The Tyrant Empress is Obsessed with Me

3 – Why the Hot Spring Explodes

＜Ascal Debur – Evaluation Department 3rd Division Chief＞

He received a golden nameplate.

For some reason, a sense of emptiness filled him as he looked at the nameplate placed carelessly on the desk of his empty office.

‘Should I just close my eyes and run away?’

No.

If he tries to escape now with the increased attention, there is no doubt that a pursuit team will follow immediately.

In the end, the only way was still to prove his incompetence and get fired.

‘Alright. Let’s see what happens. I will mess up whatever comes my way.’

However, even after one day and then two days passed, there was no significant work assigned to Ascal.

Originally, being a national government official was a job that was incredibly busy when busy but unbelievably idle when not.

Ascal even went to his boss to ask for work.

“Is there anything for me to do?”

“No, something will come up soon. Just take a break.”

A month passed like that.

Surprisingly, nothing happened during that time.

“The food is delicious today.”

In an empty office, he eats a sandwich he brought and stares blankly out the window.

There was so little to do that he recently started taking care of potted plants.

Today, the plant sprouted new buds. It was worth giving it fertilizer. He changed the soil today. Grow strong, little one.

As I was writing in my plant diary, I fell into an existential crisis.

‘Please give me some work to do…’

His daily routine could be summarized as follows:

Eat, go to the bathroom, sit meaninglessly at a desk, water the plant, and leave work when it’s time.

It might be a dream life for someone, but Ascal could no longer endure the boredom with his body subjected to a kind of time limit.

‘I can’t stand it anymore. I need to ask for a transfer.’

It was at that moment when he stood up from his seat.

“Excuse me, Chief Ascal.”

An unexpected figure entered the office.

Kain.

Chief of Evaluation Division 1, and a 4th-class management clerk.

He was practically the driving force behind Evaluation Division 1.

He was a respectable person, unlike the chief of Division 3, who was practically useless.

Ascal, about to reflexively greet him, suddenly stopped.

In his present state, he was just a greenhorn who rose to power too quickly.

He was barely a 7th-class management personnel, but he managed to become a chief.

Kain, who became the chief of Division 1 purely based on his results, probably saw him as an eyesore.

He considered a different approach – what if he acted arrogant and disrespectful?

In no time at all, he would be alienated and eventually be ousted from the Evaluation Division.

And nobody would care if he quit managing and became a ghost person.

“It would be impolite to visit another division without warning.”

“Ah, I apologize for that.”

“Please make sure to give me advance notice next time. So, what brings you here?”

Perfect.

His attitude was now worthy of winning first place in an office rudeness competition.

As evidence, Cain’s face, which was wearing a friendly smile just a moment ago, had hardened.

“There’s a task I’d like to delegate to Manager Ascal. It’s about assessing land, and since Manager Ascal is well-known for his excellent judgment, I believe he’s the right person for the job. Of course, you don’t have to take it if you don’t want to.”

How long had it been since such an opportunity arose?

Ascal held back a burst of laughter and responded with the most serious expression he could muster.

“I’ll take it.”

“Oh, you will? I’ll send you the necessary documents shortly.”

Ascal nodded without looking at Cain, pretending to read the report.

From No ble mt L dot c om

He wanted to appear rude until the very end.

“…Is he gone?”

Ascal slouched in his chair once Cain had completely disappeared. It had been a rather successful performance. And he had gained the much-desired workload.

If only he could ruin the glorious work of his rude golden parachute!

Resignation wasn’t far off.

“hehehehe.”

The job of the evaluation department was simple.

Evaluate everything that could be evaluated for the empire.

And that, of course, included ‘people.’

“Did you meet with Ascal Devere?”

“Yes.”

Cain took off his coat. His secretary naturally took the coat and hung it on a coat rack.

“I heard rumors that he’s just a lucky brat.”

“That’s just jealousy from the incompetent ones.”

Cain never forgot to wear his friendly smile. When a slightly plump, good-looking middle-aged man smiles, most people relax. Unconsciously, they see him as easygoing.

In doing so, they reveal their true selves. Cain was always accustomed to evaluating people in such situations.

“He didn’t let his guard down around me at all. In fact, he even glared at me as if asking what kind of scheme I was up to. Just a 20-year-old brat, doing that to me.”

Cain didn’t seem upset as he spoke.

The evaluation department was rotten. There was a scarcity of useful talents, and incompetent people received the country’s salary, only to waste it.

But.

“Askal Debreu is the real deal.”

Caine is a well-known figure who rose from the lowest ranks of the organization to the position of section head in department one, solely based on his skills.

His evaluations are never wrong.

“How does one mess up a job so badly that it becomes a rumor?”

He opened up a report brought from department one.

＜As the number of foreign visitors has increased recently, there are plans to develop new tourist attractions. Please check and verify which of the following candidate locations is most suitable for a tourist attraction at the Evaluation Department.＞

The main task was to evaluate the land.

The aim was to determine where to build a tourist attraction so that it would attract many foreign visitors.

Askal read the report carefully.

There were three candidate locations:

1. Ancient relics site: There are many old ancient relics. If a museum is built, it can gather a fair amount of people.

2. Rocky canyon: The beautiful natural landscape includes a large cliff with a waterfall.

3. Wasteland: There’s nothing to see in this desolate area, but it is easily accessible for carriages.

That was a rough summary of the contents.

Logically, option 3 was a clear failure. The report seemed to suggest that the choice should be made between options 1 and 2, as translated through the bureaucratic language.

“Is this a business trip?”

Askal spent a few weeks visiting the candidate locations and pondering. Indeed, the ancient relics site was filled with relics that would pique the interest of artists and scholars.

If a museum was built here, it could generate a significant amount of revenue.

And the rocky canyon – he had visited many famous places, but it had been a long time since he saw such a beautiful natural landscape. The sheer cliffs overwhelmed the human spirit.

Lastly, the wasteland. There was simply nothing there. The only advantage was its convenient transportation.

“It’s decided.”

Askal made his decision and submitted the report to the higher-ups.

“…Wasteland? Is that really a sure choice?”

“Yes, I’m certain.”

“I understand. Askal, I trust you on this. Just know that if this fails, it will have an impact on your promotion as well, since the council is paying close attention to this matter.”

This was good news to hear.

The die was cast.

“Have you heard? The head of department three messed up big this time.”

“They built a tourist attraction in the middle of nowhere! That’s insane!”

“His luck has finally run out. Tsk. All that’s left for him now is demotion.”

Several months had passed.

As Ascal walked through the hallway, he heard people gossiping and badmouthing him.

He knew that his decision was right.

The tourist attraction built in the wasteland had hardly any visitors. It was just running at a deficit.

Watching his reputation plummet in real-time, Ascal couldn’t help but smile. It wouldn’t be surprising if he was soon held responsible and advised to resign.

While he packed up his office, expecting to be fired at any moment, someone opened the door and entered.

“Hot springs!!!!!!!”

“……?”

The person who yelled so loudly that it hurt his ears was a colleague who had been close with Ascal when he worked in the fourth department.

Her name was Susia, and she had recently transferred to this department, claiming that the third department was a goldmine.

Excited, Susia told Ascal,

“Sir! A hot spring has erupted in the wasteland!! It’s now swarming with tourists!!! Did you foresee this!!!?”

“?”

What did she mean?

A hot spring erupted in the wasteland?

Why? How?

Ascal went to the wasteland himself.

And he saw an unbelievable sight.

In the large, steamy hot spring, numerous foreigners were enjoying the hot spring.

“Oh, the hot springs in the Empire are different.”

“I feel like my body and mind are being healed.”

“It’s said that if you enjoy the hot spring and drink the Empire’s milk, you can taste heaven without dying.”

Was this reality?

No.

How could this be?

“Indeed… Ascal, you…”

Kane, who had come to the wasteland with him, spoke with admiration.

“You’ve always had a discerning eye that even surpasses mine.”

And the next day.

Ascal Dever was promoted to a sixth-ranking bureaucrat after discovering the hot springs.

He received the familiar decorated assignment letter.

“Ah, the familiar appointment letter.”