That's Why I Decided to Become a Miser (4)

Generally, when recruiting workers in a city, you make a recruitment flyer just as you would when posting a quest at the city's Quest Issuing Guild, then put it up at the Guild and on the bulletin board in the city plaza and wait for applicants.

Even adventurers looking for party members sometimes put up flyers like these. But when they're only recruiting members on the spot to complete a quest, or need people urgently, they give a speech like Rex did and form a party right there.

“Yes. Just as expected, no one's showing up at all.”

“He's certainly drawing plenty of attention, though... Well, most of them are adventurers.”

Sitting on a bench in a corner of the plaza, Kagami muttered under his breath. Tina agreed with a sigh, resting both elbows on her knees.

Beside Kagami, Alice sat on the bench, happily licking a soft-serve cone and swinging her legs as she watched Rex desperately try to recruit people.

Rex was currently giving a speech on his own, flashing his Hero Role in his status window. At Tina's suggestion, they'd decided that the idol persona would actually work against them, so for the time being, they were using his Hero Role to attract the attention of people passing through the plaza.

But even with all that attention, when it came to “work,” most of the adventurers didn't give it a second glance.

That was only natural. Working meant putting in long hours for a set wage. For adventurers with the power to fight, even without the risk of dying, it was simply an inefficient way to make money.

Even if he was a Hero, work was another matter. People gathered, but the moment they heard what the job entailed, they all scattered. Rex desperately called out, “Why not join me, a Hero, in discovering an unprecedentedly wonderful life at the casino?” But almost everyone who listened seriously was a Villager.

“But why aren't even the Villagers who stay interested in the job applying? They look a little curious, but no one comes over to ask about it.”

“I'm not sure... The wages shouldn't be bad, either. Maybe Rex-san's Hero Role seems suspicious, or perhaps he's so far out of their league that they feel uncomfortable working alongside him?”

“Then maybe I should do the recruiting?”

“You seem even more suspicious, Kagami-san. You're a Villager, you're rich, and you're Level 999... You have nothing but suspicious qualities.”

At Tina's harsh words, Kagami slumped a little and said, “...Seriously?” Then he tried to figure out why no one was approaching them.

The job offered positions for twenty men and twenty women. The hours were eight hours a day, and the work included dealing at the casino, working in the tavern, cleaning, and various other tasks. The monthly wage was 50 silver—5 silver more than working at the club run by Takako-chan—and there were raises for some positions.

In a world where servants and maids hired to work all day were said to earn 100 silver a month, offering 50 silver—including training, with no regard for experience or ability—was a pretty high wage for Villagers who weren't particularly educated or skilled.

Even after working at an inn or tavern for three years, you only earned 35 silver a month. Yet the flyer offered 50 silver from the start, with raises on top of that, and still no one was applying.

“Why...? It says people with useful Roles will be given preference, and that even Villagers can get raises if they're capable... Why? Is it the idol thing after all? Does he have to be an idol?”

“That wouldn't make any difference. If anything, why is an idol the only option that ever occurs to you...? Maybe Rex-san just doesn't have much charisma? Fifty silver isn't a bad wage for work in Valman.”

“Tina-tina, that was a pretty cruel thing to say so casually. He's a Hero, for crying out loud.”

“I don't want to hear that from someone who was going to debut him with a song called Bottomless Swamp.”

As they argued, the crowd around Rex continued to thin. Some left disappointed, saying things like, “That Hero's already given up on defeating the Demon King and is running a shop instead. His Role must be crying,” while others departed with a mix of disappointment and anticipation: “So that huge casino that appeared out of nowhere was built by that Hero, huh? I don't want to help out, but I'm looking forward to it.”

“Alice... Give me a good idea. You're always the one who guides me when I'm in a bind.”

At Kagami's sudden, unreasonable request, Tina stared at him with what looked like disappointment and said, “...Wow.”

“I think... I understand how the other Villagers feel.”

To Kagami's surprise, Alice didn't seem troubled by his unreasonable request. Looking at Rex and the Villagers gathered in the middle of the plaza, she murmured those words.

“And? What do you mean?”

“If it were me, I'd be scared. Stepping into an unfamiliar place takes courage. I was a little scared too when I first came to this city with you, Kagami-san.”

At her words, Kagami nodded and said, “...I see.”

It was true that casinos were so rare in this world that only a handful existed. Even if someone was told they would be working at one, it was difficult to picture exactly what the job would involve.

If they couldn't imagine themselves doing well at their new workplace, it was natural to feel afraid and think it might be easier to stay in their current jobs.

The same went for relationships with their coworkers. If they were subjected to hellish stress every day in a toxic workplace, their spirits would wear down. It was human nature to worry that, no matter how good the pay was, their body and mind wouldn't be able to take it.

“You're a genius... Alice! You're the best, just like I thought. I can't believe I didn't notice something so simple!”

Having overlooked this unexpected psychological hurdle, Kagami showered Alice with praise, then patted her head as much as he could. And, as if to say that now he'd figured it out, he should act immediately, he stood up from the bench.

“What are you going to do?”

Tina asked Kagami what specific solution he had in mind.

“For now, we'll take down the flyers with the current working conditions and remake them.”

“What will you change?”

“We'll add to the current conditions that it's a safe place to work. Let's see...”

As he muttered this, Kagami and the others made their way to the reception desk at the Quest Issuing Guild. The additional text Kagami wrote went like this:

‘A warm, friendly workplace. Everyone is kind and in great health. Seven staff members are already happily working toward the casino's opening. Staff comment: “It's a bright and fun workplace. I got a girlfriend. Every day since I came here has been destiny. I even won the lottery.” We look forward to your application!’

“That's so suspicious!”

Reading the description, which seemed more likely to have the opposite effect, Tina cried out in exasperation.

“The wording practically reeks of shady promises! This recruitment ad is the very embodiment of you, Kagami-san! What could you possibly have learned from Alice-chan to come up with something like this?”

“You can't be serious! That's ridiculous! It's a perfect message, all about making people feel safe!”

Watching the two of them bicker loudly in front of the Quest Issuing Guild's reception desk, Alice sighed in resignation. But then she reminded herself that Kagami was taking one step at a time toward the world she'd dreamed of, and a faint smile came to her lips.

“You have such a... happy smile. Almost like an angel.”

Just then, a man with a deep, gravelly voice spoke from behind Alice, looking down at her with a glare.

He wore a suit of the sort favored by noble households' servants. His black, wavy, medium-length hair was styled in the latest aristocratic fashion, and he had a neatly groomed, dashing mustache. His dead eyes were especially striking. He looked to be a man in his forties.

“...Who are you?”

Startled by the sudden approach, Alice tensed. For some reason, the man who had spoken to her was glaring at her with an intensely sharp gaze, almost as if he hated her.

“Forgive me for not introducing myself sooner... I am David Foren. Though you may not guess it from my appearance, I serve the royal family of the Kingdom of Hexaldoria.”

After saying this, David displayed his status window for Alice. It showed Level 77 and the Merchant Role.

At that point, the two who had been arguing also noticed David approaching Alice and turned to look at him.

For a mere servant, he was capable enough to work as an adventurer. Kagami regarded the man with a slightly suspicious expression.

Noticing Kagami's gaze, David gave him a polite bow, as if he knew him. Then he turned back to Kagami with a fearless smile and—

“...I have come to escort Kururu-sama.”

He murmured.