Chapter 94

This story is a work of fiction.

The characters, organizations, and names are all fictional and have no connection to any real entities.

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089 - Butler Enrique

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Among the 38 slaves who aspired to be soldiers, there were 7 swordsmen and 6 spearmen. They were all former explorers who had accumulated debt due to poor financial management.

In this world, many people cannot even do simple arithmetic. While nobles receive such education, few commoners do.

These 13 will be leveled up, but first, they need to be educated to at least read, write, and do basic arithmetic. I intend for them to acquire these skills while they are my slaves.

The other 25 will be divided into 5 archers, 5 knights, 5 explorers, 5 carriers, 4 clerics, and 1 monster tamer, and assigned jobs accordingly.

To advance to the higher job of Archery King, an archer must hit 1,000 arrows on target or one-shot 30 monsters in a row with a bow. I plan to provide them with good equipment and have all of them advance to Archery King.

The condition to become a knight is to withstand 1,000 attacks with a shield. Since higher jobs require the knight job as a prerequisite, they will aim to become knights first.

To become an explorer, one must defeat the boss on the 10th floor of a dungeon or kill 20 monsters alone on the first day of exploration. The latter is easier to achieve with proper equipment, so that will be the goal.

The condition to become a carrier is to transport goods 100 times as a business, but it can also be achieved by transporting 10 or fewer items with a total sale value of over 1 million grils. I want them to become carriers because an item box is essential for dungeon exploration, even if they are in the soldier category.

I would prefer them to become adventurers, but the conditions for becoming an adventurer are based on intuition and are not guaranteed.

To become a cleric, one must pray for 500 days, kill 100 monsters bare-handed, or kill 10 monsters of a higher level than oneself as a villager. Rosalina has already killed over 100 monsters bare-handed, so she can become a cleric, but she won't. Having a healer in the party will stabilize it, so I want them to put effort into becoming clerics. The higher job of Pardoner requires killing 10 monsters of a higher level than oneself within 3 hours as a villager, which is almost impossible. However, I won't stop others from trying on their own responsibility, though I don't intend to tell them the conditions. I don't want them to become thieves after becoming pardons like the high priest.

To become a monster tamer, one must win 100 battles against monsters one-on-one, or win a battle against 5 monsters at once. Both conditions can be achieved with the right equipment, so it shouldn't take long.

The holy jobs like Patricia's Spear Saint have uncertain conditions. The same goes for the hero of the two-handed sword and the adventurer of Bartz. Since the conditions are not clearly defined, I'm not aiming for them. I hope they can be obtained when acquiring lower jobs or leveling up.

"You are slaves bought by the Demon Slayer Baron Footsickle! The Baron Footsickle is different from other nobles; he does not judge people by their status. He values capable individuals and never looks down on slaves. Depending on your performance, you may be freed from slavery even before your term is up. So, work hard! For your own sake and for the Baron Footsickle!"

"Ooh!"

Among the soldiers, there are also women, mostly swordsmen or spearmen. These women can be said to have volunteered for the soldier role due to their combat jobs.

However, there is only one 13-year-old girl who does not have a combat job. Her name is Patricia. She is a Dragoonite, a rare race with a combat-mad characteristic. What, there's no such characteristic? Haha, it means she thinks like a combat-mad person.

She has scales similar to a lizardman, but the decisive difference is the wings on her back. Due to these wings, she was the most expensive at 8 million grils out of 55. Her basic abilities are also quite high; even at Villager Level 4, her physical combat abilities like STR are higher than a Swordsman Level 10. I was surprised by the difference in abilities due to race.

At first, I thought Patricia should aim to become an Archery King, thinking that an aerial combat archer would be unbeatable. However, her DEX is quite low, meaning she is clumsy. Gandarban and I decided that a knight would be more suitable for her, despite her potential as an aerial combatant.

Now, about the only dominion slave, Enrique. His job is butler, but he has the option to become a Vindicator. He seems to have suffered greatly at his previous workplace and was made a slave due to a false accusation. I also have the Vindicator job, but I was not made a slave. Enrique's heart must be very dark.

Enrique is a 42-year-old wolf beastman. His appearance is more like a yakuza boss than a butler, with a rather intimidating face.

"Enrique, do you want to clear your name?"

"...It doesn't matter."

"Do you really think it doesn't matter?"

"......"

His eyes lack light. Does he think it's futile, or has he been broken by the harsh treatment?

"Silence will be taken as a yes."

"Why do you know I was falsely accused? Did they tell you to buy me and keep me quiet?"

"I only take orders from myself. No one can order me."

He snorted just now.

"Even the Duke Tsukumandes can't order you."

"!?"

He is surprised that I know about Duke Tsukumandes. Huhuhu. Even if you are bound by a magic contract to keep silent, you are naked before my Unique Skill: Detailed Appraisal. Akechi-kun.

"Why do you know about Duke Tsukumandes?"

"That's... "

"Trying to hide it is futile. I know you were with the Tsukumandes family and had a terrible time."

"Why do you... "

"You can't hide anything from me. That's the way it is."

I try to create a mysterious atmosphere. But I'm more suited to comedy than mystery.

"You know everything, then."

"I've never met Duke Tsukumandes, but I know he's a scumbag."

Through Enrique.

"Hmm... What should I do?"

"I'm just confirming what you want, Enrique. Do you want revenge?"

Enrique stares at me intently. Don't fall for me.

"I don't need revenge."

His tone suddenly changed, and his eyes gained strength.

"Then, what do you want?"

"If possible, I would like to serve as a butler in the Footsickle household."

Is that all? No revenge? You can have your revenge if you want.

"Understood. You will manage this mansion. Use the servants as you see fit."

"Are you sure...?"

It's what you wanted.

"I don't mind."

"I am officially a criminal slave."

"I know you were falsely accused. Why would I hesitate?"

"That would be bad for my reputation."

"Reputation is shit. I do what I want. That's the way it is."

Enrique opened his mouth in surprise, then smiled and bowed deeply.

"I will serve with all my heart."

"Good. By the way, if you want to clear your name, I'll help you. If you're fine with it as it is, that's fine too."

"I'm fine with it as it is. The joy of serving a new master outweighs the desire for revenge."

What a good answer. If Enrique serves sincerely as a butler, I have nothing to say.

"Alright. Start working immediately. Assign tasks to the servants and make sure the mansion runs smoothly."

"Understood."

His movements are quite refined.

The number of servants increased to 16, more than planned, but more is better. I trust Enrique to manage them well.

From the next day, the garbage collection point was moved to the backyard of the mansion.

A large wooden box was placed in the backyard, and in exchange for the collected garbage, a soup filled with meat and bread was provided. Meals were prepared three times a day—morning, noon, and night—and given to the children.

This task was entrusted to Lili, Colom, and Caron, the sisters, and the servants. Multiple wooden boxes were prepared, and when they were full, I or Bartz would collect them.

Children who wanted to work at the mansion were hired. If they preferred to live in, they were given rooms.

I plan to train them to become future mainstays, but there are no such children at the moment. I'll take it step by step.

Construction of the servants' and soldiers' quarters began. Skilled workers were coming and going, but I left it to Enrique and the servants.

The soldiers were being trained intensively by Gandarban and the others.

To get them used to handling weapons before entering the dungeon.

They were also being educated in reading, writing, and basic arithmetic.

Itsukushima took charge of this, working with Solidia.

I asked Yamato to enhance the equipment for the soldiers.

"Can you provide the money to buy the materials for enhancing weapons and armor?"

"Does Yamato not have money?"

"I have a little, but not enough to buy the materials for 38 soldiers."

I understand, given the number. I gave him 50 black gold coins worth 100,000 each.

"Wow, that's generous."

"I don't want soldiers to die because of their weapons. Please enhance them as much as possible."

The equipment enhanced by Yamato can be enchanted by me without reducing durability, and more enchantments can be applied compared to unenhanced equipment. I thought he was a freeloader, but he turned out to be useful. I'll give him a bit more credit.

"Leave it to me!"

"If you go shopping, take a carrier with you."

While you're at it, have the Gorteo Guild transport 10 items and sell them. If the total amount is less than 1 million grils, don't sell them.

"Got it. Can I take all 5 carriers?"

"No, I can't prepare that many items, so one will do."

"Hmm. The materials for 38 people will be quite heavy."

"Then take Bartz."

While we were talking, Itsukushima entered the living room.

"Are you going shopping? Can I come too?"

"Sure. But only me, a carrier candidate, and Bartz will go, so Toi can't come."

"I know that!"

She quickly went to prepare and left the living room.

Thank you for reading.

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