Helping with Adventurer Party Management - Chapter 70

Three days pass in the blink of an eye, and on the promised day, Sara and I visit Kwan’s workshop with the materials and parts.

We immediately begin the meeting with the peculiar craftsman, Galahad.

The design plans are outstanding. Even the gaps in the materials that I, an amateur in shoe design, and the old men from the leather district, had been covering up with glue and leather, as well as the shape and placement of the anti-slip spikes on the sole, are thoughtfully simplified.

The next step is to see how things turn out when we actually make it according to the design plans.

When we reach the stage of making the prototype and I take out the tools, Galahad asks, “What’s that?”

“A water clock and parchment,” I reply.

In addition to the materials, I brought a water clock and parchment.

“Well, whatever,” Galahad mutters and takes the materials, starting to make the shoes based on the plans.

I burn the procedure into my memory while recording each step and the time it took. To measure the time for each task accurately, a water clock is necessary. Sara helps by quietly counting the drops of water.

There are 23 steps in the manufacturing process. Considering that ordinary shoes are made with about 7 steps at most, this process is incredibly labor-intensive.

“How is it? Did it turn out exactly as planned?” I ask.

Galahad completes the adventurer’s shoes with such smooth expertise that it takes less than an hour, even though the parts and materials are prepared. His movements are incredibly efficient.

I calculate based on the parchment detailing the manufacturing process and the precise time for each step. The water clock is indeed useful, and Galahad has provided a good design plan.

Sara asks in a low voice, “Hey, why did you make me count the drops of water?”

“Well, what did you think of Galahad’s movements?”

“They were incredibly smooth! It felt, like, mysterious.”

“Then, Sara, do you think you can move like Galahad?”

“Uh, no, that’s impossible.”

“How about just tying the shoelaces?”

“If that’s all, I could do that slowly.”

“And if you did it about ten times?”

“Well, then I guess I could do it.”

That’s exactly the point.

Instead of hiring a skilled craftsman who can handle all 23 steps alone, the plan is to train 23 amateurs to become skilled in the simple tasks. Then, they will be rigorously trained to work at the same speed as Galahad.

From what I see, many of the steps can be handled adequately by apprentice craftsmen. This way, the manufacturing speed can be maintained while reducing costs.

As I write the calculation results on the parchment, I think to myself that in this world, no one calculates cost per hour or cost ratios. There might be someone counting how many pairs of shoes can be made in a day in a shoe manufacturing workshop, but there’s no one counting the number of water drops with a water clock for attaching the toe leather.

Anyway, I want to get the manufacturing process up and running at least once. By actually running it, further gaps will become apparent and improvements can be made.

In my mind, I can clearly see the new apprentices lined up in the factory, all making shoes simultaneously.

◇　◇　◇　◇　◇

That morning, as I drank tea on the first floor of the inn as usual, a shadow suddenly fell over me.

I look up and see a man wearing a red jacket, clearly dressed in an outfit that is too high-quality for the Third District. He is accompanied by a large man with a scar on his face.

Who is this?

“Good morning, Kenji-san.” The man in the red jacket calls my name upon our first meeting.

In that instant, I realized.

The news about the shoes has leaked.