The Tyrant Empress is Obsessed with Me

23 – An Unexpected Identity

Swish!

He swung his arm.

The hand gripping the pickaxe was calloused. Once the hand was healed from the cracks, it was cracked again, and then healed to leave unsightly scars. It was the hand of a laborer.

The morning air cooled the sweat running on his forehead, but it was not always pleasant. It was evident that the scorching sun in the afternoon would heat the entire body like a furnace.

Still, Conrad had to keep striking down with the pickaxe.

As he continued to strike, he would forget the hardships of reality. He wouldn’t starve. However, one question remained in his mind.

‘How long do I have to do this?’

Conrad had been working as a laborer in the Blue Flame for over three years.

He was skillful in his work, and he was treated quite well.

But nevertheless, he was still just a laborer, unwelcome anywhere.

“Where should I move this stone to?”

“Uh, move it to that side of the lot.”

“The pickaxe keeps slipping from my hand; is there something wrong with how I hold it?”

“Uh, you’ll get used to it as you hold it.”

A newcomer joined.

His name was Kal.

Usually, the guys who get dragged into this kind of work have families to support or debts to pay off.

That’s why there was always a strangely gloomy atmosphere, but Kal was different.

Despite being a newcomer, he always tried to be the first at everything, without showing off any tricks. If there was something he didn’t know, he would come and ask for it to be taught first.

Conrad didn’t like him for that.

It was as if he was looking at his own past self.

No matter how hard you try, in the end, you only become a pessimistic old man like me.

“Do you enjoy this kind of work?”

“Well, it’s not so much fun as it is rewarding. The cold water after finishing the work is delicious.”

“That’s right. Enjoy it while it lasts.”

“Do you dislike this job, senior?”

“I …”

Ding, ding.

“Everyone gather up! It’s lunchtime!”

Conrad closed his mouth at the noisy bell sound.

“My mouth is watering.”

“What’s so good about the same food we eat every day?”

“No, it’s delicious every time. It gives me a new feeling with each meal.”

The two went to pick up their lunch.

Kal dipped the rationed bread into the stew. The rationed bread was so hard that it could hurt your teeth if eaten raw.

So, the normal way to eat it was to melt it in hot stew.

“Mmm. Today’s a lamb stew.”

Watching Kal enjoy the stew, Conrad felt a slight bitterness. There was a wicked desire to bring down Kal, who looked happy.

“Hey. Kal. You know what?”

“Yes?”

“We’re all going to become unemployed.”

“What do you mean?”

Kal looked puzzled.

Conrad smirked and replied.

“Well, there’s no way the buildings we build can surpass the Golden Hammer (guild). Although our guild master is desperately trying not to miss the cathedral construction, it’s a foregone conclusion.”

“Shouldn’t we wait and see whether it’ll be long or short?”

“He doesn’t know anything.”

Conrad looked at Karl with a frustrated expression.

“Do you know who is coming for the evaluation this time? If it were someone else, I wouldn’t be that worried.”

“Who is it?”

“Askal Debreu, the Silent Dragon of the Empire.”

Conrad pronounced each syllable with emphasis.

Even as a newcomer, Karl seemed to be shocked and at a loss for words upon hearing the name.

“The other administrators may be blind, but Askal Debreu is known to be fair and impartial when evaluating architecture. We have no chance to win against him.”

“You never know. Maybe Askal got lucky and is actually an incompetent person who knows nothing…”

“Stop!”

Conrad believed that Askal was the only honest administrator working for the citizens. He couldn’t tolerate any slander against him.

“Ha, you really don’t know how things work in this world. If Askal waved his hand just once, people like you and me would lose our heads.”

“I guess you’re right…”

As Karl quieted down with a thought, Conrad was satisfied. Now he must have realized what wrongdoing he had committed.

Shortly after, some laborers approached the two.

A man with a plump cheeks appeared to be the leader, and he greeted them politely.

“Ah, Conrad. And Newbie. Your bellies are full, but how about a dice game to quench your boredom?”

“That damn dice game is for you lowlifes.”

“Really? That’s too bad. How about you, Newbie? Karl, was it? Are you interested?”

“I am…”

At this moment, Conrad whispered in Karl’s ear.

“They are frauds. If you play with them, you’ll just get your money stolen. Just say no.”

As if he heard the whisper, the plump man spoke with a look of disbelief.

“Hey, Conrad. Don’t demonize people just because you lost some money. You were just unlucky. What do you think, Newbie? We have a seat for you now if you want to join.”

“Um, sounds fun.”

“Hey, Karl!”

Conrad looked at him with frustration. Those people were infamous tricksters in the laborers’ gambling world, manipulating dice and swindling money from unsuspecting victims.

Despite trying to stop him, Karl wouldn’t listen, and Conrad sighed. For some people, they needed to be burned to learn that it was hot.

“Good, good. This new guy has got spirit. Come over here.”

The man put his arm around Karl’s shoulder and disappeared into the gambling area. Conrad felt responsible and followed them. At the very least, monitoring them to prevent blatant cheating was his duty as a senior.

“1, 1, 1!”

“Is this even possible!? How can the best hand come out three times in a row? This is definitely a scam! Check the dice!”

“There’s nothing wrong with them? …What is this? Taebon, there’s something strange about your dice.”

“No, no, this is just…”

“You cheater!”

Result.

Kal plucked all the cheater’s earnings.

And the cheater was exposed and surrounded by the laborers, getting beaten up.

“Are you, by any chance, a professional?”

“No, it just came out when I tried.”

With a pale face, Conrad stared at the shiny silver coins in Kal’s hand. He was envious. With that money, he could eat and play for a month…

Kal approached Conrad again, his appetite restored.

He brought a handful of dishes: deer jerky, soft bread sprinkled with spices, fruits drizzled with honey.

“Let’s eat together.”

“Kal… are you a god?”

It was touching.

He felt sorry for treating Kal harshly until now. Conrad took a bite of jerky. Even though it was dried for a long time, it was quite tender after some processing. Above all, the meat’s flavor was no joke.

“It’s delicious… So tasty… I’m not usually a person to shed tears, but they’re coming out.”

“Indeed! This fruit with honey melts in your mouth!”

“?”

A natural white-bearded old dwarf was picking up some snacks.

“I saw that you seemed hungry, so I invited you to join us.”

“You’re really…”

What a friendly person.

From No ble mt L dot c om

Conrad swallowed his words.

This messy newcomer would be in trouble without him. It seemed like he was looking at a duckling left by the water’s edge.

‘I have to take responsibility for this guy… Helping him stand on his own as a laborer.’

Conrad clenched his fist and made up his mind.

Even if this construction project fails and he becomes unemployed, he must take responsibility for this guy and take him with him.

“Finally, that day has come. Lovenharf.”

“Ha. I can see your legs trembling from the tension already, Seventh Uncle?”

“You’re the one who’s funny. I can see your shoulders trembling.”

“It’s because it’s cold. It’s cold. That’s why.”

The appointed time had come.

The two guild masters of the Golden Hammer and the Blue Flame had started to keep each other in check from the very beginning.

A battle of pride between the two short dwarves.

It was a fierce encounter where no one could budge in the slightest.

“Right. So you completed the grain storehouse, huh? Do you think you can outdo a cathedral construction with such a small and cute grain storehouse, Seventh Uncle?”

“It’s a modern design. That’s why. Size isn’t all that important. Did you live your entire life as a master for nothing?”

“Ha! Have you seen our newly built village hall? We used marble, you know. Marble.”

“That thing where you just splurged money for nothing?”

The two had studied under the same master.

Having competed with each other since childhood, they were famous for their rivalry even after separating.

The dwarves who showered each other with slander suddenly became silent.

They sensed something.

“It’s about time for that Ascal Debreu to arrive.”

“You mean that Ascal Debreu who has the perfect eye to accurately assess things without a single inch of error?”

“Honestly, I’m nervous.”

On this matter, the two agreed.

There’s nothing more burdensome than waiting for someone who has the authority to decide their fate.

“Finally, we can see Ascal Debreu’s face. Where did he go? Carl? Was he off taking a crap?”

Conrad looked for Carl, but he hadn’t seen him for a while. He could be seen until even this morning.

‘He must have some urgent business somewhere.’

Anyway, it was an opportunity to see that famous evaluator chief, Ascal.

A carriage could be seen approaching from afar.

‘That’s the empire’s carriage…’

It was a luxurious carriage at first glance.

And then.

Someone began to descend from the carriage.

Whispers and murmurs.

Conrad, who had barely made his way through the crowd and entered, stopped when he saw the person who had stepped down from the carriage.

“…Kal?”

Aescal Debvre.

He had been the man who had worked alongside Conrad, digging with shovels just this morning.