My discussion with Muil-san was more like observing the father-daughter interaction between Mait-san and his father. It eventually led to Muil-san becoming what I would call my strategist, or perhaps my right-hand man. In any case, he agreed to help me manage a large organization by myself.
A few days later, Mait-san said the following:
“I finally don’t see my father smiling sadly anymore. Thank you.”
Though speaking over the phone, Mait-san sounded happy as he thanked me. In return, though it might seem like a poor exchange.
My free time has completely vanished, except for time spent with family. My days, when I’m working, consist of waking up, going to work, and then dealing with various tasks like dungeon tests and report checks, as well as guiding subordinates and training party members. This was the general schedule on a typical workday.
But that has dramatically changed.
The first change was a significant increase in personnel within the First Division, where I’m currently working.
“Jiro-! What methods did you use?! Why are these people applying for a transfer to our division?!”
I had anticipated Muil-san shouting and leaving that day because he had something to do. However, I was genuinely surprised when Keiri-san rushed over to me the next day at work. She handed me a document, as if demanding I look at it, and it turned out to be a resume.
The faces in the photos were all the epitome of fantasy.
“Huh?”
I had already suspected that Muil-san was behind this, but I was surprised when I saw the resume, and a voice involuntarily escaped my lips, thinking it was impossible.
“National Alchemist, Royal Guard Knight, Financial Manager, Spy!?”
“That’s not all! There’s also a Court Mage, a teacher from the Magic Academy, an instructor from the Knight Academy, a captain of a noble’s bodyguard unit, a pharmacist, a healer, and a court maid! All of them are seasoned veterans! Furthermore, there are requests for practical training from noble sons! Come on, spill it! What did you do this time?!”
Resumes from highly capable individuals kept pouring in. Not just Dark Elves, but people of all races, ages, and professions. There was a surge of people from various industries wanting to join my division.
How could this happen in just two days? Asking is meaningless. Knowing Muil-san, he must have extended his reach in all directions, mobilizing talented individuals to be ready by this date. I could barely accept and understand this.
The word “amazing” is still not enough to describe my astonishment.
“Um, excuse me, Section Chief, for interrupting your conversation.”
“Ah, yes. What is it?”
The stack Keiri-san handed me alone contained at least twice the number of personnel currently in our division. Impressed by Muil-san, I was apparently too naive to explain the situation.
The Harpy administrative assistant, who seemed hesitant due to Keiri-san’s excitement, spoke up, holding a stack of documents similar in style to the ones I held. This stack was considerably thicker than the one I was holding.
“…You’re kidding.”
Keiri-san’s mouth twitched. My own mouth was probably twitching similarly. Including testers, there were easily over thirty people in this division. Was there going to be an even greater number of applicants? I certainly hadn’t predicted this.
“Just now, some Goblins brought these boxes addressed to our division. We checked the contents and…”
“Boxes!?”
“Wha—?!”
My predictions were still too naive, apparently. This time, I was surprised by what the Harpy assistant told me. It seemed that not only this stack of documents but also more document stacks were hidden within the boxes. The Harpy employee pointed hesitantly and apologetically towards about three large cardboard boxes stacked up, and she had brought a stack from one of them that was in an envelope.
“Come on, spill it!”
“I’m your superior, you know.”
“Just tell me! What did you do?!”
Keiri-san, who had been staring blankly for a moment, grabbed my neck with a fierceness as if I were a criminal. Her eyes, with a bloodshot intensity that disregarded any hierarchical relationship, met mine.
“Okay, okay, I’ll explain. Sorry, but could you take these resumes to the conference room? And if Kaido and the others arrive, please guide them to the conference room.”
“Understood.”
Keiri-san wouldn’t calm down without an explanation. She was so excited that an explanation couldn’t happen right here. So, I suggested we move to a different location, but I’m the boss, right? Why am I being dragged along like luggage, my collar being pulled? I’m the Section Chief, and Keiri-san is supposed to be the Chief. Still being dragged to the conference room as if hierarchy didn’t exist, the administrative assistants followed us with the cardboard boxes.
“Now! Spill it!”
“Okay, okay. Actually…”
And so, after being taken to the conference room, I recounted what Muil-san had done. I assumed he was behind this deluge of resumes.
“You mobilized a hero!”
“A hero, you say? Well, considering what Muil-san did, it’s only natural, isn’t it?”
In war, heroes are broadly divided into two types. Those who kill many enemies, or those who protect their allies even at the cost of their own lives. Offensive heroes and defensive heroes. Keiri-san was surprised that I had mobilized Muil-san, who fell into the latter category.
“Certainly, that explains the number of resumes we received. This person, and this person… come to think of it, they participated in that war…”
Looking again at the resumes of the newly acquired personnel, and seeing a few famous names among them, she quickly understood.
“Are you seriously aiming for the General’s position? If you do something like this, you’ll definitely attract the attention of other factions aiming for the General’s position.”
“I’m prepared for that. I’m aiming for it nonetheless.”
After letting out a deep sigh, she asked about my resolve. Without any hesitation or falsehood, I stated my intention to aim for it, looking directly into her eyes.
“It’s an opportunity to stand proudly next to that figure. I don’t intend to miss it.”
“For Suella… you wouldn’t have failed to mention that to her. And I suspect it was Suella who introduced you to Muil-san. If she had continued to object, Muil-san wouldn’t have sided with you.”
“There were twists and turns, but I’m serious.”
Keiri-san’s perception of me was that I was merely caught up in the pursuit of the General’s position. However, now that I was moving so purposefully, it seemed she needed to change that perception.
“At this point, I can’t doubt you. If you were to say this was just a joke, those people in the resumes would be furious, and your position here would be gone.”
Expectations can be a burden. Right now, I was carrying the expectations embodied in these resumes.
“Probably, the first resumes sent were carefully selected by Muil-san himself. Likely, they are people Muil-san trusts. He’s probably planning to form your army around these individuals.”
Pushing aside her earlier anger, Keiri-san sat down and began to examine the stack of resumes she had brought.
“But don’t misunderstand. These people are lending their strength to you based on the trust of Hero Muil Handelberg. In other words, it’s a provisional contract. If you mess up and lose their trust, you won’t just damage your own credibility but also Muil-san’s, who recommended you.”
“I understand.”
“It’s not that you don’t understand, but bear in mind that this bundle of paper is heavier than you imagine. You can’t turn back now. Well, if you were to discard all your positions and go into hiding somewhere in a remote region with Suella, I would cooperate.”
“I don’t need that. I understand everything.”
“Then that’s fine.”
This stack of papers is, in a sense, a bill of exchange backed by Muil-san’s trust. Because Muil-san said it was okay, they came forward to help.
“Then win. That’s the most important chance to respond to the trust you’ve been shown. If you lose here, it won’t be a joke; you’ll lose everything. No, you’ll have it taken from you.”
To meet those expectations, the first goal is to win the qualifying selection, the battle royale. Entrusting all rear support to Muil-san means I will now need to demonstrate pure strength.
“There’s only one thing I can say. Make my best friend cry. At that point, I will end your life.”
“OK. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“You do that. I don’t want to be hated by her either.”
However, the path to that point will not be easy. There isn’t much time until the selection. But there is still time, and I must do everything I can.
“Well then, that means I need to start working on something even at this stage.”
“Work on what?”
“Hmm? The document screening. I’ll submit a request for overtime, so you just need to stamp it.”
And as Keiri-san suddenly requests overtime with a nonchalant expression, a question mark forms above my head.
“Ah, right. You’re not used to these kinds of things.”
Sensing my expression, Keiri-san let out a sigh as if it couldn’t be helped and tapped the cardboard box.
“Listen, the resumes selected by Muil-san are one thing. But in this box, there are probably a lot of people trying to get a piece of the pie. They’re trying to curry favor with a potential General Candidate recommended by a hero.”
“Curry favor? I mean, there probably are some, but saying ‘a lot of them’ is an exaggeration, isn’t it?”
While I can’t say that all of these people are cooperating out of pure goodwill, I still can’t definitively say that most of them sent resumes for their own gain, like Keiri-san implies.
“You’re naive, too naive. You still don’t know the Demon Lord’s Army; you’re just a rookie! To these people who sent you these resumes, you’re just a General Candidate they can manipulate! There are plenty of people trying to use you to secure their own positions!”
However, my thinking was apparently too naive for Keiri-san, and my opinion was sharply dismissed.
“While there’s a trend of ‘might makes right’ here, that ‘might’ also involves intelligence! These people, lacking in power, are undoubtedly full of dark schemes in their hearts! You need to discern them properly! Otherwise, you’ll be overthrown.”
She admonished me, pointing out that I truly didn’t understand.
“Yes.”
I could only nod honestly. Indeed, this company has more dangerous aspects than I imagined. Although I’ve been caught up in them recently, this is still just the tip of the iceberg. As a Japanese person accustomed to peace, I’m not good at these kinds of clandestine schemes. That’s precisely why I’m entrusting the management of such matters to trusted individuals like Muil-san, and trying to learn the know-how while I have the time.
“Well, even so, if you don’t draw a certain line and utilize some people, you’ll suffer from a shortage of talent even after becoming a General.”
“That’s how it is.”
“Yes, and drawing that line is the difficult part.”
Still, surrounding yourself only with trustworthy people is surprisingly difficult. You can’t completely read someone else’s thoughts. That’s why you have to select personnel based on unseen assets like achievements and trust. It might be possible to do this over time, but the reality is that you can never achieve perfection even with time.
“Hmm, personnel who are capable but whose thoughts are unknown…”
“Exactly. Well, I can help you with some of that, but it’s best to have a solid foundation. You should discuss that thoroughly with Muil-san.”
The path to the General’s position seems more arduous, steep, and troublesome than I had imagined. Truly, I was too naive. Steelink my resolve, I picked up one of the documents that caught my eye.
“Hmm, but I can’t judge their quality just by looking at the documents, can I…?”
“Of course not. It’s the same as the connections nobles have. The ones who have solid information win. Those with weak connections lose. So, in your case, the fact that you initially established connections with the Oni King and the Undead King is quite significant.”
“I earned those by getting drunk with them countless times at drinking parties.”
“Drinking and communicating” is universal. My ability to entertain guests, honed during my days as a corporate slave, has led me to my current position. It’s useful even in those dark times.
“Oh? If that’s the case…”
“Is there a good method?”
“Well, if Evia-sama is here, it should be fine… For now, just focus on finishing the work in front of you.”
“Understood.”
A faint unease surfaces, wondering if Keiri-san will continue to treat me this way even when I become a General in the future, though I am her superior. I decided to leave the handling of the resumes to Keiri-san. After that, I plan to assign different tasks to Kaido and the others who will arrive later.
Today’s word: Talent scouting, in a way, is the biggest hurdle.
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