Barbarian Business (4)

After the overall evaluation was complete, I reviewed the results and ultimately decided to ask Count Goldbeard for help. After all, I was attending the marquis’s contest as Melbes’s representative.

There was no reason to rely only on the barbarians.

Once I secured the contract, all of Melbes’s construction businesses would work together anyway.

The problem is that man’s pride, though…

Because of the council leader’s unilateral decision, the Jandel family was suddenly put forward as the representative of Melbes.

So I was worried there might be some trouble, but fortunately, as soon as I made the request, Count Goldbeard immediately dispatched experts that very same day.

True to his noble nature, he valued practical benefit over pride.

After all, even if House Jandel became the centerpiece, the trickle-down effects would benefit everyone.

“Bwahahaha! What do you think? This is the house we built!”

“…Surprisingly, not bad?”

At first, the dispatched construction experts looked down on the barbarians, thinking they couldn’t possibly build anything. But, after seeing their speed and the results, they quickly turned to admiration.

“Their craftsmanship is crude, but they’re all explorers with incredible physical strength. In tasks requiring brute force, they’re overwhelmingly effective.”

“If they take charge of the simple, time-consuming work that doesn’t require skill…”

“The construction time would be cut down dramatically!”

Without hesitation, the experts immediately began dividing up roles.

The simple, labor-intensive work went to the barbarians.

Tasks that required technical knowledge or delicate handiwork went to the dwarves.

As the tribe chief, I was disappointed that the warriors couldn’t learn the techniques directly. However, this was probably the most efficient solution for now.

The top priority was winning the competition.

“They work quickly, but nothing will change if they rely only on strength.”

“They might manage for a few days, but no matter how strong they are, they won’t last long at this rate.”

“They’ll need training.”

After identifying the barbarians’ biggest weakness, the experts immediately began special training to fix it.

“Watch closely. When lifting a steel beam, grip here firmly, then use the strength of your back right here… like this!”

“Ohhh…!”

“When lowering it, set it down from this angle first, like this. See? It’s smooth, and I hardly used any strength.”

“Ooooh…!”

“It’s best to raise columns in groups of two, but if you must do it alone, follow this technique exactly.”

“Ooooooh…!!”

The dwarves passed on all kinds of know-how from the construction field, and the barbarians absorbed it with enthusiasm.

From what I could tell, they were learning pretty quickly.

They may be slower in other areas, but they were naturals when it came to using their bodies.

“Not there, use the strength here—.”

“Ah! So that’s how it works?”

“…Yes! Exactly like that!”

Once the training curriculum was set, I discussed construction management with the dwarven experts.

Ultimately, we decided to have one expert act as an overseer, supervising ten barbarians on site.

Someday, our barbarians will be able to handle everything on their own.

That’s how it always works in technical fields.

You start with the menial jobs, learning bit by bit, until eventually you become an expert.

“Tomorrow I’ll report to the Count and ask for more technicians to be dispatched. With just us, we can’t possibly handle this many men.”

“All right. Thanks.”

“So, could you tell me more about the competition that the Chancellor is hosting? We need the details to prepare properly.”

I explained how the competition would be held and in what manner. Trusting the expertise the dwarves had demonstrated so far, I entrusted the entire preparation for this competition to them.

“…Your trust is appreciated, but is it really okay for us to prepare something so important on our own?”

“It’s precisely because it’s so important that I’m entrusting it to you. You are the most qualified experts in this field.”

“…Your lordship is quite different from what I’d heard. We’ll prepare as diligently as possible to meet your expectations.”

“I’ll be counting on you.”

At first glance, it might seem like I passed off all my responsibilities to the dwarves, but truthfully, it was more like unburdening myself.

Even without this, I had a mountain of work to do.

“Shabin, I’ll be heading into the city.”

Hah… When would I ever finish all this?

***

Raphdonia was a brutal city that disregarded human life, yet in other ways it was surprisingly modern.

There was a bank, though it didn’t pay interest.

There’s a massive water and sewage system beneath the city.

And thanks to the existence of magic, there are everyday tools that even science couldn’t replicate, which still catch me off guard sometimes.

Anyway, putting that aside…

As expected of Raphdonia, where public authority was absolute, starting a business required a series of formal steps.

You couldn’t just buy land, throw up a building, and start selling things however you pleased.

My complex method only made things more complicated.

‘Fortunately, it got approved this time.’

Even with Shabin Emure’s help preparing, the business application was rejected twice before finally being approved today.

It’s rare for a noble with a clear title and identity to have such a hard time getting approval, but it couldn’t be helped.

“We sincerely congratulate you on the establishment of the Jandel Trading Company. To explain again, the maximum number of employees you can register is 10,000…”

It’s almost unheard of to start a business on such a large scale from the very beginning.

Naturally, there was a mountain of things to review and piles of paperwork to submit.

But starting small hadn’t been an option either.

If I wanted to mobilize the barbarians for work, I first had to register them as employees.

The dwarves already had companies of their own, so outsourcing to them was simple.

But our barbarians had nothing like that.

No, throughout our entire history, we have never had anything resembling a company.

‘The first company founded by barbarians…?’

I somehow ended up achieving another new milestone, but that’s not important. Let’s move on.

After registering the warriors as employees for several days, I turned my attention to caring for the residents of Bifron.

Leaving such a large workforce idle would be a waste.

Besides, I was already covering all their taxes and living expenses.

“Shavin, starting today, teach all the young men construction work.”

“Uh? But we’re already doing that.”

“…We are?”

“I told them to watch the dwarven engineers carefully and learn. It’s not an opportunity that comes often. If one day they can take on those roles themselves, that would be best.”

“…And the women?”

“The women are already helping behind the scenes. They cooked all of yesterday’s meals, for example.”

That left me at a loss for words.

So the order I was about to give had already been put in place.

“Oh, and by the way, thanks to what they learned before, most of the children can already read. Once things settle down, we could educate them properly and have them take on clerical work.”

“…I–Is that so?”

Suddenly, I remembered something the council leader had once told me.

[I simply can’t tell, Baron. I can’t tell whether such talents gather near you by chance or if it was being near you that allowed them to shine.]

Honestly, back then, I didn’t feel much about it.

Well, that’s because I was actually the one who came up with the ‘Jeonse’ system.

But now, I seriously reflect on those words.

Which category does Shabin fall into?

The latter? Or the former?

I considered it, but in the end, I realized it didn’t matter.

Meeting someone as capable as Shabin was my luck.

But I was also the one who had given her the position and lifted all restrictions, letting her do anything.

“…Um, are you… angry at me?”

While I was lost in thought, Shabin suddenly asked me something out of the blue.

“Angry? What are you talking about?”

“Well, your face looked stiff, so I thought maybe… because I’ve been doing things on my own—”

“Not at all. Don’t worry. My face looked stiff because I was thinking how glad I am that I brought you along.”

“…If that’s the case, I’m relieved.”

Hearing my honest words, Shabin looked embarrassed—and then, with an uncharacteristically shy expression, she spoke.

“I think… I made the right choice too…”

“…Hm?”

“I’m busy, but… I really think I did the right thing, quitting my old job to follow you, Mr. Jandel. I mean, the people here are so nice, and…”

Her expression was almost girlish.

“You mean people like Rotmiller?”

When I teased, Shabin’s eyes went wide in shock.

“Wha—?! H-How did you know?!”

“I didn’t. Not until just now.”

“…!”

She clamped her mouth shut, looking flustered.

After a long silence, she finally said:

“You… you have to keep this a secret, okay? If you don’t, I’ll quit being secretary, administrator—everything!”

That was the most terrifying threat yet.

“O-Of course. Don’t worry. I’ll never tell a soul.”

“Then… good.”

“But do you really need to keep it a secret? From the looks of it, Rotmiller seems interested in you too—”

“W-Wait, really?! Did Rotmiller say he was interested in me?!”

“No, he didn’t say it. It’s just… the feeling I get!”

“…Hmph. You shouldn’t toy with people like that.”

 

Now that I think about it, I knew it wasn’t just a mood thing.

I don’t know about Rotmiller, but it seems like Shabin has fallen head over heels for him.

This is the first time I’ve seen her like this.

I had just a moment to register how odd it felt.

Knock knock.

There was a knock at the door, and Shabin quickly fixed her hair.

“Why are you doing that?”

“That’s Rotmiller’s knock!”

“…What?”

“…Please, come in?”

After clearing her throat once, Shavin put on a composed voice. Sure enough, as the door slowly opened, I saw Rotmiller standing on the other side.

“Jandel? You’re here too?”

“Ah, just for some business. I was just leaving.”

“Since you’re here, why don’t we chat a bit—”

“I’m busy! You two can talk later, just the two of you!”

And with that, I practically fled the office.

…They’ll manage on their own.

No matter how I looked at it, I wasn’t in any position to meddle in someone else’s love life.

***

Time always flies.

No matter how busy or idle I was, whenever I looked back, it had always passed in the blink of an eye.

This time was no different.

Why does it feel like I’m busier here than when I was in the labyrinth…?

Meeting the noble introduced by the Council leader who had changed jobs to become a real estate agent, being summoned by Count Alminas for matters requiring coordination within the business.

Investigating what preparations other families participating in the competition hosted by the Marquis were making.

If we win the contract, deciding how to distribute profits with collaborating families, including the Goldbeard Count’s family, and so on.

“Mister, are you awake?”

“Hurry and wash up. You’ll be late.”

My daily routine, where I couldn’t even sleep in properly, continued, and before I knew it, the day had arrived.

“Ah! Today’s the day, isn’t it?”

“Oh! It’s time to show the world the true greatness of our warriors!”

With that, I finished preparing and headed to the appointed place. I saw the warriors already gathered in the open field, shovels in hand.

Ninety barbarians and ten dwarves.

By the rules of the competition, I had carefully selected one hundred of the very best from among our warriors.

See how strong and reliable they look.

After checking the fiery determination in each of their eyes, I didn’t give a long speech.

“What are you waiting for? Grab your tools, everyone.”

It was a line I’d always wanted to say at least once.

 

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