Chapter 19
Chapter 19
“An—an underground dungeon?!”
Toma Harens struggled with his eyes wide open.
“All this over stealing a single blueprint—this punishment is far too excessive…!”
“Bribery.”
Calix Krauvel began listing his crimes, raising one finger at a time.
“Abuse of authority. Fraud and theft related to public works.”
“……”
“And you even disobeyed my order.”
Was it my imagination, or did he look most angry about that last one?
“Do you have anything else to say, Toma Harens?”
“……”
“That’s unfortunate.”
Calix Krauvel’s lips curved slightly.
“If you had said one more word, I would have cut off your head right here.”
At that moment, I remembered the warning Noah Roheim gave me the first time I came to the lord’s castle.
If you offend the lord, your head could be cut off.
Back then I wondered if he would really kill someone.
But now, a chilling thought crossed my mind.
He absolutely could.
Never provoke the lord.
Perhaps Toma Harens realized it too.
Trembling violently, he lowered his head.
The aggressive man who had shouted at me earlier had completely disappeared.
“From this moment, Toma Harens is stripped of all positions. Take him away.”
Only after the knights dragged Toma Harens away did the tension in the open field ease slightly.
It was finally over.
I let out the breath I had been holding.
“You’re quite skilled.”
Calix Krauvel spoke to me, forcing me to hold my breath again.
“You knew from the beginning that Toma Harens was the culprit, didn’t you?”
“That’s impossible. If I had known, I would have reported it to you immediately, my lord.”
I feigned innocence.
But judging from his expression, he clearly didn’t believe a word I said.
“Toma Harens has just been dismissed from the Urban Development Department. Considering the severity of his crimes, he will likely be permanently banished from this city.”
“I see.”
“That means the position of team leader in the Urban Development Department is now vacant.”
The lord said this while alternating his gaze between the triangular roof model I had built and me.
A bad feeling crept up.
“Based on your skill, I believe you should take that position.”
“Cough—!”
Why did my bad feelings never turn out to be wrong?
“I’ve only been in the Urban Development Department for one month. Before that, I’ve never handled architectural administration.”
While screaming internally, I spoke calmly.
“If someone like me became team leader, people would find it strange.”
I needed to get fired as soon as possible.
Becoming team leader was completely absurd.
“I think it would be better to appoint someone with more skill and experience.”
“Who would that be?”
“Well… um…”
I had worked in the Urban Development Department for over a month.
But the only names I knew accurately were three.
Allen Cranter, Toma Harens, and Anton Brown.
Among those three, the only possible choice was…
“I recommend Sir Anton Brown.”
“Anton Brown?”
Calix Krauvel raised an eyebrow as if hearing the name for the first time.
“He’s the younger brother of Baron Brown. He’s thirty-eight this year and has worked in the Urban Development Department for about fifteen years.”
Noah Roheim immediately recited his background information.
Thirty-eight?
He looked much older.
“What about his skills?”
“I haven’t confirmed that yet… I’ll investigate immediately.”
“No, that won’t be necessary. You must have recommended him because he’s competent. Isn’t that right, Miss Aileen?”
I had only mentioned the first name that came to mind because I didn’t want the position.
I had no idea about his abilities.
From the way he constantly followed Toma Harens around flattering him, he didn’t seem particularly capable.
“……”
Since I couldn’t answer, the lord stared at me.
His gaze felt as if he could see straight through my thoughts.
My mouth went dry.
What if he just appointed me anyway?
“We cannot place just anyone in the position of team leader. I will consider it further.”
Oh.
Thank goodness.
It was too early to relax completely, but I was relieved to have escaped that danger for now.
“Today’s work was well done.”
The lord suddenly praised me.
“You completely crushed Toma Harens with your skill. It was quite impressive.”
Was that… a compliment?
Delivered with a completely expressionless face, it sounded less like praise and more like a reprimand.
“I will continue observing you. I hope you perform even better from now on.”
So it wasn’t really a compliment.
The heavy pressure in his words left me unable to even force a smile.
Perhaps he found my stunned expression amusing.
He chuckled lightly and turned away.
“You worked hard today, Miss Aileen.”
Noah Roheim also greeted me before following the lord.
I stood there blankly watching them walk away.
Then Tabin grabbed my arm.
“You did wonderfully today, Aileen. Watching that team leader get dragged away so easily was incredibly satisfying.”
That part was definitely satisfying.
“And to receive recognition from the lord as well. That’s my daughter.”
Tabin smiled as if he had gained the entire world.
But I couldn’t smile.
The more recognition I received from the lord, the lower the chance I would be fired.
And that meant the future where I turned into a monster and died a horrible death seemed closer.
I shook my head in disgust.
The day after the experiment.
For the first time in a while, I went to the Urban Development Department office.
“……”
The moment I opened the door, I sensed a strange atmosphere.
The employees still whispered about me.
But something was different.
Before, they looked at me with open hostility and openly gossiped about me whether I could hear them or not.
Now they seemed cautious and deliberately kept their distance.
The rumor that Toma Harens was fired because of me must have spread.
Well, technically it was true.
He fell into the trap I had set.
If I had done nothing, the theft of the blueprint and the bribery from the Oak Heart Workshop would never have been exposed.
More importantly, where is Anton Brown?
The reason I came to the office today—besides not having shown up for a while—was to meet him.
He’s not here.
It was already past nine.
He couldn’t still be on his way to work.
Maybe the restroom?
“Do you know where Anton Brown is?”
I asked the most approachable person, Allen Cranter.
Allen Cranter immediately looked flustered and darted his eyes around.
“I-I’m not sure, actually. I don’t know where he is.”
What was with that awkwardly polite speech?
“Oh, Miss Aileen.”
At that moment, Anton Brown entered through the door.
Unlike the other employees who avoided eye contact with me, he approached with a wide smile.
“I was about to contact you, but you came first.”
…Why is he so happy to see me?
We’re not that close.
Before I could react, he grabbed my hand enthusiastically.
“Thanks to you, I became the team leader of the Urban Development Department! Thank you!”
…He really became the team leader?
I had suggested him.
But I never expected it to actually happen.
This department must really lack talent.
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
“The lord said that even though you lack experience, your skill is certain. So we should work well together from now on.”
Anton Brown patted my shoulder as he said that.
[Main Quest Completed.]
At that moment, a system window appeared in front of me.
[You will receive 5,000 points as a reward!]
Wait.
So it didn’t specifically have to be Toma Harens?
All I had to do was gain recognition from the team leader of the Urban Development Department?
I had been wondering what to do about the quest after Toma Harens was fired.
But it succeeded like this.
Now I can repay the debt.
Even after diligently completing sub-quests, I had exactly 5,000 points left.
This cleared everything.
“Yes. Let’s work well together from now on.”
Happy about that fact, I firmly shook his hand and smiled brightly.
After all, I was planning to quit eventually.
It didn’t matter who the team leader was.
Once I thought that way, the lingering discomfort disappeared completely.
“Well then, I’ll get going.”
I had originally come to ask Anton Brown about the future plans.
But judging from his behavior, there was no need.
“Wait.”
Just as I was about to leave after showing my face, Anton Brown stopped me.
“The lord asked to see you. You should go meet him right away.”