Instructor Kio’s appearance was an unexpected visit for the guests. It’s fresh in my memory how both nobles and merchants were stunned by his arrival.
From my perspective, I had a feeling he might show up if there was a party with alcohol, so my reaction was more one of understanding than surprise. That’s why I preemptively informed Sehas about how to handle the instructor, including his appearance, personality, and how to interact with him. It was more of a seventy percent intuition and thirty percent certainty, but for me, who believed his absence was impossible, it was an expected development.
However, Sehas approached me later.
“Did you anticipate this would happen?” he asked after the party.
Sensing what Sehas wanted to know, I answered without hesitation.
“It’s less an anticipation and more of a habit.”
“A habit?”
The party concluded without any major issues; in fact, it could be considered a great success in some ways. The constant probing and testing atmosphere changed dramatically with the instructor’s arrival. The nobles, still wearing forced smiles as they tried to gauge the situation, and the merchants, mentally calculating potential profits, all became much more amenable after seeing off the departing instructor.
While inwardly noting their opportunism, I made sure not to show it on my face, and the party continued with me surrounded by nobles and merchants. It ended with them even expressing a desire to attend the next party, which is proof of its success.
My goodness, the instructor’s effect is incredible. I wondered if this might slightly improve my odds of becoming a General Candidate. I left the cleanup to the mansion’s staff and am now in my office, trying to compile the guests’ discussions while they’re still fresh in my mind. Memoria has excused herself to change clothes, so she’s not here.
Sehas was serving as my attendant, but he is currently a butler on a trial period. I had him choose who he wanted to serve, so I arranged it that way in the contract for our mutual benefit. He didn’t show any confusion about this arrangement, but he did say it was an odd way to do things. He also advised me to be careful, as some people dislike being tested. He further suggested that if I were going to test someone, I should do it continuously without a set deadline, and that a three-month period was far too short.
Perhaps it’s because of his own nature that he inquired about the day’s events.
“A habit, you say?”
“Yes, a habit.”
Sehas’s mention of anticipation wasn’t about Instructor Kio’s arrival itself, but rather about the events that unfolded because of his presence. He was essentially asking if I held this party with the intention of leveraging the influence of a current General.
My answer to that is no. If you asked me if I could predict that instructor’s actions and plan accordingly, I would definitively say it’s impossible. I’ve learned over the past few years just how erratic that demon is. However, I also understand that his influence acts like a potent drug, producing immense results.
The appearance of a current General, the Oni King, instructor Kio, was definitive evidence that corroborated the rumors circulating among the nobles and merchants about the relationship between the instructor and me. Although our exchange was brief, it was evident to any observer that our conversation was not merely perfunctory but friendly. Even though it lasted less than five minutes, the mere fact that Instructor Kio, the General, made the effort to attend the party for such a short time created a significant impact on the guests. A current General, and one of the veteran aides to the Demon Lord at that, spoke to me familiarly and even asked for alcohol. From my perspective, I felt cornered, but I still enjoyed drinking with him. I was prepared to start a drinking session right there and then. However, the instructor, perhaps sensing the atmosphere or unwilling to use his influence to force an interaction, left quite abruptly. He did, however, take thirty percent of the alcohol I had prepared. Needless to say, the nobles who witnessed this didn’t see it that way. While I felt a sense of déjà vu, they likely perceived it as the Oni King making time specifically for me.
“There’s a possibility of this happening, or that happening. I imagine various ‘what-ifs’ and make preparations. While I may not be able to prepare for everything, I decided to at least address the situations I genuinely anticipated.”
The sequence of events that followed had an immense effect on me. The nobles who had been trying to probe me just moments before were now surging towards me with a fervor that suggested they were eager to clasp their hands together. They explained, with a hint of pride but not enough to be offensive, how they could be useful and in what ways. The merchants, who had initially approached me indirectly about warships, performed a rather astonishing about-face. I almost burst out laughing, but that’s my little secret.
“And you’re saying this wasn’t an anticipation?” Sehas asked.
He believes my explanation falls within the scope of anticipation. Indeed, if one were to call it anticipation, then yes, it would be. But for me, there’s a subtle nuance that’s different.
“Hmm, you could say that, but it feels a bit different to me. Depending on how you think about it or interpret it, the meaning changes significantly. For me, ‘anticipation’ implies thinking something will happen and focusing solely on that outcome. Considering various possibilities, like ‘this might happen,’ ‘that might happen,’ feels more like ‘preparation’.”
Even while conversing with Sehas, my fingers moved across the PC keyboard, typing up the day’s conversations without pause. It’s crucial work that will serve as the foundation for my future as a General, so I can’t afford to cut corners. While I have a good memory, I can’t recall everything, so I need to document what I can.
“It’s more like a habit of doing that. I can’t just leave potential problems unattended. It’s an action to alleviate the anxiety stemming from a lack of basis for believing something *won’t* happen; it’s a way to address my own timidity.”
“I see, so that’s what you meant.”
While multitasking, I explained to Sehas why I could have foreseen the day’s events, but it also felt like I was revealing my weaknesses. However, those very weaknesses were instrumental in the party’s success.
“Sehas, do you think a master who expresses such things is problematic?”
Even if I don’t see it as an issue, Sehas might. I decided to be bold and ask, “If I’ve expressed a weakness once, I probably won’t change, so what do you think?”
“I believe it’s not an issue, as long as you choose the time, place, and person wisely.”
“Oh?”
“Were you surprised?”
“Well, I thought someone in your position would be expected to demand perfection.”
His answer, which seemed obvious yet was surprising given my initial impression of him, was unexpected. At that, my fingers stopped, and I turned to look at him. There, standing tall and unbending, was the butler, smiling faintly at me.
“Perfection is an ideal that many strive for, and I believe that pursuit is commendable. However, conversely, for someone like me who serves, a being that is considered perfect would, in a sense, be the most undesirable.”
Sehas, impeccably dressed in his butler uniform, softened his expression so as not to appear too stiff. He truly is a top-tier butler.
“And the reason for that?”
He believes in pursuing perfection but denies the existence of perfection itself. His words seem contradictory, but I found his line of thought quite interesting and prompted him to continue.
“It’s because I wouldn’t know how to serve a perfect being.”
Sehas stated that a perfect being would render his role as a servant obsolete. I couldn’t help but burst out laughing at his words.
“Hahaha, that’s certainly true.”
“Indeed. I’ve devoted my life to this profession, so if my master were perfect, I’d have no work. I’d be lost. Perhaps a perfect being might prevent me from such a fate, but by virtue of being perfect, they would also force me to abandon perfection. Therefore, rather than serve the perfect, someone like me would prefer to serve someone who is more receptive to support.”
“So, like how the most troublesome children are the most endearing.”
“Precisely.”
What this butler is saying seems odd, yet his reasoning is quite convincing. His shrugging shoulders as he said, “This is troubling,” made him seem like he was joking, but at the same time, he seemed completely serious. I mentally thanked Muil-san for introducing me to such an interesting person. I steeled myself, realizing that he was currently assessing whether I was worthy of his service.
Sehas said that striving for perfection is a good thing. In a way, he’s saying that what he values most is aspiration. He might even be subtly testing me to see if I would realize this, and he’s likely prepared for me to be suspicious. If he hadn’t readily affirmed my words about “troublesome children,” I might have privately dismissed it. However, his immediate affirmation suggests he has a clear understanding of where the line is drawn, and that he wouldn’t be offended by such a remark. In fact, I myself find no offense in it, especially since I said it.
“I see, that’s helpful.”
“I am glad to hear that.”
That’s why I’m grateful. I lower my head slightly and then shift my gaze back to the computer, resuming my typing. For me, who is not yet accustomed to being in a leadership position, such opinions are important. They help compensate for my shortcomings. While it’s not good to be overly reliant, outright dismissal is also not ideal. Evia told me to learn to use people effectively, but it’s proving to be quite difficult. In fact, during this party, my lack of skill in that area was apparent, as I was constantly asked how useful I could be. While they didn’t explicitly demand compensation for their support, it felt like they were expecting great things from me in the future.
“Maintaining dignity is difficult, isn’t it?”
That’s why I keenly feel the necessity of having dignity to avoid such situations subsequently. As I compile the nobles’ and merchants’ words, tinged with a wry smile, I am reaffirming that necessity.
“Dignity is something that comes later. For Jirou-sama, rather than trying to be overbearing, it would be best to continue straightforwardly.”
I mumbled these words, having wished for charisma might have made the party easier, but according to Sehas, dignity isn’t always necessary. My fingers stopped again at the sound of Sehas’s calm voice, but without turning around, I resumed typing.
“Is that so?”
It’s often difficult to recognize our own deficiencies. That’s why opinions like these can be so influential. Ultimately, the choice rests with me, and I must consider it carefully.
“Well, I don’t have a definitive answer on this matter myself. As I have only known Jirou-sama for a short time, I am not privy to all your nuances. Therefore, to borrow your analogy, I would say it comes down to intuition—the kind honed over many years in this path.”
“Intuition, huh? That’s hard to ignore.”
This butler clearly understands that. He draws a clear line, acknowledging that he is a servant meant to support, not to lead. His assertion that the previous statement was merely one opinion shows his astuteness. Moreover, the fact that he unerringly hits the mark with my own thoughts is quite vexing. In the past, I might have dismissed intuition as unreliable, but since joining this company, I’ve learned that premonitions and intuition cannot be underestimated. Indeed, intuition has saved me numerous times. If it’s intuition based on experience, then it has enough persuasive power to make me keep it in the back of my mind.
What kind of General I will become in the future is an unknown even to me. Perhaps there will be an event that determines that future. Perhaps Sehas’s words have become the trigger that will decide what kind of General I will be.
Today’s word:
“I didn’t think it would turn out this way” is often said.
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