Chapter 32
Chapter 32
Within the Monola Empire, there was no one who didn’t know how brutal the weather in Belheim could be.
The summer monsoon was especially infamous, but the autumn monsoon was no joke either.
And not long after the autumn monsoon ended, a biting cold wave would sweep in immediately afterward, leaving the residents with endless misery.
“Did you hear the news? They say Belheim had no autumn monsoon damage this time!”
“Is that really true?”
When word spread that they had gotten through it safely this year, the entire empire began to buzz.
“How did Belheim manage to stop the autumn monsoon?”
This news eventually reached the ears of Marquis Howell Smith, the head of the influential House Smith that held the greatest power in the eastern region of the Monola Empire.
“They say they built something called a drainage channel.”
The loyal butler of the Smith marquisate answered.
“A drainage channel? What’s that? Some newly invented magical tool?”
“No. Apparently it’s a passage that allows rainwater to flow out of the city instead of collecting inside it.”
Just hearing the description didn’t give Howell a clear picture, and he frowned.
Still, if it managed to stop the autumn monsoon damage, it must be quite remarkable.
As Howell Smith wondered what exactly this drainage channel was, he thought of Nubiar.
Nubiar, the capital city of the Smith marquisate and the largest city in the east, was home to the Raed River, often called the “Milk of the Goddess.”
The Raed River flowed through the center of the city.
It served as the residents’ drinking water, their transportation route, and the foundation of their agriculture.
At the same time, it was also a troublesome river that overflowed once every two years.
Every time the river flooded, countless people were killed or injured, and the property damage was enormous.
Some residents even suffered from hunger after the crops they had worked all year to grow were washed away.
They had tried every possible measure to prevent the river from overflowing, including building higher embankments, but nothing worked.
Magic was somewhat effective, but it came at an enormous cost.
That meant raising taxes even further, which caused public resentment, so they couldn’t rely on that solution every time.
If rainwater can be drained away… couldn’t river water be handled the same way?
As that thought formed, Howell Smith’s eyes sharpened.
“Look into this drainage channel more thoroughly.”
Pretending to be incompetent in order to get fired had failed.
Using the wish ticket to quit had also failed.
And something I learned later made things even worse: residents of the territory couldn’t leave the city whenever they wanted.
Before they were people, they were the lord’s property.
That was also why, as soon as someone reached adulthood, they were required to take an expensive portrait photograph and have it recorded in the official registry.
If someone wanted to move to another territory, they had to purchase a migration permit.
The problem was that the younger you were, the more absurdly expensive it became.
I had just become an adult, so mine cost five hundred gold.
Tabin, who was in his forties, only needed two hundred gold.
A commoner family of four barely spent three gold a month to live.
And yet they expected me to pay five hundred gold.
It’s basically telling people not to even think about leaving.
Whoever created this law was truly vicious.
Even if I saved every coin from my salary, it would take at least four years.
If I bought Tabin’s permit too, that added another two years.
And if I calculated the cost of settling in another territory, I would need at least eight years of savings.
I can’t wait that long.
Calix Craubel would leave on his monster subjugation campaign in three years.
Before that happened, I absolutely had to earn enough money to buy a migration permit.
And quit the Urban Development Department as well.
“How am I supposed to make that kind of money?”
I was thinking deeply about it while walking home from work when a man suddenly blocked my path.
“Are you Miss Aileen?”
“Who are you?”
I asked cautiously.
The man pulled out an identification badge.
It read: [Administrator, Henrik Beilen].
“I’m Henrik Beilen, the administrator in charge of District 2. There’s an urgent matter concerning my district that I’d like to discuss with you.”
“If you want to request construction or repairs within the district, please submit the paperwork. If it’s urgent, speak to the team leader.”
I drew a firm boundary.
Getting involved in something unnecessary could cause trouble.
And that was also the proper procedure.
Henrik Beilen frowned in displeasure.
“I heard you’re responsible for the drainage construction. Is that incorrect?”
“That’s correct, but…”
“Build a drainage channel in District 2 as well. And install triangular roofs while you’re at it.”
Once it was proven that triangular roofs and drainage channels effectively reduced monsoon damage, Calix Craubel ordered them installed across all districts of Belheim.
However, in winter the ground froze, making drainage construction impossible.
Installing triangular roofs was also difficult because of the severe cold wave.
So for now they were only preparing the plans, intending to start work as soon as the weather warmed.
Even if they began construction in spring, installing drainage channels across the entire city before the summer monsoon would be impossible.
That’s why we prioritized the areas with the worst monsoon damage.
As a result, Districts 1, 2, and 3—protected by magic—were naturally excluded.
But now the administrator of District 2 had suddenly come to request triangular roofs and drainage channels.
It was baffling.
“Of course, I’m not asking you to do it for free.”
Seeing that I remained silent, Henrik Beilen pulled out a thick leather pouch.
“If you agree, I’ll give you one hundred gold. That’s just the advance. Once the construction is complete, you’ll receive another hundred.”
Two hundred gold would buy Tabin’s migration permit.
It was tempting.
But it also smelled suspicious.
If this were truly legitimate, there would be no reason to approach me privately and offer money.
Could this be why Toma Harens installed triangular roofs in Districts 2 and 3 earlier?
Considering he accepted bribes from the Orc Heart Workshop, it seemed entirely possible.
“I’ll come back tomorrow, so think it over carefully. This is just payment for hearing me out.”
Henrik Beilen placed a single gold coin in my hand and quickly disappeared.
“Ugh. This feels unpleasant.”
If I kept the money, someone might accuse me of accepting a bribe.
But throwing it away felt wasteful.
After thinking it over, I spotted a nearby charity box and dropped the coin inside.
The next morning, on my way to work—
“Build a drainage channel in District 3. Install triangular roofs as well, and I’ll give you two hundred gold.”
The administrator of District 3 had come all the way to the Hunter Village early in the morning.
Just like Henrik Beilen, he made the exact same offer.
Those districts are protected by magic, so they don’t suffer monsoon damage. Why are they so eager for triangular roofs and drainage channels?
Until now I hadn’t cared much about their situation.
But now I was genuinely curious.
“Oh, that’s because maintaining the magical protection costs a lot of money.”
The answer unexpectedly came from Anton Brown.
When I arrived at the office and mentioned that Districts 2 and 3 seemed to want triangular roofs and drainage channels, he immediately explained.
“To block monsoons with magic costs at least two thousand gold—and sometimes as much as five thousand. That means the district taxes increase. So they’re trying to find a cheaper solution.”
“It costs that much?”
“It does. Arcana is expensive, but the real cost comes from hiring mages capable of casting protection spells. And their prices increase every year.”
Good grief.
Even higher costs in the future?
Now it finally made sense why Districts 2 and 3 were searching for alternatives to magic.
“Did the administrators of Districts 2 and 3 come to see you?”
Anton Brown glanced around before lowering his voice so only I could hear.
When I nodded, he clicked his tongue.
“I warned them not to do that, but they went to you anyway. Just in case, you should reject their offer.”
His expression turned serious.
“You remember what happened to Toma Harens, right? He took bribes, got fired from the Urban Development Department, and was expelled from Belheim. The same thing could happen to you.”
Actually… that sounded a bit appealing.
I already wanted to leave Belheim.
If they expelled me for free, that would be perfect.
“What’s with that expression? Why do you look happy?”
“Ahem. Who said I’m happy?”
Caught red-handed, I coughed awkwardly and looked away.
Just then, the lord’s servant entered the Urban Development Department office.
“Miss Aileen, the lord is requesting you.”
Ah, again?
This was already the fifth time this week.
I thought I wouldn’t have to see him often if I refused to become his adjutant.
So why was he summoning me so frequently?
“Why does the lord want to see me?”
“I’m not sure about the details… but the lord didn’t look very pleased.”
The servant offered a sincere warning to be careful.
Surely he wasn’t going to press a sword against my neck again.
The faint scar still remaining there seemed to throb as I instinctively touched it.