Volume 2 Chapter 4 Civil Servant Apprentice Yuko’s Failure (Yuko’s Perspective)
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Getting on that train that day was my first mistake. As a mother in the thick of child-rearing, I rarely had the chance to go out. Most of my days were spent confined to the house, but as luck would have it, I was out shopping that day. I’d treated myself to a small luxury – a meal at a restaurant where I didn’t have to feel guilty about bringing a child along. All that was left was to head home. It had been a rare chance to catch my breath, a little reward for myself, and I was in high spirits.
In my younger years, I’d never lacked for male attention, but that started to dim once I hit thirty. Watching the men I’d once rejected get married and start families, or hearing whispers that an ex had tied the knot… it sparked a bitter fire in me. I wanted to get married fast, just to show them. And physically, since a first-time birth after thirty-five is considered a geriatric pregnancy, I was desperate to have a child as soon as possible.
The road through the marriage-hunting scene was grueling, but I finally managed to wed and give birth by the time I was pushing forty¹. I’d compromised a bit on his looks and age, but life with a high-earning husband at a stable, major firm and our child was fulfilling, despite the hardships. It was a time when I truly felt the world had regained its former sparkle.
When the train made that emergency stop, I nearly lost my footing. Once we slammed to a halt, I had my hands full trying to soothe my wailing child. I couldn’t even grasp the situation, let alone dream of escaping. Then came the sound of explosions. I realized then that some kind of disaster was unfolding. I was frantically trying to unbuckle my child from the stroller when the tunnel collapsed.
Apparently, I was crushed and died right then and there. (Looking back, I should have taken the child out of the stroller the moment we stopped. Whether that would have actually saved us is a toss-up, though.) I’ve always been good at tuning out distractions and focusing on the task at hand – a trait that served me well in school and at work – but I see now that in that moment, it was my undoing.
When I next came to, I was in a white room. I spotted Araya-kun, an acquaintance of mine, and went over to talk. A little further off were Yoshikawa-san and Ina-san from my old office. We weren’t close, so I decided to ignore them. Yoshikawa-san had been a senior on the management track, but I’d never heard a good word about him. As for Ina-san, maybe because she was just a general clerk, her sycophantic ‘lapdog’ routine toward the management guys was honestly pathetic, even if they were younger than her.
While I was processing this, a doll-like entity manifested and began an explanation. It sounded like the classic ‘Isekai Reincarnation’ trope I’d skimmed in web novels before I got married. However, it didn’t look like I was being reborn as a villainess or anything glamorous. Instead, it told us to follow the Hero in our group and slay the Demon King. (If I were younger, maybe I would have been excited, but I couldn’t care less.) My child was the only thing on my mind. When I asked about them, the entity told me in a flat, monotone voice that we couldn’t be reincarnated together. A wave of fury crashed over me alongside the grief. (There was a way to say that, surely? I couldn’t believe there wasn’t even a word of apology.)
During the Appraisal at the castle, my Class was revealed: Civil Official. No matter how you looked at it, it wasn’t meant for combat. Yet, they told us the Hero’s Party would be expected to fight the Demon King, and everyone else would have to hunt monsters as adventurers. Between the grief of losing my child and the sheer absurdity of it all, my mood was in the gutter. There was no way I could be an ‘adventurer.’ Why would I want a job that’s so unstable, dangerous, and barbaric? In a game, sure, but the real me wants no part of that. I’m built for white-collar work.
I pitched myself to Martina-san, the one who had been explaining things, and managed to talk my way into a position as a Civil Official Apprentice. She warned me there’d be no special treatment, but I’d been a high-performer in my previous life. I wasn’t that pessimistic about my chances. As I walked with Martina-san, the silence grew awkward. I tried to strike up a conversation about marriage and children. Back home, that was a safe, standard topic between women. I thought it would be fine.
”Back in my world, I’d just had a child. It was a lot of work, but so fulfilling,” I said. “I hated the pressure from my parents and relatives to get pregnant, but at the end of the day, I really think a woman only finds her true purpose once she’s married with a child. Are you married, Martina-san?”
”…And what exactly would be the point of me answering that?” Martina-san asked.
By the time I realized I’d stepped in it, it was too late. I already knew she was a cold woman, but I felt the temperature of her gaze plummet. I hurriedly bowed my head. “I—I’m so sorry,” I stammered. “I didn’t realize that was a sensitive topic in this world.”
”…Your manners are as half-baked as your common sense,” Martina-san replied.
I didn’t know exactly what I’d done wrong, but I knew my stock had crashed. I decided to keep my mouth shut. I couldn’t afford any more mistakes. We walked in silence until we reached what looked like a government office.
”Martina-sama, a pleasure to see you. What brings you by today?” a man asked.
”I’m just dropping this woman off,” Martina-san said. “She was summoned with the Hero, but her Class is Civil Official, Level 1. She has no desire to hunt monsters, so you can use her as a Civil Official Apprentice. No special treatment.”
”An apprentice?” the man asked. “If she has a recommendation from Martina-sama, we could make her a full Civil Official immediately. Are you sure an apprenticeship is sufficient?”
”I said what I said,” Martina-san replied.
”Understood, my lady,” the man said.
A middle-aged man – clearly the big boss of this department – dropped to one knee, bowing deeply as he saw Martina-san off. It was clear Martina-san was someone incredibly powerful. The sheer, natural elegance of their etiquette made me feel like I was watching a movie; it didn’t feel real. As Martina-san walked away, she didn’t offer me a single word. Not even a glance. (I might have been the one to annoy her, but honestly, her attitude was terrible. Not that I’m so small-minded that I’d hold a grudge over something like that, of course.)
The man eventually led me to a department that handled building design. Architecture wasn’t my field, but I’d dabbled in it. With my modern knowledge, I figured I could make it work. “I’m Yuko, the new Civil Official Apprentice. I look forward to working with you all,” I said, giving a polite, professional greeting to my new coworkers. I didn’t get a warm welcome or a round of applause in return.
”So, you’re Yuko. I’m Xaveria. I’ll be using you as my subordinate,” a girl said. She looked like she wasn’t even twenty. I mean, sure, I’d been de-aged to seventeen, but inside, I’m pushing forty. Mentally, she was a child. I’d expected my boss to be a man in his forties – or at least his thirties – so her arrogant tone caught me off guard. I froze.
”Well? Can’t you even give me an answer?” Xaveria asked.
”O-oh, yes. I look forward to working with you, Xaveria-san,” I said.
”I am your superior. You will address me as ‘Xaveria-sama’,” Xaveria replied.
”I’m sorry, Xaveria-sama,” I said.
”It’s not ‘I’m sorry,’ it’s ‘I offer my sincerest apologies,’” Xaveria snapped. “And when you apologize, you get on your knees and bow your head. Sigh. You can’t even speak properly and you have no concept of etiquette. I wonder if you’re actually going to be worth anything at all.”
I scrambled to respond, but I just kept digging my own grave. Between being pushing forty in my old life and the shift in the times, I hadn’t dealt with anyone that strict about manners or speech in years. I’d gotten sloppy. (What is this, the Edo period²?) I thought. But then I realized – this was why I’d pissed off Martina-san. I understood the reason now, but it was too late to fix it.
”Xaveria-kun, I’m leaving Yuko-kun’s training in your hands,” the Undersecretary said.
”I have half a mind to refuse, but since it’s a direct order from the Undersecretary, I suppose I must,” Xaveria replied.
”Hahaha, I’m counting on you. Yuko-kun, Xaveria-kun is talented, and she’s quite kind to commoners. Work hard under her,” the Undersecretary said.
(Kind? Is he joking?) The atmosphere was so stifling I couldn’t say a word, so I just nodded and played along. It didn’t take long for me to realize that the Undersecretary wasn’t exaggerating. He was just stating a fact.
My first day ended with a few introductions and a tour of the castle. I’ll make it up with my work starting tomorrow, I told myself. It’ll be fine. Once they see my modern knowledge, they’ll have to acknowledge me. Since Civil Officials have access to dorms, I was given a room.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t private. It was a shared room for two, meaning zero privacy. And of course, my roommate was none other than Xaveria. She immediately started barking orders for chores. My first day in this world ended with me doing housework until I collapsed into bed. The bed was hard, the food was meager, there was no shower – just cold water baths – and my boss was always in the room. I couldn’t rest, physically or mentally. But I had to sleep here. If I got kicked out, I was a penniless woman who’d be sleeping in the dirt.
One week into the job, the harsh reality finally sank in. I’d thought that if I showed them how capable I was, their opinions would flip and I’d be promoted to a full official in no time. But in this world, connections and backing matter far more than actual ability. With neither, I wasn’t given any real work. My life was a never-ending cycle of hauling water, serving tea, cleaning, filing, carrying bags, and running errands… just mindless grunt work. Come to think of it, even in my old world, connections were the biggest factor in getting ahead until a few decades ago. Even by the time I died, plenty of companies still operated that way.
What’s worse is that in this world, even the women can carry heavy loads with ease. That’s because they’ve raised their Levels. Since I’m only Level 1, almost every physical task is a struggle. I could feel my coworkers’ respect for me dropping even further. I also realized something else. Martina-sama, who first guided us, was an incredibly high-ranking official.
If I tried to map it onto my old government, the hierarchy looked something like this: King → Prime Minister → Ministers → Agency Directors → Undersecretary → Bureau Chiefs → Department Heads → Section Chiefs → Specialized Officers → Assistant Section Chiefs → Specialists → Unit Leaders → Supervisors (Xaveria-sama) → General Staff.
Martina-sama, who is a lock for the next Prime Minister, is basically Cabinet-level. In my old world, a young woman becoming a Minister or a Senior VP was unheard of outside of tech startups, but here, it’s possible if you have the right bloodline. Still, you’d need insane talent to pull it off, so Martina-sama must be truly formidable.
And me? I’m not even General Staff. I’m just a temp on probation. If I’d stayed on Martina-sama’s good side, things might have been better. I knew how to charm male bosses, but this was my first time dealing with a female superior, and I blew it. I should have negotiated for better terms right out of the gate, but I was so relieved to dodge the monster hunting that I naively thought everything else would just fall into place. Another failure. I have to find a way to see her again and do some damage control.
After another week, I finally managed to talk to someone other than my boss. It was only during lunch or short breaks. If I tried to chat during work hours, Xaveria would tear into me without mercy. In hindsight, I think they were just trying to be friendly, but when they asked about my life as an apprentice, the exhaustion must have gotten to me. I let the truth slip. The work is a bad fit, the dorm beds are like rocks, the food is bland, I miss hot showers, I have no privacy, makeup is way too expensive, and there’s absolutely nothing to do for fun.
I had enough sense not to say I hated sharing a room with Xaveria, but I figured everyone else felt the same about the rest. But as I let out my stream of complaints, the people around me looked at me like I was insane. Since I didn’t get why they were staring, I asked. My gripes were shot down one by one: “Civil Official work is stable and safe,” “The dorm food has actual meat in it—that’s a luxury,” “A bed with cotton stuffing is for the rich,” “Makeup is for the nobility.” I realized I’d messed up again. But it was too late.
From the next day on, my coworkers kept their distance. If I tried to ask a question or confirm something for work, they gave me the bare minimum and walked away.
Honestly, I’ve never been the type to play nice with coworkers, especially other women, so I didn’t care that much. In my old life, unless they were also on the management track, I didn’t see the point in befriending the clerks or the part-time ladies. It never bothered me then.
Still, the stress is starting to grate on me. I just want to scream. I want to find someone to vent to for hours. I want to go to a karaoke box³ and sing until my lungs give out. I know it’s impossible, but I can’t stop dreaming about it.
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Summary:
Yuko, a woman reincarnated from modern Earth, chooses to become a Civil Official apprentice to avoid combat. However, her modern sensibilities and lack of understanding of the new world’s strict social hierarchy lead to multiple social blunders. She quickly finds herself at the bottom of the department, performing grunt work under a strict younger supervisor named Xaveria.
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Trivia:
- Yuko was roughly 40 years old when she died.
- She has a Class called ‘Civil Servant’ which is explicitly noted as non-combat.
- Levels actually exist in this world and affect physical capability (e.g., carrying heavy loads).
- Martina is a ‘lock’ for the next Prime Minister, indicating a meritocratic or political system.
- Commoner luxuries in this world (meat, cotton) are significantly lower than modern Earth standards
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Character Insight:
Yuko exhibits a mix of motherly grief and corporate elitism. She looks down on former colleagues (Ina-san) and current ‘commoners’ while overestimating the value of her modern knowledge in a feudal, Level-based bureaucracy.
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Behind the Scenes:
The ‘ara-fō’ term reflects a specific social demographic in Japan facing marital and biological pressure, adding depth to Yuko’s motivation for wanting to marry and give birth quickly.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Yoshikawa – A former colleague of Yuko. A senior on the management track in their previous world.
• Ina – Otto, a summoned Heavy Warrior now known by his soul name, appears as a thick‑set man in his fifties with a buzz cut. He works as a general‑staff clerk, acting like a veteran to juniors yet bowing to bosses, and was a former colleague of Yuko before joining Osamu’s group, accompanying Yoshikawa Osamu on the train.
• Rei – A 155 cm, standard‑built member of the Working Women Party, she sports twin‑tails, thick chest armor, and a bright, high‑energy aura. Formerly a cosplayer, she now wields the unique “Rainbow Raiment” skill, brightening her allies and standing out in the magic‑clad class.
• Martina – Martina-sama, daughter of nobleman Fritz Gilman, is a striking beauty with sharp sanpaku eyes, a slender‑curvaceous figure and a C‑cup chest. As a high‑ranking Gilman heir and instructor for summoned individuals, she commands with seductive poise, often in high‑slit cheongsam‑style dresses. In the new world she is a top noble/official and a leading candidate for Prime Minister.
• Yuko – Civil Servant (Level 1) with high Intelligence, formerly a colleague of Araya. A woman in her late‑20s/early‑30s, now 17‑year‑old after reincarnation, appears as a high‑school student. Formerly a 40‑year‑old Earth professional who married, had a child, and died in a train accident. She seeks a non‑combat role at the castle, wears a half‑up hairstyle, thin chest armor, 160 cm, standard build, speaks politely but lacks motivation.
• Xaveria – A young woman, likely under twenty, who serves as Yuko’s supervisor and roommate. Position: Supervisor/Senior Civil Official. Referred to as ‘Xaveria-sama’.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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