I Became a Civil Servant Who Can Use Magic

The corps’ departure preparations progressed surprisingly smoothly.

The newly formed corps command perfectly fulfilled their roles without detailed instructions from Loen.

This was possible thanks to the combination of two factors:
Loyalist officers devoted only to their duties with no interest in politics,
And a corps commander who did not interfere at all except for necessary orders.

“Operations staff. I’m considering dividing the corps to march in order to quickly push the Southern Alliance, what do you think about this?”

As soon as Loen casually brought it up.

“How about operating the corps divided into three? We can block key routes while simultaneously running a separate unit to pressure the enemy much more efficiently.”

Solutions automatically popped out of the staff’s mouths.

“Let me explain this in detail……”

Whoosh.
The operations staff began explaining the march routes and roles of each unit while unfolding a map on the spot.
Indeed, it was a much more meticulous and effective plan than expected.

“Hmm….”

Loen just had to nod and approve.

“Good. Proceed like this.”
“Yes, Corps Commander!”

With just providing direction, the staff would establish implementation plans on their own, so the role of corps commander couldn’t be any easier.

Thanks to this, Loen spent leisurely days for the first time since receiving the Emperor’s decree.

“…This is too comfortable?”

On a bright afternoon.

As Loen was enjoying a rare moment of leisure sitting in the office chair.

Knock knock.
Seraphine burst into the office with an excited face.

“Inspector Loen. I stopped by because I have something to say regarding the secret agreement.”

Sensing that a reply to the agreement proposal had arrived, Loen asked.

“What did Duke Bastard say?”

Seraphine grinned.

“He says he’ll visit the Franz territory soon to discuss the details.”

It was essentially an acceptance of the secret agreement.
If it were a rejection, there would be no need to visit the territory at all.
In other words, it meant he would come to stamp the seal in person.

A faint smile appeared on Loen’s lips at the satisfactory result.

Now that the two ducal families have formed an alliance.

If she successfully deals with the Southern Alliance and absorbs their assets and businesses,
It would be hard to find a force within the empire that could touch the Franz family.

The goal of securing enough influence to not be swayed by others was now just around the corner.

While Loen was continuing her thoughts.

Swish.
Seraphine suddenly stretched out her hand.

“Anyway, I look forward to working with you from now on.”
“Me too.”

Seraphine’s eyes, as she shook hands, glanced at Loen’s face once, then again.

“By the way, Inspector Loen.”
“?”

Loen tilted her head at Seraphine’s look that seemed to have more to say.

“Isn’t it bothersome to add ~Inspector at the end of every sentence?”
“Hmm…. Not particularly?”
“……”

At the unexpected response, Seraphine narrowed her brows and continued speaking.

“Although the time we’ve spent together isn’t long, during that time, we’ve had moments of crossing life and death together, haven’t we?”

Moments of crossing life and death?
When escaping the Donnelly mansion and when fighting the duke at the fortress, only twice, right?

But she wasn’t so tactless as to show these inner thoughts and make the atmosphere awkward, so Loen just expressed agreement. She had that much tact at least.

“That’s right.”
“We’re even going to form an alliance between our families soon, right?”
“That’s true too.”
“So I thought it might be nice to have a change in our relationship.”
“A change in relationship?”
“……”

Seraphine’s eyebrows curved at Loen’s indifferent response.
Shouldn’t she have noticed what this is about by now?

For a moment, Seraphine’s past with Loen flashed through her mind.

It was when a one-on-one duel was arranged at the Inspection Headquarters.
At that time too, she had thrown words slightly indirectly while watching Loen exercise in the training room.
But Loen was indifferent then too. She just consistently ignored it.

At the time, she thought Loen was pretending not to understand on purpose, but now…

‘Was she just lacking in social awareness..’

As expected of someone from the Inspection Department.
It’s truly fascinating how different her usual demeanor is from when she’s working.

Finally unable to bear the frustration, she threw a straight ball.

“So what I mean is.”

Seraphine cleared her throat with a fake cough.

“How about we… talk more comfortably without formalities? It’s kind of, a suggestion? Like that.”

She felt embarrassed even after saying it.
To think she, a ducal lady, would bring this up first.
Of course, the other party is of the same rank, but still.

“Ah. You mean like friends?”
“Well, yes. Something like that.”
“Sounds good.”
“…?”

Seraphine’s eyes widened at Loen’s acceptance.
No, you’re accepting this easily?

She had been inwardly worrying about all sorts of things, like what if she’s coldly rejected or her intentions are doubted!
Of course, Seraphine’s worries weren’t unusual.

Originally, the world of nobles, especially the world of young ladies, was such a place.

Hiding blades behind smiles was basic, and sincerity shown by chance often came back as a weakness.
It was common to stab each other in the back after smiling and drinking tea together.

So when someone tried to close the distance, one had to be suspicious first.
In other words, figuring out their true intentions was the top priority.

But Loen’s reaction was, how to put it…
So far from all that.

‘Well, I guess this is very Loen-like.’

Anyway, she got the result she wanted, so that’s fine.
The corners of Seraphine’s mouth unconsciously rose.

“Th-Then I’ll call you comfortably from now on. Loen..?”

At Seraphine’s expectant gaze, Loen shrugged and immediately spoke informally.

“Sure.”

From Loen’s standpoint, there was no reason to refuse.
It’s better for me to throw away bothersome formalities.

So, just as Seraphine’s expression seemed to brighten,
She soon continued with a serious face.

“More importantly, Loen. Did you know strange rumors about you have been spreading lately?”
“Rumors?”

Loen’s brows furrowed slightly.
Aren’t rumors always following?

Seraphine added in a lowered voice.

“It was written in Father’s letter. It seems a certain force is deliberately spreading malicious rumors. And they’re specifically targeting you.”

Malicious rumors aimed at me….
A faint sneer appeared on Loen’s lips.

“It doesn’t matter.”
“..Doesn’t matter? Even though it’s an issue of your honor?”

At Seraphine’s unbelieving expression, Loen answered lightly as if brushing off dust.

“They’re rumors that will disappear soon anyway.”

A few days later.

Bwooo—
Cutting through the veil of the quiet dawn, a long and resounding trumpet sound echoed.

The Southern Corps had finally drawn their swords and begun marching.

Thud, thud, thud.

The footsteps of 50,000 troops pounded the earth like a giant heartbeat.
The wave of steel filling the plains created a majestic sight in itself.

These were Loen’s blades that would soon bring a bloody wind to the south.

On a hill with open surroundings,
Loen, who was watching the scene with the command, opened her mouth.

“Knight Captain.”

The magic-armored knight captain, who also held the position of chief of staff, answered with a crisp posture.

“Yes.”
“Please lead the remaining troops well as instructed before.”
“Yes! I will make sure to finish it so you don’t have to worry.”

The corps was divided into a total of three units.

Among them, two units were entrusted to the magic-armored knight captain who also served as chief of staff.
The names of the units he would lead were the main force and the rear guard.

The main force was tasked with dealing with the remaining remnants in the cities Loen had swept through and suppressing chaos.
The rear guard was to spread throughout the south and arrest the lower nobles of the alliance.

And, the last remaining unit.
The role of the vanguard that Loen would lead directly was….

The bustling metropolis of the south, Rofenberg.

Just as another busy day was about to begin as usual,
An ominous shadow fell before the western city gate.

A large army too numerous to count was marching towards the city.
The city went into emergency at the shocking sight that filled the horizon beyond.

“Close the gates! Quickly!”
“Ring the bells!”

Rattle rattle, boom!

The guards on the city walls hurriedly blocked the gates and ran to deliver the news to the inside of the city.

Dong, dong, dong.

Then the sound of bells from the towers alerting of the threat rang throughout the entire city.

As news of the Southern Corps’ invasion of the city spread along with the bell sounds, the city bustling with vitality instantly transformed into a scene of carnage.

“The corps invaded the city? Come on, you have to say something that makes sense!”
“No wonder the political situation has been uneasy lately.. Let’s escape first and see.”
“What? That bitch Loen has already come right up to our doorstep!?”

People showed different reactions to the news that was hard to believe.

Well, it was understandable.
There hadn’t been a single case like this in the past hundred years.

“Get out of the way!”

Soon after, the city garrison staying in the barracks poured out.
In an instant, they rushed to the top of the city walls and took their positions.
Soon, extreme tension as if witnessing a disaster settled on their faces.

“Deploy the city defense magic!”

Then, along with the commander’s desperate cry,

Woong—!

A huge blue veil rose like a beam of light and enveloped the entire city wall without gaps.

Some of the garrison let out sighs of relief at the sturdy appearance of the barrier.

Still, it’s the defensive magic protecting a metropolis,
It won’t be easily penetrated, right?

Meanwhile, Count Rofen, who was holding a social gathering and urging “signatures for the Loen Franz petition”…

“What is this!”

The lord of the city, who rushed over after hearing the news of the invasion, poked his face out over the city wall.

And was shocked.

“That, that crazy….”

Having grasped the situation, he let out a fierce roar.
It was the rule to act strongly especially at times like this.

“Inspector Loen! What nonsensical outrage is this!”
“Do you know where you dare to—!”
“Rofenberg has been ……… one of the representative metropolises of the south for hundreds of years….”
“For someone calling herself corps commander to suddenly invade an imperial city without any official document or justification!”

While the count was shouting loudly as if for everyone to hear.

Loen, who had been quietly listening to his words,
Got off her horse and began slowly walking towards the main gate of the city wall.

Thud, thud.

Watching her approach silently without any words, Count Rofen felt intense anxiety.

This won’t do!
Thinking so, the count rapidly raised the level of his speech.

“Loen! This is a clear act of overstepping authority and abuse of power!!”

Swish.
Loen, who stopped walking at an appropriate distance, stretched both arms forward.

“You don’t think you’ll be safe after doing something like this! The Southern Alliance has already prepared to submit a petition against you to the imperial parliament and imperial court…. Ugh. Ru-Run away!”

And she chanted the magic activation words.

“Mana Cannon.”

Whoosh— Boom!

Eventually, a gray beam that seemed to devour everything erupted.

When the beam of destruction that brightly illuminated the surroundings finally subsided.

The blue barrier and city gate that had firmly protected the city until just now had disappeared without a trace.

“!!”
“….”

The inside of the city was exposed.

At that unbelievable sight, the count, whose blood drained from his face, screamed.
It was a struggle to avoid death.

“Wh-What are you doing! Get down from the city wall right now and stop that woman!”

Such a cry rang out desperately, not knowing who he was telling to stop her.

Amidst the confusion and shock,
Loen indifferently raised her hand.

At that moment, the vanguard knights waiting behind her began to rush forward all at once.

“Everyone charge!”

Along with the operations staff’s sharp shout, they charged towards the wide open city gate.

First, Psyche passed by Loen’s side, wagging her tail like an excited puppy.
Following her, in the torrent of fiercely charging knights,

Loen took slow steps as if taking a stroll.

It was the moment the purge of the Southern Alliance began.