I’m a Rookie, but I’m an Experienced Professional - Chapter 32

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 32

 

There wasn’t anyone within the Monola Empire who didn’t know how extreme Belheim’s weather was.

 

The summer rainy season was particularly notorious, but the autumn rains were no less formidable.

 

Moreover, not long after the autumn rains ended, fierce cold waves would strike immediately, so the residents’ wails never ceased.

 

“Did you hear that news? This time Belheim had no damage from the autumn rains!”

 

“Is that really true?”

 

But this time they had gotten through safely, so the entire empire began to stir.

 

“How did Belheim manage to stop the autumn rains?”

 

This news also reached the ears of Marquis Howell Smith, head of the Smith family that wielded the greatest influence in the eastern part of the Monola Empire.

 

“They say they built something called drainage channels.”

 

The loyal butler of the Smith marquis house answered.

 

“Drainage channels? What’s that? Some new magical tool?”

 

“No. They’re passages that prevent rainwater from pooling in the city and let it flow out.”

 

Unable to grasp what it was just from the description, Howell frowned.

 

‘Still, if it stopped the autumn rains, it must be quite an amazing thing.’

 

Howell Smith thought of Nuviar along with his desire to see what these drainage channels were.

 

In Nuviar, the Smith marquis territory and the largest city in the east, there was the ‘Raed River’ called the goddess’s lifeline.

 

The Raed River that crossed through the city center was the residents’ drinking water and transportation route, and also the foundation of agriculture.

 

At the same time, it was a troublesome thing that flooded once every two years.

 

Each time the river overflowed, countless people died and were injured, and property damage was enormous.

 

There were also residents who suffered from hunger because all the crops they had worked hard to grow throughout the year were swept away.

 

They had tried all sorts of measures to prevent the river from overflowing, such as building higher embankments, but nothing worked.

 

Magic was at least effective, but it cost enormous amounts.

 

Since they had to collect that much more in taxes, causing widespread complaints, they couldn’t use that method every time either.

 

‘If rainwater can flow out, couldn’t river water work too?’

 

When his thoughts reached that point, Howell Smith’s eyes flashed sharply.

 

“Look into those drainage channels in more detail.”

 

* * *

 

Pretending to be incompetent and getting fired had failed, and using the wish voucher to quit had also failed.

 

Moreover, I later learned that residents couldn’t leave the city at will.

 

Before being people, they were the lord’s property.

 

The reason they spent expensive money to take photos and keep records as soon as someone became an adult was also because of this.

 

To go to another territory, you had to buy migration rights, but the problem was that the younger you were, the more ridiculously expensive the price became.

 

I, who had just become an adult, was five hundred gold, while Tabin in his forties was two hundred gold.

 

When a commoner family of four’s monthly living expenses were barely over three gold, they were asking for five hundred gold.

 

‘They’re basically telling you not to even think about leaving.’

 

I didn’t know who made this law, but it was truly wicked beyond measure.

 

‘With my current salary, even if I saved every penny without spending anything, it would take roughly four years.’

 

If I bought Tabin’s too, that was an additional two years, and calculating the cost of settling in another territory, I’d need to save for at least eight years.

 

‘I can’t wait that long.’

 

Because Callix Crowbell’s departure for monster extermination was three years away.

 

I had to earn money and buy migration rights before then, no matter what.

 

And quit the City Planning Department too.

 

“How should I make money?”

 

I was thinking deeply while leaving work when some man blocked my path.

 

“Are you Miss Eileen?”

 

“Who are you?”

 

When I asked warily, the man pulled out an ID from his jacket.

 

The ID read [Administrator, Henric Vairon].

 

“I’m Henric Vairon, the administrator in charge of Area 2. I have something urgent I’d like to discuss with you regarding issues within the district.”

 

“If you want to request construction or repairs within the district, please submit the paperwork. For urgent matters, you can speak to the team leader.”

 

I drew a line, worried I might get unnecessarily involved and cause trouble.

 

This was also the proper procedure.

 

Then Henric Vairon frowned in displeasure.

 

“I heard you’re the person in charge of the drainage channels, isn’t that right?”

 

“That’s correct, but…”

 

“Build drainage channels in Area 2 as well. And install new triangular roofs too.”

 

Once it was proven that triangular roofs and drainage channels were effective in reducing flood damage, Callix Crowbell ordered them to be installed throughout all districts of Belheim.

 

However, in winter the ground froze making drainage channel construction impossible, and triangular roof installation was also difficult due to the severe cold.

 

So for now we were just preparing, planning to start work immediately once the weather warmed up.

 

Even working from spring, it would be impossible to install drainage channels throughout the entire city before the summer rainy season came.

 

‘That’s why we decided to prioritize areas with severe flood damage first.’

 

As a result, Districts 1, 2, and 3, which were protected by magic, were naturally excluded.

 

But now the Area 2 administrator had suddenly come asking for triangular roofs and drainage channels, which was bewildering.

 

“Of course, I’m not asking you to do it for free.”

 

When I stared at him silently, Henric Vairon pulled out a thick leather pouch.

 

“If you grant my request, I’ll give you one hundred gold. Of course, this is an advance payment, and I’ll give you an additional hundred gold when construction is finished.”

 

Two hundred gold would be enough to buy Tabin’s migration rights!

 

It was tempting, but it smelled just as fishy.

 

If it were truly legitimate business, there would be no reason to secretly seek me out and even press money into my hands while making the request.

 

‘Could it be that Toma Harens installing triangular roofs in Areas 2 and 3 first was also because of this?’

 

Seeing how he had taken bribes from Oak Heart Workshop, it was certainly possible.

 

“I’ll come find you again tomorrow, so think it over carefully. This is payment for listening to what I had to say.”

 

Henric Vairon pressed one gold into my hand and disappeared with quick steps.

 

“Ah, really. How unpleasant.”

 

I was worried about being misunderstood as taking bribes if I kept the money, but it seemed wasteful to throw it away.

 

While pondering what to do, I spotted a relief box and put the money in there.

 

* * *

 

The next morning, on my way to work.

 

“Build drainage channels in our Area 3. If you install triangular roofs as well, I’ll give you two hundred gold.”

 

The Area 3 administrator who had come all the way to Hunters’ Village at an early hour made the same proposal as Henry Vairon, as if they had made an agreement.

 

‘They’re protected by magic so they have no flood damage at all, so why do they want triangular roofs and drainage channels so badly?’

 

Until now I hadn’t been very interested in their circumstances, but at this point I was genuinely curious.

 

“Ah, that’s because it costs a lot of money to protect with magic.”

 

The answer to my question unexpectedly came from Anton Brown’s mouth.

 

When I arrived at the office and mentioned that Areas 2 and 3 seemed to want triangular roofs and drainage channels, he rattled off everything he knew.

 

“To stop the rainy season with magic costs at least two thousand gold, up to as much as five thousand gold. Since district taxes go up by that much, they’re looking for ways to reduce it.”

 

“Does it really cost that much money?”

 

“It costs a lot. Arcana is expensive, but the price of mages who can cast protective magic is incredibly high. It’s even rising every year.”

 

Wow, it’s getting even more expensive here.

 

Only then did I understand why Areas 2 and 3 were looking for alternatives to protective magic.

 

“Did the administrators from Areas 2 and 3 come looking for you?”

 

Anton Brown looked around cautiously, then asked in a voice small enough for only me to hear.

 

When I nodded, he clicked his tongue.

 

“I told them not to do that, but they ended up seeking you out anyway. Just in case, I’m telling you it would be better to refuse their proposals.”

 

Anton Brown’s expression became much more serious.

 

“Remember what happened to Toma Harens? He took bribes, got fired from the City Planning Department, and was kicked out of Belheim. That could happen to me too.”

 

That sounds a bit appealing though.

 

I’d been wanting to leave Belheim anyway, so if they kicked me out of the territory for free, I’d be grateful.

 

“What? Why do you look happy about that?”

 

“Ahem, who says I’m happy about it?”

 

Hit right on the mark, I cleared my throat and turned my head away.

 

Just then, the Lord’s servant came to the City Planning Department office.

 

“Miss Eileen, the Lord wishes to see you.”

 

Oh, again.

 

This was already the fifth time this week.

 

I thought I wouldn’t see his face often since I didn’t become his aide, so why does he keep calling for me?

 

“What does he want to see me about?”

 

“Well, I don’t know the details myself… but the Lord didn’t look very pleased.”

 

The servant gave me sincere advice, saying I should be careful.

 

He’s not going to hold a sword to my throat again, is he?

 

The scar that now only left faint traces seemed to sting, so I covered that area with my hand.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————