Chapter 15
Chapter 15
This is a punishment?
He was basically just telling me to keep doing my job.
“Your Lordship!”
Toma Harens called out in obvious panic.
“Do you have a complaint about my decision, Team Leader Toma Harens?”
“N-no, of course not. I was only worried that the chain of command might collapse…”
“There is something you should explain first.”
Calix Krauvel cut him off.
“Why did you ignore the residents’ complaints here for nearly a month?”
Toma Harens hesitated briefly, then forced an awkward smile.
“We didn’t ignore them. We intended to handle the matter sequentially. Every task has its proper order.”
“So maintaining that order meant installing triangular roofs in Districts 2 and 3, where there was no monsoon damage?”
I interjected.
Toma Harens glared at me as if telling me to keep quiet.
“You were told to prepare for the next monsoon, yet you installed triangular roofs in areas that suffered no damage…”
“It was a verification test.”
When Calix Krauvel’s eyes narrowed, Toma Harens hurried to explain.
“The triangular roof is an unprecedented architectural structure, so verification was necessary. That is why we first installed them in Districts 2 and 3, which have sturdier buildings than this area.”
Wow. He really did know how to make things sound convincing.
It almost made me wonder if he became team leader because of his speaking skills rather than his architectural abilities.
“And this district required building repairs before triangular roof installation.”
“You knew that, yet you left it like this for a month? That’s impressive.”
When I spoke sarcastically again, the glare Toma Harens gave me grew even more vicious.
As if that would scare me.
“Now that the verification test is complete, we planned to repair the buildings and install triangular roofs starting next week.”
“That can’t happen!”
The thought of installing that ridiculous triangular roof here was horrifying.
“The triangular roof the team leader designed is flawed. Not only should it not be installed anywhere else—the existing ones should be removed!”
“What do you even know? Stop interrupting!”
Apparently unable to tolerate it any longer, Toma Harens shouted and grabbed my arm roughly.
At that moment, Tabin—who had been watching anxiously from the doorway—stepped forward and forcibly pulled his hand away.
“Let’s not resort to violence.”
“……”
Seeing Tabin’s massive build, large enough to look like he could wrestle a bear, Toma Harens flinched and stepped back.
“What do you mean it was designed incorrectly? Didn’t you help make it?”
“No. The team leader copied the triangular roof I designed and made something strange out of it.”
At my words, not only the lord but also the residents turned to look at Toma Harens.
His face flushed bright red.
Earlier he had shouted that he didn’t copy it and that his version was better.
I thought he had no sense of shame, but apparently he did.
“What is the meaning of this, Team Leader Harens?”
“Ah… Miss Aileen refused to cooperate, so I had no choice but to design it myself.”
Oh, really.
He never even asked, yet he lied without hesitation.
“But there is no problem with the triangular roof I designed. When the autumn monsoon arrives, you will see.”
What kind of nonsense was that?
“Are you saying you intend to use the residents’ homes as an experiment?”
When I asked incredulously, Toma Harens narrowed his eyes.
“Didn’t you hear me? I said there was no problem.”
“In that case, would you be willing to build a test model to verify whether your design truly has no issues?”
“A test model?”
Toma Harens repeated the words as if hearing them for the first time.
Calix Krauvel also looked unfamiliar with the concept.
Looks like this world doesn’t have test models.
It was honestly shocking that they constructed buildings without any prior testing.
What were they planning to do if something went wrong?
“What is a test model?”
“It’s when you create a smaller-scale structure before building the real one, to confirm its safety in advance.”
I explained as simply as possible so the lord could understand.
“So it would be best to create scaled models of the triangular roofs designed by the team leader and myself and test them. That way, people won’t be harmed.”
“A good method. Instead of arguing over who is right or wrong, proving it directly would be more certain.”
At least the lord wasn’t as narrow-minded as Toma Harens.
Stubborn, perhaps—but not closed off.
“To make it fair, you will build one as well.”
“Excuse me? I will?”
“Yes. I think it will be a good opportunity to properly demonstrate both your abilities and the effectiveness of the triangular roof.”
I didn’t particularly want to demonstrate my abilities to anyone…
“Then I’ll assume you agree.”
The lord interpreted my silence however he liked and turned to Toma Harens.
“What about you, Team Leader Harens?”
“Well…”
As Toma Harens hesitated, the lord leaned toward him and whispered something in his ear.
Whatever it was, Toma Harens’s face turned visibly pale.
Then he glared at me, teeth clenched.
Why was he angry at me?
The lord was the one who said it.
Not backing down, I glared right back.
“Team Leader Harens?”
When Calix Krauvel called him, Toma Harens immediately lowered his head like a meek lamb.
“I… will do it.”
“Good. Then it’s settled.”
For the record, I never actually said I would.
“How should we conduct the experiment using the test models?”
“First, we build two scaled models of buildings roughly this size.”
I gestured with my hands to illustrate the approximate size.
“Then we place the triangular roofs designed by the team leader and myself on top of the models and spray water on them to simulate monsoon rain.”
“Then we’ll be able to see what problems arise.”
“Exactly. After identifying those issues and correcting them, we can apply the improved design to real buildings and significantly reduce the damage.”
After hearing the full explanation, Calix Krauvel looked at me with surprise.
“How did you come up with such a method? Impressive.”
“Ahaha, thank you.”
It felt strange to be praised for something I didn’t actually invent.
“In that case, we must prepare the building models first.”
“Yes. Only then can we construct triangular roofs that fit them.”
“Who will make them?”
…Why are you asking me?
Of course I could build them.
But there was no reason to take on extra trouble.
If I made them myself, Toma Harens might accuse me of manipulating the test.
Fortunately, the lord didn’t seem to intend assigning the task to me.
After thinking for a moment, Calix Krauvel gestured with his hand.
From among the gathered residents, Noah Roheim stepped forward.
Wait—when had he been here?
“Deliver the building blueprints to the Nine Workshop and request scale models built at a 1:30 ratio.”
Sharp observation.
I had only gestured roughly at the building’s size, yet he immediately determined an appropriate scale.
And instead of giving the task to the Oak Heart Workshop—the largest workshop in Belheim—he chose the Nine Workshop.
That decision carried meaning.
Did he hear everything I said earlier?
About Toma Harens possibly taking bribes from Oak Heart Workshop.
If that was the case, why didn’t he start an investigation immediately?
Was that what he threatened Toma Harens with earlier?
“The triangular roof models can only be made once the building models are ready, correct?”
As my thoughts spiraled, the lord asked.
“No. As long as I have the blueprints, I can begin immediately…”
I deliberately dragged out my words and glanced sideways at Toma Harens.
“But I’m not sure about the team leader.”
“I can do it too!”
Apparently wounded in his pride, Toma Harens snapped back.
“Once Noah Roheim retrieves the building blueprints, copies will be delivered to both of you. Will five days be sufficient to complete the models?”
“That’s more than enough.”
Toma Harens answered with determination.
I also nodded. Five days should be enough.
“Then we will meet again in five days at the open ground behind the annex.”
After finishing what he had to say, Calix Krauvel turned to leave.
But suddenly he stopped and looked back at me.
“Let me make this clear beforehand. Repairing this building is a separate matter. You will take responsibility and complete it to the end.”