Chapter 29. A First Smile  

She came thinking it would be a basic lecture on ancient languages, but deciphering the most difficult ancient documents?

“Um, then… could I know the level of difficulty of the documents I need to see?”

“Of course.”

“Then I’d like to see them right away. That way, I can know if I’m capable of handling the work here. And… I’d like you to accurately assess whether you’d entrust me with the job.”

Callon found Ael’s words unexpected.

When Ael explained why she needed money, her voice was calm but couldn’t hide her desperation. He thought she would plead to be allowed to work, promising to do her best at any job.

However, contrary to his expectations, Ael asked for a clear evaluation of whether her skills were needed.

Some might find such a personality frustrating, disliking someone who maintains pride even in urgent situations.

But Callon appreciated this aspect of Ael’s character.

Despite her desperation and hardship, she didn’t exaggerate her abilities nor sought sympathy or favor.

She simply wanted a fair assessment of her skills and to receive appropriate compensation.

Callon stood up, went to Nisha’s desk, and retrieved the document they had been scammed with, placing it in front of Ael. He also brought a pen and paper.

“Honestly, we need someone who can decipher ancient documents of this level. Can you do it?”

Ael looked at the document he presented. The script was very ornate, typical of ancient documents.

“Wait, that’s…”

“Be quiet.”

Ino, recognizing the document as the one they had been scammed with, reached out in surprise.

It was one of the Ash Merchant Guild’s confidential documents. After all, it was a document they had been scammed with.

Thus, it was deliberately kept hidden. Not only was it a scam, but it also showed a weakness in the guild’s ability to detect such documents.

Yet Callon was showing this document, which had been kept secret from others, to Ael, who hadn’t even been hired yet.

‘Of course, Miss Aelfrieda doesn’t seem like someone who would talk about it…’

It was surprising to see Callon display such unconditional trust.

Callon, Nisha, and Ino focused their gazes on Ael as she scrutinized the document.

Ael, who had felt uncomfortable with their attention just moments ago, focused entirely on the document once she held it.

Her eyes scanned the document quickly. After a moment, Ael picked up the pen and began transcribing the contents of the document onto the prepared paper.

The Empire’s common language was written in a very neat and legible script.

Ael’s hand moved without hesitation. Occasionally, she paused briefly but soon resumed.

The once-empty paper quickly filled with text. As they read it, the three people’s faces showed astonishment.

Until now, the ancient language experts they had hired took tens of minutes just to decipher and write down a single sentence.

Even spending an entire day on one page was considered fast…

“It’s done. Would you like to check it?”

At Ael’s words, Ino looked at the clock. Ael had started working at 15 minutes past, and now it was 23 minutes past.

‘Eight minutes per page?’

Is that even possible?

Ino looked over Ael’s translation from behind Nisha, who was holding the paper.

‘And it’s accurate?’

Since the document had caused a commotion before, all three of them knew its contents. It was used as a test for Ael.

Ael had translated the document’s contents accurately.

Moreover, while previous translators had made it difficult to read by translating archaic expressions literally, filling the text with rarely used words and metaphors, Ael had made it very readable.

She hadn’t changed the content.

Ino had painfully realized over the past months how difficult it was to make a text easy to read, rather than just translating it.

Ino hurriedly went to Nisha’s desk and found another document.

It was a copy of an ancient document sent from the headquarters to be used for interviews when hiring new translators.

“P-Please try this one too!”

Ael nodded and took the new document. Seven minutes later…

“We’re saved!”

Ino checked the clock and shouted with joy. In his hand was a perfectly translated sheet.

“We found her! We finally found the talent we’ve been looking for! An angel of ancient languages who has come to save me!”

Ino, overcome with emotion, hugged the paper Ael had translated.

The head office had estimated each page of this document to take over an hour to translate.

Yet, Ael had handled it quickly, as if it wasn’t particularly difficult.

Ino’s gaze turned to the pile of documents stacked behind Nisha’s desk.

Finding the copies of ancient documents among them, Ino brought them all over and piled them next to Ael again.

“Stop it.”

“Take it easy.”

Callon and Nisha simultaneously smacked the back of Ino’s head.

“Ah, why!”

Ino glared at them indignantly. Even so, he slyly pushed the copies of ancient documents toward Ael.

Ael couldn’t help but burst into laughter at Ino’s determination to achieve his goal, regardless of their scolding.

Unaware that Callon’s gaze was on her.

Among all the expressions he had seen from her since they first met, this was the first time he saw her smile so brightly.

She had always been cautious and wary of her surroundings. If not, she appeared apologetic or embarrassed.

Looking at Ael, it seemed like something heavy and burdensome was constantly weighing her down.

He hadn’t expected to see her smile like this…

As Callon watched Ael, he suddenly found himself lost in thought.

What would she look like, not with her current scars and wounds, but with a fuller face, rosy lips, and no scars, smiling like that… such thoughts crossed his mind.

Even though it was the future of someone unrelated to him, Callon momentarily forgot to speak, lost in his imagination.

What brought him back to reality was Ael quickly turning her head, having noticed his gaze.

Once again, Ael lowered her head, blushing and looking worried, as if she had made a big mistake.

As if someone had ordered her never to laugh in her life.

Meanwhile, Ino, still not fully aware, tried to bring more documents. Callon grabbed him by the scruff of his neck to stop him.

Though he ended up sitting heavily on the sofa, Ino’s face was full of a happy smile.

“Anyway, I’m saved!”

Ino clenched his fists and shivered with excitement.

“Now I can sleep without worry! No more knocking on the doors of noble families or academies while being treated coldly! Once those documents are sorted, I can finally sleep happily under my own blanket in my own bed…”

Ino recalled the scolding he had received from Callon and Nisha when he failed to find an ancient language expert.

What do you do besides eat bread? Yet you can’t find a single person? Oh, does the bread even go down? Deputy Branch Manager? If I were you, I’d crawl to work, etc.

Callon and Nisha said it was a joke, but Ino could bet his salary that they were half-serious.

“Anyway, Miss Aelfrieda, thank you so much. You’re an angel who has come to save me!”

Saying this, Ino knelt beside Ael like a knight making a vow and placed his hand on his chest.

Then he shook his hand slightly, as if asking for hers.

Hesitating at his gesture, Ael unconsciously placed her hand in his.

Just as Ino was about to kiss the back of Ael’s hand…

“Eek!”

Ino let out a strange sound and rolled to the side. He stopped just before hitting the wall by extending his leg.

Anyone skilled in martial arts would have applauded his clean stop.

Ino realized someone had thrown him with great force.

Naturally, there was only one person in the room capable of doing that.

The only person who could easily overpower him, one of the top fighters in the Ash Merchant Guild, was his mentor.

Ino stood up and complained to his mentor and employer, Callon.

“Ah, why!”

“Don’t do weird things to Miss Aelfrieda.”

“Weird things? I’m saying I’d give my life for Miss Aelfrieda.”

“Who’d want that? Anyway, back off.”

Watching the two bicker, Ael calmed her startled heart.

The atmosphere had suddenly turned chilly, making her think they might be fighting for real, but it seemed they were just joking.

Thinking this, Ael glanced at Nisha, who wasn’t laughing.

‘It seemed a bit serious just now.’