the situation was assessed. But I and the grape-haired one were dragged into the inside of the palace… The place we were summoned to was the first conference room of the palace. Not only the high-ranking officials we had seen during the new employee OT, but also higher-ranking officials were there. So the ministers… ‘Is a lowly being of the ecosystem mixed in with the gathering of high-ranking officials?’ I want to run away right now! ‘More than anything, this never happened in the original story, right?’ The female lead is going on a rampage? The three of us were held up in the palace for inspections. I and the grape-haired one were being inspected for the circumstances of the incident, while the female lead was being examined for her physical condition ‘Director Theodore was giving medicine to the female lead, right?’ They must be checking to see if there are any remnants of black magic or any aftereffects by now. ‘…I wonder if the female lead will be okay?’ She hates black magic, but what if she was affected by it? Wouldn’t she be suffering because her pride was damaged? ‘I should go visit her after it’s over.’ But why has the grape-haired been staring at me so intently since a while ago? “Finley.” “….” “Do you have something to say to me?” “You’re the one who has something to say to me.” Damn it. After discovering the ‘core of black magic,’ the grape-haired looked ready to crush me with his gaze. Given the circumstances, I avoided answering on the spot. ‘Can I tell you something I don’t know either?’ But I have to avoid that gaze, so I have to say something else. “That’s right. I have something to say to you.” “Then how…” “Thank you for helping me back then.” “…What?” “Why? You grabbed me and saved me, didn’t you?” To be exact, you grabbed my collar and saved me. My neck still hurt, but thanks to that, my face wasn’t smashed. So just take my thanks and leave me alone, you jerk. “I should’ve thanked you sooner. I’m sorry, Finley. It’s all thanks to you!” “No, I didn’t want to hear that…” “Oh my, you are so humble.” “You…!” Just as he was about to raise his voice, The person second only to the emperor spoke up. “It’s truly unfortunate that we have all gathered here due to such an unfortunate incident.” It was none other than Prime Minister Luella Halifax. Looking at the middle-aged female official with strikingly white hair styled impeccably, I realized it once again. ‘The imperial family here really has weak power…’ Because not a single member of the imperial family was present. Prime Minister Halifax spoke to Director Theodore. “Sir Wadsworth, what is the current condition of Yuriana Croswell?” “Neither of them are injured. However, I have decided that it is difficult to call her to this place.” “I see. But to use black magic…What kind of grudge did she have?” “Ahem. According to Crosswell’s testimony.” The Director cleared his throat. “She mentioned that the pressure she felt during the second team was quite significant.” “Where is that team?” At that moment, Allison Capres stood up. Although her face was pale, her expression was quite confident. “Your Excellency, Crosswell’s testimony is very regrettable. However, I did nothing beyond teaching the basics.” The Director looked embarrassed at that confident response. “Team Leader Capres, I apologize, but according to Crosswell’s testimony, your verbal abuse was quite…” “I regret Crosswell’s testimony as well. However, that newbie was in a very unstable state from the very beginning.” What? ‘What are you talking about?’ Allison continued shamelessly. “And what does it mean that a superior would make such statements, to harbor malice to the extent of being tempted by black magic?” There was muttering from the surroundings. “Capres is right.” “Furthermore, I heard that Crosswell is a top scorer; it’s quite disappointing.” “Did she lie about something in the psychiatric evaluation?” “From the beginning, there was a connection to black magic…” The room soon became ominously quiet. If she’s confirmed to be involved with black magic, she’s dead. ‘That f*cking b*stard.’ I gritted my teeth. Even after hearing such unfavorable testimony, are they really planning to kill someone? ‘I have to tell them.’ Allison’s statement was too much! ‘Ah, but there’s no evidence!’ The grape-haired was watching me as I pressed my forehead and groaned in pain. Then he got up silently and raised his hand without fear. Everyone in the room naturally turned their attention to this side. “May I speak?” “You are…?” “I’m Seamus Finley, a colleague of Crosswell.” “Hmm. Finley. What are you trying to say?” “Team Leader Capres’ remarks are unreasonable.” “Hmm? What are you talking about?” “Because it’s not fair to say that she was very unstable from the beginning.” “Haha, I understand your desire to support your fellow colleague, but…” The grape-haired lifted up the skull bracelet. “My artifact can attack and… it can also record.” As he pressed the skull, familiar voices echoed vividly. – The desk is a waste of money, huh? Oh my. Did it hurt? Sorry about that. – N, no. – Right? You all only understand when we speak frankly. From the very first day we started our tour with the protocol team. – Becoming a civil servant just to marry well and escape your fate, pretending to be nice… Allison’s verbal abuse up until the incident this afternoon… The verbal abuse wasn’t only directed at Yuriana. ‘There are things that you did to me here and there.’ – Are you trying to show off your experience from somewhere? – Thank you for the compliment. – Well, coming from an orphanage, I suppose you’ve done a lot of odd jobs. I just answered it sarcastically, but from a third party’s perspective, it was a terrible statement. There were embarrassing coughs here and there. “Ahem.” “No, my goodness.” “I’ve heard the rumors, but… hmm.” Allison’s lips trembled with anger. She probably didn’t expect that the grape-hair she had left alone would hit her on the back of the head with magic, did he? But I didn’t know either. ‘What’s going on, grape-hair?’ No, from now on, I should call you by your proper name. ‘Seamus! As expected, you were definitely a candidate for the male lead!’ I also got up, encouraged by the atmosphere. Allison glared at me and trembled. “I am Layla Lowell, a colleague of Crosswell. Everything that Finley has shared is true!” “You…!” “Crosswell was not unstable from the beginning. From the very first day of the protocol team’s training period, there were verbal abuses…” “This is a false accusation! That artifact is also a fraud!” Alison shouted at the people, her face flushed with anger. “Which testimony do you believe! No matter how weak I may be, I am in charge of protocol…” However, a low-pitched male voice interrupted. As the male lead sitting in front of us stood up, everyone’s attention instantly turned to him. “Team Leader Capres’s testimony is invalid.” “Young Master Lupesque?! What do you mean…” “Team Leader Capres pushed Lowell, who was trying to escape into the building when the black magic went wild.” “T, that! It was an accident!” “But she didn’t even try to open the door again to save her.” “….!” “I personally witnessed and testified to that.” The gazes of those looking at Allison grew as cold as the Siberian plains. Prime Minister Halifax sighed and tapped the armrest of her chair. “Haah, enough. We’ve strayed too far from the agenda of the meeting.” “Excuse me, Your Excellency Prime Minister.” “That’s enough, Team Leader Lupesque. More importantly, your superior…” Just then, the conference room door opened. “Oh my. I’m sorry I’m late.” Who is the owner of that voice dripping with elegance and composure? ‘Huh? Could that person be…?’ Isn’t that the hidden mastermind from the original story? 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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