Published: July 3, 2025
The Deputy of Negotiator Gladys Aldis at the Ministry of Military Affairs.
That was the current position of Ashley Backland, the former person in charge of the East Gate of the royal capital's defense unit.
After the war of kingdom liberation, Ashley was transferred from the western garrison forces to the royal capital's defense unit, where she carried out her duties as the person responsible for the East Gate very reliably.
During that time, she sometimes found herself caught up in the whimsical behaviors of the mage who had recently become the first duke, which were often beyond common sense, but overall, she was able to enjoy her work.
It wasn't long after Ashley was transferred to the main office of the Ministry of Military Affairs that the news of a delegation to the Western Nations came through... and she was assigned as the deputy to Gladys Aldis, the head civil servant of the Ministry of Military Affairs, to go to the Western Nations.
Gladys, in her mid-fifties, had some experience on the front lines but was particularly known for her skills in logistics and organization, being regarded as the best in the Ministry of Military Affairs.
Ashley was appointed as her deputy because it was said that Gladys herself had requested it.
Ashley had extensive experience in departments that required physical strength on a daily basis, though not necessarily on the front lines of war, having served in both the western garrison forces and the royal capital's defense unit.
Visually, she could be described as a delicate woman, but in swordsmanship and martial arts, she was among the best in the defense unit… she had never lost to a man.
Moreover, her ability to handle paperwork was also high.
With such outstanding skills, it was impossible for her to be overlooked.
In regard to negotiations with the Western Nations, the involvement of the Ministry of Military Affairs was quite minimal.
At most, it would be about how to limit the number of military personnel sent on trading ships.
If relations progressed to the point of establishing embassies in each other's countries, numerous negotiations would arise concerning the stationed military personnel, the scale of the garrison, and the status agreements of the stationed troops...
But at this point, such matters were not yet on the table.
Therefore, to put it plainly, Ashley could be said to have quite a bit of free time compared to other civil servants.
For this reason, as the deputy to negotiator Gladys, Ashley also had her break time.
More than that, when Gladys was in the dormitory, she was told she could spend her time freely.
However, when going outside the dormitory, Ashley would go along in a protective capacity...
While Ashley was enjoying cake and coffee in the lounge on the first floor of the dormitory, a suspiciously robed mage appeared...
"Excuse me. May I sit here?"
"Yes... wait, huh? Duke Rondo!"
Ashley managed to hold back from shouting at Ryo's inquiry but let out a sharp voice, albeit quietly.
Ashley was aware that Ryo was part of this delegation.
However, with over three hundred people in the kingdom delegation alone, and being civil servants and Guardian Adventurers, she hadn't had any particular interaction with him.
Moreover, she knew that Ryo was acting as a "Adventurer" rather than as a "Duke."
But today, being suddenly greeted by him took her by surprise, making her refer to him as duke…
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to surprise you that much."
Ryo said, smiling wryly as he realized Ashley was more shocked than he expected.
"Oh, no, I apologize. Should I call you Ryo-san?"
Ashley decided to call him Ryo, knowing that those around him always referred to him that way.
After a while, the Rindo's Tart and Dark Coffee that Ryo ordered arrived.
It seemed to be called Dark Coffee because it was made from coffee produced in the dark continent.
"Here, please have some too, Ashley-san."
Ryo said, taking a bite of Rindo's Tart.
As the perfect balance of sweetness and acidity spread in his mouth, he couldn't help but smile.