第１１５９堀：彼女たちの第一歩 (Part1)
Chapter 1159: Their First Step
Side: Tori
"So, could you teach these girls the ropes?"
"Oh, uh, yes. Of course. Right, Riel?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Leave it to me. Come on, you three, over here."
"Then, I’ll leave it to you."
Ignoring my stunned silence, Yuki-san handed them over to us in the blink of an eye and promptly headed back to the hospital.
I mean, I had heard beforehand that he was going to see Asu-san, but everyone was absolutely certain he wouldn't actually choose any slaves, so I was genuinely shocked.
Oops, I can’t just leave it all to Riel. I need to participate in their training properly, too.
"Once again, nice to meet you. I’m Riel, a special duty officer for the Weed Police."
"Y-yes. Nice to meet you. My name is Yayui."
"I-I am Hovis."
"I am Orelia."
Despite their nerves, the three slaves responded properly to Riel’s introduction.
"Wait? Tori, where’s Yuki-san?"
"He already left. Said he was going to the hospital."
"Ah, that sounds like Yuki-san. Anyway, everyone, this is Tori. She’s the Deputy Chief of the Weed Police."
"Yes, nice to meet you. I’m Tori. In Weed, the administration that maintains public order is called the 'Police.' In other countries, you might know them as the Knights or the Patrol Guard."
I started with a simple explanation of the police along with my introduction. After all, with slaves, you never know how much they already know.
The three of them turned toward me and began their polite greetings, just as they had with Riel.
"Nice to meet you. My name is Yayui."
Yayui, as she called herself, had brown hair reaching her shoulders, distinctively flipped outward at the ends. Her physique was about the same as mine, I’d say.
"I am Hovis."
Next, Hovis introduced herself with a gentle, laid-back air. Her brown hair reached her waist and was tied at the ends. As for her figure, she was a bit more well-endowed in the chest than I am—maybe a little smaller than Milly’s?
"I am Orelia."
The last woman, Orelia, seemed to have been well-trained in etiquette; she gracefully pinched the skirt of her slave uniform and bowed. Her hair was blonde, styled in what you might call a diagonal blunt cut? Like a Japanese doll’s bangs, but cut at an angle. Her long hair in the back, reaching down to her hips, was trimmed the same way.
...Wow, that looks like a nightmare to maintain. Her figure was average.
Overall, in terms of physique, it went Yayui < Orelia < Hovis.
Yeah, that’s an old-man way of thinking, I should stop that.
"Alright. You’ve finished introductions with Tori, but how much have you heard from Yuki-san?"
"Ah, right. We need to clarify that."
He asked us to teach them various things, but becoming Yuki-san’s right hand is no small feat. If they’re harboring any naive notions, they’d be happier working a standard job. More importantly, it’s unacceptable for their lack of discipline to increase Yuki-san’s burden.
That’s why I need to hear clearly what their purpose was in becoming Yuki-san’s slaves.
I don’t need mere pets. Well, if Yuki-san wants them, that’s fine, but then I won’t let them get involved in his work. They’d just be in the way.
Actually, the idea of Yuki-san buying women just to be pets is impossible anyway.
"Let me ask again. Is it correct that you were bought to help with Yuki-san’s work?"
"Y-yes. Guia-sama told us that Yuki-sama was looking for someone to be his right hand, and that he would introduce us as the most capable among the slaves at the merchant company."
"As Yayui said. So, we thought that perhaps one of us would be chosen..."
"But for some reason, Yuki-sama took all of us in. He said if it didn't work out, it didn't work out. He told us, 'First, show them how, tell them how, let them do it...'"
" "Ah." "
That’s the mantra Yuki-san often uses to keep himself from getting arrogant and to ensure he never forgets his roots. Managing people is a test of patience, and if they’re useless, it’s because you didn't manage them well—that’s what he always says.
It’s the job of those in charge to put the right person in the right place, and if that’s not happening, it’s because you don’t understand your people or haven’t taught them properly.
I suppose he intends to try raising these girls first, and then go from there.
"Well, it’s only natural they wouldn't be ready to work or be useful immediately."
"Exactly. That’s why he entrusted them to us."
It makes sense. Yuki-san asking for basic training means he wants to see how well they grasp the reality of Weed and to hammer in whatever they’re lacking.
As the former head of the vocational training center, that’s my job.
"Um, so what exactly should we do..."
"Oh, sorry. Can we assume you’ve received a certain level of education at Guia-san’s place?"
"Yes. Ever since Guia-san brought us to Weed, it has been constant study."
Hovis-san answered. That sounds like Guia-san. Since he was going to sell them in Weed, he’d drill that kind of common knowledge into them so they could work as immediate assets in shops. If they lacked that general education, they’d have to work while studying at the vocational center, which is a bit of a hassle for a slave.
"That means you’ve earned your certifications, right?"
"Yes. Here, Tori-sama."
As I said that, Orelia immediately produced a card from her pocket. It was a Weed resident card, which also serves as a skill certificate. Yayui-san and Hovis-san followed suit, and when I checked them...
"Whoa. You’re already at the Upper School level."
"That’s amazing. The studies at the Upper School are supposed to be quite difficult."
In Weed, skill certifications range from basic literacy to the highest academic levels, proving what level of skill you possess—from elementary school to university level in Earth terms. If they’re at the Upper School level, it means these three already possess knowledge equivalent to high school students...
"Yes. Guia-san told us that if we earned them, we could get good jobs, so we worked hard."
"I was told that in Weed, even a slave can live without hardship if they study properly."
"I was originally the daughter of a merchant family. Due to circumstances, I ended up in this position, but I know the value of learning, so I mastered it. I cannot thank the people of Weed enough for creating such an environment. I was given this opportunity when, under normal circumstances, I would have been sold off as a mere mistress."