Chapter 35

To summarize the measures for increasing the speed of magic stone processing, they were as follows.

Break down the work process of magic stone processing and simplify it to the point that even unskilled apprentices could master it.

The masters would handle the complicated parts, while at the same time helping the apprentices become proficient in the techniques.

Naturally, this would not mean that one master with his own workshop would process a single raw stone from beginning to end, so the processing fee would be divided among the number of people involved based on the value of the completed magic stone.

It would be undesirable for only certain parts of the process to advance excessively, so it was preferable to level out the workload, and if that was the case, the barriers between workshops would need to be abolished.

The role of a master would likely change into that of someone who handled the most difficult parts and trained the less skilled workers.

It was a very clear and rational plan.

—At least, on paper.

“You are telling us to throw away our pride as craftsmen?!”

A roar loud enough to split the hall echoed through the guildhouse of the Magic Stone Processors’ Guild.

This was my third visit here in total: the first time to ask for their cooperation in bringing down Nodon, the second to explain the wiping away of their debts after Nodon’s exile.

And now today, when I came for the third time to discuss the new method of processing magic stones, the guildmaster ended up shouting with such force that the veins on his temples bulged.

“W-what are you people? After taking over the Nodon Company, have you come to take over our Magic Stone Processors’ Guild as well?!”

While my mind went completely blank in the face of such ferocity, the one who stepped boldly forward here as well was Kururu.

“To hear you talk about a craftsman’s pride is laughable. Who was it that could not keep going because of debt?”

Kururu was present as Lord Iiria’s representative, since magic stone processing was something that affected the very foundation of Jirenu Territory…but there had been signs from the start that she knew this would happen. While we were walking here together, her eyes had been shining brightly.

At Kururu’s rasping words, rough as a file, the guildmaster’s face turned even redder.

The debt issue was a weak point for the magic stone craftsmen.

Still, that matter was separate from the proposal we were making now.

“P-please wait. I do not mean to hold the debt over you. That was simply Nodon’s outright wrongdoing.”

I pulled Kururu back while directing those words at the guildmaster, and the guildmaster likewise was being calmed by the vice-guildmaster.

“However, just as we did justice to your guild here, if we are to do the same for the other guilds—or rather, for all of Jirenu Territory—then the company’s current profits are nowhere near enough. That is why we need to expand the magic stone trade beyond what it was under Nodon.”

That was why I had come to discuss the introduction of division of labor.

“But even so…!”

To the guildmaster, who was so furious he could not continue speaking, I answered politely.

“The mine will probably produce two to three times as much from now on. I do not think the current craftsmen will be able to process it all. Do you have any ideas for increasing the amount of processing?”

“Guh, uuuugh…!!”

At that point, the guildmaster clamped his mouth shut and groaned.

The one who spoke in his place was the vice-guildmaster.

“Yorinobu-dono. Is it true that output will increase that much?”

“It is true that a new vein looks promising, but even more than that, the mining conditions are being dramatically improved right now. Depending on how things go, they say even ten times the output may be possible.”

“Ten…”

“But even if we dig up mountains of ore, if it cannot be processed, then the Bax Company will force down the price. In particular, Jirenu Territory is an island territory, and we depend on imports for our living necessities. That means the island as a whole must earn as many gold coins as possible. From that perspective, exporting raw magic stones as they are is not an option. If we process them, they sell for more than unworked stone, the work of you processors will also develop, and with the money earned, all sorts of things can be bought. In the end, that becomes profit for the people of the island. That is how the island as a whole becomes richer.”

Before I came to this world, I had thought about this kind of thing endlessly for the management simulation section of the game I had dreamed of making.

And of course, every time the economy turned, Lord Iiria would be able to take taxes from it.

“But, but…”

The guildmaster groaned, then, without lifting his gaze, said,

“I cannot accept this proposal…”

Kururu glared at the guildmaster openly.

But to me, I simply did not understand.

I had expected some resistance, perhaps, but I still thought it would depend on how the negotiations went.

I had never imagined they would reject it so completely from the outset.

“Guildmaster, it would be enough just to try it first.”

I pressed on.

“There are many steps in magic stone processing, but each individual step is just a combination of simple tasks, is it not? So if it is just one or two of those tasks, even newcomers ought to be able to learn them quickly. And by each person taking charge of a part of the work, the overall productivity—”

That was as far as I got.

“We…”

“Huh?”

“We are…proud…craftsmen!”

It was a groan that seemed to rise from the depths of the earth.

“Every master in this guild has gone through long years of apprenticeship, passed the glorious master’s examination, and works while honoring the dignity of being a craftsman! We are not beasts of the field that can simply be increased because there are not enough hands! Much less, much less—”

The guildmaster’s face turned so red it seemed he might faint on the spot, and he glared at me.

“S-s-s-simple tasks, did you say? Wh-what do you people know of magic stone processing? You people, you people…you are telling us to do mere piecework! Us! We, the honorable processors of magic stones…how, how could you possibly—ugh?!”

Whether his blood pressure had risen too much, or because he had forgotten to breathe, the guildmaster clutched his chest and groaned.

“Guildmaster, Guildmaster!”

The vice-guildmaster sat him back down in his chair, rubbed his back, and urged him to take deep breaths.

I could only stand there, dumbfounded at the sight.

The current workshop system was obviously inefficient.

It was an old-fashioned apprenticeship system in which the masters, having mastered all the skills, handled nearly all of the processing work, while the apprentices learned by stealing techniques as they assisted.

There was no fixed educational system, and in fact there was hardly any real intention to teach. The masters stubbornly carried out work only in the way that satisfied them, and as a result, every workshop fell further and further behind, could not generate sales, had to go into debt, and that debt piled up until Nodon fed on them.

All because finishing fine magic stones was the guild’s honor, the craftsmen’s honor.

“…Leave.”

The guildmaster, still hanging his head, spoke without even looking up.

“Please leave… It is true that we owe you a debt. But…”

This was not some minor resistance.

It was outright rejection.

I could not answer, and could only stand there.

Then Kururu spoke.

“Honor, honor… honestly.”

Muttering bitterly, Kururu looked at me and jerked her chin.

“We are leaving.”

“Huh? Uh…”

There should have been no way to increase the productivity of magic stone processing other than this division-of-labor plan.

And yet, it was true that any further persuasion here and now might simply be impossible.

After all, even the vice-guildmaster, who had understood matters and had acted as an intermediary when we first came to ask for help in defeating Nodon, was now wearing an unreadable expression.

Apparently, I had made some proposal that was shockingly rude.

Even after leaving the guildhall, I was still bewildered by the guildmaster and the others’ reaction.

And what would happen to magic stone processing now? Depending on how things went, if our relationship with the processors worsened, the management of the Nodon Company itself might begin to falter.

As I shuddered at the thought that I might have done something terribly careless, Kururu stood gazing toward the alley beside the guildhall.

“Kururu…san?”

Before her face turned toward me, her beast ears did.

It reminded me of the cat back at my parents’ house, and just a little, it soothed my heart.

Kururu slowly turned around and snorted.

“It costs money to protect honor.”

Every time the guildmaster had spoken of honor, Kururu had looked displeased and snapped back at him.

Apparently, my proposal had wounded that very thing called honor.

And even now, I still did not really understand why.

“For now, let us get something to eat.”

That was what Kururu said.

At first I thought, at a time like this, food? …but then I realized that was not what she meant.

“We are filling our stomachs before battle.”

Because this Kururu, despite appearances, was very much the athletic type.