Dear Village Head,
Help me.
Sincerely yours,
P.S. The winter cold has grown harsh even here in Shashato City. I hope everyone is doing well. As for me, I am currently buried under a mountain of work.
The reason I have taken up my pen today is to lodge a formal complaint regarding a certain incident. To get straight to the point: the four subordinates I raised with all my heart and soul were poached by the Honorary Academy Director of Ifuls Academy!
What is the meaning of this? Do you have any idea how I feel? No matter how many times I begged for reinforcements, I was ignored. I had no choice but to train promising youngsters from the ground up, and the very moment I thought they were finally becoming useful, they were snatched away!
I am sure you can understand my plight. I am protesting this matter with the utmost gravity. I firmly believe that the four will be returned to me and that I will receive appropriate compensation.
"This is the rage-filled letter I just received. Any thoughts?"
I showed the letter to Lu, who was tucked into the kotatsu with me. The "Honorary Academy Director of Ifuls Academy" definitely referred to Lu. I wondered what exactly she had done during her time in Shashato City.
"Ahahaha..."
She tried to laugh it off to hide her guilt.
The sender was Miyo of the Mercury Race. Though she looked like a little girl in a maid outfit, she was exceptionally capable. I had sent her to provide accounting support for Maruura and Big Roof Shashato, but it seemed she had been treated quite poorly since then.
However, it wasn't as if I had been ignoring her. I had intended to send several of the new Civil Official Girls next spring, and I had even asked Michael-san and Yoko to arrange for capable staff. I thought I had sent enough reinforcements, and Paula—who had been traveling back and forth regularly since giving birth—hadn't mentioned any major issues.
For now, I decided to give Lu’s laughing cheek a firm tug.
"It hurth, it hurth!"
"So, what’s the story? Did you poach them?"
"Well, you see... to put it simply, Shashato City’s economy has boomed so much that they’re desperately short on anyone who can handle accounting."
"And?"
"The accounting at Ifuls Academy was a complete disaster. I managed to rebuild it to some extent while I was there, but I was worried everything would collapse once I left..."
"So you poached them?"
"There were twenty-seven people capable of accounting at Big Roof Shashato. I thought taking just a few wouldn't hurt. But it wasn't poaching! I just had a quiet chat with them while Miyo was asleep... Ouch, ouch!"
I made a mental note to send Miyo a formal apology.
"Can you send the four of them back?"
"That would be difficult. If I do, Ifuls Academy will probably fold."
"Is it really that dire? It’s just an academy, isn't it?"
"The problem is that it's a gathering of the leading authorities in their respective fields. Intellectual prowess and an understanding of economic theory don't necessarily translate into accounting ability. When they get absorbed in their research, the books are the first thing they neglect. We even borrowed three accountants from the Goroun Company, but now Michael-san is asking for them back because his own office is short-staffed..."
I realized I should probably apologize to Michael-san as well.
To summarize the situation... right. I needed to arrange for the Civil Official Girls to move their schedule up. Since it was winter, they were mostly just lounging around the village head's mansion anyway. I had told them they wouldn't have to leave until spring, so they might complain, but I would have to find a way to convince them.
Next, I needed to check with Bell in Village Four. If any new members of the Mercury Race had awakened, that would solve everything. Then again, would they be any good at accounting right away? Still, they were the race that had managed the Sun Castle; I felt I could have high expectations for them.
"Accounting, you say? If you're okay with people from the Garlet Kingdom, I can introduce some to you."
Malbit, the leader of the Angel Race and Kierbit’s mother, poked her head out from the kotatsu to make the suggestion.
"Crawling into the kotatsu while wearing a hanten? Isn't that a bit too hot? Please, come out of there. Now, what was this about an introduction?"
"It’s just so warm in here, I couldn't help it. Anyway, there’s an academy in the Garlet Kingdom that focuses heavily on academics, and their graduates are currently struggling to find employment."
"And these graduates can handle accounting?"
"Yes. Since it involves moving to the Demon Kingdom, some might be hesitant, but there are plenty of humans in Shashato City, so it should be fine. I can introduce at least twenty people. Of course, you’ll need to provide a reasonable amount of funds."
"What’s the maximum?"
"Eh?"
"How many people can you introduce, at most?"
"W-well, maybe about a hundred..."
"I’ll take them all. Please."
"B-but, the cost..."
"I’ll pay in advance."
If money could solve the problem, then money was what I would use. I never thought I’d see the day where I’d think that way so casually.
I had Malbit write a letter to the Angel Race village immediately. I wanted her to gather anyone with accounting skills as soon as possible. It would have been faster if Malbit went back herself, but...
"By the way, Malbit, how much longer are you staying here?"
"Until spring."
"Aren't you the Shrine Maiden of the Garlet Kingdom?"
"It’s fine, it’s fine. Gobit is handling all of that."
"Gobit?"
"It’s my mother’s alias," Kierbit explained, arriving with a tray of warm drinks. "It would look bad if the Leader was officially moonlighting as a Shrine Maiden, after all."
She set down cups for herself, for Malbit in the kotatsu, and for Lu and me as well.
"The Shrine Maiden is an important role, but we can manage without her for a while. The real problem is the absence of the Chief Assistant..."
The Chief Assistant—Tia's mother, Ruincia—was also still in the village. She was living an elegant life, doting on Tiselle and Aurora. At the very least, she wasn't lounging in a hanten inside a kotatsu like the woman in front of me.
"I’d be doting on them too if I had grandchildren," Malbit pouted, poking at Kierbit from inside the kotatsu.
Kierbit looked exasperated, but I knew if I tried to step in and defend her, Malbit’s attention would just turn to me. I decided to leave them to it. Apparently, the Garlet Kingdom was struggling because of Ruincia’s absence.
"Every time I bring up the subject of her going home, she just brushes me off," I noted.
"About that," Lu chimed in, "she actually consulted me a little while ago about the possibility of migrating here permanently."
I hummed thoughtfully. She was Tia’s mother, so I was happy to welcome her, but I wanted to make sure she didn't leave the Garlet Kingdom in a lurch first.
"If Ruincia is moving here, then I will too!"
"Wait—Mother, stop talking nonsense! You're the Leader of the Angel Race!"
"As of this moment, I officially cede the position of Leader to Kii-chan. Good luck!"
"What am I supposed to do with the Angel village if Ruincia is gone too! Don't be ridiculous!"
"I'm being perfectly serious~."
"That makes it even worse! Mother, you need to go back, stop the Chief Assistant from leaving, and protect the village!"
"Ehh? And while I'm doing all that work, Kii-chan gets to stay here and relax?"
"I am not just 'relaxing.' Even today, I went out on patrol; I am doing my job properly. I am not like a certain mother who does nothing but sleep in a kotatsu."
"I don't just sleep. I’m doing very important work."
"Work? No way."
Kierbit shot me a skeptical look, but I didn't have any answers for her. Was she talking about the letter she just wrote for me? Ah, I saw she had finished it. I took it from her.
"I wouldn't exactly call writing a single letter 'work,'" Malbit said dismissively.
Just then, Kuroyon approached.
"Ah, I’ve been waiting for you!" Malbit cheered.
Kuroyon looked incredibly fired up. I wondered what was going on.
"Fufufu. Yesterday, I finally achieved a winning record against him in chess."
No way.
"Well, it was only for yesterday, six wins and four losses. But for now, the title of Chess Champion belongs to me. This is my work!"
Malbit puffed out her chest with pride. I wasn't sure if "Chess Champion" counted as a legitimate job, but I kept that to myself. Kierbit looked just as unimpressed as I was.
The only one who didn't seem bothered was Kuroyon. He let out a sharp, determined bark, as if declaring that he wouldn't let her have a winning record today.
"Yes, yes. Well then, let the match begin."
Malbit finally crawled out of the kotatsu and sat down at the chess board with Kuroyon.
"Is that whole business about the Leader position going to be okay?" I asked Kierbit.
"I’m sure she’s joking, so it should be fine... but if she turns out to be serious, please help me."
"I'm not sure what I could do."
"Also, regarding the Chief Assistant. I’ll check later to see just how serious she is about moving here."
"She was asking me about the market price for building a house and what kind of work she could do to earn a living in the village," Lu reported apologetically.
"She’s definitely serious. This is going to be a problem."
"And yet," I noted, "you still haven't moved an inch from that kotatsu."
"...J-just a little longer. Until I'm properly warmed through."