Recruitment

"I am well aware that you dislike being in a restrictive position. I have no intention of forcing you, either."

This offer came immediately after he asked if I would like to become a technician. Before I could say a word, Reinhardt-san assured me that he understood my concerns.

"For the same reason, I don't believe you have any intention of serving some other noble. However, the problem is your knowledge. Once word of things like the serum gets out, there will undoubtedly be many nobles who will want to take you into their service without the slightest consideration for your feelings. You understand that, don't you?"

I nodded silently in response. If even a single specific medicine for Cursed Wounds were to become known to the public, it was only natural that patients and their families would seek it out. There would surely be merchants and nobles who would want it just to sell it at high prices for profit. Unfortunately, it would be more surprising if there weren't people who would choose any means necessary to seize those rights.

"Should that happen, we intend to lend you our strength, but in your current position, there are things that would be difficult to handle."

At this point, my status was that of a "commoner" who happened to be treated very well by the members of the Ducal House. I wasn't a vassal; if I had to put it simply, I was just "a child who was being looked after a little." Of course, even so, unnecessary interference would usually be minimal. Most people would want to avoid being glared at by a Ducal House that possessed such immense power. A boy who was an adventurer, the manager of a small shop, and the one entrusted with the management of an abandoned mine. As long as he only possessed some unusual ideas or knowledge, his current status was considered sufficient.

"However, if you have the knowledge to create a 'specific medicine for Cursed Wounds,' then it is a different story. Even though we possess great power, it doesn't mean there aren't ways to oppose us."

I could feel nothing but the premonition of conspiracies... As I thought this, the Madam seemed to sense my concern and gave a wry smile.

"I won't deny that what you're thinking is probably true, Ryoma-kun, but think about it more simply. Let's see... you're in a position where you can decide whatever you want for your shop, and you have that right, don't you? However, if you try to do something too selfish, people will try to stop you, right? It depends on what it is, and they might overlook it once or twice, but if it happens repeatedly, you might end up losing the trust of those around you. It's the same thing for us. We have strong power, but we can't just swing it around however we like.

In this case... if you were to become a technician for our family, we could firmly say, 'This child is our family's technician, and since he has no intention of leaving, we decline your offer to recruit him.' But as things stand, you're not a subordinate, so they'll talk back to us and tell us not to interfere when we don't even intend to make you a subordinate!

Of course, they would keep up appearances on the surface and give some convenient reason about granting you a status befitting your achievements, but I don't think they would give up easily. Your knowledge is just that valuable."

If we treated this conversation as if it never happened and kept the existence of the serum a secret, there might not be a problem. However, that would mean living a life forever shadowed by the danger of the secret leaking out. Furthermore, if the knowledge of Bloody Slimes and the serum were spread and research flourished, it held the potential to deal not only with Cursed Wounds but other diseases as well. I couldn't predict the scale of it, but there was a possibility of saving many lives that would otherwise be lost. To hide that was more than just a waste; "waste" didn't even begin to describe it.

"...Could you tell me a little more about the position of a technician? If I were to accept this offer, what specific changes would there be?"

"Right. As I said earlier, a technician is an expert employed by a noble. The job involves being requested when needed to demonstrate your skills, or perhaps providing technical advice. As long as you can do that, the way you work is relatively free. Many artisans with high levels of skill have preferences that are hard for others to understand, after all.

For example, in our case... our technician for 'Pharmacology' lives and works on the premises, but our technician for 'Blacksmithing' has a workshop and shop in the citizens' district of this town and does business normally. Even though they are employed, we have no intention of monopolizing their excellent techniques and letting the artisans rot."

As long as I could be contacted, there was no need for me to stay in this city where the Ducal House's mansion was located. That meant I could continue living in the abandoned mine and focus my activities around Gimul as I had been doing.

"Yes. In your case, Ryoma-kun, we can reach you if we send a letter to your shop, so I'd just want you to let me know your schedule in advance if you're going to be away from Gimul for a long time. Well, you already send us letters reporting on your recent situation, so I don't think that will be a particular problem.

And also... what I'm thinking of giving you is the status of a 'Third-class Technician,' which is the lowest rank, but the conditions are correspondingly lenient. Also, even if it's the lowest rank, technicians basically report directly to me as the Duke, so you won't take orders from other technicians."

"...Could I ask for a bit more detail on that?"

Specifically, the "Third-class Technician" part and the "basically reporting directly to Reinhardt-san" part. "Third-class" was likely a grade, but if it was "basically," did that mean there were exceptions?

"Just as you imagined, Ryoma-kun, Third-class is the lowest for technicians, and above that are Second-class and First-class. Your rank is decided based on your background and achievements before becoming a technician, as well as your contributions to our family afterward. Treatment is roughly determined by rank."

What was commonly granted was a guarantee of status and support for research funds; for a Third-class Technician, that was basically all. A Second-class Technician was given the personnel and space to make experiments easier, and a small number of guards if necessary. When one became a First-class Technician, the right to maintain a unit was added to that... or so the Madam explained.

"It is no exaggeration to say that the knowledge and techniques of a First-class Technician are 'treasures.' To protect such a technician and their research facilities, a certain number of people becomes necessary, you see."

"By the way, if we're talkin' achievements, I reckon Ryoma's already earned the right to be a First-class Technician for findin' a specific medicine for Cursed Wounds. But a First-class Technician is a really big deal with a lot of influence, and it gets your name out there too. Which means there's just as much trouble. I reckon he went with third-class to keep that in mind."

Serge-san and Pioro-san quietly added their supplements, and I understood. Furthermore, because each technician had different specialized fields and areas of expertise, the detailed conditions were decided after individual consultation. Therefore, compared to other positions, the degree of freedom was high, and they thought it might suit me. That was apparently one of the reasons why Reinhardt-san recommended becoming a technician. And as for the crucial point of where I would belong once I became a technician...

"My wording was poor earlier."

Because there wasn't just one technician but multiple people in each specialized field, there were cases where technicians became mentors and students, or where people who were already in a mentor-student relationship were brought in as technicians. In other words, it was simply a matter of me not entering into such a relationship with any of the senior technicians.

"When you work as a technician, I likely won't be on the scene most of the time. In those cases, I will dispatch a representative, but you will not be that representative's subordinate. You will speak and offer opinions from an equal standpoint, and if it comes to it, you also have the right to appeal directly to me."

If I thought of a technician as an expert or advisor contracted with a noble—in this case, Reinhardt-san...

"Up to this point, to be honest, it doesn't sound like such a bad deal. ...In fact, it seems like a very good offer, but I assume things won't just stay exactly as they've been, will they?"

Reinhardt-san nodded quietly.

"First and foremost, once every few years, a technician must prove that they possess the abilities worthy of the title. To that end, they must either submit some kind of research result or put their skills to use for the benefit of the territory."

In my case, I already had the result of the specific medicine for Cursed Wounds, so my appointment as a technician wouldn't be a problem. However, depending on how I worked after that, there was a possibility that my title and authority as a technician could be stripped away.

"...That makes sense."

"We will grant some leeway considering the magnitude of your achievements, but our money is collected from the people of the territory as taxes. We can't give money and status to someone who doesn't produce results. I believe you could maintain your status as a technician, but you would be required to perform a certain amount of labor and would be bound by that.

Of course, I have no intention of making unreasonable demands, and you're free to continue your current work or your life as an adventurer. However, it will likely get busy, and you might have to consider scaling back one of your other commitments.

...And one more point."

He spoke with an exceptionally serious expression.

"Since I am granting you the status of a technician, I must know where and from whom you learned those techniques. I need to know your background. We won't broadcast it to the public, but I want you to be prepared for it to spread to some extent among relevant parties as necessary."

In that moment, I felt like the temperature in the room dropped significantly. Not only Reinhardt-san, who had spoken those words, but the other three as well couldn't hide the stiffening of their expressions.

"...Is there anything else?"

"Else? ...Other than that, there's nothing in particular. Even as a third-class, once you're a technician, you can shut out recruitment from other nobles. If you wish for it, I will take care to ensure that your name only spreads among the minimum number of vassals. As for the way you work... technicians are in a relatively free position as long as they produce results in their research. If you were a knight, you'd have to participate in daily training and have a Military Service Obligation in times of emergency. Technicians don't have that."

Not having a Military Service Obligation seemed like a significant benefit. Apparently, things were stable now and there were no wars, but there was no guarantee that nothing would happen in the next ten or twenty years of my life. Having the right to choose what I would do when something did happen was an important point. The other details were also largely favorable conditions... or rather, normally, being taken in as a technician for a Ducal House was a massive promotion. If someone were appointed from the commoner class, it should be an event beyond their wildest dreams. It was also natural in a sense that the conditions were exceptional compared to ordinary technicians, and normally it wouldn't be strange to gratefully jump at the offer without any hesitation. I didn't know about other people, but perhaps someone like me who hesitated like this was in the minority.

"...Well, it was a sudden offer. It will be difficult to give an answer right away, so why don't you take your time and think about it? In any case, the specific medicine for Cursed Wounds isn't quite at the completion stage yet, is it?"

As I fell silent in thought, Reinhardt-san spoke to me in a slightly softened tone.

"Only up to animal testing. I still don't know what will happen if it's actually administered to a human."

"In that case, there's no need to rush. Appointing you as a technician was my opinion, considering the value of the serum and the impact on you. If we don't put it out into the world yet, there's still time. For these two points, why don't we treat them as a private conversation for this room only and wait for the right time?"

"I agree. I'd be happy if you became our technician, but that choice will be a major issue for you, Ryoma-kun, and it will affect the rest of your life. It's a big choice even for an adult, so you should think it over carefully so you have no regrets."

"I also agree. Besides the serum, you have the results of your slime research that could become seeds for business, Ryoma-sama. It won't be too late to first solidify your foundation there without rushing, and then think it over carefully. It's easy to forget when we're talking like this, but you're still a child who hasn't even reached fifteen yet."

"Ditto for me. Those appointed as technicians are usually either skilled artisans who've spent years buildin' up experience, or they're folk who graduated from schools or research institutes in the Royal Capital with top marks. They're usually over twenty or thirty. I acknowledge you've got the skill, but you're far too young compared to folks like that. A boy who became a technician for a Ducal House at barely over ten... wouldn't that become a rumor regardless of the serum?"

"Ah... now that you mention it, it might draw attention just for the novelty of it. We could protect you, but... yeah..."

Reinhardt-san's voice grew smaller and smaller. The Madam turned her gaze toward him as if to ask if he hadn't realized that. Serge-san and Pioro-san laughed cheerfully while drinking their tea, from which the steam had vanished. Before I knew it, the air that had felt cold earlier had turned warm again.

And then,

"By the way, Ryoma-kun."

"Yes."

"You were at least properly careful about what you said and to whom you said it, weren't you?"

Having escaped the Madam's gaze, Reinhardt-san began to say something I didn't quite understand.

"You said that talking about the serum here to us was your first time, didn't you? Even though there were many adventurers nearby during the training when you found the Cursed Wound serum, and quite a bit of time has passed since that ended, you kept it a secret because you knew it would be dangerous to speak of it to the wrong person, right? It wasn't written in the letters you sent regularly, either."

Naturally. If I wrote it in a letter and someone else happened to read it, it would be a major problem.

"I'm glad you understood that well... I thought you were too generous, or rather, that you didn't care much about your own techniques or knowledge."

"I believe I have some understanding of which things shouldn't be revealed lightly, but..."

That said, when I looked closely, the Madam, Serge-san, and even Pioro-san... all the adults had subtle expressions on their faces.

...Could it be that I was thought to be that careless? Well, while I might be indifferent to trivial matters, I'm certainly not that careless. ...Or so I thought, anyway.

Time passed as we all gave wry smiles, somehow unable to strongly deny it. Eventually,

"Ah, about the message from earlier, there was one thing I forgot to tell you, Ryoma-kun. Regarding Hughes and Lulunese's wedding venue, it seems the requests from the servants have been finalized."

"I understand. In that case, I will begin the construction work tomorrow."

"I wonder how much manpower we should prepare?"

"Let's see... for now, please ask anyone who is good at manual labor and has free time for their help. Since I want to start with the foundation work first, there will be work to do even if there are many people."

"Understood. If it's manual labor... would it be alright if the work starts in the afternoon? I think it would be easier to gather people from the Security Department who have finished their training."

"That's no problem. Thank you very much."

A new topic was brought up, and the conversation continued as if nothing had happened. Everyone must have given me some leeway out of consideration for my feelings.

...I want to believe I wasn't being warned because they thought I was careless.