Chapter 71

The morning after the welcome party.

Finally, their work was about to begin.

“I think you already understand what kind of place this is and how it came to be...”

Plati stood authoritatively before Paffa, Lamp Eye, and Gara Rufa, who were lined up. Since they were called to serve directly under Plati, she intended to entrust everything to them.

“What I want you to do is assist me in my work. Manufacturing fermented foods, mixing potions. I also want to conduct research to develop new foods in response to Mr. Master’s requests. It was hard for me to take on all of this by myself, but if we can share the workload, it should be easier...!!”

Plati’s eyes were a bit teary.

I’m sorry. I’ll make it easier for you from now on.

“The equipment for you to use has already been delivered by my idiot brother, so you can start your tasks gradually...”

Plati turned to the new recruits, interrupting her instructions.

“Why are you all just standing there watching!?”

“Huh?”

Behind Plati, everyone was gathered: me, Viel, Bati and Barena, and the Monster Team including Oakbo.

Prince Aruana and the teacher had already left last night, feeling a bit tipsy.

“Why is everyone here!? You all have your own jobs, right!? Get to work!!”

Well, there is field management and all...

“I, as the owner of this land, wanted to see how the new recruits would be trained...!”

That was my excuse.

In reality, I just wanted to watch the novelty of training the new recruits.

“Madam, our Monster Team also plans to add new members soon, so we wanted to learn how to train them. Please allow us to observe.”

That was what the Monster Team, led by Oakbo, said.

These guys are the most serious about everything.

Next, Bati and Barena.

“We just thought it would be interesting.”

Very honest and good.

Finally, Viel.

“I have nothing else to do.”

Get to work.

That’s the situation, Plati. Please allow us to observe.

“Well, these girls aren’t exactly amateurs; they have their own backgrounds. I plan to have them work immediately without much training. So, I don’t think it will be much help for Oakbo and the others...!”

That’s true.

Gathered here are the notorious Six Mad Witches of the mermaid world.

A really uncool name, no matter how many times you say it.

Four out of the six are here, including my wife.

“I can handle basic potion mixing right away, three times faster than usual.”

“I neglected potion mixing other than attack potions during my time as a soldier. I would appreciate some time to get back into it.”

“Koji! Yeast! I want to cultivate them...!”

The new recruits are so reliable.

...By the way, all of them were originally imprisoned as criminals in the mermaid kingdom.

They came here as part of a kind of plea bargain.

Some of them have complicated reasons, like avoiding conflict with certain factions or cooling off.

That’s why I was a bit worried about whether it was safe to hire them, but Plati seemed confident.

“There’s no problem. All three of them have reasons to be happy working here.”

Plati said that last night.

First, ‘Inferno Witch’ Lamp Eye.

She was a former guard in the mermaid kingdom and is loyal to Plati, who is a mermaid princess.

After all, the reason she came here was that she beat up a mermaid noble who insulted Plati.

With such strong loyalty, she won’t disobey or run away.

She will likely find happiness in serving Plati like a dog.

Next, ‘Plague Witch’ Gara Rufa.

A true genius who foresaw the existence of bacteria in this fantasy world. However, this led to her being exiled from the mermaid kingdom and brought here.

For her, the soy sauce and miso that Plati made based on my idea, and the dried yeast for bread, are proof of her theories.

A kind of gospel.

From her researcher’s nature, she will likely take the lead in working here to prove her theories and advance further.

When Plati told me this last night, I thought, “Indeed.”

Finally, ‘Frost Witch’ Paffa.

I think she might be the most difficult one.

She has a rebellious aura, almost daring us to force her to comply.

Plati was initially unsure about how to handle her, but after last night’s party, she seemed relieved.

“She’s the most okay. There’s no problem,” she said.

I was puzzled at the time, but I gradually understood.

Paffa, who is like a sharp knife, wouldn’t leave Prince Aruana’s side during the party and kept pouring drinks for him.

Since we haven’t made any alcohol in our settlement yet, all the drinks were brought by Prince Aruana.

She kept encouraging him to drink, almost as if she was trying to get him drunk and take advantage of him.

Even I understood this.

And Paffa will surely work diligently here.

To avoid being disliked by Prince Aruana and to possibly increase his affection for her.

“The Six Mad Witches might have problematic behavior, but they were chosen as witches because they are excellent alchemy mages.”

Plati said meaningfully.

“They have the qualifications to be chosen as the mermaid queen. Since my brother, the next mermaid king, is more likely to be used for political marriages, it might be better to take action early.”

...And that’s what happened at last night’s party.

Now, let’s return to the present.

Plati immediately started giving orders to her new subordinates.

“Paffa! I have a task for you!!”

“Hmph, I don’t like being ordered around, but I have no choice. What is it? I’ll do anything in the name of the ‘Frost Witch’.”

“Practice your confession!!”

“Wh-What!?”

Paffa was flustered like a young girl.

“What are you talking about, you idiot!? Who’s confessing to whom!?”

“Well, obviously to my idiot brother. Now, repeat after me! ‘I like you, please go out with me!’ Yes, that’s it!!”

“Can I do that!?”

I called them here to work.

But she’s already getting distracted by something else.

Well, it’s fun in its own way.