Chapter 384
"A peaceful escape would be a blessing in itself," they seemed to say, as we effortlessly led Gato out of the town and returned to our base.
"Ho ho ho ho! Seeing this, I can certainly understand why you dared to boast about fulfilling my dream!"Even when brought to the former frontier village, surrounded by enormous walls that practically screamed, "What on earth are you planning to fight?", the composure to laugh and accept it was truly remarkable.
"So, who should I teach, and what?""Experience. I will provide the necessary stats for you to apply that experience, and if any equipment is needed, I'll prepare it.""So, it's my skills themselves that you want.""Yes, your knowledge can positively influence a vast array of fields. For combat roles, it expands perspective and sharpens the detection of anomalies. You possess a wealth of technique based on experience, not just skills."Even upon seeing the scenery beyond the walls, he observed with a "Hmm, hmm," accumulating new experiences. It was the behavior of one who understands the importance of learning.
The areas Gato could teach covered practically everything related to adventuring.Although he hadn't acquired magic skills due to his skill set, he could still handle all types of weapons, and his crisis perception as a scout was exceptionally high.The reason he could continue adventuring on the front lines until a rather advanced age, while others retired, had this kind of mechanism behind it.
The fields Gato could teach were diverse: instruction in martial arts like swordsmanship; scouting techniques based on his experience as a scout; know-how for navigating treacherous environments like mountains; and gathering techniques for herbs and such.While all these can be acquired through skills, using skill slots for this and that would lead to an unbalanced build.
However, just as I can use weapons like bows without the corresponding skills, residents of this world can also master techniques outside their skills.Gato is a treasure trove of such techniques.
"The students would primarily be orphans, among others. We also accept immigrants, but even as the northern territories recover, orphans won't disappear. Of course, for combat roles, we will thoroughly confirm their will and won't force anything. We will also focus on training for production jobs so they can acquire a trade and become self-reliant.""I see, I see. But even for me, taking care of a large number of students single-handedly would be difficult, no?"Even for someone like Gato, overseeing one class at a time would probably be the limit. We couldn't ask him to suddenly look after a hundred people, nor do we intend to.
"We will recruit other teachers as well. It's just that you, Gato-san, were the one I wanted to secure first and foremost.""...That is an honor."The school building isn't even completed yet, and teachers haven't been gathered. Recruiting students in such a state would only cause chaos in this frontier village.
"Next, I'd like you to look at these blueprints and share your thoughts.""What are these?""Blueprints for a school. It's a large-scale facility including classrooms, dormitories, a cafeteria, training facilities, a library, and vocational training centers."Moreover, Gato is considerably older in age. Having an elder like Gato in charge rather than a younger person like me can be beneficial for organizational management.
"Vocational training centers? I've never heard of such a thing.""They are facilities for learning the knowledge and techniques of various professions like agriculture, blacksmithing, tailoring, and construction. We plan to hire retired elderly individuals for these roles. I've heard from a certain source that a non-trivial number of people are being left to fend for themselves due to households reducing their numbers.""So, you hire people with skills like me to spread knowledge and techniques. Not a bad idea, but will the funds be sufficient? This kind of education takes time before you see results and can turn a profit.""That area isn't a problem. I'm quite wealthy, you see.""Ho ho ho ho! How many people are there who can so generously pay for nurturing the next generation?"I'm scheming to eventually have him settle into a position like headmaster, but I'll keep quiet about that for now.
"It's actually crucial. If you try to do everything, technique is essential. Techniques are used by people, so training those people is also essential. And such things take time to bear fruit. So, the idea of postponing it by saying we'll manage with who we have now is, frankly, ridiculous."Anyone who has worked for a company knows that training is truly arduous. Increasing personnel raises labor costs, and you have to handle your own work while teaching until they can perform adequately, so the workload increases.Yet, there's the unstable, investment-like uncertainty of not knowing if they will definitely become useful personnel.
"But, are you sure about this?""About what?""From what you say, it sounds like you intend to teach techniques publicly. There's no guarantee those who learn here will utilize them *here*.""I'm not too worried about that aspect."He pointed out that concern, but...
"We'll implement an examination system, and for advancing to higher studies, character will also be considered. We'll screen out dangerous individuals so they don't progress.""Bribes and such preferential treatment seem likely to occur.""We'll strictly prohibit that in contracts. Violations? Not allowed. Absolutely.""You're quite thorough.""Of course."We do have countermeasures in place.Particularly against bribing teachers; we'll be strict. We can't have techniques leaking to the wrong people.We'll also have contracts prohibiting the provision of lesson content, so I don't think there's a risk of it spreading to others.
While having such a conversation, we brought Gato to a vast plot of land.
"And so, this is the planned construction site. A prime location outside the first central wall, within the second wall.""...From where to where?""Since many purposes haven't been finalized yet, it could potentially be the entire area within the second wall. There are too many professional fields we aim to nurture."*Sigh... Hah.* "Are you planning to build a country or something?"Even Gato, who had been so composed, looked up at the sky once upon seeing the vast, developed land, took a deep breath, and offered a wry smile.
"Enriching people's lives can't be achieved through one-dimensional professional training alone. Humans can only achieve proper peace of mind when food, clothing, and shelter are all provided. For that, we must invest in nurturing a wide range of fields.""Most territories that expand too much end up broke, you know.""That's where I'll earn and maintain it. Once the training environment gets on track, profits should turn sharply into the black.""*Sigh*... It seems I've jumped into a much more significant role than I imagined."Perhaps Gato had imagined something more like a small, cozy tutoring school, as his wry smile grew even more strained.
"We'll gather various other personnel as well, so rest assured. In fact, if you can introduce trustworthy individuals, they'd be most welcome.""Hmm, trustworthy people who could be educators... Ah.""There are some?"When asked if he knew anyone suitable for sharing such a significant duty, he reacted as if he had someone in mind.
"Well, I haven't seen him lately, so I don't know if he's doing well, but there's one fellow who is quite passionate when it comes to teaching.""Who is it?""A guy named Percy.""Percy!?""Oh? You know him?"The name that came from Gato's lips belonged to a person who made me involuntarily startle. Among named characters, he is a top-class alchemist. When it comes to crafting magic items, his skill is such that it's said to be unthinkable not to have this character as an ally.
He has a slightly mad aspect regarding magic items, but his teaching method is meticulous, and he understands etiquette. However...
"He owns a large workshop and has a great number of apprentices, doesn't he?"The reason my priority for recruiting him was low was precisely because he was already the master of a large workshop and earned enough to do as he pleased.Given his educational ability, evidenced by producing many excellent apprentices, there was little merit in him relocating his base here.From that perspective, his rank was lowered on my scouting list.
"Well, certainly. But considering what he wants to do, I think if he heard he could make whatever magic items he liked in this vast land, he'd come running.""It would be quite problematic if he started making something like contaminant weapons, though.""But there are things he can't do in his workshop that he could freely do here. And if we could scout his apprentices along with him, we could have a large number of educators from a technical standpoint as well.""Whether they are trustworthy or not is more important... What about that?"However, if we could truly make him an ally, he is a person I would welcome with open arms.In the future, if we need to commission magic items or golem production, having Percy would undoubtedly skyrocket our production speed.
"If he hasn't changed, well, he's a man of principle if you properly prepare an environment where he can make magic items.""I see. Then it's worth meeting.""If I go, we likely won't be turned away at the gate.""All that's left is to bring some fine wine, right?""Ho ho ho, I'm glad you know his tastes.""By the way, do you happen to know any administrative-type people among your acquaintances who could teach clerical work, like civil officials?""In that case, you should ask Percy's wife. It's no exaggeration to say his workshop runs smoothly thanks to her. She single-handedly handles complicated negotiations and paperwork with nobles, allowing Percy to concentrate on crafting magic items. She's the one responsible for that."Just as I was harboring such expectations, information I was unaware of came from Gato.
"Eh? He was married?""What? You didn't have that information?"I was familiar with all the married characters in FBO. The Percy I knew shouldn't have been married.However, in reality, Percy *was* married.
"He had a child when I last saw him. That was about ten years ago, so the child must be grown by now. Whichever parent they take after, they're bound to be a talented child.""Ho~h."And on top of that, he even had a child. This was a fact I was completely unaware of.I remembered Percy as a character who was obsessed with making magic items, treating romance as secondary or tertiary—a true creative workaholic.That Percy? Or perhaps it's a different Percy I don't know? But a magic item genius, workshop master, many apprentices, loves wine... The probability of all these matching and having the same name being just coincidence seems odd, doesn't it?
I was aware of various deviations from the original story, but I hadn't expected there to be characters whose developments differed from the original even before that...No, perhaps in FBO, they simply didn't appear due to resource issues, but actually existed?Come to think of it, there weren't that many married characters.That possibility existed.Or perhaps, like Nell, Amina, or Ingrid, he was a character who actually existed.
"Seems like it might be more effective to 'win over' the wife instead. What kind of person is she?""A very capable woman who is utterly devoted to Percy. So much so that she shows no mercy to those who disrespect him. A strong woman.""I'll... keep that firmly in mind.""You'd better."Negotiating with an unknown party seemed like it would be quite challenging.But the return on successfully managing this negotiation would be huge.If we maneuver to at least avoid hostility, we can minimize the risk.
"What should we bring as a gift...""I can teach you about that.""That would be a great help.""It's nothing. Just meeting Percy again after so long is something I couldn't have done if I'd stayed in that town."And so, together with the pleased Gato, we began preparations to head towards our next scouting candidate.