INBE 06

Chapter 06

Tabin was overjoyed when he heard that I had gotten a job at the City Construction Department, and he bought me new clothes and a new bag.

Even though I said I didn’t need such things, he insisted on putting them into my hands, so I had no choice but to accept them.

The villagers also gave me various gifts—shoes, a fountain pen, a notebook, and more.

On the day I left for work, they even all came out to the village entrance to wave me off.

“This is driving me crazy.”

I was grateful that they were happy for me and celebrating my success as if it were their own, but more than that, I felt burdened.

Because I had no intention of working hard.

My goal was to show the lord that I was actually useless and get fired as soon as possible.

The main quest only said to accept the lord’s offer; it didn’t say anything about working diligently at the City Construction Department.

There was nothing about continuing to work, either.

‘So it should be fine even if I get fired.’

Even if I wanted to quit, I couldn’t, because Tabin’s life was at stake.

Getting fired was the best option.

And then I would leave this place as soon as possible.

‘But what about Tabin and the villagers?’

I knew full well that if they stayed here, they would end up dying pointless deaths, so it weighed on my mind to leave them behind.

But it wasn’t like I could take the entire village and run away.

“Let’s think about that slowly.”

There was still time before Kalix Kraubel would participate in the monster subjugation.

Monster subjugation was held once every five years, and the next one would be in two years.

Before that, I needed to come up with a way to escape Belheim—and if possible, take the villagers with me as well.

“For now, getting fired comes first.”

How could I show that I was incompetent?

As I pondered, I had already passed through the city gate.

Originally, one had to undergo a thorough inspection to pass through the gate, but I had an ID pass, so I went right through.

“Let’s see, they said to take a carriage with a blue stripe from here and get off at the last stop.”

Just then, a carriage with a blue stripe arrived at the station.

If I missed it, I’d have to wait an hour—but I deliberately didn’t get on.

I wanted to be late on my first day and leave a bad impression.

While waiting for the next carriage, I leisurely looked around.

The last time I came to the lord’s castle, I had been riding in a carriage the whole time and was too overwhelmed to properly look at the city.

“What a sight… seriously.”

Now that I was seeing Belheim properly, it was such a mess it was hard to look at.

The roads, twisted and hardened by heavy rain and wind, were so uneven it was a wonder the wheels could roll at all.

The buildings were packed tightly together, making it seem like neither sunlight nor wind could pass through.

“If a fire breaks out in one house, the whole street will burn down.”

They probably didn’t even have proper firefighting facilities—so why build things like this?

“Ugh, the smell.”

Clicking my tongue, I quickly covered my nose as a stench stabbed at it.

Wastewater was left unattended in every alley, filling the air with a foul odor.

Rats and insects were everywhere.

“That’s just asking for an epidemic.”

Come to think of it, most medieval cities were vulnerable to plagues.

The lord’s castle and its surroundings were well maintained, so I thought the city would be the same—but I was wrong.

“Well, they did say the lord’s castle is maintained with magic.”

Then why not manage the city with magic too?

Was it because the city was too large? Or because there weren’t enough skilled mages?

Then they should at least fix everything using other methods…

“Honestly, what am I even thinking about?”

I needed to be bad at my job and get fired—what was the point of thinking about this?

“This is why occupational habits are scary.”

Clicking my tongue, I boarded the blue-striped carriage that had just arrived.

At first, there were many passengers, but as time passed, more people got off, and by the time it reached the final stop, I was the only one left.

The other officials must have already gone to work.

By the time I passed through the lord’s castle, the clock was pointing at ten.

“Being an hour late on the first day… everyone must be furious, right?”

Just thinking about it made me happy. I hummed to myself as I headed toward the City Construction Department.

The department was located on the third floor of the annex, at the end of the eastern corridor.

“They said a brown door with a blue sign… ah, here it is.”

The blue sign clearly read “City Construction Department.”

But how could I read and write the script of this world?

“Perks of being transmigrated, I guess.”

Smiling brightly as I looked at the unfamiliar yet familiar letters, I opened the door.

“Hello!”

A hopeless rookie who showed up smiling without even realizing they were late on the first day.

Just imagining someone like that as a subordinate made one’s stomach boil.

“…What? Why is no one here?”

I had come in expecting the employees to react that way, but the office was completely empty.

“Did I come to the wrong place?”

I stepped outside and checked the sign again.

“It says City Construction Department.”

Then why was no one here?

Ah, had they already gone out to the field?

“That could be it.”

Everyone must be busy repairing the city damaged by the rainy season.

“In that case, I’ll just take a nap until they come back.”

I was already tired from waking up early for the first time in a while, so it worked out perfectly.

I stretched out on the soft sofa and closed my eyes.

“You’ve all been working overtime without even weekends, so tomorrow, come in by 11 a.m.”

Just before leaving work on Sunday, Toma Harens said this to the staff.

On the surface, it seemed like he was being considerate of his exhausted employees—but that wasn’t the case.

The employees, who knew very well that it was to mess with the new recruit starting tomorrow, grinned and agreed.

And so, Monday morning.

The faces of the City Construction Department staff, who came in two hours later than usual, were full of smiles.

“About the new recruit—what do you think they did when they came in and saw an empty office?”

“They probably panicked and maybe even cried. Might’ve run straight to the lord to complain.”

“Heh, our lord hates people who cry more than anything.”

“Right. I hope they got fired on the spot.”

Their snickering laughter echoed throughout the corridor.

They expected the new recruit to either not be in the office or to be completely at a loss.

“…What is that?”

Contrary to their expectations, the new recruit was sprawled out on the sofa, sleeping comfortably.

They were even snoring, and everyone stared in disbelief.

“Hey… how long has this kid been sleeping here?”

“No idea. They were already asleep when I got here ten minutes ago.”

“Hah, anyone would think this was their home.”

They had tried to mess with the recruit, but instead felt like they had been outdone, and all of them frowned in irritation.

“Let’s wake them up first.”

One employee stepped forward and shook the recruit’s shoulder as they snored.

“Mmm… five more minutes…”

At a time when they should have jumped up and apologized profusely, they were asking for more sleep.

The sheer absurdity left everyone speechless.

“What are you all gathered here for?”

Just then, the team leader, Toma Harens, who had arrived for work, asked.

The employees all pointed at the sofa where the recruit was lying.

“Team leader! Look over there! That newbie is hogging the sofa and sleeping!”

“We tried waking them, but they won’t get up! Can you believe this?”

“No matter if they’re the lord’s favored hire, this is going too far—!”

“Quiet, quiet.”

Toma Harens waved his hand, silencing the chattering employees.

Then he walked over to the sofa, grabbed the bottom of it, and flipped it over.

“—Aaagh!”

The recruit, who tumbled off the sofa, let out a short scream.

“Did you sleep well, rookie?”

“…Who?”

Still half-asleep, the recruit looked up at Toma Harens and asked.

“I’m Toma Harens, the team leader of the City Construction Department.”

“Ah, Team Leader!”

The recruit stood up with a bright smile and held out a hand toward him.

“My name is Aileen. I’ll be working at the City Construction Department starting today. Please take care of me!”

Good grief. At a time when even bowing deeply would not have been enough, they were offering a handshake first!

The employees were all shocked by the unprecedented boldness of the new recruit.

Toma Harens frowned so hard his beard trembled and pointed toward the door with a thick finger.

“We don’t need an employee like you. Get out immediately.”

Now they would understand the situation, right?

The employees expected the recruit to cry and beg for forgiveness.

“But instead—”

“Does that mean you’re firing me?”

The recruit beamed as if they had just been handed the world.