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089 Butler
Enrique
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Translator : PolterGlast
Among the 38 slaves
who wished to be soldiers, 7 were Swordsmen and 6 were Lancers. They were
mostly former explorers who had accumulated debt due to their inability to
manage funds. In this world, many people can't even do simple arithmetic.
Nobles receive such education, but few commoners receive proper education.
These 13 individuals would continue to level up, but before that, they needed
to be educated in basic literacy and arithmetic. I intended for them to acquire
this knowledge while they were my slaves.
The other 25
individuals were divided and assigned to acquire jobs as 5 Bowmen, 5 Knights, 5
Explorers, 5 Carriers, 4 Priest-types, and 1 Monster Tamer.
The Bowman job can
lead to the higher-tier job of Bow Master by hitting a target 1,000 times with
arrows, or by instantly killing 30 monsters consecutively with arrows. I
planned to give them good equipment and have all of them acquire the Bow Master
job.
The Knight job's
acquisition condition is to receive 1,000 attacks with a shield. Since
higher-tier jobs reportedly cannot be acquired without first being a Knight, we
would first aim for the acquisition of the Knight job.
The Explorer job's
acquisition conditions are to defeat the 10th-floor boss of a dungeon, or to
defeat 20 monsters alone on the first day of dungeon exploration. The latter is
easier to clear if one has proper equipment, so we would aim for that.
The Carrier job's
acquisition condition is to transport goods for business 100 times, but it can
also be acquired by transporting 10 or fewer items and having their total sales
value exceed 1,000,000 Grill. The reason I wanted them to acquire the
non-combat Carrier job even within the soldier framework was because I believed
the Item Box was essential for dungeon exploration. I actually hoped they could
change to the Adventurer job, but the Adventurer job's acquisition condition
relies on intuition, so it's not something that can be guaranteed.
The Priest job can be
acquired by continuously praying for 500 days, by defeating 100 monsters
bare-handed, or by defeating 10 monsters higher than one's own level
bare-handed as a Villager. To be honest, Rosalina could change to Priest since
she has defeated over 100 monsters bare-handed. That being said, Rosalina
probably wouldn't change to Priest. A party would be considerably more stable
with a healer, so I wanted them to acquire the Priest job with determination.
Furthermore, the Holy Forgiver job's condition is to defeat 10 monsters higher
than one's own level bare-handed within 3 hours as a Villager, without anyone's
help, so it's almost impossible to acquire. Since it's not absolutely
impossible, I wouldn't stop people who aren't my slaves from trying it at their
own risk. However, I didn't feel like teaching them this condition. It would be
problematic if they became bandits after acquiring Holy Forgiver, like that
Chief Priest.
The Monster Tamer
job's acquisition condition is to fight 1-on-1 with monsters and win 100 times,
but it also has a second acquisition condition: it can be acquired by fighting
and winning against 5 monsters at once. Both conditions can be acquired
depending on equipment, so it shouldn't take too long.
Also, Holy Order jobs
like Lin's Lance Saint, my own Hero of the Two-Handed Sword, and Bath's
Adventurer, have uncertain elements in their acquisition conditions. Since they
are not clearly indicated by a number, I wasn't aiming for their acquisition.
It was more like, it would be nice if I acquired them when acquiring a lower-tier
job, or after acquiring a lower-tier job and leveling it up.
"You are slaves
purchased by Footscythel, the demon-slayer! Unlike other nobles, Baron
Footscythel does not judge people by their status. He values those with ability
and never despises slaves. Depending on your efforts, you may be freed from
slavery even before your term ends. So, strive hard! Strive for yourselves, and
for Baron Footscythel!"
" " "
Ooh! " " "
Among the soldiers,
there were also women, mostly Swordsmen or Lancers. It could be said that these
women, with combat-oriented jobs, volunteered to be soldiers.
However, there was one
girl, 13 years old, who did not possess any available combat-oriented jobs. Her
name was Patricia. She was a rare Dragonewt, whose racial characteristic was
apparently "combat maniac." What, no such racial characteristic?
Hahaha. I meant she had such a combat-maniac way of thinking.
She had scales similar
to Jojok, the Lizardman, but the decisive difference was the wings on her back.
These wings made her the most expensive among the 55, at 8,000,000 Grill. Her
base abilities were also quite high, with physical combat abilities like STR
being higher than a Swordsman Lv10 even though she was a Villager Lv4. It made
me think about how different races could be.
I initially thought
Patricia should aim to become a Bow Master. I naively thought that with her
aerial capabilities, a Bow Master would be like having an iron club for an oni.
However, Patricia's DEX was quite low. In short, she was clumsy. Gandarvan and
I judged that archery would be impossible for such a Patricia, so we decided to
have her aim to become a Knight. What a shame for an aerial combatant to be
forced into close-quarters combat...
Now, for Enrique, the
only controlled slave, his job was Butler. However, among his available jobs,
there was Avenger. He had apparently been subjected to terrible experiences at
his previous workplace, and finally, he was falsely accused and forced into
slavery. I also had Avenger, but I was never enslaved. Enrique's mental
darkness must be deep.
Enrique was a
42-year-old wolf beastman. His appearance was more like a Yakuza boss than a
butler, with a rather intimidating face.
"Enrique, do you
wish to clear your name?" I asked.
"...It doesn't
matter," he replied.
"Do you truly
think it doesn't matter?" I pressed.
"..."
His eyes were
lifeless. Did he think it was useless? Or had his heart been broken by the
harsh treatment?
"I'll take your
silence as an affirmation," I stated.
"You! How do you
know I was falsely accused? Are you saying they told you to buy me to silence
me?" Enrique retorted.
"The only one who
can order me is myself. No one can order me," I declared. He snorted just
now.
"Even Marquis
Tsukumandes cannot order me," I added.
"!"
Enrique's eyes widened in surprise at how I knew Marquis Tsukumandes. Hehehe.
Even though they are bound by a magic contract not to reveal anything, they are
naked before the unique skill Detailed Appraisal. My dear Akechi-kun.
"You're making a
face that asks why I know Marquis Tsukumandes, aren't you?" I teased.
"Such a
thing..." he stammered.
"Hiding it is
futile. I know you were with the Tsukumandes Marquisate. You seemed to have had
a rather unpleasant experience there," I stated.
"Wh-why do you
know that...?" Enrique stammered.
"You can't hide
anything from me. That's how it is," I said, trying to exude an air of
mystery. Just kidding. For me, comedy suits me better than mystery.
"You know
everything, don't you?" Enrique asked.
"I haven't met
Marquis Tsukumandes, but I know he's trash," I replied. Through Enrique,
that is.
"Hmph... What
should I do?" Enrique sighed.
"No, it's not
about what you should do. I'm asking what you want to do. Do you want
revenge?" I pressed. Enrique stared intently at me. Don't fall for me.
"Revenge is not
necessary," he replied, his tone suddenly changing. And his eyes gained
strength.
"Then, what do
you want to do?" I asked.
"If possible, I
would like to serve as a butler in the Footscythel Baronial Household," he
replied. Just that? No revenge? You can take revenge, you know?
"Understood. Then
you will manage this mansion, Enrique. You may use the servants as you
please," I declared.
"...Are you truly
sure?" Enrique asked, surprised. That's what you wanted, isn't it?
"It's fine,"
I confirmed.
"I am, on the
surface, a criminal slave," he pointed out.
"Since I know you
were falsely accused, why would I hesitate?" I countered.
"That's true, but
it would be bad for your reputation," he insisted.
"I don't give a
damn about reputations. I'll do as I please. That's how it is," I stated.
Enrique's mouth hung open, then he smiled and bowed deeply.
"I will serve you
with utmost sincerity."
"Alright, I'm
counting on you. By the way, about your false accusation, if you wish to clear
your name, I'll help you. If you're fine with it as is, then it's fine," I
offered.
"I'm fine with it
as is. My joy in serving a new master outweighs my desire for revenge," he
replied. He said something good. If Enrique truly works diligently as a butler,
I have nothing more to say.
"I see. In that
case, get to work immediately. Have the servants work and manage this mansion
properly," I instructed.
"Understood,"
Enrique replied with refined movements. The number of servants had increased to
16, more than planned, but it was better than being short-staffed. I trusted
Enrique to manage the servants well.
***
From the next day, the
garbage collection reception moved to the mansion's backyard. A large wooden
box was placed in the backyard, and children who brought garbage there would
receive a large portion of meat-filled soup and bread. Meals were provided
three times a day—morning, noon, and night—to the children. This was entrusted
to Lilith, Colon, Karon, and the other servants. Multiple wooden boxes were
prepared, and when full, I or Bath would collect the garbage.
Children who wished to
work at the mansion would be hired directly. If they wanted to live in, they
would be given a room in the lodge. I planned to raise them to become future
key personnel, but for now, there were no such children. Well, I'd just have to
do it steadily.
Construction began on
the servant and soldier dormitories. Craftsmen came and went, but I could leave
this to Enrique and the servants.
The soldiers were
diligently trained by Gandarvan and his team. This was to get them used to
handling weapons before entering the dungeon.
They also studied.
Basic literacy and arithmetic. Itsukushima-san had assumed responsibility for
this, so she was in charge of it with Solidia.
I asked Yamato to
strengthen the equipment used by the soldiers.
"Can I have some
money to buy materials to strengthen weapons and armor?" he asked.
"Yamato, don't
you have any money?" I inquired.
"I have a little,
but not enough to buy materials to strengthen 38 people's weapons and
armor," he replied. Given the large number, I understood. I handed him fifty
100,000 black gold coins.
"Oh~ So
generous~" Yamato exclaimed.
"I don't want
soldiers to die because of their weapons. Do your best to strengthen
them," I instructed. The equipment Yamato strengthened wouldn't lose
durability even when I enchanted it, and I could apply more enchantments than
on unstrengthened items. I thought he was a freeloader, but he turned out to be
useful. I'd revise my opinion of him a little.
"Leave it to
me!" he affirmed.
"Also, if you're
going shopping, take a Carrier with you," I added. I also planned to have
him transport 10 items to Golteo Trading Company and sell them. If the total
amount didn't reach 1,000,000 Grill for job acquisition, then he didn't have to
sell them.
"Okay, got it.
Can I take all five of them?" Yamato asked.
"No, I can't
prepare that many items, so just one is fine," I replied.
"Hmm. It's for 38
people's materials, so it'll be quite heavy," he mused.
"In that case,
take Bath with you," I suggested. Just then, Itsukushima-san entered the
living room.
"Going shopping?
Can I come too?" she asked.
"Yes~ But only I,
one Carrier candidate, and Bath-san are going, so Toi-kun won't be
coming?" Yamato teased.
"I-I already know
that!" Itsukushima-san exclaimed, then quickly left the living room to get
ready.
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