Noah saw no need to dissuade Gerard from shouldering the risk.
"This should more than fulfill the responsibility Your Highness mentioned."
"Perfect. I like it. Leave it to Gerard."
Gerard's failure would be Noah's delight.
Of course, given the unique circumstances of the disaster, he hoped Eloise and Gerard would succeed this time.
But the credit had to be his.
Gerard could foot the bill, but was there a way for Noah to claim all the glory?
As Noah pondered, his gaze fell on Eloise.
A cute, round face.
She looked utterly terrified at first glance, but her eyes burned with unyielding spirit.
Even amid talk of her fate, she kept her mouth shut, patiently gauging the situation with keen insight.
'What if she had predictive abilities on top of that?'
Noah's interest piqued. He rested his chin on his hand and flashed a sly smile.
"So, when and where do you think the next hole will open, Miss Rubelia?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
For the moment, with no scrying orb ready, she dismissed everyone by saying predictions were impossible.
Eloise was left alone with Gerard.
"Gerard! How could you just promise to cover the expenses like that? What if I... fail?"
"Are you lying?"
"Pardon?"
"You told me you know where the Rainbow Hole will open."
"W-Well, yes. But I never said anything about needing a scrying orb!"
"I must have misheard that part. Wouldn't it be helpful, though? We could monitor it and deploy faster if one opens suddenly. Like a wildfire watch team."
Eloise's eyes went wide.
"A wildfire watch team...?"
It was an idea she'd shared with him in her previous life.
On a day when a late-discovered Rainbow Hole caused massive damage and left Gerard badly injured.
After sneaking into his room at dawn to heal his magic poisoning, Eloise had whispered to him as he slept.
"It'd be great if we had a wildfire watch team monitoring and signaling right away. That way, you wouldn't have to suffer so much, Gerard."
'Does he remember the past life after all?'
Eloise's pupils trembled slightly.
"I've seen the wildfire watch team's efforts, Eloise."
"Pardon?"
"The fire in Brittany City last week."
Come to think of it, there had been a wildfire last week.
She'd forgotten amid the back-to-back Orange and Green Holes.
Eloise let out a hollow laugh, realizing she'd harbored another absurd hope that Gerard might remember her past life.
What was so special about a watch team idea anyway?
"We need ways to minimize Rainbow Hole damage, but creating a new organization would face heavy opposition. Let's chalk this success up to your credit and let it slide."
Every word from his mouth was so perfectly charming.
He even lifted the burden she might feel.
And she was moved by his sense of responsibility.
To be this serious about destroying Rainbow Holes.
"Mutual aid, then."
"Exactly. So do your best from here on out, Eloise."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The next day, a notice went up on the internal bulletin board.
📄 Department Reorganization and Personnel Assignment Notice • New Forecast Team established under the Magic Management Bureau In accordance with the Magic Management Bureau's personnel policies, the following assignments are hereby enacted. Relevant employees must strictly follow all procedures. - Name: Eloise Rubelia - Previous Department: Support Team - New Department: Forecast Team (Newly Established)
"...This Eloise Rubelia on here isn't my roommate Eloise Rubelia, right?"
Merlin muttered, clutching her mug and staring at the notice.
"No way there's another one in the bureau."
Eloise murmured from beside her.
Merlin whipped her head around to glare at Eloise.
Her eyes bloodshot from last night's overtime, she clawed at her hair with one hand.
"This is weird. It has to be a layoff notice, right? Why else would they poach from Support Team when we're already swamped? Spill it, Eloise!"
Eloise gave an awkward smile.
In truth, she was just as stunned as Merlin, albeit for different reasons.
'He went from suggesting a test of my abilities yesterday to creating a whole new team and assigning me today?'
The bureau's sluggish processing was infamous across the continent.
Even issuing a simple healer registration took a full month.
Yet they'd set up a new team in a single day?
Not even 24 hours, technically.
And personnel assignment on top of that?
It was as astonishing and mysterious as a turtle crossing the continent in a day.
But there was more absurdity.
Why no info on the office?
As Eloise fumed at the haphazard handling, a pleasant scent wafted from behind.
"Eloise, good morning."
Gerard approached her side and glanced at the notice.
"You've been assigned. Congratulations."
The odd pairing of a lowly employee and the Tower Master drew sharp stares from all around.
Mixed in were jealous, envious glares—and one intrigued gaze from Merlin.
Merlin gave Eloise a subtle nudge in the back.
Caught off guard, Eloise offered an awkward greeting.
"...Gerard, good morning. Thank you for the congrats."
"You can start at the Forecast Team today."
"Right now? I still need to tidy my desk, do handover... Oh, wait, no successor for handover. Anyway, shouldn't I?"
It was plastered right there on the notice.
Follow procedures thoroughly.
But did personnel transfers include desk tidying and handovers?
'I'd have known if I'd seen the assignment coming!'
Eloise hadn't expected to leave Support Team like this.
In her first life, she'd been glued to it.
Even when Merlin got reassigned, Eloise lingered like a ghost.
She'd assumed this life would be the same.
Yesterday's Forecast Team talk seemed like idle chatter from the higher-ups.
Even if created, she'd figured it'd be temporary.
'Why trust me enough to build a whole department around it?'
She appreciated the faith, but it left her uneasy.
She knew how the elite operated.
They didn't pour effort, passion, or time into unprofitable ventures.
Profit here meant money, money, money.
Some exceptions existed, of course.
People like Gerard and Morgana, driven by duty.
'Did Gerard and Morgana pull strings?'
Even so, it was too abrupt.
"Anything important?"
"Pardon?"
"Something from Support Team you absolutely need to retrieve?"
"Nothing in particular."
"Then we're good. If you need anything later, have my secretary fetch it."
"Your secretary? To grab my stuff? Why?"
"I have one. You don't. Let's head up."
Gerard nodded curtly and strode off.
For a moment, Eloise was mesmerized by the striking figure crossing the lobby, then snapped to her senses.
(Merlin had poked her side, really.)
"He said follow."
As Merlin said, Gerard—who was well ahead—turned with arms crossed, looking back at Eloise.
As if wondering why she wasn't coming, he arched one eyebrow.
Moreover, as if he knew her unlisted office location, he pointed upward with his index finger.
Eloise turned to Merlin.
"I'll be back."
"Don't ever come back to the basement."
It might sound wistful, but it was the ultimate blessing.
Working in a high-floor office with windows.
Not huddled in the windowless basement under the shadows of towering paperwork piles—that had been Eloise and Merlin's shared dream.
Merlin offered her blessing instead of jealousy.
Emotion welled up.
"We'll see each other again soon."
Eloise squeezed Merlin's hand tight, then released it and dashed after Gerard.
She didn't look back here—tears would be embarrassing.
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