Helping with Adventurer Party Management - Chapter 110

Six months pass.

Since then, the workshop operates smoothly without any particular interference. About three craftsmen quit immediately after the Roro incident, frightened by what happened, but their replacements are swiftly brought in, so production isn’t affected.

It’s possible that one of the craftsmen who quit leaked information, but that doesn’t matter. The threat from the Sword Fangs Legion that anyone who leaks secrets will face severe consequences proves effective.

In fact, the rumor among the citizens that the Sword Fangs Legion took revenge on the detestable noble Roro has spread, further enhancing the Legion’s heroic reputation.

Perhaps due to this, the past six months are very peaceful. The small annoyances that used to occur have completely ceased.

Production progresses better than expected, and it looks like we will exceed the planned annual production of 1,000 pairs by about 30%.

I report this to the shareholders, Jilboa and Gooljin. I discuss it with Gorgoro at the workshop, but he seems disinterested. However, he appears pleased that, as income stabilizes, we no longer have trouble acquiring tools and materials for development. He’s been producing various suspicious items in his dedicated space at the workshop.

“So, Gooljin, how’s the reputation of the guardian shoes in other cities?”

“They’re selling like hotcakes. We’ve received a mountain of pre-orders.”

“Jilboa, what’s the effect when everyone in the Sword Fangs Legion wears them?”

“When everyone wears the guardian shoes, it clearly increases marching speed. Injuries during combat have decreased. The number of requests we can handle has increased. Truly, these are remarkable shoes, Kenji.” Jilboa shows off his personal pair of shoes as he speaks.

Everything is going smoothly. I can finally think about the future with some peace of mind.

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When I return to Gorgoro’s workshop, I hear the sounds of leather being hammered and cut from inside. I turn the wooden sign with my name at the entrance to indicate that I’m on duty.

As I respond to the craftsmen’s greetings of “Sub-Captain, good work!” and check the attendance, I notice that one craftsman is missing.

“Hey, what happened to Jan?” I call out.

A young craftsman working at the job responds without stopping. “He said he had a stomachache today and went home. However, there are two or three other people who can handle his tasks, so it won’t affect production.”

One reason things have become easier recently is that the craftsmen have finally gotten used to my methods. At first, it was really tough. I remember the strong reactions of refusal when I tried to manage attendance, with questions like, ‘Why should we do that?’

Now, the Japanese-style manufacturing methods I introduced have taken root to some extent. The floor, which used to be scattered with dust, wood shavings, and leather scraps, is now spotless. The craftsmen’s tools are carried in custom leather hip belts, keeping them organized and leaving their hands free. Each tool is labeled with a number, and while it’s fine to break them, losing them results in a deduction from their pay, so they’ve become more attentive to managing them.

As I glance at the production process and move toward the back, Sara greets me. “Kenji, did Jilboa or the others say anything?”

“No, no particular issues. However, it seems Gooljin is eager to sell more.”

“Ah, it seems like it’s gaining a reputation in other cities. The other day, the vegetable vendor I spoke to at the market said she heard from someone who came from another city.”

Sara now works half-time assisting at the workshop and half-time as a tour guide for novice adventurers. Although the workshop has stabilized significantly, I can’t let her lose the ability to earn money through other means in case something happens to me or if the shoe manufacturing suddenly stops. The information she gathers about novice adventurers is a valuable business resource.

Since the workshop’s work has stabilized, I make it a point to spend one day a week guiding novice adventurers. If the top leader neglects information gathering, the organization is likely to lose its direction.

I’ve worked hard to establish this business and am finally gaining the social influence needed to support novice adventurers. I can’t afford to become an out-of-touch manager who loses sight of the very people the business was meant to serve.

There’s much to think about, but for now, I just want to enjoy this peaceful afternoon while sipping the tea Sara made for me.