Chapter 47
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: My Job VS Your Job (1)
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"We'll designate the six nearest villages to Evergreen, along with the sea, rivers, mountains, and fields, as the territory of Evergreen City. Dominic will be appointed as the inaugural mayor."
"Yes."
"Furthermore, Dominic's term as the first mayor of Evergreen City will last until he chooses to step down."
Dominic blinked in disbelief, rubbing his eyes politely as if questioning what he'd just heard.
Even for the Sinclair Count's domain, which governed vast lands, elevating a mere village to city status was a rarity—something that hadn't happened in over a decade.
And for a village with no real presence, nowhere near agricultural or commercial hubs? Searching the entire empire wouldn't turn up many precedents like this.
Yet the officials showed no surprise, as if they'd been tipped off about the lord's intentions in advance. They stayed calmly at their posts.
What the hell is this bolt from the blue?
Anyone else would be weeping and kissing the lord's feet in gratitude, but Dominic just sat there, dazed.
Mayor? Me? Why?
He hadn't even wanted the village chief position, and now this?
But perhaps because he'd been through all sorts of ordeals...
His initial shock faded quickly, and his mind started racing.
If I can't dodge this, I might as well squeeze out as much funding as possible.
It was too late to back out now.
Contributing to Evergreen's growth—his hometown in all but name—wasn't so bad, even if it was a hassle.
He didn't promote us to a city just for a few papers. What’s the lord really after? Just goodwill? No, if it were simple charity, he'd have sent money instead.
His gaze drifted to a map of the Sinclair County hanging on one wall of the lord's office.
The paints were vividly fresh.
Newly made recently.
Something felt off, though.
The heart of any domain was typically the lord's castle.
But the center of this map wasn't the castle.
It's right by the sea... No way?
Once he had that clue, his thoughts snowballed, piecing together the information into a clear picture.
"If I may be so bold, my lord."
"Speak."
"Do you perhaps need a harbor?"
The Sinclair County was mostly inland.
It had some coastal land, but only a handful of fishing hamlets like pre-boom Evergreen.
Not a single proper trade port or deep-sea fishing vessel in the whole domain—that had been the reality.
Like most lords, the Sinclairs had never seen the lack of a harbor as a dire issue across generations.
Large-scale trade was regrettable but impossible; proper trade ports were rarer than fingers on one hand across the continent.
Ports didn't just appear.
They required ideal geography, infrastructure, transportation networks for goods and people, exchanges for diverse commodities, wealthy backers—and above all, swarms of administrators to negotiate interests, provide support, and facilitate contracts.
"Village chief—no, mayor now, I suppose."
The lord paused, seemingly speechless at Dominic's direct question, then burst into hearty laughter.
"How did you figure it out?"
Bullseye.
The current Sinclair Count intended to turn Evergreen into the south's premier trade port.
"That's not the point. Let me ask again: Can you do it?"
Desperation flickered across the lord's face.
When something you never owned suddenly seemed attainable, only to slip away, the disappointment hit twice as hard.
"I'll make it happen."
Dominic nodded with the earnest conviction of a young politician—uncharacteristically sincere.
A few officials present even murmured praises like, "So that carefree act was all pretense. What a straight-arrow he's got!"
Dominic's performance had reached new heights.
"You'll make it happen?"
"Within ten years, I'll draw the continent's goods to Evergreen."
"You're serious?"
"Yes. Just handle a few minor details for me."
He'd learned early: To secure support, you had to aim high.
Skinny budgets get ignored up top.
Otherwise, you'd just get scolded for scrimping. Better to swing big from the start.
"Minor details, eh? Fine. What do I need to do to see this port built?"
"Extend the tax incentives you've given Evergreen to ten years."
"No problem. They'll apply not just to old Evergreen, but all lands newly incorporated into the city!"
Instant approval.
He lacked sword talent, but the lord was still nobility-born. No small-minded man.
Evergreen's taxes were peanuts anyway. If they fund the port instead, it's a wash.
Money he never planned to keep anyway—easy to let go.
"Also, I humbly request greater administrative autonomy for the city."
"Autonomy, you say."
"Yes. Setting up agencies or handling logistics beyond imperial borders would grind to a halt if every step requires classified or diplomatic paperwork through the capital."
"The mayor makes a compelling case. Approved. But install a magic communicator and report all key matters."
"Those are dreadfully expensive..."
"Consider it a gift."
"Your lordship's generosity rivals the boundless sea!"
Out came the sycophant tone again.
It was becoming a habit.
The meeting dragged on from there.
For a full week.
By the time Dominic seriously contemplated quitting and fleeing—Where to, though?—the training finally wrapped up.
"Knight. Don't I look a bit thinner?"
"The dark circles make you look half-dead."
"I knew it. Paperwork and admin? Not for me."
"No choice now. You're the mayor—days buried in documents await."
"...Should've run when I had the chance."
Dominic grumbled nonstop on the road back to Evergreen.
But Ian found him endearingly diligent beneath it all.
[Big ships won't fit by the village coast. Cape Wind below looks perfect—what do you think, Knight?]
[Knight, for ships to dock, we need goods that'll lure merchants. Any ideas?]
[Hmm. Could we double academy hires as admins? One stone, two birds... Though they might quit over overload...]
He rambled endlessly about village growth, port development, academy success—yet seemed oblivious to his own zeal.
Finally buckling down to work. Time to see his true potential?
Ian vaguely sensed Dominic's past feats were just the tip. Greater talents surely lay ahead.
Wonder what they'll be.
He startled himself with the thought, chills prickling his skin.
He shook it off.
Evergreen loomed in the distance.
"Home sweet home."
"...Yeah. Home."
To both Dominic and Ian, it was home now.
**
Bang! Bang!
Whoosh—!
"Dominic! Dominic!"
"We knew you could do it! A city! Woo-hoo!"
The village erupted the moment they entered.
At the gate, colorful petal showers rained down; elsewhere, drums, fireworks, and whistles from cheering locals.
Tourists and visitors, hearing the news, shouted Dominic's and Evergreen's names, hugging and toasting in shared joy.
"Mom, what's it mean to become a city?"
"Our village is gonna get huge."
"Bigger than now?"
"You bet! Guilds, shops everywhere. When you're grown, Elly, you'll have tons of job choices."
"Wow!"
Some parents beamed, dreaming of their kids' futures.
"Finally, time to sing and play music again! Muahaha!"
"You even remember the notes?"
"Fool! Once a bard, always a bard! Yeah, Evergreen needs culture now—befitting a city! Muahaha!"
Others buzzed with excitement for new pursuits.
"Dominic!"
"Uncle Kallon!"
Kallon approached the stunned duo with a grin splitting his face.
"Few days back, officials from the castle came. Said we're a city now! Ha! A city! Our Evergreen! Hahaha!"
"That good, huh?"
"'Course, kid! Or should I say Mayor now? Haha! Never dreamed I'd see this in my lifetime."
Kallon's eyes misted over.
"...Wanted a life without blood on my hands. No more worrying the family every time I left. That's what this place gave me."
Gazing at the jubilant villagers, emotion choked him; he stammered on haltingly.
"You're smarter and more capable than me, Dominic—you'll handle it fine. But one request."
"Yes."
"Make it a place where no one worries about tomorrow."
Plain words, rough around the edges, but the raw sincerity hit hard. Even silver-tongued Dominic went silent, clasping Kallon's callused hand.
"I will."
No acting there—pure truth.
"What're you lot doing? Square's got booze flowing! Old Lord's bought out the tavern—move it!"
"On a day like this, you gotta drink till you black out—that's the fun!"
Silly chatter mixed in, but the village brimmed with happiness.
"Dduk-guk! Hehehe! Day drinking's the best! Ooh, what's this brew? Hold up, humans! Me first! I'll taste it!"
The dwarf rolling in seemed the most ecstatic—best to play dumb.
**
The night before, Dominic and Ian had joined the Fishing Cooperative uncles and dwarves in a drinking marathon.
"Ugh..."
Ian clutched his throbbing head, rising from bed.
Where am I?
Not his room.
"Awake?"
A familiar voice—not one he wanted first thing in the morning.
Dominic.
"Jeez. Why chug booze you can't handle?"
"...You drank plenty too. Feeling okay?"
Ian eyed Dominic's surprisingly fresh face.
"Eh—pulled the old switcheroo. Can't play fair with those guys; I'd be hungover for days. Anyway, check this."
Dominic shrugged like it was obvious, handing over a document.
"What do you think?"
"What's this?"
It listed names, histories, careers—packed tight. Candidates for academy professors or those who'd expressed interest in visiting after hearing the news.
"Filtered for folks we can plug in right away. Anything I missed?"
During that week trapped at the castle, it'd hit him.
Plenty of people to do the work. Why me?
If it wasn't his job, Dominic wasn't touching it.