第１７２０堀：ウィードの仕事現状確認 (Part2)
“No, we’re still in the trial period. Once I’ve summarized the results and implemented improvements, we’ll begin the official summons. I imagine the prospective students back in their home countries are already busy gathering intel for the final selection process.”
“Final selection... that sounds rather intense.”
“It might seem like overkill, but it’s a vital step. We have fewer than ten slots per continent for this first wave of international students. That averages out to roughly two people per major power. We have to be discerning.”
“Ah, that’s right. I’d forgotten the numbers were so restricted. Do we plan to increase the intake later?”
“If everything goes smoothly. You know how it is, Seraria. If we cast too wide a net this early, we’re bound to catch plenty of riffraff—or worse, arrogant fools who don’t know their place.”
The students currently here for the trial period are mostly those from places I’ve visited personally. They have a firm grasp of Weed’s true strength and the geopolitical hierarchy. However, the next wave will consist of ‘elites’ who know nothing of us. While their home nations will likely provide them with some level of instruction, reality often differs from theory.
“True,” Seraria mused. “The will of a nation is one thing, but the personal ego of the student—and the expectations of the parents who raised them—is quite another.”
“Exactly. While it’s not a guarantee that every elite will be a headache, the more people we bring in, the higher the chance of an idiot slipping through. Friction is inevitable. We have to operate on the assumption that trouble will happen.”
“I suppose that’s just the way of the world...”
“If you try to control every single variable in life, you’re just asking for a breakdown. The goal isn’t total control; it’s being prepared to minimize the damage when things go sideways. If there were anyone truly capable of seeing through every twist of fate, the world would have been unified under a single banner long ago.”
“I can’t argue with that,” Seraria replied with a wry smile.
If total control were possible, war would be a relic of the past, and famine or natural disasters would be trivialities to be managed. The state of the world as it is provides the only answer we need: such a feat is impossible.
“Anyway, regarding the school, Ratz and Eris are currently busy compiling feedback from the staff and the students. That’s why I couldn’t pull them in for this specific operation.”
“That makes sense. Those two are the most qualified for this kind of negotiation. Milly would be the next choice.”
“Right. Ratz and Eris are a given, and while Milly’s affiliation with the Adventurer Guild makes things a bit complicated, she’s still a powerhouse when it comes to diplomacy.”
In practice, Milly is a member of Weed’s administration, but she works in tandem with the Adventurer Guild to oversee their operations. Ordinarily, such an arrangement would be unheard of, but it’s a unique byproduct of Weed’s circumstances. To put it simply, it’s a deep collaboration between the local lord and the guild. Since I can expand or alter the dungeon at will, Milly serves as the essential coordinator for those changes.
Her standing is effectively equal to that of a Guild Master. As the representative of the Adventurer District, she holds a position for which we have yet to find a suitable successor. It’s a delicate balancing act—someone who possesses deep ties to both the guild and our inner circle, capable of maintaining equilibrium between the two.
Kina, Milly’s contemporary, was a candidate once, but she’s now the head of the guild in the port town. Of course, that appointment only happened because of her connections to Weed in the first place.
“Hah, everyone is stretched so thin,” Seraria sighed. “Speaking of being busy, how are Sithua and Sona doing with the management of Glass Port Town? Is everything running smoothly?”
“Yeah, the reports say there haven’t been any major issues. Actually, since we’ve been discussing this, they’ve probably been keeping their reports brief to avoid bothering us. The town’s name has been finalized, and they’re working with Mikos on the promotional campaign. You saw the magazines and pamphlets, didn’t you?”
“I did. It looks like a very exciting place. So, there are no problems then? What about the invitations to the various nations?”
“I suppose I really should get on that...”
“You definitely should. In fact, it might serve as the perfect cover to hide the fact that we’re conducting investigations.”
“That’s a good point.”
It wouldn’t do to have our true motives exposed. We needed to handle the groundwork with finesse.
“Alright. I’ll go talk to them immediately.”
“Good. Let me know when things are settled. I’ll start moving on my end as well.”
And so, my workload continued its relentless upward climb. Whether one would call this 'going well' is a matter of perspective. Obstacles and interference had certainly cropped up, but the plan was moving forward. For the common citizen, time was flowing by without a care in the world—even if, for Yuki and the others, every second was becoming increasingly precious.