A sense of discomfort settled in Ascal.

 

In his office, leaning on his desk, Ascal felt as though he’d forgotten something. It wasn’t gravely important, yet it wasn’t trivial either. It felt like he’d forgotten something poised at a delicate midpoint…

 

“I’ve come for your approval, Director Ascal.”

 

At that moment, someone entered his office.

 

It was Devon.

 

Having seen the report Devon brought, which was impeccable, Ascal promptly stamped it.

 

Indeed, Devon was a man Ascal had acknowledged.

 

However, there was something slightly unsettling.

 

Ever since successfully negotiating with Count Luderun, Devon seemed oddly humble toward him. One would think he’d be more arrogant after such a feat.

 

‘Indeed. A rice grows riper, the lower it bows its head,’ Ascal mused.

 

Devon must have realized something during that time.

 

Satisfied with this realization, Ascal’s respect for Devon grew more and more.

 

But what Ascal didn’t know was...

 

‘Lost in thought… what schemes are you cooking up now, Director Ascal? I fear you too much.’

 

Devon’s regard for Ascal was also growing endlessly.

 

 

In the afternoon, the item Ascal had forgotten returned in an unexpected manner.

 

“Came out the man named Ascal!”

 

“Hey! You can’t just barge in like that!”

 

​A dwarf, with a nose as red as a beet, was causing a ruckus in the office. In his hand, he brandished a weapon.

 

No matter how fiercely the guards rushed in, he broke through them effortlessly. It was like watching a top-performing football player who likely earns over 10 billion won in salary.

 

Ascal watched, secretly admiring the dwarf’s breakthrough abilities.

 

“Ascal, Ascal Debrue! Come out at once!”

 

But this dwarf…

 

He was shouting Ascal’s name. With an intensity as if summoning an archenemy.

 

“Director Ascal, flee! I’ll handle this. Please live on and make our Evaluation Department great.”

 

An employee from the department 4th stood in front of Ascal, blocking the path with a determined resolve.

 

“Wait. Step aside.”

 

“Ah, Director Ascal?”

 

Looking at the department 4th employee who kept calling out his name, Ascal had an expression of disbelief.

 

‘Does he want to give away my lost possession?’

 

Nevertheless, the reason Ascal stepped forward was that the weapon in the dwarf’s hand looked eerily familiar.

 

Its curved silhouette, reminiscent of a pastoral ambiance, was both familiar and rustic.

 

It was a hoe.

 

The very one he had lost at Viscount Yorick’s territory not long ago.

 

Realizing what he had lost and forgotten made Ascal feel refreshed. It felt like a piece of meat, stuck between his teeth all day, had finally been dislodged.

 

“Come out! Ascal!”

 

The dwarf kept screaming.

 

His voice sounded like someone who just narrowly missed out on a subsidy application.

 

Ascal stared intently at the dwarf.

 

According to the Imperial Encyclopedia, the dwarf race was known to be stubborn. It was an absolute fact. It was not racial prejudice at all.

 

In other words, this commotion wouldn’t end until he found him. Otherwise, the entire Imperial Guard might swarm in.

 

“I am Ascal.”

 

Ascal stepped forward confidently.

 

“Di-Director?”

 

The employees, who had been desperately trying to block the dwarf, were taken aback. However, to Ascal, the dwarf didn’t appear dangerous at all.

 

Every now and then, the dwarf would look at the hoe he held with fondness in his eyes.

 

“Oh!!!! I finally get to see it!!!!!”

 

The dwarf approached with large strides.

 

And just as he was about to say something, Ascal interjected.

 

“I’m not selling the hoe.”

 

“Why?????”

 

The dwarf’s face fell in an instant.

 

 

There was a slight misunderstanding, but he was a valuable guest from afar.

 

Ascal guided the dwarf to a guest seat in his office.

 

“We have coffee and tea. What would you like?”

 

“Hot coffee, of course. Straight, no sugar.”

 

The dwarf downed the steaming strong coffee. Making a face as he did. 

 

Was his throat made of steel?

 

“Ah, this is the taste. It wakes the brain right up.”

 

After enjoying his coffee, the dwarf introduced himself.

 

“I come from Stonehead in the north. You can call me Dugrim.”

 

“I’m Ascal Debrue, the Director of the Imperial Evaluation Department. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Dugrim.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

Dugrim, rummaging in his backpack like a mountain climber, placed a dagger wrapped in a sheath on the table.

 

“Take a look.”

 

“Well, a bribe on our first meeting might be a bit...”

 

But Dugrim spoke with an incredulous tone.

 

“In the dwarf culture, we have a custom of showing our belongings to one another during our first meeting. It’s not a bribe.”

 

“My apologies.”

 

Ascal felt remorse. Lately, he had encountered so many unusual characters that his sense of what was normal had shifted.

 

“Take a look.”

 

Ascal examined the dagger Dugrim had handed him. To him, it looked like just any other dagger.

 

“Hmm... it’s a dagger.”

 

“I suppose it doesn’t catch your eye. You’ve seen many, haven’t you? Now, show me something of yours.”

 

But he had nothing special to show. The hoe was with the dwarf.

 

In his quandary, Ascal fetched a sword hanging on his office wall. It was a famous blade gifted to him by the emperor.

 

Dugrim’s eyes changed upon seeing the sword.

 

“May I take a closer look?”

 

“Please, feel free.”

 

Holding the sword, Dugrim first checked its weight and balance like a true craftsman. Then, he ran his fingers along the blade.

 

“You have used very high-quality steel. It’s rare to find something this exquisite outside of the Imperial Palace.”

 

Recognizing the imperial blade with just a glance, Dugrim truly had a sharp eye, fitting for a dwarf.

 

“The hilt is quite nice too. The details are impressive, and the leatherwork is exceptional. Such craftsmanship indeed matches the quality of my dagger.”

 

The dwarf handed the sword back to Ascal.

 

“I’m impressed. For someone your age to possess such a piece, the future must seem daunting. I’m actually a bit envious.”

 

“Um... there seems to be a misunderstanding.”

 

“Misunderstanding?”

 

“It’s not a sword I made.”

 

“You little...”

 

For the first time in his life, Ascal saw a dwarf spewing expletives.

 

 

​It took Ascal nearly half an hour to calm the dwarf, whose face had turned as red as a volcano.

 

“I admit my words might have been somewhat misleading.”

 

“I’m relieved the misunderstanding is resolved. How did you come to possess that hoe?”

 

True to his dwarf nature, which favored straightforwardness, Dugrim replied immediately.

 

“I was visiting the territory of an old friend of mine, Yorick, and while I was there, I thought I’d help with some farming. I found this while working in the fields. Seemed like something used for digging, so I gave it a try. And would you believe it? I felt this was clearly revolutionary.”

 

Watching Dugrim admire the tool as if he were a home shopping network host, Ascal felt a swell of pride. It reminded him of the emotion he felt when a foreigner praised bibimbap.

 

“So, let me ask again. Would you consider selling that hoe to me? Of course, I’m not asking for it for free.”

 

With that, Dugrim upended a backpack, almost as tall as his upper body, spilling out numerous iron-made items onto the desk.

 

“These are all handcrafted items I’ve made. Each one holds significant value, I assure you. How about trading all these for the hoe?”

 

“Um...”

 

To anyone, it seemed like a profitable trade. Exchanging just one hoe for all of these crafts made by a dwarf himself.

 

However, Ascal felt a strange unease.

 

‘Why do I feel this way? It’s as if someone is pouring out all their cards just to exchange for one rare card...’

 

Just then, someone appeared from behind. Ascal barely held back a startled jump.

 

“May I have a word?”

 

It was Lia.

 

Before he realized, she had finished her errand and entered the office.

 

“Who’s this lady?”

 

“This is Lia, my secretary. You’ll be speaking with her from now on.”

 

‘Now on, you’ll be speaking with my lawyer from.’

 

The reason Ascal readily relinquished his seat was because he completely trusted Lia’s abilities.

 

Since becoming his official secretary, Lia had become more proactive.

 

“To clarify, Mr. Dugrim, you’re interested not merely in the ‘hoe’ but in ‘this hoe and the exclusive rights to its development’, correct?”

 

‘...!’

 

Ascal was taken aback.

 

He hadn’t imagined the deal had such implications hidden within.

 

In his defense, it wasn’t hard to catch, but he hadn’t expected a dwarf — known to be hasty but honest and warm-hearted — to have such an ulterior motive.

 

“You have a wise secretary there. You’re right. What I want is not just the hoe, but its exclusive rights as well.”

 

Dugrim discreetly hid the contract he had brought with him.

 

“And you value this hoe quite highly, don’t you, Mr. Dugrim?”

 

“I can’t deny it.”

 

Dwarves couldn’t lie. More accurately, they dislike it. They might omit details, but they won’t lie if directly questioned.

 

Lia actively used this to her advantage.

 

“Director, you seem reluctant to sell the hoe. May I ask why?”

 

Ascal pondered.

 

The reason wasn’t clear.

 

If he had to put it into words, it might be the anxiety of predicting the snowball effect once the hoe — an object from another world — was released to the public.

 

“Lia, do you think selling this hoe is beneficial for us?”

 

“I believe so.”

 

“Then I leave this deal in your hands.”

 

With that, Ascal left the office.

 

‘Hmm, was that cool of me?’

 

In truth, he had always intended to sell the hoe at some point. The initial plan was after he would left the Evolution Department, but advancing the timeline a bit wouldn’t hurt.

 

Plus, showing that he trusts Lia was a bonus.

 

By the time he returned from a brief pipe smoke outside, the negotiation had already concluded.

 

Lia remained expressionless, while Dugrim, with a hardened face as if he had been dealt a heavy blow by her, stamped the contract.

 

“You truly have... a terrifying secretary,” he remarked.

 

Glancing over the contract, it appeared grossly one-sided.

 

'What have you done, Lia?'

 

 

“Director-nim! The ‘hoe’ is becoming trendy among the youngsters lately!”

 

“...Why?”

 

“Something about eco-friendly green lifestyles, I don’t know. I’ve got one myself! Could you sign it for me?”

 

Sushia held out the hoe she had personally acquired. Its handle was pink.

 

Seeing it wasn’t a big deal, he signed it.

 

“Yay! I’m going to show off to my friends! Thank you, Director-nim!”

 

After returning from a vacation in the Kalii Kingdom, Sushia, slipping back into her usual lazy demeanor, donned her hat and left for the day.

 

Trends were frightening.

 

Everyone seemed to bring their hoe for a signature.

 

After signing a few, Ascal, finding it tedious, began to avoid everyone in sight.

 

But the last person was unexpected.

 

“Director-nim, could you... sign mine too?”

 

Lia approached hesitantly, presenting her hoe.

 

‘Really?’

 

‘You too?’

 

“Of course.”

 

For anyone else, he might have declined, but granting Lia’s request was always advantageous. He signed hers with more care than the others.

 

“Thank you.”

 

Lia, for some inexplicable reason, seemed pleased as she took her signed hoe and hurriedly left.

 

It was an odd day.