0. Prologue
[<La Mar>: The most notable up-and-coming trade caravan in the empire]
[“If you go through that caravan, there’s nothing you can’t get!” “I even heard a prince uses them!”]
[The enigmatic caravan master… Will they appear at this imperial palace banquet?]
My day begins with organizing the newspapers.
I neatly fold the papers, tuck them under my arm along with some documents, then pick up a cup of coffee heavily laced with sugar and knock on the door.
“Master, it’s Ilian.”
“Come in.”
<La Mar> caravan master’s personal secretary.
That’s my job, Ilian Gracia.
I set the documents down on the desk as usual and spoke.
“Here’s the contract with the Imperial Knights. They requested a few amendments, so I’ve marked them. Please review them.”
“I’ll take a look. What’s next?”
“This is an expense report. Just needs your approval.”
“I’ll check it later. Next.”
“This is next week’s schedule, adjusted to include outside appointments. Please let me know if you need any changes.”
“Will do. Put the newspapers next to the schedule. Next?”
It was a day no different from any other.
The dark office, the dry conversation, the wafting aroma of coffee.
[Aden]
And there was the caravan master, Aden, who wouldn’t even glance at someone entering, just focused on his own work.
So I could say it perfectly calmly. As if it were any other day.
“And this is my resignation.”
“…….”
The pen that had been gliding across the paper came to a jarring halt, then slowly began to move again.
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”
“Then I’ll say it again. I’m resigning—”
The pen stopped again with a click, and Aden finally raised his head slowly.
He really had an infuriatingly handsome face, as someone once said.
His looks were so striking that people speculated <La Mar>’s good performance was thanks to clients being charmed into stamping their seals.
But,
“If it’s about money, I’ll pay you more.”
What good is that to someone about to quit?
“Money isn’t the issue.”
“That’s rather difficult to understand. Wasn’t your biggest problem money? You’re drowning in debt. Debt inherited from your father, no less.”
“Do you mind not bringing up family matters?”
“I have to, so I’m reluctantly mentioning it. Your debt hasn’t been settled yet, has it?”
“That’s true. But at the same time, it’s not something you need to concern yourself with, Master.”
“…….”
“Anyway, it’s not about money. <La Mar>’s salary and benefits are already top in the industry.”
So why do I want to quit?
“Then what is the problem?”
‘It’s you!’
You, Aden, asking me that right now – you’re the final mastermind and the villain of this world!
Not just any villain, but one destined to die miserably, and staying by your side means even your secretary, me, will probably get stabbed!
“I asked you, what is the problem?”
……But unable to say any of that, I got frustrated and gulped down the coffee I was holding.
I brought it for myself anyway. I’m allowed to drink coffee, you know.
After chugging the coffee, I mustered as much calm and politeness as I could and replied.
“It doesn’t have to be a problem for me to quit. I just want to resign now. That’s all.”
“…….”
“Please accept my resignation. Goodbye.”
Throughout my goodbye and as I turned away, Aden said nothing.
Well, that’s just who he is.
He treats caravan employees like disposable tools, judging everyone solely by their usefulness.
‘Someone like me probably means nothing to Aden.’
He’d probably just turn his eyes back to the documents as if nothing had happened, like always.
But just as I was about to grab the doorknob.
“Ilian.”
This time was different.
Aden stopped me.
“……I’ll do better by you.”
It was so quiet that at first I thought I’d misheard.
“Would that not be enough?”
But I hadn’t.
His voice, usually cold and clear, trembled slightly. Aden was desperately holding onto me.
I had never seen him like this.
I slowly turned around. My eyes met his violet ones.
“……Huh?”
Then came a small added syllable, so strange.
It sounded like a plea, a confirmation, a beg all at once – so utterly unlike Aden that……
For a moment, I was dazed and bit my lip hard.
‘Snap out of it, Ilian. This man is ‘Calix Arden Blight’. The villain who will destroy the empire.’
That’s the true nature of this man who is now fighting dirty by using his face. He’s Public Enemy Number One – getting involved with him spells disaster.
So why did I end up entangled with Aden?
We have to go back to that day a few months ago, the day of the interview.
That is to say……
‘The day I realized this world is inside a novel.’
1. I Was a Trainee, Though
There’s a work called Legacy of the Black Waves.
As the gloomy title suggests, it’s a novel where the villain ‘Calix Arden Blight’ – commonly ‘Aden’ – plays a huge role.
Aden established <La Mar>, a trade caravan that is actually an information guild, in order to seize control of the empire.
“W-Where in the world does such a contract exist?! The agreement I signed with you clearly stated—!”
“In exchange for saving your family from ruin, you hand over all your assets to me. Yes, of course I remember.”
“Then why! Why is my title being revoked and I’m being exiled?!”
“There’s nothing wrong with the contract. However, you should have considered whether the other family members would protect you when you’re left with absolutely nothing. Don’t you agree?”
He backstabs people with contracts that would make a demon cry.
“No! I didn’t know anything, I didn’t know!”
“Ignorance is also a sin. At least you’ll learn that fact today, Baron.”
“Arghhh!”
If things go wrong, he doesn’t hesitate to personally ‘deal with’ troublesome individuals.
“Why the long face? The son you threw away has grown up so well and returned. Come on, smile.”
“Urgh…!”
“You won’t be able to smile in a little while.”
He even uses his own family as tools, committing nothing but heinous acts, until eventually the protagonist catches his tail. In the ending, after all his evil deeds are exposed, Aden dies a gruesome death from mana overload. Naturally, the employees of <La Mar> also face their end along with him for collaborating.
The lesson from this story is simple.
You shouldn’t so much as brush sleeves with a villain like that.
“Miss Ilian Gracia.”
If you unfortunately do cross paths?
Method one for survival: Conceal your name and personal information as much as possible.
“I’ve heard your introduction: currently twenty years old, seven years of experience at Mason Trade Caravan, and you live nearby so you can start as early as tomorrow.”
Second: If that fails, at least keep your mouth shut.
“I’ve also clearly heard about how you single-handedly prevented the so-called ‘Iren Flower Incident’.”
Third: If you can’t even do that, at least avoid drawing attention to yourself.
But I failed at all three.
Because right now, in the middle of the interview for the <La Mar> caravan master’s secretary position,
“However, if Miss Gracia’s explanation about how she solved that incident keeps trailing off like this…”
“…Cough.”
“Then I can’t help but have doubts about your stated ambitions and experience as well. Just so you know.”
I realized all of this!
‘Why does this past-life memory have to come back to me right now?’
Cold sweat trickled down my back.
I forced my trembling head up.
[Aden]
Beyond the clear nameplate, Aden’s violet eyes glinted sharply.
“So, what’s your answer?”
