第１４６２堀：会議その２ 大氾濫中の通常業務について (Part2)
"In addition, while the Information and Resident Affairs departments under my purview initially struggled with the opening of the International Exchange School, things have since stabilized. We are currently drafting a manual to ensure we can handle the full-scale influx of students once the testing period concludes."
With that, Prol fell silent.
Everything seemed to be in order. When embarking on new ventures, initial friction is inevitable; what truly matters is how one navigates those obstacles. Prol hadn't merely resorted to stopgap measures; she had formulated long-term strategies. She was, as always, exceptionally capable—well-deserving of the responsibility of managing two separate departments.
I, on the other hand, was barely keeping my head above water with my maid duties. Sensing Kirue’s sharp gaze upon me, I made sure to maintain an air of diligent productivity, lest she decide to pile more work onto my plate.
"Thank you, Prol. Now, next... Seraria. How are things at the top? Any bottlenecks?"
"At my end... nothing has changed. Aside from the increase in paperwork related to the school, there are no delays—at least, not outside of the Great Overflow. Isn't that right, Quar?"
"Yes. While the paperwork and meetings regarding the Great Overflow have increased, I have heard no reports of delays in standard operations. That said, as is likely the case with other departments, we have bolstered security at the General Government Building and the Queen's residence."
That was certainly true. With the Great Overflow underway and the appearance of a Dungeon Master, not to mention the influx of spies within Weed, increasing security was a matter of course.
"My residence, you say... Well, I suppose it’s necessary for hosting banquets and welcoming dignitaries and guests, but the costs—not to mention the personnel—are significant. Is it truly necessary? Couldn't we just use an inn?"
"Your Majesty, as I have stated repeatedly, your residence serves as the face of the nation and the seat of governance. An inn is a lodging facility; they are entirely different things."
"I understand the logic, I do. Let’s table that discussion for another time. Is that all for my report?"
*Ahaha*, she cut the conversation short before it could drag on. Seraria clearly harbored doubts about the necessity of a royal residence in Weed. Since Weed is situated within a dungeon, defense is a non-issue, and there is no need for imposing stone walls. Consequently, there is no need for a grandiose castle, yet having no official residence or office for the Queen would be a blow to our national prestige. The residence in question was built to bridge that gap.
In truth, it serves primarily to provide peace of mind for the dignitaries visiting Weed for the first time. While Seraria often conducts her business from the top floor of the General Government Building—which is far more efficient—the building itself, housing the bulk of our administration, functions effectively as our royal castle.
However, that building is packed with the latest technology, modeled after Master’s home world. To an uninformed dignitary, the interior must seem utterly incomprehensible. It’s hardly a place to find peace of mind. The residence exists as a gesture of consideration for our guests, designed to put them at ease.
Because it requires a large number of maids to maintain, I suppose I should involve myself in the discussion regarding that residence as well. As I pondered this, the meeting continued.
"I haven't heard of any issues from Tiffany in Accounting. Ratz, how about you?"
"I haven't heard anything from the Commercial District, either. Oh, only that sales have been climbing since the International Exchange School opened, but that was well within our projections. As for the school itself, there were initial issues regarding the lack of male staff, but we’ve balanced that out with new hires, so there are no problems there."
"I see. Since we’re on the subject of the school, let’s move on to the reports from the school staff."
And so, the meeting progressed. For now, it seemed that standard operations were running smoothly. The Great Overflow was a major event, certainly, but ensuring that Weed’s daily functions remained intact was the true priority. If the rest of the machinery were to fall into dysfunction, we would be unable to move at all.