Helping with Adventurer Party Management - Chapter 255

The foot sizes requested from the adventurers return in the form of 200 boards marked with lines. Each board pairs the left and right foot sizes and includes the name of the church, the name of the priest, and the name of the adventurer responsible for the task. Additionally, the craftsmen in the workshop diligently engrave a control number into them.

Now, the pile of foot size boards is sorted by size.

Although the guardian shoes for adventurers are only available in three sizes, I divide the measurements for pioneer shoes into six sizes for the priests, who seek a fit closer to custom-made comfort. This helps determine the basic foot size measurements we need to produce.

By stacking the boards in order from smallest to largest, the pile of boards classified into the six foot shapes forms a beautiful curve, with the smallest and largest sizes low and the middle sizes high.

The actual number of shoes to be produced for pioneers is three times the height of this pile of sizes.

To be precise, I will receive documentation for the foot sizes of clergy coming from other towns midway through the production schedule, so there might be slight adjustments to the numbers, but it shouldn’t deviate significantly. Plus, since we can plan for expected production, the schedule will be more manageable.

“It feels strange seeing it this way. Why does the middle peak rise higher?” Sara says, gazing at the mountain of boards.

I want to explain it using statistical terms, describing the normal distribution, but I know that wouldn’t satisfy her understanding. Instead, I use a different analogy that resonates with her rural background.

“Have you ever looked at grains of wheat?”

“Of course! We weren’t wealthy in our farming household, so I help out a lot, like peeling the wheat. When I get hungry, I nibble on the grains and get scolded by my mother.”

“Then, did you notice that the grains of wheat have quite a bit of variation in size?”

When I ask this, Sara responds nostalgically as if recalling her past.

“Yeah, when looking at individual grains, they’re quite different in size. Some of the earlier ones are larger, and some are a bit chipped.”

“But you still weigh them together on the scales for tax purposes, right? The wheat inside is different the first time you weigh it compared to the second.”

“Well, each grain might be different, but when you collect a lot and put them on the scale, it doesn’t matter… is that what you mean?”

Sara seems to understand what I am getting at with the wheat analogy.

“Exactly. As it says in the holy scripture, humans are like grains of wheat. There are great people and foolish people among humans. However, the most common are ordinary people. The same goes for foot sizes. There are tall people and short people, but most fall within the average size. That gentle mountain is a visible representation of those differences.” I point to the stacked foot boards sorted by size.

“I didn’t quite understand the soup analogy, but I feel like I get it now! Kenji isn’t trying to deceive me!”

“Why would I deceive you, Sara?” I say with a wry smile.

Sara mischievously adds, “Well, to cover up when you’re staring at beautiful women or those with big chests…”

“No, no.” We’re always together, so how could I have the time for that?

I know it’s a joke, so I deny it with a laugh.

“But still, it’s strange, isn’t it…” Sara continues to stare intently at the piles of footboards the craftsmen are piling up.