Helping with Adventurer Party Management - Chapter 123

“Hey Kenji, is this really okay?”

“It’s going as planned. Although it feels like things are going a little too well.”

On the way back from the Adventurers’ Guild, where Urbano, the guild official, sends us off with a beaming smile, Sara and I head toward the workshop. Our guard, Kiriku, follows a little behind. Lately, since he’s been thought to be connected to the Sword Fang Legion, almost no one bothers him, and he seems quite idle.

Indeed, Urbano’s attitude at the Adventurers’ Guild is unusual. Gone is his previous vague and listless expression; he now appears energetic and confident, with a newfound vigor in his voice. I even notice that his double chin seems to have slimmed down a bit.

“So, finally, we’ve managed to build a trustworthy relationship with the Adventurers’ Guild,” I say.

“Well, that’s true, but… it still doesn’t sit right with me!” Sara pouts.

“What doesn’t sit right?”

“Well, Urbano wasn’t the one who wrote that report! Kenji, you paid for the research, and I was the one who asked around! That double-chinned Urbano didn’t do anything! Why does it seem like he did everything? It’s not right!”

I reply with a wry smile. “That’s fine. What I want is results. If I put my name on it, nothing changes. By putting Urbano’s name on it, our relationship with the Adventurers’ Guild improves, and we bring a new standard to the kingdom’s Adventurers’ Guild situation. In the long run, this might improve the treatment of adventurers.”

“But improving the treatment of adventurers is going to take a long time, isn’t it?”

I grin. “That’s where I come in. I’ll teach the clever bureaucrat how to improve the adventurers’ business in the short term. With the way he is now, he’ll happily report it as his achievement, don’t you think?”

“And so, Kenji, you’ll be the one to write that report too, right?”

“Yes. It’s not a problem. By doing that, useful methods for novice adventurers will spread throughout the kingdom’s Adventurers’ Guilds. Considering that, writing the report for him is a small investment.”

◇　◇　◇　◇　◇

The Guardian’s Shoes business has finally gotten on track. Although currently limited to high-end shoes, it is now spreading not only among top-tier clans but also among those who make their living through combat. Exports to other cities are also increasing.

With the backing of the Sword Fang Legion and the rumor that we’ve dealt with the nobles who tried to interfere, no one dares to bother us.

When it comes to finances, everything is going smoothly. At this point, it might even be fine to sell off the business and retire. However, I originally designed these shoes to increase the success and survival rates of rookie adventurers. Due to various circumstances, the business is no longer solely mine, but I haven’t forgotten my original intent. Even if I make shoes for adventurers, if they don’t reach the rookie adventurers, it’s meaningless.

The entity with the most contact with rookie adventurers is undoubtedly the Adventurers’ Guild. By improving relations with the guild, I must now find a way to provide the expensive Guardian Shoes to rookie adventurers at a lower price. Although creating the reports for the guild requires money and effort, it brings something even more valuable to me.

That is, various statistical information about adventurers: How many adventurers are currently active? How many adventurers have over a year of experience? What is the reward per request? What is the reward per person? What is the reward per party? What is the average request completion rate? And so on.

This internal information could never be obtained without penetrating the inner workings of the Adventurers’ Guild. When I first created the reports, Urbano was uncooperative or indifferent, so I had to bribe the window clerks to obtain information. Now, since creating reports is recognized as important work within the guild, the staff cooperates and provides the necessary information.

Other officials, possibly envious of Urbano’s achievements with the reports, now pay close attention to how I gather information and write the reports. Some are even eager to ask questions. I try to explain my intentions as kindly as possible and offer advice on how to write.

It’s a good thing that the Adventurers’ Guild officials and clerks are highly motivated. I hope that their skills improve and that the competition for promotions becomes more intense in a positive way. By doing this, I aim to create an atmosphere where if the guild staff encounter problems or want to improve their skills to advance, they should ask Kenji.

It seems that my efforts in this regard are going exceedingly well.