第１３１４堀：どこかにしわ寄せがくる (Part2)
Coordinating with prospective residents is a task in itself, and leaving that entirely to them is naturally going to lead to a manpower shortage.
"And so, as a proposed solution for this side of things, we’ll start by testing the waters with an increase in personnel. Specifically, regarding the reinforcement of security: if we increase the visible patrols by monsters and direct any issues to the police, it should lighten our burden and allow things to proceed more smoothly."
So, the plan is to effectively hand over all current patrol duties to the police. It’s true that if the Resident Affairs Division doesn't have to allocate staff to that, they can redirect those resources to other tasks.
"The potential issue, however, is how the newcomers from outside will react to monster security patrols. If that leads to significant trouble, we’ll have to rethink our approach. What do you think, General Steve?"
The question was finally directed at Steve. He’d been left on the sidelines until now. Steve wore a troubled expression as he pondered…
"Assigning people—or monsters—to security duty isn't a problem in itself. But like you said, Prol, it’s hard to predict what kind of trouble might arise. I mean, misunderstandings happen precisely because people don't know each other. Maybe we should have them go around and introduce themselves first?"
"Introductions, you say? That’s true. This is a new residential district where people from every continent are gathering. It would be problematic if they didn't know who to talk to in the event of a dispute, so it does seem necessary for them to show their faces at least once."
"Agreed. I’m in favor of the introductions, too. Even if they’re police or knights, to people from other countries, they’re just unfamiliar organizations. It’s important to properly introduce themselves and explain what kind of services they provide."
Meeting face-to-face and offering a clear explanation is certainly necessary. If that can help avoid trouble, all the better, and it should also lead to a better understanding of the monsters. As I was thinking this…
"U-um, aren't the new immigrants already receiving explanations about the police and the monsters when they enter the country?"
Yuyu raised her hand timidly to ask.
"You’re right, Yuyu, they are told about it. But have you ever spoken to the police or the monsters outside of work-related matters?"
"N-no. I haven't. I haven't had any particular problems, so…"
"Exactly. If there are no problems, there’s no reason to go out of your way to talk to them. More than anything, people might think they’ve done something wrong if they’re seen talking to a police officer."
"That’s true, when you put it that way. Is that why you want to actively encourage interaction?"
"Exactly. As Orelia said, if there’s active interaction, they’ll be more likely to come to us for advice before minor issues escalate. I’d rather nip things in the bud."
"But Master, wouldn't that place a heavy burden on the police and the monster security teams? If they’re expected to offer consultation, it makes their schedules unpredictable…"
"We’ll just have to compensate by increasing the headcount. What about monsters with good social skills? Does that mean goblins are the best bet?"
"Actually, why don't we rotate various types of monsters into security duty to let people get used to them? It shows that there’s a wide variety, and some of them can’t even talk, you know."
"Wait, wait—if they can't talk, doesn't that make communication impossible?"
"Nah, not necessarily. A lot of people really like wolves and that sort of thing."
"Ah, the animal types, huh."
So, "fluffiness" is a universal virtue even in this world. It’s like having them walk around with police dogs. Actually, they’re smarter than that, and since some species can communicate via something like telepathy, they’re overwhelmingly more convenient.
"In that case, since I’m sure there are points in my proposal that need refinement, I’d like to discuss the total number of personnel needed based on these factors. Also, if it’s alright, I’d like to have Chief Poni sit in on the meeting."
"It involves the police, so that makes sense. I’ll get in touch with her."
I caught Orelia’s eye, and she left the room immediately. Now it’s just a matter of whether she can make it. Still, these kinds of issues always crop up when you’re improvising… The government office is swamped. Well, a company is the same way, isn't it? You can't handle the workload because you're being asked to do more than your capacity allows. You need the foresight to adjust for that.