第１１６０堀：なぜ彼女たちを？ (Part2)
"Ria, that’s hardly comforting, you know. I’m with Samantha on this one. Diplomacy truly requires a refined sense for the craft. While basic knowledge can be imparted through skills to a certain extent, one’s innate disposition—that intangible 'sense'—is absolutely indispensable."
The contingent from the If Continent seemed to agree that, while "talent" might be a strong word, personality and character were the deciding factors. It was only natural to conclude that a gregarious, approachable person would make a far better diplomat than someone prone to social anxiety.
And then, there was the rest of the matter.
"What do you all think, Kagura?"
"Well, I suppose I’m of the same mind as Samantha and the others. It’s not that someone shy couldn't do it, but..."
"Exactly. You really want someone with a pleasant demeanor, don't you?"
"Precisely. Besides, they’re commoners, aren't they? They don't have titles or prestige to lean on, so a good first impression is vital."
"I agree. That’s non-negotiable. If they possessed some extraordinary, overwhelming talent, we might overlook it, but searching for such an exception would be a poor use of our time. Given that, taking these three in and training them ourselves is the most rational path."
The New Continent group shared the sentiment. Objectively speaking, my judgment held water.
"It seems there’s a general consensus on this approach."
"Indeed. Especially since, in this particular case, information on truly exceptional talent doesn't exactly just fall into our laps."
"True. If it were a state-level affair, anyone aware of Yuki’s standing would be desperate to send their own people in."
"Which is precisely why we surround and secure the Master, but in this instance, we are dealing with 'commoners'—a demographic from which such information rarely surfaces."
As Seraria, Deryu, and Rurua pointed out, those who understood my true value were desperate to forge a connection. As Show had attempted, I would normally have high-caliber individuals practically thrown at me without lifting a finger. But when it came to commoners, those who didn't know my worth saw little reason to seek a connection with me.
To them, it would be far more effective to curry favor with the faces of Weed—Seraria, Eris, or Ratz. Yet, it was exceedingly rare for a commoner to successfully pitch themselves to the Queen or the heavyweights of our nation. And while we could hint that we were hiring, the resulting influx would be a chaotic mix of the gems and the dross.
There was simply no way for a commoner of high caliber to find their way to me by chance.
"Well, Yuki going out to pick them himself was the right call. It’s not like slaves are just going to wander in on their own."
"True, and if they did, they’d likely be plants from someone else. I’m looking forward to seeing how these three slaves Yuki bought fare."
These carefree comments came from the research team, Agil and Comet. They were right. If I didn't go out and purchase them myself, I’d inevitably be sent slaves with someone else’s agenda attached. Going to As’s shop personally had been a necessary precaution.
"But, dear, how long do you intend to train these three?"
"I’m thinking the real training starts once I’ve finished the adjustments in the Great Tree Sea. It wouldn't make sense to drag them to the Lancer Magic Academy right away."
"I suppose that’s true. But couldn't they handle basic tasks, like organizing documents in the office or screening visitors?"
"They could do that, and I’ll have them help out while I’m back here, though opportunities will be limited. After all, most of my paperwork can be processed at the Lancer Magic Academy anyway."
Long live digitalization. I could handle my "work" without ever setting foot back in the office. Of course, that just meant I was trapped in a hell where I couldn't escape my duties even while on a business trip. At least this time, I could manage my work while keeping an eye on the injured.
"So, for the time being, I’ll have them shadow Tori and Riel on their police patrols to make their 'rounds.' That should naturally lead to people asking them to pass requests on to me."
"A sound plan. It’ll be a perfect way to gauge how much the volume of petitions directed at you has grown."
"Aye, you’ll likely catch those who want to make requests without going through Seraria. Especially if the person they’re approaching is just a young girl."
"Haha. Well, they won't even know the criteria for refusal, so they’ll probably bring everything they’re asked to pass on. We’ll get an accurate count, that’s for sure."
Exactly. If I left it to Tori and the others, they would, in their ignorance, accept every petition from those seeking my help or advice. It would reveal exactly how many commoners out there still viewed me as nothing more than a glorified errand boy.
Their "ignorance" was their current defining trait, and we had to figure out how to leverage that. They were a blank slate, untainted by the usual politics. That was precisely why they were valuable.
Whether they’d actually amount to anything, however, remained to be seen.
One thing was certain: a very busy life was about to begin. It’s strange—this is supposed to be a country that is kind to slaves, yet I feel like I’m finally using them exactly as slaves should be used.
*Slaves are meant to work!*—that’s the spirit.