The Goddess Reborns as a Nobody

07 To the Underground

A week has passed, I'm finally happy and relieved to see that the workload stacking on my desk, regarding the administration of Aster, has lessened quite significantly. It's all thanks to Thaddeus.

It's surprising to discover that Thaddeus actually wanted me to employ him in Aster and not the other way around. I may not be the genius he thought I was but I understand his predicament. Who am I to say no to someone who's just looking for their purpose in life?

Besides, having someone with a golden aura nearby makes it easier for me to keep an eye on them. I have to ensure Thaddy is safe until he awakens to become someone great.

However, it seems that Thaddeus shouldn't be the one who's ecstatic that he got hired. Instead, I should be the one shouting for joy because only a week since his recruitment, we managed to make a dent on the paperwork regarding the stupid policies in Aster when I can barely do one-eight of one stack after two months. That's how messed up the rules are in Aster thanks to the previous royals who managed it.

I sigh and, slumping forward in my chair, I bang my head on the desk, hoping I can get the stupid organ inside my skull to cooperate. But so far, nothing. It just doesn't want to do any work today.

"Headache?"

My ears perk up at Thaddeus's gentle voice but my nose perked up the most at the divine smell of pastries I know is coming my way. In an instant, I sit up on my seat and my eyes are immediately glued to the delicious-looking lemon tarts Thaddeus is bringing on a tray with some tea.

Another bonus from hiring Thaddeus, not only do I get a very reliable, very competent assistant in the admin department but he also is a great baker! His pastries are to die for and one couldn't believe this scholar, whose main activity is reading and writing, is capable of baking delicious, delicate, and beautiful-looking pastries.

I bite into the tart and the sweet and sour, zingy lemony taste floods my mouth, refreshing my mind and soul.

This is another perk of having a golden aura around. Whatever they do or make will have an effect depending on their personality.

In Thaddeus's case, with every baked good he makes, there will be a healing effect. I doubt he knows about it since those who possess golden auras can't be affected by their own effects but I also don't think other people told him about it since, so far, my family and I are the only ones he bakes sweets for.

If Thaddeus bakes like this, his dishes are going to be a hands-down winner in every contest.

And at that thought, an idea occurred to me.

It was so brilliant that the tart I swallowed went down the wrong way, causing me to cough like crazy.

"Young Miss! Are you okay?"

Thaddeus is beside me in an instant, pounding my back so hard, I might have coughed up my lungs out if I was just an ordinary human.

"I'm fine. I'm fine now," I wheeze.

I'm actually far from fine but I just want him to stop hammering my back like he wants me to barf up all my insides.

Still coughing a little, I ask him, "Thaddy, how good are your taste buds?"

He seems to ponder my question for a bit before he tilts his head and scratching his chin sheepishly.

"I'm not sure about my taste buds but I'd say they're pretty sensitive. Because of that...well, this is a little embarrassing but it turned me into a picky eater. I don't really eat food unless it's cooked really well or I cooked it myself."

So he doesn't know that it's also one of his abilities as a golden aura bearer.

"That's great! What do you say becoming a judge for the cooking contest for the festival?"

He blinks. "A cooking contest for the festival? Did you mean the New Beginnings festival at the end of this season?"

"The one and only," I reply after taking another bite of the lemony goodness.

He smiles and his eyes glitter with excitement. "I'd be honored, Young Miss. I'll take this opportunity to finally enjoy and savor a genuine Asterian dish. I'll definitely add this to my book and maybe putting the food culture of different places is a good addition to the contents and..."

That's a familiar moment between Thaddy and me. Since he joined the party, so to speak, I learned that he has a habit of rambling on. I also discovered that he won't even know if someone listens to him or not, and having someone listen wouldn't matter to him as well.

So, in order not to waste time, I decided it's best to just ignore him when he's in that state and continue to do whatever it is I'm doing.

As much as I don't want to do it, I have to go back to sorting out the rules and policies. I'm getting sick of looking at paperwork first thing in the morning and still looking at it before I sleep but it has to be done.

Still, I just wish something comes up and give me a break from all of this--

The library door slams open, startling me from my thoughts and snapping Thaddy out of his rambling. Our heads whip around to see a villager panting by the door.

"Pardon the intrusion, Miss, Lord Thaddeus, but I came as fast as I can. The Masters and Mistress found something interesting under the rubble of the castle when they were tidying up, preparing the location for the festival as per your request."

Something interesting?

I glance at Thaddeus and I see him look at me as well. With a nod, I jump out of my chair and he immediately catches me as we make a run for it.

If the news wasn't the center of all my focus, I would have laughed because who would have thought that Thaddeus is just as giddy as I am in escaping our work?

"Oh! Please take a rest, there are lemon tarts there and tea. Help yourself!" I manage to yell after the villager as we speed our way out of the library.

For someone who spends the majority of their time reading and writing, Thaddeus sure is agile and nimble, not to mention fast. Because of that, we arrive at one of the heavily ruined castles in the Palace district in two minutes from the usual five.

My parents and Uncle Roger are standing over a hole in the middle of the cleared stone floor while the villagers are trying to explain something to them.

Uncle Roger's the first one to spot is heading their way.

"There's my favorite and most beautiful niece!" he booms happily.

I roll my eyes as Thaddeus passes me over to Mom. "How can you have favorites when I'm your ONLY niece, Uncle Roger?"

My Mom giggles, Dad chokes from suppressing his laughter while Thaddeus just smiled. Still, it made Uncle Roger beam, my cutting reply never fazed him one bit. This man is thick-skinned as well as thick-muscled.

"That's my niece. Oh, now that you're here, you might want to check out what we've discovered."

Mom carried me towards the spot where they're congregating before. On the castle's stone floor, there's a huge hole with a rusty, broken metal with the exact size and shape of the hole lying beside it. Apparently, it must have served as a lid.

But why would someone put a hole like this in a castle and cover it with a lid?

"The villagers told us that this part of the castle used to be a dungeon," Dad informs me.

"Some of them assumed this was used as disposal for the criminals. While some even say that it's an escape hatch for the royals in case of a rebel invasion. There are plenty more rumors and theories about this but no one is sure," Mom says.

Well, all questions will go unanswered if we keep on loitering about like this.

I tap my chin thoughtfully before nodding. "Okay, let's check out what's down there ourselves. Thaddy and I will come, too."

Dad's eyes widen. "You can't. Who knows what's down there and it could be dangerous for you."

"I have you, Mom, and Uncle Roger. Plus Thaddy will be there also. Besides, for all we know, there could be nothing there. I want to see the place with my own two eyes and see if we can make use of whatever's down there." Plus, I want to delay working at the library for a little longer.

I turn towards Thaddeus who was eyeing the hole with great interest. "What do you think, Thaddy?"

With sparkling eyes, he looks up at me and beams, dangling a backpack in front of him. "I'm already ready!"

My eyes grow big with surprise. What the...since when and how did he get a field backpack just like that? Oh, well, never mind, I'll just chalk it up as one of his abilities as a golden aura bearer.

I look down at my clothes. A frilly yet comfy pink dress and a soft yet sturdy pair of pink shoes. Not the most suitable apparel for dungeon-crawling but I don't want my family to change their minds from bringing me with them.

"I'm also ready to go!"

Mom opens her mouth, probably to protest but Uncle Roger places a hand on her shoulder and shakes his head, making Mom sigh in resignation.

Yes! I'm going down the mysterious hole with them! Even if there are monsters there, it won't be a problem since I can probably find a way to use my powers without my family and Thaddeus knowing.

Not only that but this is also an opportunity to check the monster life, if there are any, of Aster.

I beam at Uncle Roger. "Uncle Roger, this is why you've always been my favorite Uncle too!"