第１６０１堀：商会として (Part1)
Chapter 1601: As a Merchant Guild
Side: Ratz
I received a request from my brother—or rather, a formal order—to dispatch personnel to the harbor. It wasn't just for the administrative building; the directive also stated that Super Ratz, the very kitchen of Weed, needed to open a branch there as well.
"Well, I suppose that’s only natural. If a town is to be built, the supplies necessary for daily life must follow. In other words, shops for buying and selling are essential."
Perhaps a simple distribution system for Yuki and his group would suffice at the very beginning, but since we are anticipating growth, the idea of not opening a store is unthinkable.
This means a new Super Ratz branch is in the cards. However, before deciding on staffing levels, the scale of the town they envision must be determined.
Naturally, the population will be small at first, so the storefront will likely be modest. But building new facilities takes time, so it is better to plan for a projected population—even if not the maximum—from the very start.
With these thoughts in mind, I made my way to my brother’s office.
"Hello there."
"Welcome, Ratz."
As I opened the door, my brother, seated at his desk in the back, greeted me immediately. In sync with him, Prol, Orelia, and the others hurried to stand and offer their greetings, quickly preparing to receive me. Specifically, they began preparing tea.
"Yoo-hoo, Ratz."
"Nina, you look busy as well."
I turned toward the relaxed voice to find Nina, who had a pile of documents on her desk rivaling my brother’s.
"Yes, information on the Dark Guilds is still scattered everywhere. Most of it is just rumor-level, though."
"If it weren't, it would be a disaster. Well, it’s a disaster either way, isn't it?"
"It is."
Nina was dispatched from the Holy Sword group to my brother’s side, specifically to track down the Dark Guilds. Thanks to her efforts, we were able to trace the paths of Suurus and Hinsua, so her track record is undeniable.
As we chatted, I sat on the sofa, and my brother joined me.
"Sorry to bother you while you're busy."
"Not at all. I had things I wanted to ask as well. But..."
I trailed off, casting my gaze toward a specific spot. Two women were slumped over their desk. I know them well—Sisia and Sona—and I never took them for the type to display such a lapse in composure.
"Did something happen?"
"Something happened, or rather, they’re just feeling the weight of town planning crashing down on them."
"Ah. Come to think of it, were they the ones in charge of the basic design?"
"That’s right. They seem to be struggling with everything from the necessary buildings for a harbor town to the architectural styles."
"Well, that’s to be expected. There are only two of them, right? Back in Weed, we had ten people, including you, brother."
At my words, the two of them snapped their heads up. Oh? Were their brains not short-circuiting after all?
"Ratz-sama, is what you just said true?"
"Yes, it is."
"It’s true. After all, we were complete amateurs. When we first tried to build a village, we didn't even know what was necessary."
"What did you do in that situation?"
"By the time we arrived, everything was already in place, wasn't it?"
"We decided everything through discussion with everyone. Of course, brother was the one who handled the revisions afterward."
I stated the facts without holding anything back.
"In other words, we are allowed to consult with others?"
"But we don't have anyone in our department like you all."
"That is the problem, isn't it?"
Exactly. The reason those two were slumped over their desks was the lack of anyone to consult. Well, if they wanted to, Prol, Orelia, and the rest of us would be more than happy to cooperate, but...
"We have the experience, so I’d prefer for the inexperienced to handle it themselves at first," my brother noted.
"Since brother has said as much, I suppose I should refrain from meddling too much. That said, brother, I do think it’s a bit unreasonable to leave the harbor town design to just the two of them."
I understood his intent, but I had to point out that the situation was far too demanding. Even for us, it took ten people, so for Sisia and Sona to be alone...
"Ah, I see. That must be the reason Ratz came here, then."
"Hm? Ah, I see."
"?"
The two of them tilted their heads, clearly not following, but I understood perfectly. People are scheduled to gather there soon. It’s difficult to decide the details of a town without knowing who will be there. That is why I...
"I came here regarding the request for a Super Ratz branch. In other words, does this mean consultation is permitted for this specific instance?"
"Well, I suppose that’s fine, isn't it?"
"Really?"
"I have no reason to lie. Now that you two are awake, shall we proceed with the talk about Super Ratz?"
And so, the two of them took their seats, and the discussion began anew.
"Then, once again, I am not here as an administrator, but as the President of Super Ratz. I came because I heard the request to open a branch. The Commercial Division is currently in the middle of selecting personnel."
"I’m sorry to trouble you when you’re already so busy, Ratz. Is this your second, or perhaps third role?"
"Ah, well, Non is handling things as the representative, and as for the management of Super Ratz, the younger generation, including Non, has been growing well lately, so there are no issues. Nina and the others are also taking good care of the stuffed animal shop I manage personally. Ah, the school is a different matter, though."
Indeed, while I have many responsibilities, most have already left my hands. In other words, my subordinates are growing.
"If you include the school, that’s four. No, there are my own trivial requests, so perhaps even more. Sorry about that."
"Not at all. As I said, it’s fine. You are much busier than I am, brother. Now, while I wouldn't mind spending time being lovey-dovey with you, shall we get to the main topic?"
I am happy that my brother is concerned for me, but Sisia and Sona seem eager to resolve their problems quickly.
"Fair enough. Go ahead."
"Yes. Now, I’d like to ask you two: I have received a letter—a request, really—to open a branch of Super Ratz. Are you aware of this?"
"Yes. Yuki-sama informed us that we should contact the necessary facilities when building the town for the harbor project."
"We apologize for not being able to go and greet you ourselves."