第１３１２堀：魔物たちも大変 (Part1)
Chapter 1312: The Monsters Have It Tough
Side: Steve
"Um, sorry to bother you while you're busy."
"Nah, it’s no problem at all."
I was summoned by Yayui-chan and am currently heading toward the Boss’s office.
"Do you happen to know what this is about?"
"Yes. I believe it’s regarding the security for the new residential district, which was expanded to accommodate the student exchange program."
"Ah, now that you mention it, there was talk about needing more personnel. They said it might fill up faster than expected."
"Is that so?"
"It’s reliable intel. Someone from the Resident Affairs Division mentioned that the number of registrations is skyrocketing, and they’re having a hard time keeping up."
"Resident Affairs... that’s one of the departments in the General Government Building, right?"
"Exactly. Though, Eris-ane manages that, too."
"Wait? Isn't Eris-sama in the Accounting Department?"
"She handles multiple departments. Originally, that place was run by Eris-ane, Ratz-ane, and Milly-ane, but now Ratz-ane and Milly-ane are busy with their own departments. Fortunately, the next generation is growing up, so those girls are running the Resident Affairs Division now. Still, if they fall behind, the residents suffer, so it’s a really tough department."
"I see..."
That’s probably a bit too complex for Yayui-chan.
While we were chatting about that, we arrived at the Boss’s room.
"Yo, you're here."
"Sup."
The Boss is as laid-back as ever.
Well, I guess I can’t really talk, can I?
Compared to Fiora-ane and the others who bowed when they saw us, I think we’re doing pretty well.
Wait, the fact that I, a monster, am even thinking about etiquette means we’re actually quite refined, right?
...Yeah, no way that’s true.
Thinking such foolish things, I sat down on the sofa in front of the desk.
"So, I heard from Yayui-chan—is this about the new residential district?"
"Yeah, that’s it. I’m sure they’ve already sent some people over, but they’re asking for reinforcements."
"Any specifics?"
"The person in charge hasn't said anything yet. There’s no point in discussing anything without bringing you along, Steve. Besides, I haven't even heard the current status of the personnel deployment."
True, if the Boss talked to them alone, he’d just have to come to me later to relay the info, which would be a waste of time. Still, there are some suspicious points.
"But didn't they say what kind of reinforcements they need?"
It’s strange that they wouldn't offer any concrete proposals.
It’s possible the Boss just hasn't told me, but knowing him, he wouldn't withhold specific numbers if he knew them. He’s not that free, after all.
"Here, the documents."
Instead of answering, the Boss handed me some papers.
The content was...
*Request for discussion regarding the Monster Army’s deployment for the new residential district’s security system.*
So, they want to start with a discussion first.
"They probably want to avoid putting a number out there only to have it shot down," the Boss added.
"Ah, I see."
If we can't provide the personnel as planned, it’ll cause a ripple effect elsewhere. They want to gauge how many people we can actually spare before deciding on future plans.
"In other words, the new district is filling up enough to warrant more security."
"Exactly. And I suspect some troublesome characters are moving in and out, too."
"If that weren't the case, they wouldn't be calling us. Though, I don't really like being used as a decoy. Goblins are generally hated, so even if the residents of Weed are used to us, the newcomers might be pretty harsh."
It’s discrimination—or perhaps just a natural reaction—to being a goblin...
Still, being on the receiving end of verbal abuse and violence isn't exactly fun.
"They probably want to avoid that kind of friction. But there’s also the possibility of hostile organizations infiltrating the area, and that’s more of a job for..."
"Well, yeah, that’s definitely a job for the military. The police can handle investigations within Weed, but..."
"Once it becomes an external investigation, it involves other nations, and the police can't move. In that case, it’s easier to take charge from the start since it involves handing over intelligence. It’s better for the info to flow from the military to the police anyway."
"Because only the professionals know what’s necessary and what’s not."
"By the way, what’s your take on the cooperative system with the police?"
"What do you mean? We’re just stating our needs and looking for a compromise we can both agree on. Simply put, we’re the ones behind the scenes, and the police handle the public-facing security. We only step in if there’s a major incident or if combat power is required."
Anything else would be overkill. There’s no need for heavily armored knights to show up for a simple neighborhood dispute.
"But ever since Eris-ane and the others started running the school, the procedures have become such a hassle," I said, flicking the documents.
In the past, Eris-ane would have just consulted us directly without needing all this paperwork.
"That’s what happens when an organization grows. Use this as an opportunity to meet the new department heads. It’ll make things easier later."
"I’ll do that."
It’s true that procedural documents have always been necessary, but there’s a huge difference in how you can respond when you know the content beforehand versus when you don't. Having that kind of relationship is something I want to maintain.
"Actually, shouldn't we start delegating this kind of work to our subordinates?"
If what the Boss says is true, the military will continue to subdivide as it grows, and it feels like a pain for me to have to show up every single time.
"True. We should do that eventually, but for the military, the ability to execute orders is essential. You need people who can judge those situations and handle the paperwork properly. Can you find people who will do that immediately if you ask?"
"Well, there’s Britt, and Rich..."
We do have people in positions we could call adjutants.
"Then, put Britt and Rich in charge of executing operations from now on. You stay in the rear, handle the paperwork, and negotiate with the key figures."
"Ugh. That’s..."
"What are you complaining about? That’s why you’re offloading your current work. You’ll take over the negotiations with other departments that I’m currently doing, and I’ll start on other tasks. That’s all."
"...Honestly, it sounds like a real pain until the handover is done and they get used to it."
"Yeah. You have to look after them properly, and since the organization requires approval from me or you, Steve, that’s one extra step of paperwork."
"So, our responsiveness is going to drop."