INBE 08

Chapter 08

The desk that had been brought with difficulty—with even Noah Roheim’s help—was placed in the corner of the office.

A spot facing the wall, with my back to the other employees.

It felt like they were drawing a clear line, saying you can never fit in with us.

I had no intention of fitting in anyway, but this still felt a bit unpleasant.

On top of that, there wasn’t even a single writing tool on the desk—only one book titled “About the Monola Empire” was left there by itself.

‘So this is what they call being assigned to exile.’

Hearing about it and experiencing it firsthand felt strangely different.

To be treated like this on the very first day of work—an ordinary person would probably have buried their head in the desk and cried.

But not me. I wasn’t planning to stay long anyway, so being isolated like this actually made things easier.

I had been curious about what kind of place I was living in, and they even kindly brought me a book.

“Hm-hmm, hmm—.”

Sitting at the desk, I hummed to myself as I opened the book.

The employees stared at me like I was insane, but I didn’t care.

Oh, so the continent I’m on is called the Aska Continent.

I thought a history book would be stiff and boring, but it was surprisingly interesting.

While I was deeply engrossed in reading, a woman walked in carrying a tray filled with appetizing sandwiches and drinks.

Just then, the clock showed 12:30.

Ah, so this is lunch!

“Let’s eat!”

After the woman set down the tray and left, the man who had told me to bring the desk and chair spoke to the other employees.

Everyone picked up a sandwich and a drink.

I went to get one as well, but the man waved his hand dismissively, as if shooing away a fly.

“There’s none for you.”

What kind of nonsense is that?

“Excuse me, but there are two sandwiches and drinks left?”

“One is mine, and one is the team leader’s. If you want to eat, go down to the first floor and get it yourself.”

Wow, now they’re discriminating over food too?

I stared at him in disbelief, but the man didn’t care and took the remaining sandwich and drink.

The other employees snickered as they looked at me.

They’re really determined to mess with me.

If they don’t like me, they could just fire me—why go through all this trouble?

Clicking my tongue, I left the office.

“Excuse me!”

Just then, I spotted the woman who had delivered lunch to another office.

“I didn’t receive my lunch—do you happen to have any sandwiches left?”

The woman tilted her head.

“You didn’t receive lunch? That shouldn’t be possible—I distributed according to the number of people….”

“I started work today, so I think my portion might have been left out.”

“I know. You’re Miss Aileen, who started working in the Urban Development Department today, right?”

Oh? She knows who I am.

“I brought exactly thirteen portions, including Miss Aileen’s.”

“…By any chance, did today’s lunch include the team leader’s portion?”

“No. The team leader said he would be eating outside today.”

I had a feeling—and as expected, that sandwich was mine.

Of all things, messing with someone over food. That’s the kind of person I absolutely hate.

“Here, take this sandwich and drink.”

“Ah, thank you.”

The woman looked at me with pity before leaving.

“Ha… the more I think about it, the more it pisses me off.”

They say you shouldn’t even disturb a dog when it’s eating, and yet they’re being this petty over food.

“I won’t just sit still either.”

I was already trying my best to get fired anyway—what was there to hold back?

Determined to deal with that skeleton-faced guy first, I gulped down the drink.

“It seems the employees of the Urban Development Department are displeased with Miss Aileen and are giving her a hard time.”

At the end of his report, Noah Roheim brought up Aileen.

Kalix, who had been flipping through documents, stopped his hand.

He had been listening indifferently, but his gaze changed when he heard that Aileen said she would “handle it herself.”

“She’s got guts.”

With that brief remark, Kalix returned to reading the documents.

“Miss Aileen said she’s fine, but I’m still concerned.”

Noah Roheim, who had expected him to take immediate action, added awkwardly.

“She’s from a commoner background, so no matter how well she does, they won’t easily acknowledge her. Perhaps you could at least speak to the team leader of the Urban Development Department—”

“That’s enough. She said she’d handle it herself, so she will.”

His tone made it sound like he didn’t care at all what happened to Aileen, leaving Noah Roheim even more confused.

Since he personally placed her in the department, Noah thought he favored her—but perhaps not?

“Still, keep watching.”

Kalix handed over the signed documents as he continued.

“I need to see how far that woman can go.”

To plan an effective revenge, I first needed to know what kind of person he was, so I looked into that man.

His name was Allen Cranter.

He was 28 years old—a typical coward who was weak to the strong and strong to the weak.

How should I mess with someone like this? I want to get proper revenge.

“Excuse me.”

“O-Oh, welcome! Miss Rianne!”

As I was deep in thought, a perfect target appeared.

It was my third day in the Urban Development Department.

When a blonde woman entered, Allen Cranter greeted her enthusiastically.

“I think there’s an issue with the document I submitted last time. I came to see the team leader—is he in?”

“Ah, he stepped out for a moment, but he’ll be back soon. Please sit here and wait.”

“Then excuse me.”

As Rianne sat on the sofa, Allen Cranter brought her water and snacks, showing excessive kindness as he asked if she needed anything else.

Oh? What’s this—he must like her.

This is a perfect chance for revenge.

As I approached with a grin, Allen Cranter flinched and took a step back.

“Do you have business with me?”

For a moment, he put on a gentle smile and asked politely—unlike his usual self.

“I have something I’m curious about. About what happened at lunch two days ago.”

As if guilty, Allen Cranter’s eyes began to waver.

“Ahem, I’m currently speaking with Miss Rianne, so we can talk about that later—”

“It’ll only take a moment. That’s fine, right?”

I looked at Miss Rianne instead of Allen Cranter as I asked. Not knowing anything, she nodded.

“I came to see the team leader, so don’t mind me.”

“Then I’d like to hear why you took my lunch two days ago while even lying that it was the team leader’s.”

“Who said I lied?!”

Startled, Allen Cranter raised his voice, and Miss Rianne’s eyes widened.

“I mean… it wasn’t a lie. It was the truth.”

“Really? Because the person who brought the sandwiches told me that day the team leader was eating outside, so his portion wasn’t included.”

When I countered, Allen Cranter was left speechless, his mouth opening and closing.

Meanwhile, the way he kept glancing at Miss Rianne was almost funny.

“It seems Allen made a mistake because he didn’t know the team leader’s schedule. As a newcomer, you should understand.”

A bearded man sitting next to Allen suddenly stepped in to defend him.

“That’s right! It was a mistake! I didn’t know the team leader had gone out!”

Allen Cranter spoke passionately, practically spitting as he insisted that if he had known, he wouldn’t have done it.

Did they think I’d just back off like this?

“Then—”

“Why is it so noisy here?”

Just as I was about to press further, the team leader, Toma Harens, returned.

“Team leader! Miss Rianne from the General Affairs Department is here!”

Allen Cranter immediately rushed over to him. Miss Rianne, who had been watching the situation, also quickly went to the team leader.

Tsk, if he had come just a little later, I could’ve made Allen Cranter break out in a cold sweat.

What a shame.

As I clicked my tongue in disappointment, I met the eyes of the employees who had been secretly watching me.

Before, whenever our eyes met, they would glare as if asking what I was looking at—but now, they flinched and quickly turned their heads away.

Well, the ending was a bit unsatisfying, but it seems I properly made it known that I’m a crazy woman.

‘They won’t pull such childish stunts anymore, right?’

It would be even better if they started whining that they couldn’t work with me.

If not others, at least Allen Cranter seemed likely to react just the way I wanted.

So when our eyes met again, I smiled more brightly than ever before.

“……”

Allen Cranter, as if he had seen a ghost, recoiled in horror and hurried back to his seat.