Helping with Adventurer Party Management - Chapter 120

My impression of Urbano is the worst. This guy really can’t do his job. He shows no ability or enthusiasm for work at all. Since I generally like my work, seeing someone who is careless about it makes me really angry.

However, as I review Urbano’s background during my information gathering, I have a thought. He might have been constantly told that he is incompetent throughout his career.

Putting my own feelings aside for a moment, I try to think from Urbano’s perspective. It’s like persona marketing in marketing terms.

What kind of life has Urbano led, and what does he value? Even though the noble class is more privileged compared to commoners, there is still competition among them. Humans are social creatures who find value in comparison with their surroundings, so even nobles are compared among themselves.

The standards are varied: superior bloodlines, wealth, and ability. Within this framework, one verifies their own suitability and social position and builds their career as a noble.

Since Urbano does not seem to be confident in his abilities, he might have aimed for advancement as a bureaucrat. But the result is what it is now. Despite being relatively older, his position is that of a rather unimpressive manager in the Adventurers’ Guild, which is a lackluster business for nobles. He still hasn’t left his family estate to establish his own household and isn’t married. It could be that he either lacks the income to marry or has a poor reputation among the nobles.

There is also information that he is infatuated with a high-class courtesan, but it might be that his stress from work, dissatisfaction with his position within the family, boredom with his job at the guild, and frustration with his inability to change his current situation are driving him towards women.

The fact that he brought a large number of subordinates during our meeting was likely a defensive reaction, both to intimidate us and to mask his incompetence by offloading all problems onto his subordinates.

It’s a pitiful situation, and I can’t help but feel a little sympathy for Urbano. Everyone wants to be recognized by those around them. They want to believe that their life will improve and that they can strive for it. That’s a natural feeling. However, Urbano lacks hope, despite having some degree of stability, at least from his own subjective point of view. Such individuals are prone to corruption. Nevertheless, I intend to help Urbano turn things around.

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A few days later, Sara and I prepare ourselves and meet with Urbano at the Adventurers’ Guild again. After what happened last time, it seems Urbano no longer considers us harmful, and since we requested him specifically, he does not bring a large entourage. It’s possible that our previous mention of the Sword Fangs Legion intimidated him into leaving his subordinates behind.

“So, what brings you here this time?” Urbano asks pompously, his characteristic double chin quivering.

“Actually, I was hoping you could take a look at this,” I say, signaling Sara to bring forward a booklet of parchment bound together with a board and string.

“What is this?” Urbano asks, looking puzzled.

It’s natural that Urbano would be puzzled, as parchment is usually exchanged in the form of scrolls. The edges are sealed with wax, and a metal rod with a family crest is heated and pressed to prove that the contents have not been viewed. This method is used for letters, reports, and other documents.

Books, on the other hand, are bound with parchment and typically considered expensive items kept by nobles, churches, or wizard guilds. They are bound in leather and stored on bookshelves deep within estates, churches, or headquarters. Particularly valuable ones may be protected by magical wards or chained to the bookshelves.

We bring booklets of a different form, despite being mere adventurers, so it’s understandable that Urbano is surprised. From the nobles’ perspective, adventurers are seen as uneducated peasants who can’t even read. They are the ones swinging their swords, turning monsters into a bloodbath, and then acting all high and mighty about it. The fact that adventurers are an essential part of the pioneering enterprise only adds to the frustration.

But what is this booklet? Is it meant to be sold off and used as a bribe?

That’s how it’s being viewed. It’s unacceptable for something we put so much effort into preparing to be sold off. Knowing that Urbano’s perception might be lacking, I decide to explain it carefully and humbly.

“This is a summary of the adventurers’ activities that we have investigated and compiled.”

“Hmm?”

This clueless fool—here I am trying to help you advance.

“It’s a summary of the current state of the adventurer business in numbers and charts.”

“Oh?” Urbano finally shows some interest.

That’s only natural. It would be problematic if he didn’t show any interest. We’ve put together materials from tours for rookie adventurers and information collected by bribing the guild’s staff, so it’s been a lot of work.

“We wanted to submit this to the guild in the hope that it would be useful for guild operations and reports, but we’re unsure of the format or the person to deliver it to the nobles. We thought we should consult with you, Lord Urbano.”

“Oh?”

He truly is slow on the uptake. I’m telling him I’m willing to hand over the credit to him.

“Is this format for the booklet acceptable?”

The cover of the booklet is deliberately simple, using plain wood boards. I’ve intentionally left parts where specific criticisms might arise as deliberate flaws in the final product. People tend to become enthusiastic when they have the chance to make suggestions and think of the result as their own achievement.

As expected, Urbano finally reacts.

“Hmm, yes. This booklet should at least be bound in leather. It might also need gold trim.”

“I see! As expected of a noble.”

I use every facial expression I can muster to flatter him. I can feel Sara behind me twitching her face in amusement.

“So, about the contents…”

I begin to explain. It seems that the double chin finally starts to understand the significance.