When I realized I couldn’t say anything in response to the unit leader’s words, I felt both guilt and self-loathing at the same time. The guilt of not thinking of how to repay the Master, and the self-loathing for thinking of myself before the Master.

It’s absurd. I’ve lived my entire life for my Master, and it still feels like it isn’t enough. Yet, here I was, thinking about other things. Instead of repaying my Master’s kindness, I had fallen into a strange situation where I was merely repaying to feel repaid.

*When did this start?*

I bit my lip. When did I start deceiving myself like this?

Of course, my loyalty and reverence for my Master remained firm. Even if I had been looking in the wrong direction, that would never change. If even that had been twisted, then my eyes and ears would be as good as nonexistent.

But as the unit leader said, I had fallen into the trap of self-satisfaction. What was the difference between that and being blind or deaf?

"Repayment should be in the direction that the one receiving it wants. If the giver decides, that’s not repayment, it’s just showing off."

When I remained silent, the unit leader continued. When someone shows weakness, the unit leader doesn’t hesitate to strike, and that was so typical of the 4th Section.

It’s a sad thing that they were showing that side to me.

"If the Chief wants, can you do anything?"

"Of course. I’d even give my life if necessary."

At least I could answer confidently to that question. Thanks to my Master, I had been given a new life. If it weren’t for my Master, I’d either be dead or living a life worse than death.

So, if my Master wanted to take back the life and the life he gave me, I would gladly offer it.

"What about becoming a couple?"

"Th-th-that...?"

Once again, my confidence disappeared. I was prepared to do anything, but no matter how I thought about it, this was a step too far. It was too much for someone like me.

I was just a shadow to my Master, a dog who lingered by his side. To step closer than that would be to taint his brilliance.

"That wouldn’t be for the Chief, but for me..."

"The decision is yours, Chief."

It wasn’t a wrong statement.

"Even though I’m just a commoner..."

"Do you think the Chief would care about that?"

My Master knew everything I knew, so there was no way he wouldn’t understand.

In the end, after the unit leader’s relentless attack, I quietly lowered my gaze.

I was caught in a trap. No matter what I said in rebuttal, it wouldn’t work. If I said it was too much, they would argue that it was my Master’s decision, and if I gave reasons why it was impossible, they’d say my Master couldn’t possibly not know that either.

"I’m willing to change my gender if the Chief wishes."

That comment made me flinch. Was it because the unit leader’s determination was destructive? No. It was because it annoyed me that they were casually speaking as if changing my gender was no big deal.

It wasn’t like my Master was going to ask the unit leader to propose, so I didn’t have to change my gender anyway. From the unit leader’s perspective, it was enough to convince me.

"Then why are you bothering with that, Chief?"

"......"

After that, the unit leader continued speaking for a long time, and I just quietly listened.

Even after finally escaping from the unit leader, every team member I met started giving me unsolicited advice.

*...Should I go on another assignment?*

For a moment, I even considered it. Wouldn’t there be plenty of places to go, even if it wasn’t the northern regions?

***

Seeing the evaluation report and the Minister’s exaggerated praise made me feel strange. It was probably like the feeling a child gets when they realize Santa Claus is actually their father.

No, it was probably worse. At least from the child’s perspective, their father is still someone they care about and want to see.

"Why are you staring like that?"

"I was just thinking about your health."

It was a bitter feeling. In truth, the Minister’s exaggerated praise in the evaluation wasn’t just to write nice words. It was an unconscious expression of my desire to have such a boss.

But reality is cruel. No matter how much I engage in these artistic efforts, the harsh reality doesn’t change.

*If only my direct superior wasn’t the one.*

Today, I resented the position of Chief more than ever. If I had been just a section chief or a team leader, I might have at least had a chance to pull the Minister’s gacha. But now, if I spin the Minister gacha, I’ll definitely be the next Minister.

When I thought about it, if the Crown Prince hadn’t promoted me to Chief, none of this would have happened. Damn, if something’s wrong in my life, half of it is the Crown Prince’s fault. The other half is because of Kagan.

"Come in and sit. Don’t stand there like that."

"Yes."

The most chaotic thing in the room was probably the person working out in the middle of the office, but I didn’t say that out loud.

"Did you submit the evaluation report?"

The Minister, after tossing the dumbbells to the side, asked as if it just occurred to him.

It was surprising. I didn’t expect him to care about others’ evaluations. With the way he acted, I thought he didn’t care about such things at all.

"Don’t worry. I wrote it like you’re the best person in the world."

With a thumbs-up of reassurance and trust, I nodded.

Even people who dislike the Minister will probably change their minds after reading the report. Despite his appearance, he’s actually a true boss who loves his subordinates.

However, the Minister frowned despite the high praise.

"Please, at least write half of what you say to me on the report."

"Am I crazy?"

I firmly responded, rejecting that suggestion.

I had no intention of doing anything that would benefit the Minister. I couldn’t bear to see the Minister retire before me, even for a second. If I’m Chief, the Minister will stay in his position for life.

"That’s a nasty little brat."

In the end, the Minister threw out a compliment and sat down.

Of course, the Minister didn’t really mean what he said. At this point, neither of us was worried that an evaluation would cost us our position. It was just a small hope lingering on.

"So, why did you call me?"

Once the Minister sat down, he casually opened his mouth.

I had already given the regular report via communication, and there wasn’t anything particularly urgent at this time. The Minister wasn’t the type to just call me to casually chat, either.

"It’s about the northern news."

At those words, I leaned toward the Minister, intrigued.

"Did something come up?"

It was an unexpected statement, and I couldn’t help but get interested. Based on what Section Chief 4 had said, it seemed like they hadn’t made much progress and returned, but if the Minister was mentioning it, something must have come up.

"No. Nothing."

?

*What the hell.*

Then why did you call me?

"It’s weird because there’s nothing. The Special Forces have thrown all their efforts into searching, and there’s nothing."

But hearing the next words, my irritation began to subside.

The fact that there was nothing to show for it was different from having no progress. Even if they hadn’t gathered any useful information, there should still be traces to find. The fact that nothing showed up meant something abnormal was happening.

"Even though the north is vast, there are limited areas where people can live. If the remnants of the Fallen Emperor are hiding in some eternal ice mountain, that might be one thing."

"That bastard wouldn’t hide there, would he?"

"Right. That’s the problem."

The remnants of the Fallen Emperor, Udeser Dorgon, the only survivor of the Eight-Winged Horse.

He managed to survive and escape after the final battle, and because of that bastard, the Special Forces were still scouring the north. The thought that a man who barely survived would give up on revenge and go into hiding didn’t make sense.

"I will return! The day when the warriors of the prairie tear the collar of deceit you have put on and howl to the heavens! The day we become wolves instead of dogs! I will return!"

He was the one who left behind words like that, so it was laughable that he would now be hiding. He disappeared leaving only the breadcrumbs for history. A macguffin, in every sense of the word. A legend in multiple ways.

"There’s no doubt that there are tribes cooperating with him. Not just one or two."

"That’s terrifying."

Not hiding but erasing every trace—there was definitely an organized force actively working to cover up all signs. It’s not something an individual could do to escape the Empire’s pursuit.

It was something I had already resigned myself to the moment Section Chief 2 encountered the Chaujid Tribe, but it seemed that, like the Minister said, it wasn’t just one or two tribes involved.

*Not even a leech.*

Frustrated, I splashed my face with cold water.

The most vehement anti-Empire tribes had already boarded one-way trains to the afterlife with Kagan. But to think there were still people cooperating with Kagan’s son? Are these guys respawning or something?

"Still, there won’t be any immediate trouble. Even

 the natives can’t survive the northern winter. The Special Forces think the earliest we’ll see anything unusual is next summer."

That was somewhat reassuring, and I nodded.

Even during major wars, winter was an unspoken truce period. Even Kagan had stayed holed up in his base during the winter. Anyone who wandered around aimlessly in the north would just be shredded by the biting winds.

"Anyway, I just wanted you to know."

"Thank you."

"And this is the important part─"

Saying that, the Minister pulled something out from inside his coat.

*Important part?*

Seeing the Minister do that made me stiffen. Was there something more important than Dorgon’s whereabouts? Did some crazy necrophile resurrect Kagan?

No, Kagan’s corpse had already been burned, so it wasn’t like we could raise him.

"It’s an invitation to a wedding."

"...Excuse me?"

The object that came out of the Minister’s coat was far too dainty. I couldn’t help but feel deflated by the unexpected appearance of something like that.

Damn it. You really know how to confuse people.

"You don’t have to come in person, but you should send a heavy gift."

"Isn’t the usual thing to at least show up?"

"If someone who wears five rings shows up at the new bride’s wedding, doesn’t that bring bad luck?"

I absentmindedly looked at my left hand at the Minister’s indifferent words.

Five brilliantly shining rings. It looked like someone was encouraging polygamy.

*Damn it.*

This wasn’t the kind of scene I’d want to see at Section Chief 2’s wedding, the one famous for his Casanova-like ways. If he gets a second wife before even enjoying his honeymoon, I’d have no words left.

If I were to attend the wedding, would I need to wear gloves over the rings?