I came here thinking it would be like a basic lecture on ancient languages, but it turns out to be deciphering ancient documents with the most difficult ancient languages.

“Um, then… Could I possibly know how difficult the documents I need to look at are?”

“Of course.”

“Then I’d like to see them right now. That way, I can determine if I have the ability to do the work here. And… I’d like you to examine them and make an accurate judgment on whether you’ll entrust me with the job.”

Kalon found Ael’s words unexpected.

Although Ael’s voice was calm when explaining why she needed money, it couldn’t hide her desperation. So he thought she would say she’d try her best at any job, just to be given work.

However, contrary to his expectations, Ael asked for a definitive judgment on whether her abilities were what they needed or not.

Some might find this personality frustrating. There might be those who dislike someone who cares about their pride even in urgent situations.

But Kalon liked this aspect of Ael’s character.

Even in desperate and difficult times, she didn’t exaggerate her abilities, nor did she try to gain sympathy or favor from others.

She simply wanted her abilities to be fairly evaluated and receive appropriate compensation for them.

Kalon stood up, went to Nisha’s desk, found a document they had been scammed with before, and handed it to Ael. Of course, he also brought a pen and paper.

“Honestly, we need someone with the ability to decipher ancient documents of this level. Would that be possible for you?”

Ael looked at the ancient document he handed her. An extremely stylized script. A typical ancient document.

“Wait, that’s…”

“Be quiet.”

Ino, recognizing the document Kalon handed over as the land deed they had been scammed with, reached out with surprised eyes.

That was one of Ash Trading Company’s top-secret documents. After all, it was a document they had been scammed with.

That’s why it was deliberately kept hidden. Not only because of the scam, but because it showed a weakness that Ash Trading Company couldn’t detect documents of this level.

Yet now, Kalon was showing this document, which had been thoroughly hidden from others until now, to Ael, who hadn’t even been decided to work for them.

‘Of course, Miss Aelphrida doesn’t seem like someone who would go around talking about it, but…’

It was surprising to see Kalon show such unconditional trust.

Kalon, Nisha, and Ino’s gazes were focused on Ael as she scanned the ancient document.

Ael, who had been uncomfortable with the attention directed at her until just moments ago, completely focused her mind on the ancient document the moment she received it.

Her eyes quickly scanned the ancient document. After a moment, Ael picked up the pen and began writing the contents of the ancient document from the top of the prepared paper.

The imperial common language was written in an exceptionally neat and pleasing handwriting.

Ael’s hand moved without hesitation. There were very occasional moments when she paused, but she quickly resumed.

The empty paper was soon filled with writing. As the three people read through it, looks of astonishment appeared on their faces.

Until now, the ancient language experts they had brought in would often take several dozen minutes just to decipher and write down one sentence.

It was considered fortunate if they could complete one page in a whole day, but…

“I’m finished. Would you like to check it?”

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

‘Eight minutes for one page?’

Is this even possible?

Ino looked at what Ael had deciphered from behind Nisha, who had taken the paper.

‘Moreover… it’s accurate?’

Since it was a document that had caused trouble once, all three of them knew its contents. That’s why it was used as a test for Ael.

Ael had accurately translated the contents of the ancient document.

Not only that, while previous translators had directly translated old expressions, resulting in sentences full of words and metaphors that are rarely used now and difficult to read, Ael had deciphered it in a way that was very easy to read.

Yet, she hadn’t changed any of the content.

Ino had painfully learned over the past few months how much more difficult it is to make it easy for readers to understand, rather than just deciphering.

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

It was a copy of an ancient document that the head office had sent to be used for interviews when looking for new ancient language decoders.

“Th-this too, please!”

Ael nodded and accepted the new document. And 7 minutes later.

“We’re saved!”

Ino shouted in joy as he checked the clock. In his hand was a perfectly translated paper.

“We found it! Finally found it! The talent we wanted! The angel of ancient languages who came to save me!”

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

Even at the head office, they estimate it takes over an hour to translate one page of this document.

But Ael had quickly dispatched it as if this level wasn’t particularly difficult.

Ino’s gaze turned to the mountain of documents piled up behind Nisha’s desk.

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

“Stop that.”

“That’s enough.”

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

“Ow, why!”

Ino glared at them as if wronged. Yet, he quietly pushed another copy of an ancient document in front of Ael.

Ael burst into laughter at Ino’s determination to achieve his goal regardless of the scolding.

Unaware that Kalon’s gaze was directed at her.

Among the various expressions he had seen on her face since their first meeting, this was the first time seeing her smile so brightly.

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

Looking at Ael, it seemed as if something large and heavy was constantly weighing her down.

So he hadn’t expected to see her smiling like this…

As Kalon watched Ael, he suddenly became lost in thought.

He wondered what she might look like if her face wasn’t covered in so many wounds and scars, if her cheeks were a bit fuller, her lips had more color, and her face was unblemished as she smiled… such thoughts.

Even though it was about the future of someone who had no connection to him, Kalon momentarily forgot even to speak as he became lost in his imagination.

What brought him back to his senses was the sight of Ael quickly turning her head away as she noticed his gaze.

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

As if someone had ordered her never to smile for her entire life.

Meanwhile, Ino, still not coming to his senses, tried to bring more documents. Kalon grabbed him by the scruff of his neck to stop him.

Although he ended up sitting down hard on the sofa because of this, Ino’s face was full of happy smiles.

“Anyway, I’m saved!”

Ino clenched both fists and shuddered.

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

Ino recalled the scolding he had received from Kalon and Nisha during the time they couldn’t find someone capable with ancient languages.

What are you doing for your bread? And you couldn’t find even one person like that? Sigh, can you even swallow your bread now, Deputy Department Head? If it were me, I’d crawl to work on all fours, and so on.

Kalon and Nisha said it was just teasing, but Ino could bet his salary that about half of it was sincere.

“Anyway, Miss Aelphrida, thank you so much. You’re an angel sent to save me!”

Saying this, Ino knelt on one knee next to Ael, and like a knight making a vow, he bowed his head and raised his hand.

Then he waved his hand slightly as if asking her to give him her hand.

Hesitating at his behavior, Ael unknowingly placed her hand on his.

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

“Gyaaak!”

Ino made a strange noise and rolled to the side. He stretched out his foot to stop just before hitting the wall as he rolled.

It was such a clean stop that someone skilled in martial arts would have applauded.

Ino realized that someone had thrown him with great force.

Of course, there was only one person in this room who could do that.

After all, the only person who could easily subdue him, who was considered one of the top fighters in Ash Trading Company, was his master who had directly trained him.

Ino jumped up and complained to his master and employer, Kalon.

“Ah, why!”

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

“What weird things! I’m saying I could give my life for Miss Aelphrida right now.”

“Who would want such a thing. Anyway, get back.”

Seeing the two arguing, Ael calmed her startled heart.

For a moment, there was a chilling atmosphere, and she thought the two might be fighting for real, but it seems both were just joking.

As Ael thought this, Nisha beside her couldn’t laugh.

‘I think he was a bit serious just now.’