第１５８９堀：どこから人を引っ張ってくるのか (Part2)
Truth be told, the underlying intent was likely a reluctance to see women on the front lines, which is why they were gathered under Seraria’s banner. Yet, Seraria herself evolved into one of the most formidable battle-junkies in existence, so one can easily infer the temperament of those who chose to serve under her. Still, to join Seraria’s unit, one required a certain pedigree—a background that was beyond reproach.
In short, it was composed largely of tomboyish daughters of the nobility.
Naturally, they had been training since the early days of Weed, and they were, without question, elite practitioners of combat.
Even so...
"I understand the position, but do they have any practical experience in governance?"
Even if a girl held a title of nobility, it was unlikely she had ever actually governed a territory. After all, someone already busy managing their own lands would hardly be joining Seraria’s unit.
"No, they have no prior experience in that regard. However, they have supported the current state of Weed alongside you, Yuki-sama, and Queen Seraria. I am not the only one who assists Her Majesty."
"I see. That makes sense."
If they were intimately familiar with Weed’s methods and administrative realities, there was little room for error. After all, they had been here since the beginning.
"Furthermore, while we are entrusting them with the port, simply 'granting' it to them would be improper. It would be a slight to you, Yuki-sama, if they were to act solely as subordinates to the Queen."
"True. A 'deputy magistrate' would be more appropriate. Even my husband doesn't hold a personal fief, and this isn't a special case like Riel's. Ordinarily, the person next in line to me would be my husband."
Ah, I see.
Granting territory is an act that acknowledges power and achievement. In such a system, it usually falls to one's own kin. For Seraria, the first in line would be me, her spouse. If she were to bypass me and appoint one of her Royal Guards, those unfamiliar with our internal affairs might assume that this individual held the highest level of trust, potentially leading to all sorts of complications.
"Her Majesty is correct. Therefore, the plan is to transfer them from the Royal Guard to your direct command, Yuki-sama, and then appoint them as deputy magistrates. This way, you can provide direct oversight."
"Indeed. It puts our minds at ease knowing they are under my husband's command."
"That’s true. There are times when I need to be able to issue orders directly, so that helps. But while I’m grateful, will the Royal Guard be alright? More importantly, do they even want to handle territorial management?"
It might sound harsh coming from me, but these were people who had followed Seraria—they were, almost to a woman, combat-oriented. While I had verified that they possessed at least basic literacy and numeracy, that didn't mean they could easily manage a territory. Forcing them into it wouldn't yield results, and if the port’s operations collapsed because of it, the whole effort would be counterproductive.
"That is something we will have to ask them directly. However, they have come to understand the current state of Weed and the importance of administration quite deeply. Some have changed their outlooks—they’ve softened a bit—which is why I felt comfortable making this proposal. As for the poaching, I view it as an opportunity for them to gain experience; I see it more as an increase in commander-class personnel."
"That’s true. They’ve certainly mellowed out compared to the early days. They’ve been beaten into shape by you quite a few times, after all. It would be a blessing to have more commander-class personnel from the Royal Guard involved in the port’s management."
"Well, charging straight into the fray and getting wiped out is just plain stupid. I had to drill that into them. If Seraria were to be attacked, it would be a disgrace to the very name of the Royal Guard, wouldn't it?"
Indeed, the initial guard that came to Weed was skilled in combat coordination, but they were utterly clueless when it came to underhanded tactics. That was likely why they had failed to grasp the ministers' movements back in Roschur.
I had trained them thoroughly to account for such things—including the possibility of feints and diversions. But setting that aside, I understood the point about increasing the number of commanders, but that raised another question...
"I’m fine with the poaching if that’s how you see it, but doesn't that mean you'll be losing the people responsible for the port?"
"Well, they are just deputy magistrates, after all."
"Exactly. It remains your territory, Yuki-sama. We can rotate the magistrates, or eventually, we can have our wives or children take over when they have the time."
"I see. That’s the idea."
So, it was a matter of finding something for them to do when they were free, or perhaps creating a space for the children to grow and learn.
"Alright, I understand the situation. Go ahead and start the selection process. After that, we’ll hold interviews and make the final decision."
"Indeed. I look forward to seeing who steps forward."
"Understood. I will bring the selected candidates the day after tomorrow."
With the leadership issue seemingly on its way to being resolved, we moved on to iron out the remaining details. In truth, gathering the right people is often a far greater struggle than securing the budget or the supplies. No matter how much you prepare, the outcome always hinges on the people you send to do the job.