Game Opportunities Become Reality: Episode 58
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Game Opportunities Become Reality: Episode 58
18. Monopoly (1)
As befits a world where feudalism is the norm, religion holds immense power in Rondel.
'Honestly, that's only to be expected.'
Even people on Earth who have never witnessed a miracle firsthand often show deep faith, so how much more so in this world, where real miracles exist?
Rondel's gods are fairly proactive they frequently send apostles down to the mortal world and deliver messages through oracles.
In other words, the environment is one where faith cannot possibly be weaker than on Earth.
Moreover, since the entire world believes in a single god, the lack of religious conflict is perhaps the biggest difference from Earth.
Of course, beings called heretics do occasionally appear in Rondel as well.
However, they are not branded heretics due to the interests of competing religions they are recognized as heretics who deny the true god.
Denying the Creator is no different from denying the world itself, so heresy never takes deep root and quickly fades away that could be called its defining trait.
'The being known as Rondel's Creator and sole god is named Sepia.'
Naturally, Rondel's religion is called the "Sepia Faith."
The headquarters of that Sepia Faith, where its leadership resides, is called the "Holy Land Everhill," and it is famous as an inviolable nation that even the Bringham Empire dares not attempt to invade.
Those who rule this Holy Land are three: the Holy King, the Holy Son, and the Saintess.
The Holy King oversees the denomination's administration overall, while the Holy Son commands the military, including the Holy Knights.
And the Saintess oversees all clergy who perform divine miracles in the world.
In other words, the person Arcia found possesses the qualities to become that Saintess.
"Is there any other special trait?"
"No, only the Saintess qualification."
The Holy King, blessed by the sole god Sepia, is chosen from the Holy King's bloodline, but the Holy Son and Saintess are selected by divine choice every 50 years, regardless of social status.
'Is the Myriad Mirror predicting even God's choice?"
No, that can't be it.
As far as I know, between 10 and 30 candidates for Saintess and Holy Son are selected.
Afterwards, a contest takes place in which God personally issues tasks, and after observing the entire process, God chooses the Holy Son and Saintess.
In other words, the "Saintess qualification" must refer to being a candidate for Saintess or Holy Son.
"Can we bring someone like this in and educate them?"
"Shall we cancel the recruitment?"
"No, recruit her for now."
However, I'll need to consider whether to send her to the temple through sponsorship after recruiting her as a Saintess candidate, or to invite a priest to educate her here.
If someone I raised were to become the Saintess, her value would be incalculable in monetary terms.
Though I was startled by this unexpected talent, she was clearly a talent among talents someone I could never let go.
"The recruitment should be easy."
"That's a relief."
According to Arcia, the person's information is as follows.
[Ibril Barnet / Commoner]
Age: 15
Parents' occupations: Father (delivery company porter), Mother (restaurant kitchen assistant)
Family circumstances: Poor
She is a very pretty 15-year-old girl with blonde hair and blue eyes, and due to her family's poor circumstances, she works part-time at a convenience store.
I suspect Arcia discovered her while stopping by a convenience store to buy snacks.
"Tell them to give her a generous signing bonus."
"Yes."
In the end, I decided to bring her in with a signing bonus of 200 million and a monthly living allowance of 5 million Lute.
Originally, the administrator in charge of recruitment negotiations intended to offer less than 100 million due to her age, but following my words, it was set to 200 million.
An ordinary administrator might not understand, but the recruitment officer who works alongside Arcia was well aware of the growth speed of those being trained at Genius Hall, so he dared not dispute the contract.
To them, I am someone who inherited the Duke Riverdale's discerning eye.
Well, they could worry that Arcia was leading the recruitment rather than me, but ultimately I was the one making the final decision, so they faithfully followed orders.
"So, how is recruiting talent going? Think you can manage?"
"Yes, with this level of activity, there should be no problem."
For reference, Arcia uses magic to alter her facial appearance when going out.
The reason she changes her face is partly because she is too famous among commoners, but also to disrupt any detection of the Myriad Mirror, which is hidden by invisibility magic.
Those with sensitive mana would sense something off about Arcia's face, but they wouldn't easily detect the Myriad Mirror.
Since it would draw attention if Arcia wore the glasses I always use while recruiting people, there was no choice but to put up with the inconvenience.
"Then I'll leave it to you from now on. While you're out, drop by a café or something and enjoy yourself."
"Understood."
At the mention of a café, Arcia's face brightened.
"Then let's continue the hunt."
Level up, level up.
Talent is good, but I must not forget my priorities.
* * *
Ford Convenience Store, which boasts the most branches in the Kingdom of Rhinehearts, is known for its thorough employee training with kindness as its motto.
But just as people's dispositions can't be uniform, no matter how much the head office preaches kindness, not every employee acts as desired.
"Goodbye. Thank you for visiting Ford Convenience Store."
"Goodby... Ford Conven... ce."
A girl named 'Ibril,' working at Ford Convenience Store Marinekov District 12 Branch 2, had to worry every time she saw her senior, who greeted customers half-heartedly unlike herself.
Apparently, her senior had started dating a newly appointed Knight of the territory, and trusting that connection, she had become noticeably gruffer with people these days.
"Ah, I want to get married. Then I wouldn't have to do this tiresome work."
"Haha..."
"Ibril, did you know? If you marry a Knight, the lord personally gives you a house as a congratulatory gift. Apparently, it's an unwritten rule a regular full Knight gets a house worth 500 million, and a high-ranking Knight gets one worth 1 to 1.5 billion."
"That's impressive. Giving a house as a wedding gift."
"500 million, 1 billion that's only a lot of money to us. To nobles, it's pocket change, right? Anyway, marrying a Knight is the way to secure your life. They're high-ranking military officers, so the pay is good too. Severance pay and pension are generous as well."
"I see."
"So, anyway you know my boyfriend Tony? He has a mentor, and apparently he's still single? Want to try a blind date?"
"Huh? But I'm still a minor."
"Anyway, in just one year, you'll be of marriageable age. Tony's senior is a Knight too, so he'll have that much discretion."
What's more, the problem was that if she didn't want to work, she could at least stay quiet but she kept pestering Ibril with offers to set up blind dates.
Arranging a blind date for a minor there was no other way to see it than as lacking common sense.
No, common sense aside, it was simply a criminal act.
"Ehh, it's fine. I plan to marry as late as possible anyway."
"Where did a kid like you learn to say things like that? What if your looks fade by then?"
"Then people who only care about looks would be filtered out automatically. I still prefer studying over dating."
Ever since she was young, Ibril had heard people say she'd have an easy future because of her pretty face.
Maybe that was why?
Whether it was because of her resistance to that line that felt like it would give her a neurosis, Ibril wanted to become an administrator where her intellectual ability would be recognized, rather than a job that relied on her looks.
But whenever she said such things, the response she got was always the same.
"Why go out of your way to suffer? Isn't your family situation poor? Wouldn't it be better to act a bit more shrewdly?"
Just like that.
Does having no money mean you shouldn't study?
Saying only unpleasant things is a talent in itself, if you can call it that.
Ibril disliked people whether men or women who only relied on the abilities of the opposite sex without putting in any effort themselves.
She thought she just didn't get along with her senior.
"Instead of that..."
"Ah, a customer's coming."
-Jingle.
"Welcome. Thank you for visiting Ford Convenience Store."
Fortunately, before the conversation dragged on, a customer arrived and the talk naturally ended.
Naturally, the senior didn't like the customer's appearance for cutting off their conversation, but Ibril looked curiously at the female customer who headed straight to the snack corner with a basket.
She had an ordinary appearance you could see anywhere, dressed in robes.
The robe's pattern didn't look cheap, but it didn't look overly expensive either.
But what was it?
She felt a strange sense of dissonance from that customer.
The basket she set down after finishing her shopping was packed full of snacks thrown in without regard for price.
"Ma'am, this chocolate is a promotional item, so you get one extra..."
"It's fine. Just ring me up."
A line that anyone wants to say at least once at a convenience store.
The mindset of taking only what you need without looking at promotions or prices somehow looks cool even though it's nothing special.
But the senior, who hadn't liked that female customer from the moment she appeared, muttered as if complaining.
"What's this? Pretending to be rich?"
She must have judged from the outfit that she wasn't anyone impressive.
At that, Ibril's brows narrowed on their own, but she didn't show it and left her spot, then came back with a promotional item.
"Still, take this just in case. It's tastier than you'd think. I'm sure it'll suit your taste."
Saying that, she smiled brightly and slipped one extra chocolate snack into the woman's purchases.
"Thank you."
When the customer readily expressed her thanks, Ibril felt oddly proud.
But the oblivious senior just had to add a remark.
"And yet she takes it."
"Senior, please..."
"What about me?"
When you work at a convenience store, you meet all kinds of unreasonable people.
But right now, the unreasonable one here was clearly the senior.
Fortunately, the customer was patient she must have heard what was said, but she didn't pay it any mind.
But then, an unexpected turn of events sent a chill sweeping through the convenience store.
"Ah, Lady Arcia. We've been searching everywhere for you."
"I was hungry."
"Then perhaps a nearby restaurant..."
"This is enough."
Four men who were clearly Knights despite trying to hide it in plain clothes with black sword sheaths, along with one stern-looking woman who seemed to be a secretary, hurried into the convenience store and complained toward the aloof female customer.
"Gasp! You're going to eat these? These are junk food..."
"It's fine. I won't budge even if I drink poison."
"Lady Arcia. But..."
How could anything sold at a convenience store be junk food?
They're all made in clean factories.
Well, there are people who treat convenience store food as junk food.
People who live in castles with the mindset that all commoner food is junk.
"It's fine. Ah! I left my card at the castle."
"I'll handle the payment. The Lord already gave us more than enough activity funds anyway."
Naturally, Ibril's and the part-time senior's faces went white.
This was, by any measure, a case of picking the wrong fight.
Given the circumstances, the woman named Arcia before them was clearly a noble.
What were the odds of encountering a noble in Marquis Lawrence's territory of seven million people?
And of all people, they had to be the ones to enjoy such useless glory.
Ibril swallowed dryly, and the part-time senior's complexion was so drained it looked like she might breathe her last at any moment.
"P-Please, let me help with the payment. That'll be 104,500 Lute."
The transaction went through without a hitch.
The burly Knights fawned over the female customer, offering to carry the convenience store bags, but Arcia kept the chocolate snack Ibril had recommended for herself.
The two convenience store employees prayed she would leave without saying another word.
But...
Arcia opened a snack on the spot and put it in her mouth, then abruptly pointed at Ibril with her finger.
"Let's take that blonde girl."
"Huh? She's the target?"
"Yeah."
"Understood."
Ibril let out a gasp and was terrified, while the part-time senior beside her, perhaps relieved not to be singled out, looked vastly relieved.
"Miss, you needn't be alarmed. I have no intention of harming you. My name is Cecil, an administrator attached to the Lord's Manor of Marquis Lawrence's territory."
"An administrator of the Lord's Manor?"
"Yes, that's right. Here is my seal."
But something about the situation felt strange.
Wasn't an administrator exactly the job Ibril had always dreamed of?
As a polished career woman who seemed to embody her ideal, Cecil greeted her with courtesy, and Ibril's expression softened as she voiced her confusion.
"But why would you come to me..."
"Would you be interested in working at the Lord's Manor?"
"What?"
And when Administrator Cecil made an offer beyond anything she could have imagined, Ibril's eyes went wide.
"As you know, our Lord is the disciple of Duke Riverdale. My Lord takes after his master, with an extraordinary ability to spot talent in people. And that Lord wishes to take you under his wing."
At Administrator Cecil's continued explanation, Ibril wore a dazed expression, unable to believe it.
"The Lord does?"
"Are you not interested?"
"Ah, no, I'm thrilled. It's just so sudden."
"When you think of your future, this is an opportunity you must seize no matter what."
"But my family has a lot of debt, so I need to work."
"If you don't mind me asking, how much debt are we talking about?"
"Well, um. I heard it's around 100 million."
"Then I'll offer a signing bonus of 200 million and a monthly living allowance of 500. That should be no problem, right?"
"Gulp... In that case, I'd have to accept. But I'm a minor, so I'll need my parents' permission."
"Of course. But what matters most is your own thoughts."
Was she dreaming?
Ibril pinched her own cheek like a fool.
"Excuse me, Administrator? What about me?"
"You're irrelevant here."
The part-time senior, having forgotten their earlier conduct, greedily butted into the conversation, but Administrator Cecil coldly shook his head.
The senior, whom she disliked, was crestfallen.
Ibril found that sight deeply satisfying.
Then, amid the surreal situation, she spotted Arcia lounging in the back, munching on snacks and nodding along.
"Ah! Then could that person be...!?"
The Lord of Marquis Lawrence's domain, and the name Arcia.
It was only now that Ibril realized who she was.
"Yes, she is Lord Count Klein. Her face is so well-known that she conceals her true appearance with magic."
"Gasp."
Ibril's eyes sparkled brilliantly, while the greedy part-time senior swallowed nothing but air.