The Empire's Greatest Cathedral
Sebrin Grand Cathedral.
“Head of the Evaluation Department, Imperial Administrator Askal has arrived!”
Conrad swallowed thickly. How could he have failed to recognize that man?
The firm set of lips that saw every assigned task through to the end. The dragon-like eyes that could never be satisfied without witnessing things personally.
This was the very model of an imperial official.
“I have been waiting for you, Lord Askal.”
Even Robenharf, the prideful guild master of the Golden Hammer, bowed his head deeply.
Dwarves were stubborn creatures. No matter how tightly someone held their leash, they would never lower their heads unless they acknowledged the person in their hearts.
Ever since the homi incident, Askal’s reputation had been spreading quietly among the dwarves.
“Would you inspect the town hall we built first?”
“No, look at our grain warehouse first.”
The guild master of Blue Flame, Sebenter, cut in.
“There’s still a proper order to things. I’m ten years older than you. Step aside, you brat.”
“Since when does a ten-year gap count as real seniority? If you’d lived moderately, you’d know when to yield. That’s why your belly never goes down.”
The two showed no signs of stopping their quarrel.
“Enough.”
Askal raised a hand and cut them off. The two dwarves fell silent in an instant.
“I will begin with the Golden Hammer’s town hall.”
Robenharf swallowed nervously and guided Askal forward. No matter how long a craftsman had swung his hammer, he could not help tensing when his work faced evaluation.
Upon reaching the newly constructed town hall, Robenharf began his explanation.
“Behold the beautiful luster reflecting off this marble! We quarried it ourselves from our own mine. Every piece was hand-selected to ensure matching tone and grain. If you entrust us with the grand cathedral, we will create something truly spectacular.”
Sebenter watched with a bitter expression, clearly upset at having been beaten to the punch. There was, after all, a considerable gap in capital between the Golden Hammer and Blue Flame.
Any human without deep architectural knowledge would inevitably feel overwhelmed by the sight of such expensive marble covering everything.
Robenharf wore a triumphant smile, convinced of his victory.
“Why in the world did you use marble?”
“……!”
Yet Imperial Administrator Askal reacted completely opposite to their expectations. He stepped inside the town hall and clicked his tongue.
“First of all, the arches are far too high. A town hall is where villagers gather to talk, but at this height the sound will echo excessively. It might be cool in summer, but what about winter? Even with a fireplace, the heat loss would be enormous.”
“Th-that’s…”
Robenharf tried to argue but found nothing to say. The criticism was entirely reasonable.
In truth, Robenharf had built less of a functional ‘town hall’ and more of a showpiece to flaunt their superior construction techniques.
Having that exact point called out left him speechless.
“Furthermore.”
Askal walked deeper into the hall and pointed at one section.
“The finishing on this side is abysmal.”
The marble was warped.
“H-how did you…”
Robenharf was stunned.
In his rush to meet the deadline, there had indeed been a tiny flaw. But he never imagined a human—no matter how capable an administrator—would notice it.
A chill ran down Robenharf’s spine. The way Askal pointed things out made it seem as if he had participated in the construction himself.
“I… I acknowledge it. Our town hall was lacking.”
The prideful dwarf had admitted his own work was imperfect.
Sebenter knew exactly how significant that was in dwarven society.
Plink.
A single tear rolled down from the corner of Robenharf’s eye.
Sebenter felt the weight of that emotion in his bones.
What a terrifying human.
And now it was his turn.
Sebenter suddenly noticed cold sweat beading on his forehead. This was no longer a competition. It felt like being evaluated by a master from his youth.
“Then next is our grain warehouse…”
Sebenter led Askal to the grain warehouse.
“Unlike the Golden Hammer, we focused on practical construction. We installed proper ventilation, and the interior is divided into multiple compartments for storing different grains. The floor is lined with charcoal to keep everything dry.”
His confidence grew as he spoke, and Sebenter puffed out his chest.
“Unlike those fools from the Golden Hammer, we built something that actually works! Therefore, the grand cathedral should naturally be constructed by us, Blue Flame!”
Askal stepped inside the grain warehouse. He examined it with the calm gaze of someone returning to a familiar hometown, then pointed at one section.
“This pillar. There are traces of wood-boring insects.”
Askal ran his finger along the wooden pillar. Fine powder drifted to the floor—clear evidence of insect activity inside the small holes.
“Did you not know that Sebrin is particularly notorious for wood-eating bugs? At this rate, the grain warehouse will collapse within a year.”
“I-impossible!”
He had not considered it. Too focused on competing with the Golden Hammer, he had neglected proper preliminary research on Sebrin itself. It was arrogance. A true architect must understand not only what they are building, but exactly where they are building it.
Sebenter fell to his knees.
Plink.
“I acknowledge… that our Blue Flame fell short.”
It was an unprecedented sight. Both guild masters now sat slumped on the ground like defeated caterpillars, utterly dejected.
What… what exactly am I witnessing right now?
Conrad, a seasoned laborer himself, could not comprehend the scene.
No matter how talented an administrator Askal might be, he should not be able to surpass dwarves in architecture.
Yet the result before his eyes was undeniable.
Both guild masters had been completely convinced by this human’s words and admitted the flaws in their own work.
But what shocked Conrad most was something else.
He hid his identity and worked as a laborer just for this?
What kind of imperial administrator would go to such lengths?
Conrad stared at Askal with the eyes of someone looking at something incomprehensible.
“Th-then… what happens with the grand cathedral construction?”
In the heavy silence, one of the workers spoke up. The original condition had been to choose one of the two guilds. But now both had admitted their own inadequacies.
Everyone waited for Askal’s lips to part.
And then.
“We will cancel this grand cathedral construction entirely.”
A cold declaration. Yet no one could raise an objection. Leaving those words behind, Askal turned back toward his carriage.
Leaving the two devastated guild masters in his wake.
“Wait a moment, young man.”
It was an elderly dwarf. The guards moved to remove the dwarf blocking Askal’s path, but Askal raised a hand to stop them.
“What can I do for you, elder?”
Askal remembered the old dwarf. He was the one he had shared snacks with while working on the construction site together.
The elderly dwarf’s shaggy-haired eyes gleamed sharply.
“My name is Jeff. I am the master of those two incompetent disciples of mine.”
Jeff.
The moment the name was spoken, the entire village erupted into commotion.
“M-Master! How long have you been here?!”
Robenharf and Sebenter rushed over in shock to stand before their teacher.
But the most surprised person was Conrad.
The former chief of Stonehead, one of the continent’s greatest architects, and the man known as the teacher of all builders—Jeff was here this whole time?!
They had even eaten together, swung pickaxes together, done everything together.
“I retired and came to watch my disciples while passing the time, but I never expected to witness such a disgraceful sight. I am greatly disappointed. However, young man. Would you not give them one more chance?”
Jeff stroked his beard.
“Of course, I will build this grand cathedral without accepting any payment. I stake my name on it—we will create the finest cathedral in history. A dwarf’s pride is on the line. Will you permit it?”
“M-Master himself?”
Jeff had created countless masterpieces over the years. The Hundred-Year Castle of the Medes Kingdom, the Seven Mines, the Deltrid Bridge… each one was a legend worthy of the history books.
The fact that Jeff would personally oversee the construction of the grand cathedral carried enormous weight.
“Very well. After all, I did receive a bowl of stew from you, elder. It was truly delicious.”
“Heh heh. You remembered that?”
On the first day, when Askal was still unfamiliar with the work, it had been Jeff who handed him a steaming bowl of stew and told him to eat before working.
It had been warm and incredibly tasty.
Jeff’s cloudy old eyes suddenly transformed into the sharp gaze of an architect as he bellowed.
“You slugs! What are you standing around for?! Start carrying the materials right now!”
At Jeff’s thunderous command, both guild masters scrambled into action.
Watching the scene, Conrad bit his lip tightly, as if something profound had struck him.
It looked like it was going to be a very long day.
10. Redburn Drawbridge
9. Seirn Inn
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1. Sebrin Grand Cathedral
“I really didn’t mean for this to happen.”
Flipping through the magazine, Askal recalled his original plan.
He had deliberately found fault with both dwarves, canceled the cathedral construction, and intended to tarnish their reputations.
But then the legendary dwarf had suddenly intervened and created what was now hailed as the greatest cathedral in imperial history…
Even now, he found it absurd.
Askal skimmed the magazine briefly before setting it down on his desk.
Without reading the final section.
I was just an ordinary laborer with no dreams, living day to day to make ends meet. But one day, I met a benefactor who changed my life. He already held a high position, yet he came down to the lowest rung and worked alongside me, sweating without a single word of complaint.
Watching him, I remembered. Why I had started this work in the first place. My path had been right here all along. I had simply turned away from it.
From that day forward, I decided to abandon the man I was yesterday. And to begin again.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to him.
Kal. Thank you so much.