Helping with Adventurer Party Management - Chapter 172

“In addition to the matter with Gooljin, there’s one more thing I want you to support. Actually, I’m planning to make new shoes for the church.”

When I bring this up, Jilboa immediately grasps the situation.

“Is this about that pioneering project?”

“Exactly. The shoes are for the leadership team organized by the church for the pioneer work. You know the church and the nobles are starting to funnel money into the frontier development now.”

“Yeah, I’ve noticed. Work related to that has been increasing. I think I mentioned that before.”

I nod and continue. “The real issue lies beyond that. The church needs not just funds and manpower to advance their frontier work, but also expert guidance.”

“That makes sense. Even if you gather a bunch of amateurs, they’ll just be a disorganized mob. Scratching at the ground won’t do anything but waste funds and food. But can those high-and-mighty clergy even handle something like leading a development project?”

“I designed the training and education program for those specialist leaders. I even gave them direct instruction. From now on, the church is supposed to use that program to train their leadership team.”

After I say this, Jilboa is momentarily speechless before bursting into laughter.

“Haha! Kenji, you actually trained the clergy! That must’ve been quite the sight. Maybe I should start calling you a guru instead of a saint!”

“Cut it out, that’s not funny,” I respond sourly.

Jilboa, still smiling, replies. “So, through that connection, you’re planning to make and sell shoes.”

“That’s right. I’m planning to make specialized shoes for the leadership team involved in the frontier development. Unlike the Guardian Shoes, these won’t need to account for combat, so they can be made lighter and cheaper.”

However, Jilboa points out something regarding the pricing.

“…Hmm. Well, the cheaper, the better, but the church has money. There’s no need to sell them at a discount.”

His observation is correct, but I have a strategy in mind.

“No, the fact that we can make them cheaply means we’ll make a profit. I want to use part of that profit for the rural villages. And I want to advertise that fact through the church. We’ll promote that these shoes are for pioneering, and that the profits will be used to support the villages.”

“…That’s a rather unusual idea. It’s a form of advertising, I suppose. But isn’t aiding rural villages the responsibility of the lords and the church? Isn’t that something adventurers or city dwellers don’t usually handle?”

Perhaps because Jilboa wasn’t born in a rural village, he doesn’t seem to fully understand what is instinctively clear to Sara, who grew up in one.

If a major shareholder like him opposes the idea, the business could collapse before it even begins, so I decide to explain from a different angle.

“Back in your mercenary days, when one of your comrades who had a family died, didn’t the group collect money for the family?”

“Yeah, that did happen. Most mercenaries are single, but some take up with camp followers or even marry a tavern woman or prostitute. When one of them died, we’d pass around a helmet, and everyone would put silver coins in it. That way, the woman would get some money to take back to her village to raise the kids. It was… a sad but necessary thing.”

“Exactly. The shoes for the pioneer project are the same concept. Buying those shoes is like gathering money for the rural villages. By wearing them, it shows you’re cooperating with the pioneer project.”

At this point, Jilboa grins. “I see. In a competitive organization like the church, where everyone is striving to rise, it’s important to show off your contributions to others. Naturally, they’ll scramble to buy the shoes.”

“That’s right. And priests are wealthy, and there are plenty of them. Through the church, we could sell these shoes across the entire country.”

Jilboa’s grin grows even wider. “It seems there really is a need to expand this business quickly.”

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And so, I manage to get Jilboa’s approval to develop the new shoes, partner with the church, and expand the business.