Chapter 6

When Tabin heard that I would be working at the Urban Planning Department, he was overjoyed and bought me new clothes and a new bag.

Even when I said I didn’t need them, he insisted on putting them in my hands, so I had no choice but to accept.

The villagers also gave me all sorts of gifts—shoes, a fountain pen, notebooks.

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

“…This is driving me crazy.”

I was grateful that they were so happy for me, as if it were their own achievement.

But more than that, it felt like a burden.

Because I had no intention of working hard.

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

The main quest only said to accept the lord’s proposal. It didn’t say I had to work diligently.

It didn’t say I had to keep working either.

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

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

Getting fired was the best option.

And after that, I needed to leave this place as soon as possible.

‘But what about Tabin and the villagers?’

I knew they would die if they stayed here.

It didn’t sit right with me to leave them behind.

But I couldn’t take the entire village and run away either.

“…I’ll think about that later.”

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

It only happened once every five years, and the next one was in two years.

Before then, I needed to find a way to escape Belheim—and if possible, take the villagers with me.

“First, I need to get fired.”

How could I make myself look incompetent?

While thinking about it, I passed through the castle gates.

Normally, there would be strict inspections, but I had an ID pass, so I went through easily.

“Let’s see… I was told to take the carriage with the blue stripe and get off at the last stop.”

Right then, a blue-striped carriage arrived at the station.

If I missed it, I would 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.

As I waited for the next carriage, I looked around leisurely.

The last time I came to the lord’s castle, I had been too distracted to properly see the city.

“…This place is a complete mess.”

Now that I looked properly, Belheim was in terrible condition.

The roads, hardened after being destroyed by heavy rain, were so uneven it was a miracle wheels could roll over them.

Buildings were packed tightly together, blocking both sunlight and airflow.

“If a fire breaks out, the whole street would burn down.”

There didn’t seem to be proper fire prevention systems either.

“Ugh, that smell.”

I quickly covered my nose at the foul stench.

Wastewater was left untreated in the alleys, causing a terrible odor.

Rats and insects were everywhere.

“This kind of environment is perfect for spreading disease.”

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

The lord’s castle and surrounding area were clean and well-maintained, so I assumed the whole city would be the same—but it wasn’t.

“Well, they said the castle is maintained with magic.”

Then why not use magic on the entire city?

Was it too large?

Or were there not enough skilled mages?

Then they should at least fix it by other means—

“…What am I even thinking?”

I needed to get fired, not fix the city.

“This is why professional habits are scary.”

Clicking my tongue, I boarded the next blue-striped carriage.

At first, it was crowded, but more and more people got off along the way.

By the time it reached the final stop, I was the only one left.

Well, everyone else had already gone to work.

When I passed the lord’s castle, the clock pointed to ten.

“Being an hour late on the first day… they must be furious.”

Just thinking about it made me happy.

Humming to myself, I headed to the Urban Planning Department.

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

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

The blue sign clearly read “Urban Planning Department.”

…Wait, how could I read and write this world’s language?

“Is this one of those transmigrator perks?”

I smiled and opened the door.

“Hello!”

A useless new recruit who shows up late on the first day, smiling as if nothing is wrong.

Just imagining someone like that as my subordinate would be infuriating.

“…What? Why is no one here?”

I had expected the staff to react badly—but the office was empty.

“Did I come to the wrong place?”

I stepped outside and checked the sign again.

“It says Urban Planning Department…”

Then why was no one here?

Ah, maybe they were already out on-site.

“That makes sense.”

They were probably busy repairing the city after the monsoon.

“Then I’ll just take a nap until they come back.”

I had woken up early for the first time in a while, so I was tired anyway.

Stretching out comfortably on the sofa, I closed my eyes.

***

“We’ve all been working overtime without rest, so tomorrow let’s come in at 11 a.m.”

On Sunday, just before leaving work, Toma Harens told the staff.

On the surface, it seemed like consideration for the exhausted employees.

But it wasn’t.

Everyone knew it was to mess with the new recruit starting the next day.

They all grinned and agreed.

And so, Monday morning—

The Urban Planning Department staff arrived two hours later than usual, all smiling.

“What do you think the new recruit did when they came in and found no one here?”

“They probably panicked and cried. Maybe they even ran to complain to the lord.”

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

“Yeah. Hope they got fired on the spot.”

Their laughter echoed through the hallway.

They expected the new recruit to be gone—or at least flustered and confused.

“…What is that?”

But instead—

The new recruit was sprawled on the sofa, sleeping peacefully.

She was even snoring.

They all stared at her in disbelief.

“How long has she been sleeping here?”

“No idea. She was already asleep when I got here ten minutes ago.”

“Hah, someone might think this is her house.”

Instead of pranking her, they felt like they had been outplayed.

Their expressions darkened.

“Let’s wake her up.”

One employee shook her shoulder.

“Mmm… five more minutes…”

She wanted to sleep more?

At a time when she should be apologizing on her knees?

They were speechless.

“What are you all gathered here for?”

Right then, the team leader, Toma Harens, arrived.

“Team leader! Look at this! The new recruit is sleeping on the sofa!”

“We woke her up, but she won’t get up! Can you believe this?”

“Even if she’s the lord’s favorite, this is too much—!”

“Quiet, quiet.”

Toma waved his hand, silencing them.

Then he walked over, grabbed the bottom of the sofa—

—and flipped it over.

“—Aah!”

The new recruit rolled off and screamed.

“Did you sleep well, rookie?”

“…Who?”

Still half-asleep, she looked up at him.

“I’m Toma Harens, the team leader of the Urban Planning Department.”

“Oh, you’re the team leader!”

She stood up with a bright smile and held out her hand.

“My name is Aileen. I’ll be working here starting today. Please take care of me!”

The employees were shocked.

She should have been bowing deeply—but instead, she offered a handshake first?

Toma frowned so hard his beard trembled, then pointed to the door.

“We don’t need someone like you. Get out.”

Now she should understand the situation.

They expected her to cry and beg.

But instead—

“…Does that mean you’re firing me?”

She smiled as if she had just won the world.